Discord: https://discord.gg/t7bHrdRY7Y
pat.reon: Keanu_Eugene (Unlimited chapters ahead)
CHAPTER START---
---7 PM...
"Dude you're crazy if you really thought you'd win this, with that weird play of all things, ha, as if," Sero gloats to Monoma.
Both boys were sitting opposite each other in the 1A common room after the UA Culture Festival, surrounded by their classmates with Sero having one arm around Yui who was mostly asleep beside him.
Monoma waves the sheet of paper they were discussing around, "the only thing this proves is that the student body doesn't know true entertainment."
"Doesn't matter, we won the votes," Sero says flatly.
"Because they couldn't comprehend the transcendent art in our play, while your class made a catch song and some silly dan---ACH!" Monoma bites his tongue as Kendo smack him on the head.
"They worked their butts off for that concert," she says, noticing all the 1A students glaring at him. "It was great, and better than our play...kind of cheating since they've got Jiro thought."
"Oh yeah," Sero says. "She's totally our musical secret weapon."
A few more people pass Jiro compliments, causing her to blush where she was sitting at one of the tables beside Momo.
But then both girls gets up, Jiro goes to make some snacks and Momo makes a deck of cards, walking over to Deku's group.
"I never said it was bad," Monoma clarifies. "Just that our art was harder to understand...for this uncultured student body."
"Maybe you lost them at the name," Mina says. "I mean honestly, 'Romeo, Juliet, the lion, the witch, and the prisoner of Azkaban, battle of the two towers'...that's a lot."
"As I said, uncultured."
"Well at least you did one thing right, Yui was the princess," Sero gives her a small kiss on the cheek causing her to lean into him.
"Ugh," Monoma groans.
"I think its cute," Mina says. "Who would have guessed that Horizon's best friend would be such a good boyfriend."
"Yeah," Sero says as they continue chatting about the UA Culture Festival.
But during that he glances around the room, noticing everyone doing their usual chatter.
But he shares a look with Shinso, then with Juzo, then they all look toward Melissa.
She was sitting opposite Deku who was on the floor opposite her.
They were talking in their usual group, Deku, Melissa, Tsu, Uraraka, and Shoto, but Melissa looked awfully busy on her phone tonight.
Earlier she'd said she was exhausted from today, showing off all her Support Equipment to the public.
Even if she apparently wouldn't be at UA much longer, she still got into the UA spirit for the festival.
But Team Horizon is keeping an eye on her because they've been tasked with that.
Horizon wanted them to make sure she was at this little social gathering, to see if they spot anything weird with her.
But aside from her not talking much, there wasn't anything abnormal.
Although the amount of effort it took for them to get her here was suspicious, they even had to get Midoriya convinced that she should be there tonight.
All without knowing anything specific.
Just a simple message of 'Make sure Melissa is at our dorm tonight, to make friends' was enough, at least since that's what Horizon sent them.
Because its from Horizon, and the last thing he cares about was his classmates having a healthy social life.
Especially when concerning a girl he doesn't exactly get along with.
A few minutes later Sero is in a game of Jenga with Kendo, Monoma, and Yanagi...who was probably cheating with her Telekinesis Quirk.
Even if they couldn't prove it, but she was just 'so good she had to be cheating', according to Sero.
Team Horizon notices Momo join in Deku's small group on the carpet as they begin shuffling cards, and Melissa just backs away so she's out of the circle, still close enough to listen to the conversation.
'Nothing too suspicious so far, she just seems a bit tired from today, but everyone is, so that's normal...' they all think after sharing a few glances.
A few minutes later and Horizon finally arrives back at the dorms, still wearing his Hero Costume.
Sword nowhere to be seen but a small and simple bouquet of flowers in his hand.
Sero immediately leaps at the chance, "ooohhh, flowers huh, did you flip a coin to see who gets them or will they share that too?"
A few small fits of laughter burst forth around the room, then he sees both Momo and Jiro glaring daggers at him.
"Uh, sorry."
"Is that really something you should be concerned about?" Horizon walks up to the couches and folds his arms, looking down at Sero. "Nezu told me you almost got into a fight, and Shinso stopped you."
The entire room falls silent, most of them didn't even know about this incident.
"Its nothing to worry about, didn't even get to throw a punch."
