Prelude to a Rescue

Momo looked over Grand Torino, hoping to find a pulse, only to find his guts hanging out! "Oh heavens", said Momo as she reached for the phone, "If I have enough time, I can get him to the hospital in time". "The ambulance takes 15 minutes to get here", said a voice, "At this rate, I'll be dead in seven". "Right, sorry", said Momo, only to realize that the old man was gone, leaving his guts on the desk. "Think fast, zygote", said the old man as he leaped off the wall and launched a kick at Momo! Momo blocked with her arms, managing to soften the blow as she was launched into the wall! "Not bad girly", said Gran Torino, "I must be getting slow in my old age. I certainly hope I don't...oops." He threw his cane, which hit Momo in the forehead, but she was able to create a shield when Gran Torino leaped at her again! Gran Torino bounced off the floor and onto the wall, jumping over Momo and kicking her in the back!

"Impressive, but slow", said Gran Torino as he picked his cane, "If you could make that shield, you could've made a lot of other stuff to counter my attacks. So far, the only you have to impress is is your control over One for All". "I...I see", sighed Momo. "Then there's the confidence issue Toshi told me about", said Gran Torino, "Hmm, yes. This will take a lot of work". "How do you wish to begin?", asked Momo nervously. "Firstly, get those sausages off the desk", said Gran Torino, "I'll boil them for dinner, then, I'll show everything I know". Momo sighed as she took the sausages, wondering if she made a bad impression on her new teacher.

Elsewhere, Izuku was lead to a small, training arena by Diana. "This ring will help hone your already impressive capabilities", she said. "No offense, Doctor, but wouldn't it be easier to magic the knowledge into our heads?", asked Monkey as Izuku's face changed. Diana smirked as she put on her helmet and became Dr. Fate. "Trust me", she said, "This will be much more fun". Suddenly, the dirt they were walking upon exploded upward, forming three golems! One had three arms and two heads, another had arms the ended in hammers, and the last one had one cloven hoof and a left arm that ended in a three-pronged spear. Izuku turned into the Green Gorilla, only for red bands to bind his arms behind his back! "Your strength is a great asset, but also a great handicap", said Dr. Fate, "You must find ways to beat your opponents with only your mind and your will. Begin!"

The hammer golem rushed forward, slamming his arms down as the Green Gorilla ducked out of the way! The hammer golem swung to the left, forcing the ape to roll backwards to avoid the attack! The Green Gorilla then kicked the golem in the face, sending the beast flying back as the two-headed golem grabbed him with his three arms! The Green Gorilla fell back, landing on the two-headed golem and rolling off of him! He then stomped on the golem's wrist, shattering his hand! The tail golem then used his tail to whip the Green Gorilla in the stomach, but the beast didn't budge! He threw a kick at the golem's hoofed leg, breaking it off! He stomped on his head before turning to the hammer golem. The Green Gorilla dodged two of the golem's attacks before kicking him in the stomach! He then used a roundhouse kick to knock his head off, hitting the two-headed golem in the chest! The Green Gorilla then leaped into the air and landed on both of his heads, using his hand-like feet to slam the creature into the ground, shattering his heads on impact!

"Most impressive", said Dr. Fate with the wave of her hand, removing the bands holding the ape's arms back, "You've learned to kick. Soon, we shall see if you can transfer the human skills you learn from me to your ape body". "Will there be any more of those things?", asked Izuku as he returned to human form. "Indeed", said Dr. Fate, "Though I will have to repair the ones you've destroyed. I wish to test something else after a quick lunch. In the meantime, you should read this". With the flick of her wrist, Dr. Fate flung a book into Izuku's waiting hands. It had a picture of Mirko, the Rabbit Heroine, on the front cover. "What's this? 'Unleash your inner bad rabbit'? Is she for real?", asked Monkey from within Izuku's mind. "Very", said Dr. Fate, "Start on page 12 and don't come to me until every exercise is done at least five times". "Not to be rude or anything, but the book says to do it at least twenty five times", said Izuku. "You're still a beginner", said Dr. Fate, "Not to mention, I don't want to reattach fallen limbs to my first Intern. You may begin now. I'll be back in a moment to check on your progress" Dr. Fat then crossed her arms and disappeared. "OK, page 12, let's go", said Izuku. "Thinking about getting something signed after this?", asked Monkey. "Maybe", said Izuku, "Now come on. If I do five, you do five". "Fair", said Monkey as he looked through the book, "Wonder what the others are doing right now".

