CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Train Of Consequences

"Train of Consequences/There ain't no turning back!"

Everyone in the room froze solid, their eyes pinned to the screen: no one dared utter a word for almost a minute before Kurogiri finally spoke. "From this moment onwards, we're in full mobilization. We have to get Shigaraki back as soon as possible - any and all other projects are immediately suspended until further notice. As his right hand, I am assuming command." He paused, sweeping his yellow eyes across the room... and lingering on Dave one moment too much before stating "Any objections?"
No one answered - everyone quietly acquiesced to his decision, apparently. He nodded, letting out a slightly exasperated sigh. "Good. If anyone has an idea, it's time to present it."

Dave brushed his index finger on his lower lips and nodded. "I do. It's a bit of an ass pull and relies on our fearless leader still having his cellphone on and still getting signal - but I can requisition something to get us a bead on him, then you can 'port him."
Twice let out a derisive half grunt. "What, you can't pull a magical portal to wherever he is out of your ass? That's pretty underwhelming for the all powerful summoner."
Dave's lips curled into an irritated snarl. "Fuck off, Gimp Suit. I can 'port things and effects, but I'm not a goddamn miracle worker. Even if I materialized a scrying crystal ball, I wouldn't have the power to use it 'cause I'm not a wizard. This is why I gate in tech - even hyperadvanced ones like teleportation can be used by anyone. Now, if *any* of you had telepathic powers I could have the right thing, but insofar, no dice. So even I have to make do."
The masked villain held up his pinky finger and chuckled. "Big words, small results."

"Enough bickering." Compress interjected suddenly springing up from the couch and pacing nervously around the room. "This is not the time for infighting. Mr. Briggs, if you would be so kind to try your method?" He briefly looked at their new temporary leader for approval - who nodded to both in silent approval. Dave sighed and closed his eyes for a moment.
"Requisition: quantum smartphone with triangulation software and holo-diegetic interface. Latch it to the nearest carrier and bounce it off all the towers at max radius." he murmured. A small device that looked like a cube made of silver, more or less twice the size of a six-sided dice. With a low humming noise, a hologram sprung up from it representing a small keyboard and a screen flashing the words: CARRIER LATCHED - PINGING...
"Wow." Spipnner looked at the cube and then to Mustard, his voice slightly above a whisper and full of amazement. "This guy rocks. It's a miracle he's on our side."
Mustard nodded slightly, whispering back. "Thank the gods he met Toga, though I still wonder how the hell she made him genuinely fall in love. He must be a hardcore masochist." He finally shrugged. "Be as it may, our logistic problems are a thing of the past right now. Think of the money, man."

The holoscreen flickered for a couple minutes then displayed, in purple, the words that made everyone's heart sink. PING TIMEOUT - DEVICE NOT FOUND. Dave put the device in his pocked and pinched the tip of his nose. "Yeah. Was kinda expecting that. Providing he's not been disappeared instantly, it's totally in Mark's style to cut off any venue of communication until he's done with him. Personally, I think he wants him alive, otherwise he wouldn't have hit Dabi to lure him out. What eludes me is what he wants."
He fell silent for a moment, lost in thought before Prometheus intruded his rumination with a tidbit that jolted him to full attention. "Remember what your loving girlfriend told you back at the hotel? 'how many powers do you have? You're giving Shigaraki a run for his money!'. That alone should be a huge, glaring clue, Sherlock."
Wait. He thought. Insofar, Tomura should only have his Decay, not All for One. That means... if he has it, this is a somewhat alternate timeline and...
"Oh, MOTHERFUCKER." he groaned clutching his head as the sudden realization. "That's why he wants him alive. Oh no no no no no no. He's pulling a Sylar."

"Good job, O fearless leader." Prometheus chuckled.

"If you're done freaking out, I'd love an explanation. Detailed, please." Kurogiri's voice shook him from his momentary shock and he slightly shook his head to regain his composure before addressing the Nomu. "Yeah, sorry. I got overwhelmed for a moment. Good news: your boss is probably alive, for now. Bad news: he's probably being tortured. Himiko told me he... has a set of powers that weren't originally part of his genetic makeup and this is because a guy named All for One gave him this power to give and take quirks. Is this correct?"

