27/04/2024
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The Emperor's Dragon
Dragon 14 - Half Time Break
"What's wrong with her Doctor?" Izuku asked frantically.
With Twice's clone copies causing a distraction, they'd gotten away easily. And one of the clone groups had flown out too, which had further confused the issue for the Police. It wouldn't be obvious that he'd flown away, though they'd suspect that. He'd dropped them in a quiet, suburban street before calling Kurogiri who'd warped them to Kyudai.
That was several hours ago and Himiko was still unconscious. She wasn't that weak and the wound wasn't that bad. The Doctor had patched it up and then said he had to run tests. Izuku had given him the gun with the other bullet.
"She's just sleeping now," the Doctor told him.
"But what is wrong?" Izuku demanded.
The Doctor turned his goggled eyes to him. "You should be able to sense it," he said before turning back to his screens.
Izuku stiffened. He didn't use Dragon's Hoard to see quirks around him all the time but when he took them or gave them back to someone then he did and he could see quirks as little points of light. Well, some of them were and some were spread out, through their owner. When he'd given back Gunhead's quirk, he'd been surrounded by clones of Twice and…
"No!" He objected. "They couldn't have!" He snarled.
"I knew about it," the Doctor said. "The Yakuza asked to see Dragon a couple of months back and I sent Yakuni to talk to them."
"You told me this already," Izuku reminded him. He hadn't been happy but it had explained why he hadn't seen the other man.
"He reported back that the Shie Hassaikai were working on some sort of blackmail scheme involving quirks."
"You said he was kidnapped!" Izuku reminded the man. He hadn't said anything about blackmail involving the removal of quirks! "You might have mentioned this earlier," Izuku growled.
"You weren't going after him then," Kyudai shook his head. "The Yakuza have some way of giving the quirk back after you pay the ransom," he said.
Izuku blinked. "So there's something to reverse this?" he whispered, feeling a burst of hope. He quashed it. He'd felt this before and he didn't want to rely on something that might not work out but-
"I believe so," the Doctor told him, turning around again.
Izuku glared at his goggles. He should have been told about this earlier but he knew there wasn't time to tell him everything. And if there was something which could reverse it then…
That bullet was meant for him. Himiko had saved him 'cos if he lost his quirks… He shuddered. Quirks weren't everything. They couldn't solve every problem. He knew that but for what he was doing, a quirk, his quirks, he needed them.
"Where are they?"
"Where are they?" the Doctor repeated.
"Where is Yakuni?" Izuku clarified. "He wasn't with the Yakuza," he added.
"Oh, they are somewhere in the city," Kyudai said casually.
"Anything more exact?" He pressed.
"I'll get the address," the Doctor promised.
"Now," Izuku said. "I need to get the cure and Yakuni before the Yakuza clear out."
The Doctor looked at him.
"The discussions were a failure," Izuku told him, from between gritted teeth. "I grabbed their quirks but there was a Police Raid too. The Yakuza will know their boss has been captured and probably blame me," he explained.
"Or they'll blame the Police," Garaki countered.
"I'd rather not take that risk."
"I'll get it," the Doctor reaffirmed. "Though how will you attack?"
That brought him up a little. Izuku huffed and thought about it for a few moments. His initial reaction had been to say he'd just storm the place and while he could probably do that, it would needlessly put him at risk. They had the proof that the Yakuza had other bullets which could erase quirks. They hadn't hesitated to use one against him and it was only because Himiko had-
He was going to rip apart what was left of his Shie Hassaikai for her and find the cure. But he had to do it right. He could probably ask Twice to make more clones of himself and get the others involved but… Again that would put them at risk and while they had agreed to follow him, it didn't feel right to do that.
"The Nomu," Izuku said. "Tomura probably had a better idea of what they can do but I don't. This will show me what they can do and-"
"If the Yakuza have more bullets, they are expendable," the Doctor understood his logic immediately.
He nodded. "Is there a particular batch I should use?"
