Young blood, came to start a riot
Don't care what your old man say
Young blood, heaven hate a sinner
But we're gonna raise hell anyway - Raise Hell by Dorothy
I slowed to a walk before opening the doors to the bridge. I could hear the noise and bustle of the command crew as they prepared to make port. I pushed open the stern door, and smiled at Captain Aizawa slouching in his chair, a yellow blanket wrapped about his arms as if he knew no one would bother his ship here of all places. Maybe he was going back to bed as soon as docking procedures were finished.
"She's answering all stop, Cap." Hizashi made a notation on his navigational log, and glanced up at me and I dipped my head in response.
"Miss Uraraka," First Mate Todoroki turned, a small smile gracing his lips. He was another lovely sight to behold, a feast to look at with bi-colored red on white hair and one shining blue eye, the near twin to Dabi's and one grey the color of winter's sky. He also had a patch of angry red skin around the blue eye. I'd asked him once, and he'd said only it was a gift from his father.
Yagi turned, a grin on his emaciated face. His hair was long in front, close cut in the back and it framed blue eyes that had sunken into dark pits over the years. He'd be terrifying if he wasn't... Who he was. He waved me over, and I stepped closer with alacrity.
"Miss Uraraka. We should really up your pay." He gave me a tight-lipped smile, but his eyes were twinkling, "Is that the only dress you own? If you're going to keep going into town, you'll need to expand your wardrobe." He withdrew a kerchief and coughed, a low wet sound before patting his mouth and tucking the cloth away.
"Hmph." Captain Aizawa turned his head, his hair, a black shining mass that obscured most of his face swayed, "Don't go spending my money on the babies." His smile was nearly hidden, but his voice was as stern as ever, "Make sure you try to find time to talk to Hatsume. She's installing a new pump, and if you could help get them moved around?"
I nodded, "Yes, sir."
"Then you're dismissed. Repairs are scheduled for 3pm, ship time. Be back by then. Good luck, and keep your head down."
My eyes shot to our quartermaster, who coughed into his hand discretely, and nodded toward the doors that would lead back off the bridge. I followed him out, "It shouldn't take too long. I have a contact in Irvine." He handed me a slip of paper with a name and an address, "He sells under the counter prescriptions. He also has a contact in town for herbal remedies, should Midnight need any."
"Thank you, sir." I tucked the paper into the scruffy leather scrip he proffered that would have credit vouchers inside. Clinking down the street with credits in your pocket is a good way to get robbed. "Midnight put in an order for candy and a few other things I won't need a healer for. Contraceptives, mostly." I slipped the scrip's strap over my shoulder, and gave him my best victory fist pump.
Yagi smiled, the coppery scent of the blood that was his daily life wafting out as he clapped his hand on my shoulder, "We'll see you soon then. Be careful."
I shot him a wave as I turned to walk the decks down to the gangplank. The gleaming brass, copper, steel, aluminum and other metals never failed to make me feel proud of the Magdalene. She was a beautifully converted Brigantine class airship. I ran fingers along her sides, feeling the radiating warmth of steam opposing the damp coolness of the waterlines. Oil flowed though her veins as well, maintaining the delicate balance of her systems. Thick rubber bound piping carried electricity to the entire ship. It lent the air of the passageways an earthy, metallic scent.
I peered out of portholes as I made my way below decks. The rocky coastline and a thrashing grey ocean boardered the green rolling hills of Scotland. I could see the air pillar we were to tie up at, a long concrete and wood pier with two people waiting for inspection shivering in what was sure to be damp air. I hurried when I heard the distant bumps and clanging that announced our docking almost complete.
Izuku was already at the gangway, his clothing and skin streaked with soot from the engine room. I stopped before getting too close. No normal young lady like myself would wander around town with soot staining her best dress.
"Hey."
"Ochaco!" Izuku was always turned up to 11 with unwavering enthusiasm, "Going to be working with us today?"
"Yes, Cap talked to me. Three, right?" Izuku nodded, his dark green hair bouncing with the motion, "I'll be here."
"Good. My quirk's not strong enough for that yet." He scratched his neck, a light blush staining his cheeks, "Hatsume checked the sky, everything looks clear." The ship settled, and I felt and heard the steam engine ease to holding. "Looks like we're here." He pulled the lock on the heavy door that would open to the outside, and slid it open with barely a grunt of effort.
He locked the door open to the curious looks of the inspectors just as Hizashi joined us. "Extend plank," our Navigator said loudly in measured English, "Welcome aboard the Akatsuki."
Izuku was already winding the plank forward, and it hit the pier with the meaty kiss of the cushions joining perfectly with the slot designed for it. The inspectors were a man and woman, both with brown hair and dark eyes. They stepped aboard with identical blank faces.
Hizashi handed over our paperwork, and I tried to look bored out of my mind while I waited for the all clear. In reality, I was listening closely, trying to pick up more English. The inspectors checked the papers, the female looking up, "The Akatsuki?" Her soft voice surprised me, more than the lilting brogue, "You're out of Japan?"
