A/N: And here we are! The final chapter of Act 2 of Incident Zero, and the last chapter of this fic to be released in 2021. What a wild year.

As I've mentioned before, this fic will now be on a hiatus until February 2022. This is so I can get my plan in order for Act 3, as there's some big scenes to come that I want to get right, and so I can recharge on my passion project- exams in January and a Christmas period to enjoy have to come first. I'll still be posting some more new stuff over the break though… stay tuned for more.

We've had the USJ. We've had Dabi and Shoto's reveal. We've had Stain, and we've had Bakugo. It just wouldn't be right for our end of arc if we didn't get to hear from our collection of villains, would it?

Once more into the breach, dear friends. Enjoy the chapter!

(***)

The world outside their compound had gone to hell in the course of one day. That was, at least, how Chronostasis saw it. Chaos was unfolding before their eyes, and the Shie Hassaikai hadn't needed to lift a finger to cause any of it.

It had started with a surprise. UA High School wasn't something that was massively on the Yakuza's radar, not least because the genius Principal made it very hard to get somebody on the inside. They couldn't make it past the application stage no matter how carefully crafted the application, and attempting to recruit an existing student was a minefield of risk; one misstep, and the authorities would be alerted quicker than their captains could retreat. Even worse, the Business Course which produced such brilliant minds, minds which could have applied themselves to the legitimate businesses ran by the Shie Hassaikai and really grown them, had been wound down in recent years. The talent was untouchable, and so the old Boss had left it alone, just as Overhaul did.

That didn't mean that others shared that view. Chronostasis regularly kept an eye on what was happening in the news, because Overhaul did too. It helped to be able to discuss who was making moves with the Boss, because Overhaul understood the lay of the land and it helped to be in on the decisions he took for their group. Villain attacks were all too common, but… on banks, maybe. On rival gangs, on random bystanders, and even on Hero agencies every once in a while. On a school… that really wasn't what Chronostasis had expected to see on the news. And yet no sooner had the eyes of the nation been focused on UA High School were they ripped away, the rug pulled from under their feet. Hatred of Endeavor was widespread, but Chronostasis had watched with his mouth wide open underneath his mask as Endeavor's own sons emerged to stick the knife in. The runaway and the murderer, Juhyo and Dabi, on live TV and dragging their father through the mud for years of what they called years of abuse of power and abusive parenting. The critics were lining up, sharks smelling blood in the water, and the calls to resign were growing stronger and stronger.

That meant many things, but as much as anything it meant that all eyes were away from the Shie Hassaikai. Chronostasis liked that, and judging from the way his eyes gleamed yellow, so did Overhaul.

"You're sure it's him?" Chronostasis asked, following on behind the Boss as they took the well-trodden route from their main meeting room towards Eri's bedroom in the base. "He gave a number of names for the attack on UA-"

"Including the name of the man behind the Quirk Singularity Theory. All those pseudonyms and yet in among them is the name of a man otherwise consigned to the depths of history. Forgotten by all but those who understand the truth of his work." Overhaul made a little humming noise under his breath, something Chronostasis almost missed from the way their boots pounded on the concrete floor. "It could be a coincidence. Someone else who sees the merits in his work. Or… it could be him."

"I just can't understand what motive he would have to do something like this." Chronostasis appreciated that he could speak frankly every once in a while with the Boss. "If it is him, he's… an academic. A Quirk doctor. He would have no ties to any known criminal organisation and yet do something nobody else would dream of doing."

"His motives are not our concern. What matters are his actions." Overhaul nodded. "UA is a blight. A breeding ground for the great disease in our society, where those with delusions of grandeur fester and grow. Too many Heroes… while we cannot afford to start a war in the hope that we might stem the tide, I welcome anyone else trying for us. I may wish to meet him some day."

"I will make efforts to find out where he is." Chronostasis bowed his head briefly. "Between this and Endeavor… it is a good day for our organisation."

"I agree. Men like Endeavor… are the worst of all. The vindication for my mission, Chrono." Overhaul's gloved fist clenched briefly, at odds with the look in his eyes. "The people are sick. They were willing to pretend that charlatans like him were the arbiters of law and justice. Blind to the reality that allowing someone like him to claw his way to the top just proves how toxic Hero syndrome has become. If this is the world it leads to, then my mission is more important than ever before."

"Many will see his moment of weakness and wish to capitalise." Chronostasis kept his voice deliberately even. "Others will be… rash."

"Opportunities will be created. Endeavor is in the firing line and UA has been blindsided, but that does not mean that either are defeated. We will maintain our course, and take advantages of the smaller opportunities it presents us. While we wait for those more headstrong to falter." Overhaul's eyes flickered with some amusement as he looked over at Chronostasis. "What of our new friends?"

"There is… some activity." Chronostasis hoped that Overhaul could sense the smirk underneath his mask. "They have doubled subsequent Trigger orders. It's clear-"

"That they intend to try to take advantage? Let them." Overhaul laughed, and it sounded so bitter. "It's the perfect smokescreen for us, this way. In their eagerness, they will supply us with more resources. And with those resources-"

"Your work with Eri will be able to grow even further." Chronostasis nodded, glad that he and the Boss were both on the same wavelength. "I will speak to the other Bullets, and make them aware. We need to ensure that the message is clear to all, that we bend over backwards to accommodate our new allies and their demands."

"It can only benefit us this way. Thank you, Chrono."

"Sir." As they turned the final corner together towards the cell where the heart of their operation rested, Chronostasis felt a little doubt niggling at the back of his head. It was foolish to question the Boss too much, but it was a question he needed to ask. "I have to ask about Eri."

"Hmm?"

