CHAPTER NINE: Fates Warning

"When the time is up you'll know/Not just one power runs the show"

The sun was setting down in a sea of bloody clouds, bathing the city skyline in a sinister crimson radiance as Rikya Yotsubashi sat at his desk in his penthouse, tapping a single finger and staring outside, his usually jolly expression substituted by a somber and pensive frown. Right behind him, Chitose Kizuki was standing at attention - not daring uttering a word and waiting for her commander to speak. He spent the last thirty minutes perusing the files she deposited on the mahogany table; her face was indeed rather nervous. As much as she tried to collect information on all the parties involved, some of the actors eluded her quite obstinately - and that of course was something she couldn't abide. Not to menton the very real possibility of angering her boss... something few people lived to talk about.

"So" Re-Destro finally said after a few more minutes of uncomfortable silence "The tall one has gone to ground. Very effectively, apparently, if you of all people cannot locate him." he tilted his head slightly, his lips curling in a small smile. "Considering how he was able to make Dabi vanish, it's not surprising he did the same to himself. I wonder if it's teleportation or disintegration."

Curious nodded reluctantly. "At the present time we do not have any information on that, Commander...I am deeply sorry for this failure." she begun hesitantly, trying to pick up the pace of her report as she continued. "However, as you have seen in the files, we did manage to locate the other one. He apparently shacked up with the League: my informers have seen him in Toga's company on what appeared to be a date. They appear to be...in a relationship of sort. Tomura is currently in hiding after the Club Pearl incident, two days ago: he parted way with Muscular and I believe he's using him to divert attention from himself. It does seem to be working: most of the pro heroes are actually himing in on Muscular's hideout as we speak."

"Odd, that. I wouldn't have pegged someone who actually saves civilians to join a bunch of hoodlums and terrorist. Then again, female wiles can go far when it comes to securing allegiances - if one is willing. And his Quirk remains a mystery." the commander mulled - mostly to himself. He was so lost in rumination that he was barely registering his underling's presence - a mere voice providing food for thought outside his reality.

"Some people I spoke with conflate both subjects with Nomu" the woman continued. "It's a lead worth pursuing: as for now we don't have any insight on their nature, much less why they're here. It's interesting that at least the one with the gem in the hand seems to have no past. I interviewed the personnel of the hotel he stayed at and cross checked: the document he provided was a perfectly made fake. The info didn't match though. Our man has, literally, no past. It's as if he popped into existance a week ago or so. His stay in the League could have a million motivations: being blackmailed, Stockholm syndrome, ulterior motives, or even genuine affection. I took the liberty to research Toga's past - quite tragic and sure to elicit sympathy for one who isn't brainwashed by the Hero cause."

"Yes, it has merit." Re-Destro nodded absentmindedly. "Still, someone with thatkind of power would be better employed in the Front rather than with a band of lowly criminals. Actually, any of the two would do, but since we know where one of them is and their not so merry band is in a moment of disorganization... the choice becomes pretty obvious, don't you think?"

"Certainly, Sir. Shall I organize an extraction?" Curious asked, trying to contain the thrill of a perfect ctory in the making. She could already see it in the headlines: a mysterious wanderer, a tragic villainess haunted by her past and the demons in her mind, their fates entwined... utterly marvelous. She could spin the story to further the Front's cause by miles with something like that. Not to mention the guy's heroic exploits were perfect to reap extra sympathy points from the masses.

"Yes. I trust there won't be any complications. Oh, and another thing..." he slowly picked up a single sheet of paper from the files and waved it in the air almost nonchalantly. "This.. First Exarch. What do you make of it? I would like to hear your opinion."

Curious brushed the tip of her inder finger on her lips while she organized her thoughts, then let out a small sigh. "It has all the makings of a propaganda operation masked as a grassroots movement. I am 90% sure that someone with a certain amount of means is behind this. My bet as for now is a Quirkless person who's into information technology or industry. The post dissemination is very efficient and requires specialized hardware and software: and using extrernal sources for an information-sensitive job like this is out of the question. The risk of leaks is too high: if whoever put this show up did this I would already know who they are by now. No, it's all in-house." She paused for a moment to give her boss time to absorb the informations, then resumed when he nodded briefly to spur her on. "As for the genuinity of the message... I also have my doubts. The rhetoric is too evident, too booming, too to arms for a society like ours. Very... Western, I'd say." She ended up smiling conspiratorially. "Which, if I may, could point a finger on one person of interest."

"Only one? Allow me to play Devil's Advocate for a minute: our guy in the League could have set this up also, for the sole purpose of sowing further chaos. It could be in their MO - crass, thoughtless and explosive." Rikiya replied, finally turning to face her. His silhouette against the setting sun was giving him a crimson, menacing aura - Curious involuntarily made half a step back, but immediately composed herself.

"I don't think it's in his ropes." she shook her head "All the people I interviewed who had contacts with him agree on one thing: he was actively try to stay out of conflict. He may be many things, but apparently not someone who willingly follows any banner - more, he seems to want the world to know he doesn't. Of course, I could be wrong but all the information points to the other one - by mere exclusion, if anything. We will have more information soon, though. I'll see to it."

Re-Destro nodded. "See to it. Select your men for the extraction - but you will not be participating. I need you on the ground to actually help this movement expand." He grinned as he spoke, a devious glint flashing in his eyes. "A movement like this one gaining ground is the perfect bogeyman to bring the Front's ideals to the masses. We shall cultivate it until it's big enough for us to openly oppose it and bring the deregulation argument in the heroes' face... with a side of Quirkless terrorism... and then the fear of the populace will do the rest. We will crush them justenough to get into the spotlight... and then those politicians will have to listen."

Curious maintained her expression accurately neutral: the idea of being held back from collecting information on the field was maddening... but the Commander's plan was a stroke of genius, and she was the only one with the right skillset to execute it right. She would have to abide. "Yes, Commander. I'll get to it immediately." she replied, trying to hide any emotion.

"See that you do. Dismissed."

With a small bow, the woman turned on her heel and made a quick exit leaving the secret leader of the Meta Liberation Army alone with his thoughts.

He was still smiling.