Justice Across Space and Time: Year 2
Chapter 27
Now for a little planning on the hero side. As well as seeing what the villains are really up to. Things aren't quite set up for the big final fight anyway. Especially given the leader of the Wild Villains. If you've checked out the tv tropes pages, you know what I'm talking about. So on with the show.
(No POV)
"The biggest issue I can think of now, *bang* is that we don't know exactly what *bang* the Wild Villains are after. *bang* We should probably assume that *bang* they've been grabbing people to maybe *bang* make more werebeasts. *bang* You know a conversation works better when *bang* two people talk right?"
bang* "Yeah sure, but I still want to figure out how you can make those ack! Little items and stuff *bang* from energy!" Izuku complained to John as they were sitting up on the roof. The latter had a small length of solar energy in his mouth before lightly spitting it up into the air as a kind of firework. And then formed a different energy stick with gamma radiation.
Izuku meanwhile had been trying to create something similar with his kinetic energy. But it ended up exploding in his face over and over again. To the point, his face looked half charred from all the detonations. His last one accidentally grew to the point that it blew his hair backwards and charred it. Making him look like the old cartoons after dynamite exploded in their faces. While the vestiges had a chuckle at his expense.
John gave him a raised eyebrow look before asking, "you done for now?" Izuku grumbled and stopped trying to make items out of energy. For the time being. "You should try making something so small. Especially after you've gotten used to making those masses of tentacles."
"They're blackwhips and tendrils!" Izuku defended while blushing. With Banjo calling out the same from within OFA. Mostly because Izuku could still remember all of Midnight's comments about said quirk/ability. And how she got quite aroused when he caught her prior. Not to mention the steamy comments she made about what he could do with Ochaco and Melissa.
Thinking about Ochaco though did bring him back to the matter at hand. "Do you think the turning of Ochaco was planned? Or was that for a different reason?" Izuku asked with a narrowed look over the city. John leaned back before saying, "maybe. It could be whoever turned her, would have done it to anyone. But they took some pleasure in doing it to her. Especially using Uwabami as the catalyst."
Izuku snarled at that and wished he could make whoever did it pay. But he stopped himself before going too far down that train of thought. "Is there a specific reason you believe that?" he questioned. "Well two reasons really. The first is that a weretiger is said to be nigh unstoppable in myth. But you wouldn't exactly want that as someone who could be your enemy or out of your control."
The old hero noted that the second reason was that it seemed odd that there were random people being grabbed off the street. "I don't know all of the conditions or ways to turn a person into a werebeast. But if what Sahiraah told me about earlier is true, these people might have access to a large number of items to turn anyone into a werebeast." John said before explaining about "Okurinushi".
"Thaaaat's an unsettling name. We're sure it's not related to…. You know who?" Izuku said as he felt a tremble from within OFA. John shook his head and noted it wasn't. "This guy or girl is apparently dealing in magical artifacts. Werewolf pelts, werecat creams, that kind of stuff. Hell, they could have even gotten in contact with a village of werehyenas and an Erchitu."
Izuku nodded before noting that a number of disgruntled or possibly hurt and vengeful heteromorphic types of people were among the attackers. "It wouldn't be hard really. With how extreme some of the changes are and how poorly some react to what it's done….." Izuku says while thinking of Shoji.
John sighed before saying, "considering what I sense is a result from the changes, its far more detrimental than most realize. And it's only going to get worse. But yeah, it wouldn't be hard to mix them in and confuse us." While also silently worrying about those who would intentionally change themselves to fit what they perceive themselves to be. Or were just out to gain power.
He shook his head before saying they needed to talk with the rest of the heroes now. "We should let them in on the possibility of more werebeasts rampaging." John said with some unease. Izuku nodded before noticing the surprised look on his friend's face. Looking in the direction the big teen was facing, Izuku had an idea on what was going on.
