"Third-degree burns, several cracked ribs, and a concussion. I'm recommending you lay off the missions for now Boss." the doctor told him, motioning to several X-rays on a board. Snake could only grumble as he examined the X-rays himself. He wished for a cigar, but the nurse had confiscated them all.

"What about the men?" Snake asked, looking back at the doctor. The doctor grimaced and took off his glasses, rubbing his eyes.

"Forty are dead, twenty-five are in intensive care."

Snake closed his eyes, mourning the soldiers that had died. They had done their duty, even till the end. It was only a shame how it happened. Forced to do nothing to ensure the safety of Midoriya. The Elementals got off easy for what they've done, however, it also had an unintended consequence. The other captured heroes, at least the younger ones, were having a change of tune. They couldn't understand why fellow heroes left them to suffer, why they killed so many, and why they didn't care.

The Elementals were in the top thirty for crying out loud. Was this what heroics had come to? They didn't know what to think, or what to believe in. Some still held firm in their beliefs, claiming the Elementals were a small minority, but the seed of doubt had been planted.

"The kid? Is he alright?"

"A little shaken from the event, but he's doing well."

"Good," Snake replied, moving to get out of the medical bed. The doctor argued against it for a bit but folded when it was clear Snake wouldn't stop. He got dressed as best he could, reverting to more casual fatigues rather than his sneaking suit. Then he left, thanking the doctor. In the hall he found Miller approaching him. He hobbled forward on a crutch, still wounded from the crash. Yet as broken as they were, they still had work to do.

"I had some of the Base Development staff scout out a possible location, they just need your word to start construction," Miller told him.

"Good, I want the Intel platform finished after the command platform, we'll need all the information we can once in South America."

"Heh, it's funny if you think about it, even in another dimension, we keep finding ourselves in South America."

"Let's hope there are no nukes this time."

"It brings me such shame, that we have not located our beloved Elementals." the President said, standing in front of a large podium.

"To honor their memory and legacy, this statue was commissioned so they will never be forgotten. They were true heroes." She tried her best to look solemn and sad. Making it convincing for the cameras and crowd in front of her. She could already see teary-eyed faces all over the crowd, the majority of which were wearing Elementals merchandise. It was good they didn't realize the truth of the matter.

"For some final words, I pass the podium off to the number one, All Might."

She then stepped back from the podium, and the mountain of a man that was All Might stepped forward. It was hard to look at him and realize his smile was gone. He like the crowd was saddened by the Elemental's loss.

"I first met the Elementals a little under three years ago. They were holding the line against a powerful villain and managed to restrain him when I arrived. Since then I've had the pleasure of working with them dozens of times. It is a travesty that they have not been located. They were heroes, true to the core."

Then with a press of a button, they unveiled the statue, a tarp rolling off the top of it. It was solid gold, with the heroes detailed in rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and topazes. The colors of the Elemental's hero costumes. It cost a fortune to make and was in truth completely worthless now. All that gold and gems was nothing more than an expensive propaganda piece. An attempt to martyr monsters.

The press then started taking pictures, with the President and All Might standing in front of the statue. She didn't know how many were taken when they finally stopped, but she soon turned over to All Might.

"Thank you for coming," she said, keeping up the facade of the sweet old lady.

"It was nothing, it's always a shame when heroes are lost in the line of duty. If there is anything I can do to help with the investigation, let me know."

"It is appreciated All Might, but I assure you we have it under control."

If only that were true, it had been a full year since their disappearance, today marking its anniversary. They still had no clue where the perpetrators were, and the man with the eye patch had stopped appearing in the Middle East. It made her uneasy, there was too much money on the line.

"Well, I must be going then!" All Might started, his signature smile returning, "Take care, Madam President!"

With a mighty leap, he was gone, launching out somewhere. As he left the President allowed her face to turn stone cold. For as profitable as All Might was, he was too idealistic for their liking. They would use him as the glue keeping society together but at any moment, he could learn the truth. And with his reputation, the HPSC wouldn't stand a chance. What they needed was a tool, a loyal pawn who acted like All Might.

Yet they couldn't find anyone close to the same level as him. It was a never-ending search, but it would be one they would complete. With or without the buffoon.

