Fractured Wings

I stared in the mirror, the morning light filtering through the blinds casting faint streaks across the glass. The face staring back at me looked... worn. Amber eyes burned with the faintest trace of fatigue, the kind that came from days of restlessness and fighting a war you didn't choose. My smooth skin caught the warm hue of the sunrise. 

My dreads, now only a few inches past my ears, framed my face and shifted when I turned my head. They were getting longer. The piercings in my ears gleamed faintly in the light, catching my attention for a moment before I sighed and pulled the hood of my black shirt over my head. 

"Destro's healer done a good job," I said to myself, rolling my shoulder where the faint ache lingered. My injuries were healed again, by a better healer that was only granted to me when Nagant and I agreed to joining their army. 

'Fuckhead' 

I rubbed my temples. My clothes, at least, were an upgrade. The all-black attire, a sleek, high-quality jumper with a hood and trousers made for movement, it felt somewhat like armour than clothing. The belt I wore, sturdy but flexible. 

I turned away from the mirror, pulling myself together. The day barely started, and I already had enough on my plate. 

The common area of the MLA's headquarters was spacious, minimalist, and eerily pristine. Nagant leaned against one of the marble columns, arms crossed, her eyes scanning the room as though cataloging every potential threat. She wore her usual guarded expression, but there was a subtle edge of curiosity as we waited. 

Trumpet, or Koku Hanabata as he introduced himself, strode into the room with the confidence of someone who'd convinced himself he was the hero of the story. His polished appearance, slicked-back hair and a sharp, navy-blue suit, it made him look more like a corporate executive than a revolutionary leader. 

"Good morning," he said with an unnervingly warm smile. "Welcome to the heart of the Meta Liberation Army." 

I shot Nagant a look that said, Here we go. She responded with a slight quirk of her brow but said nothing. 

"We'll start with a tour," Trumpet continued, gesturing for us to follow him. "It's important you understand the scope of what we're building here." 

The building itself was an architectural marvel. The upper levels housed offices and meeting rooms, sleek and modern, filled with tech that screamed "state-of-the-art." Hanabata waxed poetic about the organization's mission as we walked, detailing how each department played a role in their "vision for the future." 

He brought us to a training facility next. It was cavernous, with walls reinforced to withstand quirk-based combat. Dozens of recruits were sparring in the main area. Beyond that was an armory that could rival a small nation's, stocked with enough weapons and gear to outfit an army. 

"Impressive isn't it?" Trumpet asked, clearly fishing for compliments. 

"Sure," I replied, deadpan. Nagant gave a short snort beside me. 

"Even the commission didn't know you people were well past the stage of remnants getting on their feet. If so..." She stopped speaking when she looked up at Trumpet smirking in a mischievous way. 

His expression was telling, 

"This way," he said, ignoring her pieced together theories. He led us to a conference room where a large, interactive screen displayed a map of their influence across the country. The dots spread like an infection, showing just how deep their network ran. 

"This is the hierarchy," Trumpet said, his tone taking on a more serious edge. "At the top, of course is Re-Destro. Beneath him are the commanders, like myself. Below us are the lieutenants, each managing their own specialized teams. Then come the operatives, which is where you two currently stand." 

"Operatives," Nagant repeated, her tone flat. "So we're just grunts." 

"Hardly," Trumpet said with a laugh. "You'll find your positions come with... significant autonomy. Especially given the nature of your assignment." 

He led us to the underground levels. The air grew colder, the walls narrowing into dim corridors. Finally, we arrived at a large steel door. Trumpet input a code, and the door hissed open, revealing a spacious room that felt more like a war room than a meeting space. Inside were three figures, each radiating a different kind of intensity. 

"This is your team," Trumpet announced, stepping into the room and gesturing for the three to approach. "Let's have introductions." 

The first to step forward was a young man with navy-blue hair, styled neatly, and sharp, calculating, golden eyes that seemed to dissect everything they landed on. He carried himself with an air of quiet authority, his posture relaxed but purposeful. 

"Arata Kiryuu," he said, his voice smooth and even. "Codename: Vanguard. My quirk is called Flow. I can redirect attacks, like water bending around a rock. I told you details relating to my quirk because I am the leader of this group. I believe that forming a good foundation within the team starts with you all knowing more of me as I slowly learn and bond with you." He offered a small, knowing smile that didn't reach his eyes. 

Next was a young woman leaning against the far wall. She was tall and lithe, her pale skin almost luminous in the dim light. Her fins, a clear mutant trait, extended slightly from her arms, shifting with the feintest movement as though tasting the air around her. Her gaze was piercing, though she said nothing at first. When she finally spoke, her voice was low and calm. 