Kurogiri nodded. "Yes. Long story short, All For One was Tomura's master and the original leader of the League. Before fighting All Might, he gave his Quirk to Tomura. He knew he was not yet ready to wield its power and the mantle of leadership, but confided me in private that he didn't know if he'd come out on top. If he lost, when the time would be right, the League would free him and he'd take back what was rightfully his from the start and all the while his power would be secure."
He looked around, noting a few stares going his way; most of his colleagues weren't privy of this information, but keeping it secret at such a critical time would have been counterproductive. If that would lead to infighting later, so be it, but his priority right now was to get Shigaraki back - and the power he carried. He fell silent and focus his attention on Dave, blatantly ignoring everyone and the rising murmurs in the room.

"That's..." Dave's face was a mask of incredulity. "...a real dick move." he managed to utter. Then again, they were villains. What did he expect? "Anyway. This power is exactly the point. Mark wants it for himself. We have, uh... sort of a parallel where I come from. His name was Sylar and he too could steal powers. By eating brains. Real messy, that. Mark... well... idolized him and wanted to be like him, because it fits the cliche'. He'll force Shigaraki to give it up and then probably kill him because he'll be no longer useful. If he combines that with whatever power he already has, he'll be unstoppab;le. We have to get him back before he does. The problem is finding the bastard. If we act fast, we may salvage some clue from the place they were last seen - it's our only lead so far." He dropped on a chair and exhaled sharply. "Shit. I need to think hard. And call Himi."

He picked up his phone and nervously pressed her name on the screen.
One ring.
Two.
Three.
Four.
...Five.
His face turned paler with each sound.
She wasn't picking up.

"This ain't my fucking day." he snarled as he pulled out the small silver cube again: almost frantically, he punched her number in the phantom keyboard - luckily, the device was able to pinpoint her location.
Rikiya's penthouse office.
He looked at the rapidly zooming picture and then at the Nomu. "Get her out. Now."

"My apologies for having restrained you, Miss Toga." Re-Destro said with a smile behind his folded hands as he sat behind his desk. They were alone in the room: Skeptic's creations had unceremoniously dumped her in the exact spot where the couch destroyed by Dave used to be and left without a word. "I commend your resourcefulness in tracking me down, but you were murdering my security personnel on top of all the civilians you gutted on your way to my humble abode and I can't have that. Rest assured, however, that you will not be hurt or held against your will - after a little chat, of course. I pray you be collaborative, so we can get this over quickly and amicably. Yes?"

Himiko's wrists were securely held by a pair of handcuffs and her ankles were similarly tied by a plastic restrain. Her eyes were flaring up like bonfires and her sharp teeth were in full view. "Who are you?" she spat defiantly, her voice shaking with anger. "Why did you kidnap my Da-kun? Give him back to me. This instant!" She tried to stand up - but all she could muster in her condition was to sit on her knees. Rikiya's smile widened a bit. "Yes, I had to be a bit forceful in my invitation, but I assure you he has not been harmed. Actually, he's not even here anymore. He left a while ago after we had a rather civil conversation: our viewpoints aren't that different, I learned, but he decided to reject my offer for the time being. Do you know why?"

Himiko almost spat on the floor - her mouth twisted as she was swallowing a bitter liquid. "I don't care about your babbling. Where. Is. My boyfriend."

The man in the suit continued as she had said nothing, ignoring her outburst. "Because of you. And now I see for myself his feelings are well reciprocated. It is as my information network told me, down to a T. I have to remind my secretary to give them all a raise. They've done a splendid job. Be as it may, I can answer your question with 'he has probably returned home'. As I stated, I had no intention to keep him against his will. I shall have you freed shortly - he was pretty clear I would make an enemy out of him if I threatened you in any way and I don't want that. So please, do explain to him that you had to be kept in binds to avoid needless bloodhed. Would you?"

"I will kill you." Toga replied trying again to get up. "When I get my hands on you I'll-"
Her threats were cut short as a dark cloud appeared right behind her and a pair of disembodied hands dragged her into it; as soon as she was enveloped by the billowing fog, it literally imploded leaving no trace - not even a wisp.

Re-Destro sighed and looked at the empty spot where she was, still grinning. "Thank your comrades, Miss Toga. You dodged a bullet." he whispered. Deep down, though, he hoped his lover would be intelligent enough to not be convinced to start anythingout of outrage.
People in the throes of love - or lust - were prone to stupid decisions. And he had witnessed two very eminent examples.