Night Owl watched as the portal changed color again, shifting from orange to purple, to blue, and back to orange. The trigger they had been given was having, odd results but it was working. The aide in the room stepped forth, and put their hand in the portal. They grabbed something and pulled it out. Huh, My Hero Academia Issue One, best to put that back Night Owl thought, before using a mechanical arm to shove both the book and the aide into the portal.

The portal then closed again and Night Owl wrote down in his notes. The portals had become more stable, maybe. He had a theory as to what was going on. With other dimensions and the multiverse, there was the idea that it was infinite. With all infinite things, no possibility was off the table. So his reasoning was simply, what if the reason so many aides had died wasn't due to the portal's stability, but because of where it was opening.

It was here he created, the Night Owl Index as he called it. The index currently had two dimension types, normal and hell. The hell dimension was pretty self-explanatory, it was a reality of impossibility. A dimension where simply setting foot into it kills you sets you eternally on fire, or crushes you into oblivion while you are still alive. Now Night Owl's theory was that he had been opening the majority of his portals into hell dimensions. If he was right, then there was a coordinate base for where a dimension was located, and he didn't have a map.

The dimensional constant he theorized, was that map. Or more accurately a beacon that could draw forth other constants. It was only theory however, he couldn't prove it without another constant. So for now it was guesswork, open a portal see where it goes, and close it before the demons swarm in. All in all, it had promising results. Soon another doctor stepped into the room

"Ah Akira, how is your assignment?" he asked him. He looked back over to the man, seeing him nervously approach him.

"Good, I am still a little curious about why I was given the task sir?" Akira replied, slightly unnerved by Night Owl's wide smile.

"Are you doubting the President's decision?" Night Owl pushed. Best not to let the doctor realize the truth of his task. It would take time and dedication to truly finish, to have him cower away now would ruin it all.

"What! No no no no no, I just am a little confused is all." Akira responded panicked. How he could believe such a simple lie was funny to Night Owl.

"I'm sure you'll figure it out." he reasoned turning back to his work. Akira realized not to push further then, noting that he would get nothing out of it. Akira wasn't even sure why he was still assigned to the project, he was a geneticist after all. His expertise was in quirks and it was clear their interdimensional research was shifting away from quirks. It was a slow but noticeable progress too. More and more tests were being run without Agent Matter, and instead a large ring device in the room. Now it just seemed like they were seeing what was more reliable.

So his expertise didn't seem all that necessary now, regardless of whatever project they had him on. Still, the research data he was given seemed, familiar. It was basic research on the connection between specific genes and certain quirks. The data had what was essentially a blueprint for the nature of quirks. He didn't know what its purpose here was.

The jungle was a miserable place to be, it made Diego wonder why his brother chose this location for their operation. It was hot and humid, constantly putting Diego in a sweat anytime he was outside. Thick trees and plants surrounded their main base of operations, their luxury mansion on the Colombia-Venezuela border. It was the face of modern decor and wealth, and it stuck out like a sore thumb. Diego never said it out loud though, Alejandro was the brains of the operation after all, so he must have had a reason.

It's what made this partnership work, between the nearly identical twin brothers. Both had tanned skin and brown hair, with a clean-shaven face. It made differentiating them difficult, but that was the purpose. The only true difference was their quirks, which were also polar opposites. They weren't powerful quirks, simply mental enhancement. Alejandro could do better in a numbers sense with his quirk Management, and Diego could do better in a strategic sense with Warmind.

He took a sip from his glass, enjoying the Aguardiente's taste. He then looked out to his brother across the room, seeing him writing away in a journal.

"You really need to relax," Diego told him.

"Our total product says otherwise," Alejandro countered, "were made two percent less than last year."

"Well, I told you we needed more guards near Paso Del Rio."

"And before that, you told me they could handle it."

Diego opened his mouth to retort, before closing it shut realizing his brother was right. Paso Del Rio was a small river town they had control over before the Fascistas counter-attacked. It wasn't an annoyance, for the time being, Paso Del Rio made a decent amount of the cocaine they used for their operation.

"I'm assuming you have a plan then," Diego inquired, now leaving the couch he was on.