"Mhm, he told me his version, and that you've got cleaning duty as punishment, and can't leave UA for Hero Work until next week," Horizon says. "So...what's so important that you had to get into a fight and fuck up our team schedule, Cellophane?"
"Uhh," Sero looks genuinely scared for a moment. "It was just some nobody Pro Hero, a D-Lister if I've ever seen one."
Most of the room looks horrified that their classmate would try to fight a Pro Hero, but Horizon just stands there with his arms crossed.
"Look the guy was asking for it, alright," Sero says. "I mean all he was doing is constantly talking crap about UA, about how it was failing us and putting us in danger."
"And you got mad because of that?" Horizon asks. "For school spirit, are you that stupid?"
"Obviously not," Sero says. "He just...I lost my cool when he started talking crap about us. Saying stuff like the government is lying about you, that you didn't really do all the things the news says. That our whole team is just a bunch of fake news the government and UA are pushing onto people. I just couldn't take listening to him anymore."
Sero sighs and sinks into the couch, and Horizon just shakes his head.
"Sorry," Sero says.
"Its fine, that's acceptable, once it wasn't just you fighting for some school spirit nonsense at least. What we do is a bit hard for losers to believe, and you didn't use your Quirk so he can't ask for you to lose your license, and he won't know you're Cellophane."
"I wouldn't have used my Quirk for him," Sero says. "Wouldn't need it."
Horizon actually laughs at that, "that's what I like to hear. And Shinso, good work stopping this moron from getting into any more trouble. Honestly you beating up a Pro Hero wouldn't be the end of the world since you're on my team, and I've got Japan in the palm of my hand right now, and if they fuck with me I'd have it bent over biting the pillow, but lets not push it, ok?"
"Understood," Sero nods bashfully. "And gross example."
"Whatever, enjoy cleaning duty," Horizon says as he lifts the bouquet, "now if you don't mind, I need to give these to my girlfriend..."
The entire room remains silent, but some eyes go wide, others were clearly horrified at the idea of any girl being with Horizon.
Then he begins walking over to where the game of cards was happening on the floor.
Momo's eyes instantly become glossy, almost tearing up, hand covering her mouth.
Tsu looks at her and shakes her head, feeling sorry for her friend.
Mina is almost jumping in excitement.
Jiro across the room in the kitchen is frozen in shock, not even able to process this.
So many colliding thoughts in all their heads, and they all then go out the window once more as he walks right past Momo.
And stands in front of Melissa Shield, who was ignoring all of this and watching a video on her phone.
She looks up at him, concerned and bewildered.
Horizon sighs, "of course you'd forget, you're always so caught up in making stuff...c'mon babe this is our 1 month anniversary."
Melissa instantly snaps to her senses and blinks a couple times, "oh right, sorry. I've just been busy with the festival, and now I'm already a bit tired so...you know."
"It's fine, I know the kind of person my girlfriend is..."
Tsu gives Momo a comforting pat on the shoulder, and in the kitchen Jiro is still frozen in shock.
Horizon simple hands Melissa the bouquet and steps off to the side so they were beside each other, with the girl still sitting on the carpet.
"Uh, um, so," Deku stumbles over his words for a bit. "When did, I mean, how long have you two been together?"
"Yeah," Uraraka says shyly. "When did this happen?"
"Well, about a month ago," Melissa says, "it was a bit of a surprise but before I knew it we got together."
She gives them a bashful smile.
"Actually, no, we didn't..."
In one swift motion Horizon raises his hands and warps Scalpel into it, unsheathed, then brings it down directly onto Melissa.
Many of the young heroes including Deku spring into action ready to tackle him away from her, aside from Team Horizon who simply sit and watch.
But Deku and everyone else stop at the sound of metal piercing metal, the few sparks emanating from her shoulder.
And the wisps of smoke being released from her body as she goes limp, eyes becoming black as they power down.
She was sitting with her legs crossed, so Scalpel had pierced through her left shoulder, into her left forearm, into her left thigh and through that into her right ankle since her legs were folded.
And at each entry point some sparks were seen.
They all look on in horror as Horizon just sighs and lets go of the sword.
"Damn, I was hoping for a shapeshifter, can't really question a robot..."