"You… left our new recruit with her. He's not even been sworn in officially as one of us Bullets, but you were willing to leave him alone with our most valuable… asset." Chronostasis felt himself picking his words carefully, aware that Overhaul's gaze was now firmly on him as they walked; it was so unwavering that Mimic, coming the other way, had to duck around Overhaul to get out of his way. "I would never question your judgment, Boss. I just find myself asking-"

"Was it safe to do so?" Overhaul finished, correctly guessing his question. "I would expect nothing else from you. Always willing to bend over backwards to protect what is mine from harm."

"I… yes, Boss. He is still a relatively unknown quantity, after all. I know how concerned you are about who in our organisation spends time with her."

"And you fear I may be trusting him too quickly." Overhaul didn't ask that as a question, because it was clear he understood exactly where Chronostasis was coming from. "Let me reassure you that he is still under observation at all times, Chrono. So that he can prove himself to me."

"Under obser…" Chronostasis trailed off, finally seeing the robed figure of Hekiji Tengai stood guard outside the door. "I see. Forgive my assumptions, Overhaul."

"There's nothing to forgive. I appreciate your concerns." Overhaul nodded to Tengai, and it was not lost on Chronostasis that for a second Tengai appeared to stiffen in front of the Boss. After what the Boss had inflicted upon him as punishment for losing a whole Trigger consignment to the Hero Killer, it wasn't difficult to understand why. "How is he?"

"He's… different, Sir." Tengai scratched his cheek above his mask. "He seems troubled. There is a deep madness in him, far more so than Tabe or Sasaki."

"Something which I cannot cure. He will not let me touch him, for whatever reason, but even if I were to use my Quirk on him…" Overhaul shook his head. "I cannot fix the scars on his psyche."

"The path to inner peace is one which he must walk himself," Tengai mused, profound as ever. "However, even if I sense some discord inside of him… his abilities are incredible. Even limited as they are, their value to us as an organisation-"

"He was a perfect candidate for the Bullets, with skills like his." Overhaul looked his lieutenant up and down. "And?"

"... and." Tengai blinked twice, seeming to come to a realisation. "Ah. Yes. It's… good."

"Good?" Chronostasis didn't understand, even if Overhaul did. "What do you mean, Tengai?"

"You will see, Kurono. It is perhaps easier if you do so yourself. It's hard to describe."

"I agree. Come, Chrono." Overhaul gestured behind him, leading the way to the little girl's room. "If you want some reassurance that Eri is in safe hands… this is it."

"Boss…" Chronostasis followed Overhaul into the room, before coming to a standstill as his eyes struggled to understand what he was seeing. "... Eri?"

Chronostasis had seen Eri in many moods. He had seen her in many states, too; he was numb these days to the sight of what she could become at the touch of the Boss. But for a moment he wondered if his eyes were deceiving him, as not one, but two Eris played with each other on the floor of her bedroom. Both of them had their heads in a dollhouse, an absolutely massive creation which Rappa had dragged home one day and refused to answer any questions about where he'd found it, and the weird part was how… peaceful she was. Eri hadn't smiled in a long time, but the two Eris playing on the floor seemed… alarmingly content.

No. He couldn't think of her in such a way. It didn't help with what he saw to allow himself to enjoy anything like this. It was… counterproductive to Overhaul's mission, after all.

"This is what his Quirk can do?" he asked aloud, and both Eris seemed to turn in response to his voice, two wide-eyed girls staring back at him. It had been a while since she had gotten under his skin, but this was enough to do it. He had been told that their new recruit's Quirk was something special, but… this was beyond anything he had expected. "It works on her?"

"I haven't yet tested it fully. But if it works as he says and we're able to do even a tenth of what I can with the real thing…" Overhaul's eyes were practically glowing. "Then our production is about to take off."

"Incredible…" It really was. It had taken years to perfect a Quirk Destruction Bullet. The absolute pinnacle of what Overhaul was able to accomplish, and the bedrock of his vision for society. And now they were presented with a means to increase their production, to replicate Eri… this could change everything. "This changes everything-"

"Not everything. There are still some limits…" Overhaul turned, his attention now on the other person in the room. "Aren't there, Bubaigawara?"

"Yeah, it's not that simple buddy." "I told you to call me Twice!"

Chronostasis blinked, staring at the jumpsuit-wearing man who leapt to his feet from where he had apparently been sitting cross-legged on the floor playing with the two Eris. Chronostasis didn't know how he'd missed the man when he walked in, wearing such a distinctive black jumpsuit with a strange grey mask that covered his whole face, but he was more thrown off by the fact that their new recruit had argued back at himself. "... Twice. You're not wearing a mask."

"Already got my own!" The new lieutenant pointed proudly to his own face. "Overhaul said I didn't need to wear another one- and I'm not wearing one of your stupid bird masks!"

"You'll get used to it," Tengai said from behind Chronostasis, sounding resigned. "It's no worse than Rappa or Tabe, anyway."

"... Right." Chronostasis mentally shook himself, and looked past Twice to Overhaul. "You mentioned limits, Boss?"

"Yes. Twice can only create a clone of someone who he has the measurements for. As for the rest…" Overhaul shook his head. "We can only have one clone at a time, it seems. Rather than an entire army-"

"Sorry boss, it's just not easy to explain. And it's none of your business anyway!"

"One clone at a time…" Chronostasis looked down at the two Eris and still found it remarkable. "When they're this convincing, I am still impressed."

"And that's the important thing, Chrono. It's not quantity that matters. It's quality. Our allies and enemies outnumber us, yes, but we can do things with Twice that we never thought possible." Overhaul moved over towards the Eris, and one gloved hand rested on the shoulder of each of them. "Extortion… it always used to be the name of the game for Yakuza like us. Now anything is possible, and all we need are measurements to give to Twice. What we could do with a clone of the Number One Hero… or a clone of the Principal of UA-"

"Or the CEO of Detnerat." Chronostasis couldn't help but smile under the mask as Overhaul's face twitched; the Boss was a genius. An insurance policy and a line of attack against all of their enemies, all bundled up in one person… recruiting Jin Bubaigawara into the Shie Hassaikai would be a masterstroke. "Anything is possible."

