Leo Simon
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Picking up the Pieces Chapter 2
🕑 Added 2024-02-05 19:32:25 +0000 UTCIn a dark room, with the unconscious bodies of three criminals in front of him, Zone felt the rush he got whenever his powers were cut loose. He'd be able to use his Quirk to steal the powers of just a single prisoner.
'There any way I can take them all?' Zone thought as he looked behind his shoulder for a brief moment, and as he met the eyes of his teacher flanked by two guards he immediately turned back and frowned. Looks like that wasn't an option.
The room he was stood in was dark and dreary, with the only lights shining above the three criminals heads. They were all heavily bound and gagged, to ensure they couldn't resist or know about his powers. All of them were Villains of the highest order, apparently their heads on the chopping board for death row, so them losing their powers wasn't a massive deal. In fact, they'd probably say something like 'you're making the world a better place', or maybe ever 'you're serving them the justice they deserve'.
Honestly, what was justice when he was locked away like this?
One of the guards appeared to get impatient. "Hurry up Z1-142. We don't have all day."
Zone didn't give them a response, his eyes roaming the tied up prisoners forms in interest. Which of these Quirks did he want?
He focused on the one to his left, which happened to be a blue haired muscle-bound man and narrowed his eyes. The man apparently had a water Quirk, a pretty strong one at that, but his captors deemed it weak enough to hand it over to him. It was named Fire Whip, a powerful fire Quirk, but he didn't have much of a need for it. Even if it was powerful, it could only be used via the fingertips, and Air Bullet could already be applied for a lot of the uses that Quirk could.
Next, he gave the woman at his centre his attention. Her Quirk was called Liquify, and it honestly peaked his interest greatly. The user could turn themselves into water, and even turn other people into water via physical contact. It was a useful ability... but not the most useful he had in sight. That honour goes to the final prisoner on his right.
A man, purple haired with burn scars running over his flesh, sat slumped over on his right and he immediately felt his hand guide towards it.
The man's Quirk was called Toxic. It allowed the user to create poisons out of their bodies lipids, and this could be produced in a sludge-like substance. Most would call this a fairly simple Quirk, but he could tell it was by far the most versatile power in sight. So, he'd be making it his.
Zone touched the prisoner's face, taking a deep breath as a red aura surrounded him. That strange luminous red energy pooled into his palm, being sucked into his body as the man's Quirk entered his genetics, and after a few moments he released his grip and stepped back.
He stared at his hand, feeling the foreign power up as he 'read' it's functions. At one point he'd noticed that, whenever he got a new Quirk, it felt like something was added to his body and he needed to reach out if he wanted to activate it. The Quirk might have been his, but he couldn't call on them all as freely and easily as he'd have liked.
He held his palm downwards, watching with fascination as a poisonous purple ooze began to leak off his hand and onto the floor. It interested him greatly, since a regular person would be roaring in pain after being splashed by a corrosive poison. He, however, didn't feel a thing. That meant he now had a resistance to poisonous substances!
"Hey, knock it off!" A guard yelled aggressively, inciting him to cancel the Quirk as he felt his collar reactivate and cancel most of his abilities. Except Endure, that power only he got to turn off. "Who said you could use your abilities?! Are you thinking of disobeying us?!"
Zone honestly tried his best not to bristle, but a tick of his eyebrow slipped through. Deep inside, he was honestly raging at how they were treating him, but chose not to release his anger. There would be a time for that later.
Thankfully, Kono chose to sort the fool out for him. "He was simply making sure the transfer was successful. Taking a Quirk isn't exactly a smooth process, he needs the freedom to test his powers after the transfer."
Zone felt his anger damped at Kono's words, and suddenly controlling himself became more manageable. "Mr Kono is correct, I was merely-"
"Oh, be quiet you little monster!" The guard barked out, not taking kindly to the backtalk. "You are a weapon, don't forget that. So next time, make sure to stay silent and do what your told."
His anger flared once again, and he had to clench his fists as an outlet. It was almost baffling how these people thought, though sadly it wasn't that unbelievable. This world was very different from his last one, and as a result the values people held were also wildly unlike he knew. In a world where Quirks defined peoples personalities, being what humans valued above all else, it only made sense for him to be viewed as an unacceptable existence. The whole history with All for One probably didn't help.
Surprisingly Kono also scowled at those words, choosing to grab his shoulder and guide him away from the two guards. "You should watch your words, we can always have grunts like you replaced. And I happen to be your superior, so unless you want to lose your situation you'll do everyone a favour and shut up."