To answer Monkey's ramble, Bakugo was having a bad day, and he was only an Intern for five minutes under the Snake Heroine, Uwabami, a beautiful woman with three snakes sticking out of her cascading blonde hair. "Quite the ugly sort, if this letter is any indication", she snorted. "The guy who wrote that was booing me when I won that fight", said Bakugo, "How can you trust him?" "Probably because he's the most handsome man on the planet", said Uwabami, "Actually, that's a good starting point for our Internship. Oh ladies!" At once, some women wearing white shirts and black aprons appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. "Oh, there you are", smiled Uwabami, "I've been looking for you two all day". "We went to get groceries", said the blonde lady. "But when we heard the Sports Festival Scoundrel was here, well, we were eager to help out", said the brunette as she pulled out a comb and a make-up brush. "What are you doing?", snarled Bakugo. "Don't worry about it", said Uwabami.

Bakugo should've worried about it. He was now made up with eyeliner and blush, wearing dress pants, a white shirt with the collar open to show his chest, and his spiky hair had been slicked back. "Oh, doesn't he look darling?", cooed Uwabami. "Bitch, are you for real!?", shrieked Bakugo, "Your hookers made me look gay as hell!" "Maybe we should've put soap in his dirty mouth", said the blonde one. "Oh, hush, the both of you", said Uwabami as a photographer ran over, "Make sure to get his good side". Bakugo scowled as he got his picture taken. "Why do I need to do this?", he asked. "Heroism pays by commission", explained Uwabami, "If you want to make money in the Hero industry, you need a side gig to pay the bills, and if I may use my pretty self as a source, modeling will net you all the big bucks. Now turn to your right. Markus, I need you to get every angle here". Bakugo growled, his very soul now being filled with contempt.

Diana sat behind her desk, looking over a collage of articles on Yakuza activity in the area as she held onto her helmet. The files the HPSC had given her had been a godsend, but wasn't enough. Not when the only one investigating was holding her back.

Some time after the USJ Incident…

'Leaving London was a mistake', Diana thought as she got off the train. As a card carrying member of the WHA, she knew she wasn't welcome by the HPSC. It seemed as though Madame President was more stressed than usual as she gave her a directive to see Sir Nighteye in Hosu. Where the semi-seer had discovered evidence of a Yakuza resurgence. It was weird that she was assigned this mission when all she did was ask for directions to UA, but Diana supposed that getting her book could wait. It was, after all, in Nezu's capable paws. The letters they had exchange at least gave her some confidence in his ability to keep it safe. As she stepped into the Nighteye agency, she noticed Bubble Girl, a blue woman with a clear face-mask and a crop top cut to at least the underside of her breasts. Diana struggled to hold back a snort at the Sidekick's state of dress. "Dr. Cavendish", said Bubble Girl, "Sir Nighteye is waiting for you in his office". "Thank you", said Diana as she stepped forward.

Inside the office, a man wearing a gray suit with a pale green tie to match his hair was sitting down. "It would appear that I was right", said Sir Nighteye as he turned to face Diana, "The HPSC did indeed send you to interfere". "I have no desire to be here, only to reclaim my stolen property", said Diana, "However, if these files are any indication, you could use all the help you can get". She placed a file down on the desk in front of Sir Nighteye. "The Shie Hassaikai have been mostly underground for years until now", she said, "Now they're expanding their territory, taking out rival gangs, increasing trafficking of Trigger. Why now?" "I haven't the faintest idea", said Sir Nighteye, "It would seem as though the recent terrorist attack on the USJ has emboldened them after All Might wiped out the other Yakuza clans back in his heyday. All other clans went underground, as you've said". "Well, what about the Shie Hassaikai leader?", asked Diana, "Have you apprehended him yet?"

