Justice Across Space and Time
Chapter 47
Time to pay off a few set ups, some lead ups, and start more into the new arc. Since the Shie Hissaki is gone and Eri is safe, I had to go a different way with the story. And some of that includes my new villains and what the League of Villains will do going forward. So on with the show.
(No POV)
As Tomura stares at his reflection in the mirror, he is reminded of where he began and what led him to becoming a villain. From the treatment by his father and other members of his family, to how all the people around him pushed him away. Saying some hero would take care of him.
And how this all grew to make him hate the world more and more. With the only bright spot for a time would be when sensei found him. And how he supported him at his idea of taking down the heroes and the society they built.
"But now he's gone. And…. As much as I want to say I'm alone again. Sosaku was right that I'm not. I have my team. And I guess I have her and her crew too." Tomura says with an exhausted sigh as he leans back in the bath.
Tomura looks at his remaining hand and arm. Then to the damaged area where Jotaro had ripped of his limb. Before he starts to think about what it is he truly wants. And what his team wants and needs.
'I always made that big thing about taking down the society and world. Destroying the justice that All Might had made… but that was always an excuse. In reality…. I just hate everything and want to destroy it all. Probably because of my quirk, everything just rubs me the wrong way.'
After having this inner monologue, Tomura thinks a bit more about what it is his team was fighting for. Dabi was out to burn down as many heroes as he could and destroy the society around them. Toga and Magne don't want to be restrained by society and its perceptions of their quirks. Compress never really told him, but he suspected the man had a bigger motivation.
Meanwhile everyone in The Forgotten had a very specific reason they were fighting against the heroes. Because they were treated like garbage by this society because they didn't happen to be born with quirks. And they wanted to show the world what they condemned.
"They all actually have good reasons to fight….. mine. Mine isn't just shallow, its really childish at its core. It's no wonder most don't really take me seriously. Sure, All Might has a childish drive to save everyone. But I've seen some things where he admits he can't do everything. Sensei was different in that he felt he could do everything. Or could control everything. And look where that got him."
Tomura stands from the bath and dries off before reattaching his prosthetic. He looks down at it and thinks about what he's lost and what drove him here. And while his initial impulse is to punch the mirror in front of him, he restrains himself and lets out a breath.
After he's changed, he steps out and looks over his group and the members of The Forgotten. With Natalie being the first to greet him. "So, got your head on straight now? Know what you need to do? And what all of us should do?"
"Yeah. I've got a better idea. As much as I want to kill All Might, he's not the target we need to worry about right now." Tomura says before asking if Natalie had some kind of plan. The half Russian girl smiles before admitting she had something in mind.
Tomura nodded before saying they should all talk about this. "At least you're finally willing to do something." Dabi says with a grumble from his spot on the couch. Twice both supports and brings down Tomura, while the two ladies of the LOV are happy to see their leader standing.
"Okay….. We obviously owe Sosaku. So we'll help her and her crew out with what she has planned. Does this have something to do with that bastard who ripped my arm off?" Tomura questions while the rest all gather in the dining room.
Natalie nods before turning to Wu. "You mentioned you had some ideas on what it is that Jotaro fellow uses right?"
"Somewhat, yes. Now Ryan, you mentioned that the most you could do was drain his stamina as you couldn't comprehend the energies you tried to drain before right?" Wu questions with a look to him and Compress.
Ryan nods. Saying, "I tried on a few of the energies but they were really weird. Electricity was easy enough, and kinetic I had a better idea on after pulling some from Midoriya. But all the others….. I have no idea what they were."
Wu nods before taking out a remote and holo screen to illustrate what he found. "Thanks to Lady Sosaku's connections she was able to get me clearance to where you had him trapped before. I took some high-powered readings and found something interesting."
The screen lights up to show a set of radioactive elements and various other energy signatures. Though most of the audience can't tell this, given their backgrounds. "Okay you can talk down to us a bit with this. Cause I have no idea what I'm looking at." Dabi says with a flat look.
"Ahem. Right. Well to put it simply, that young man. Jotaro. He's…. well radioactive. But we're not just talking nuclear. Solar radiation ie UV, gamma rays, various other forms of radiation that I question where or how he was exposed to them. Not to mention simple lightning, thermal shifts, and a pair of energies I can't even identify."
This statement gets eyes wide and jaws dropped. With Wu mentioning that all of these energies are how the teen was so strong. "All of this….. well raw power inside of him. His cells must be able to take that energy and super enhance his body. And where he's at now might not even be his limit."