"I knew you'd see sense." Overhaul patted both Eris on the shoulder. "Now leave us, Chrono, Tengai. Our new Bullet and I have some work to attend to."

Chronostasis dipped his head in acceptance, and followed Tengai out of the door. As pleasing as it was to see that they had finally recruited a replacement for Toya Setsuno, and as brilliant as Twice's talents seemed to be, it just wouldn't do to waste time. They had orders to meet for the Meta Liberation Army, after all, all to fund a glorious future for the Shie Hassaikai…

As the door closed behind Chronostasis, Overhaul turned to his new lieutenant and tightened his gloved grip on the shoulders of Eri and her double. "Now, Bubaigawara. There's one question I hadn't asked about your clones."

"Hit me with it, bossman! Bet it's something stupid."

"It's quite a simple question, really." One gloved finger drew a line across the neck of one of the little girls. "... Do they bleed?"

(***)

"So this is the world of Heroes which you wish to step into, young master?"

Kyudai Garaki's moustache twitched, a small smile gracing his face as he watched the news play out on another screen on his desktop. He had muted the volume by now, bored of the endless stream of sycophants and cynics lining up to offer their unqualified opinions on what had taken place, and the sounds of machinery humming and a drip of liquid somewhere he had never identified the only sounds in his laboratory. He still kept the headlines on, however, because it was too entertaining to watch.

His actions had had consequences far beyond anything he had envisaged, it seemed.

Their escape from the Unforeseen Simulation Joint had been stressful, to say the least. Even if there were promising signs about Izuku growing into his power, unexpected developments had forced him back into hiding, with the Shimura boy being one of them. It was perhaps a cruel twist of fate that had led the Master's heir to befriend the sole survivor of the Shimura family, the last descendant of All For One's sworn enemy. But fate had more than one trick to play, and now Garaki was faced with a world where All For One had… a rival.

That energy coursing up the Shimura boy's arms, when he had caught Nomu's punch and overcame him… there was no mistaking it. Garaki had only been close enough to witness it being wielded on a couple of occasions, usually ducking through the shadows as All For One battled those defiant few, but it couldn't have been anything else. One For All had also survived. The one Quirk that had eluded Shigaraki for his entire life… now rested in the hands of his successor's closest friend. One he practically considered a brother, no less.

Destiny was a terrible thing, indeed.

Of course, their escape had been complicated significantly by the damage done to Kurogiri. Izuku hadn't known what he was doing at the time, but some of Garaki's finest work had gone into assembling Warp Gate, purposefully crafted from a complex mixture of Quirks added to a rare base he had acquired from the corpse of a Hero wannabe many years. Izuku's use of All For One, while showing potential for improvement in every other area, had ripped that delicate creation apart, and Kurogiri had been in agony since, impotent and unable to warp. They were lucky that Johnny had saved them, even if Johnny's tonsils wouldn't thank them for a week.

So Garaki had gotten to work, because his oldest and closest ally deserved better than to be broken at the hands of the new master. Kurogiri still had so much to offer, and so Garaki had toiled, his creation unconscious under anaesthetic and oblivious to the examination the Doctor had put him under. It had not taken long to find the damage, but finding a replacement Quirk that could be isolated and added into the mixture to stabilise him had been… near impossible. The original had been one that Garaki had never been able to copy, and so what he had been able to add was not something he was certain would do the job and be a perfect fix for Kurogiri. That… infuriated the perfectionist side to him.

There was nothing he could do about that now, though. For now he would have to wait and see if the temporary patch-up would hold, once Kurogiri woke from his slumber. That had given him plenty enough time to catch up on what the rest of the world was saying about their assault on UA. And that had been more entertainment than Garaki had had in years.

It didn't bother him that his real name was out there, now. Most people would take one look at the historic records and see that Kyudai Garaki was born far too long to still be alive today. Multiple names had been given, yes, and some of those were slightly more inconvenient, but that was always going to be the way; after all, Tsubasa was the most recent name he had used, and Izuku Midoriya was always going to find out about him one way or another with the path he was on. Importantly, he was safe in Jaku Hospital, long-abandoned and never somewhere he had been registered to practice. They would never find him here.

No, instead he had watched as others lined up to take their shot and capitalise on the chaos his actions had caused. None of this had been within his expectations, obviously- he simply wanted to try to find the master's heir and turn him around to their way of thinking- but the levels of speculation over why somebody had gone after UA had turned it into a circus. Critics of the school and the system generally had been lining up even before two idiots born of fire decided to hijack the publicity and launch an attack on their own father. Garaki had snorted out loud at how pathetic it was, and how willingly the public had turned their attention onto so much irrelevance and noise.

"All this focus on 'symbols' dulls the mind. It's a distraction," he mused aloud. "It serves a purpose, certainly, because now everybody's attention is on slating Endeavor and how 'unworthy' he is to be considered a symbol in the vein of All Might. They're right, of course, because he is inferior in all the things they consider to be such positive virtues; compassion, justice, ego. But the master was right. They serve a purpose- they misdirect attention."

His companion said nothing, staring at one of the bubbling tanks in the corner of the room, and so he continued. "All Might drove the concept of a Symbol of Peace because it gave the people something to unite behind. Someone to pin hopes and dreams on, and rally around. It worked, to an extent, but half of the reason he knew it would work is because the master had been doing it for years before. The Symbol of Evil, the demon lord… the master enjoyed the attention of course, but it worked to distract because the very idea of a paragon drives the emotions behind it. Now all they can see in the world of Pro Heroes is how nobody can 'live up to' All Might, and they obsess over that more than those content to remain shrouded in mystery."

