09/11/2021
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The Emperor's Dragon
Fledgling 18
First! I've done it!
Mei looked down at her phone with a frown when it beeped. It wasn't the normal beep of a message sent. Instead it was the one when a message failed to send. There was even a little tag on the message informing her of that fact. She checked her reception. As expected, it was good and she knew her data plan was up to date. There was no reason it shouldn't send.
Unless the reason was on First's end?
That was possible. His phone could be off.
No… then the message should tell her that his phone was off. Or not in reception.
She knew how these things worked.
Mei thought for a few moments. It wasn't that his phone was off, or not in reception. And it couldn't be that he had changed his number. Then the message would go through to the new number or again, if the number hadn't been reassigned then it would let her know… so what else could cause her message not to be received?
If you had a Dark phone it could be set to silent… But why would First have a Dark phone? Did he have a Dark phone? Mei struggled with her memory for a few moments but she knew she couldn't remember.
So even if there was no reason to assume that he did, she should act like he did. The message hadn't sent, not even when she told it to resend. How did she get around that?
She could wait until the block was off but Mei didn't know how long that would take. First had given her money. She owed him! It was bad business for her to walk away from that, taking the cash. Even at eleven she knew that. She had to find some way of contacting him, or at least trying! That was the right thing to do and she wasn't going to let her first investor walk away without getting what he paid for.
Except the only way she could see to do that would be to… break the law a little. Stretch it! Mei mentally corrected. She wasn't going to break it. She would stretch it. After all, she owed First and had to contact him. And he'd be thankful she contacted him so it wouldn't matter that… It just wouldn't matter.
Okay, so she needed to get into her supplier's network to see where they were trying to send her message and then she could track down First.
Mei smiled. That shouldn't be too hard. She'd just use her Mum's account as the launch point and see where it got her. After all, her mum had so many useful programs. She couldn't build but… she knew her way around tech.
-ted-
"What do you mean I can't contact Ochaco?"
All For One didn't need to see to know that his son was outraged. At eleven, Izuku could be a surprisingly good orator. He'd been expecting this argument but he had hoped it wouldn't happen.
"Because it is not safe," he explained reasonably, knowing full well that when someone was this emotional, reason did not play a part in things.
Raising Tomura was much easier in this respect. So long as the boy had a game console, a bit of cash and some news on Heroes and how they'd failed, every now and then, he was content. But Tomura was a throw away character. Not an NPC but one he didn't intend to keep in his party for long. Izuku was going to be a permanent feature. As such, he couldn't be overly indulged or spoiled. He had to see reality and know when to back off and when to push.
It was a lesson Izuku was still learning.
"The Heroes didn't find us!"
"They did," All For One corrected. He'd made sure Izuku had seen the articles confirming that. "I had warning so Kurogiri could get you out earlier," he told him. "They were looking for you as well, my Little Dragon," he tried to sooth his son.
"But they didn't find us!"
"That doesn't stop them looking." He held back from saying that in his current condition, he couldn't protect Izuku. It was something he didn't even want to admit to himself.
"I just want to talk to my friends!" Izuku complained. "I lost Himiko and I don't want to lose Ochaco and Hitoshi."
All For One couldn't see but he knew Izuku's eyes would have been full of tears. He'd probably feel more distressed if he could see that. "It is good that you are maintaining your relationships," he said. "That will serve you well in business."
"How can I maintain them when I can't talk to them?" Izuku yelled.
"Izuku!" All For One snapped his son's name sharply. He would not tolerate being yelled at.
To his sight, Izuku jerked but still maintained a defiant stance. "You can't keep me trapped here forever!" His son cried.
All For One bit back on his usual response to that. "You are not a prisoner, my Little Dragon. I am doing this for your safety. For the safety of all of us," he added. He didn't want to make that appeal. It relied too much on Izuku's good nature and while he wanted his son to have that, he needed his son to be suitably cynical as well. Izuku did not need heroic tendencies. He needed smart ones.
"Prisoners get better comms!" Izuku retorted.
"Izuku!"
He saw his son shrink back but he could imagine the glare still.
"It is for your safety," All For One said, forming each word firmly.
"It's so you can control me!" Izuku yelled and before Hisashi could berate his son again, the boy turned and stormed off.
All For One listened carefully. So long as Izuku didn't try to leave, he could have a tantrum. "Gigantomachia," he said softly.
While All For One couldn't see it, he knew it would appear as if the giant man materialised from the darkness on the far side of the room. "Make sure Izuku doesn't leave," he gave the instruction.
