Justice Across Space and Time
Chapter 34
This chapter will show a different set of problems that the teachers and heroes will have to be compared to the canon story. We'll also be able to skip over most scenes from the hospital given Izuku and most of the rest didn't end up there.
Also, if you were curious the battle with Mustard ended up the same as the original. No need to fix what isn't broke there. And the Dabi duplicates were handled beforehand. The pros just struggled with fighting against the true metas. But that is probably enough expositing, on with the show.
(No POV)
"Well, this might be a problem." Nezu says after getting the report from the training camp. While most of the students were fine, there were still a few who were injured or exposed to toxic gases. Let alone the fact that the pros who were supposed to be protecting them were defeated by the new set of villains that appeared. "I always suspected that there would be many quirkless who were disgruntled or angry at the current world. And it is some of my fault that they feel that way." All Might says with a sigh.
Nezu wants to counter the number 1 hero's statement. But he knows the man is correct. "You are not the only one at fault Toshinori. The fact is many of us who are called heroes are much the same. Even before you became the number one, most heroes were competing or looking to be the best or use their quirks however they wanted. That made those with either weaker/useless quirks or without them envious. If any of them got a taste of power, they would jump at the chance to use it."
The person saying this was none other than All Might's old teacher, Gran Torino. He was leaning on a cane in his hero costume while sitting in the principal's office at UA. Nezu meanwhile mentions that they will have to make a press statement about their failure to protect the students. "Let alone the fact that Jotaro was the only one captured. The media will have a true field day with that part. I've already been getting calls from quirkless support groups." Nezu said before his phone started ringing again.
All Might could surmise the reason for that. "They feel that we may have or must have let them take Jotaro since he was technically a quirkless individual. And thus, someone most with quirks would see as beneath their view."
"It's not that surprising. Too many see the idea of these true metas as a threat to not only the peace you've built but to the whole identity that has been built around quirks. Let alone many like the leaders of the Hearts and Minds party and Detrenet trying to claim that the destroyed minds element from quirks was circumstantial at best. Despite the evidence to the contrary." Torino mentioned before thinking back on a special individual he had met not long ago.
Torino had not arrived alone to UA. While Jotaro had only mentioned it as a joke, Torino did go out and look for those who might have the potential to be true metas. He happened upon one living in an old shrine outside of his agency's city.
The man was one who had been living on the bare minimum as it were. He had been living with family, but most of them were killed due to villain attacks or those looking to remove what they saw as a step backwards. When Torino found him, he was fighting back against a few from Deika city, with the power to shapeshift and mold his body into any form or item. Torino stepped in and took down the offenders before offering the man a place at his home. And a chance to learn more about what he could do.
He was going by Nobasu to match with capabilities and was working with Power Loader to make himself a suit that would shapeshift with him. While he was doing that, the oldest heroes at UA were discussing matters going forward. "Not only must we recover Jotaro, but we need to stop the league of villains. And find out who is aiding them." Nezu says before excusing himself.
At the hospital, the pros who had been injured or disabled during the battle with the Forgotten were discussing matters as well. "Not only should we have seen this coming, but we should have tried to find a way to counter it." Aizawa says while nursing a broken arm. Tiger sighs before saying, "I think most heroes are too caught up in thinking that quirkless people couldn't pose a threat to them. Now look where that has left us."
The male member of the group was nursing a broken leg, arm, and injured back from being tossed through walls by Lima, while Pixie Bob had some burns from the lava attacks sent her way by Emma of the Forgotten. Mandalay and Ragdoll were the least injured of their team, the latter only having some scrapes and bruises from the chainsaw nomu that attacked her before Saphentite stepped in to save her.
"That big guy made a very good point. We all underestimated them. All because we thought we could do much more with our quirks." Mandalay said while scratching at the bandages on her head. Kan meanwhile feels guilty for not aiding his comrades during the fight, as he had stayed back to keep an eye on the other remedial students and the lodge. Only missing that Kazuhiko had gone after Izuku had arrived back.
"We are probably going to have a major storm brewing thanks to the fact that Jotaro-kun was taken. I know that one of the students took a video of that huge guy's speech as did some of the villains. And it's been uploaded to the net, so that means we could be looking at backlash because we didn't save a former quirkless person. And we got beat by former quirkless as well." Kan says as Nezu was arriving to speak with those gathered.
