Katsuki pulled on the tie his mom had picked out for him as he walked to the meeting area. He'd never been a big fan of formal wear. Whenever he wore a tie he felt like it was going to strangle him.
Moving forward, Katsuki opened the door to the meetup area. The girls had texted him earlier that afternoon to let him know that they'd run into more of their classmates over the course of the day. Inside was Iida along Shoto. Other then them however, the room was empty.
Walking over to the bicolored teen, Katsuki asked the obvious question.
"Hey. Do you know where the girls are?"
Shoto shook his head.
"No. They must have gotten held up by something."
Just as Shoto finished talking, the door slid open once more.
In walked the girls from the afternoon, Ochaco and Yaoyorozu looking comfortable in their dresses while Kyoka seemed embarrassed.
Yaoyorozu spoke up to explain their delay.
"Sorry we were late everyone! Jiro was feeling a bit…"
Jiro interjected, blushing.
"I'm just not used to dresses and stuff."
Just as they were getting ready to go, the door slid open once more and they all saw Melissa dressed up and rushing in. She was wearing makeup and had decided to forgo her glasses for the gala apparently.
Behind her was a familiar blonde haired teen who they'd briefly met at the sports festival.
"Oh? Are you all still here? The party is starting soon!"
Ochaco spoke up first.
"Then why are you late Melissa?"
Melissa paused with an awkward smile.
"Papa asked me if I could act as someone's guide to the party since it's so easy to get lost here."
To follow her response up, Mirio spoke up with a smile.
"Sorry for the delay Melissa. It's good to see you again everyone. You all performed amazingly at the festival this year! In case you don't remember, I'm your senpai, Mirio Togata!"
Everyone present greeted the older teen after he introduced himself.
Just when they were getting ready to move, an alarm rang out over the announcement system.
"This is an announcement by the I-Island security system. We have received a report from the security system that an explosive device has been placed within the convention area. I-Island is therefore moving into high-alert mode.
"Residents and tourists should return to their homes or lodgings. If you are a long distance from your place of residence, you should move to the nearest evacuation center.
"Anyone still remaining outside 10 minutes from now may be arrested without warning. Please refrain from going outdoors. In addition, most of the main buildings will be sealed off by the security system."
They all looked on in shock as shutters came down to block all the windows and exterior doors of the main building, locking them inside.
When the shutters had finished closing, they all looked at each other as the announcement began to repeat.
Immediately they all moved to check the exits to the building.
Iida tried to use his phone for a moment then spoke up.
"I'm unable to contact anyone. It seems reports are being blocked."
Jiro spoke up from the side.
"The elevator isn't working either."
Melissa spoke up, seeming concerned.
"I don't think that the entire security system would slam into high alert mode just because it found something explosive…"
Mirio spoke up.
"Then why don't we head to the party area? If we're unable to exit the building, and the situation seems abnormal, then why not attempt to reach where the majority of the pro heroes are gathered. Can you get us there Melissa?"
Melissa nodded.
"The emergency stairs should let us get close to the party."
Mirio laughed with a smile.
"Then lets get going! No time like the present!"
They all moved through the manual doors and rushed up the stairs towards the room where the gala was held. Just when they were getting close, Kyoka stopped everyone.
"Wait!"
They all paused and turned to Kyoka. She gestured for everyone to be quiet as she stuck her jacks into the floor nearby. After a few seconds she spoke up.
"Even if an emergency order has been given, it's way too quiet up there."
Mirio nodded, considering the information.
"If you get closer, will you be able to tell what's going on more clearly?"
Kyoka nodded affirmatively.
"Good. Then lets attempt to get as close as possible while avoiding detection."
Melissa spoke up then.
"If we want to try and remain unnoticed, then there is an observation balcony above the main hall."
With a new destination in mind, they continued their climb upwards.
Finally, they reached the top and moved towards the balcony, Mirio at the front.
Suddenly Mirio held his arms out to the side to prevent anyone else from advancing. Turning around, Katsuki could tell that even though Mirio was still smiling, there was a hard edge to his expression.
Using hand gestures, Mirio signaled for everyone else to move back except for Kyoka.
Nodding in answer, the rest of the group moved back to the stairwell.
A few minutes later, Kyoka and Mirio rejoined the rest of the group.
Mirio spoke up first still maintaining his calm.
"The situation is that a group of villains has managed to infiltrate I-Island and seize control of the main security system. Using it, they are holding everyone on the island hostage with an unknown goal in mind."
Melissa let out a gasp as Mirio continued.
"The situation seems difficult, but the villains only have one true advantage they are leveraging in this situation. The security system. If it can be rebooted or returned to normal operation, then the villains will no longer be able to maintain their control of the hostages."
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Mirio turned to Melissa.
"Melissa, is it possible to reset the security system?"
