Justice Across Space and Time

Chapter 48

This'll be a bit more set up and lead into for the arc. While I'm tempted to get straight to the meat of the arc, I thought it would be better to set up more threads. So, on with the show.

(No POV)

Jotaro let out a sigh as both Markus and Hanabi were practicing their abilities. The former had gotten a better feel for levitating himself and how he could put that into combat. As he was currently sparing with Gomtai, and mixing a few different attacks in.

The latter though was struggling on a new factor. She'd mastered how to make items levitate and had gotten a handle on reading minds. Now though she was trying to figure out how to make it into a combat style.

"While I do want to go for more long-range combat, I have trouble maintaining my power over longer distances. And what happens if someone gets close to me? I may be big but I'm not that much of a fighter." Hanabi vented after a frustrating target practice session.

It was currently her second of three challenges Jotaro had set for her. She had passed the challenge of lifting and holding a set of rocks in place for thirty minutes. "It's mostly to get a feel for how strong your mental endurance is. It's a drawback to mental powers that they need strong minds and wills to operate their powers."

The second challenge though was to strike a set of targets 20 meters away. But not destroy the targets, hit the bullseye sections of the targets. And Hanabi was having minimal luck with throwing items and hitting the targets.

"Let's take five. We're not getting anywhere like this." Mirko says after watching the twelfth failed attempt. Hanabi looks dejected as she walks over to a shady area to rest her mind. Jotaro meanwhile just sighs while leaning up against a tree.

He thinks the matter over for a time while Hanabi and Mirko talk. With the rabbit hero trying to build up her former classmate's confidence. It helps a bit and that is when Jotaro notices something odd.

A few of the plants reacted to an uptick in Hanabi's emotions. Jotaro smiles before saying, "I think I might have a few other ideas on what you could do." Mirko gives him a look before asking, "does it involve me being in a dangerous situation?"

"No not this time. I think I might have an idea on some other ways you can use your mental abilities." Jotaro says with a nod to the trees. When they step back up to the makeshift range, he tells Hanabi to focus on happier memories and emotions. "You might find you're able to do something interesting."

Hanabi looks to Jotaro with some skepticism, but she goes along with it for now. She calms down before thinking back on some of the times she spent with Mirko and a few other girls who didn't have a problem with her not having a quirk. At least until she came up on the memories of those mocking her because she thought she could hear their thoughts.

"Don't let it take root. Let go of that for the moment." Jotaro says in a slightly soothing tone. Mirko agrees and says she's right here for Hanabi. This calms her mind and lets her tap into something she didn't expect. She can control the growth of the plants around her and make them move.

And she uses that to take out a few of the targets. "Whoa! Did you see that!? I just-" "We know Hanabi. We were here too." Mirko says before high fiving her friend. Jotaro nods before saying he had some other ideas on what she could do.

"This time I want you to focus on some of those negative emotions. But don't let them take root. Just enough for this next set of ideas." Jotaro explains that he wants Hanabi to think of something that she wants to break. Something to destroy. "Not a person per say. More like…. A billboard or an ugly item to destroy."

Hanabi raises her eyebrow at this, as does Mirko. "What's this going to do?" Jotaro just smirks and says she'll see. Hanabi has no idea where he's going with this but she tries to picture it in her mind. In this case a billboard for the Hearts and Minds party.

She can picture it as one of the targets and feels her collected psychic energy launch out from her head. And impact the target. "Huh?" the two women ask. Jotaro explains that her powers are more linked to her emotions than she realizes.

"You may have more potential or possibilities than any of us realize. But you need to find the link between your power and emotions to make it work." Jotaro says before suggesting she try thinking of something to burn for the destructive impulse.

Hanabi was more receptive this time due to Jotaro's suggestions being successful so far. And she makes one of the targets heat up and cause a small fire burst. "That wasn't as easy. I'm not sure I can do that again." Hanabi says while trying to catch her breath.

Jotaro nods before saying, "yeah it seemed like you were straining a lot just to do that." "Okay but how did she do that?!" Mirko says with wide eyes. Jotaro just shrugs before noting that pyrokinesis is still associated with the mind.

"Endeavor may generate his own flames, but he also has control of the shape and heat of the flames. And that requires mental strength and will to make efficient use of it." He stops suggesting the use of some emotions for attacks for the time being. Saying they needed to move on with other drills.