He does confirm what Kan suspected and tells Aizawa they would need to make a press statement soon. Aizawa just has a flat annoyed look on his face before asking if the principal was serious. Upon seeing the gleam in the rodent like administrator's eyes, Aizawa knows he isn't getting out of this.
For the students, most had gathered in Momo's room to discuss matters. "So, you and Awase managed to plant a tracker on one of the nomus?" Kirishima questioned when they had finally been allowed to visit the girl. She nods before explaining that she had given the tracker receiver to the police. "But it wouldn't be difficult for you to make another right?" Izuku says with a serious look. Momo looks to the class rep of 1-A and pieces together what he has in mind.
Ida though is not pleased with what Izuku has in mind. "You can't be serious Midoriya!? We need to leave this to the pros! They'll get Jotaro back, you know that! You can't do this on your own."
"He's not going to be alone. Because I'm coming too." Saphentite says with her own stern look. Kazuhiko then steps up to say he'll be helping as well. Noting that he owes Jotaro for helping him learn how to use some of his abilities. "But wouldn't that make you guys just like the villains? After all you'd be breaking the laws too?" Tsuyu says to try and dissuade her classmates.
"It wouldn't be breaking the laws for a few reasons. The main one being that those laws only apply to those with quirks. And we don't have quirks." Izuku says with finality. Todoroki chuckles a bit before saying, "you really are a lot like Jotaro. He said almost the exact same thing back during the I-Island incident. And you both are right. This time though, I think it would be best if we left it up to you." Izuku nods before asking Momo to make another receiver to try and find Jotaro. Momo just sighs before saying he was crazy. "But here you go. Just promise that you will try to be careful?"
"No absolutes, but we will try to stay safe. Thanks Yaoyorozu." Izuku says with a smile. Saphentite then comes over and hugs the onyx haired girl before thanking her as well. With that, the three quirkless heroes go to try and track down the missing Jotaro Svoboda.
But not before one more asks to come along. "I know I don't have the same leniency that you all do. But….. I don't want to abandon Jotaro. I… I wouldn't be able to live with it if I just didn't try to find him as well." Kendo Itsuka says with her fists clenched tight. She then asks to join the group with a bow. Izuku isn't too sure himself, while Kazuhiko doesn't know the girl well enough to make a call. Saphentite though steps up and places her hand on the martial artist's shoulder. "Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?" Saphentite asks firmly while looking Itsuka in the eye. The girl doesn't waver as she simply says, "yes."
Saphentite then smiles before saying okay. While Izuku doesn't know what to make of the matter, he just shrugs and tells the base plan of going to Kamino ward. "We may have to hide a bit before we can move on where this thing is pointing us to."
With a twinkle in her eye Saphentite assures the groups she had them covered. "Relax Izuku. I have that covered." Saphentite says with an air of confidence. To the raised eyebrow and confused looks of her conspirators.
For the rest of the heroes, they are planning to raid what they believe to be the main hideout of League of Villains. "So, this bar is that we believe the League is stationed at?" Endeavor asks in a contemplative tone. One that surprises Best Jeanist.
"I would have thought you would be complaining about being involved in this attack." Endeavor scoffs before mentioning that he owed the one who was taken. Edgeshot chuckles before commenting, "Strange to think that getting beat by a teenager would calm you down." The number two shoots the Foldabody hero a glare before the meeting moves along.
Detective Tsukauchi Naomasa noting that they believed there were two hideouts. "The bar is one and we'll be having a second team going after the other. Which we have the general location for thanks to the efforts of two students. But we do have a different problem. Most likely they have the aid of some very powerful true metas. Calling themselves the Forgotten. Uncomfortably apt… But we have a little true meta power to aid us as well. Nobasu-san?" The rest of the group turn to look over the blue haired man. He was wearing a tight blue leotard suit around his body, with tai chi shoes on his feet.
"I'll do what I can. I'm still trying to figure a few things out, but luckily, I actually have a suit to wear rather than just making my own clothes. It was a little awkward at times." Nobasu says with a smile. When Endeavor questions what he was talking about, the blue haired man's smile grows. He then looks the fiery hero over. And then quickly shapeshifts into a perfect copy of him.
This shocks everyone, and then Nobasu does the same for a few others. Including becoming a perfect physical duplicate of All Might. "Shapeshifting into people is interesting but-" Edgeshot starts, but then Nobasu does some new transformations. Including turning into items, as well as turning his fists into hammers. And super stretching his arms and legs like whips.