"So you're telling me this guy is probably one of the most potent energy sources on the planet?! Bet he could light up a lot of night lights! He probably can't even power a house light! We captured a guy who is a walking nuke!? Think this influenced why AFO died?"
Natalie claps her hands to stop the shouting and refocus everyone's attention. "Focus people. This has to do with what our next move will be. Wu. Please continue."
"Thank you. Now Ryan you couldn't understand all of the energies you were pulling from this Jotaro character. So what you focused on was simply draining his stamina to make sure he couldn't run. If you'll let me teach you a bit, we can get you up to speed to sap all of his energy."
Ryan is a bit wide eyed but a nod from Natalie is enough for him to be willing to hear out Wu's idea. With the primary point being that with Ryan's powers, an understanding of the energies drained, and a set of devices Wu built. "We could gain a powerful set of weapons and energy sources."
Tomura saw another factor to this plan as well. "You'll also remove one of the strongest weapons on the hero side of things. With all of the true metas on their side, having one as strong and capable as him is an almost painful advantage against our side."
Natalie agrees, while noting that between him, Judgement, and Endeavor the heroes have more than enough weapons and that can counter and possibly overpower them. And but there are a few other complications.
"See part of our problem is the duraki from Deika City. Their attacks have made plenty of enemies of true metas. In doing so, its become a mixed bag of those who are true metas that want to fight back against the society. Look at Luiz's brother."
"Leave him out of this or to me. Irmão is following his own path." Luiz says with a glare toward Natalie and Tomura. Both of them agree and move on to the next point. That they needed more allies and members to hope to stand up to the heroes and society.
Because as they were, most wouldn't take them seriously. "If we're going to make this work, we'll need to do a bit of a team system. Create parties based on what each of us is capable of."
"Agreed Sosaku. And I see what you mean about us staying back and out of the spotlight for now. I made a huge show right at the beginning so there are plenty looking for me. Lima here also made a big impact and Dabi has unmistakable firepower."
Dabi snorts before noting his appearance was also pretty distinct and eye catching. "Which is why I suggest Sakamoto go with you." Tomura says with a look to the taller buff woman.
Psych Link sees what Tomura has in mind. "I can make it to where no one notices us, and we can walk around in plain sight. And he can blast back with firepower if necessary."
Natalie agrees before suggesting that Luiz should work with Magne. Toga meanwhile would go with Emma, and Compress would work with Ryan. "I can agree with that. We worked pretty well together during the Training Camp raid." Compress says with a nod to the shorter man.
"Wu you and Twice will stay back with us for the time being. Your mind might be fractured but you could help him with some of his research and devices. That and we could use some of your clones for thefts to keep heroes off balance."
After a conflicting agreement/threatening to leave, Twice agreed and extended a hand to his partner. Wu looked between Natalie and the mentally broken man with skepticism. But with a sigh he agreed and shook the man's hand.
With that they adjourned their meeting, with Natalie taking Tomura aside to suggest what he could do with her. Acting akin to an assistant in public while she showed him some better ways to manage and plan a large organization.
"Here I thought you were just some Yankee or gyaru girl when we first me. But you're a lot smarter than I gave you credit." Natalie raises and eyebrow at that but she can see his point.
"Rather than making an obvious showing of how crazy or dangerous you are, its often better to make it seem like you are on the weaker side. Gives you an opportunity to trip up the competition." The luck manipulator says with a smile before putting a black wig on Tomura.
She nodded before saying they'd be getting him a proper suit to hide who he was. "We can leave the arm and what your face looks like. Not only will it make people underestimate you, but it will work for good cover."
"With me being some guy, you found broken and down on his luck that you opened your heart to. Right? Giving me a way to blend in without needing a massive change like Dabi." Tomura says with a smirk directed her way.
But before he just goes along with this, he grabs Natalie's throat with his prosthetic. She meanwhile has a knife of her own at his neck and had a gun at his groin. Both gave each other a look to say they dared the other to make a move.
Until both broke their facades and lowered their weapons/threats. "You want to show that you won't be taking orders or just let yourself get swept along forever. Good. You've already learned something important." Natalie says while smoothing out her own suit.
Tomura nods before acknowledging that she was ready to kill him as well if he followed through on anything. "This alliance isn't mutual right now. But when we can stand on our own again, I'll pay you back for the help you've given."
