Justice Across Space and Time: Year 2
Chapter 15
This'll mostly be from Justice's perspective on how things went down after he fell to the base. And detail more of what he experienced while back int the USA. As well as introducing a few ideas that haven't been brought up in the manga. Like other schools outside of Japan. So on with the show.
(No POV)
After identifying himself, Star took her cape off and draped it over the young hero. "What the Hell are you doing here? And how did you get here?" she asked with a confused look on her face. John wanted to answer but asked that they go somewhere quieter. "I'm going nuts from all the noise nearby!" he exclaimed while trying to keep a lid on his power.
The number one of the USA hummed before asking a few of her squad to get him some clothes while they went to a soundproof room in the base. "So, let me get this straight: you left UA, hijacked a plane, wandered across a dozen countries or so, and found some of the energy that had been stolen from you on top of Mt Everest."
"Uh don't forget the whole, fought them when he was without his superpowers by using ki of all things. And after getting recharged stopped an attack that would have destroyed UA. While up in space." The one saying this with a laugh was Ethan Drive, the commander of Bravo Squadron.
John coughed before admitting it wasn't in space. "Just, you know near space." Ethan laughed even harder at that while Star shook her head in surprise. "And here I thought only me, or All Might would try doing something that crazy. But then again, you have seemed like someone who knows what it really means to be a hero," she said with a slight smile directed John's way.
After this, they introduced John to the commander of the base; Timmothy Apgar. "I see. Hm. You've got some impressive feats and history behind you. Not to mention a proper license, so I suppose you could have been acting as a hero. However, there is still the matter of the equipment you destroyed." John winced upon hearing this but was surprised by the next piece mentioned.
"So, we'll have you working and studying here. We can call you akin to a work study student between UA and the top hero school of the USA: District Caretakers Academy. Or DC Academy for short. I'll even negotiate to get you a provisional American license."
John's surprise was evident, and he asked, "shouldn't I attend classes and the like? I mean yeah, I've been studying at UA, but don't I need to go through a bunch of formalities here?" Apgar had a big smile on his fish-like face before explaining he could handle those matters.
"Besides, it's not as if you don't have some international affiliation. You are from the US, correct?" John cleared his throat before admitting that he'd been going by an alias, but yes he was from America. When questioned why, he just noted that the government officials didn't take to him when he used two non-Japanese names. "American based ones were especially disliked."
Star, Driver, and Apgar had irritated looks on their faces. But the eldest among them moved past and set about getting all of Justice's documents and enrollment handled. By the end of the day, John Dimitri Svoboda was a student at DC Academy. And had a full American hero license.
Upon receiving said papers, Svoboda's eye twitched a bit. "That was ridiculously fast. Is this really legal?" he asked while looking the paperwork over. "Yeah. You're a hero with the USA now. As well as Japan." Drive said while passing some extra clothes to the teen in an examination room.
John though narrowed his eyes at the man before bringing something up. "You're quirkless aren't you?" he asked before Ethan left. The man stopped and asked if it really was that obvious to him. "Your head is still operating properly. All the neurons are there."
Eathan sighed before admitting it was accurate. "It's not been easy, but I imagine its better than other regions. Japan I've heard is actually one of the worst when it comes to things like quirkless discrimination. Not to say it's been perfect here."
John hums before saying, "have you ever wondered if you've got more or other potential?" The man looks to John with some confusion before asking what he meant. The old hero in a young body smiles before telling Drive that he could test to see if the man had true meta potential.
"But only if you're willing," he clarified. Drive looked at him with some confusion before thinking about the matter. He'd been proud to be a military pilot and been the one who trained Kate in hand-to-hand combat. But a part of him always wished he could do more. Especially with backing his sister up.
He tightened his fist before asking, "what do we do?" John smiled before asking the man to take off his shirt. "I can get a better read with more skin exposed." Once in place, John put a hand on Driver's head and the other on his stomach.
He cycled through a few energies before landing on one that took: cosmic energy. 'Well this could be dangerous. Cosmic radiation and energy is just ambient power from space itself. But if he can control it….' John thought before the man started to change before his unseeing eyes.