After being shocked by the actions, Nobasu jokingly says, "I can transform my body almost any way I like. Even making clothes to copy those I'm looking at. But I personally prefer this, to just making a suit or pants or whatever from my body." Best Jeanist gets a bit of a laugh at all of this before noting that it would be exceptional in the battle to come.
And Tsukauchi notes that the UA group is hopefully giving them enough time to attack. "I agree. This is one of my students that has been taken after all. I'm not letting them get away with this." All Might says with a fierce look in his blue eyes. Internally though he is thinking more about getting Jotaro out of trouble. 'Hold on John. I won't let them keep you.'
With the villains though, they are having their own set of struggles. "We lost three members from the League, the Forgotten made their statement and intentions known, and we only managed to capture one of the targets we were hoping to grab. Not what I would call a 100% clear." Tomura said with an annoyed tone at the bar that was the headquarters for the League.
Natalie shrugs before mentioning, "it's not like the ones you lost were that special right? I mean yeah, Muscular was a bit of a loss. But really, I'd think he was something of a liability. The other two really were not that special in terms of both motive or power really." While Magne takes some offense to that, Tomura agrees with the leader of the Forgotten.
"You're not wrong really. Moonfish was just a crazed killer, and Muscular was the same. Mustard meanwhile just wanted to mock the whole fact that those kids we attacked were supposed to special since they were accepted into UA."
"Doesn't change that we still lost out quite a bit young Tomura." Kurogiri was quick to point out. Sosaku then asks their newest part time member, who was calling herself Psyche Link, what the status of getting control of Jotaro was.
"About that. I don't know why or how, but I can't even get into his head anymore. It's not just like the mental barriers before. More like he's shut off his mind." Psyche says with a shrug. Luiz mentions that Jotaro seemed to be freaking out after he realized what he did. "So….. maybe it's an overreaction to knowing he hurt his classmates?"
"That does seem likely sister. For now, I've been draining him of a bit more energy. But there is a problem. I can't really drain him enough to really depower him in anyway. I don't know how, but he seems to have a wide variety of energy types running through his body." Ryan and Emma discuss while nursing drinks.
"Yes…. It seems he is quite an interesting individual as far as his capabilities go. And just like I believed, I cannot take his power. I've already tried, and nothing happens. To the contrary, I seem to be rebuffed or burned the second I try." The benefactor of the League of Villains says from his screen. Tomura nods before mentioning that he'd like to reduce Jotaro to ash.
"Save it for later man. Though I gotta be honest, I doubt you'll be able to. You have to touch things, right? We'll the guy has some kind of energy barrier around his body. Or something of the like." Ryan mentions off hand before asking to change the channel on the TV. Kurogiri acquiesces, though he asks why. Natalie then smiles before saying, "we've got a little something special in mind right now. Something to drive home how useless most of the heroes are."
On the screen, Aizawa, Kan, and Nezu are making a public apology about their failure to protect the students at the training camp. "Are you sure you didn't let the winner of the Sports Festival be taken?" one journalist asks before standing. Aizawa takes offense to this and defends that they did all they could at the time. "Really? So, you who are supposed to be some of the best trained heroes from UA, couldn't stop a student who had a power you didn't understand from being taken?"
With that said a few other journalists ask the same. Mentioning if the heroes were looking down on those who are quirkless by not believing that they could have greater power. Or acknowledging the video that was posted with Luiz and Emma's speech on it. As well as some mentioning their sources telling them that they and the Wild Wild Pussycats were defeated easily. And they needed to be saved by their true meta students.
Tomura smiles a bit before laughing. "This is good! You have an ally there, right? And they are doing everything to paint the world of justice that the quirked heroes have tried to promote as pathetic."
"As well as making them acknowledge their underlying discrimination. Even if they don't state it outright." Ryan says with a smirk. Emma then mentions that their ally isn't even a true meta like them. "Just a journalist who had their own hopes crushed by this egotistical society. So, they were forced to take other paths. And now they can use what we pass to them to make the heroes look bad." Dabi nods before asking if he could have their contact info too.