"Give it time. It's been a month since your teacher died. You from what Magne said you weren't in the best state of mind. I just wanted to snap you out of it so we could do what we want and need to do." Natalie says with a nod.
And with that, the two groups of villains break apart and spread across Japan. This was Tomura's suggestion. Spread their members around to gather information from various cities. In hopes of finding a chance to make their move.
Meanwhile, Jotaro had arrived in Hiroshima. And the one who met him was the former villain on parole, Gomtai Hazama. Formerly the illegal fighter Stretch, now had the nickname of Rubberhose.
"I started goofing around like some old pre-quirk era cartoons. Since it was called rubber hose animation, they took to calling me that." The former fighter said. Instead of the black hair he was born with, he had it dyed to red and had blue contacts to hide his normally black eyes.
Instead of the striped arms and legs of his fighter's outfit, Hazama wore a jacket over a tank top and jean shorts to make better use of his extendo-limbs. While also wearing knuckleduster like equipment on his hands and steel toed shoes on his feet.
"So the appearance change was part of the….. y'know?" Hazama nodded before noting that he didn't mind it anyway. "It's like…. Getting a fresh start. It feels good." Jotaro nodded while wondering what things would be like at Mirko's agency.
The building itself wasn't much. A bit older and just three stories, with a living and office section on the ground floor. A training area that took up the second. And the third floor was mostly used for storage. Jotaro hummed while noting that the likely true metas were inside as well.
And one was sent flying through the wall thanks to Mirko. "C'mon! You need to do better than that if you want to stand as a hero!" the mad rabbit shouted. While the older teen she sent flying was getting up with a groan.
He had short blue hair and yellow eyes and stood a just a bit taller than Mirko herself. And with an annoyed sigh he started up his powers. He gripped his fist tight as he worked to shift the gravity under and around him. Making Jotaro raise his eyebrows at the power on display.
The young man shot himself toward the hole in the wall, but he missed and instead impacted on the side of the building. "Ow." The young man grunted out as fell back out of the impact outline.
Jotaro though caught him and let out a chuckle at how he handled his powers. "Maybe it's a good thing I'm here to help." The blue haired youth shook his head again before looking up at Jotaro and Hazama.
"Oh, hey Gomtai. Uh hi there. Wait a minute! You're that Jotaro guy!" With that realization, the young man stands up to shake Jotaro's hand. Introducing himself as Markus Aoi. His mother was from America, with the young man having lived a bit better life compared to most who were true metas.
He'd only awakened his powers when trying to save his grandparents in Japan. "Accidentally sent a portion of a building that was collapsing out of the atmosphere. But if you're here, I might finally get somewhere with this!"
Jotaro chuckled at the older teen's enthusiasm and simply said he was looking forward to seeing what Aoi could do. When the went up to the training level Mirko was already starting the repairs on the wall.
"Hey sorry about that Markus. I guess I went overboard given you mentioned your body seems and feels a bit denser than a normal person's." Mirko said with a rub to the back of her head. Markus lets out a sigh before saying, "yeah. I prefer not to go through another wall Aunt Rumi."
This makes Jotaro's eyes shoot wide open before asking how she was an aunt. Mirko just blushed before saying they weren't related that way. "His dad was….. well, kinda like an older brother to me. After he got married, he and his family would check in on me from time to time. And though I told him to call me big sis, he still calls me his aunt."
That is when she introduces the second true meta that had come to her agency. A woman a little younger than Mirko herself who appeared to be trying to lift a set of objects. Though not with her arms.
"Hanabi! Come on over. Give your brain a break. I know you've heard of him, but this is Jotaro. I think he can help you with figuring out your powers." The woman in this case was Hiruma Hanabi.
Compared to the Mirko, she was quite tall. Coming even to Jotaro's nose, and he was currently six foot four inches tall. She had light brown hair and blue eyes and was a bit thinner in build. Especially compared to Mirko, Jotaro, and Gomtai.
She had been an old classmate and friend of Mirko's before she started hero school. Noted when Jotaro hears her call the rabbit woman Rumi-chan. Though he gets a bit annoyed when she reveals what type of powers Hanabi has.
"You brought me here… to help train….. a telepath and telekinetic!?" Jotaro says while facepalming so hard he cracks his sunglasses. Letting out a frustrated sigh at having to help the two power types he hates the most.