END CHAPTER---
Discord: https://discord.gg/t7bHrdRY7Y
pat.reon: Keanu_Eugene (Unlimited chapters ahead)
CHAPTER START---
"What happened to Melissa?" Deku yells out as everyone else is frozen in shock.
Sero just shakes Yui awake as he sits back awaiting an explanation, while Juzo and Shinso make their way over to the commotion.
"She's a robot, obviously," Horizon says as he casually pulls Scalpel to the side, tearing off the robots arm with it.
They all look at the robot in surprise, then to him for an explanation.
But instead he just takes a knee beside the robot and inspects it.
'They used some kind of strange almost living organic membrane,' he thinks while touching the skin, using Scan on the robot. 'They couldn't have know that I can't Scan within people from range...they got lucky with this part of the disguise.'
"Should we be looking out for other imposters?" Juzo asks.
"My Quirk would be a easy way to tell," Shinso says. "If it doesn't work then the person is a robot."
"Maybe this was just her testing out some new project!" Kirishima suggests, hopeful that this wasn't a sign of something bad.
"This is the only one," Horizon says as he gets back up. "Making any more would raise the chances of being found out, this one tried to act exhausted from the festival to avoid human interaction, luckily I expected that when sending Sero to drag her over here."
Hearing this Sero gets up, leaving the confused Yui on the couch and walks over, "makes sense, but uh, what the hell?"
"Keep this quiet," Horizon looks around at everyone, seeing them nod and wait for his explanation. "Don't need the public finding out UA got breached..."
"Is Melissa alright?" Deku asks, voicing what everyone was thinking.
"She's fine, if they hurt her then its less likely David will play along with their demands. She got kidnapped during the festival, toward the end of it."
Some of them look horrified at the thought of that, and the fact that somehow nobody noticed.
"Hound Dog is already tracking the scent, I sent him to do that before I even came over here to deal with the imposter...honestly was hoping it was a shapeshifter so I could interrogate her...but this sucks."
"You intended to do that to a person?" Momo asks, giving the dismembered robot a worried look.
"Well, the stab yeah, would have left the arm on though," Horizon sighs. "Anyway, stay on alert until I get her back."
"But why the weird anniversary lie?" Sero asks.
"Such a ballsy move means the shapeshifter probably studied her somehow, or was able to take some of her memories, surface thoughts or otherwise. Throwing a curveball like that would confuse her, but since it didn't and she just went along with the lie---"
"She overplayed her part," Jiro says. "Which is why you were confident that the real Melissa wasn't here."
"Essentially yes, now I just need to wait for Hound Dog to track them down. In the meantime, stay on alert and don't leave the dorms. All the teachers are on alert but we doubt there will be anything else at UA.
The entire point of this was doing it quietly because they weren't confident in winning a direct fight, we'll be fine."
"I see, and is there anything you'd like us to do?"
Horizon looks around at all their worried faces, then at the robot at his feet. "Just stay safe, and don't let anyone know about this. But Shinso, use your Quirk on people just to double check."
"Got it," Shinso says.
SHAMBLES!
Horizon appears in Nezu's office, and the robot he was gently touching with his feet is warped with him.
Nezu and Eraser Head were already there, and Eraser Head immediately jumps to his feet ready to fight, his mind sent into overdrive since Horizon's call earlier.
"What's that?" Eraser Head asks as Horizon puts the robot on the coffee table.
"Robot copy, we weren't lucky enough to get a shapeshifter to interrogate."
"On the contrary, this could be even better," Nezu says. "Did you check if it had a bomb?"
"I'm a doctor, not a mechanic, that's why I brought it here."
Nezu immediately hops out of his seat and fishes around in his desk for a tablet device.
Rushing over as fast as his little legs can take him he begins scanning the robot, not at all phased by how lifelike it appears.
Eraser Head and Horizon just take a seat and patiently wait.
"So, how's David?" Horizon asks.
"Asleep," Eraser says.
"Seriously?"
"He's not exactly the mentally toughest person so we left him sleeping," Eraser says. "The instant they make a call requesting whatever ransom they want, he'll fold."
"Yeah but since its his daughter that's his choice to make," Horizon says. "We just have to solve this before that call happens."