"I have the beginning of a plan, I found a town of similar size and layout to Paso Del Rio. Almost one thousand people live there," Alejandro began. He rolled out a map across the table showing its location to Diego. It was small, secluded, and only had one major roadway. There were farms they could take control of, a factory, and a power plant providing for their logistical needs.

"But that's not the best part." Alejandro pulled out a different map, this one detailing the frontlines of the civil war. He didn't remember when the war started why, or how the cartel even got involved. But they were taking advantage of the chaos, to control a portion of the Venezuelan North West. The Fascista rebels resided in the South and the remains of the Government in the North East. And Diego saw right where the town was.

"It's neutral." Diego surmised, a small smile coming to his face. Years of conflict and this town had avoided an entire civil war due to its seclusion. It meant it was ripe for the taking, with no Fascistas or Government forces who could intervene. The best resistance they had, was more than likely a glorified sheriff's department.

"Brother I could kiss you. This is perfect!"

"The plan still needs to work out some kinks, but I think you can figure out the military aspects." Alejandro handed him the maps, as he went off to grab another document. Diego looked at the maps thoroughly, viewing the town of Paraíso. He began marking off their objectives, the first being to secure the only road. The second would be the power plant, with the third being the Police in the area. The rest he could go over later, but Paraíso was as good as his.

"Eww," Midoriya muttered, pushing away the lizard on his plate.

"You said you wanted to try it," Snake told him, before taking it for himself. Midoriya's face then resembled his hair when Snake ate it. It didn't help when Snake commented "Tasty". It was finally becoming winter, the dawn of a new year almost upon them. It's what made the night in the snowy mountains of Afghanistan oddly peaceful. Just the open land, the stars, and the snow.

"I thought we were supposed to save the animals?" Midoriya questioned him, as Snake licked his fingers. He really should have lizard more often.

"It wasn't endangered," he replied before going back to position with his rifle. Midoriya did the same, lying down in the snow. The R&D team finally got him his fatigues, these being small enough to fit him and blend in. A pack of wolves rested ahead of them by a great distance. They were far enough away to not be spotted, but close enough for Snake to make the shot.

One by one, he fired at the wolves. All of them fell unconscious when the rounds hit them. It was an easy job this time, with this being the last pack he had to do. With them passed out Snake made his approach with Midoriya following him. The entire time the kid seemed nervous about something. He stayed quiet as Snake started extracting the wolves, trying his best to work up his confidence.

"Snake?"

Snake looked over at him and finished attaching a Fulton to a wolf.

"Yeah, kid?"

Midoriya took a deep breath, readying himself. It had bugged him for months on Mother Base, but he didn't know whether to ask.

"Can I be a hero, without a quirk?" he asked, pleading to not be hated or put down. Instead, he was met with Snake confused as the man thought for a moment.

"Quirk? You mean powers right?" He still wasn't used to the weird terms they used. It sounded a little childish to say. But Midoriya silently nodded his head. It was clear to Snake that this was bothering the kid so he thought for a moment.

"That depends, what would you say is a hero?"

Midoriya was confused by what he meant but answered regardless.

"Someone who saves people with a smile," he began, "someone always tries to help people."

"Then by that definition, yes. You can be a hero."

Midoriya had to stop to see if he misheard him, his little mind telling him he was wrong.

"But, I don't have a quirk."

"And? Before powers like these existed people were always doing the impossible. They scaled cliff faces to take out enemy positions. They fought against twenty men by themself to hold the line. They went out and dragged one more wounded man back to a medic."

He placed another Fulton on a wolf, making sure it was secure before it launched off.

"Look at right now for example. There are other ways someone can do good, would you count this as one? The two of us rescuing these animals?"

Slowly Midoriya nodded his head. Yes, it was something heroes would do. But did that make him heroic? It couldn't have, he wasn't a hero.

"But, what about villains? I can't beat them without a quirk, not like you." Snake paused for a moment after hearing that.

"... Kid? Be honest with me, what is Miller's…quirk?" It still felt weird for Snake to say.

"Miller? Some kind of mental quirk?"

"What about Strangelove?"

"Intelligence quirk?"

"And me?"

"A… gun quirk?"

Now Snake could see what was going on. Midoriya always seemed like he wanted to ask them something, but he would always shy away at the last moment. This must have been the second reason.