Hanabi nods before attacking the remaining targets with her mind bolts and plant control. "I did it Rumi-chan!" I actually hit all the targets!" Mirko nods and congratulates the taller girl for succeeding.

That is when Jotaro brings up his last challenge. A combination one where she has to defend herself with her mental energies and then counter strike. "You can defend any way. Be that through evasion, the projection of a shield. Hell even manipulating the plants to defend you would work."

"Okay but are you going to attack me?" Hanabi questions. And Mirko answers with a kick aimed at Hanabi's head. "Rumi-chan?!" "Sorry Hanabi. Jotaro suggested this because he was nervous that he wouldn't hold back. Given his issues with mental powers."

Mirko attack Hanabi again. Kick after kick aimed at knocking over or out her old friend. The girl was dodging relatively well, given she could see slight flashes of Mirko's attacks before they were launched. But she hadn't managed to counter at all.

Hanabi even tried to use the plants to restrain Mirko. But the rabbit hero was too fast and got in close to kick the young woman in the stomach. While it didn't hurt Hanabi due to instinctively putting up a psychic shield.

"Good. You've got the defense side of things figured out. Now you just need to figure out how best to attack." Jotaro comments from the hill he was observing from. While Hanabi wants to retort, Mirko isn't giving her a chance to do that.

For almost an hour the two go back and forth. With Hanabi getting better at evading and blocking some of Mirko's attacks. But she couldn't get her own attack off. Since there was no progress at this time, Jotaro decided to check in on the other pair.

Gomtai was showing consistent acumen as a fighter while engaging Markus. Right as the teen would try to restrain the former fighter with a gravity field, Gomtai would stretch out his limbs and pull himself to safety.

As well as throwing blows that would end up being feints, before leading into stronger blows. Sometimes from two sides at once. "Man. How is it you got caught? With your skills you could have easily dominated or cleared every fight."

"Never really wanted to fight that much. I only did it because it was the best way I could think of to make money without stealing." Gomtai says before helping Markus up. Markus nods before wondering how he could apply his gravity powers in close quarters.

Jotaro took this moment to speak up. "It might be best to go with increasing the mass of your blows. You'd have to make like a….. singularity around your fist to do it though." Markus hums again while looking at his hand.

Gomtai does compliment Markus on his control of the gravity of the boulders around the field. "Making all of these rocks float at once. Let alone directing them to specific points? That's a lot of skill as is. Not to mention the crazy control and technique associated."

Jotaro's eyes widen as he realizes what he forgot to cover with Hanabi. "Thanks you two. I know what I need to do with Hanabi." Jotaro says before jogging back over to the other pair.

One of whom was on her back and breathing heavily. Mirko just sighed before wondering if Hanabi would ever get the idea or pass the trial. "She might if I had gone back to the basics instead of trying to get her to do complicated things."

Both women look over to Jotaro as he's returning. Before questioning what he meant. "I was trying to make you do more difficult things because I thought you already knew how to do one of the basics. But I was wrong."

The true meta teen explained that Hanabi just needed to go to the basics of her power. Not to do anything fancy or making something odd happen or appear. "Just think of making a fist with your mind. And using that to punch your opponent."

Hanabi shrugs before standing and asking if Rumi would just stay still for the moment. When the rabbit agreed, Hanabi tried to follow Jotaro's suggestion. And while Mirko could feel some pressure, it wasn't much and it dissipated quickly.

"Try throwing a punch while you're doing it Hanabi. Might help you visualize what you need to do." Mirko suggested. The rookie psychic nods before doing just that. And punching Mirko so hard she flies for thirty yards.

The rabbit hero coughs before saying, "okay. That actually hurt. But that was awesome!" Mirko runs over and hugs Hanabi while complimenting her power. Jotaro agreed but he brought the celebration down with something else. "You still have a challenge to finish. Think you can do it?"

"Yes. I can sensei." Hanabi says with a smile. And she and Mirko square off again. Though it still does take Hanabi a while to defend and then counter, she eventually passes her third challenge.

With that done, both the true meta students had passed. And could both work more on developing their own styles of combat. As well as new attacks and moves to use. Hanabi found she could move water and freeze it with her mind as well. And it was much easier compared to igniting a spot.

Markus on the other hand found a way to create localized gravity wells that would make people and items orbit it. As well as making a gravity barrier around his body to better cushion the impacts when he'd send himself flying at a target.