"It will be done, my Lord," his bodyguard rumbled before he set off.
Hisashi hadn't heard Izuku leave, which was good but he would need to speak with his son, when he was in a more reasonable mood.
He should have expected this but… All For One sighed.
It was not easy being a parent.
-ted-
Doctor Garaki looked at Izuku. The boy was in a bad mood. Kyudai was fairly sure he knew why and he didn't want to get involved. He didn't do psychology! But with the boy being grumpy, with practically a cloud over him, the Doctor knew he would have to.
'What is the matter?" he asked.
Green eyes glared at him. He glared back. It wasn't his fault!
Apparently Izuku remembered that. "I want to talk to my friends," he said, still petulant but the heat was gone.
Kyudai sighed. "You know why you can't," he said softly.
Izuku nodded but it was obvious he didn't want to. "I didn't get to say goodbye," he grumbled.
"I know," Garaki said gently. "It's happened to me before too, you know?"
"It has?" Izuku actually seemed interested.
"It has," he confirmed. He'd been with Sensei for a long time. The occasional hero raid was the cost of doing business. He'd lost contact with some of his acquaintances over time. "But do you know what I've learned?"
Izuku shook his head.
"Those people you know, who are your true friends, will simply be thankful that you are okay when you contact them again. Those who aren't true friends will wonder and make accusations, and they aren't worth knowing." That was perhaps laying it on a bit thick but he'd learned that Izuku liked to hear that sort of thing. The child was logical but he was still emotional.
"Really?"
"Really," Kyudai confirmed. "Your friends Ochaco and Hitoshi will just be happy to see you again. They will ask some questions but they'll accept what you tell them."
Izuku looked down. "I just-" he didn't finish.
"You want to see them," the Doctor completed the sentence. He had a fair idea what Izuku was about to say. His grandson was that age after all.
The boy nodded.
"You will, when it's safe. I know that's hard to hear. I know it's difficult being here, but Sensei just wants you to be safe."
Izuku huffed but again nodded. "I probably should-" he grimaced.
Kyudai gave him a look.
"I should apologise," Izuku almost whispered.
"You should," Garaki agreed. He'd heard the fight. Izuku had not been pleased when Sensei had told him he still couldn't talk to his friends. "But you can do that tonight."
"Hmm?"
"I would appreciate the help today," Kyudai told the boy. Since Izuku was spending the day with him, his usual assistants had the day off. That meant he would need Izuku's help. And Sensei had indicated it was time that Izuku was introduced to his research in a more hands on way.
"You mean it?" It was almost dizzying the speed with which Izuku could change his emotions. He had been down a moment before, now his eyes were shining with hope.
"I mean it," Garaki said with a smile. "Sensei told me to show you my experiments."
"Really? Even the ones with multiple quirks?"
Kyudai chuckled. "Even the ones with multiple quirks," he confirmed. "Shall we go?"
The green haired boy jumped up and immediately came to him. Kyudai moved his wheelchair so that he could roll on to the floor. They had been in the control room, which overlooked the warehouse where the tubes were set up. There was a ramp down and he rolled down it, applying the brake with a practiced motion. Izuku followed him, looking around.
"These are called Nomu," Garaki explained, rolling up to one of the tanks.
"It's a person!" Izuku exclaimed.
"An enhanced person," Kyudai said proudly.
"Enhanced?"
The Doctor nodded. "Why don't you look at them with your quirk?" he suggested.
Izuku's eyes unfocused slightly and then he gasped. "They've all got-" he didn't finish.
"Two or three quirks, yes," Garaki finished. "That's why they are enhanced. You and Sensei are special. You can have multiple quirks but most other people can't! If you give someone a second quirk, they'll collapse," he said.
"Really?"
"Really," Garaki confirmed. "But I am working on ways of allowing people to have multiple quirks."
Izuku frowned. "Where are they getting the extra quirk from?" He asked.
"That's one of my other experiments!" Garaki told Sensei's son. "I've learned so much about quirks doing this research," he said.
"You have?"
"I have. The aim is to try to find a combination of quirks that would allow people to live long, healthy lives. Imagine if everyone had regeneration?" He asked.
"Then they wouldn't get hurt!" Izuku exclaimed.
"Exactly," Garaki confirmed. "That's why I'm doing these experiments. I want to see how I can combine different quirks to give the best results. Do you like them?"
Izuku looked up at the Nomu's. Most were in the early stages of development. That meant he was still strengthening their bodies. "They are odd," Izuku said slowly. "They feel weird," he explained.