"They won't do that until they're out of Japan," Nezu says as he's still scanning the robot. "They know remaining in Japan is a terrible idea with her in their clutches."
"Especially since you can track any call they make," Horizon says.
"Speaking of call," Nezu says. "Melissa's phone is in her room, and her student ID is still on this robot, but there is no bomb."
"Hound Dog would have noticed the scent of any explosives," Eraser says. "Putting a bomb in it would be risky."
"Leaving it in my possession is also risky," Nezu says as he connects a cable between the tablet and the robot.
"The sooner you can find them the sooner I can---" Horizon cuts himself off, remembering Eraser is present. "Have them arrested so the police can get some answers out of them."
Eraser rolls his eyes, "no need to lie for my sake, I know you can be a bit heavy handed when it comes to villains. After all, I've seen how you interact with your classmates, I'd hate to be a villain fighting you."
"Is that why you never let me fight Deku during Hero Training?" Horizon asks playfully. "It could be fun, and if he wants to be the #1 Pro Hero, what better practice is there?"
"Well considering the relationship you two have...that's never going to happen."
"W---"
"No, you being able to heal him doesn't put my mind at ease, " Eraser cuts him off. "In fact, it makes me even more concerned that you'll go overboard because of that."
"Tch, whatever."
"If you two are done," Nezu says. "I've learned some things from this robot."
"Mhm, well don't keep us waiting."
"Well, actually I couldn't learn much," Nezu admits.
"Seriously?"
"This is sophisticated machine, but it didn't have any wireless communication signals being sent or received from it. They expected us to eventually find it of course so this was meant to be disposable and leave no trail."
"How was it able to copy her so well?" Eraser Head asks.
"Somehow it hacked into UA and used camera footage and audio recordings, not to mention when it got ahold of her phone. It was then able to put it all together with the many videos of her receiving awards or being interviewed over the years."
"Plus it acted all tired to excuse any odd behavior," Horizon says. "But her phone and UA are run on your system, how he hell did they get into it?"
Nezu disconnects the tablet from the robot and goes back to his desk, connecting it to the computer there, "I'm not sure yet but I believe the villain has some kind of organic virtual interface Quirk."
"A technopath," Aizawa says. "Those are rare, super rare, and they all work for various governments."
"This wasn't a attack by another government," Horizon says. "Between my own value and reputation, plus my connection to America's president, nobody would be dumb enough to do that. Making your nation an enemy of me is putting a target on your back for other nations to pressure in order to win my favor."
"So its an independent body, that's better at least," Eraser says.
"And with this I can counter him," Nezu says. "Luckily he only cared for the things regarding Melissa, but the code in this robot and the relevant signals they used earlier have a brain wave pattern. I can make a program to detect and actively counter it, so event his technopath won't be able to break into my systems again."
"How is that even possible?" Horizon asks.
"Because human imagination to solve virtual coding problems such as this is limited by the methods available, but I am beyond human intelligence," Nezu does an adorable supervillain laugh which just has Horizon shaking his head.
As they're waiting Horizon gets a message from Hound Dog.
"The scent got much stronger heading to the southeast, he's almost at Kyushu," he says. "Which only leaves one of Japan's islands as the potential escape route."
"Well we already have airports on high alert," Eraser says. "Even if it was meant to be a quiet alert, apparently this guy controls technology to some extent right? That means they know, so they can't use the airports."
"True, which means they'll need a boat, and if their main goal is just to get out of Japan, its a safe bet they'll head to South Korea since that place is super close."
"Yes but they can't use legal means since we've got those on alert too."
"Yeah well, from the direction Hound Dog gave me, I've got a pretty solid idea of the ports they'll use."
"Really, how?" Eraser asks.
"When I was researching for that black market operation I did, I compiled a list of ports with the most black market naval smuggling to South Korea," he lied.
"I see, well you should get your hoverboard and fly ahead of Hound Dog, good luck."
"Yeah, and if they call here, just buy me some time. Even if they enter South Korea, I doubt the politicians over there will mind me paying a visit to get them back."
With that Horizon warps away, on the hunt for his targets...
END CHAPTER---
You may also Like
Paragraph comment
Paragraph comment feature is now on the Web! Move mouse over any paragraph and click the icon to add your comment.
Also, you can always turn it off/on in Settings.
GOT IT