After training for a few days, and mixing in repairs to the Mirko's agency, the hero suggested that they each do a bit of a patrol of the city. "There's a few heroes here, but it might be good to go out and show the new heroes in town."

Jotaro shrugged saying he'd follow her lead on this one. Mirko nodded before saying Jotaro would pair with Markus while Gomtai would go with Hanabi. "Any particular reason for these pairs or are you just winging it?" Jotaro asked with a funny look.

Mirko shrugs that she is mostly winging it. "But it also has to do with your unease around Hanabi's power set. Even if you're trying to be nice, we all can tell you don't like her. Or rather you don't like her powers."

Jotaro coughs a bit before saying sorry to Hanabi. The young woman says it is fine. "I heard a bit about how one of the members of The Forgotten messed with your head. I can only guess that leaves a bad impression for plenty of others."

"Something like that yeah." Mirko claps before the talking goes further. Saying they needed to get out there and show that her agency was here. Jotaro and Gomtai just roll their eyes at the rabbit hero playing off All Might's catchphrase.

Jotaro was wearing his costume while Markus was just wearing a normal jeans and shirt combination. Gomtai had his own pseudo uniform and Hanabi had a simple skirt and blouse outfit.

While Markus and Jotaro were walking, the slightly older teen was trying to test gentle flight and levitation rather than walking. After nearly launching himself three times, Jotaro grabs the back of his shirt and roughly sits him down.

"Stop. Not only do you not have good enough control, but its generally a bad idea to keep floating and flying above others. Gives the wrong impression." Jotaro says with an annoyed tone. Markus grunts out of Jotaro's grip before posing a question.

"How would you know? You don't fly or float. All I've seen you do is leap around. Its not like you can manipulate your own gravity." Jotaro's face can't get any flatter as he looks over Markus before letting out an annoyed sigh.

Markus had a raised eyebrow the whole time, but when he put the pieces together of Jotaro's actions and words his eyes widen beyond what he believed. "Wait seriously?! Well then why don't you fly around or anything like that?" Markus questions as Jotaro walked off.

Jotaro looks back and the slightly older teen before saying, "I don't fly often for a few reasons. First; just floating at times can give a person a bit of a big head. Not to mention giving a false impression of being god like."

The taller of the teens then notes his dislike of flying at times because of the potential damage that could come from flying too fast. "I'm already plenty fast on the ground. If I go up into the air too often at my maximum speed, I could easily shatter all of the windows and possibly eardrums of people around me."

His last note was that he stays closer to the ground to try and listen to the day to day with people. Given he can hear most everything happening around the city at once, just being closer to the ground helps him to feel like he's not some overbearing force or power.

"But that might be a bit….. self-righteous. I'm already scared of what I can do with just my strength alone. I don't need to push it most of my other abilities." Markus chuckles before noting he is constantly tip toeing around. Saying he could stand to strut a bit.

Jotaro rolls his eyes again, until he hears something. Sirens are going off and a few wheels were squealing. "Car chase! This way!" Jotaro announces before leaping off in the direction of the noise.

Markus is a bit surprised but he quickly recovers and creates a gravity bubble around himself so he can keep up with Jotaro. The teen lands as gently as he can atop some rooftops while leaping in the direction of runaway cars.

When both can better perceive the group of vehicles that are fleeing, Jotaro overhears a few say they'll peel off and meet up later. "You go right! I'll go left!" Jotaro shouts before landing in a slight starter run position.

He cracks the pavement underneath his feet as he sprints off after two of the cars. Easily catching up with the first. Glaring at the criminals while he runs even with their car. "Think this through before you react." He warns the thieves.

And while a few are willing to give up, the fiery purple haired driver disagrees and blasts Jotaro with fire from her mouth. Only for it to be stopped a few seconds later as Jotaro never lost his stride or position with the car. And then grabbed her mouth to stop the flames.

He gives her a raised eyebrow before touching the car and running a small current through it and causing the engine to stall. "Well, that's done. Now then." Jotaro takes off after the second vehicle which had gotten slightly farther ahead.

And right when the hero teen was catching up with the car, it transforms to now having wings and a jet engine out of the back. Jotaro gets a face full of jet wash from the blast off, but quickly regains himself and takes off after the machine.

"Of course, this happens right after I just said I don't like flying. Damnit." Jotaro says before leaping up into the air and taking off after the now flying car. Which of course freaks out the villains driving said vehicle.

"ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!? WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE TO STOP THIS GUY!? SHOOT HIM YOU IDIOTS!" are the statements called out in the vehicle before a few start using their quirks, weapons, and support items to attack Jotaro.

But he easily evades in the air. Rolling and evading the attacks and shots. He then gets closer and punches out the jet engine. Making the flying car plumet. And Jotaro gets under it to fly it back to the city.

"Just so you know if any of you try anything while I'm taking us back, I will drop this car." Jotaro says when he hears some of the thugs contemplating about attacking him. But that statement stops the thoughts cold.

All of the civilians though were shocked at seeing Jotaro fly off and capture the vehicle mid-flight. And were even more impressed on him bringing the machine with all the villains in tow. And before any of them can try to attack him or the civilians, Jotaro quickly disarms the thugs.

He looks at the motley gathering of criminals and asks, "so. Care to go a few rounds without the weapons?" His arms are crossed, and he was looking down at most of them given he was a bit taller than most. And they just say no, while the hero nods at them thinking this through.

Right when one is about to use a smokescreen quirk to escape, Jotaro quickly rips off the bumper of the vehicle and wraps it around the group of villains. "Hey! Not cool! Well there goes the escape plan. I knew I should have stayed in culinary school."

Jotaro dusts off his hands as the police arrive, while listening for Markus and how he was fairing with his criminals. The answer: fair. He'd already stopped one vehicle by negating the gravity of one of the cars. But when he did that to the second, it also revealed a hidden thruster.

The loss of gravity though, made it rocket off faster than any of them anticipated. So, Markus had to reactivate the gravity on the vehicle to keep the thieves from killing themselves. "Okay that didn't work. Let's try a different approach!"

Markus uses his best understanding of his personal gravity manipulation and works to get closer to the jet boosted vehicle. When he gets within about twenty yards, Markus goes for his singularity. And even with the thruster, the car can't get away from it.

And this gets Markus close enough to where he can effect more specific gravities. In this case, increasing the mass of all of the criminals inside the vehicle to where they cause damage and break the internal structure of the car.

This stops the chase cold and none of the thugs can even lift themselves out of the vehicle. Doesn't stop some of them from trying. To no avail. When the police arrive, Markus asks if they have anything to negate quirks.

"No but we can handle it from here young man. Also do you have a license to use your quirk?" one of the officers asks. Markus's smile just grows before saying, "I've been waiting for a chance to say this. I don't need a license. After all, I don't have a quirk."

This gets eyes wide from the criminals to the civilians on the street. "Great. So now we've got more true metas to deal with." One of the criminals, a bystander, and one of the officers say.

While Markus gives a glare to the two of the people who said that he pushes past it and only lets up the gravity pin when they were secure. "We'll take it from here young man. Thank you for the help." The head officer says while the villains are loaded into maidens to restrain them.

Things are quieter for Hanabi and Gomtai though. With both only having to worry about a purse snatcher and a pickpocket. Gomtai catching the former by stretching out his limbs and tangling the thief. And Hanabi accidentally peeking into the mind of the pickpocket. Then catching him by levitating him.

Mirko meanwhile was pissed that she ended up missing the big chase. "Figures. I go one way and it's the complete opposite of all the action!" Mirko said as the group was reconvening after the daily patrols.

It was getting close to dinner time and the Rabbit Hero was thinking on just ordering take out or a pizza. Only for the pizza place to be closed due to spraying for bugs, and her usual take-out place being closed due to a small fire in the kitchen.

"We could just go shopping aunt Rumi. Then we could just cook up what we need." Markus put forward. Rumi gave him a flat look before saying she didn't know how to cook. Gomtai let out a small chuckle while saying he could only cook simple stuff.

Hanabi blushes before saying, "I can cook pretty well. I just need some ingredients and I know you don't have any at the agency Rumi-chan." Jotaro says he'll go with her since he knows how to cook as well.

While at the store, a few people take note of both of them. With Jotaro having been part of a big spectacle and capture of two fleeing vehicles. And Hanabi having not only been a local but her catching of a pickpocket got some notoriety as well.

As they were shopping, Jotaro can tell Hanabi wants to ask him something. "Spit it out. You might as well ask what you want." Jotaro says while picking up some meat from the butcher. And gauging its quality based on his sense of smell.

"Why do you dislike me? Or rather why do you dislike telepaths and telekinetics?" Jotaro knows he's not getting out of this and lets out a sigh before picking some vegetables. After Hanabi picked out the ones that were the freshest, Jotaro explained.

