Justice Across Space and Time

Chapter 23

This took a bit longer due to wanting to mix in a few new and changed elements from the original story. As well as me working 12-to-13-hour days. But I'm back and I should be able to get a few new chapters out soon. Now then, on with the show.

(No POV)

On the last day of the Nighteye agency groups visit as well as the last day of internships, Mirio and Izuku thought it would be a good idea to spar with both Jotaro and Toshinori. "I want to see what you've learned from Jotaro, All Might! And I've got some new techniques to show both of you!" Izuku was the first to say. And Mirio was quick to chime in with, "I've only seen a little of what Jotaro is capable of. Kibou is impressive on his own, but you two are great heroes as is!" The two who had been training in secret saw this as a good opportunity.

For Toshinori, he could get a better feel for how to use his meta speed with most people. So far, he'd only tried to use it against villains. 'Or rather thugs. It is just like John has said. Most of the people we all call villains are little more than thugs or animals who want to use their quirks however they want. They don't stack up to true villains like AFO, Shigaraki, or that Dabi maniac.' He thought to himself. For Jotaro though, he saw this as a chance to see how Izuku had grown since he'd gotten a feeling for what his maximum could be. So both agreed and Jotaro was the first to step up against Izuku.

They both agreed to keep it simple for the most part. Jotaro had shown Izuku how to replicate the power of float or flight with his kinetic powers, but the greenette still needed time to refine it. Let alone learning how to use the Float quirk alone. "Let us all agree that you will stop the matches after a set time. I'd say about five minutes." Nighteye called while the two were warming up in the large field behind the hideaway. With a quick nod, both boys got into position before rushing each other.

Jotaro opened up with a kick, but Izuku was quick to jump over it and deliver a kick of his own to the larger boy's face. This sent Jotaro back a bit but he was quick to recover and respond with a slam to the ground. The slam didn't hit Izuku, but it did send dirt flying everywhere. And before he could react, Jotaro was on him with a strong right hook. Before following up with a couple of rapid punches.

But Izuku surprised him again by firing off six "Deleware Air Force Smashes!" right into Jotaro's chest. This sent him back again, and Izuku wrapped him up in Blackwhips. He proceeded to spin around a few times while calling out, "Wichita Line SMASH!" before slamming Jotaro into the ground.

When Jotaro got up, he coughed before saying, "Wichita Line huh. Guess you overheard me singing that a few times." When he stands, he unleashes a shockwave of his own, sending Izuku backwards. Jotaro then takes advantage of the metal soles on Izuku's boots, by using electromagnetism to pull the smaller hero toward himself.

He spins around and unleashes a strong straight to his face. This almost knocks Izuku out but he powers through and uses another new attack. By wrapping Jotaro and a rock with separate Blackwhips, he slams the two together. Calling out, "Atchison to Santa Fe SMASH!" This throws Jotaro off again, and he reels back after the hit. Izuku then makes a light rhythm in his head before following up with a "Manchester SMASH!" followed by a double chop hit called, "West Virginia SMASH!"

This pair of chops to his shoulders causes Jotaro to flinch. And the ground around the two cracked. But that isn't enough to stop the larger boy, whose eyes quickly flash, and he clotheslines Izuku. He spins a bit before slamming him into the ground. Once Izuku has bounced up a bit, Jotaro unleashes a flurry of blows. And with one final punch, he sends Izuku flying. Or he would have flown further, but Izuku had just started floating without a prompt. "Okay. Guess you just awakened the seventh's power. Huh. Well at least we prepared a bit with passing it off as a true meta power." Jotaro says.

To Toshinori though, seeing Izuku floating up like that reminds him of his old master. Mirio and Nighteye though are impressed that Izuku seems to be adapting to the new power quickly. Nighteye then calls the exercise, and Toshinori steps up with Mirio. The later is extra excited to be training with the number 1 hero. But Toshinori points out, "I'm not fighting as All Might here. I haven't picked a hero name yet, but for right now. I'm just Toshinori." With a small smile, Toshinori lets his meta power flow and all who can see get a good look at his white light form.

Mirio is in awe for a moment but regains his composure and dives into the ground. Toshi has a guess to where he will come from and is ready for the boy. Right when Mirio pops out of the ground, Toshi is behind him and lands a solid kick to the boy's side. Mirio manages to phase through a tree he was flying toward but isn't quick enough to phase through a super speed punch from Toshi.

