Talon wakes up.
Talon: *groans* I’m going to feel that in the morning.
Talon notices he’s sitting on Alden.
Talon: Looks like this buffoon broke my fall.
Talon surveys the battlefield.
Talon: (Most of the grunts have been defeated, it’s down to individual battles at this point… they haven’t noticed I’m conscious yet, so I can use this to my advantage.)
Talon takes flight.
Talon: (I think I’ll help Desiree remove that bastard that blasted me. That’ll teach him not to- Huh?)
Talon spots Blaze on the side of the 1-C dorm.
Talon: (Isn’t that Master’s dorm? What’s that pest doing?)
Talon flies toward Blaze.
Talon: I can’t let him infiltrate the building!
Spectre and Calm face off on the roof of the U.A. Main Campus building.
Spectre: Listen here, Hayze, I’d back down now because I’m not holding back.
Spectre phases through the ground.
Calm: (He’s bound to be phasing behind me. However, this creates a cascade of “He knows, I know” statements. Thus, the way for me to counter his attack is simple, I must guess whether Spectre will attempt to out-predict me. The option seems obvious, either Yes or No, but it isn’t nearly that straightforward when you consider one fact. Spectre has been in these scenarios many times due to the nature of his quirk, so he’s bound to have found a surefire way of always outsmarting his opponent. Thus… the answer is…)
Calm levitates 30 droplets of water on the ground into the air and shapes them into bullets.
Calm: Liquid Bullets!
Calm fires the water bullets towards the roof’s exit; Spectre appears and gets bombarded.
Spectre: AHHHH!
Spectre falls to his knees in pain.
Spectre: How? How did you perfectly predict my next move? I’ve never had a villain accomplish that, so how could a kid do it?
Calm: I’m not just a “kid.” I was born from a brilliant tactician’s logic, and it’s my primary emotion. As a result, I can deduce things faster than even Hayze could.
Spectre: Wait, Hayze? Are you saying you’re not him?
Calm: No, I am Calm. I didn’t correct you earlier because it was not relevant. You reappeared by the stairwell because you predicted I would run there for safety. That’s how you can fool your opponents; you appear where they will be, not where they are.
Spectre: Well, “Calm.” I guess I need to stop treating you like a child.
Spectre reaches for his utility belt and pulls out an electric whip.
Spectre: If you’ve never been tased, consider this weapon your baptism by fire. I only use this against villains resisting capture, and right now, you fit the bill.
Calm: I’m not afraid of you, Spectre.
Spectre: I know. Heroes aren’t supposed to inspire fear. They’re supposed to maintain order, and that’s what I will do!
Spectre cracks his electro whip at Calm, but Calm blocks with a water barrier.
Spectre: I guess logic doesn’t equal intelligence.
Calm’s water shield is electrified, shocking Calm and causing him to fall to his knees.
Calm: *pained grunt*
Spectre: Water conducts electricity. You should pay more attention in class.
Calm: I did.
Spectre: Hm? Then why did you-
Calm gets to his feet slowly.
Calm: A direct hit from your whip would have been far more costly. I couldn’t dodge in time, so I had to make a choice, and I chose an indirect hit. The pain may have been immense, but I’m still standing.
Spectre: (This kid really is pure logic, most villains in that scenario have been frozen by fear. He not only stood his ground but also made a split-second decision to defend himself. He’s good.)
Calm uses water from his shield to form skates on the bottom of his shoes.
Calm: I think it’s time for me to go on the offensive!
Calm begins skating circles around Spectre.
Spectre: Don’t forget about my quirk, kid!
Spectre phases into the ground.
Calm: Oh, trust me! I haven’t!
Calm skates to the staircase and down to the next floor; he spots Spectre appearing from the ground and barrels towards him.
Calm: You can’t escape me!
Spectre: (His speed on the wet ground is insane!)
Every room and hallway of the school has 2 inches of water in it after Sydney’s flooding from earlier. Calm uses this water to form a beam that he fires at Spectre.
Spectre: Not again!
The water collides with Spectre, sending him flying and splashing down the hallway.