Melissa still seemed shocked, but then her gaze firmed.
"The security control room is on the top level of this tower. If the villains have taken control of this system, then the authentication locks and passwords should have been disabled. It is definitely possible to reboot the system. You would just need to reach the top floor without being noticed."
Mirio nodded.
"Alright then. Melissa, how complicated would it be for me to restore the system?"
"Complicated. You'll need to bring me along."
Mirio's smile grew more strained at that.
"That will be slightly more difficult… I could reach the top floor by myself fairly easily, but to bring anyone else along would be a bit harder…"
Katsuki stepped forwards.
"I'll come too. I can help keep Melissa safe while you handle any of the other threats."
While the rest of his classmates paused in shock, Mirio met Katsuki's gaze evenly. After a moment, the older hero student nodded.
"Alright then. We need to get going quickly before the situation can worsen."
Ochaco spoke up at that point.
"Then, we also-"
Mirio cut her off with a shake of his head.
"We need to move fast, and we'll be much harder to detect with just 3 people. All of you should stay here and attempt to avoid detection."
Ochaco sat back, seeming dissatisfied, but accepting the logic of the statement.
Before moving forward, Katsuki moved towards Momo.
"Could you make me a bat before we go?"
Momo startled for a moment.
"Wh- Of course. One moment."
As Momo was making the bat, Ochaco turned to Melissa with a determined expression on her face.
"If I'm not going to go with you, the least I can do is this."
Ochaco put her hand on Melissa's shoulder, and the blonde American began to float.
"This should make it easier for you to climb."
Mirio spoke up then.
"Alright then, we need to get moving."
Katsuki took the bat Momo had created and followed after Mirio along with a floating Melissa.
Together, the trio entered the stairwell began rushing upwards. Katsuki quickly noted that Melissa was struggling to adapt to weightless locomotion.
Spotting the issue, Katsuki slowed down and pulled Melissa onto his back while he held her in place.
"We need to make the most of Ochaco's quirk before she gets too nauseous and has to release it. Hold on tight."
Melissa hesitated for a moment.
"But won't that slow you down?"
"I'll be fine. Hold on tight."
Melissa grabbed onto Katsuki's shoulders as he began rushing up the stairs once more.
Mirio smiled as Katsuki caught up to him and they began rushing up the stairs at top speed.
"By the way Kohai, I never asked what your hero name was."
Katsuki didn't pause his ascent as he answered.
"Dauntless."
"Well then Dauntless, I'm Lemillion."
At that Mirio pulled ahead, leading the way up the stairs as they sprinted upwards quickly speeding past the floors as they ascended the tower.
Around the 70th floor, Katsuki let out a grunt as Melissa's weight suddenly returned.
Not letting it stop him, Katsuki continued his climb, only slowing slightly at the additional weight.
Melissa spoke up.
"Uh, Katsuki, shouldn't you put me down?"
Katsuki shook his head.
"We need to keep moving."
"But won't it exhaust you to carry me all the way to the top?"
"I'll be fine. We need to keep moving as fast as possible."
Mirio noted the slowdown and Matched Katsuki's pace, still leading from the front.
--------------------------
Their first true roadblock occurred less then 10 floors later. Mirio suddenly paused his ascent. Moving around the corner, Katsuki spotted what the issue was.
A massive metal shutter was blocking off the stairwell past the 80th floor.
Miro contemplated the shutter, then turned to Melissa.
"Should I break it?"
Melissa shook her head.
"Then the security system will respond."
Mirio pondered for a moment, looking over at the door to the 80th floor.
"Melissa, if we can get into the 80th floor, is there another way for us to ascend the tower?"
"I mean, there is another emergency stairwell on the opposite side of the tower that services only the upper floors. It might not have a shutter, but the doorway to the 80th floor is alarmed and will alert the security room if we open it."
Mirio smiled at the answer.
"Sir enjoys making me do logic puzzles in my spare time at the agency. Have you ever heard of the Invincible Door fallacy Melissa?"
Melissa shook her head.
"You should both step down to the floor below for a moment and cover your faces."
Katsuki and Melissa followed Mirio's instructions as he continued.
Mirio stepped over towards the wall between the stairwell and the 80th floor, as far from the door as possible. As he did so, Mirio removed his suit jacket and shirt, revealing a sculpted upper body that rivaled Katsuki's own.
"The basic idea, is that someone worked really hard to ensure that we can't open this door. And they did a really good job. We can't open it."
For the first time ever, Katsuki got to see Mirio's quirk in action. The hero student stuck his head through the cement wall next to the door for a few seconds, then pulled it back out.
Bracing his body, Mirio stuck one of his arms into the wall. As he did so, Katsuki could spot golden lightning arcing off the limb.
"The thing is, whoever they were, they put a lot less effort into this wall."