"Mika," she said, her tone giving nothing away. "Stingray. I have a mutant type quirk as you guy's can tell, I don't plan on speaking anymore of my quirk though." 

Her response was clipped, but there was an undeniable weight behind her words. She didn't seem like one for pleasantries. 

"She's our silent killer that one," Trumpet added with a grin, though Mika didn't react. 

Finally, the last of the trio stepped forward. She was shorter than the others but carried an undeniable presence. Her athletic build and sharp, confident smirk gave her an aura of someone who thrived on challenge. She cracked her knuckles as she looked us over, her gaze landing on me with a spark of interest. 

"Names Ren, that or Powerhouse." her voice carried an edge of mischief. "My quirks all about kinetic energy. The more I store, the harder I hit. Let's just say, you don't want to be in my way when I'm charged up." She grinned, radiating a playful but dangerous energy. "I'm the muscle. So if you've got a problem, I'll smash it for ya." 

"Great," I said dryly, folding my arms. "A merry little band of misfits." 

"Welcome to the hunt," Arata said, his smooth voice laced with authority. "Around here we have a few common sayings, but one most common is: Power is born from breaking chains... The chain we plan on breaking is the system in place that is restricting our individuality." 

He let the words hang in the air, their weight palpable. "If you're not ready to shatter what binds you, your fears, your doubts, your limits. Then you'll find yourself broken instead. So, I'll ask you this now: are you ready to break your chains, or will you let them drag you under?" 

I met his gaze with a smirk, though my mind turned over his words. They were somewhat inspiring. "I guess we'll see, won't we?" 

Arata inclined his head, a subtle acknowledgement of the challenge exchanged. 

Before Arata could utter another word, Trumpet clapped his hands, drawing all our attention. "Hold on, everyone. Before we get into the details of your mission, there's one more stop we need to make," he said. 

I arched an eyebrow. "Another stop? What now? a team bonding exercise?" 

Trumpet chuckled, "Not quite. I'm taking you to the quirk reading machine." 

That caught my interest and I wasn't alone. the room buzzed with an air of curiosity, as well as secrecy. 

I already knew what it was, and so did Nagant it seemed. I debated if I wanted to find a way out of exposing mine. But I decided against it. 

"The quirk reading machine," Trumpet began, clearly enjoying the moment, "is designed to measure an individual's quirk factor. Think of it like a numerical representation of your physical and quirk-based potential. The higher the score, the better your body handles stress, stamina, durability, speed, and strength." 

He paused dramatically, his gaze sweeping over the group. "The lowest recorded quirk factors are usually just in children who have just awakened their quirk. And if they stay like that they stay weak and aren't enhanced in any way. Meanwhile... the highest," He gestured upward. "The highest recorded in history belongs to none other than All Might himself, at a staggering 2988. For comparison, Endeavour's is at 1190." 

The room fell silent at the mention of such figures. Even Nagant's composure seemed to slip for a moment. 

"Incredibly impressive since many heroes don't even break past the thousands. We use it here to gauge your place within the MLA. Consider it an introduction—a benchmark, if you will. It's common practice here." 

With that, he led us down another corridor. The walls grew sleeker, a faint hum of machinery vibrating through the air. We arrived at a wide, circular room with the quirk reading machine at it's center. 

The machine itself was imposing, sleek and polished with a metallic black finish. It had a central platform surrounded by glowing blue panels, a console displaying fluctuating data, and an armrest equipped with sensors. A series of wires snaked along the floor, connecting the machine to a screen mounted on the wall, ready to display results. 

Trumpet motioned toward the platform. "One at a time. This will scan your quirk factor and provide a reading. It only takes a few moments, and there's no pain. Let's start with Ren." 

Ren rolled her shoulders, grinning confidently. "Fine by me." she strode confidently to the platform, her movements loose but purposeful. Once the sensors calibrated, the screen lit up, displaying a bright 480. 

"Good." Trumpet said with an approving nod. "You've went up. You're well within the upper range for someone your age." Ren was young but probably still a teenager. 

She stepped off with a cocky grin. 

Next up was Mika. She moved with quiet grace. Her fins twitching slightly as she positioned herself on the platform. The machine buzzed softly before the number: 309. 

Trumpet glanced at her. "Solid score, Stingray. Especially considering your quirks unique nature." 

Mika didn't say a word but I did take note of the name Stingray. 

Then came Arata. He adjusted his jacket, his calm demeanour unwavering as he stood on the platform. The reading quickly blinked into existence. 413.