"And this is the world that Izuku believes he can insert himself into. A potent brew of expectation and ideals and demand without thanks." Garaki shook his head. "It will chew him up and spit him out, but… maybe there's some hope in that. If he sees how futile the system is and how much it needs something else, then if his current rate of bringing out his powers continues… we may yet have him, after all."

"You… want to h-hold?" His companion replied, and Garaki was pleasantly surprised that he had been listening. "N-Not to fight him?"

"No, no. We will engage him again, you have my word. And you… you will get the chance to test him." Garaki turned to his companion and nodded, taking in the whole black hulking frame. "He will have developed, but the fact remains that it took the holder of One For All to save him against Nomu. You against both of them, or him and any of his other friends… that will be interesting to see."

"I will c-crush him. I am s-stronger-"

"Remind me who was it who won between you and All For One?"

"He is n-not All For One! He is ch-child!" There was anger in the voice now, mixed with self-belief so strong it was practically certain. "I am s-strongest!"

"Wrong." There was a snarl, but Garaki didn't blink even as spittle hit his face. "You're not the strongest. That is reserved for Machia, but now is not the time to wake him. He stirs, sensing All For One has returned, but Machia is a walking disaster that you couldn't possibly compare to. I will only trouble him if the young master proves to be incapable of listening to reason."

"... Fine." He could hear the struggle to swallow all of that pride in his companion's voice. "... Kurogiri."

"Yes?"

"He… he lives?" There was a strange sense of concern in those words, although it shouldn't have surprised Garaki too much. They were alike enough to share some kindred spirit, after all. "Will b-be okay?"

"I hope so." Garaki genuinely meant it; Kurogiri's companionship had kept him sane since All For One's death. It wouldn't do to lose him now. "You appreciate that when dealing with multiple Quirks, there is an art to making sure that every part of the whole is compatible. Losing a part of yourself causes damage, but it could also mean other Quirks don't work as intended, or that you start to come apart."

"... Would hurt. But would end-dure."

"I'm sure you would. But your Quirks are many, and not all wrapped up into one. It would cause you pain, yes, but Kurogiri's singular Quirk is the end product of many being tailored together. It's… more complicated." Garaki paused, staring over to his companion, lying face down on an operating table just like he was a normal patient. "It will take a few days, perhaps even weeks, before we will begin to see changes and see whether it's enough. For now, he will need rest."

"You are… s-set back-"

"Not completely." Garaki turned away from Kurogiri to stare at the strange cradle he had built on the side of one of the desks, where a bluey-purple lump was skewered by various needles and a pair of intravenous lines. If one was to look closely enough at the lump, it would be obvious that the strange colour was in fact torn fabric over the top of pale flesh, and that the intravenous lines had drawn blood from this lump. One of the happier accidents of USJ, in reality. "I wasn't expecting certain developments, but I saw an opportunity in the chaos and I took it. It may take some time, but what this could do for my Nomu and their survivability is incredible, and it's showing promising signs of meshing perfectly with their Quirks. A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one."

"I d-don't get it."

"You will," Garaki hummed. "All in good time. But this is just distracting us. Kurogiri won't be rousing for a while. Let us leave him to recover."

"Yes." At his beckoning, and as Garaki grabbed his own cane to support him walking out of the lab, his shambling companion fell into step behind him. Even as difficult and quick-tempered as he was, he was exactly the same as all of the others deep-down, all craving to be commanded and unleashed by those in charge. All For One had instilled it in his prototypes, and Garaki had been successful enough to manage it with him too. "This boy… is n-not the Master."

"No, he is not." Garaki paused briefly, and couldn't help but smile to himself. "But he isn't what he believes himself to be, either. In time, he will change. And if he continues as he is, well… his development on this path might surprise him. He may yet live up to the legacy he has inherited, after all."

"And i-if you're w-wrong?" There was so much hope in that voice that the meaning was as clear as day to the Doctor. He knew what motivated his companion, after all. "If he is n-not worthy-"

"Then you will get what you crave, my friend." Garaki's eyes gleamed underneath his goggles. "Bloody vengeance, at long last."

"Hur-hur." The chuckle was dark and visceral, and punctuated by the crack of knuckles. "C-Can't wait."

As the Doctor left his main office behind, heading in the direction of some of the larger tanks, he couldn't help but think back upon the USJ. The revelation of One For All's survival had panicked him at the time, and still did if he had to be honest. The Quirk was the Master's greatest mistake, an abomination that had upset the dynamic of the Quirk Singularity Theory and changed everything; it was the Quirk that had killed All For One, after all.

But as much as it needed to be dealt with, the pieces were falling into place again. Kurogiri would be fixed in time, but he hadn't spent a lifetime after Incident Zero labouring to create more Nomu for nothing. One had nearly defeated One For All's latest holder at the USJ, and there were plenty more to follow without unleashing the Calamity. And in the worst case scenario, it would be two boys against him rather than one; in the best case, that voice he had heard before Izuku had been defeated wasn't as dead as he thought. Izuku could still become what he had hoped, but now there was an added bonus that someone might steer him that way from beyond the grave anyway...

And as Garaki continued to muse on his walk down the corridors of Jaku Hospital, he was oblivious to the faint noises in his private office. Oblivious to the form of his closest ally pulsing slightly, as if the smoke that made up his body came from a fire that had roared into life once again. Tsubasa remained in the tank beside the Doctor's desk, and the Nomu's eyes were wide as they focused on the writhing smog, a keening whine coming even despite the muzzle on his face and the fluid he was suspended in.