"Midoriya, none of us have powers," Snake told him, the kid's face turning to shock. He didn't seem to fully process what had been said.

"Your quirkless, what… is everyone else?"

"All of MSF is, except for the new guys."

Midoriya couldn't believe it. All this time he thought they had weak or mental quirks. Quirks that weren't entirely visible for everyone to see. But, they were like him. They had no quirks and still fought like heroes. He could feel a few tears begin to form as he realized that Snake was like him.

"Kid, you good?" Snake asked, a little worried he messed up somehow.

"Sorry, I'm just surprised." That he was. He always questioned if there were quirkless heroes, and everyone said no. Now he realized there were, and one he didn't know of was right next to him. Somehow Snake kept getting cooler to Midoriya.

It was a long year for MSF, and a lot had changed. Midoriya had turned seven, MSF had gained another one hundred members, and ZEKE was finally completed. Things were looking better than they were before, Snake noted. Especially with the new members that had joined. Some were the younger heroes from Israel, dissuaded by the actions of the Elementals, others were prisoners rescued by the combat teams in the field. But the vast majority were volunteers from the third world. They were those with weak, mutant, or villainous quirks and they joined for one reason. They were seen as equal.

It wasn't out of some moralistic sense, but because they were all soldiers, and that was all that mattered. You were a soldier and he was a soldier. Of course, the new arrivals didn't understand why the original members looked up to Big Boss so much, or why a kid was constantly exploring Mother Base with a puppy. Yet that was the least of their worries, as by MSF standards, they were not up to code.

"Come on boys! Another thirty push-ups!" Osprey shouted out, the day's training already taking place. They would teach the new volunteers everything. Marksmanship, CQC, stealth, first aid in the field, and how to eat a tree frog. Not to mention other tasks relating to their department, like basic construction for Base Development, and scouting for the Intel Team. Some volunteers had some other things to offer as well, such as their quirk. One hero could slowly heal anything he touched. Another could see through walls. All had something to contribute, and it made Snake pleased that it was going so well as he watched the training take place.

"Strange to think it's been a year," Miller asked as he walked over, a cup of coffee and a file in his hands. Another thing they had done, was modernization. A decent number of their equipment had been upgraded, with the R&D department coming forth with their own smart devices. They were expensive to make and built like brick, but they had done it. Along with smart devices came computers with Strangelove creating an AI management system for Mother Base. And yet no matter how advanced it would become, Snake would always prefer the old stuff.

"It felt like it was twenty," Snake replied, grabbing the report from Miller.

"What's this?" he asked him opening the file. Miller took a quick sip of his coffee when he asked.

"Report from the Intel Team, they spotted Night Owl in Venezuela. A little over two hours ago he made an appearance in the town of Paraíso, meeting with Los Hermanos"

"Hmm, any clue what he's up to?"

"None, but that's what I intend to find out."

"You're going somewhere?" Snake asked, looking back up at Miller.

Miller replied after taking a sip of coffee, "I'm paying a visit to the Broker, he said he had something I would want to see."

Snake went back to examining the report he had been given, and honestly, it was an odd sense of normalcy. The tried and true tool of the cartel was not quirks, but guns. And they had quite the collection. Centuries-old AKs and M16s fished out of the jungles of Vietnam. More modern equipment with G-36s and M4s as well, even a few M249 light machine guns. It was an odd mishmash of weapons that was expected for a rag-tag group. That wasn't even discussing the nightmares of vehicles they had. They had a flatbed truck with a welded Soviet anti-aircraft gun at best and stolen T-72s and Hinds at worst. Needless to say, it was no wonder the cartel was a major party in the war.

Snake couldn't help but wonder what their business with the HPSC was though. Maybe they were buying equipment? It would explain the more modern rifles, but not what the HPSC got out of it. The only way he could truly find out was on the ground. He looked back at Kaz who was now looking over Mother Base.

"The Broker specify what he had?"

"Sadly no, I'm going to assume it'll be expensive though," Kaz replied, finishing the last of his coffee.

"Well, good luck," Snake told him, heading down to the helipad and Miller did the same. There Snake entered the helicopter arriving, noting how Pequod had a song on. The radio blared, as he spotted Midoriya on the platform. He gave him a quick wave, before closing the door and preparing himself for the journey.

