In Nashville's tallest skyscraper, Blair and a female hero dressed in a costume with an American flag color scheme are riding a glass elevator to the top floor.

Blair: (This internship hasn’t been what I hoped it would be. I bet the guys who got offers are out doing big and important things with their heroes. I know it’s my own fault for not doing well in the Sports Festival, but I wish I was doing more than C-tier hero work… no offense to Lady Liberty. Of course, she’s just doing her job.)

Lady Liberty notices Blair looks bored.

Liberty: Chin up, Lady Lava; today is an exhilarating day.

Blair: Hm? What do you mean?

Liberty: We have a much bigger task on our plate than standard patrolling.

Blair: Oh yeah? Like what?

Liberty: Tell me, do you know what building we’re in right now?

Blair: The Center of Hero Operations. This is where all hero work is monitored and recorded so that heroes are given proper credit for their actions. I’ve always dreamed of visiting this place, but I won’t lie to you, Lady Liberty; I thought it would be a little… cooler…

Liberty: Oh, don’t worry, that’s how everyone feels their first time here.

Blair: I thought there would be more to it than people in suits with paperwork. It’s like we’re in a corporate office…

Lady Liberty laughs.

Liberty: Yes, that’s an excellent way to put it. This is where all information that heroes need to do their daily jobs is kept, with different departments keeping track of what heroes are doing and where heroes are doing it. It’s not as grandiose as one might think. Heroes only come here on official business; it’s not a heroes lounge.

Blair: I guess that makes sense.

Blair looks out the elevator window and sees that they’re very high up in the air.

Blair: So… what official business are we here for? I imagine something interesting must happen on the top floor of a building like this.

Liberty: Oh, how right you are, Ms. Maddox.

Blair: Hm?

The elevator stops.

Liberty: You’re in for a treat. You get to witness something that not many people get to see first-hand.

The elevator doors open to a circular room with a round table at the center. There are two outer ring tables as well.

Liberty: Today is the Top 10 Hero summit.

Liberty begins walking toward the table, Blair follows.

Liberty: Once a month, the Top 10 heroes gather here to discuss issues that have occurred in the previous 30 to 31 days. Together they can make decisions on responding to these situations and plan for the future.

Blair: Wait, so does that mean Colossus is coming here?

Liberty: Yes, and many more.

Blair: Wow, that’s awesome… but wait, what are we doing here then?

Liberty: I am the summit moderator; my job is to keep the heroes on track in their discussions and play peacemaker if and when I’m needed.

Blair: Peacemaker?

Liberty: Let’s just say that when you fill a room with 10 of the strongest people on the planet, you’re bound to have some egos clash.

Blair: I see… and I’m allowed to be here for this meeting?

Liberty: Yes, everyone, including the moderator, can bring an assistant with them. I’m sure a few of the heroes will also bring their interns. It’s an excellent experience for you to see what goes on at the top of the hero food chain.

Blair: (I get to see the Top 10 heroes gathered in one place? Hell yeah, it will be an awesome experience!)

Liberty: You’ll sit at the other ring; stay quiet once the summit has begun.

Blair: Yes, ma’am.

Liberty: F.Y.I. If you whisper, we shouldn’t be able to hear you.

Blair: Uh… okay.

Liberty: I’m sure you’ll have some friends here; you can catch up with them, but don’t be a distraction.

Blair: Yes, ma’am.

Liberty: The heroes will be arriving shortly. Take a seat.

Blair: Okay.

Liberty takes a seat at the round table. Blair sits in one of the seats in the outer ring.

Blair: (I’m sure Justus took an internship with Colossus… I wonder who else will be here as well?)

A limousine drives down the highway towards the Center of Hero operation. Inside, Big Tank pins a #10 pin on his suit.

Big Tank: Alright, Howitzer, let’s get through this.

Aaron: Hm? Is something wrong?

Big Tank: *sighs* Let’s just say that these meetings aren’t fun.

Aaron: Really? But I thought the Top 10 summit was a big deal and an honor to attend?

Big Tank: Not when you’re number 10 kid, everyone in that room has an ego the size of a planet, and the pecking order is pretty clearly based on your rank.

Aaron: Isn’t that a little… immature?

Big Tank: Oh, it is, but that’s just how it goes. These things always bottle down to arguing. Last time, I suggested having a tape measure on hand to settle debates efficiently, but that didn’t catch many laughs.