Something wasn't right. The jacket and shirt which Kurogiri had been wearing, so well-tailored, were unbuttoned as the Doctor had been working, but they rippled as if a gust of wind had caught them. There were no shoes on his feet any more, and the black mist twitched, as if non-existent toes had twitched. But nobody was there to witness this besides the muzzled and braindead Tsubasa, and nobody was there to witness the way in which the purple smog around Kurogiri's brace and head twisted, beginning to burn a pale and bright blue that threw strange shadows across the wall…

Kurogiri's head rose up, yellow eyes twisted into an expression of agony amidst the blue smoke, and one word was uttered. It wasn't in the voice that the Doctor had known and cultivated, deep and rich and dangerous. It was scared, higher-pitched and uncertain of everything around him. "... S-Shota?"

As if the effort of uttering that one word was enough, the form of Kurogiri slumped to the floor, the smoke fizzling out and burning back to its usual colour. And but for the whimpering of Tsubasa, and the slow bubbling of a tank behind the piece of flesh on Garaki's desk, everything was still once more.

(***)

"You know, I should probably be apologising to you right about now, Kizuki."

Curious perked up at the sound of her actual name, lounging on one of the very classy and divinely comfortable armchairs in one corner of the office that had been set up around a long mahogany table, and lazily turned her head to look at her host. "I think you should. Keeping me inside on a night like this… is cruel."

Re-Destro chuckled at the sly reply from his lieutenant, as he poured her and himself glasses of red wine from the cabinet in his office. In his head, he enjoyed how the dusky orange glow of the lamps on the side reflected in the murky liquid. "It's the biggest news day since Incident Zero, apparently. Or at least, that's how several of your colleagues at Shoowaysha are describing it. If you're worried that you're needed in the office to drive public interest in the headlines, then I must reassure you that they're managing to do that just fine without you."

"Then why are you apologising to me?" Curious bantered back, raising her eyebrow in much the same way as she did when she started to try to trap people in her interviews. "If I'm so unnecessary after all…"

"I know how much of a gloryhound you are. I know how much you wanted to be the one out there on TV, leading the discussions on whether UA was still fit for purpose. Presenting a shocking exposé on who Touya Todoroki really is, the crimes of Dabi vs the crimes of Endeavor." Re-Destro picked up the two glasses, and fixed his attention onto Curious with a grin, as if daring her to deny it. "I thank you for your sacrifice."

"You're right, of course. But when my Grand Commander requests an emergency meeting of the board, I wouldn't miss it for the world." Curious graciously accepted the glass offered to her, as Re-Destro took the armchair at the head of the table and took a sip of his own glass of wine. "Even the editors at Shoowaysha who aren't members or believers in our cause are driving this one forward. High profile doesn't quite cut it."

"It's a day that will go down in history, absolutely." Re-Destro put the wine glass down gently on the table. "As much for the surprise, as anything."

"Absolutely!" Curious enthused. "The UA story was enough of a scoop in its own right. An unknown quantity of a villain and an unknown motive looked fascinating to get my teeth into! And then-"

"Endeavor's boys launched their own attempt to steal the spotlight." Skeptic had a tumbler of old amber whiskey in front of his chair, and a laptop, which he had busied himself with while Re Destro was pouring drinks. "Public interest in their statement has increased the interest in the attack on UA substantially. I expect that Touya Todoroki anticipated that he and his brother would draw all of the attention, but the mystery around the UA attack… Curious was right to see that as the most important piece of information we've learned. That mystery has captured the public's attention enough for Dabi and Juhyo to not turn it into a complete sideshow."

"Both being beneficial, of course." Re-Destro hummed to himself, leaning back in the chair with an air of complete contentedness. "Such a surprise statement being broadcast to the whole nation… an ambush at its finest. You must be proud of their execution, Skeptic."

"If you are suggesting that I have used similar tactics against competitors in order to secure Feel Good Inc's market spot, then I categorically deny any such allegation and would remind you that none of those allegations ever made it to court." Skeptic's fringe was long, and shadowed the tight and ironic smirk on his face. "It was a very effective ambush, I'll give them that. Maximising their potential viewership by hijacking the existing attention after the USJ attack was clever. You may wish to hire them at Shoowaysha, Curious."

"Ambush journalism? Scandals plastered across the tabloids?" Curious laughed out loud, winking at the Grand Commander. "Dabi's a man after my own heart."

Re-Destro couldn't stop himself from shaking with laughter at his lieutenant's bold reply, and bit his tongue before he escalated it even further. Curious had a wicked tongue on her when she was in a good mood, and they wouldn't be able to stop for hours if he gave in now. "I assume Endeavor's poll numbers have tanked?"

"You assume correctly." Skeptic tapped a couple of keys on his laptop. "There are calls for him to resign already, and the popularity numbers for the Hero Rankings are sliding again. It's too soon to call whether they will be enough to impact his Number One status, but they're enough for him to begin losing supporters. And, crucially in this age for a private Hero Agency, sponsors."

"Abuse in whatever form is enough that even if the evidence ends up lacking, or the allegation ends up being proved wrong, it's enough to score permanent reputational damage against the accused," Curious said, swilling the wine around in her glass as she spoke. "And having both brothers speak out means that there's credibility. Perhaps on their own, each of them might have struggled, but both together means that Endeavor won't shake this. What happens to him is going to be exciting to cover…"

"I agree. So forgive me for asking this..." Skeptic turned slightly in his chair to look at Re-Destro. "But Detnerat were the first sponsor to announce that they would be sticking by him, weren't they?"

"Why, Skeptic, my old friend. You live up to your codename." Re-Destro didn't lose his smile; he was in too much of a good mood. "You don't doubt our vision, do you?"