Trumpet smiled. "A strong score, well-rounded." 

Trumpet looked at Nagant next. "Lady Nagant, if you would?" 

Nagant hesitated for just a second, then stepped forward. Her expression remained calm, but I could see the flicker of curiosity in her eyes. When the screen displayed 600, the room collectively tensed. 

Ren let out a low whistle. "Okay, didn't see that coming." 

Mika tilted her head, her gaze sharpening. Even Arata's cool demeanour shifted, his eyes narrowing with interest. 

Trumpet looked positively delighted. "Impressive. That score puts you at a level many predict only heroes in the top 10 can achieve. Truly remarkable." 

Nagant stepped off the platform, brushing off the attention with practised ease, though I noticed a faint smile tugging at her lips. 

And then, all eyes on me. 

"Your turn, Soryu." Trumpet said. 

I stepped onto the platform, already anticipating the result. The machine buzzed louder than before, the sensors humming as they worked. When the number finally appeared—672—the room went utterly silent. 

Trumpet's eyes widened, and he gripped the console as though he was steadying himself. His hands trembled slightly, his face was a mix of shock and exhilaration. 

Ren blinked, her mouth opening as if to say something but closing just as quickly. Mika's fins twitched in rapid succession, a rare sign of her being caught off guard. Arata studied me with an intensity that felt like he was peeling back layers of my soul. Even Nagant's eyes widened slightly before she recovered, her expression softening in understanding. 

I could understand why they were all shocked. For someone of a students age and not even in a hero school or has received any formal training from what they could probably gather, this was impossible. 

Hero students, by the time they graduate they would be lucky if their levels had gotten up to the 400's. The average for them were 200-450 across the nation. 

Trumpet broke the silence, his voice was quivering with barely restrained enthusiasm. "672... That's extraordinary. To put it into perspective, this score is only second to Re-Destro himself." 

The weight of the revelation hung in the air. 

I met their stares with a calm expression, though internally, I couldn't help but reflect. My score had risen since my time with the Eden Project, by at least a hundred points. 

Nagant was the first to recover, her gaze steady as she regarded me. She'd pieced it together, no doubt remembering that we are alike in the fact that we have dark pasts run by shady organizations. 

The other's however, seemed almost... thrilled. Ren clapped me on the back with a grin. "Guess we've got ourselves a little powerhouse huh?" 

Mika's lips curved into a faint smile, and even Arata nodded approvingly. 

Trumpet finally straightened again, a spark of pride in his eyes. 'What a fool.' I thought to myself. I already told this freak that I planned on ditching his army as soon as Daigo Kiyoshi was captured, so he shouldn't be looking so prideful. 

"Kobe, this result is more than exceptional. It speaks volumes of the potential you have within this organization. I believe you will accomplish great things within the MLA. A great catalyst for a future where we are all liberated." 

I scoffed, before offering a smirk. "We'll see." 

Trumpet clapped a sound that reverberated across the room. "Now that introductions are done, lets focus on your first task as a team. Your mission is to capture Lyra Himemiya." 

"Lyra Himemiya" he repeated, pacing slowly. "A woman of extraordinary power, once an ally of Daigo Kiyoshi. She is relatively unknown. But while you guys were stuck in that game, she stood alongside proxy against the top three heroes. She is invaluable." 

My mind flashed back to fighting All Might. 

Trumpet's tone sharpened. "Other parties will also know of her value as well. She's currently being transported to a secure holding cell before her transfer to a maximum-security prison, and then to Tartarus. Heroes and police will be guarding the convoy. This will not be a simple snatch and grab, they will travel expecting all odds." 

"Sounds like a party," Ren said with a wolfish grin, cracking her knuckles. 

"Make no mistake," Trumpet said. "Lyra is not just a target of opportunity. She is a key to understanding Proxy's motives and methods." 

"Do we have details on her escort?" Miku asked as she shifted slightly. 

Trumpet shook his head. "We don't know the heroes that will be there, but we do know that she will be followed by four police cars and a SWAT van," 

'Talk about heavy artillery.' 

"... the route itself is straightforward but will be monitored. Due to the number of police escorts I can assume the number of heroes will be from two to four." 

The room seemed to be buzzing in anticipation. 

I noticed something that felt weird. These people were not like how the Shie Hassaiki were. There wasn't a feeling of pressure making me stand on ten toes constantly, even of the comfort of my own room. It was just a weird calming and inclusive place. 

A place that pushed silly propaganda. 

It was fine though. My mind is not so weak.