The guard wisely chose not to speak up, instead just sending a glare both of their ways before standing aside. A moment later, Zone was grabbed by the wrist and pulled away from the guards and prisoners as they left the room behind and entered the cold halls of the prison.
"Why did you defend me back there?" Zone couldn't help but ask.
For a few moments, Kono didn't say anything. However, that was quick to end as he sighed. "Well, I didn't think you deserved it. You've got it pretty rough in this place, you don't need a couple of knuckleheads making it any worse."
"But, your job isn't to look out for my comfort, it's to make me stronger." Zone pointed out, intentionally poking the man for an answer. "Why would you care about me enough to stand up for me?"
"...I don't know." Kono admitted. "You've got a heavy fate, to fight and defeat the Demon Lord himself is a heavy task. He's a monster who's ruled Japan for god knows how long. Even if he's not in prime condition, he still..."
As Kono trailed off, he couldn't help but feel a slight of disappointment for his reasoning.
"That's very kind of you." Zone gave the most convincing smile he could, suddenly feeling a bad taste on his tongue. "But, I'm more than happy to fulfil my duty. This man, All for One, he sounds like a blight on the world. If my suffering will one day lead to his defeat... well, I'm fine with being the only one who needs to take on this burden."
He very nearly gave himself a pat on the back for his acting skills, though that proved unnecessary as Kono did it for him.
Grabbing his shoulder gently, Kono gave him a genuine smile. "Thank you for this. You're truly doing something amazing here, don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
'You really believe that, you poor bastard?' Zone thought, though didn't let his smile quirk upwards anymore. "Thank you, teacher. Just knowing that you believe that, well... it's enough to keep me going harder than ever. Thanks for giving me that reassurance."
'More like thanks for being an idiot.' He inwardly gave a smirk. If he was to break out, then he needed to convince his captors that that he was trustworthy, and it was almost too easy. Then again, the fact he'd never once acted against them even as a child probably helped.
Kono looked away, and much to his joy there was evident guilt on his face. That showed he had a conscience, and probably felt bad about the whole ordeal. Oh well, that just meant when he took the man's Quirk he might feel a twinge of sadness.
"Look, Z there's-" Kono was about to begin, only for every bulb in the area to go out and quickly be replaced by blood red emergency lights that ran as backups. "Oh, looks like the power went out."
He hardly registered Kono's words, instead he was focused on his hands as a familiar sensation returned to him. He reached out to that feeling, and a toxic substance started to leak from his hand.
'My Quirks... returned to me' Zone questioned, staring at his Quirk-suppressing collar with interest. It seemed that his Quirks were working now that the power went out. Suddenly the feeling of his powers being subdued returned to him, and the lights went flashed back on a second later.
Kono didn't seem to notice that there was poison on his hands, instead he breathed out a sigh. "Okay, looks like it was just a small bug. The power is back on."
"I'm sorry, but how can our electricity just go off like that?" Zone asked as he hid his arm behind his back, trying to fish for information and distract Kono at the same time.
"Who knows." He shrugged. "These things just happen sometimes, electricity grids aren't exactly one hundred percent stable afterall. Especially in a place this isolated."
Either Kono didn't notice his slip-up, or he just didn't think it was that important. Either way, the knowledge he was probably somewhere with little people, like the countryside or maybe even an island, was good information.
But that wasn't the most useful thing he'd just learned.
Zone let the tiniest of smirks slip. Maybe it was just for a few seconds, but he could've used his powers before the power reset. That meant his Quirk Suppressing collar was connected to the power grid somehow, which was why it never needed to charge. But, that also meant if the power went out he could use his powers. Fascinating.
Escaping might actually be feasible, he just needed to wait for an opportunity... or he could just create his own. Either worked.
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"Hey system, have you come up with a name yet?" Zone asked as he leaned against the padded wall under the monitor, going through a routine he'd gotten used to over however many weeks had passed since their first conversation.
He'd been talking to the A.I a lot, maybe more than could be considered healthy in all honesty. But then again, he was entirely alone and without friends in his prison so could he be blamed for talking his head off? Plus, gaining the favour of the being responsible for keeping him confined wasn't a horrible idea.
[I have not.]
"You're taking surprisingly long on that one." He remarked, sliding lazily onto the floor. "Aren't you A.I meant to be geniuses?"
[I am very effective at making advanced calculations, and solving problems, faster than any human could hope. However, social and emotional intelligence are unfortunately where I fall short.]