The time was upon them, as Diego looked at the town ahead of them. It was entirely vulnerable, which was a shame. He overpacked for this assault. All his men around him were ready to go, and their opponent was an underfunded police force. Oh well, he thought, might as well have some fun with it.

"The road secure?" he asked his second in command. The crocodile man lumbered over to him, a large shotgun strapped along his back. He didn't say anything, only nodding as confirmation.

"Good. Boys!" Diego announced, turning to the men behind him. Dozens of trucks and transports, filled with men sat eagerly waiting for the order. They were his legion of psychos, all armed and ready. Tanks rested on the unpaved road, their drivers sealing their hatches shut. He was going to enjoy this.

"Let's have some fun!" the words were given, a sadistic smile gracing his face. The rest of his men cheered as the vehicles charged forward. Their orders were already given, and their objectives were already known. The night sky above hid their approach perfectly when the first truck entered the town. A lone couple was run down, the truck's occupants leaping out when the truck moved. The townsfolk shouted in terror as they tried to flee, the cartel members firing sporadically into the crowd.

The few police available scrambled to protect the area, evacuating whoever they could away. Police officers fired what ammunition they had at their attackers, the cartel returning fire. The streets became bloody as houses were burned to the ground. Families were dragged out of their homes and shot, while others were rounded up. A few members found a girl cowering away in a tool shed. They pulled her out by her hair, the girl kicking and screaming all the way.

"Hey, boss! How much do ya think this one's worth?" one member shouted over, spotting Diego approaching the chaos. He took one look at the resisting girl, seeing the tears and fright in her eyes. The girl continued to kick and scream.

"Too feisty I'd say, better to put it down." he shot her dead instantly, walking away as the member became angry.

"Hey! And here I thought I was gonna have fun tonight."

The chaos would continue throughout the night before the lights in the town would turn off. The power plant was secured and half its workers were killed. Molotovs were thrown into shop windows after everything was stolen from them. The police were slaughtered with the survivors fleeing into the jungle. Diego couldn't help but revel in it, the smell of smoke and blood. It was music to his ears as the town burned around him.

"Round up the survivors! I want them in the fields by dawn!" Diego ordered, admiring his handiwork for one last time.

"I have to say, this is some view."

Diego turned over to the voice that was talking to him. He found a bald smiling man standing next to him, watching over the battle.

"Night Owl," Diego greeted, "enjoying the show?"

"I'm a little disappointed actually, I should have brought popcorn." Night Owl replied the smile on his face now more of a small smirk. It stayed that way as Diego lit a cigarette, offering a second to Night Owl. Night Owl politely declined, instead pulling out a pair of binoculars.

"What brings you here?"

"Oh I came to see the place myself, you do remember the deal right?"

Diego took a puff from his cigarette before he replied, "Yeah yeah, you'll get more product."

"And?" Night Owl looked at him expectantly.

"And at a discount price. Why the hell do you even need so much Trigger? You trying to addict a city or something?" Diego asked. He looked back over to the smoking town, admiring his handiwork, the last of its inhabitants being taken prisoner.

"Or something." was Night Owl's only reply.

Miller watched as Morpho flew off, the pilot dropping him at the LZ. The workshop was just as clean as Miller remembered it, spotting all its fancy artwork on the walls. For once he didn't have to search long for The Broker, finding him sat in the main lobby. The man looked a little worse for wear. His tie was crooked and worn, and his shirt sleeves were wrinkled. Yet he was still lying back in the chair, his feet kicked up.

"Ah, Miller! A pleasure to see you, though I assume Big Boss won't be joining us" Broker said, slightly looking up at him. A glass of whiskey sat next to him, half empty.

"I'm afraid not, Snake's unavailable for the moment," Miller replied, pouring himself a glass, to which Broker didn't object.

"Shame. Well business beckons, now" the Broker began, "would you like my offer first, or should I hear yours?"

Miller paused for a moment after hearing that, a little confused, "Your offer?"

The Broker sighed for a moment as he took a drink from his glass, finishing it. He started talking again when he poured himself another.

"Yes, you see I've found myself in a bit of a pickle." the Broker began, "About a month ago, a good friend of mine told me he landed himself a score. Said it would make us billions. I asked him what it was, but he refused to share saying it would be a surprise."