"You'll find more than half the crew are of Jap-Asian decent, yes." Hizashi gave them a wide smile, "I hail from Osaka, myself. This one, New Tokyo." He indicated me and I gave them a small bow. "The lad's from..." He stopped with a shrug, "Well, Japan, anyway."
"I didn't doubt it," she defended. "What are you carrying?"
"Passenger ship. We have 10 staterooms to let for a run between Euro Protectorate ports to Jap-Asian ports of call." He held out his hand for the papers, one of several sets we used to do our business.
She gave them back, and the man spoke, "Care to take us on a tour?"
"We're here for repairs as well, so some areas I can only let you see inside, not touch anything. You know how it goes." The man just nodded as the woman quietly studied Izuku. He was worth it, I supposed. "Do you think you could clear poor Sakura? She's got a boyfriend in port, and I know she's just dying to see him."
I blushed deeply, and Izuku echoed it. The man seemed to take that as confirmation of both my 'identity' and a good reason to leave quickly. He nodded, "Take care miss." He dismissed me with a mere wave of his hand, and I dashed away. I turned half-way down the pier to wave in the hopes that Dabi could see me from our room.
The train station was buzzing with locals in every kind of clothes from patched and faded working clothes to couture hanging in gauzy folds of sleek chiffon on one haughty looking woman. Here and there glinted precious copper and gold. I wished I'd remembered my hat. Or had jewelry, even hair beads or maybe one of Tsuyu's platinum talismans since I'm dreaming about it.
A gleaming steam engine pulled into the station with a whistling plume of smoke and boiling-hot vapor belching from the engine. I dipped into my hidden sleeve pocket, and pulled out a five credit coin, handing it to the man selling seats to Irvine. He handed me a ticket, and I joined the line to see a city that I'd only heard about.
On Board The Endeavor - Katsuki
The Endeavor's steam had gone cool almost an hour ago, now. The captain's words were still ringing in my ears as I escorted the inspectors though the armory. 'Find my sons.' As if I had any concrete way of doing that. I let the order percolate, hoping that I'd come up with a plan less risky than the one I'd already prepared.
"As you can see," I stopped, gesturing to the machinery, "Thirty Railguns, all accounted for. Endeavor belongs to the Sovereign Nations of Jap-Asia, you won't find anything out of place here." I folded my arms, surveying my domain with a composed face.
A tall blonde with striking green eyes sighed, "You Jap-Asian types." Her heels clicked on the decking as she turned to face me, "You know, as an officer for the Sovereign nation of Japan," she droned, "that I have to see it, have to record the data, and as a member of the Euro-Protectorate Trade, Immigration, and Transportation Department..." She sighed again, "You get it, handsome?"
I gave her a cocky smile, "Well, there's nicer places we can check, if you'd like?"
"Mmm." She smiled, her heels clicking again as she ran her fingers over the cold grey of the railgun closest to her, "I like places like this just fine."
"It doesn't matter." I stepped away and stood straight, "Usagiyama-dono is here to take over."
A tall, even blonder woman with more curves than the Irohazaka road strode up. Her rabbit ears were at full attention as she smiled at the inspector, "I'm Rumi," she stated, her tail practically quavering, "I'm Chief Engineer of the Endeavor. Once you see my engines, you may be on your way, yes?"
She led the inspector away, and I watched their backsides disappear. I tugged on my cravat, loosening it slightly and set off back to my quarters. I had more to do than play nursemaid to an inspector who got her rocks off rolling airmen in the artillery bay. Not that it was a bad thing, exactly. I growled under my breath, I just needed the right woman.
I threw open the door that led to my bunk, and grabbed a stack of credits, enough for a train ride and food. I slipped a plastic ziptie and a capped syringe of diazipam I'd gotten from the surgeon into my pocket with the credits, and left again, locking the room before descending to the gangway.
I would never not marvel at Endeavor's sheer beauty. Weather she was in battle, cruising with the clouds, or in parade, she was a magnificent thing. Maybe. If by a one in a hundred chance, I found some pirate scum willing to talk... I could have a ship just like her. I felt my lip lift in imagined victory.
The gangway was out, and crew were already filing out, quietly, as befitted men of their station. I strode out as well, skipping the line, and stalking instead straight for the steam lift that operated for officers.
Iida was sitting at the controls, "Bakugo." We were the same age, but not the same rank.
"I think you know better than that, Mister Iida." I slipped into the lift, "If you don't address me properly when I come back, you'll see a week in the brig."
The other man frowned, but as assistant to the Chief, he was a long step below Artillery Master. He handled the controls adroitly, making the lift run smoothly to the ground. I opened the door, "Discipline must be kept."
He shifted his eyes to my hat, likely taking note of the stripes there, "Permission to speak freely?"
"Granted." I crossed my arms, this was bound to be a pain in the ass.
He leaned back in his chair, his glasses catching the mooring light, "We graduated first and second in our class. I knew you when you were nothing but a snot-nosed punk..." He frowned, his eyes going hard, "Sir."
