"To! Let's go!" Mikey's enthusiastic voice rang throughout the Hamato's home from the garage for his brothers and father. "I gotz to get me heroing on!"
He was dressed, ready, and pumped. He had his suitcase with his costume slung casually over his shoulder with the hugest grin. It was almost contagious. Hanzo, their driver, a man with antennas, a kind face, and blue eyes, felt bitten and smiled quietly near the car, where he stood patiently for the rest of the family.
Mikey wasn't usually on time; he was actually doing this, and Hanzo was glad. Others for the work-study, and it was only the second day. Leo came in second, but Hanzo observed that Donnie seemed to be inching to that spot. Raph remained the same, annoyed and lacking in the car. He was the most hyped of his br last one for many reasons. So, see interest.
There was no sign or sound of the others approaching. Hanzo checked his wristwatch; heading out was a tad early; everyone must be finishing their breakfast or getting ready. He knew their father, Yoshi or Splinter, wanted to enjoy his morning tea brewed by Miss Keada and read the morning paper provided to him by Daichi. This meant, if Hanzo was correct, that-
"Hey! Hurry up!" Mikey shouted straight into the, his voice twice its usual volume with attached impatience.
It startled Hanzo; his antennas curled a bit. Sensitivity is not an ideal quirk, but Splinter wouldn't have hired him because of it.
"Master Michelangelo," Hanzo cleared his throat respectfully, "we still have some time before we depart. Perhaps your family might be finishing their breakfast. You did complete yours rather swiftly."
Mikey sighed, rolling his eyes. "Dude, it's just Mikey. Mikey." He emphasized, "I told you. Michelangelo sounds like I'm in trouble, or worse, my dad."
"Yes. Of course. My apologies, Master Mikey." Hanzo offered an apologetic bow.
Mikey wanted to correct him, but he heard approaching feet coming down the hall and forgot all about it. He turned his attention entirely to the approaching footsteps and sighed exasperated, finally running to the car.
Leo came out first, fussing with his tie while muttering something. Hanzo couldn't make it out; whatever he could see, Leo was focused on it, but he still greeted the eldest. Leo climbed in. Next came Donnie; he greeted Hanzo and climbed in. Raph followed with his usual defiant scowl. Hanzo greeted him and, as usual, earned a bristle shoulder from him. Raph dropped into the back seat.
Hanzo double-checked that all brothers were in and accounted for. The last to arrive and step into the garage was Splinter. Hanzo stood at attention and greeted him.
"Hello, Lord Hamato." He bowed deeply, "Good morning!"
Splinter returned the hospitality kindly, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt, "Good morning, Hanzo. How are you today."?
Hanzo brimmed quietly and smiled appreciatively at the small recognition Splinter gave every day with the same question: "Well, sir!" He stood tall, "Well indeed!"
"A pleasure to hear always." Splinter gave a slight smile and entered the car.
Hanzo closed the door, being careful not to hit anyone, and slipped into the driver's seat. He turned on the car and adjusted the rearview mirror and everything else before pulling out and driving off.
Splinter was the first to be dropped off at U.A.; he still had teaching to do. Hanzo would drop the boys off at the station right after. He bid the boys a warm bye and sternly told them to listen well. Before he left, his eyes fell on Donnie and he strongly repeated it again. Donnie said nothing, and Splinter let it be; he couldn't be late. He thanked Hanzo and watched the car drive off with a heavy heart.
"Here we are," Hanzo informed the brothers, pulling up to the train station.
Mikey pushed his way through his brothers, pressing his face against the window. He spotted a few students from their class, and when he spotted a particular class, 1-B, and 1-A students, he opened the door and some from 1-B. Ignoring Leo's call to wait, he rushed out the second he saw his buddies.
"Bros!" He shouted, laughing, turning heads in his direction and, by extension, his brothers.
Leo grunted, annoyed, but climbed out, "Come on." He told Raph and Donnie.
