19/10/2021
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The Emperor's Dragon
Fledgling 12
Scarab noticed that All Might was not smiling. That was actually odd. She might be an underground Hero but she knew that the Number One had a persona and that persona smiled. The man behind it might not, but… he was in uniform so he should be in his persona. Though, that fact that he wasn't smiling would explain the oppressive weight he was projecting. Whatever this meeting was about, the Number One hero was really not happy about it.
"Stop that," Sir Nighteye muttered.
Scarab almost rolled her eyes when several of the lesser ranked heroes actually trembled. The look All Might gave his sidekick was testament that whatever was happening was disturbing him greatly.
As expected, Sir Nighteye returned the look and nonchalantly pushed up his glasses.
The gesture must have meant something because the weight in the room lifted somewhat but All Might still continued to brood.
"What's this about?" Endeavor growled. It was amusing to see that he was sitting as far from All Might as he could and the fiery Number Two Hero glowered at everyone who came near. He was making it clear that he thought this meeting was a waste of time.
"A mission," the answer came from the side of the room and the assembled Heroes looked over. Most were surprised to see the Commissioner of the Hero Public Safety Commission walk into the room, followed by a trail of others.
"One that needs all of us?" Endeavor was naturally skeptical.
Commissioner Soukan smiled thinly. "One that we want done quickly, quietly and efficiently," he elaborated.
"Because quietly is a quality the Number One hero has in spades," Scarab muttered.
The Commissioner didn't hear her but several of the heroes standing near her did. A few actually relaxed at the quip. Others were still tense from the obvious hostility in the air.
"Most of you have heard about All Might's capture of Toxic Chainsaw," Commissioner Soukan continued.
Scarab didn't hear any more. "Fuck." The word was quiet but if the Commissioner was leading with that then… She released a string of profanity in her mind, looking intently at All Might again.
Toxic Chainsaw was a cover story. She knew that better than anyone else, given that she'd taken out that moron. What did that mean?
She knew what it meant. She'd been around more than long enough to know what it meant. It meant that the villain All Might had killed was not as dead as he should have been. It meant that the villain, if taken into custody, had escaped.
It meant that a villain All Might himself needed to deny the existence of was alive and well.
She felt sick.
No wonder All Might was not smiling.
Scarab turned her attention back to the briefing. There were images on display now. One was from a street camera and displayed an absolutely huge man. He wasn't doing anything illegal in the image.
"This man is believed to be a close associate and according to our intel will be in close proximity. He is exceedingly dangerous and is on record as killing at least three heroes, and injuring more."
She narrowed her eyes, looking at the image. If he'd taken out daytime heroes, why was he still on the loose? Usually the daytime heroes took that sort of thing personally and made an effort to capture hero killers. And if they couldn't it was given to the underground heroes. It wasn't like they were immune to hero killers either but they had more means available to them to deal with the issue, means made available to them by the lack of prying eyes. That what looked to be a huge mountain of a man was still at large was odd. She'd have to make some inquiries later to find out what had happened.
A new picture appeared. The man in it was handsome but Scarab knew better than to judge by looks. He was smiling confidently and his white hair was swept back. Gold eyes glittered above his smile. It was… it was actually slightly disturbing. There was something about the image that she couldn't quite place. Even though it was just an image the man seemed too confident.
Scarab looked around. The pressure of earlier returned and she could see that All Might was tense. Okay, so this was the bastard who Toxic Chainsaw was covering for. She looked back at the image, committing his face to memory. He didn't look villainous but Scarab knew that those people were often the worst. This man was dangerous.
"This is the primary target," the Commissioner said. "He is very dangerous and lethal force is authorised."
That caused a stir amongst the heroes. It wasn't exactly a secret but it certainly wasn't advertised but there were times when a villain couldn't be captured. To authorise the use of lethal force before the mission-
Around her several heroes actually gulped. Endeavor's expression shifted. He was suddenly paying attention. All Might's expression… His was still closed and tense.
"What's his quirk?"
Scarab wasn't sure who asked but she saw the way All Might flinched at it. There was history there.