As the younger man is rolling back, he quickly slips into the ground. He then pops out under Toshi, but the older hero sees the attack in slow motion. While he isn't quite capable of avoiding the hit entirely, he can adjust to where the hit will do far less. As he slides back Mirio is catching his breath. 'I expected him to be tough thanks to his experience, but he seems to know just what I'm going to do. Guess that experience counts for much more than I anticipated.' Mirio thinks to himself while attempting to dodge and phase through as many high-speed hits as he can.

But he can't keep holding his breath. And when he lets it out, Toshi is on him in a second. Which is enough time to copy his Michigan Smash and barrage Mirio with hits from all sides. With one final punch to the face for a good knockout measure. It doesn't actually knock Mirio out, but it is enough for him to concede the match. "No way I can keep up with you. Doubt anyone can."

"Well. Jotaro can. But not as he is right now. He has the potential to match me in speed in this form, let alone outclassing me in terms of strength in my All Might form." This makes the younger hero's jaw drop, and Nighteye is so wide eyed that his eyes are all but popping out of his head. They both look at Jotaro, who just shrugs. Saying, "I'm saving that trick for something special. You'll see it soon."

With a sigh, all decide to leave it at that. The Nighteye group headed back to the agency the day after that, and the other two decided to spend the day patrolling and observing around the sleepy town. And across the rest of Japan various other hero students were improving and somewhat enjoying their last days with their mentors. With the exception of Saphentite's group. They all weren't too keen on being models for a commercial. With the training done, Jotaro and Toshinori head back to UA.

Once back they all start discussing their internships and what they had learned during their time. Ida had learned a few new tricks to help him get around at higher speeds from his brother. "I'm not quite ready for the family special enhancement, but I should be soon." Momo was feeling a bit more confident, but she was still doubting herself after working as Uwabami's assistant. Saphentite was quite annoyed by the whole matter. Mineta… was slightly traumatized for some reason.

A few people though were quick to comment on the incidents that Izuku and Jotaro had gotten caught up in. "You really lived up to the name and title you chose for yourself. So MANLY!" Kirishima was quick to say while patting Izuku on the back. Tokoyami was quick to make a different point. "Jotaro who was that person that helped you defeat those villains?"

"He's a new true meta. He's a bit older, but still pretty capable once I helped him figure out how to use his power." A few of his classmates oohhed at the mention of him training a true meta. With Ida commenting, "while that is a bit of a deviation from what the internships intend, I can see the merit in it! You two were even faster than Mirko!"

At hearing that he got to see the top female hero up close and personal, Kaminari was quick to ask a few questions. And Jotaro was quick to cut him off with a chop to the head. Sato then brings up a perspective that most of them hadn't thought about.

"You mentioned that most true metas awaken at random and by accident once. So, what happened to you? How did you get your powers?" the large lipped student asks while scratching his head. Jotaro's eyes widen behind his glasses, and a few take this to mean it is a memory or something that he doesn't want to talk about.

But with a sigh Jotaro explains some of his (fake) backstory. "I was on a sailing trip with family in California. I had family out there. There was a storm….. and. I got washed away and…. They never found the rest of my family." Sato is quick to try and apologize, and some of the others look at Jotaro in sympathy.

He then continues by saying, "that wasn't when my powers awakened. I washed up on a deserted island, and I was stuck there for a few months. Then another storm brewed, and I ended up getting struck by lightning. It activated my powers all of the sudden, and I could hear so much it was driving me crazy. Then all the energy in myself activated somehow and I cause an explosion that destroyed the whole island."

At that mention the other students are terrified of Jotaro's power potential again, as well as feeling like he has lost too much in his life. Saphentite and Ochaco are the first to go up and give him a hug. Saphentite takes over by saying, "our families were friends, so he wound up living with me for a while. I think you were 10 at the time. It wasn't long after that, I accidentally angered some powerful spirits from my father's homeland. And they cursed me into becoming a djinn. And he freed me from that."

Momo and a few of the other girls nod thinking that explains the two's closeness. With the explanation done Sato stands up and bows apologizing to Jotaro. Aizawa then decides to come in and tell the students what the next few weeks will entail. Though he is also planning to have Jotaro meet with Hound Dog to deal with some of his issues.

But while the heroes were getting ready for the next assignments and training, the villains were starting to make moves of their own.