In an instant a deep boom rang out and the stairwell filled with cement dust.
When the dust cleared, Katsuki could see Mirio still standing in the same posture as before, but the wall itself had a hole the size of a person blasted through it where his hand had been.
Mirio pulled his hand back through the hole and shook out his arm, still smiling.
"Overdid it a bit."
Mirio turned back towards the staircase where Melissa and Katsuki were watching.
"Come on!"
Climbing through the hole in the wall after Mirio, they were greeted by a bare featureless hallway.
Mirio turned to face Melissa.
"Which way?"
Melissa pointed down the hallway.
"We just need to move around the tower until we reach the staircase."
"Got it!"
They quickly began to sprint around the tower until they reached the opposite side.
Mirio quickly repeated his phasing trick to blow another hole in the wall and allow access to the staircase.
Checking the stairs, it seemed they were in luck. No shutter.
Melissa explained as they returned to their climb.
"This staircase only services the upper floors, so it has far fewer internal security doors."
Mirio spoke up at that, still smiling.
"Good for us then."
-----------------------
Eventually, they finally reached the upper floors of the tower near the security room.
Katsuki finally lowered Melissa from his back
Moving through the hallways, as they got closer to the control room they heard yelling from nearby.
Moving forwards covertly, they approached the source of the yelling.
"-The hell is going on Sam! Why are you doing this!"
They finally rounded a corner and spotted a brown haired man yelling towards an older blonde haired man, guns pointed at him.
Melissa gasped quietly.
"Papa!"
Mirio held up a hand for them to stop, observing the encounter.
"This is all your fault! You just gave up after our research was taken away! All the recognition and grants, gone in a puff of smoke! So then I hatched a plan, why not sell it to the highest bidder! The device and research are worth billions!
"And don't look down on me! Could I ever have arranged for the mercenaries to get onto the island without your assistance?"
Mirio and Melissa gasped in shock at the revelation.
David gritted his teeth at the statement.
"But they were meant to be fake villains! And even then, I told you to call it off! I realized that I was just scared and couldn't see the hope for the future!"
Sam scoffed.
"You think you can just 'Call it off' at the 11th hour? Besides, you are still complicit in this!"
One of the thugs spoke up, an orange haired villain with pink lines under his eyes manifested a sword from one of his arms and pointed it at David.
"That's enough of that Doctor Shield. We're here for what we were promised. Now, our mutual friend Samuel here has told us that he cannot open the vault without your assistance. So, you better get working. If you don't, a little bird told me there's someone on this island important to you. It would be a shame if they got hurt wouldn't it?"
David gritted his teeth and closed his eyes. Then he turned to the computer and started working.
Mirio turned to Melissa and Katsuki.
"The best way to change this situation, is to reset the security system. Lets go."
Melissa paused.
"But Papa-"
"They need him to open the vault for them. They can't hurt him right now."
Melissa swallowed, then followed after Mirio as Katsuki followed.
Shortly after, they found the security room.
Inside was a white haired villain by himself with some kind of eye quirk.
Signalling for Katsuki and Melissa to wait, Mirio snuck into the room and knocked the villain out with a punch to the head from behind. Confirming the villain was down, Mirio signaled for the two to enter with a smile.
"Alright Melissa, you reset the security system. Dauntless, you remain here and guard her."
"But what about you?"
"Villains act erratically when things don't go as planned. Your father could be at risk Melissa, so I'll be taking advantage of the distraction to save him!"
Melissa looked at Mirio's smiling face, then nodded, firming her resolve.
"Okay."
Mirio rushed out of the room, talking to them as he did.
"I'm counting on you both!"
As he moved towards the vault, Melissa took a seat and started working on the security system. Within a few moments, a massive textbox popped up on the monitor.
{Reboot Security Mainframe?}
{y/n}
Melissa's hand hovered over the y key for a moment as she took a deep breath, then slammed down.
Instantly Katsuki could hear the tower start to hum, various security shutters throughout the island and tower opening. The security bots who had been patrolling the streets also returned to their normal operating mode.
Distantly, Katsuki heard yelling and a few gunshots from elsewhere on the floor, followed immediately by silence.
Typing away at the security console, Melissa pulled up video surveillance of the vault.
Displayed on the screen was Mirio standing victorious over the villains within the room, David uninjured and standing nearby. Sam on the other hand, seemed to be panicking.
Still worried, Melissa began shifting through camera feeds to be sure that everyone was alright.
Katsuki was relieved to note that everyone seemed to be alright, and none of his classmates had been discovered during their ascent.
Finally the monitors shifted to a view of the ballroom where the heroes had been freed and All Might had the leader of the villains safely restrained.
Melissa let out a sigh of relief and leaned back in the security chair as they both realized everyone was safe.
Now all that was left was the aftermath.