Spectre: *frustrated grunt*
Calm: (I have him on the ropes right now, but there’s no telling how long that will last. He’s underestimated me every step of the way so far, but that will stop soon.)
Spectre stands up and looks at his taser gadgets.
Spectre: (Great, all this water has busted my tasers. I’ll have to keep fighting using my electro whip. Hm… that gives me an idea.)
Spectre begins looking around the hallway.
Spectre: (I need to stand somewhere dry.)
Spectre spots a table about 30 yards away from him.
Spectre: (There!)
Spectre phases into the floor again.
Calm: (His next move is obvious, he’s going to use the water we’re standing on as a conductor and electrocute me. An attack like that would undoubtedly finish me off, so I need to stop that at all costs.)
Calm skates down the hallway towards the table.
Calm: (That seems like the optimal area for him to strike.)
Spectre appears behind Calm.
Spectre: Gotcha.
Calm: What?!
Spectre grabs Calm and puts him in a chokehold.
Calm: *choking*
Spectre: I’ve risen through the hero rankings due to my unique ability to assassinate villains. You shouldn’t have told me how logical you are because with rationality comes short-sightedness. I knew you’d predict my best move, so I acted accordingly. That’s why I’m a pro, and you’re just a student.
Calm: *choking*
Spectre: Now, I’m just going to ease you to unconsciousness, don’t worry. Everything will be fine. I’ll free the other teachers, and we’ll discuss your punishment-
Suddenly, a wave of water enters the hallway and crashes down on Calm and Spectre.
Spectre: *glub glub*
Spectre releases Calm, and he swims away with ease. The wave crashes Spectre through a window at the end of the hall and he plummets to the ground, getting knocked out cold in the process.
Sydney: I thought you could use my help.
Calm is breathing heavily, soaking his gills.
Calm: Thank you, Sydney.
Calm stands up.
Sydney: I didn’t think a chokehold could work on you.
Calm: He covered my gills, they haven’t been a problem up to this point with the surplus of water, but I guess I should be careful.
Calm presses a button on his E.M.I.L.Y. unit and materializes his water-filled choker.
Sydney: What a fashion statement.
Calm: I enjoy the practicality.
Sydney: Whatever you say, nerd. Come on, let’s go check on Spectre.
Calm: There’s no need; he’s fine.
Sydney: Huh?
Calm: He fell exactly three stories, factoring in the water and that he fell out of the West-facing side of the school. He’s injured but not critically.
Sydney stares at Calm.
Sydney: Why does the West matter?
Calm: There are bushes below that window, softening his landing.
Sydney: How- how do you know all that?
Calm: Do you not?
Sydney continues staring at Calm blankly.
Sydney: Whatever, let’s just go back to the conference room and make sure the others haven’t screwed up yet.
Calm: Yet?
Daniele and Ash patiently sit in the goofy gas-filled conference room with the teachers.
Ash: Uh… Daniele?
Daniele: Hm? Something wrong?
Ash: No, I’m just… Do you feel like we should be doing more than just sitting here?
Daniele: No, not really.
Ash: Oh, well… I just feel guilty knowing everyone else is fighting right now.
Daniele: Yeah, because of what we’re doing. If the teachers left this room, they’d try to shut everything down. Our job may seem easy, but it’s essential for the mission’s success. Think about it that way, and you’ll feel a lot better.
Ash: Yeah… you’re right, I do. Thanks, Daniele. Sorry for thinking like that.
Daniele: Oh, don’t worry about it. Lessons like that are things you’ll learn when you’ve completed more fieldwork. When you’re a student, you feel like you should be the star of the show, but that’s not how the real world works. You’ve gotta do your job; otherwise, lives could be at risk.
Ash: Right. (Daniele’s so intelligent and calm, I need to be more like her in moments like these. It’ll make me a better hero.)
Gavin is chowing down on a plate of burritos.
Gavin: Keep ‘em coming, Gucc! Gotta keep this ass gas going!
Gus has a whole kitchen set up and is preparing a bunch of extra bean burritos.
Gus: I’m going as fast as I can!
Gavin: Well, go faster!
Gus: I’M TRYING!
Gavin: And no bathroom breaks!
Gus: OH GOD!
Jace smiles at his classmates.