"Ah, it's probably because you aren't used to them," Garaki said. "I promise, they won't hurt you." They weren't capable of it. Alongside Sensei, Izuku was the only person they would all obey absolutely.
The boy walked up to one of the tubes, looking up at the occupant. "It's a person," he repeated.
"Yes, it is. There is a lot of interest in my research, Izuku. And so when I ask for volunteers, I do get them. These are people who have volunteered to participate in my research."
The green haired boy frowned again. "Didn't you say that if I give someone a second quirk, they will collapse?" He asked. "How do these people have multiple quirks?"
Garaki smiled. Izuku was so logical at times. "That's what my research is on. It is true that if you give someone a second quirk, they will collapse. Some people will be able to handle it, but most won't. However, I have prepared these people so that they can handle having multiple quirks. So they don't collapse. But you were right! Do you want to see where I get the extra quirks from?" He asked.
Izuku appeared satisfied with his explanation, and he nodded.
"Well, come with me," Kyudai said, setting off. "I know this research seems cruel, because yes, the people are trapped in there for the moment, but it is necessary to advance knowledge. And you know what?"
"What?"
"My research has already helped! I used some of it on Sensei after his battle with All Might. So it has helped!"
Izuku gave him an odd smile. It was happy but also sad. "That's good."
"Now to the extra quirks. You already know I can copy quirks."
Izuku nodded. "Dad gave me some he said you'd copied!"
Kyudai smiled. "I did. I copied regeneration, shock absorption and that strength quirk for you! They were hard to copy! I've got an easier way now."
"Why were they hard to copy?"
"Your Dad gave me the samples of them, but your dad has lots of quirks! I had to isolate them from all the others he has! That's not easy. I use a different way now, or at least I do when I can."
Izuku's eyes showed his surprise. He'd obviously never thought about things before. That was not unexpected. "What's the easier way, Doctor?"
"If I can get a genetic sample from the person, then that's the best. I can copy the quirk from that, and they still have their quirk. Except… Well, I'm sure you know."
At that, he could see Izuku thinking. "Know what?" he eventually asked.
"It's slower. And if you need the quirk now then you will have to take it."
"How long does it take?"
"A few years," Garaki told him.
"Years?" Izuku's eyes went wide. That was forever to a boy Izuku's age!
The Doctor nodded. "It is a better way though," he said, coming to a stop in front of a row of five tanks. These were the five that Yakuni were taking care of. He'd made sure the teen was gone before he'd brought Izuku here. Yakuni hadn't minded moving from Tsu to Yokohama. He didn't complain about the small room he had to sleep in. He had complained about having to take a day off but Garaki had replied with a practiced laugh and ordered him to go. The quirkless boy was a great worker, but he did need to take some time for himself.
"Can you use your quirk to feel the quirks here?" Kyudai asked.
Again, Izuku's eyes unfocused but then he frowned. "There aren't any quirks!"
Garaki nodded. "Not yet. Remember I said it takes years. This is a test batch and hopefully I will end up with five quirks that are all the same," he explained. "Maybe you will end up with one?" he asked.
Izuku was definitely going to end up with one of the copies.
"Really?" Green eyes were shining.
"I think so," Kyudai confirmed. "Sensei wants you to be strong!"
At that, Izuku looked back to the ground. "I really need to apologise," he repeated his statement from earlier.
"It's alright, Izuku. Your father loves you, so he will forgive you," Kyudai said. He really wasn't meant to do psychology!
Tears escaped Izuku's eyes.
"I hope so."
"He will," Garaki pressed. "I know it's early, but do you want to go back now?"
Izuku gulped. "Please," he requested.
The Doctor sighed. He wasn't going to be getting Izuku's help today but he pulled out his phone and called Kurogiri. "Come back another day?" He asked Izuku.
The boy looked at him and gave him a smile. "Definitely!"
The Doctor nodded as Kurogiri's warp gate appeared. "I'll hold you to that."
Izuku just grinned.
When he was gone, Garaki turned around and looked back at the warehouse. That had gone well.
Sensei would be pleased.
-ted-
Yes, even though Izuku is within his rights to be a bit pissed about the sudden curtailing of his ability to talk to his friends, his dad's servants manage to twist it around so that he was in the wrong. That's what happens when you are an Emperor. Now if Izuku had been involved in a fight with anyone else it would obviously have been their fault, but not when it's his dad. Then, he's definitely to blame.
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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