"Not at all, Grand Commander. I know the direction you plan to take us in, and I approve." Skeptic's head bowed slightly as he replied. "I simply question whether a public statement so soon was the right course of action. Endeavor is compromised, bad news, and by making a public statement you risk attaching some of his publicity to your own company-"

"It's because of the added pressure that creates that you did it, isn't it?" Curious asked, almost sounding gleeful as she did. "Doing deals behind closed doors might save the company publicity, but you want it, don't you? Publicly backing Endeavor right now in his time of need applies pressure, gives him the courage to double down! That way, he can make more mistakes that push him closer to the edge, and then-"

"We can be the ones who tip him over the edge," Re-Destro finished, glad to see Skeptic nod his head in understanding. Skeptic and Curious were both usually so good with public relations, so when one of them faltered, it was always good to be able to rely on the other to bring them both back in line. "We've put public faith in him, which means Endeavor could yet feel that there is no reason to change. That means the public still sees the Number One Hero who abused his children, who acts as he always does and thinks he will face no consequence. That serves our purpose more than cutting him off now, of course."

"I see." Skeptic went back to typing on his laptop, a sure sign to Re-Destro that his lieutenant was happy with the answers provided. "I gather you were considering for a while whether you want to drive a wedge between him and his Apprentice. I have less faith than Curious that you will be able to turn Katsuki Bakugo into a poster boy for a society of Meta Abilities. I've spoken to several former classmates of his through various means. All he desires is to be the strongest Hero, to become Number One. Not to change the world."

"It still works for us even if all he wants is to rise up," Curious pointed out, her blue lips stained purple by another sip of wine. "He rises as Endeavor falls… how exciting a narrative that is! Bakugo is nowhere near the top for us to consider him a threat, but he's near enough to Endeavor for it to hurt him. Bakugo feeling held back by his failing mentor would be enough to tear them apart, as much as it would be if we were able to show Bakugo the truth of liberation and sway him to our cause!"

"Driving away Endeavor's allies so that he is powerless to stand in the face of revolution… this is the way to victory, is it not?" Re-Destro felt smug, with what he was about to say when the others arrived and what he was witnessing in the outside world. It was time, after all. "Divide and conquer."

"All's fair in love and war, right?" Curious beamed, as the sound of the elevator arriving and pinging the bell caught her attention. With the doors sliding open, her smile shone through in her eyes. "You two were almost late! You had me worried!"

"I think several of your colleagues are to blame for that." The first of the two new arrivals strode forward, adjusting the sleeve of the long black overcoat that he wore over the top of his suit. He took stock of the three people in front of him, and shot them a lazy smile. "Several wanted a statement from me about the latest media frenzy. All those activities at UA High, and a video broadcast to the nation… it's like vultures on a carcass."

"You didn't have to answer all of them." His companion looked completely different to him, and spoke with a much younger and reedier voice. For starters, nobody could see his face, shadowed by the oversized hood of the blue parka he wore that covered his whole body. The office was warm and cozy, and yet nobody made a move to suggest that he took it off; they had all grown accustomed to him remaining concealed behind it, and allowed him his idiosyncrasies. "I had to wait for you in your limousine."

"You'll have to forgive him." Koku Hanabata shrugged, not looking at all sympathetic. "I think the only journalist he likes or is willing to talk to is you, Kizuki."

"Me? I'm flattered!" Curious leaned forward, and batted her eyelashes at the young man in the coat. "Is Trumpet right, Geten? Do you… do you like me?!"

Geten's response was to stuff his hands in his pockets, and not look directly at Curious. "... You're all as bad as each other."

"Our dear Geten remains as shy as ever." Re-Destro stood as both Trumpet and Geten saluted him by forming an 'L' with their fingers and thumbs, and patted a chair on Curious' side of the table, between her and Re-Destro's seat at the head. Geten nodded gratefully, and slunk forward to take the chair without so much as a backwards glance to his companion. "I promise you, it's not a complete waste of time. Drumming up support through publicity is a key part of our recruitment."

"I hope your soundbites remembered to include something on that, Trumpet." Skeptic didn't rise from his seat, and didn't turn around to look at Hanabata as he spoke. Re-Destro was used to Chikazoku being like this, not very subtle in masking that he didn't particularly like Trumpet, and had given up trying to understand why. "And not just promotion of the Hearts and Minds Party."

"Most of my questions were about Endeavor and whether he should face consequences." If Trumpet was fazed by Skeptic being rude he didn't show it, and slid directly into a chair beside him at the other end of the table to Re-Destro. "Of course, neither I nor the Hearts and Minds Party can support any parent who is guilty of abusing their children, and for any confirmation that an allegation of abuse is true, we recommend punishment in the strongest possible terms."

"You didn't name him," Curious noted.

"You and your headlines can afford to be less subtle than me," Trumpet replied, evenly. "But as for some of what Dabi said… obviously, no child should be punished for wanting to develop their own powers and use them in pursuit of their dreams. I made that point clear."

"Good. I appreciate you cannot refer to them as Meta Abilities in public just yet, but a statement like that will be helpful for others to cling to." Re-Destro nodded his approval, and paused to finish the last dregs of his glass of wine. "I gather that you were out recruiting in a different way today, Geten. Anything to report?"

"Some were a waste of time. Their Abilities weren't strong enough, and they would have no worth in our future society." Frost seemed to form on both of the young man's hands as he spoke. "Others were fine. They'll be joining us soon."

Skeptic made an amused noise. "You can't scare everyone off who you think is too weak, Iceman. We're open to all who share our views."

"I know. But our Grand Commander deserves the best he can get." Geten nodded to Re-Destro, and Re-Destro was reminded of just how much hero worship the young man applied to him. "I will find that."