Jace: So, you fools decided taking on the Vanguard would be a good idea?
Wes: I thought you were the fool?
Jace: Shut up! I’m tired of that stupid moniker!
Wes: I wonder why…
Zach: So the real Jace must be fighting his way back from Vanguard’s control!
Jace: No, I just prefer to use my given name. I’m still Master’s most loyal soldier.
Silver: I’m sorry to hear that.
Jace: Shut your mouth! The Vanguard has given me everything I’ve ever wanted!
Silver: A bad wardrobe?
Wes: An easy way to get gonorrhea?
Everyone is quiet.
Zach: Ohhhh, from all the butt kissing. Good one, Wes!
Wes: Thanks, I was proud of that.
Jace: *frustrated grunt* You’ve only been here for 2 minutes, and you’re already pissing me off!
Silver: Well, then it’s good that only one of us is staying. Come on, Wes. Let’s get out of here.
Wes: Right. Good luck, Zach.
Zach: Thanks. I’ll catch you guys later!
Wes and Silver run upstairs.
Jace: So, I’m facing off against the slightly better version of Alden?
Zach: Jace… I’m sorry this happened to you. It’s been months since you were yourself, and it’s partially my fault. I knew something was up with you, but I kept getting convinced everything would turn out alright. You’re my buddy, and I should have had your back. Maybe none of this would have ended up happening… Either way, I’m here to do what I should have done long ago! Save. My. Friend.
Jace laughs.
Jace: I have a feeling that won’t be the only “heroic” speech I hear today. I don’t care what you say; I’m stronger than ever. Could I have defeated almost all of 2-B alone before joining the Vanguard? Pfft, no! I was a weakling, a scared little bitch, but now I’m more powerful than even you, Zach.
Zach: Of course you could have, Jace! You weren’t weak! You just… didn’t have any confidence.
Jace: *grunts*
Zach: Don’t believe me? You were a different guy the first few months of our freshman year. You were ready to tackle hero training head-on. You were still yourself, pessimistic at times and a little weird, but you still had hope. However… over the last year, that faith in yourself diminished. All those losses and embarrassing defeats piled onto you and dragged down your psyche. I should have noticed that sooner, so I’m sorry.
Jace: Since when did you become a psychologist, Zach?
Zach: I have the internet!
Jace: Degrees in psychology are worthless.
Zach: Listen! I thought you felt the same way about losing as I did. It sucks, but we can always learn and get better. I didn’t realize it was wearing you down… until the Prison Exercise. But by then, it was too late.
Jace gets visibly angry.
Jace: Never mention that moment to me again! I already heard about it from Hayze,
“ Hayze: Until you deal with your trauma from the Prison Exercise, you’re a quitter, a guy who gives up when the going gets tough. And that’s the difference between you and me… I never give up. “ - Chapter 173
Jace: *frustrated grunt*
Zach: You know I was still in the simulation when you left and joined the Vanguard… so that moment was the last time I saw the real you.
Jace: I’m happy to hear that. It may have been a simulation, but that part of me truly died that day.
Zach: Yeah, well, it makes me sad. The Jace I knew, the friend I knew… He wouldn’t have sold us out the way you have!
Jace feels a pain in his head.
Jace: *pained grunt* (Zach’s right, even though I was ready to give up on my hero career… I still cared about my friends. I didn’t want all this to happen!)
Zach: (I think I’m getting to him!) Come on, Jace! Fight it!
Jace: No!
Jace powers through the pain.
Jace: I am a member of the Vanguard! The Jace you knew is dead! Now! Let’s begin this battle!
Zach: (Crap! I should have known it wouldn’t be that easy!)
Jace springs his fists toward Zach.
Jace: Jacking Jackknife!
Zach extends his bone claws and blocks.
Zach: Starting with your springs, huh? What about your Fool Power?
Jace: I don’t need that! (Yes, I do! No, I don’t! That power isn’t mine!)
Jace winces in pain.
Zach: Now’s my chance!
Zach repels Jace’s fists and charges at him.
Jace: Huh?
Zach: Sorry, Jace, but this is for your own good!
Zach retracts one of his bone claws and slugs Jace in the face.