"Their leader is dead", said Sir Nighteye as he picked up a stamp, "Centipeder found his comatose body floating in the river. When he tried to revive him, his heart exploded". "How could that be?", asked Diana. "Isn't it obvious?", asked Sir Nighteye, "He as taken out by the new leader". He handed her a photo of a man wearing a green jacket lined with purple fur, white sneakers and gloves, and a strange, beak-like mask. "This was taken by an esteemed underground hero who works with UA", said Sir Nighteye, "He told me that this man calls himself Overhaul, after his Quirk. He can reshape and destroy matter with only a touch". "So where is he?", asked Diana. "We aren't sure", said Sir Nighteye. "Can't you look into the future?", asked Diana. "I already did that today", said Sir Nighteye, "My Quirk only works but once a day". "Meaning you've wasted it to see if I would show up", said Diana, "Not the only thing being wasted around here, or should I mention that thing there?" She pointed to a hollow, yellow coffin with feathers sticking out of it and the words "tickle machine" written on it. "How I spend my Quirk and my money is at my discretion", said Sir Nighteye, "And, as I am in charge of this investigation, you will put those observational skills of yours to use by running surveillance on the Shie Hassaikai. That, my dear, is my final word". "Fine", said Diana, "I think I know just where to look".

So, that's how she found herself here, wandering the alleyways, weathering the leers of unsavory men and women. Not that she wasn't used to it. The way the criminals looked at her reminded her of her cousins back in the day. She took a seat behind a bar and ordered a poorly mixed Old-Fashioned. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a bird-masked goon. Not Overhaul, but someone close no doubt. She downed her drink and silently followed the goon, putting her golden helmet on and becoming little less than a shadow on the wall.

She followed the masked goon down the dark alleyways and into a secure bunker. She saw whole rows of people in lab coats working on packaging vials of Trigger into small boxes and others working with chemical sets and strange molds for making bullets. As she followed the man into a dark chamber, Dr. Fate noticed Overhaul putting his hand into a large puddle of blood and gore and reforming a man instantly. "Final warning", snarled Overhaul, "Don't lose Eri again". "My apologies, master", stammered the man as he scurried away. Just then, a man with a thin plague doctor's mask and black cloak arrived, holding the arm of a barefoot toddler with white hair and a single horn growing from her forehead. "Now to deal with you", snarled Overhaul. Dr. Fate didn't like where this was heading and chucked a glass full of liquid at Overhaul, who shrieked with rage as she stood still, unnoticed. "Take her back to her room while I get this bile off of me", said Overhaul, "You two, find the intruder!"

Two days later, Diana took her findings to Sir Nighteye. "A child?", he asked. "Yes", said Diana, "Overhaul is using her for some sort of weapons development". "Your role was to observe the movements of the Shie Hassaikai, not to infiltrate them", admonished Sir Nighteye. "We need to rescue her", said Diana. "Out of the question", said Sir Nighteye. "What?", asked Diana flatly, her fist tightening in anger. "I have seen where rescuing her leads, and as it will not happen until the fall, so we shall rescue her then". "Have you no heart?", growled Diana. "The future is absolute", said Sir Nighteye, "and you have jeopardized this investigation long enough. Until such time as I see fit, you're suspended from my agency's affairs. If you have a problem with this, file the proper paperwork under the HPSC to put forth a formal complaint". Diana simply glared before walking out in a huff.

Present time…

That was almost two weeks ago. So far, nothing had been done about the Shie Hassaikai aside from sending their drug dealers to prison. It seemed the media was more interested in Stain's killing spree than anything else. Diana had sought out help from the WHA, but several terrorist attacks had distracted them. No doubt some leftover Humarise members making a stink about their so-called Quirk Apocalypse. Not that it mattered, as Diana had just gotten the paperwork done for an idea she wished to explore. She looked at the time and decided to head down to the training arena, where Izuku was still practicing the moves laid out in the book. Even his other half seemed to have a handle on the material.