"One of your candidates is not who I would call the best we can get," Trumpet commented, his voice flat. "You are aware that he's been planning to contact people in prison, aren't you? I don't want to ask whether you intend to break them out yourself, or recruit them after they do it themselves, but an unstable and bloodthirsty murderer isn't exactly a recruit who paints a good image of our organisation."

"Those with the strongest Meta Abilities should stand at the top of our new society. He is one of the strongest I have seen. His power added to our cause would work." Geten didn't let Trumpet reply before he continued. "His desires are to do as he pleases with his Meta Abilities. On a basic level, he is like-minded and willing to shed blood to be free."

"Perhaps you were too young to remember him killing Heroes and civilians," Trumpet mused, unwilling to listen. "The two Heroes he killed before he ended up in prison a few years ago… brutal murders. What were their names again?"

"They don't matter," Re-Destro interrupted, before an argument could erupt. Thankfully, Trumpet and Geten both respected him enough to back down. "With the future we seek, some sacrifices and deaths in the name of our dream may be inevitable. I won't have us be used, but if we can use his bloodlust to our advantage… I won't rule him out yet."

"We have bigger issues before we get to him anyway." Trumpet sounded calm and collected, but it was clear immediately to Re-Destro that he did not share the same enthusiasm as him or Curious. "The most significant of which are the developments regarding the Number One Hero. And what that means for this group."

"You have doubts over the timing of this meeting?" Re-Destro stood, walking over to pour himself another glass of wine, and if his muscles bulged with Stress as he walked past his doubtful lieutenant, that was entirely a coincidence. "I suspect you know why I have called it-"

"To summon all of us together like this? It's pretty clear."

"Not all of us," Skeptic murmured. "Not yet."

Trumpet ignored him. "Even if the purpose is clear, the timing… you know I am always the most cautious of us, Grand Commander."

"Don't tell me you're getting cold feet," Curious said, sounding slightly mocking as she focused on Trumpet. "How unlike a politician to sit on the fence."

"I'm simply taking stock of what we have," Trumpet deflected, coolly. "To take this course of action… we have to be certain that before a play is made, all of the pieces are in place. Sensing blood in the water and being too hasty would cause us damage and set us back, rather than waiting for the perfect coup de grace."

"Blood in the water is putting it mildly," Re-Destro said, setting the bottle of wine down and returning to the head of the table with his glass. In the corner of the room, he noted movement by the door to the stairs, but said nothing. "Tell me, Trumpet. What, or who, are the two biggest enemies to a future of Meta Liberation?"

"Everyone around this table knows the answer to that question, but since you have asked I will engage, starting with what it's not." Trumpet took a sip from a flask of coffee he had brought with him. "Not the government."

"Correct." Re-Destro leaned forward in his chair. "We could point to those in government and say that they are enemies, but they are not, truth be told. They are simply obstacles, because in a democracy there is no significant degree of permanence. Governments can be changed, and ideologies can sweep in."

"Equally," Skeptic said, joining in, "it would be wrong to say the Commission is our enemy. It is, again, an obstacle. There are those within the Commission who we fund, those more in line with our views. It is the enforcer in the system, chasing shadows and purposefully directed into pursuing the wrong priorities, but an enforcer can be directed. Its priorities can be… influenced."

"Private Heroes will do what they have to do to survive," Re-Destro continued, "as we all saw after Incident Zero, and so most will fall in line with any change of system. Our dear Number One Hero is not included in that, the embattled and angry Endeavor. He is one of our greatest enemies because the myth of Number One status means so much attention is focused on him, and that means he would be the first person trying to stop us from seeking the power we are due. He would have to fight to cling to the system which he drove, and which he sits atop of."

"And that means that the other enemy to us is the one school that remains independent of it all," Trumpet concluded. "UA High. All Might's alma mater and the only Hero School in the country besides Shiketsu which remains outside of Commission control. But what makes them more dangerous than Shiketsu is that refusal to accept a change in status quo. Children are the future, after all, and UA focuses on forming Heroes who would perpetuate the ideals of All Might, the ideals of a society without Meta Liberation."

"Precisely." Re-Destro waved a hand. "Really, the great enemy of Meta Liberation is Hero society itself. All that oppressive legislation curtailing our basic freedom of identity, limiting Meta Ability usage, and all that delightful bureaucracy which gives Heroes the rights nobody else possesses. But the two great symbols of that, the symbols that endure, are Endeavor as the Number One Hero, and UA High."

"And both of those are on the ropes right now," Curious said, gleefully. "Endeavor just got sucker-punched by his two kids, an abuser at the top of the food chain. Nobody will listen to someone like that! And UA…"

"UA had a myth of invulnerability attached to it because of what Nezu did in the wake of Incident Zero," Re-Destro continued. "The old school of All Might, the 'best Heroes of the next generation'... it was supposed to be untouchable. That has been destroyed by the villain attack at the USJ. Their teachers failed to protect students from being hurt, and were outclassed themselves, taken completely by surprise. Cut them and they bleed, after all."

"So now is the time to act," Skeptic said, agreeing with Re-Destro and (to nobody's surprise) putting himself at odds with Trumpet. "This is what we were waiting for."

"I understand that. But we have to make sure we have fallbacks ready to work for us, that's all I'm saying." To Trumpet's credit, the pressure of being the voice of some dissent (even if he clearly wanted to go ahead, at least in Re-Destro's eyes) didn't dissuade him from talking. "We were… how do I put this diplomatically? Perhaps less prepared last time than we needed to be."

"Nobody expected All Might to die. Nobody expected there to be such a powerful villain in the shadows, and so Incident Zero was a surprise." Re-Destro felt his fist clench reflexively. It was still slightly frustrating years later that he had been caught unawares. "We were scrambling to catch up, trying to find a way to influence change that could work to our advantage. Endeavor, however, proved too stubborn for us to reliably use him to bring about Meta Liberation. The Commission resisted because they feared anarchy, rather than seeing the benefits of freedom."