Aaron: If it’s so unproductive, then why do it?

Big Tank: Because it helps keep us organized to protect the citizens. It forces a group of strong heroes to discuss matters that otherwise wouldn’t be talked about... one incident that we’ll be discussing today is of importance to you.

Aaron: The forest...

Big Tank: Yes… someone orchestrated that attack, but we don’t know who, and they are bound to strike again at some point. So we have to be ready for when.

Aaron: Right.

Big Tank: Also, don’t let my attitude bring you down, Howitzer; you get to see the Top 10 heroes gathered together in one place. I’m the one who’s not happy about going to this. You should be.

Aaron: Yessir.

Big Tank: Now, because I’m a high-ranking hero, I’m going to suck it up and put on a happy face. Watch closely, kid. You’re gonna get a lesson in faking it.

Colossus and Justus walk down the street toward the Center of Hero Operations, Colossus waves and greets the many people cheering for him.

Citizen #1: We love you, Colossus!

Citizen #2: Thank you for keeping us safe!

Colossus: Smile and wave, Justus. The fans are sure to recognize you as well.

Justus looks around at the crowd of adoring fans.

Justus: I’ll pass.

Colossus: Hm? Why? Recognition is one of the more fun parts of the job.

Justus looks over at a kid wearing a Colossus shirt with a Colossus action figure.

Justus: They don’t care about me.

Colossus: That’s not true.

Justus: You’re number 1. Everyone loves you.

Justus and Colossus enter the C.H.O. building.

Colossus: Just because you’re not what the fans are there to see doesn't mean you can’t enjoy that they’re there.

Justus: I’d rather generate my own thunder than steal it from you.

Colossus: *sighs* Are you sure?

Justus: You said we’re going up to the elevator, right?

Colossus: Yes, top floor.

Justus starts walking to the elevator.

Colossus: (He has the determination and strength, that’s for sure, but sometimes I wonder if he has the personality to be a number 1 hero. He doesn’t understand that I’m held to a much higher standard not just physically but also publicly. Oh, well, he’ll learn in due time.)

Colossus follows Justus. Elsewhere Kevin and Gundam (In Mech) Stand on a rooftop overlooking the streets near the C.H.O. building.

Gundam: Well, Colossus has arrived; he’ll probably make a joke about how he’s first again…

Kevin: (Justus was with him, I guess he ended up taking an internship with his dad after all.) So, are we going to head in the building now or?

Gundam: No, we’ll wait until 5 minutes before the summit starts.

Kevin: What? Why?

Gundam: *groans* I really don’t like small talk…

Kevin stares at Gundam.

Kevin: Fair enough.

Gundam: If we walk down the stairs of this building we’re on, we should get to the meeting room with only a few minutes to spare.

Gundam steps out of his mech suit. It folds itself into a briefcase. He picks it up off the ground and hands it to Kevin.

Gundam: Your job is to hold on to this.

Kevin grabs the briefcase.

Gundam: Also, take this.

Gundam hands Kevin a piece of paper.

Kevin: What’s this? A list of items that will be discussed during the meeting?

Gundam: Nope, grocery list. We’re heading to Target after this.

Kevin stares at Gundam dumbfounded.

Kevin: Which of these things is more important for me to protect?

Gundam: Hm… good question…

Kevin: What!

Silver and Black Hollow arrive via helicopter. It lands on the helipad of the C.H.O. building.

Silver: Isn’t this a little flashy of an entrance? Isn’t the ninja way to enter an area silently without being detected?

Black Hollow: That might be, but it is also the ninja way to perform the unexpected.

Silver: Not to question you, sir, but that sounds like a stretch.

Black Hollow: Fine, the elevator ride is very long if you enter from the bottom floor.

Silver: But aren’t ninjas all about patience?

Black Hollow: 4 summits ago, I took the elevator at the same time as Colossus…

Silver: Oh.

Black Hollow: Never again…

Silver: Yup, I completely understand now.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Black Hollow: Let’s go inside.

Silver: Let’s.

The Top 10 heroes gather in the meeting room.

Colossus: I’m glad to see everyone could make it!

Vulcan: Don’t start with your crap already.

Colossus: I see you’re crabby as always, Vulcan.

Vulcan: Only because I have to be in the same room as you.