"Hmm, very good", said Diana, "I see you've managed to get to page 105". "Well, you know what they say at school, Plus Ultra", said Izuku. "Am I correct to assume your other half did the training as well?", asked Diana. "You read his mind", said Monkey from within Izuku's head. "Actually, Monkey, it is but a simple spell to allow me to hear other voices within a system, like yourself", explained Diana, "It was a massive help in dealing with one of my newer recruits". "New recruit?", asked Izuku. "A disturbed but ultimately good man", said Diana, "But enough about him. Walk with me". She lead Izuku down the hall and into the dining room. "I know it is a bit late, but we have much to discuss over lunch".

"Thank you", said Izuku as he pulled up a seat and began eating his salad, "I was wondering about something". "If you wish to learn why you aren't being taught magic, the answer is simple", said Diana, "It would take months, even years to get you to where you would need to be to master even a fraction of my skill. Had I managed to find you sooner, it could've been a possibility, though let this not discourage you from how you and your other have mastered control over the spirit channel". "I don't like where she's going", said Monkey, "I think she's onto something". "That I am", said Diana, "I know you two are close, but I've seen how you disagreed on the topic of that Todoroki boy. How you tried to talk him into using his fire, and how Monkey forced him." "To be fair, it's not like he was going to listen to me", said Izuku, "We both needed him to see that he was crippling himself". "Fascinating", said Diana, "That of course leads me to my proposal. The spell you use allows you to become the Green Gorilla, but it only works because you're both in equilibrium. If one were to separate you, well, therein lies the challenge. I will separate the two of you, to see that which is stronger". "Uh, what?", asked Izuku. Diana sighed, but gave a reassuring smile to the boy. "A mentor of mine once mentioned a riddle", she said, "Which is stronger, the sword, or the hand that wields it? Your strength, your combined ability to become the Green Gorilla, that is your sword. Left with only your intellect, what should you do when lives are on the line?"

"That depends", said Monkey, "Whose life is in danger, ours or yours"? "Neither", said Diana, "I know you must have some strong feelings about the separation, Monkey, but rest assured, should either of you be put in harm's way, I will intervene." "What do you intend to do?", asked Izuku. "In two days time", said Diana, "We are going to rescue someone from the clutches of the Shie Hassaikai. I'll take care their most dangerous members while you spirit her away to safety. As soon as trouble occurs, I will undo the spell with the snap of my fingers. Until then, I want your ape form to become greater". "Why not just have us as the Green Gorilla?", asked Monkey. "The Shie Hassaikai leader can scramble a person with little else but a touch", said Diana, "No, it is simpler for you to keep your heads down and rescue the hostage. Oh, you will also need this". She took out a card and handed it to Izuku. "That", she explained, "is a WHA day license. Having it on your person will negate any legal difficulty in you doing heroic acts, but it is only meant to temporarily deputize you, not make you a full hero. The HPSC still has domain over that in Japan." "If I'm to rescue the hostage, what will my brother do?", asked Izuku. "Worry not, Young Izuku", said Diana, "Monkey will help with the most important part, and when this is done, you both will be stronger than ever. I promise". "What do you think?", asked Monkey. "Someone's life is on the line", said Izuku, "We can't abandon her". Monkey sighed. "OK, then let's do it", he said as he took over Izuku's body.

Elsewhere, Bakugo had long since finished pounding an air-vent in a fit of rage and just sat on the rooftop, looking out at the mid-afternoon sky. "Liking the view?", asked a voice. Bakugo whipped around to see a man with blue, slicked back hair wearing a brown suit with a yellow tie. "Whoa man, I was just getting some air", said the man, "I assume you're taking some time away from the boss lady downstairs?" "Hit the nail in the damn head", said Bakugo, "Ever since that Deku won the Sports Festival, it seems like no one even wants me to be a Hero. That bitch down there just wants me to sit still and look pretty for her". "Yeah", said the man, "It seems like every so often, the Heroes up top look down on us. But let me help you. I know my way around these things". "Who are you, anyway?", asked Bakugo. "Just call me Oboro", said the man as a smile graced his aged features.