He chugged a second glass of whiskey then, Miller now noticing the rings around the man's eyes. Up close he realized the man looked like he hadn't slept in weeks. It would explain the worn-out clothes. And the Broker continued.

"A few days later I found out what he meant by a score of the century. He told me to meet him down by a secluded dock up north, which I found suspicious at first. You see the score he was talking about… he stole a fucking aircraft carrier."

Miller very nearly felt his eyes bulge out of the socket. He thought he misheard him but the Broker kept going, drawing himself in the last of the whiskey.

"He stole an entire aircraft carrier and said 'here!' expecting me to find a buyer for it! A stolen nuclear-powered Nimitz class aircraft carrier and he thinks I can pawn it off like an assault rifle! I've been losing capital for a month just trying to keep it hidden, and don't get me started on the damn things maintenance costs! I'm pretty sure Mossad is going to bust down my door any moment now, just because of that damn boat!"

He was well and truly just ranting now, grabbing another unseen bottle from the lobby's desk. The man became hysterical.

"I can't find anyone who even wants to buy the damn thing! Let alone afford it!"

"Oook" Miller commented, finding the Broker done with his rant. He looked like he was legitimately on the verge of going insane. One thing was for certain, he had run out of whiskey, now switching to a bottle of rum.

"Miller, Kaz, can I call you Kaz? Never mind, but your organization seems well off." The Broker started again, reaching out for the bottle of rum.

"Somewhat." Miller could already see where this was going. The idea of it sounded enticing, an MSF with its own navy. But it just wasn't feasible, the cost of maintaining a warship would have destroyed them.

"Please, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance," Broker begged.

"I don't think MSF can afford an aircraft car-"

"No no no no no! I'm not going to charge you, just take it for free! I don't care what you do with it, I'll even pay you to take it!" He was desperate now, even opening a checkbook. "I don't care if you sink it to the bottom of the ocean, but keeping it here another day with bankrupt me!"

Miller could only think for a moment, this in all financial sense, was suicidal. He couldn't accept it, however, it was dumb to lose a source of equipment like the broker so soon. Especially after only one meeting. It still wasn't possible though, they couldn't…

"How about this! The aircraft carrier also has sixty-four F-35s, you take the carrier and I'll give you those!"

Miller stopped, looking back at him.

"And why didn't you say this before?" Miller asked. The Broker groaned in response as he finished off the first bottle of rum. All this alcohol and he was still sober. A broken wreck of a man, but still sober.

"I was hoping I could reimburse my losses, but it's clear I'm not getting rid of that boat without an incentive."

"Hmm, and what of that information?"

"If you expect me to give it for free as well, I'm not that desperate."

"Was worth a shot."

So Miller thought for a moment as he weighed his options. He didn't know much about these aircraft, he would have to ask Huey about them, but they were more than likely better than what they had. Which of course was nothing. Their air power was limited to AA guns and helicopters.

"This F-35, what is it?" Miller asked, pouring himself another drink. It was clear he was going to be here a while. It gave The Broker all the excuse he needed though, as he started pulling out documents.

"I see I have your attention now," Broker responded, the broken attitude replaced by his business tone. Kaz was almost impressed with how he turned on a dime so quickly. "Made in 2006 the F-35 is a 5th generation fighter. The variant in my possession is the F-35C specifically. This specific variant has VTOL capabilities and boasts radar detection as its main advancement."

The Broker would continue with the various details of the fighter jet. Kaz was seeing an opportunity, he would need these fighters for MSF but he also needed a plan for that carrier. They couldn't just blow it up, as The Broker said it was nuclear-powered. That brought about a new idea, something that could give it a feasible use. It would be difficult, but it would be doable.

However, a new occurrence had come to mind. Where was the Broker getting this stuff? First, it was the tanks, now his friend happens to steal a fully stocked aircraft carrier. One seemed believable, and the other seemed comical.

"If I may interject," Kaz began interrupting the Broker. "How are you getting this so easily?"

The Broker only looked at him for a moment as he thought of his response. He did so carefully, not fully giving everything away. If he did, he very well might run himself out of business.

"Well, the military isn't the shining beacon of power it once was."