Raph wanted to dig his heels in but decided against quickly noticing Aizawa, who picked up on his intentions and shot him a warning. Grumbling to himself, Raph dragged himself out. Donnie was left. He thanked Hanzo and slipped out. Hanzo waited, assured the brothers they were alright, and drove away. Once he did, seeing his brothers were gone, Donnie hurried earnestly to Aizawa.
"Ready?" He asked.
Donnie's eyes lit up, giving him a resounding yes, and they headed back to U.A. The moment he stepped foot back on the grounds and halfway to the Development Studio, he bolted straight to it that Aizawa didn't need to walk him completely and left the smart Hamato to his enjoyment.
Unaware, a pair of silver spotted them and smiled wickedly at this discovery.
They weren't the only ones discovering something; at her work-study, April, awake and dressed in her hero costume, sat at her proxy desk, the hero agency she resisted provided before the computer they also provided, and scrolled through the web finally came across what she had a hunch was the issue.
Hosu City.
This had to be it. She took out her phone and opened her text conversation with Ochaco. Scrolling through, she came to that conversation and read the exact name: Hosu City.
She scrolled through the web and found a few articles, including about recent and past events. One was about missing people, and the other was about hero attacks. A hand of fear gripped her heart when she saw an article about a particular speedster hero. Her stomach dropped angrily, and she slammed a fist on her desk.
"I knew it!" she gritted between her teeth, holding back the tremble of sadness in her voice. That….that jerk." Her voice softened with a tinge of pain that managed to slip out, and she felt the urge to pick up her phone and….
She paused and remembered he blocked her since the photo she sent on the first day didn't deliver. Slowly, she released her phone and set it aside. But her eyes lingered on it until the pros, with the grumpy sour boy following, entered and took their seats in their color-assigned and color-coded desks, matching their outfits she sent off the mountains on him.
"Ready for today, Psyche?" Their leader asked, turning April's attention.
April refocused herself, closing the open windows, and nodded, "Yes."
"Good, because-" they stopped talking and changed to mental conversation, "because we've got a lot to practice and range to get through."
There was a lot to get through, but Leo was certain he would exceed Edgeshot's standards. Dressed in his hero costume, he followed the hero keenly like a puppet as they patrolled the streets from above.
Edgeshot vigilantly scoured the streets from the rooftop for any sign of criminal activity, or so Leo believed. He stood in the position of the hero. At swift attention, eyes forward and discerning. He even took on the posture, back straight but limber, arms on the side, and head tilted slightly to get a better-angled view. So far, Leo has spotted nothing warranting their heroism or skills.
Still, Edgeshot asked him, "What do you see?"
Leo's eyes swiftly glossed over everyone and proudly answered, "Nothing sensei. All is well. No issue or trouble. Everything is orderly."
He looked to the hero for a praised nod; none was given, and Leo scrambled his response.
"Unless you see something," he said with chiseled-away assurance. His eyes were carefully on the pro.
Edgeshot kept his attention below, "Everything's fine," he answered, feeling Leo's eyes on him but disappointed at his response.
Leo didn't notice and took the praise, "That's good sensei."
Edgeshot wanted to be done but was with this area, "Come, Jutsu. Let's move elsewhere. Where would you like to go?"
"Wherever you decide, sensei."
"Very well," he sighed and sprinted off; Leo followed, keeping his speed, staying on his heel.
They lept and flipped over rooftops, and very few below managed to capture the two. They were almost like blurs, crossing a good amount of distance in a short time. Leo followed every movement and maneuver with ease. No doubt, Edgeshot was impressed.
They came to a stop on top of another roof. Leo was expecting to rest when Edgeshot jumped onto the railing of a billboard. Heaving slightly, Leo swallowed it and followed in the same manner.
"Your physical prowess is commendable, young Hamato." Edgeshot acknowledged. "Your father trained you well."
Leo felt his chest swell and puff, "Thank you, sensei!" He could barely hide his excitement, "since I and my brothers were young. For ten years, we've honed our skills. However, out of my brothers and, by extension, our friends, I've held our father's teachings highly. Practicing every day." He stood with squared shoulders of pride. "Anything my father can do, I can. Which is why I was promoted to"
Edgeshot held up a hand, stopping him. "I know, Jonin. Young Hamato, what do you see?" he asked again, looking at the people below.