But, despite the action not hurting him, Mirko grabs his ear and pulls. "This is part of why I asked you here. And it's part of why I have this place. Seriously, I talked about having an agency. But the truth is I didn't have one until recently because I was usually just wandering Japan looking for interesting people or fights."
Gomtai confirms this. Mentioning that they'd only purchased this place about a month earlier. And before that was when Markus's father and Hanabi's mother had contacted the rabbit hero to ask if they could help the respective true metas.
"Look I don't know what your problem is with telepaths or whatever, but don't take that out on Hanabi! I don't care how tough you are. You hurt her, I'll kick your ass and find a way to hurt you myself!" Mirko says while getting up in Jotaro's face.
With Hanabi looking sheepish and blushing behind Markus. Comically trying to hide her taller frame behind the shorter teen. Jotaro just lets out another annoyed breath before agreeing to help. "It is a bit more personal, but I'm not a big fan of people who can mess with my mind."
"I don't think I can even do that. I can't even move some of the weights Rumi-chan has around here." Hanabi says with high quiet voice. Noting that she never really understood what she could do. Having at a few points during her childhood thought she could hear other people's thoughts.
"I had hoped it might be quirk, but all of the doctors kept confirming that I wasn't putting out the same things that those with telepathic quirks did. So, I ignored it for years. Until the Sports Festival where you showed the potential that people like me had." Hanabi said.
Looking at Jotaro with a bit of awe. Mirko mentioned how she had tried to help Hanabi and dealt with a few bullies when they attended the same school. "But we really lost touch after middle school. All I knew was that she took over her family's flower business."
Mirko and Gomtai mention that Jotaro didn't have to get the pair up to full hero status and capabilities. "Just enough to where they can protect themselves and won't hurt themselves or people. Think you can do that?" Gomtai asks while bringing in some pieces to repair the wall.
"All right fine. I can probably suggest a few things to help with her abilities. Let's get to work and see what you can do." With that, Jotaro starts observing his newest students. In the meantime, Gomtai and Mirko take to fixing up the old building more.
Jotaro's first lesson for the pair is to not think of their abilities like those of quirks. "True metas have a lot more potential than most realize. As you've noted Markus, your ability has increased the density of your body. Hanabi. You've got…. I think an odd mix of increased intelligence and processing. Due to the mental capabilities."
How Jotaro suggests they get in better touch is to not turn the power or capabilities on and off. Just like with Toshinori, he tells them to let the power flow. And then the control is of the output or direction of the power.
"I learned it a bit the hard way, but I found that trying to restrain of hold back this kind of power only leads to more damage. You'll learn how to gauge the right amount you need eventually." Jotaro says while having the two practice outside of the city first.
Markus seems to have an easier time with this and starts to make the gravity around him fluctuate enough to make all three of them (and a few chunks of the earth) float into the air.
So Jotaro gives him a new set of tasks. "First: lift a rock about your size and move it between these points. Without breaking anything." Jotaro sets up a mix of poles and obstacles for him to weave through between two targets 20 yards apart.
"Second: use your manipulation to put pressure on a specific spot. But not so much that it causes an egg to crack. And third: adjust your own gravity to move from this point to this point. Without sending yourself flying."
Markus nods and excitedly gets to work on his first task. For Hanabi though, she had yet to pass the first hurdle. Every time she seemed to get somewhere, she started to freak out a bit and cause a blast or a headache for Jotaro.
"Hey guys! How's it going?" Mirko asked after they had been training for a day. Jotaro could only shrug while observing both students. Markus had managed to complete his first task after dozens of tries on the first day. Now though he kept struggling with the output on a gravity field.
Hanabi though was still struggling. Jotaro even observed with his energy sensing and saw the turmoil in her mind. How the neurons in her brain were running the wrong kind of out of control. Instead of causing the burst of telekinetic or telepathic energy, it kept fluctuating.
Though upon hearing Mirko speak up, he noticed something odd. Whenever she was around, Hanabi's mind seemed to calm and somewhat focus. Jotaro thinks it over a bit more before acknowledging that he might be going about this the wrong way. Especially given his issues with telepaths.
"Hold up Mirko. I want you to stick around for a bit. Follow me." Jotaro says before escorting the hero into the training grounds. There, Markus is happy to show his aunt (big sis!) how far he had come with his gravity manipulation.
Hanabi though is saddened that she still can't make her powers work for her. Mirko though tries to cheer her up and say she'll figure it out. And Jotaro can see that the fluctuations ease. He suggested that Hanabi just try to relax and try reaching out a different way.