While the hero teachers are struggling slightly to counter the claims of their negligence, Nezu was ready and brings up his own counter. "It is true that our teachers were not ready for the attack from the true metas. And much of that is due to our lacking knowledge of true metas as a whole. But we have been in talks with some from I-Island and overseas to work on counters for some of these types of enemies. With the aid of those true metas who volunteer to aid us in the first place." Nezu then goes on to say he does not blame the true metas, or any quirkless for not trusting heroes or most of the public. Stating that they have done little to prove their will to protect them as a whole.
"But now I see how terribly arrogant that mentality was. We all are guilty of that hubris. Every person with a quirk has that guilt because we have been so caught up in enjoying the powers we were lucky to be born with, we have that we have forgotten portions of our humanity and used it as an excuse to demean others. Therefore, we are setting forth an initiative to study quirks much closer. And to possibly….. find a cure for the changes that have been brought about because of that. In other words, we are looking to remove quirks as a whole." When Nezu finishes his statement, many around the world are shocked. Those in the League and the members of the Forgotten included.
Luiz is the first to say, "Okay… didn't see that coming." Many in the bar nod before asking if the guy was joking. "I don't think so. He is totally serious…. Ha! He actually wants to support research on removing or undoing this world of heroes." Dabi says with a little laugh. Toga and Twice hum a bit as they think about what might happen if they could get their own quirks removed.
'Maybe…. Maybe I would actually be normal. Not just the kind that mom and dad wanted me to be. Maybe…. I wouldn't want to make others bleed if I didn't have my quirk.' Toga thinks, while Twice argues with himself about the idea of what being without his quirk could mean.
While that is happening, Izuku's group follow the tracker and come upon a warehouse. They are each glamour charmed so they would not be noticed. Izuku now having blonde hair, and brown eyes. Itsuka appears to have long silky black hair and green eyes with a dark tan, while Saphentite has white hair and blue eyes and a pale skin tone. The only one minorly glamoured with Kazuhiko. Instead of the boy's regular brown hair and eyes, he now had red hair and green eyes and seemed to be a bit taller. "Are you sure this is going to hold Saphee?" Itsuka asks while walking through the streets.
Saphentite shrugs before mentioning, "everyone is so caught up in the broadcast they probably wouldn't notice us even if it did dissipate." Izuku then mentions that they need to be careful, as this could be enemy territory. "Hold up Izuku. I'll take a look around quick." Kazuhiko says before going EM and disappearing. He bolts around a few times before returning with some unsettling news.
"I don't think this is where the villains are hiding out. I think this is where they make those monster things." Izuku's eyes widen before he says, "nomu" under his breath. Saphentite asks if Kazuhiko saw anything else. "The most I saw was a bunch of tanks filled with those monsters. Though… I couldn't see it exactly, but I could feel something odd. Like another thing putting out EM waves."
Itsuka then asks if there was some kind of radio or something in there. Saphentite stops the questioning by saying they needed to find Jotaro. Izuku thinks a bit more before wondering if he was here for some special reason.
With Jotaro himself though, there was a different issue. He was currently in a state sealed inside of his own mind. 'I did it again. I hurt someone because I couldn't control my power… or my abilities. And this time it was two people I saw as friends. I just…. How long before I… I'
'You what lose control? You've already been there and back. And I'm pretty sure you know that.' Within Jotaro's mind, hears one of his other selves. This one is a bit calmer and more confident. And sounding strangely like Toshinori and him mixed together.
'How many times are we going to go through this? You freak out every time you lose control or if your power rampages in some way.' The other voice says. Jotaro just comes back with, 'what do you expect? The first time I lost control…..'
'You destroyed so much and caused insane amounts of chaos…. Trust me. I know. I was there too.' The other side gives Jotaro a smirk and eyebrow raise to tell he's not too worried. Jotaro though just has a consistent flat look instead of the panicked face he'd had for a few hours.
So, the other side decides to point out that even with all of his possible loss of control, he still tries to save lives. 'We both know you could take most people out with one hit, or you could just stomp all over and bring about insane destruction. But you don't. You've heard it more than once, but you are not a monster. You are nothing like what the maniac who has us now has made. Or are even like said maniac. You care more about life than you want to admit, and you will continue to be what you've always been. A hero at your core. With powers or without.' Though the other self's statements are compelling, it isn't quite enough to bring Jotaro fully out of his mind. Though it is enough to ease his conscience for now.