"Take a mix," Kyudai said immediately. "That way you will know and will feel what each are like. But you should practice ordering them," he added, gesturing vaguely to the tubes behind him. "You still have Radio Waves."
Izuku didn't bother to reply. Instead he closed his eyes and reached out with Radio Waves. He'd done this before, to sort of feel where the Nomu's were but this time he wanted to go a bit further. He could feel them around him in this warehouse.
"Do you have all the different types here?" Izuku asked. Some of the Nomu felt… it was hard to explain but they felt sharper than the others.
"Yes. They are mostly in storage, while I work on these," the Doctor confirmed.
Izuku opened his eyes. The ones that were the closest felt the sharpest but he could also tell they weren't finished. He reached out and touched others but then frowned. "Can Nomu order Nomu?" he murmured the question.
"Only the top level can," Kyudai told him. "And only the first one is finished. If you take him, he'll want to fight," the Doctor added.
"I'll be their commander then," Izuku agreed. He woke up a heap of the lowest ranked Nomu and then others. There seemed to be a spot that was empty of Nomu so he directed them there and told them to wait. They would not be fully functional for a few hours.
The Doctor turned around to watch. "You are going now?" he asked curiously.
"There's no point in giving the Yakuza time to prepare," he replied.
"I'll get Kurogiri," the Doctor said as he turned back.
"And the address," Izuku added.
He didn't like going in blind but he didn't have time to find out about the Yakuza base and he'd just have to hope he could attack fast enough to stay ahead of the Heroes that would gather. The Nomu might be expendable but he didn't need to give the heroes extensive examples of them. That was just basic tactics.
"Take care of her," Izuku instructed.
Garaki cocked his head slightly.
Izuku didn't bother to explain. Instead he walked between the tubes to where he had gathered the Nomu. He had a few minutes before Kurogiri arrived, and it would be best to be familiar with his army.
Then…
Today hadn't gone as planned but instead of the underworld knowing that Dragon and the Yakuza were working together, they'd now learn that Dragon would not be taken advantage of and that attacking him was stupid.
Izuku snorted to himself. It would probably take a lot more lessons before they learned that but he could hope. The Yakuza boss had been correct about one thing, even if Izuku hadn't admitted it. With his father in Tartarus, the throne was empty. Of course, Dad would retake it but until then…
He'd just have to be the regent.
-ted-
It was late when Shin got back to the Office. It wasn't an office. It was the other Shie Hassaikai base but he had taken his time in getting here. It had been almost painful to do that but he had to be sure he wasn't being followed and- It had given him time to think about what had happened.
He knew what he'd seen but… It made no sense! The kid had been talking to the Boss and then… The brat had gotten up and turned his back and Shin had watched Chronostasis take the shot. It should have hit but the girl jumped in the way. Shin was clear on all of that.
It was what happened next that made no sense. The two of them had fallen to the ground and then… From his vantage point the Boss, Chronostasis and Mimic had slumped over.
Shin hadn't believed it for a few moments. It was part of a plan he hadn't been briefed about was what he'd told himself but the Boss didn't move and then there were Police everywhere. He'd watched as they stormed the house and expected the boss to get up but he didn't. The way the brat had Jin produce clones told him that it wasn't a set up but…
It didn't explain anything!
The boss had just slumped over. At the same time as Mimic and Chronostasis but what could have caused them to do that? There were some quirks that could do it but the boss was stronger than that. Except…
He'd just lain there when the Police stormed the room and didn't even twitch when he was handcuffed. Chronostasis was the same. Shin hadn't stayed around longer. There was no need to stay. People mocked the Police but he knew they were effective.
And now Shin had to explain to the others what had happened.
They'd know something was up. The Boss should have returned here earlier in the day but… No. Shin knew what had to happen. The brat had done something to the Boss and they had to respond. If they didn't then- He felt sick. If they didn't then the Shie Hassaikai would be a relic of the past. A dead one.
