AN: Enjoy!


Mina hopped off the truck, giving the driver a thank you. She dropped her stuff in the tent the AMF had provided her, then cheerfully walked through the camp. Now that the civilians were evacuated, she wanted to help the AMF with the actual government wanted them to work with Heroes anyway, and she was one of the few they didn't mind all that much. Win-win!

While she was here, Mina would have to speak with Midoriya. See if there was any hint of anything between him and Ochako. With their chemistry on the air, she felt it was a travesty if neither bothered to give romance a try. But, that was just the shipper in her talking.

Everywhere she walked, she received stares. Their presence was normal, but the varieties were different. Some looked at her with admiration, some infatuation, others resentment, or just plain unease. Oddly, many of the most contemptuous ones were from the newer guys. The older ones seemed to at least tolerate her.

Nonetheless, Mina gave everyone a cheery smile and wave, just an ordinary day in the life of a Hero. The smile only wavered when she saw the wounded. The fresh bandages and haunted eyes indicated they had been through it recently.

It seemed some of the newbies had learned the dark side of the AMF's job. Then again, at least these guys would get a thank you for their work. Prior to Tokyo, they didn't even get that.

Mina finally arrived at one of the tents and tore open the flap with a dramatic flourish. "I'm here!" she said.

Across the tent, Kazama said, "Was that a deliberate All Might reference or was she just being dramatic?"

"Yes!" Mina said with a wink.

He rolled his eyes. His brother at least seemed amused.

Speaking of whom. "Hey Ozaki," Mina said, "How have things been?"

"Ashido. We had to fight a group of Meganulon earlier today. I killed four. He killed three." Ozaki jerked his head to his brother. "He's still mad about it."

"You stole my kill," Kazama said.

"You said last week that there was no such thing as kill-stealing here."

"Oh so now you listen to me?"

Mina held back a laugh at their bickering. She turned to the others. "Hey Kiriko. Long time no see."

"Alien Queen," Major Kiriko Tchujimori said, looking as unamused as ever. "I assume you want to go out with us in the attack tomorrow?"

Mina's nodded. "Anyplace I can help."

Kiriko sighed. "Alright. We'll have you given the proper equipment."

Mina nodded. "Will I need the radiation costume? I brought it just in case."

"No. Your standard one will be fine. Granted you won't be doing any acrobatics with a rocket launcher…but armor won't do you much good in this fight."

"Understatement," said someone with a nasty scar under his eye.

Mina said, "If I did need to do the acrobatics, I could just drop the launcher."

"Please don't. Those are expensive," Kiriko said.

"I thought you guys didn't have budget trouble anymore?"

"We still don't like waste."

"And now you sound like Ochako."

Someone else entered. "You wished to see me major?" Mina turned around and felt surprised to see Emoto.

"Emoto," she said. She hadn't seen him since the aftermath of Tokyo.

"Alien Queen?" he said. "You coming with us tomorrow?"

"Yeah?" she said. She wondered how he'd take it. Sure he'd accepted her as a rookie in Tokyo, but that didn't mean he wanted-

"Oh good," he said, sounding downright…relieved? "Glad to have you up there at least."

Ok, either a lot had happened since last time, or Emoto had been replaced by his friendlier twin brother. Frankly, given Mina's life, she could buy either.

"Sergeant," Kiriko said, "How is your command?"

"The ones left are shaken. And the new ones uncertain. However, they know their jobs. At least for now."

Kiriko said, "Since you two have served together before, Alien Queen will be under your command. Understood?"

Mina and Emoto both stiffened. "Yes sir."

Kiriko then went over their plans, including Mina's place in them. In the second wave. After Kiriko and Emoto left, Mina was left with Ozaki and Kazama.

"So, Alien Queen," said Kazama. "Ready to get the scraps?"

Mina put a hand on her hip. "Oh what, like I can't handle the actual bugs?"

"Probably will, better than the new meat. But we'll be at the front," Kazama said with a cocky smirk. "We have a bet on how many bugs we kill before anyone else gets one."

"You have a bet," said Ozaki. "And with the new meat too," he added, as if that detail was scandalous.

"I know. Those idiots are so gullible. Any motivation to kill more."

Ozaki said, "Still mad at that bee that stung you when we were ten?"

Kazama flipped his brother off.

Mina shook her head. They were like Bakugo and Eijiro-Lite. "Hey, at least try and save one for me."

"As if. You want a kill, you earn it," Kazama said.

"No fair! I'm further back than you! I don't have as much opportunity!"

"That's what happens when you're a rookie."