Jace: *pained grunt*
Zach: I had to knock some sense into you! Literally!
Jace tumbles to the ground, struggling to regain his composure.
Jace: (This isn’t me! I’m trying to fight my best buddy! That’s not- HE’S THE ENEMY! THE VANGUARD IS MY HOME!) AHHHHHHHHH!
Zach: Jace?
Vanguard looks off in the distance.
Tyson: What’s distracting you? Come on! We’ve got a game to play here!
Vanguard: (Jace is fighting the Alpha Ring’s control. He’s been under my control for such a long time… I’ll have to keep that in mind for future endeavors.)
Tyson: HEY!
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Vanguard: Quiet down! I’m ready to continue.
Tyson: Then show me your card already!
Vanguard reveals the 3 of Clubs, while Tyson reveals the Ace of Diamonds.
Tyson: *nasal grunt*
Vanguard: *frustrated grunt*
Vanguard tosses Tyson his card. Vanguard 23, Tyson 29.
Tyson: (Awesome, I’ve got 3 out of 4 Aces. I’ve got this guy pinned.)
Vanguard: (How am I losing at this game so easily? He has to be cheating.)
Vanguard activates his Justice quirk again, forcing Tyson to tell the truth.
Vanguard: Are you cheating, Tyson?!
Tyson: Nope.
Vanguard: What?! How are you getting this lucky?!
Tyson: Luck is in the eye of the beholder. Some people like to believe in karma; others don’t. Personally, as a guy who made all of his high school friends off of winning panties in card games, I’m in the second category.
Vanguard: You say that so boastfully. It’s pathetic.
Tyson: Tomato, Tomato. I was taught from a young age how to gamble and, more importantly: how to get what you want through gambling. I may be a typical asshole to most people, but I deserve some credit; all of my antics come through carefully created plans. I earn everything I gamble for, and I never feel bad for someone who loses something they carelessly anted.
Vanguard: Is that supposed to be a dig at me?
Tyson: Well, you’re the one who’s about to lose his life to a card game.
Vanguard: Don’t give me that. You also bet your soul.
Tyson: Yeah, but unlike you, I was sure I’d win.
Vanguard: What did you say?!
Tyson: Aw… and your hearing is going too? So sad…
Vanguard: *frustrated grunt* I’ll get you!
Tyson smiles.
Tyson: Sorry, but that’ll have to wait because now it’s time to give the old one-armed bandit a spin and see where things land!
The slot machine starts spinning.
Tyson: Come on! Big bucks! No whammies!
The machine lands on 3.
Vanguard: *grunts* I assume that’s good for you.
Tyson: Very good! Because now you have to hand me the top 5 cards of your deck!
Vanguard: What?!
Vanguard is getting visibly enraged.
Tyson: You gotta do it, Vanny. Otherwise, you forfeit, and you know what happens if you do that!
Vanguard takes his top 5 cards and tosses them to Tyson. Vanguard 18, Tyson 34. Tyson examines the cards.
Tyson: (Awesome! The final ace! That means I’ve got 4 of a kind, and Vanguard’s got a one-way trip to hell comin’ his way!)
Vanguard: Quit smiling! Soon, the slot machine will come up in my favor!
Tyson: Actually, no, it won’t.
Vanguard: Hm?
Tyson: Each number on the machine has a positive outcome for me and a negative one for you.
Vanguard: What?!
Tyson: If you spin a 3, the same thing happens. You give me your top 5 cards.
Vanguard: That’s- that’s cheating!
Tyson: No, those are the rules. It’s not my fault you didn’t ask for them beforehand.
Vanguard is breathing heavily.
Vanguard: (I did not come this far to lose everything to a fucking card game! Think… which of my quirks can get me out of this? I could use the Emporer to distort reality and make it so I possess all 52 cards, but he’d just call me out for cheating, and I’d lose by default. Hmm… but that gives me another idea.) It’s time for another round!
Tyson: Man! You’re eager!
Vanguard reveals the Jack of Hearts, while Tyson reveals the 10 of Clubs.
Tyson: Ah… that’s a rough one for me.
Tyson tosses Vanguard his card.