Leo followed Edgeshot's eye angle and location. "Nothing, sensei. Everything is as good as it should be. Right?" He added with minor hesitation, watching Edgeshot out the corner of his eye for any response.
"Jutsu, let's continue. Come." Edgeshot turned from the people and sped off with Leo at his heel again.
Back at U.A., Donnie jumped, clicking his heels together. He just finished something wonderful, and his smile lit up. It was small, but he held it in pride.
Absorbed in his creation, Donnie failed to notice an incoming slap on the back that nearly echoed throughout the studio.
"Whoa! Nice baby!" Mei hyped up and continued slapping the teen's shoulder proudly and obviously. She hadn't noticed Donnie clinging to his gadget or his bothered look. "What's it do, huh? Or are you going to improve it? I hope so! So what does it do? Let me see!"
She snatched it away before he could say a thing and stared with wonder and intrigue.
Donnie tried getting it back. She held him back with a hand. "Hey!" he complained, frowning and maneuvering to get his item back.
It didn't work. He was surprised by how reactive her reflexes were, and she wasn't even looking.
Mei held the small, nearly handball-sized metallic sphere. She tossed it up, and to her eye level, Donnie panicked.
"Careful!" He lunged a hand to catch it.
Mei shoved it aside, to his surprise, and snatched it back. "So what's your baby, huh?" She pulled her goggles on for a closer inspection, with hums of interest. You condensed a lot into it. Let's test!" She spun around, cramming her face in his, startling Donnie. He jumped back, establishing some distance. Mei closed it. She snatched his wrist, pulled forward, and dropped his baby back in.
It was not what Donnie expected, but he said an utterly weary thank you and turned back to his workstation to start on something new. He picked up a welding pen, unaware of the mischievous gleam in Mei's eyes.
She snatched the pen from him, "Hey!" He cried, agitated.
Power Loader, across the room assisting other students, glanced at the two. Nothing seemed out of place, and I left it alone.
"Give it back," Donnie grunted, trying to get his pen back. "Be careful!"
Mei moved it out of his reach. "Tell me what your baby does. Come, I've got to on, tell me! Oh, no!"
Was she still on that? Donnie didn't see the reason to say anything, even though he picked up on an interested tone in her pressuring, curious tone.
He tried snatching it from her left. She jumped back with her huge smile. "Does it shoot lasers?" She ducked. Donnie tumbled over. She sprung upright. "Is it support? Or for communication? A gadget for a quirk?"
Question after question poured from her, Donnie couldn't categorize any of them. He couldn't shoo her away. So he snatched one of her questions(he remembered)out and answered it.
"It's called a Bug-Bot."
"Bug-bot? What's it do?"
She tried reaching for it again, but Donnie moved away. "It's for scouting." He simplified, eying her closely for any sudden reflexes. She didn't react so he could see, only waiting for him to show her. Keeping his guard up, he did.
"See." He sat the little sphere down and gave it a light tap.
A soft hum followed by an airy hiss, and it changed shape. Small antennas protruded, and six small legs—three on each side and a pair of wings—followed. It moved a few inches towards Mei.
Donnie smiled proudly, holding out a finger to the little thing. It fluttered over and landed obediently on it. Mei's eyes moved with it, never diverting.
"This little thing can be used for the unsuspecting. Enter dwellings. Anything really, unseen. To gather data, or record anything." He further explained with eagerness, his eyes lighting up with each word as he pointed to its small antennas, "These send a covert signal back to the." he paused and turned to the unfinished equipment behind he had started working on until Mei interrupted him. His brow twitched with a disgruntled sigh, "panel. That," he infused through clenched teeth, doing all he could to keep his composure, "I was starting on."
Mei peered over his shoulder at the unfinished item. A few suggestions rose in her mind. She blocked out the rest of what Donnie said and shoved past him to the equipment. Again, she almost pushed with odd strength.