She turned to Ozaki. "You're brother's a jerk. You know that?"

"I am well aware."

Kazama's face turned grim.. "In all seriousness, watch your back. There's a lot of those things in that hole, and the guys who'll be with you aren't ready for it."

Mina nodded, remembering the haunted looks. "Duly noted."

"Good luck, don't die," he said.

Mina nodded. "You too. See you on the other side I suppose."

"Good luck Ashido," said Ozaki, with Kazama nodding.


In the woods several kilometers away, a car pulled into an abandoned campsite. It was a luxury sedan, with a fresh coat of paint, and chrome bumpers, the sort one usually avoided taking into the woods.

Two individuals exited the car, one dressed in a gray military-style uniform, with a waistcoat and a white commisar cap, and the other wearing a dark bodysuit covered in wires and hydraulic tubes.

"Is this the place?" the one dressed in the waistcoat said.

"Yes sir," said the other.

"Good. Lets set up camp and see if those two con artists can actually deliver on their promises."


X knocked on the professor's door. "Yo, professor! They said they're in position!"

The professor opened the door a crack, not letting X see inside. "Good. I will monitor the kaiju, see what I can get for them. Tell them it might be a little."

"You sure you can deliver?," X said, eyes narrowing. "We haven't even set up a transmitter. How will you draw one there?"

The scientist smiled. "Just trust me. I will do more than simply draw it there."


Mina stood on the training range, a dummy rocket launcher in hand, and a bunch of dummy rockets in a backpack on her back. One. Two. Three! She raised her launcher, fired, then slid across the field, easily prancing over the various obstacles in her way.

This thing almost felt familiar now. She wasn't as quick, or as accurate, as the actual AMF soldiers, but she could hold her own. Except when going over difficult terrain. There she excelled. Perks of being a breakdancing queen.

Mina slid to a stop, revolved the launcher's chamber, fired again, then slid to another point. She then took off her pack, reloaded, and fired again.

Nice.

Nearby, one of the soldiers was practicing. Based on his speed, as well as the smoothness, (and occasional lack thereof) of his movements, he seemed to be a fairly skilled rookie, just above Mina's level. The two hadn't spoken, but he was a good measuring stick for her own progress.

As she finished another drill, Mina let out a deep breath, letting her body loosen. She was about to take a break, but a thought occurred. Those are the maneuvers for the big ones. These "Meganula-lon-whatever are more like the larvae at Scaris. Better practice some different moves.

So Mina practiced the drills she'd been taught for smaller enemies. Shoot, duck back, reload, shoot again. In the actual battle, much of this would be in tandem with other soldiers. After several minutes, she finally took a break. The other guy had stopped too. He took off his helmet, revealing a familiar mop of green hair. Mina perked up.

"Hey Midoriya!"

Midoriya turned around. "Alien Queen!" he said.

"Wait, were you so focused on training that you didn't notice me?"

He looked embarrassed. "Sorry. I get like that sometimes. It's nice to see you again Alien Queen."

"Please, call me Mina. All my friends do!"

He stiffened. "Friend?! But you're a Pro Hero! And I barely know you."

"Any friend of Ochako's is a friend of mine! And based on those interviews, you two are very close."

Midoriya's face lit up. "Yeah! She's incredible helpful with those. Then again, I'm sure she'd do that for any friend."

Mina's noted the word "friend". So much for the gossip. Ah well. "She thinks highly of you too, you know. Talks about you almost as much as we do about the times at UA."

Midoriya scratched his neck. "Thanks. I'm really not that impressive though, outside of the AMF."

"Uh uh. So that's why you have a bootleg shirt line of you facing Godzilla."

"Well what else was I going to do? Not like I could run or anything. Besides, Kacchan was there," he said looking away. He looked back to her and said, "Is Ochako's agency doing alright?"

"Of course! She's scarily good at running a tight ship. Seriously, she saves more money than some misers. Only things she'll spend on are improving the quality of their work or paying employees."

Midoriya smiled at that. "She's always been like that. Some of the guys made fun of her for it, especially given how much she was making. Said there was no point holding that money if you don't live to enjoy it. They never said that twice…"

Mina shuttered, remembering when she foolishly made a similar statement in Ochako's presence. Never again. "Sounds like her. By the way, what are you doing with the rocket launcher? Don't you use a tank?"

"Wastes power and risks friendly fire on such small targets. I'll be with the infantry, close to the back. They uh, don't like me taking too many risks."

Right. He was both a novice at infantry, according to Ochako, and was a poster boy. "Makes sense. You are famous now! Can't have those pincers ruining your face for the cameras!"