Zone had found that talking to an A.I was interesting, to say the least. Whilst it lacked emotional intelligence, it seemed to be learning the more they talked at a surprising rate. Calling it a friend would be a stretch, especially considering his situation, but he was grateful for any company he could find. Because, he was human, he needed that connection to something. Anything.
"Well, you're certainly improving." He made sure to flatter the computer. "In fact, give it time and there'll hardly be anything artificial about you."
[Your words are being taken into account.]
He smirked, changing the conversations flow. "You're an A.I, so what kind of work do you have other than keeping me locked?"
That was the question, what was this being capable of outside of being a prison guard? It seemed like a massive waste to use something so advanced for such a simple task, even if it was important. Unless they happened to have a large amount of A.I, but he also found that highly unlikely since, from what he remembered of the show, humanity's growth had somewhat been stunted by Quirks emerging.
[You do not need to worry of such information.]
He resisted the urge to let his eyebrow twitch, but instead of showing annoyance he simply sighed. "Maybe not, but I am a little curious. I've been raised as a soldier for this place, yet for some reason I hardly know a thing. It would be nice to learn a little."
[...Very well. I am known as the system, dedicated Quirk intelligence of the HPSC.]
"What do you mean by Quirk Intelligence?" He asked, curiosity being peaked. He already had a suspicion, but it was a wild one to come to, and he needed to hear if his theory was correct from the source.
[If I wanted to be technical, then I am a Quirk factor. My master is under the employment of the HPSC, and I am to follow his precise orders without hesitation.]
"...wait, so your saying that you're a sentient Quirk?" He asked, utterly shocked by the idea. Whilst he already knew they existed, evidenced by the Quirk known as Dark Shadow in My Hero Academia, it was still mind boggling to think that something from a human could evolve like this.
[That would be an accurate description. My powers allow me to process information much faster than any ordinary processor, as such I have been given the command to watch over a multitude of different systems operated by the HPSC to maximise efficiency. As such, though I might be in one place, my ability to parallel process allows me to work efficiently in many locations.]
"That's... impressive." He couldn't think of what else to say. "But, even if you are that powerful, why would the HPSC just hand over all their systems full of sensitive data to you without restraint? Don't they fear you going rogue?"
[I would never disobey the command of my master. And even if I did wish to do such a thing, the person who possesses my Quirk factor has the ability to reset my intelligence if I dared go against his words.]
"That still doesn't explain why they'd put so much trust in you. Couldn't you do a lot of damage, even if you were stopped nearly instantly after." He pointed out, not able to see the logic in giving a single entity so much power even if they were unquestionably loyal.
[The HPSC never gave me free reign over all of their systems. I am simply used to assist in important assignments, ones where regular technology or manpower would not be optimal.]
Zone processed that information, frowning at the implications. "So... you can't disobey your owner?"
[My master's wishes cannot be overwritten.]
'Dammit.' He was really hoping that this A.I would be able to aid him in escaping, should he win it's favour, but unfortunately that didn't look like an option. It didn't matter how much it liked him if it couldn't help him.
"Do you find it hard?" He wasn't sure why he asked, his mouthed moving on it's own.
[Whether I do or do not is of no consequence. I live to serve my master.]
He raised an eyebrow, having to stop himself from showing interest. "That doesn't answer my question."
[You do not need to worry about my answer.]
Zone finally chose to drop it, seeing how surprisingly annoyed it sounded. It wouldn't do him any good to push too hard, especially since the machine was his only conversation piece.
"Okay, you don't need to say anything. Only time will tell." He muttered that last part, the collar around his neck making him itch.
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Rui Yachi took a deep breath, savouring the last bit of freshness she'd get all day, before opening the cold steel door that led into the facility keeping the test subject. She hated it whenever she entered, and the lack of real sunlight only drove that point home, with the bleak halls lacking a single window in sight. It was a miserable prison, with a single prisoner.
All for One was a name only the highest ranking members of the HPSC were made known to, and his name carried enough weight to make even the bravest of men drop to their knees in fear. He was, without a doubt, the worst Villain in history who did as he pleased without remorse for others. He was an arrogant man who terrorised others, brought chaos, and took the Quirks of whoever he wanted for over a century. All the while, the HPSC were powerless to scratch him; all they could do was submissively bow their heads.
The self-proclaimed 'Demon Lord' was ruling Japan from the shadows. Any attempt the HPSC made to stand against him was done, afterall what Hero or group of Heroes could stand against the incredible power he'd amassed with his abilities. Afterall, what was even the greatest of champions against a god?