"Then you should have picked the command path, Iida." That was the crux of it. He was mechanically minded, and though I loved everything about an airship, from her lovely copper clad engines down to the smallest bolt in the lavatory, I loved flying more. I loved being in charge, and I was going to be the youngest captain in history.
I walked toward the city of Edinbourgh, and the train that I could take to a smaller town, the kind of place where a pirate crew stocked up, Irvine.
According to Enji, his own son at close to my age was flying as First Mate aboard a pirate ship. That's who I was going to try and track down. If the fool couldn't keep his head down well enough not to let the world know that he was fluffing around on a pirate ship he should be easy enough to find. And if not, then the ziptie, drugs, and a dark room would help me figure out where I should search.
Later...
Boredom was becoming a bigger problem than I thought. Walking these streets in my uniform had been a colossal mistake. No one in their right mind would talk to me. Anyone who even had an illegal thought steered clear. In time, my face probably scared more people than the uniform had.
I gave up for a bit, tossing out a 5 coin for a basket of fish and chips with a frosty pint. I sat at the cafe, enjoying the hot, crisp fish and the autumn sunshine that flooded the street. When a short girl, she looked to be my age, bustled up with her arms full of canvas bags stuffed with supplies, I sat forward in interest. She didn't notice me, and I smiled.
I knew instantly that this was my prey. Though she was not typically Japanese, those sort of rules went out with quirks. Brown eyes and mousy hair could be from literally anywhere. The bulging canvas bags, her no-nonsense hairstyle, and her general lack of fashion sense screamed that this girl was no local. When added to the way she was sounding out the words on the menu hanging over the fryers, I could barely contain myself.
I tapped my fingers in a staccato. When I got the idea for the final test, I felt my grin widen. I got up to stand just behind her, "Can I help you with those, miss?" I said it in perfect, clear Japanese.
She answered back, "Oh, no, thanks. I was just starving, and fish sounded nice. Thanks anyway." Her Japanese was that of lowest workers, maybe even Forgotten class. I smiled again, as she turned huge brown eyes on me, realizing her mistake with a small yelp.
I snagged her arm, "One more word, and I'll pump you full of drugs, pirate." I slipped my hand into my pocket and held the syringe so she could see that I wasn't bluffing. "Come with me, I want to have a word with you."
Unfortunately, I failed to notice that there had been a young, fresh faced blond trailing me all day. Even had I seen her, she wouldn't have stood out. Her hair was pulled into buns and her citrine eyes were hardly too far outside normal. Though I hope I would have noticed that she had a hand-held radio. "Target has grabbed a girl off the street, can I cut him now?"
I pushed my quarry into a side alley, trapping her between my body and a dumpster overflowing with filth. She quavered, "What do you want? I'm no pirate!"
"Not only are you a pirate, you are also a poor liar. Two things I just cannot stand in a woman." I leered at her; her velvet dress was a snug fit against her plump curves, the fabric straining on each of her hasty breaths.
"I have nothing." She held out her arms, "Medical supplies. Some dried fruits and candy. You can have it all. Just let me go. Someone you don't want to tangle with will come looking for me."
"And you resort to threats?" I shook my head, holding my free hand under her chin, allowing the scent of nitroglycerin to bloom in the alley, "As if anyone cared about Forgotten gutter trash like you."
Her eyes went from scared to angry, "He will." Her voice was hard with conviction, "He will come for me, and he'll be furious. I will not be able to stop him when he toasts your face."
"Toast my face?" I put a little more power into it, and my hand began to glow slightly, stinging smoke wafting around her head, "I happen to be looking for someone who might be able to toast my face. A man by the name of Todoroki. You'd know him by his red and white hair, and blue and grey eyes. He has a scar where someone toasted his face."
She gasped, and I felt the cool sharpness of a knife caress my throat. "I'm gonna take you both, okay?" Someone plunged a syringe into my neck, and my eyes went unfocused. I felt my power drain out of me like sand from a broken hourglass. I slumped forward, falling into arms swathed in wine colored velvet.
A man stepped into the alley next, his head wound about in brightly colored bandannas sewn with bolts and assorted pieces of metal. His dark eyes widened as he stared at the girl loaded with shopping, "We only wanted one." He finished in a sing song, "Tomura's going to be so happy!"
"He was after her. I want to know why." The blond girl smiled, a soft blush coloring her cheeks, "And he's cut now," she sighed in obvious delight. "A definite step up." She looked at the other girl, "Did you know him?"
"No, please let me go. I won't tell anyone."
The man tapped his foot, but dragged out another syringe, "You can come quiet," his voice changed, "I hope you won't!"
AN/ The drinking age in Scotland is 18. Folks as young as 16 can order a drink in a pub or restaurant, and consume it there, if the establishment doesn't have a policy against it, and many don't. Can I just stop here and say how much I love Himiko and Jin? I swear, this couple needs canon. Like now.