Big Tank: (Here we go…)

Gundam: (I think Colossus might have broken his record for how fast he can piss off Vulcan…)

Liberty: Colossus, Vulcan, if you’re going to yell at each other. At least wait for the meeting to start.

Colossus: Yes, Lady Liberty, my apologies.

Vulcan scoffs.

Liberty: Let’s all take our seats.

All of the heroes sit down at the table. Blair, Justus, Aaron, Kevin, and Silver watch diligently at the outer ring table.

Kevin: /whispering/ Man, look at this lineup of titans.

Silver: // Heroes number 1 through 10 gathered in the same place. Of course, there’s Colossus at number 1, but we all know him.

Justus: // That’s the number 2 hero, Vulcan. I hear he has a short temper, but it works well with his quirk: Volcano Conjuring. He can secrete magma from his body and shape it in objects or even creatures.

Aaron: // Then there’s the number 3 hero, Evergreen. She can control any plant and use it as a weapon or tool.

Silver: // The hero I’m interning with is number 4, Black Hollow. He has the power of invisibility to confuse his enemies.

Blair: // That’s Exciton the Gem Hero. He’s number 5. He can create crystals from his body and slice and dice his opponents with them.

Justus: // The number 6 hero is Impact, he can accelerate his movement to well over 200 MPH, but he can’t control himself at that speed, so he’s basically a human cannonball.

Kevin: // I’m with the number 7 hero, Gundam. He uses his super-intelligence to design machinery and weapons that he uses in combat. His greatest creation is his personal mech suit he uses to battle.

Aaron: // Of course, there is also the hottest hero of all, Lust. She’s younger and still new to the hero world, but from what I’ve heard, her power has something to do with libidos.

Blair: // That’s Meltman.

Aaron: // And last but not least, there's my hero, number 10, Big Tank. He has tank cannons mounted on his back and forearms, making him a weapon of mass destruction.

Silver: // Oh, so Blair, who are you with?

Blair: // Uh, you know… a strong hero… in the top 10.

Kevin: // It’s the moderator, isn’t it?

Blair: // ...yes.

Kevin: // Well, you lose some, you lose some.

Blair: // Shut the hell up!

Lady Liberty clears her throat to get the attention of the heroes.

Liberty: Alright, I guess we’ll cut straight to the chase here. Does anyone have a topic they’d like to start with?

Vulcan: Why do we still do these things?

Liberty: That’s not up for debate, Vulcan.

Colossus: This again? How did you get all the way to number 2 without any common sense?

Vulcan: These meetings are a waste of our time! Our time would be better used sticking to our usual duties than sitting here talking in circles.

Colossus: You don’t care about that! You just hate being reminded that you’re number 2 once a month!

Vulcan: Oh, look at me, I’m Colossus, a stupid rank matters more to me than my job! How was that impression?

Colossus: Don’t you dare mock my drive to be a hero!

Vulcan: You just insulted mine! I see you can’t take what you dish out like usual!

Lady Liberty slams her hammer on the table.

Liberty: Does anyone other than Colossus or Vulcan have a topic they’d like to discuss?

The Silver, Kevin, Aaron, and Blair have dumbfounded looks on their faces. Justus looks disappointed with his father.

Justus: (Jesus Christ…)

Blair: (That was like watching two 5-year-olds bicker…)

Evergreen clears her throat.

Evergreen: I guess we should start with the biggest news story of the last month: The attack on U.A.’s hero course 1st years during their field trip.

The interns tense up.

Big Tank: I agree. Before this meeting turns back into the Colossus and Vulcan argument hour, we must talk about that.

Vulcan and Colossus both scoff.

Lust: So what do we exactly know about what happened that night?

Gundam: Class 1-A of U.A. was on a field trip to work on team-building exercises. There were 20 students and 3 teachers supervising, and 8 assailants attacked their forest cabin. They promptly defeated the 3 teachers. One was severely injured after her Achilles tendons were lacerated, another was badly poisoned, and the third was murdered after being impaled. The students were able to fight off the attackers, defeating two in the process, but the other 6 escaped and haven’t been heard from since. Combining the teachers and students, there were 10 unharmed, 9 injured, 3 poisoned, and 1 dead.

Impact: What happened to the two villains that the students defeated?

Gundam: A bizarre phenomenon.

Lust: What do you mean by that Gundam?