While the boys had been dealing with their issues, Melissa and Itsuka had reconvened with Majestic, the police, a few sidekicks, and a newly arrived pair. "Hey Jotaro! Great to see you man!" Marcus Aoi shouted with a wave of his hand.
Which was covered by a very bulky glove or gauntlet. Both hands were in fact and he was wearing a orange and grey jumpsuit that seemed to have a handful of tools in the belt. Behind him, was the somewhat shaky and sick looking (but still very tall) Hanabi. She was wearing an almost civilian looking attire, that being a sweater and slacks combination.
Though the not civilian thing about what she was wearing was the military looking vest she had on over her sweater. And aside from those, she had a pair of goggles around her neck. "I know Rumi-chan said you should get here fast. But that was too much." Hanabi says before trying to heave again.
"I take it Mirko has seen the news?" John asks with a raised eyebrow. Marcus nods before saying, "as much as she wanted to come herself, I'm not great at carrying more than one person at Mach speeds. And as fast as she is and other transit could be, there's no way she'd make it in great time."
Hanabi then mentioned that Mirko sent them to not only help but gain more experience. "That and I think she figured you guys could use all the help you can get," she says while swallowing some bile. Izuku and John shared a look before the former acknowledged that as being accurate. "We'll go over some of it in a minute. Majestic sir? I think we need to talk."
"Agreed. We'll meet at Uwabami's agency to coordinate. Among other things," the hero said with a slightly sad look. A quick police car ride later and they were back where all the chaos began for the teens. Izuku and Itsuka letting out tense breaths while passing the studio before stepping up at the conference room.
While this had been going on, the Wild Villains were discussing matters themselves. "So, we managed to capture quite a few people. You still want to go through with all these whatever Bagwis wants to do? Oh, and miss uh?" the villain who called himself Napper said. Alongside his son Napper Kid (I know it's lame, but that's kind of what I'm going for).
The werehyena leader introduced herself as Muna. "I'll turn a few of them to increase my clan's size. But we'll need to use other items for the rest," she said while holding up her staff. Bagwis meanwhile was picking something out of his teeth with his claws before sitting up and going along with the woman. Grabbing a handful of stones and scales to initiate the changes.
Kemono Master and Ellie meanwhile were each wondering why they stopped with the attacks. Though KM was more vocal about it. "We can't exactly give these jerks what they deserve if we're just waiting or hiding," he says with a snarl.
"Patience. We shouldn't rush the matter too much." Curator says while adjusting his mask slightly. Wincing as he felt it restraining him and his quirk. "As much as all of us would love to rip and tear into the bloated jugular of the current Japan, we should do it when we have more forces."
"Then why did we not gather more of those like me?" Ellie quietly asked with some anger. Remembering how it felt in her past. Run out because of her wings and what they could do from a rural town. And when she tried to get help in the city, it instead turned her into a short-term charity or sympathy case. One that was quickly pushed aside for another more extreme incident.
Only KM had really helped her, even before he got his powers. He never tried to make any advances, he never tried to force her into something or anything like that. He was just there for her when she needed it. And when he was awakened as a true meta, she helped him through the changes and figured out what he could do.
KM was much the same. He initially rolled his eyes when he saw the talking up of Ellie and her situation on the news. But just a few weeks later, she was basically out on the street. Abandoned by those who acted like they would help her. Much as he felt he had been by the rest of the country because he was quirkless.
Now the two were looking to let more of the twisted country of quirk loving idiots have it. But they couldn't do it alone, so here they were. "There isn't enough frustration, and we aren't a big enough symbol to really try that. We need to make a splash now." Curator explained before going to a box in the room.
And from within, he pulled out a few more items that a certain trader of tools had given him. Though these were a few he purchased after his initial "sample" had gifted the masked villain some impressive allies. "Here we go. Bearhead old friend. I think this might be useful for you," he said while pulling a monocle out of the chest.