"That's confidential," the Commissioner said. "It is believed he is injured, however, we can't be sure of that. The entire purpose of this operation is to ensure he is brought to justice. It is expected there will be other henchmen but we have no information about them at this time."
There were mutters at that. They weren't happy but they would do their job.
"Additionally, there may be children present," the Commissioner continued speaking over the mutters.
That brought silence.
No one liked villains who had anything to do with children. All Might and Sir Nighteye weren't surprised, which meant they already knew. Of course they did. They'd had the first crack at this villain. Scarab watched the Number One Hero. He was strong but… He'd been injured fighting that man, she realised. He'd been out of action for so long the media had noticed. How bad was it?
"If there are children present, evacuate them but proceed with the mission. If they get in the way, you are authorised to knock them out."
This was not a mission that was going to be on the books.
"You don't think they'll fight?" Someone asked.
The Commissioner's mask slipped for an instant. "We're not sure."
The Commissioner's mask might have slipped but All Might looked positively devastated at the news. Scarab didn't like the implication. Most of her colleagues were thinking kids would be present because of child smuggling. All Might's reaction told a different story. The kids were present for a reason, and if they were going to get in the way, they were loyal to the villain. They could be brainwashed, but that hardly mattered in the middle of a mission.
"What's the layout?" Endeavor asked, dismissing the issue. He'd go through kids if it looked good for him.
"It's a high rise," the Commissioner said, and a schematic replaced the images. "There's a public bar on the first floor, and a residential unit on the floor above. There is other office space in the building and the ground floor is commercial shops. The target is believed to reside in the residential unit."
"Is that the only apartment in the building?" the question was asked.
"Yes. It was converted from a hotel space attached to the bar," the Commissioner explained.
They'd done their homework for this mission.
Another schematic appeared, this time showing the layout of the residential area. Several rooms were highlighted. "These are your target areas." Each room was labelled with a number and the teams who were to go there appeared on the side. Every team was headed by someone in the top 10.
"Other teams will secure the bar, and the other floors of the building. We cannot afford to let this man get away."
There were nods all round but Scarab could tell they weren't from understanding. The Heroes would perform their job but even with the Commissioner giving the mission himself, they didn't appreciate how dangerous the man was. She looked for her name on the teams lists and was shocked to see her name with All Might.
It was probably some sort of gesture, giving her an opportunity to see the man her take down was covering for. She almost snorted. That sort of thing was for daytime heroes. She didn't need to know. She knew he was bad. She knew he was worse than Toxic Chainsaw, nothing else was really important.
Except for the fact he was now free.
That was important.
All Might's hand's formed fists. Scarab could tell, just by looking at him if the target was not in their area, the Number One hero would simply go to another area until the target was found.
For some reason, this was personal.
She just hoped he kept his head.
-ted-
"Captain Saitsu, this is a surprise," All For One said as he answered his phone.
"You have to get out," the man said tersely. "There's a raid coming."
"How long?" Hisashi asked. The Captain would not have called him unless he was sure.
"A couple of hours at best. They are on their way down now," he explained.
Instantly All For One's mind went through calculations. Even on a chartered flight they'd still be a half hour in the air, then they had to assemble in secret, which would take another hour… They didn't have much time but there was some.
"Address?" He demanded. He had multiple assets here in Tsu, it would be best to know if they were all compromised.
The Captain gave him one.
All For One was not a man to swear, but he felt like it. Someone had sold him out. Yet it was not as bad as it could have been. They were coming after his residential address, not Doctor Garaki's facilities. They were coming at Izuku. "Thank you," he told his servant. "You were right to contact me," he added.
He felt the man nod on the other end of the line. The Captain was like that.
"Who gave them the information?"
"The broker Juhin was captured. She traded information about your location for her freedom."
All For One trembled. His hands formed into fists and he took several precious moments to calm down. "Did she mention my son?"
"She did, Sir."
That was enough for him to see red but he appreciated that Captain Saitsu was reporting this calmly. Except, now that he knew, he had to move. Juhin would pay for her betrayal. But not yet. Not now.
"I will make arrangements for your fa-"
"No, Sir," Captain Saitsu interrupted. "I've already made arrangements."
All For One took a deep breath. "Very well. I thank you for your service then, my old friend."