Gundam: Both defeated assailants suffered massive brain hemorrhages that left them mentally incapacitated. They’re both unable to speak, making them unable to be interrogated.

Big Tank: How the hell did that happen? They both suffered the same brain trauma after being defeated? That’s fishy. If you ask me, I think “someone” used their quirk as a fail-safe to protect themself.

Black Hollow: Big Tank is correct. It’s clear the assailants did not do this of their own volition. Someone else was in charge.

Exciton: Yeah, and whoever they are… they’re pretty goddamn powerful. They broke into U.A.’s private files and launched this attack from the shadows.

Vulcan: Well, do we have any leads? Because otherwise, I don’t know why we’re discussing this matter. Let the police handle the investigation, and if they find something, we’ll get involved then.

Colossus: Are you kidding me? This country's top hero training facility had one of its teachers brutally murdered, followed by an attempted kidnapping of the students! Of course, we should be discussing this!

Gundam: To answer your question Vulcan, we do have a lead.

Vulcan: Then let’s hear it.

Gundam takes out a piece of paper and passes it around the table.

Gundam: This is a photocopy of a piece of paper found on one of the defeated assailants. It lists the names of 9 students.

Vulcan examines the list.

Vulcan: Do we know what the significance of this list is?

Gundam: At first glance, it would appear to be a list of targets, but based on reports from the students, 2 out of the 5 students captured at one point or another that night were not on the list.

Lust: So then these must be priority targets.

Evergreen: Exactly, but that raises another question: Why were they deemed a higher priority than the rest of the class.

Blair: (All five of us are on that list… and they’re talking about it like we’re not here.)

Vulcan hands Colossus the list.

Colossus: We’ve already deciphered the significance of the order. Except for Adam Hayze, this was the order those students fought in during the Sports Festival’s first round.

Impact: So they chose the students after watching them fight?

Colossus: Exactly, they more than likely did this while they infiltrated U.A. on the day of the Festival.

Big Tank: So what does this all mean? We know when, how, and why the incident happened, the only thing we’re missing is the most crucial detail of all: who did it?

Vulcan: We know all this information, but we have no idea who or what we’re up against. There’s no way we can make a plan of action without that.

Colossus: As much as I hate to admit it, I concur with Vulcan and Big Tank. We have to prioritize learning the mastermind’s identity before making a proper action plan.

Lust: Hold on a minute, I’m sure the students gave descriptions of the six villains that got away, and we have the identity of the two that were defeated. That has to be a clue, right?

Gundam: Unfortunately, Lust, that’s not the case. There were extensive background checks done on all 8 assailants. The only thing any of them have in common is that they all had rough childhoods, with most being orphans.

Evergreen: They were all marked as missing persons, meaning they already were hidden away somewhere before this incident.

Exciton: In addition, the police tracked the footprints of those who escaped. They all converged on a single point and then vanished.

Impact: It must have been a quirk.

Big Tank: One of these guys was a giant, right? How the hell could they hide that?

Gundam: Very well, apparently.

The heroes all go silent.

Blair: // This is actually more civil than I expected after that start.

Silver: // There isn’t much to argue about. All the facts are laid out on the table. Whoever sent those guys to attack us that night is a strategic genius; he gave enough information to be feared, ominous and mysterious while also not providing enough information for the heroes to do anything about him.

Justus: // Silver is right, and heroes know that better than any of us.

Kevin: // That must be why they’re silent, a hero died, and they can’t do anything about it.

Aaron: // A room filled with some of the most powerful people alive, and they’re brought to silence because of a feeling of powerlessness; it’s kind of chilling.

Lady Liberty looks around the room.

Liberty: Does anyone have anything else to add? It seems the discussion has yielded an inconclusive answer.

Meltman stands up.

Meltman: I have something to say!

Liberty: Go ahead.

Meltman: Ahem, I know that we don’t have an answer for the problem before us, but I know that we’re all trying our hardest, and that’s what matters most! I, for example, didn’t say anything during that discussion, but I can guarantee you that it is not because I shit myself due to accidentally melting my colon.

Everyone stares at Meltman.

Big Tank: How are you ranked ahead of me?

Liberty: Does anyone else have anything to say?

All of the heroes remain silent.

Liberty: Alright, then we shall move on.

The summit continues for another hour of debates and arguments between Vulcan and Colossus. Lady Liberty looks at her watch.