"Uh does it look like this thing will fit my face?" Bearhead says while gingerly holding the item. Only for it to shift sizes to accommodate his bear like nose and larger eyes. He puts it on and is then startled when he sees something coming at him. Ducking down in an instant. Just in time to notice that said item was whizzing over his head.
Curator chuckles before saying, "I don't know all the details but that little item has precognitive potential. And you're going to need it, because they've got at least two who can move a lot faster than you can." Bearhead nods while scratching his head.
"Got any other tricks in there?" KM asked with a raised eyebrow. Curator shrugged before looking inside again. Eventually finding a crown or tiara item that he tossed into the air. And it landed on Ellie's head. "Really?" she said with an annoyed look. Only for that annoyance to give her the ability to lift a few small items around her. And that included her explosive scales from her wings.
The masked villain gave a 'huh' before commenting, "so that's what that one does. I couldn't figure it out when I first played around with it. Does it only respond to emotions?" Ellie thought about the matter herself before the scales dropped. Only causing small explosions, but still making a ruckus. She tried a few different emotions, reactions, and just thinking hard. But in the end annoyance ended up being the way she could use the telekinetic tiara.
Kemono Master raised an eyebrow before saying, "you really have no idea what's all in that box, do you?" Curator cleared his throat before looking to the side. Zookeeper though was willing to chime in. "Master Curator was overly excited after the first two items brought Lady Muna, her clan, and the burning bull man. So he purchased a random box that the man we got the first few items had. It was just lucky that there were a few items that turned people into werebeasts."
"I thought I had removed most of her ability to talk back." Curator grumbles before finding some gloves that had a strange aura. The Erchitu though seemed intrigued by the items and asked for them. "This could be a big help when I fight that boy again," he said with a smile on his bovine face.
The green young man shook his head before going outside. Ellie followed him while still testing out the tiara. "What's wrong Gar?" she asked while making a soda can float. KM let out a breath before saying, "don't call me that El. I pushed that away for a reason." He took the can Ellie was offering while looking out over the city from the ruins they were staying in.
He thought for a few minutes before admitting that he had been hoping to work with someone a bit more put together. "Dude is clearly a few cards short of a full deck. And I don't like whatever he did to Zookeeper. I was just….. I wanted to make some of those bastards who tossed you aside pay. But it's pretty clear they aren't that worried about that."
Ellie nodded and said, "it does seem like he's just after a "mook" army or just making random citizens suffer." The pair were mad and wanted to destroy a certain company. Or at least hurt them for trying to drum up shallow support for their cause. But they weren't certain that getting too many civilians wrapped up in it was worth it. "Then again, most of them have ignored us and our plights in the past. Maybe this is just what we need."
Garfield let out a strained chuckle before somewhat agreeing. 'I just hope we really understand what we're getting into with all these crazy magic folks,' he thinks while considering Muna and Bagwis.
Speaking of whom, the two of them were currently casting various spells to turn a few of the captives into werebeasts. Including wereowls, and werevultures (to be controlled by Ellie in the sky), a few new werehyenas for Muna's clan, werefoxes, weredogs, werecats, a weregorilla and a few weretigers. Many of whom also had brainwashing spells used upon them to make them more pliable and usable as fodder.
"You know I'm really surprised that you're willing to go along with all of this. Especially given who is leading this….. "merry band". I'd have thought you'd prefer taking control of it all from him." Bagwis said while channeling magic through a handful of pelts, stones and other items to turn the civilians.
Muna gave the weretiger a side eyed glare before focusing on her spell work again. "He does have us in a troublesome position if you remember. You may be from the islands to the south, but if I want to return my clan to our home I have to work with the fool," she says as some of the humans snarl and groan as they are transformed.
Bagwis shrugs while silently hoping that Ochaco had changed and started her rampage already. 'The second she truly eats human flesh will be the key. Once that is done, she'll be much as I am. A near permanent weretiger. And I'll take control of her mind.' Bagwis thinks with a twisted grin on his face.