His jaw clenched a bit. He smiled, but Mina instantly recognized it was fake. "Yeah," he said, "I suppose so."

Mina's smile softened. "Hey don't worry. I'm sure the fame thing will blow over eventually and they'll treat you like anyone else."

He looked surprised that she'd seen through him. "Thanks," he said. "I hope you're right."

"You're welcome. Mina said, "I'd best be going." As she walked off she added, "By the way, when I get back I'll ask Eijiro to sign something for you!"

She glanced back at the utterly starstruck look on his face d. She suppressed a chuckle. Well, well. Ochako was right. He is a nerd. Eijiro would like him.

Mina went to her tent for a nice long sleep. Tomorrow was a big day.


"Do I have to sleep?" Yui said.

"Yes Yui," Yuu said. "Sleeplessness is very bad for you. Trust me, I learned it the hard way during testing season."

"Why would you stay up all night before a test? It sounds dumb."

Yuu gave a nervous smile at her sweet daughter's innocence of the horrors of exams. As a mother, it was Yuu's duty to preserve such innocence. "Never mind that. Besides, you yourself said Mikumo's coming in the morning. You don't want to keep him waiting."

Her daughter perked up. "Yeah! You're right! He'll complain all morning. He's grumpy like that."

And you aren't? Yuu thought. What she said was, "Better tell him about our upcoming trip too. Better to let him know sooner rather than later."

Yui's face fell. "Right. The trip. Can't Grandma and Grandpa come to us on their own?"

"Yes," Yuu said, "But they've already done that. Besides, we could use a change in scenery for a little."

"But the woods are so…boring."

Yuu snorted. "Not when you actually walk around in them," she said.

"But what if I get a flesh-eating disease or something? Or a wild animal attacks?" Yui said with feigned terror.

Yuu rolled her eyes. "You'll be fine Yui. Really, what's the worst that'll actually happen?"

"Kaiju."

Yuu sighed. "And which Kaiju is over there?"

Yui looked up in thought. "Angilas was-no Koji said he's somewhere else. Ebirah's still at sea, Varam is…" Yui folded her arms and threw back her head. "Fiiine…"

Yuu smiled as her daughter slunk off to bed, muttering all the while, "Stupid woods. Stupid countryside."

Her daughter was wonderful, but she could be difficult sometimes. (Yuu mentally kicked the voice saying it was karma for her own childhood.) Still, she wasn't wrong that there were Kaiju in the countryside. Yuu had been keeping an eye on where they were.

Quite a thing for children to grow up with that hanging over their heads. It was so strange how fast they were coming to treat it as normal. Meanwhile, Yuu still hadn't fully wrapped her head around them. Few Heroes had.


Mina's alarm went off. She slammed her hand down, hitting her phone. Stupid touchscreen. Mina then picked up her phone and turned off the alarm. She got ready, ate breakfast, and put on her Hero costume. She picked up her weapons, put on her pack, and fell in with the other soldiers. In appearance she stood out like a sore thumb. In demeanor, she fit right in.

The older soldiers stood crisp, in full attention. Nearby were the foreign ones, equally professional. Then there were the rookies, who looked unnatural compared to the others. Mina was somewhere in the middle, not fully used to, but fully committed to doing the job.

Kiriko stood in front, and said, "Soldiers! Today's the day. This mountain has a serious pest problem. The sort that requires utter extermination."

"YES SIR!"

"Fall into your respective groups. The previous scouting mission gave us valuable intel on the nest. It's a big one. We're sending three teams in the initial wave, followed by three more for back-up. Be ready. The bugs are getting agitated. They will swarm"

"Yes sir!"

"We'll be using some of the new battle robots." She gestured to several robots identical to the ones from UA's tests, beyond the darker paint job. "They'll help support us on the mountain side."

"Why don't they send those in instead of us?" someone said.

"Too big, can't navigate the caves."

Kirko continued. "I won't pretend there won't be losses. You know better. But that's part of being AMF. We fight, we die, the kaiju are stopped."

"YES SIR!" the older ones said, with neither fear nor regret. The newer ones also called out, but far more hesitantly.

"Good. Then move out!"

As everyone moved to their respective places, Mina clenched her jaw. This was it. Showtime.


Meanwhile, deep in the cave, many Meganulon began moving toward the entrances, ready to repel the invaders. However, many more remained seated on the cave walls, utterly still. Then their exoskeletons began to tremble. Then, their backs began to split.


Hope you enjoyed! Reviews bring joy!