Liberty: Alright, we shall take a 45-minute break for lunch.

Everyone stands up.

Kevin: Man, that felt like it lasted forever…

Aaron: All the exciting stuff happened at the start… the rest was just watching Vulcan and Colossus yell at each other…

Silver: I’m really reassessing my fandom of Colossus after watching him act like a child for an hour and a half.

Blair: Vulcan makes me reassess if my anger is really that big of a deal.

Kevin: Nah, it is.

Silver: Yup.

Aaron: Mhm.

Justus: Agreed.

Blair: Fuck you guys!

Lady Liberty walks over to the interns.

Liberty: There’s a cafeteria on the 1st floor. You all should keep your energy up. We have another couple of hours of this ahead.

The five classmates head to the cafeteria and get lunch. They all sit together.

Justus: So, how have all of your internships been so far?

Silver: Pretty rigorous, Black Hollow has been teaching me a lot about martial arts, not too much on the hero work side of things, but I’m more interested in getting stronger.

Kevin: Nothing too eventful from me. Our patrols have been pretty mediocre, but we’ve taken down a few bad guys here and there.

Aaron: Losers, Big Tank, and I took down an entire gang operation.

Blair: Really? How did you contribute?

Aaron: Moral support.

Blair: I thought so.

Justus: What about you, Blair? What have you and Lady Liberty been doing?

Blair: Oh, you know… a lot of things…

Aaron: Really, like what?

Blair is quiet for a moment.

Blair: Moral support…

Aaron: Ha!

Kevin: And you, Justus? I’m sure being with the number 1 hero has to be action-packed.

Justus: Not really. I think he’s keeping his workload much lighter because I’m around; the most annoying thing is the constant autograph signing he gets himself into. Once he signs one, he has to sign them all.

Aaron: Well, at least we’re all learning something, right?

Kevin: Oh yeah, it’s boring, but at least I’m getting to see firsthand what a pro hero does daily.

Silver: True, I am kind of looking forward to getting back in the classroom. It feels like it’s been forever since our class was all together.

Aaron: Yeah, it’ll be nice to see everyone again.

Kevin taps Aaron with his elbow.

Kevin: Aaron, I know there’s one person you’re looking forward to seeing.

Aaron: Pfft, I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Kevin: Oh come on, we all heard Will complaining about how you practically carried Alexis out of the woods while he had to crawl his way back on multiple broken ribs!

Aaron: Hey, man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

Kevin: “Bros before hoes” goes right out the window when the chick is that hot.

Blair: You guys are disgusting.

Aaron: It’s okay, Blair; we all know you’re not looking forward to going back to school because you haven’t thanked Hayze for saving your life back in the forest, and now you’re too embarrassed to face him. It’s completely understandable.

Blair: WHAT!

Kevin: Yeah, we get it.

Blair starts blushing.

Blair: THAT’S NOT THE REASON, YOU JACKASSES!

Aaron: Then why are you so upset?

Blair: *frustrated grunt*

Blair storms off.

Justus: She likes Hayze, doesn’t she?

Kevin: Clearly.

Aaron: Girls always go for guys that save their lives. Hayze was smart. I wish I had thought of that.

Silver: Do you think Hayze has noticed?

Aaron: Given Hayze’s track record with Blair, I’m gonna have to say no.

Silver: Are you going to tell him?

Aaron and Kevin look at each other.

Aaron and Kevin: Nah!

Justus: That seems a little rude.

Aaron: Things gotta happen naturally, Justus, like forcing your best friend to crawl through a forest on severe injuries so you can help the beautiful blonde girl with a sprained ankle get home safe.

Justus: That’s natural?

Aaron: Of course!

Silver: Speaking of Hayze, does anyone know who he interned with?

Kevin: I don’t even know what city he went to.

Justus: Come to think of it, neither do I.

Aaron: Eh, I’m sure he’s doing fine.

Hayze passes out from exhaustion, falling off a large rock and smacking down into the dirt. Adrian clocks the stopwatch in his hand.

Adrian: 31 minutes, you made it… barely. Congratulations, Hayze, you’ve passed the first part of my training.

Hayze is unconscious.

Adrian: Oh right, he reached his limit…

Adrian tries to wake Hayze up.

Adrian: Well, whatever, I’ll let him know the good news when he wakes up. He'll need his rest anyway. The real training starts now.