She scooped it up, admiring it like candy, and suddenly whipped out a screwdriver and started working on it.
Donnie turned white. "AH! What are you doing?! Stop it!" He scrambled over to her, but she moved quickly before he could get it.
He was left…reeling in shock again. His hand was empty, only gripping air in his closed hand, questions rising in his mind, and repeating one word…how? Donnie knew about her quirk; it resided in her eyes, and she told him that on his first day. Though he never asked and wanted to jump into building the thing, she did….so he knew it had nothing to do with her reflexes. Was she using one of her gadgets?
His eyes methodically swept over her, seeking any hint of a gadget. He found none.
"You know," Mei yanked Donnie's attention back and moved him over to her side, still working on his device. Her gleeful smile was now ear to ear. The best part of making babies is tailoring them to whomever and whatever. Why?"
"I didn't ask."
She continued, "Because babies come in all different kinds and stick to just one limit, use inventors! Done!" She plopped his device in his hand.
It was finished, though not in the way he wanted. He eyed it carefully, musing over the craftsmanship, noticing a few things he missed. He gave a slight impressive nod and set it down. Mei's eyes followed the device, waiting for Donnie to turn it on.
He knew she was and just left it alone, "Well, umm," he scratched his neck a bit, adverting his eyes around the room, "Thanks. I'm going to work on something else." He pointed somewhere in the studio and started walking away.
Mei shot out a hand, grabbed him by the arm, and snatched him back, dragging him in the opposite direction. "Let's work on something else!"
Donnie protested to be let go. She didn't and dragged him to the other side of the room.
He wasn't the only one being dragged; miles away, stamped steps rushed up the four flights of stairs to the apartment complex at the top. A few neighbors, hearing the thunderous commotion, peeped out to see. Some noticed flashing red, blue, and white lights outside their windows and the whirling sound of sirens in the distance approaching with haste.
A heavy foot kicked the residence door open, and those in the front were hit with the firm, pungent smell of decay. A horrible scene was set before them when one flashed a light inside that turned a few heads.
Down below, neighbors on the other floors could barely make out what was transpiring. They could barely catch the officers' alarming words.
"What happened here?"
"Dear god!"
One gagged and radioed in, "Yeah…..yeah, it's bad."
Heavy boots crushed and crunched on the broken, splinted wood and glass covering the floor, breaking the chilling silence. An officer had tried the lights, but they didn't work. Carefully, with keen observation and senses on alert, they traversed the residence. They checked every ounce and corner, opening cabinets in the kitchen and behind the refrigerator, with its door filled with sharp holes hanging off by its hinges. The living room…was like a fire twister hit it, with burnt furniture, nearly charred walls, and melted picture frames. An officer noticed a photo missing. Down the hall, that seemed….just recognizable, some officers taking strategic steps, minding their movement and weight against the Sharples of shattered glass and splintered floor, ventured unobtrusively opening the doors.
The pungent stench grew strong; their armor and helmet became irrelevant the deeper they went.
Back outside, neighbors stepped from their apartments and clamored among themselves. They were stepping aside when officers came or medical…anyone. Fear filled some of the neighbors' voices with whispers.
"Can you believe it?"
"No. Out of all people…oh their hearts."
Speculation grew among the neighbors of what would or might transpire. But when the C.I.S. agents rushed up, their hearts dropped, and they knew.
They knew, indeed. A chill of joy rushed up their spines, and relevance spread to their lips, thinning them into victorious smiles. Now, on to the next phase.
"Kimiko," they call pleasently.
Within seconds, a young woman. Pulled into a bun and kind purple with dark hair, she cracked the door open and popped her head in.
"Yes?"
"Cancel my calls and meetings today, please."
Kimiko nodded, "Yes. Right away, ma'am. Is everything alright?" she asked, purely concerned.
"Oh, yes. Quite. I have a doctor's appointment at the moment. There is nothing to worry about. Should any arise, direct it to Corey; they'll know what to do."
Kimiko understood, bowed, and shut the door.