Tyson: Don’t worry, I’ll be getting that back soon enough.
Vanguard: Oh, I’m sure you will!
Tyson: Yup! So let’s give the machine a rip!
The slot machine starts spinning.
Vanguard: (I’ll use the Emperor first to make it so the number comes up 3.)
The slot machine stops on 3.
Tyson: Ha! Looks like I was right! You know what happens next!
Vanguard: No, I don’t actually… Would you mind reminding me?
Tyson: Huh?
Vanguard: My memory isn’t too sharp.
Tyson: Sure, whatever…
Vanguard: (I invoke the Power of the Hanged Man!)
Tyson: I have to hand you the top 5 cards of my deck!
Tyson’s eyes widen.
Tyson: (What?!) Yes, that’s it! I have to hand you the top 5 cards of my deck! (What the hell?!)
Vanguard: Well, you said it; you’d better follow the rules, Tyson. Otherwise, things could go south quickly.
Tyson: *frustrated grunt*
Tyson reaches for his deck.
Vanguard: (Now I’ll use the power of the Emperor to move all four aces on top of his deck!)
Tyson draws the five cards.
Tyson: (HUH?!)
Vanguard: Is something wrong, Mr. Gambler?
Tyson: (All four aces… he- he has to be cheating.)
Tyson laughs.
Vanguard: Hm?
Tyson: You’re not using the emperor to cheat! (No!)
Vanguard smiles.
Vanguard: You’re right; I’m not.
Tyson is stunned.
Tyson: (Shit! He’s using a tarot power we’ve never seen before!)
Vanguard: Well? Let’s get a move on.
Tyson reluctantly tosses Vanguard his five cards.
Vanguard: Ha, it looks like lady luck fancies me more than you now!
Vanguard laughs maniacally.
Tyson: (He’s controlling my speaking ability, so I can’t say what I mean. If I can’t prove that he cheated, my quirk won’t disqualify him and end his life! Come on, Tyson! Figure a way out of this! I know! I’ll just say the opposite of what I mean, so his quirk will correct me.) You’re not using the emperor to cheat!
Tyson grinds his teeth.
Tyson: (Dammit… He’s made it so my speech will only be inverted if I state the truth.)
Vanguard: Wow, your bravado sure left the building quickly.
Tyson stares down Vanguard.
Tyson: (He clearly used two different powers to screw up my master plan… but something doesn’t add up to me. Why didn’t he use Justice to prove I was lying? What just happened isn’t a part of the rules, so even though it benefited him… I cheated. There’s only one reason he wouldn’t have done that… because he couldn’t.)
Tyson closes his eyes and concentrates.
Tyson: (First, he used the emperor to force my slot machine to spin a 3. Then, he used this mystery quirk to make me say the opposite of what I meant. After that, he moved the 4 aces to the top of my deck with the Emperor, and finally, he used the mystery quirk again to stop me from revealing his deception.)
Tyson’s eyes widen.
Tyson: (I think I may have just figured out Vanguard’s weakness.)
Blaze is stuck on a window sill.
Blaze: (Without my quirk, I can’t safely hop to the next window, and if I fall…)
Blaze looks down at the ground.
Blaze: (I may not die, but I’ll break too many bones to move.)
Talon: Get down from there!
Blaze: Huh?
Talon swoops down and embeds his razor-sharp talons into Blaze’s upper back.
Blaze: AHHHH!
Talon: I don’t know what you’re doing on my Master’s dorm, but I won’t allow it to continue!
Blaze: *frustrated grunt*
Blaze draws his obsidian sword and slices at Talon, forcing him to release his grip and fly back.
Blaze: You bastard!
Talon: That’s not the end of your pain! I’m sending you on a one-way trip to the pavement below!
Blaze: That’s cement, actually…
Talon: Shut up!
Blaze looks at Aster’s team.
Blaze: (They didn’t notice! I guess I have to fight this guy while scaling a building!)
Talon’s claws regenerate.
Talon: I don’t know who you are, but I will defeat you!
Talon swoops in for another attack, but Blaze blocks with his sword.
Blaze: (Without my quirk, this fight’s gonna be a nightmare!)
Talon: (That sword will be annoying, but I have an idea!)