In a shady bar, Kurogiri and Tomura were talking with the master and the doctor. "I've at least somewhat recovered sensei. I still can't believe the guy who did this to me didn't have a quirk. But a different power all together. Let alone those other two." Tomura says while wincing a bit. He feels up the false limb gently, careful not to touch it with all five fingers. He can still feel the ripping of the appendage off, and it makes him want to rage a bit more.

He starts to mutter about the government weapons called heroes, but Kurogiri stops him for a moment. "It didn't seem as though it was intentional. The boy in question seemed terrified of himself and what he did after he did it." The master then hums a bit before saying, "I guess that isn't overly surprising. Not only is he hoping to be a hero, but there might be plenty of people who would be scared of what they could do if they had his power."

He and the doctor both mention that plenty of people who first awakened quirks were much the same in the earlier days. Many had lost sanity or sense of what it meant to be human. Though AFO did mention it had happened about 20 or so years before he was born. "In many ways, his and the others powers might be more natural or just a different form that is less detrimental. No one knows how or why quirks started appearing. And now these new powers are appearing. But they all seem random."

"I agree. And while I can extract quirk factors, I wouldn't even know where to begin with this new meta factor." Tomura stops the two men from going on their own tangent. By mentioning that they need to grow their ranks again.

"And not just with riff raff crap out of the back alleys. We need real party members. Tank, caster, the works." The older men agree, and Kurogiri mentions having put out a few feelers. So far though, only three had responded favorably. Toga Himiko, Mr. Compress, and Magne. Dabi had seemed interested but wasn't giving a straight answer. Muscular and Moonfish were in as long as they got interesting people to kill or fight. But it still wasn't much.

And with Stain out of the picture they couldn't get others for a possible rallying cry. That is when the doctor brings up the possibility of bringing in Gigantomachia. The master decides to call his most loyal bodyguard through his speaker. But it isn't Machia who answers.

"Sorry the big guy is down right now. I'd say I'll take a message, but I'm not sure if he'll ever be able to answer once we're finished with him." This worries the old villain. If his best bodyguard is already beaten, then one of the best weapons to put him back into power and possibly gain a new body is gone.

But he maintains his composure before saying, "I would prefer it if you didn't destroy my subordinate. I need him alive." The person on the other side just huhs. He then asks who exactly is calling. "Lets just say I had a hand in the recent attack on UA."

"Oh. Interesting. So, you're with the group who is looking to tear down part of this messed up society eh? Course you assholes are wanting to do it with quirks. We have our own agenda on that." If he still had eyes, they would be widening at that statement.

So, the master quickly says to the man on the other side, "you have true meta powers I'm guessing? I wasn't expecting to meet a true meta villain so quickly. But I guess given the current hero and quirk focused society you would have passed under the radar."

"Something like that. And I get the feeling that while you want to end the hero society, it's just so you can have quirks be the ruling power. No thanks. Keep breaking his arms and other bones. Make sure he can't move." The person on the line says.

The master is both annoyed and worried for Gigantomachia at what the true meta villain is describing. So, he tries to make a deal. "I know you hate quirks and all those who basically worship them. But. If you want to make more of a difference, you might find working with us benefits your cause." The villain on the other side hums a bit in contemplation. And the master sees this as his opportunity to try and get a strong set of allies.

He continues with, "I have experience, resources, and a few strategies and plans to bring everything crashing down. And you could have a leading role in all of that. My successor could help lead you there." Just then, he hears a sickening snap and a cry out from Machia. As well as the humming from the supposed leader.

After a minute, and more cries from Gigantomachia, the leader responds. And his response will further shake the quirked world. "I'm listening."

I've gotta be honest, I didn't see the Fa Jin power coming with the most recent chapters (unlike the Nagant backstab AFO pulled. Totally saw that coming). But I think it could be a very good one to complement the Izuku I'm making here. In a sense, Izuku's meta power allows him to have permanent Fa Jin boosts.

But the energy can be used in a variety of ways. Like the healing factor and other applications. Fa Jin just allows him to build up the energy and release it explosively in blows and attacks. But aside from that, I wanted to bring up that not everyone with true meta powers would be good. There would be plenty who would hate both the current society and those behind it. So that is where the others come in. I'll get into detail with them more later. Please review. Also maybe leave some ideas for a new hero name for Toshinori. I've been playing around with a few but I'm drawing blanks.