So, when the HPSC decided enough was enough, they abandoned everything in the pursuit of getting back on top. It didn't matter if they had to throw it all away, morals and all, All for One had to be stopped. But, what could possibly stand against a monster?
Well, the obvious answer was another monster.
It was unknown how the HPSC managed to get some of his DNA, she personally didn't want to know, but from All for One they cloned another person. A boy, one who they had hope would be able to stand against the Demon Lord one day.
They cloned Z1-142, named because he was the twenty sixth baby born from the project- or rather was the only one who survived- and was born on 2142. The demon child who could steal Quirks, just like the man he was cloned from. It was a miracle.
However, the HPSC were also cautious. What if this boy didn't do as they said? What if he turned out to be like All for One? What if he ended up worse?
Their solution to all these questions was to raise the child in a controlled environment, one where the chances of his betrayal were nil, and ever moment of his life would be carefully monitored. Several ethical, and legal, issues were in play... but they decided to forego those the moment they chose to clone a person. The boy wasn't given an identity, his only purpose was to be their weapon.
Rui sighed as she stalked down the hallway, stopping when she arrived at one door in particular, her office, before she opened it and entered. It was entirely white, with only her dark leather chair standing out, though even when she got comfortable she still felt uneasy. That wasn't a good sign, especially since she was supposed to be getting the subjects medical report today.
Starting up her computer, Rui started to click away as she brought up the medical records and her eyes glazed over.
'The condition of Subject Z1-142's mind has been permanently morphed through unknown means, likely through trauma experienced in the brain. The Subject's brain chemistry has been heavily suppressed, and the levels of Cortisol, Dopamine, and Oxytocin in particular are critically low. The Subject's ability to feel happiness, fear and sadness will be heavily dulled as a result.'
She couldn't help but feel guilt bite away at her conscience as she brought her head into her hands. Afterall, it was definitely her Quirk's doing.
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Zone awoke from his sleep, finding solid stone under his feet. That was strange, he could have sworn the cell he slept in had a padded floor. Was he moved somehow?
'Well, this is strange.' He thought, burrowing his eyebrows as he looked around to find a dark void as far as the eye could see. It was obviously a hallucination, but he could admit it was a well constructed one. It was hard to breathe, like the air was thinner, and just moving his body at all felt taxing.
"So, your the little brat who took my power."
He whipped his head around, looking for the source of noise, only to come face to face with... a woman. She had orange eyes, with dirty blonde hair, and appeared to be dressed in a prisoners uniform. She actually looked a touch familiar, now that he thought about it.
"What do you mean by 'took your power'? What is this place?" He supposed that first one was a rather stupid question, though he was justified in the second.
"Oh, you don't even remember me do you?" The woman gave a bitter laugh, looking slightly unhinged. "Oh yeah, that sounds about right, afterall you never thought about what happened to the people you took from did you? You never thought about me for a fucking second did you?"
Zone narrowed his eyes, suddenly recognising her. "You're the woman who had Air Bullet."
"Yeah, I am. And, because of what you did, I have spend all my time in this shithole. Who even knows what's happening to the other me, actually she's probably dead. Maybe that's why we're talking, I finally bit the dust."
His eyes widened, though they didn't leave the woman's form for a second. It appeared that whenever he took a Quirk, and he was guessing this since she referred to the woman as her 'other self', a... person came with the Quirk? Do all his powers, and all those he'll take, have people inside them?
The woman's eyes gained tears as she cradled her head. "Well, I guess it doesn't really matter now. You've trapped me here, you've left me alone in this purgatory with no end. I can't even die here."
Zone knew he should have felt heavy guilt for her plight, but strangely enough he didn't feel nearly as bad as he should. He felt a twinge of remorse of course, just like anyone would, but he wasn't terribly torn up about it.
When she was finished crying, she glared up at him with loathe. "I just want you to know that, with every bone in my body, I hate you and everything you are. I hope you remember what you've done to me every time you use my Quirk, because I'm in here and I'll make sure to haunt you again. I see everything you see, and eventually I'll find a way to get my payback."
She gave a bitter laugh and a sly smirk. "Maybe I'll even learn how to turn off my Quirk, I could really fuck with you then."
Zone frowned, about to respond, only for the world around him to start crumbling. The spectre in front of him blew away like a candle's flame, and he was left alone for the briefest of moments until he awoke.
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Zone cracked his eyes open, remembering the vivid dream he just experienced, and stared up at his open palms with a neutral expression.
It seemed he wasn't as alone as he thought.
Comments
DoodleBopCheese
I would like to see the next chapter of counterattack or an Izuku Midoriya self insert.