Talon dives to the ground.
Blaze: (What’s he doing?)
Talon begins flying up the wall directly toward Blaze.
Blaze: (Shit! I can’t block him from that angle!)
Blaze attempts to angle his sword to stop Talon’s assault but to no avail. Talon stabs his talons into Blaze’s lower back.
Blaze: AHHHH!
Blaze is bleeding profusely now.
Blaze: *pained grunts*
Talon soars sky-high and then begins diving to the ground again.
Talon: (I’ve got him now! I’ll just repeat the same move again!)
Blaze feels his grip on his blade weakening but quickly tightens it.
Blaze: (No! I won’t drop this sword. It was mom’s…)
Blaze looks at his reflection in the obsidian.
Blaze: (My parents…)
A flashback begins. A young Blaze is sulking as Fatal enters the room he’s in.
Fatal: Blaze, there you are!
Blaze: Oh, hi, Ms. Fatal. Were you looking for me?
Fatal: Yeah, we need you.
Blaze’s eyes light up.
Blaze: For what?!
Fatal: Gus found a box of 9-year-old hot pockets and wants you to microwave them. We’re 90% sure he’ll puke his guts out, but… well, to be frank, we need the entertainment.
Blaze: Oh…
Blaze’s excited expression turns to somberness.
Fatal: Is something wrong, kiddo?
Blaze: It’s- It’s my quirk, Ms. Fatal! All I can do is microwave things! The rest of the resistance is fighting against the Vanguard and the Iota Movement, and I’m just the guy who heats your lunches!
Blaze starts crying.
Blaze: All I hear about is how great my mom and dad were… and they had awesome quirks, so why is mine so terrible?!
Fatal starts laughing.
Blaze: Why is that funny?!
Fatal: Oh, Blaze…
Fatal sits down next to Blaze.
Fatal: You know, I was quirkless when I was your age.
Blaze: Y- you were?
Fatal: Yeah, and your dad only had a dinky little healing quirk.
Blaze: Huh? But- But I thought he had elemental powers.
Fatal: Yeah, he did, but only after receiving a serum that gave him that quirk, the same one that gave me mine.
Blaze: Really! Can I have it!
Fatal: Sorry, kid, but it’s long gone.
Blaze: Oh…
Fatal: Not that we’d give it to you anyway.
Blaze: What?! Why not?!
Fatal: Because… Your quirk is good enough to take you far.
Blaze: No way… it’s useless.
Fatal pets Blaze’s head.
Fatal: Blaze, always remember one thing: It’s not about the quirk; it’s about the person who wields the quirk. Your ability can take you far if you let it.
Blaze: Are you kidding me?! Then why doesn’t that apply to my dad?!
Fatal flashes back to Hayze’s fights against Silver and Aster.
Fatal: Because… Hayze never needed the serum to be the hero he became… he needed it so people would give him a chance.
Blaze: Huh?
Fatal stands up and walks away.
Fatal: Instead of wishing your quirk was better, figure out ways to do that yourself. Because, unlike your dad when we first met him, everyone here believes in you.
Just as Fatal is about to leave the room, she stops momentarily.
Fatal: Oh, and keep this in mind: the 1st rule of strategy: the first move is always a fake.
The flashback ends.
Blaze: (If Dad didn’t let his quirk define who he was, then neither will I!)
Talon begins flying up the building again.
Blaze: (All I have to work with is this sword… and that’s all I need!)
Talon: You’re going down this time! Claw Stri-
Blaze throws his obsidian sword at Talon.
Talon: Huh?!
Talon swiftly dodges it; he stares at the sword as it plummets to the ground.
Talon: Ha! You actually thought that would-
Talon looks up to see Blaze jump off the building towards him.
Talon: What?!
Blaze: First rule of strategy, bitch!
Blaze tackles Talon in midair.
Talon: Let go!
Blaze: No! Way!
Talon smacks into the ground with Blaze, but the falcon softens Blaze’s impact.
Talon: *groans*
Talon passes out.
Blaze: Great! Now I’m down!
Blaze starts running to Aster’s team.
Blaze: Aster!
Killian: Finally! Someone’s here!