The man groaned as he felt the change happening and his eyes glowed with light. The power he could feel expanded until it exploded outward. This knocked John back, but he shook it off with little issue. "Well, that's at least better than when my power rampages," he thought aloud.
"What the Hell is going on?!" Star said as she burst into the exploded room. "Uh hey miss Bates. Um. Long story short, I just helped mister Drive unlock something. True meta powers." John explained with a little chuckle.
Star looked at her friend in shock as her jaw dropped. Eathan's body looked much the same but for two special changes. His hair had grown and now looked like a nebula in color. And his eyes were glowing as he turned to see the heroes.
Though what he was seeing wasn't quite the same as he was used to. "What the? What the heck am I seeing?" Drive said before blinking and rubbing his eyes. John shook his head slightly before advising the man. "Don't try to fight it too hard. Close your eyes for a moment and try to take things in slowly."
"Okay. You sure about this?" the older (at least in appearance) man asked. John raised an eyebrow before saying, "trust me. I know how it feels to have strange new senses rampaging in your head. You gotta work through it slow or it'll take you over or make you crazy."
Drive nodded and waited for a go ahead from John. When he did, the man noted that things looked very strange. "Describe it for me. If I know, I can walk you through what's likely going on." John said while Star was observing dumbfounded.
"It's like….. I can see a bunch of little lights when I look at things closely. Or I think it's lights. They seem to be apart of everything." Justice's eyes widened upon hearing that, and he had a suspicion about what was going on. "I think... you're seeing atoms or molecules. Don't focus on the lights. Try to… well pull back your sight. That might help."
The number one of the USA looked at him funny before asking, "how does that help? And more importantly, what's going on with him?" The young hero explained that Eathan now likely had an ability to see the very building blocks of the universe. "But he doesn't know how to control it or process what he's looking at. So we take this slow."
The newly awakened true meta let out a few breaths before noting it was working. "Sort of. Instead of just seeing you guys as lights, I can actually make out your shapes." Justice nodded before saying, "okay, step one is done. We'll work on more later. For now." He turned back and saw guns pointed at him again. With Apgar looking on in confusion. "We have some explaining to do."
After a day or two, Drive had better control of his vision and could understand some of what he was seeing. "I can't really see color as well anymore, but I can make things out this way. Any advice, teach?" John smiled before admitting that it would probably always be a problem. "Just like my vision goes to crap when I'm all powered up. But for now, let's see what you can do."
The man nodded before asking if that was why they were in an old explosive testing area. "Yeah, figured it would be best given the power you synergized with. Anyway, here's the first lesson. Don't turn it on or off. Don't put rules or restrictions on what you feel. You've gotta let it flow first."
Eathan took a breath before following John's advice. He couldn't fully understand the source, but he did sense the wellspring within him. 'All the emitter and transform types of quirks do the whole turn on and off thing. Like it's a muscle or switch. But he's telling me it's not a switch. So how…. Wait a minute!'
The new true meta's thoughts are interrupted by the feeling of the force within him rushing out. He at first tries to tamp it down, but Justice calls out to him. "Don't fight it! Let it flow!" Eathan wants to stop the power, but he realizes he can't, and it bursts out of him.
When he opened his eyes, he expected to see a massive crater and destruction. Instead, the ground beneath him and around his body for thirty feet had become like silver. And just beyond the radius, John was standing tall with his arms outstretched.
"Okay. That actually hurt a little. But I think I have an idea on what's going on," the younger hero said. "What do you mean? How or what did I do?" Eathan asked while looking at his surroundings.
John cracked his neck before saying, "you transmuted the matter. When that energy within you surged out, it could feel it moving the various atom and electrons around. But because you had no control, it just turned everything into *sniff* silver. From the smell of it."
"Holy shit! Okay, so. What's next?" Eathan asked with some excitement. John smiled before saying it was time to get to work. For about two weeks, John would train with Eathan and go on patrols with Star and Stripe. Gaining a new level of fame as many recognized him from the various reports from Japan.