"It has been my honour," the Captain replied. There was no hint of a lie. All For One knew there wouldn't be. Saitsu had been one of his agents for many years. One of his best. That he was losing Saitsu along with this was another blow. Juhin was going to pay dearly.
"Do what you can and know that you will always have my support," All For One said.
"As you will always have mine." The Captain cut the call off.
Hisashi took a deep breath, mentally planning what had to happen now. Izuku and his books needed to be moved. Kurogiri and Tomura would follow along with any evidence of his condition. The safe house in Hisai should be close enough as a staging point but far enough away to avoid attention. Then he would see where they went next.
He hit a sequence on his phone. It sent a predetermined message to Kurogiri, Garaki and Gigantomachia.
It was time to move.
-ted-
"Izuku," Kurogiri called the boy urgently.
"Yes!"
The yell thankfully came from his bedroom.
"We have to go," the misty man said loudly enough to be heard as he made his way to Izuku's room.
"What do you mean?" Izuku demanded, appearing at the door.
"The Heroes have found us," Kurogiri explained. Tomura was already grabbing things. He'd been playing in the bar when All For One's message had arrived.
Izuku paled at the news and he looked around frantically.
"We have a few minutes," Kurogiri reassured him. "But we must go within five minutes," he explained. "Pack what you can, including your notebooks."
He saw Izuku gulp and then nod.
They had a little more time than five minutes but Kurogiri knew that getting Izuku out was far more important than getting his gear out.
"I'll be back then," Kurogiri said as he moved further down the corridor. He had to make sure that Sensei's few personal items were removed, and any medications. They would be leaving evidence, but not that much.
-ted-
Izuku forced himself to take a deep breath when Kurogiri left. He turned back and looked at his room. What did he need?
The last time this had happened he'd only had his pajamas and his notebooks. This time he had a chance to take a few items. There was a large bag in his cupboard. He grabbed that and put it on his bed. Then he grabbed his notebooks and put them in the bottom. He was careful not to bend the covers despite moving quickly.
His school books went in next. Kurogiri had gotten him his next year's books already. He only packed the working books that he had, leaving the blank notepads on the shelf. His school computer went in as did his pencils. Izuku then looked around. What else did he need?
There was not a lot he was attached to. He put in some clothes, tossing them in haphazardly before Izuku froze.
Mei's babies! He wasn't sure if they could tie back to her but he couldn't leave them! He threw one into his bag and the second one, the one he'd asked for, he quickly stripped off his shirt, and put it on. It was cold, but once he got his shirt back on he was warm. The activation button went down his arm on a string so that he could activate the light at any time. This would be a good test.
He should have taken her up on her offer of a baby that could booby trap his door. That would serve the heroes right!
"Izuku are you ready?" Kurogiri's voice came from the door.
He looked over to see the misty man waiting there. He went to his bed and zipped up the bag. "I'm ready," Izuku said. "Though-" He wasn't sure what he could say.
Kurogiri came over to him and placed one hand on his shoulder to comfort him. "We have to work together at these times, Izuku," he said. "And there will come a time when we will not need to run," he added.
Izuku smiled at that. He knew what the misty man was implying. When he, and Tomura were older, they could fight.
But not yet. Not now.
He nodded. "I'm ready," he repeated, looking around the room once more as he hefted his bag.
"Do you have everything you want?" Kurogiri asked for confirmation.
"Yes."
At that, the warp gate opened, his yellow eyes looking down at Izuku. The boy passed through him without looking back and Kurogiri reformed in Izuku's room.
That was one.
He had to get Tomura now and then the Heroes would find only emptiness.
And that was all they deserved.
-ted-
Scarab is the primary hero who took out Toxic Chainsaw, with Aizawa's help. She's an underground hero and I haven't specified her quirk. She knows that Toxic Chainsaw was used to cover up someone but being underground she knew she would probably never find out who... it's kind of scary that she now does know.
It's only been a bit over 6 months since the fight. AFO is recovered but not fully functional. A lot of what he's been doing is smoke and mirrors but he'll be well enough for this. He has to be.
My discord is on this code: ZX2R5h2cEm FFN will remove links but you should be able to figure that out.
-ted-
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