They'd go on for a bit but without the Boss… He already knew how it would end. They all did. The Boss gave them purpose and direction and without him…
So that would be the first thing. They'd have to get Kai from the Police. Then the Boss would have them take revenge on the brat.
But first, he'd have to explain to the others what had happened, and he wasn't sure he believed it himself.
-ted-
"So what are we doing Boss?"
Izuku jerked his head to the side. He wasn't the only one. The Nomu started at the noise and then lunged.
"Stop!" Izuku yelled.
"Whoa!" Dabi muttered.
The Nomu stopped. The lower ones, those who needed orders to do anything just stood dumbly. The higher models milled slightly, as if uncertain what to do.
"These are my companions," Izuku called to the Nomu. The lower ones didn't move but Izuku could tell they understood. The higher ones looked back and forth, taking in the sight of the four who were there. Dabi was accompanied by Mr Compress, Twice and Whisper. After a moment, the higher Nomu's stilled and Izuku could tell that they had memorised the League. He made a mental note to introduce Himiko to them later.
He'd been looking at the Nomu's and figuring out what they could do. They each had at least three quirks, and were physically enhanced. He couldn't exactly ask them what they could do but he'd figured out that by touching them with Dragon's Hoard he could get a feel for their quirks. It wasn't exact but it gave him some insights. The Nomu let him move between them without problems, though it was slightly disconcerting how they all watched him. Their gazes weren't hostile, just constant.
"Twice told you?" Izuku asked.
The three of them nodded.
"They shot Himiko with something that erases quirks. Her physical injuries are relatively minor but-" He didn't need to explain further.
"Shit," Dabi swore. Izuku understood. He'd run through the swear words he knew earlier.
"Thankfully, it appears as if the Yakuza were going to use this as part of a blackmailing scheme," he continued.
"How does one use quirk erasure to blackmail someone? It seems to me it would be better as a threat," Mr Compress observed. Whisper nodded her agreement.
"I'm told they have something to reverse the effects," Izuku told him.
While it was impossible to tell Mr Compress' expression as his mask was not as form fitting as Twice's, Izuku could tell he was somewhat relieved to hear that.
"But they are not going to give it to me, and I'm not going to pay any ransom," Izuku continued.
"What about the Cops?"
"What about them?"
"Twice said they were there," Whisper pressed the issue.
"They were, and they will have a nice gift. They should have arrested the Yakuza boss and his minions."
The villains stared at him for a moment before Dabi snorted. "You took their quirks," he chuckled.
"I was in no mood to negotiate," Izuku growled but quickly suppressed his anger. There was no point in taking it out on them and his father… Actually he hadn't said anything about anger but he'd demonstrated more than once that being patient was better. If he was to act, then he had to be sure that what he was doing was right, and correctly targeted. He should not let people get away with things, just because he wanted instant gratification.
He knew today's target and it wasn't here.
"I don't know what the Yakuza will do, and since they aren't going to give me the cure-" Again, he didn't bother to finish.
"So what do you know about the target?"
Izuku sighed. "The address," Izuku admitted. "That's why I was going to use the Nomu. The Yakuza won't have many bullets that erase quirks and if a Nomu get's hit then-" He shrugged. He wasn't quite as casual about it as he seemed. The Nomu were people… had been people but… His father had ordered them created for a reason and if he was going to get his father out of Tartarus then he'd need them but he also needed to know what they could do so he could plan that mission.
This would be good practice.
"What is the address?" Mr Compress asked.
"The Doctor has it," Izuku admitted.
The magician dipped his top hat. "Then I will ask him and see what can be learned."
"There should be someone on the inside," Izuku said. "But I don't know what situation they will be in," he added. "So I can't expect support."
He could sense Compress thinking. "Twice, can you make a look from memory?" the Magician asked.
Izuku frowned, wondering where he was going. The question seemed to surprise Twice as well because the man was silent for a few moments. "Maybe if it was familiar," he answered slowly.
"Police? Riot Police?" Mr Compress prompted.