It was around this time, he got to know a few of the other heroes on the west coast. One along the southern areas of California was the Bronze Boarder: Soul Surfer. Or as he was known in private, Malakai Hestia. A green-eyed blonde hero with a dark tan and a laid-back attitude, he was a popular hero in the state.
And he was currently meeting with John and Eathan at their usual practice area. Drive had gotten a feel for his powers, even if he thought it was annoying that he had to "go back to school" to better change matter. But he'd also learned to unleash concussive blasts of energy as well. Now though it was time for a different lesson.
"So, you're wanting me to help you with training this guy?" the man asked while floating on his board next to John and Eathan. Malakai's quirk was called Waverider. It let the man float and ride along currents. Be they air or water. Even with a surf board he could still ride the wind and waves easily. And thanks to that, he had near unmatched skill in the sky.
Eathan looked at John and Soul Surfer with some confusion. "Okay, what's this all about? What are you having him teach me?" the star haired man asked. John smirked before stepping forward to float up next to him. "We're going to teach you a bit of how to fly."
The man looked up with confusion before asking if John was serious. "Yep. You may know how to fly a jet. But. You don't know how to fly by yourself." Eathan's jaw dropped and questioned how he was supposed to fly. "It's kind of a thing you gotta feel man. At least that's how I do it."
"Uh, not too far off Malakai. But that's more for after he gets into the air." John says with a sweat drop. He then advised Drive to vent a bit of energy beneath him. Noting that it would help him to get a feel for flying. "You're nuts. But…. I guess you wouldn't say these things without reason. I'll try."
The man has a strained look on his face, like he's trying to lift something heavy or struggling to use the bathroom. And when he finally takes off, he really takes off. Screaming as he rockets by Justice and Soul Surfer.
The latter of who whistles before saying, "dude. No way I can catch him. What about you?" John raises an eyebrow before taking off at his current top speed. Catching up with Eathan and stopping him before he barreled into a mountain.
"Well. That at least worked. But maybe we try slowing it down now." John said with a little laugh. Eathan groaned before tying again. And again for a few more days. During that time, he did a few different exercises that John suggested to help him better understand his powers.
And that would also give him and Star more of a chance to patrol Gleanselm City. "So, this was the town where you first saw Tos- I mean All Might?" John asked while walking with Star. She smiled before reminiscing on how he had saved her and her family back in the day. "I was inspired by those tufts of hair. That's why I went with my eight tufts."
John rolled his eyes while thinking back to his old world. And how plenty of kids wanted to be him in games. Or how some heroes hoped to live up to what he'd shown. 'Though they should wish to follow my steps. Lest they end up with the same blood on their hands like me.' Star noticed his crestfallen face and asked what was wrong. "Nothing. Just…. Some bad memories."
Before she could ask about them, an explosion was heard. Meaning there was trouble to find. "Catheleen Bate can run at-" Before she could finish giving herself a new power with her quirk, John stopped her. "You don't need to do that. You've seen how All Might moves. If you've got anywhere near his strength, then you can move just as fast."
Bate blushed and admitted she mostly wanted to test her limits more. "But fine. I guess I can make it work with just the strength I've got alone." Justice nodded and gestured for her to lead the way.
After a few super powered leaps, they spotted a few heroes who were already on the scene. The first being the second-generation Cow Lady, who could grow larger than her mother could. The other was Soul Surfer and a few of his sidekicks.
"Hey! You guys are just in time to – Whoa!" Soul Surfer shouted as a villain rocketed out of a few of the buildings that had exploded. Apparently, a gang of villains had decided to rob a bank, a jewelry store, and a high fashion store. The last of which had a woman commanding the clothes to bind people around. Including Surfer's sidekicks.
He cursed before asking if they could handle the last villain. "Don't worry. We'll handle that!" Star said before squaring up with the woman. Cow Lady agreed while facing down with a bison heteromorph. One almost as big as she was.