"You think it will help?" Mirko asks with a bit of worry. "No. But I do have a different idea on how to make it work." Jotaro says while grabbing the rabbit hero's arm. And then sending a shock through her body. Paralyzing and dropping her helpless.
'Sorry in advance Mirko, but this might be just what we need.' Jotaro thinks before picking up a huge boulder. He shouts to Hanabi to look out. And then tosses the big rock to crush Mirko.
Both her and Markus freak out and attempt to stop it. Only for Jotaro to stop Markus. 'Just wait. Hanabi needs this right now.' While wanting to step in, Jotaro convinces the gravity manipulator to trust him.
Hanabi though sees things happening in slow motion. Terrified of what was going to happen to her only friend. With the boulder coming down upon Mirko and her unable to move. And while looking terrified at first, when Mirko sees Hanabi's face she puts on a different façade.
One that says she was glad to have known her. This makes Hanabi freak out more and causes her power to rampage. Blasting the boulder away and pushing Mirko back. Jotaro nods before walking through the slowly growing storm of telekinetic energy.
"Hey! Hanabi! I won't ask you to forgive me or to let go of what I did. But look for yourself. You saved her. You were the hero for her this time." Hanabi slowly starts to calm, with the telekinetic energy easing up.
She looks down at her hands before taking a new suggestion from Jotaro to try and lift a few small rocks. This time she finds it is easy to do and even larger stones aren't as difficult. Even those that Markus moved with his gravity powers.
After her paralysis wore off, Mirko kicked Jotaro in the back of the head. "You are a serious asshole. But I think I get what that was about." Jotaro nods with a smile. Noting, "I was trying to apply the logic I use with most true meta powers. But a true meta telekinetic. Their minds have to be focused on what they want."
Hanabi looks over her teacher and Mirko, before saying, "I had to really want to use my power to save Rumi-chan. You pushed me there to move me past my block?" Jotaro nodded. Explaining that her experiences when she was younger may have influenced her inability to use her powers.
"When people don't believe you or think you're crazy/worthless given the opinions of those who are quirkless; you need something to push you past that perception or limitation." Jotaro says with a smile directed the young woman's way. "Still a dick move though." Mirko says with glare directed at Jotaro.
Jotaro just shrugs. Acknowledging his bias towards telekinetics and telepaths. "I really hate those kinds of powers." Jotaro says with a slight apology to Hanabi. But then discussing some challenges for the young woman to try and understand her powers.
Hanabi is still uneasy, but she takes to it and follows Jotaro's new instructions. "Think they'll be good heroes?" Mirko asks when they are heading back to her agency. Jotaro shrugs before saying they didn't need to be just because they had strong powers.
"Not everyone wants to be a hero and not everyone can handle what it means to have that title. Know what I mean?" Mirko nods, acknowledging that many pros now weren't much more than showboats or advertising fodder.
With her even being suspicious of the some of the higher ranks. "There's too many who just want the fame and respect. Despite the way he talks about it, I'd be willing to bet Yoroi is one of them." Mirko said with a slight sneer.
Jotaro chuckled before telling her she was correct. "I overheard him once. All he was looking at was the best ways to garner more fame. Even if he was only the number 9. You've lost sight of a lot of things." The rabbit hero grits her teeth before saying she'll just have to pick up his slack.
"And maybe….. do something more with these two. You said it yourself that they may not want to be heroes, but they'd still be good reserves and help in a crisis. And it'll help people see what it really means to be a hero when it counts." Mirko says with a look to her friend and nephew (little brother!).
Jotaro smiles. Saying he hopes she does show just that. "And that you can move past your punch happy ways." After saying this, Mirko kicks Jotaro in the back as hard as she can. Making the teen stumble from the hit. "I'm not punch happy! I'm kick happy!"
I know the main series has it to where Mirko doesn't have an agency, but I set one up for her for the reason of her taking in Gomtai. Which is why I gave that backstory of her building being an old one and she only recently purchased it.
And while she isn't one for teams, I could see her wanting a sparring partner like Gomtai. And the others I added because I could see her as being one who would want to help an old friend or others she knew at one point.
On the other hand I needed to move things along with the LOV and The Forgotten. Especially with AFO being dead and a few other plans removed or allies still in recovery. Gigantomachia still hasn't fully healed from the beatdown The Forgotten gave him. This'll all come into play eventually. Please review!