Aster: Yeah… but not who we expected…
Yul: Something must have happened.
Blaze arrives at the group.
Aster: Blaze, what happened?
Blaze: Romeo intercepted us; he’s fighting the others as we speak.
Yul: And what about Vanguard?
Blaze: I don’t know, but when I left, Gale and Saige were incapacitated, and Karma was under Romeo’s control.
Impulse: (Saige?) I’m going ahead!
Impulse starts running to the building.
Aster: No! Stop!
Impulse abruptly stops.
Impulse: What? Come on, Aster! We’ve gotta help them!
Aster: We’re going in there together! If it’s just Romeo, you can help take him down, but if Vanguard’s there, we have to stick to the plan. You’re too critical to run off by yourself, Impulse.
Impulse: But… I-
Aster: No buts! Come on, everyone!
Aster’s team begins running to the dorm, passing by Impulse.
Grace: Come on, buddy, you’ll have other chances to impress her.
Impulse: I don’t want to impress her; I’m worried!
Grace: Aw…
Impulse: Shut up! Let’s keep up with the rest of the group!
Aster’s team, plus Blaze, enter the dorm.
Aster: (I hope you’ve got things handled with Romeo, Tyson.)
Romeo cowers in fear as Gale stares him down.
Romeo: (Oh God! What’s he gonna do to me?!)
Gale turns around and starts walking to Karma, Saige, and Angel.
Romeo: (Huh?)
Gale: Are you three alright?
Gale’s teammates look surprised.
Angel: I’m beat up, but I’m fine.
Karma: Same here.
Saige: I’m just working through the blindness.
Gale: Good, I just wanted to be sure.
Gale turns around and walks back to Romeo.
Karma: Gale, I can still help you.
Gale: You did a good job, Karma. That turret would have been annoying for me, so thanks.
Karma: I- uh… you’re welcome?
Saige: (What got into Gale?)
Gale approaches Romeo.
Gale: Alright, Juliet, it’s time for you to become my grey matter paintbrush.
Romeo gulps.
Gale: You know, I actually am gonna thank you first.
Romeo: Huh? Th- thank me?
Gale: That feeling of being powerless as my friends were knocked around and punished. It opened my eyes; it made me realize that the world doesn’t revolve around me. If I’m not careful, others could get hurt. Ever since I was created, I haven’t had to think about having “friends,” but now that I’m here, standing on my own two feet. I realize that although the memories of the people behind me belong to Hayze, they still mean something to me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still self-centered and arrogant. But now, instead of being a guy who only thinks about himself, I think about myself and a few other people. There’s a lesson in there somewhere… I’m just not sure where.
Romeo: Does this mean you won’t beat the shit out of me?
Gale: Nope! Saige! Put up a wall!
Saige creates a pink translucent barrier in the hallway, separating Romeo and Gale from Angel, Karma, and herself.
Gale: Now… get ready to feel force unlike any other!
Gale begins channeling wind around himself, building up more and more air to the point where the currents are visible.
Romeo: OH GOD! OH GOD! OH GOD!
Gale’s eyes turn pure green.
Romeo: *high-pitched sequel* OH GOD!
Romeo starts running.
Gale: GALE FORCE WINDS!
The air channeling around Gale shoots out in all directions, with forces so strong that it sends Romeo flying through the hallway and winds so sharp it destroys Romeo’s clothes.
Romeo: OW! OW! OW! OW! OW!
Gale bursts toward Romeo, gliding through the air and completely unaffected by his wind current.
Gale: Typhoon Boom!
Gale smacks Romeo in the stomach, blasting him through the wall at the end of the hallway and sending him careening across the U.A. campus.
Romeo: AHHHHHHHHH!
Saige lowers her wall.
Angel: Nice work, Gale!
Karma: Yeah… that was incredible!
Gale: I know! It’s my attack; it’s refreshing to finally not have to watch my quirk get used by an amateur.
Karma: Saige, is your vision back?
Saige: Uh… I don’t think Romeo’s landed yet.
Gale: Yeah, you’ll want to give that a few minutes.
Aster, Yul, Tobias, Killian, Alec, Blaze, Impulse, and Grace arrive.