As the two locked horns, Soul advised that Justice go after the other flying villain. "He took off before we got here. I'd be willing to bet you can find him though." The young hero nodded before flying straight up into the sky. Calming his mind and reaching out with his hearing.
Back on the ground, Star narrowed her eyes at the clothier villain. 'Okay, best guess she's got a quirk like that Best Jeanist guy from Japan. Which means she might be able to manipulate my costume if – yep. There it is,' Kate thought as she suddenly felt her cape and clothes bind around her. Going for her neck.
"You may be strong! But if I can keep you from speaking, I'm clear!" the villain announced. Star rolled her eyes at this and quickly said, "the gravity for 20 yards around increases 20-fold!" And just like that, her quirk caused a heavy gravity well over her and the few others. Causing the villain to bash her face into the concrete and loosen her control over the clothing.
She was about to help Cow Lady, but she chose to let the woman finish her fight herself. Aided by the fact, she took to shifting her form and becoming more minotaur like and wrestling the man to the ground. "That's two down. I wonder how those two are handling things."
The second villain who jetted away from the scene was being pursued by Soul Surfer. The villain appeared to be a fire one who was using flame jets from her hands and feet to propel herself. But that wouldn't slow the Surfer down.
"Time to ride these waves!" Hestia announced while riding the air currents around the skyscrapers and from the sea on his board. The flame grit her teeth in annoyance before trying to pull a quick turn that would make the Bronze Boarder crash into a building.
But he showed his skill and dexterity by quickly turning and then using a flagpole from the building to rotate in the right direction. His board never leaving his feet thanks to the magnetic binding on both. "You've got some sick moves! But you can't outride me!"
"Then how about blasting you!" the villain shouted before using her flames to try and set Soul Surfer on fire. Only to be shocked as the powered through the fire and right into her stomach with his board. Which was much heavier than she expected and knocked the wind right out of her.
As the villain's flames sputtered out, Soul Surfer went down to his belly on his board. Riding it into a divebomb to catch the woman and what she had stolen. As well as using some hidden binding gear to keep her from attacking again. "Hope the kid's had some luck in finding that last dude."
John finally found the villain in question. A man who was surging towards the sea while talking about the jewels he stole. "Thinks he can hide that way. Not likely." Justice thinks aloud before flying as fast as he can to catch the criminal. While he was flying though, he happened to catch some of what the man said.
"Damn. We won't get these smuggled out in time for that job up north. Should have known better than to mess with the number one's town." Justice narrowed his eyes at this and chose to wait a minute before catching the villain.
Following him to a cove where he wasn't the only villain. Inside he could hear the likely boss berating him for the sloppy job. "You made sure you weren't followed? We need to get this cargo out tonight!" the boss said before smacking a cage. One that had multiple endangered animals within.
That was enough for Justice as he quickly burst into the building. Taking out not just two, but over a dozen villains in less than a minute. After doing that though, he got a better scent of the animals in question. He pulled out his phone to call Star. Telling her, "this got a bit more complicated than we were expecting."
Up in Canada, a large man in a suit was looking out over the city. Suddenly the door behind him burst open. "Hey Billy Bear! Got a message for you. From the USA," a woman with a variety of gadgets said. She had a goofy smile on her face and seemed to be tinkering with a gadget while walking.
The man turned and his bear like figure was better viewed. Towering over his friend. "Sam, I told you not to call me that while at the office." The one speaking was the top hero of Canada currently, The Guardian Beast: Ours Défenseur. And the one he was talking with was his old friend turned quirkless sidekick, Wild Child.
"Yeah, yeah. Here's the message and…. oops." She first handed Ours Défenseur a tablet before running out as the gadget in her hands short circuited. The man looked over the message and had a disgruntled look in his brown eyes. "So, some big trouble has come our way.
Hope you liked the hero I made Light. I didn't get to cover his specialty, but I thought it was a good showing for what an American hero could be. Aside from that, the bigger part of the next arc will happen next chapter. And X7, if you do read it, I hope I do your friend some Justice. Please review!