"It's not just because of that one who messed with my head and made me hurt my friends earlier in the year. A different person with a similar power set to yours threatened me and almost killed me. And before you ask, I didn't have my strength or invulnerability at this point. So it left an impression."

Hanabi nods while asking more about the person in question. "They didn't have plant control like you do. But they were much better at levitation and invading peoples' minds. That's part of why I have extra barriers in my head. To keep telepaths out."

"You know I'm nothing like them right?" Jotaro just gives her a look before saying he obviously knew that. But it didn't undo the unsettling nature of dealing with that first dangerous telepath and telekinetic.

He said he'd try to deal with his issues over time but problems like that can't be dealt with in short order. When they got back to the agency, the other three were working on a different problem. The shower head broke so they were fixing it and the plumbing for the baths.

Hanabi explained what she had in mind for dinner and Jotaro followed her lead. Quickly mincing the vegetables and preparing the miso soup. All while quietly singing to himself. Something that really intrigued the mental powered woman.

Once dinner and the baths were fixed, the members of Mirko's agency happily enjoyed a meal of carrot miso soup and grilled fish. With the rabbit hero munching on a few extra carrots for herself.

"You still know me pretty well Hanabi!" Rumi said with slightly puffed cheeks. Hanabi blushed while noting they'd have something different tomorrow. With Markus asking if they could have something American style. With a couple of laughs around the table.

Elsewhere in the nation, each of the other students were getting a feel for what their roles would be as heroes going forward. With Izuku working with Mirio and Nighteye again. And a newcomer to the agency, Melissa.

She decided she didn't want to stay on at the lab all the time and went out into the field with the Nighteye agency. At her uncle's recommendation. She had gone with calling herself Techno Might for the time being. And was showing what her armor and gadgets could do to restrain many different villains.

Kirishima and Tetsutetsu were working with Fat Gum on the recommendation from Amakiji. "He can teach you quite a bit about timing your attacks. After all, the two of you are pretty defensive focused."

And they weren't alone. Pedro had decided to help in protecting people on the streets as well as setting up new shelters and soup kitchens. Something Fat Gum was happy to aid in.

"A good meal and a warm bed can do a lot for plenty who have been pushed aside. And sadly, my being a hero can't fix those problems." Fat Gum said while helping to move food and blankets into the shelter. Pedro put his hand on the hero's shoulder and thanked him for aiding however he could.

Back in Okinawa though Ryukyu was unsettled by something she noted in the logs they took from the smugglers. "There's about 500 lbs of metals that were unaccounted for in our raid. And we don't know the buyer or even the seller."

"Too bad we don't have someone who can tell if a person is lying or a mind reader. The latter is especially rare." Kunoi said while comparing the data. Harlequin notes that even a quirk truth detector might not even work. "They may not know more than what they've told us."

The teens though were relaxing a bit in office. And they were surprised to see Jotaro and Markus making the big news story for the nation. Especially when they saw Jotaro take off flying and maneuvering around like it was almost second nature.

"Is there anything that guy can't do?" Setsuna says with a blue shade over her eyes. Itsuka and Saphentite let out strained chuckles before the latter notes he has trouble saying 'no' at times. "That and he really hates dealing with….. someone like her."

Right as Saphentite was talking, the news brought up Gomtai and Hanabi's actions as sidekick/heroes as well. "This has been a big showing for one of the first days of the Mirko Hero Agency here in Hiroshima. I wonder what else we'll see in the coming days. Now that Mirko isn't just wandering about Japan."

Ryukyu and her older sidekicks hum before wondering where Mirko managed to pick up such impressive people. Only to be surprised that more than half of her agency was manned by true metas.

"Of all people to team up with true metas, I can't believe its her." Harlequin says with her eyes wide. Ryukyu meanwhile hums while scratching her chin. A smile grows on her face while thinking of the best way to ask for help from the newly formed agency.

This time I wanted to focus more on the new metas and what they could or could not do with their powers. Though I'll admit to borrowing a bit from DCUO's mental power set and a bit of Psychonauts for some of Hanabi's powers.

Markus's though were mostly original. Especially at the point that he has better control over gravity and the like compared to most anyone with a quirk. And setting up for the next step in the arc. Also, Jotaro's powers aren't out of nowhere. He just doesn't use all of them for very specific reasons. Anyway. Please review.