Alec: Jesus Christ! What happened here?
Gale: I happened.
Impulse: Gale Force Winds?
Gale: Gale Force Winds.
Yul: I assume you took care of Romeo?
Gale: Yup, he’s with the birds right now.
Aster: Wait… where’s Tyson?
Gale: Oh shit! I almost forgot! Vanguard showed up, and they’ve been fighting on the roof!
Aster and Yul: What?!
Aster: Blaze, Grace, and Impulse tend to the wounded.
Impulse slides next to Saige.
Impulse: Are you okay, Saige?
Saige: No, but thanks for asking, Calm.
Impulse crawls into the fetal position.
Karma: *whispers to Angel* She 100% knows that’s Impulse, right?
Angel: *whispers* Yeah, she knows the group assignments; she’s fucking with him.
Aster: Everyone else, come with me!
Gale: Alright, sounds like fun!
On the roof, Vanguard laughs.
Vanguard: Well, well, well, Tyson. It looks like we’ve reached the end of the line…
Tyson has just one card left: The Two of Spades. He cuts his index finger with it, drawing blood.
Tyson: It sure looks like it…
Vanguard: Any final words?
Tyson looks up at the sky.
Tyson: Yeah… just five.
Tyson tosses Vanguard his final card; it lands on the ground in front of him.
Tyson: Go Fuck Yourself.
Vanguard: *grunts* Just like your mentor… pathetic.
Vanguard begins charging an energy ball.
Vanguard: I’ll use the power of Death to destroy you!
Vanguard’s energy ball grows to the size of an SUV.
Vanguard: Are you ready to face oblivion?!
Tyson: Woah, woah, woah! That’s cheating!
Vanguard: Wh- huh?!
Tyson: You can't use Hyper Beam; you haven't learned that move by level up!
Vanguard stares at Tyson.
Vanguard: You realize you deserve to die for that joke alone, right?
Tyson: Worth it!
Vanguard: *frustrated yell* Death Ball!
Vanguard throws his ball of energy at Tyson.
Tyson: (This isn’t how I expect it to end, but… if there’s one thing I’m happy about…)
Aster, Yul, Tobias, Killian, Alec, and Gale run out onto the roof.
Aster: TYSON!
Tyson: (It’s that I went out gambling it all.)
The energy ball collides with Tyson, instantly vaporizing him.
Aster: NOOOOOOOO!
Aster falls to his knees in defeat.
Gale: Damn…
Alec: That’s… wow…
Vanguard laughs.
Vanguard: Thank god that waste of oxygen is gone.
Aster looks enraged and gets to his feet.
Aster: Killian! Go get Grace ready! Everyone else! We’re taking this guy down!
Vanguard: Sorry, kiddos, but I’ve had my fun here.
Vanguard starts flying.
Aster: Where do you think you’re going?!
Vanguard: Wherever I please, who’s going to stop me? You? HA!
Vanguard flies away.
Aster: He’s not going anywhere!
Aster reaches for his cyanide tablet, but Yul stops him.
Yul: Aster, you need to calm down; going after him alone will only get you killed!
Aster: He killed Tyson, Yul!
Yul: I know… but if we die too, it’ll make his death a waste of time. Tyson fought Vanguard to keep the rest of the infiltration team safe from his wrath. He sacrificed himself to keep this plan alive! So don’t throw it away out of anger. We’ll have time to mourn later!
Aster calms down.
Aster: You’re right…
Aster walks over and picks up Tyson’s final card.
Aster: They must have played a card game, and Tyson lost-
Aster’s eyes widen.
Aster: Yul! Come look at this!
The group runs over and looks at the card.
[https://i.ibb.co/YDkXMkk/unnamed.png]
Gale: What the hell? What kind of game did they play?
Aster: It has to be a message of some sort. Vanguard vaporized him. There was no reason for him to have been bleeding at any point.
Yul gets a look of realization.
Yul: It’s Morse code!
Aster: Huh? You think so?
Yul: It’s a series of dots and dashes. Let me see it; maybe I can interpret the message.
Yul examines the card.
Yul: I think it says, “Can’t. Use. Two. Same. Time.”