MATRIX

Ochako snorted awake. The metal circle left irritated lines across her face where she had slept on it. Bakugo was already gone, but the others stirred as she stood up.

"Did we do something wrong?" Kaminari asked, looking around. "This doesn't seem like a dream."

Momo checked her phone. "We can figure it out later. Class is starting in ten minutes."

They rushed inside classroom 1-A at the last second, and the door slammed closed behind them.

"Excellent, you have all arrived," Eraserhead said. "Today, we will discuss the importance of support gear for heroes in the field. No hero should ever operate without a robotic device that definitely does not contain a sentient, humanity-hating AI on their persons at all times. Today, you will all get to use one, so you can see how wonderful machines make our lives."

Ochako and Momo exchanged a silent look. Kaminari, oblivious to the unusual situation, raised his hand and asked, "Will mine be shock-proof? I wouldn't want to short out mine."

"Do not worry, Kaminari, we made a special device just for you."

"Awesome!"

As Aizawa went around, handing out wristbands and circlets with ominous red lights, Momo raised her hand. "I, err… have to go to the bathroom."

Aizawa's head rotated towards her. "You may perform your bodily functions after you receive your device."

Momo hastily made a metal band under her shirt. "I already have one. See?"

Aizawa's eyes zoomed in and out of focus as he peered at the band on Momo's wrist. "Your puny efforts cannot fool the almighty machine, meatbag. Seize her."

The other students stood robotically and swiveled towards her. Momo backed away as the students mindlessly converged on her. Ochako tapped a few and flung them away, but they simply jabbed their legs into the ceiling and kept walking. Tokoyami lashed out with Dark Shadow, and Kaminari stood gaping dumbly while Aizawa gently guided him towards a chair.

"Here is your device."

"But how am I supposed to fight in this?"

"Oh, don't worry. Your power will do plenty of fighting as we conquer humanity."

"Wait, what!"

Aizawa shoved him into the chair. As the power-draining helmet lowered, Bakugo burst in through the ceiling with shotguns in either hand. Twin shots made the nearest heads burst apart in a shower of gears and scrap metal.

"Move!" he roared.

Ochako and the others sprinted with him. They locked themselves in an empty classroom. As metal arms pounded on the door, Bakugo took out a handful of pills. "No time to explain. We're stuck in a simulation of reality the robots have constructed to distract me while they extract information about humanity's defenses. Take the blue pill, you wake up and can pretend this never happened. Take the red pill, and you'll return to reality to fight the good fight. Which will it be?"

Everyone took a red pill. Katsuki popped his own and said, "Welcome to the resistance. I'll see you on the other side."

499

All we're missing is that Hans Zimmer music and some dramatic slow-motion shots dodging bullets.