At the bar, as the UA group are finishing the press conference, the Forgotten feel the unease from a few of their allies. Natalie snorts before saying, "I wouldn't be too worried about those plans of theirs. This quest of theirs has some major obstacles. Least of all, being the average fools who want to cling to their powers no matter what. Like that so called Liberation Army."
"I agree. There's plenty who think that the possibility that monster from UA revealed is just an outlier." Tomura says before scratching his neck a bit. Then they suddenly heard a knock at the door. "Kamino pizza delivery." Is heard by all in the location. Luiz is the first to speak with, "who ordered pizza?"
When the rest look at each other in confusion, they think it is just a wrong address. Suddenly, the wall burst in thanks to an attack from All Might. Before Kurogiri can create portals to get them away, Kamui Woods wraps them all up in the lacquered chain prison. With Gran Torino knocking out Dabi to make sure he can't use his fire. All the while, Nobasu had quickly slipped in and transformed himself into part of Himeko's costume. Just in case.
The police quickly swarm in with Edgeshot, while Endeavor watches over the outside to make sure no villains can get away. "Where is Jotaro!" All Might demanded once the heroes are sure they have the villains caught. But Luiz snaps out of his confusion and starts to expand to break out of Kamui's signature move. So, All Might tries to knock the man out as well, but Luiz dodges the initial hit.
"Don't think we are done All Might! We will tear down this messed up world you've made!" Tomura shouts first. With Natalie saying, "you may say you are the symbol of peace. But do you really embody that!? We've all been abandoned or had our peace broken because of how you really represent nothing more than ego and power that is wrapped up in quirks! You and every other hero like you!" This stuns a few of the heroes gathered, while the police are about to start fully restraining the villains.
But Natalie's outburst gave her enough time to use her own power and tip the scales to their allies. First with part of the bar floor caving in and dropping the police and Edgeshot to a lower floor. Then Luiz avoids enough hits to break out and swat All Might out of the building. "Kurogiri now!" Natalie shouts as the portal man creates an opening to the other hideout. While also leaving some presents for the heroes.
Back at the warehouse, Kazuhiko lets in the rest to the building, and they check around to find Jotaro. They eventually find him in one of the back rooms, but he isn't moving. "What's wrong with him?" Itsuka asks as she throws his arm over her shoulder.
Saphentite says, "I'm betting it has to do with what happened to Todoroki and Tokoyami. He's actually really afraid of his power and hurting them must have really scared him."
"Then we need to-" Izuku started but then the wall of the warehouse busted open thanks to a pickup breaking through. The warehouse was quickly swarming with police and heroes. While the students were a bit worried about being caught, Izuku felt an unsettling shiver go down his spine.
'He's here.' Izuku heard within his mind. He turned to the side and saw a shadowy man with a black metal mask covering his entire head. And within his mind he knows that this man is All For One. Before the man can act or respond, Best Jeanist quickly restrains him with his quirk.
"Saphee! Get ready!" Izuku says quietly to the genie girl. He then quickly signals to Itsuka to take Jotaro away as best she can. "Tomura has just started to take actions on his own. Not only that but he has gained allies that can truly aid him in what he is looking to do. I can't let you get in his way anymore!" the shadowy AFO says before breaking free of Jeanist's restraints and trying to unleash an airblast at the heroes.
But the students surprised him. Kazuhiko quickly gets under the man's arm and points the attack away from the heroes. While Saphentite and Izuku quickly rush out and pull everyone they can out of the warehouse. "What are you doing here?!" Jeanist shouts first while being pulled back by Saphentite. She quickly responds with a "no time!" quip and pulls the group as far as she can for the time being.
AFO claps before complimenting Izuku and the rest. "You are quite exceptional. You more than likely were terrified, yet you still acted to save the others. Both this boy you picked up at the training camp and you two who got the rest out in before I could finish my attack." When it looked like Jeanist was about to try and use his clothes to restrain AFO again, Saphentite stopped him.
"That won't work. You can't match up to this guy. He's got too much power for most anyone with a quirk." She turns back to keep her eyes on her enemy and hopes they'll be able to get Jotaro away. As well as making it out with all of the others' lives intact.
I won't deny this is probably the driest chapter I've written. Though it is a result of this being a set up for the big fight with All For One. As well as trying to bring forth more of the ideas I set up in earlier chapters. Next time though, will be the fight with the big bad himself. Please review.