"Ah," Izuku nodded. "If you can, that would be helpful," he said. He was also curious to see Twice's quirk work again. There was something odd about the clones. He'd noticed that first at the Yakuza house but had been more focused on escaping and on ignoring the evidence Dragon's Hoard had him see in Himiko.
He could see what Mr Compress was suggesting now. They could leave the Police clones of Twice around the perimeter, which would at least slow down any investigation and reassure the public that what they were doing was legal.
Twice frowned, before a clone popped into existence. It was obviously Twice and… Whisper covered her mouth to muffle her silent giggle. The copy was dressed half in a regular police uniform and half in Twice's costume. His face was Jin's.
Izuku sighed. "We'll keep that idea in reserve," he murmured, firmly pushing aside the disappointment he felt.
"I'm sorry," Twice said, hanging his head.
"We'll just do this the way I was going to," Izuku dismissed. "And I know you didn't mean for the Shie Hassaikai to attack," he added. If he thought that Twice had set him up, the man wouldn't be here. "A confrontation between us was inevitable, given their plan and far better for us that it happened now, rather than giving them time to prepare." They'd already had too much time to prepare.
"How do these things work?" Dabi asked, gesturing to the Nomu.
"You give them orders, they carry them out," Izuku told them.
"How strong are they?"
Izuku grinned. While UA had suppressed information about the incident as their Unforseen Simulation Joint, they hadn't managed to suppress everything, not when Tomura also advertised the Nomu's existence at Hosu and again at Kamino. There wasn't much footage of them at either location but there was enough that speculation was all over the 'net.
"Strong enough to wipe out some pesky Yakuza," he replied.
"What about pesky heroes?" Dabi pressed.
"Depending on the hero, and the Nomu, no problems. But rather than just unleash them on a hero, customisation is called for. The first Nomu was customised to fight All Might."
"Did it win?" Whisper murmured her question.
"No," Izuku admitted. "But it did push All Might into his weak form," he explained. When he'd spoken to Tomura about that mission, he'd worked out that his Dad hadn't intended for Tomura to succeed. But he couldn't readily admit that here, not yet. And no matter how that had turned out, it had shown that the Nomu was strong.
"So if one went up against Endeavor?" Dabi mused.
"I'd want to make sure it had a fire proofing quirk," Izuku interrupted before the fire villain could get lost in his thoughts. "But for now, these are going up against the Shie Hassaikai."
"Do you want us to order them?" Mr Compress asked.
"Maybe initially, but I have a quirk to guide them once they are in," Izuku said. "You can call it cowardly if you want, but I'm not going to take the same risk as earlier."
He could see the villains think about that for a moment before they nodded.
"Then perhaps, once the Shie Hassaikai are captured, it would be best to present a united front," Mr Compress suggested.
Izuku thought about that for a moment before he smiled. "To show off Dragon's reach?" he gave his own proposal.
The magician smiled. Izuku could tell that much under his mask. "Indeed, to show off Dragon's reach. It should be educational for the world," he added.
Izuku looked at each of them and smiled. "I'll order some of the Nomu to obey you, but I want you all to be careful. The smart ones will run but since I suspect the Shie Hassaikai are short of funds, this could be their last stronghold, so they'll want to hold on to it. If any of them fight, capture them and bring them to me. I want to chat, but the aim is to secure the place quickly so that we can find the cure.
"We have to assume the heroes will be alerted to the attack as we begin, so we will have to be quick. But they aren't going to get away with this."
He got nods from the group and Izuku thought that perhaps they'd been cooped up too long. "Then let's go."
-ted-
Izuku has collected his troops. The Shie Hassaikai have been warned. The real game begins, though one side is down captain and coach... Oh well, that's their problem. They should have forfeited. Of course there are penalties for that just as there are penalties now.
My discord is on this code: TcBnRN7aDn FFN will remove links but you should be able to figure that out. There's a heap of other authors there, so come along and chat to us all! Not just about MHA.
-ted-
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