"And now look at the world they've made," Geten spoke up. "Corrupt Private Heroes, a Number One outside of their ranks who harms as much as he helps. Society isn't working for the people anymore. It's broken."

"All that trust and confidence, eroded over time, all because we gave them nudges. Pursue the vigilantes to restore order. Allow Heroes to escape liability for collateral damage. Their system is failing, and it is ready for change." Re-Destro took a brief sip of wine. "Last time we didn't have our replacement to the Number One ready. All Might was followed by Endeavor, and we couldn't get our message across. This time is different."

"This time, we have a successor to Endeavor, ready to go."

Re-Destro tried not to smirk about the surprised reaction from Trumpet and Geten, who hadn't seen or heard the newcomer arrive, and failed when Curious laughed at their discomfort. "You're late. I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to make it."

"Duty called. Rioting has already begun in some places as a backlash. I had to disguise this as deployment." The newcomer walked forward, the heels of her boots thudding on the office floor. "But I'm here. Control has been established. And we're ready to make a difference."

"... You made it." The barely concealed emotions in Trumpet's usually calm voice threatened to bubble over at the sight of the woman. Time clearly didn't heal all wounds. "You are absolutely sure that he is ready?"

"Koku… you know full well what I can do. How valuable a weapon I can make him. He will listen." The woman tucked a strand of purple hair behind her ear, and poured herself the remainder of Re-Destro's bottle of red wine into a glass. He didn't mind; she had more than earned it with her work, so he couldn't blame her for revelling in describing it with such certainty and pride. "I've already done all of the hard work in getting him to overcome his inhibitions."

"Sacrificing those who seek to act freely in order to make martyrs to our cause… all the while painting the Commission as tyrants and discrediting those who would present flawed visions to rival ours." Curious sounded breathless as she finished that sentence. "Have I ever told you how impressive I think your work is?"

"Thank you." The woman shot her a nod, and moved towards the end of the table, to the empty chair opposite Geten and just before Re-Destro at the head. "As I said, the hard work is done, and influencing him to promote our ideas is child's play in comparison. He can't get enough of the book already. I only need to give him a little nudge once in a while to cement what's already there; he will do the rest, and do as he's told."

"Then it sounds like we're ready," Skeptic said, nodding approvingly. "Once Endeavor falls, our new Number One will accept that society must change. He will see things our way, and we can finally achieve Destro's dream. As he always wanted."

"Whatever is needed for the future of liberation… Hawks will help us to that end goal." Haruga Shinso finally took her seat in front of Re-Destro, and even with the bags under her purple eyes, there was a zealous fire that burned in them as she formed her own 'L' salute. "My work is yours… Grand Commander."

"Sway... I thank you for your service." Re-Destro smiled, genuinely, grateful for all of the work his lieutenant had put in to provide their cause with the best possible chance. "Well, I think that settles it. Trumpet?"

"... I think so." Trumpet looked warily at Sway, but didn't argue further. "... Everything is in hand."

"It's really happening, huh?" Curious could barely contain her glee. "We're all here. We're all ready. Are we putting the call out?"

"Indeed we are." Re-Destro straightened his tie and stood at the head of the table, looking out at his lieutenants. The enigmatic Geten, the excitable Curious, the stoic Trumpet, the reliable Skeptic, and the ingenious Sway… his father would have been proud to see what he and his inner circle had accomplished. What they would accomplish, in his name. "Opportunities have presented themselves to us. Now, we must mobilise our members, and ensure that the people see the merit of Destro's vision."

"We have been strengthening our Army for a moment like this. Our enemies are weak. It's time… time for the Meta Liberation War to begin."

(***)

A/N: There we go. Never a dull moment in this fic, I hope?

From the moment that I introduced the Meta Liberation Army, I knew that I wanted them to escalate and become properly prominent. Their ideology is fascinating, as is the hypocrisy, and I wish we had seen more hints of them sooner in canon- in the absence of All For One as a villain, they are the perfect sinister group to fill the void. I also absolutely loved the concept of Meta Liberation Hawks in canon, and so when I began with Shinso's arc and Sway, I knew that I wanted to tie Sway to the MLA to allow for the MLA's corrupting influence to have even spread to the Commission, while also retaining MLA Hawks in some way. Now whichever lovely person is updating the TV Tropes page gets to add another entry to "In Spite of a Nail", eh?

And of course, where there is one villain, My Hero Academia has several. I dislike that each group felt so disconnected in canon, so having the Yakuza willing to try to go behind the backs of the MLA and bolster their own ranks feels right. And of course, Garaki does his own thing, knowing secrets none of the others are aware of and bolstered by powerful allies of his own creation. But Kurogiri isn't the same since Izuku got to him, and this way madness lies...

Anyway, that's it for the end of the arc. Arc 2 of Incident Zero is complete, and I can't wait to see some of the reactions to the final chapter. As I said above, I am now putting this fic on hiatus until February 2021, and the support has been mindblowing. On Fanfiction, this is now the second most followed Izuku and All For One story, which just seems bloody wild, and you've all put me so damn close to 2,000 followers. I never thought we'd get this far, so… thank you from the bottom of my very twisted and cynical heart.

If you would be so kind, please review with your thoughts, and favourite and follow. Please also join the Ignite to the Call Discord, where Incident Zero has a dedicated channel, to discuss the fic ; the join code is 5Myr6umT. And if you feel like you want to try some more stuff, obviously feel free to follow me; I'll be posting some newer stuff over Christmas, even if my priority is to relax and enjoy the break.

I'll see you all soon, but until then, ya boy out!