Speaking of whom, she was currently running through the bamboo grove. Snarling, growling, and crying as she crashes through the bamboo. She eventually trips and crashes next to a pond within the grove. And it's then that she can really see what she looks like. Her tears falling harder as she starts to realize what happened to her.
'No. NO! What am I!? What do I….. NOOOO!' Ochaco thinks and tries to vocalize. But all she can get out a guttural snarls and growls. Before roaring in pain at the sky. With all that done, her human side regresses into her mind out of fear and panic. And now all that there in the grove, is the beast that used to be Ochaco. For now.
It's these roars that Justice heard as they were discussing matters at Uwabami's agency. He narrows his eyes as the officers and Majestic talk about where the villains could possibly be. As well as the captive civilians. "We need to take both at the same time in order to help everyone." Majestic says while tapping a map up on a board.
"Well, I'd be willing to bet they've set up in the construction areas in the city." Itsuka says with a scratch of her chin. Noting that it would be the best place to hide, especially with John around. "With his super hearing, if they happen to be hiding in an active construction site, he couldn't hear them. And with all kinds of bodies moving through, he wouldn't be able to smell them either."
"I agree. Not to mention if they've got someone intelligent enough to make devices to capture a large number of people, then they may also have ways to piggyback off of generators and hide their signature that way." Melissa says while projecting her own map and analysis of the city. Overlaying the sections she could discern over the map on the board.
Izuku looked at the map and said, "should we consider the possibility that they have multiple bases?" Majestic somewhat agrees but noted that it would hard to keep all of the captives in line if they weren't all nearby.
Justice hums and says, "given that they had a whole clan of werehyenas, that would be sensible. At the very least, the matriarch of that clan would be close." Melissa takes all of that into account before adjusting her overlay to show any possible sites that were connected in some way. Tunnels, basements, even bridges between two under construction buildings.
That narrowed the potential hiding places down to three or four. John spoke up next and mentioned that he could try and feel for magic signatures in the areas. "That should be enough to find the targets. But there is one other thing. We need someone to find Ochaco."
The green teen turned to his friend with a look that asked, "are you sure?" and John nodded. "We don't know everything about how she was turned. And more importantly, we don't know if they'll try to capture her and use her against us. I was able to pick up on her roars a little bit ago. So, I know where she is." He notes the forest and grove just outside the city and acknowledges it would be a dangerous place to go with a beast like her on the prowl.
"Okay. Well, I'll grab her and we can find a way to change her back." Izuku says before trying to stand. Only to be stopped by a rough hand on his shoulder. "Hold it. I never said you'd be going. And frankly, I'm not going either." The heroes and police look around in confusion and a touch of worry. Namely because the latter are not looking forward to facing off with a weretiger that had nothing to do with quirks.
The few sidekicks from Uwabami's agency were of a similar thought but waited to hear what he had in mind. "The fact is, we're going to need most of the heroes and police here to deal with the Wild Villains. I have to fight the Erchitu. Izuku, you should finish your fight with Bearhead. Melissa, we'll probably need for freeing everyone. Let alone dealing with the ones who caught everyone."
He noted that Majestic might be able to handle the werehyena matriarch. "Just uh, don't underestimate her or her clan. Hanabi and Markus though, we might need you to deal with that other dangerous duo. The winged lady and that shapeshifter. And then the rest of us, might be needed for the boss and the weretiger mage."
Everyone started doing a count of who was all in attendance with the who would be facing what. Only for all of them to look to one person for who would be going after Ochaco. Said person started sweating bullets as eyes were drawn to her. Itsuka gulped and said, "uh….. what?"
Yeah so that's where I'm going with this stage of the arc. Honestly, I could maybe chop it in half and add more to the villain and hero meeting sides. But I'd like to know what you readers think. That and I'm hoping the little joke at the end stuck something of a landing. Because yeah. That's going to be the start of the next chapter. Itsuka fighting a weretiger Ochaco. Who is more animal than man at this point. Please review with thoughts!