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Cole landed with a role on the docks of Empire City, electricity fizzling behind him. "Alright, Zeke." Cole said as he approached his rotund best friend. "What's the situation?" Zeke gestured over to a sickly, scrawny old man in loose clothes leaning against a lamp post. "Some sort of black ops guy. Says he wants a word with you." Zeke summarized. "Cole MacGrath," the blonde began in a Japanese accent. "my name is Toshinori Yagi." Yagi handed him a card. "I don't belong to any specific agencies, but I've worked with plenty all around the world. From the Hero Association in Japan and The Guardians of the Galaxy, to more local heroes like The Avengers and the Crystal Gems." Cole looked over the card. Toshinori Yagi aka All Might. One of the most powerful heroes in Japan, behind only the likes of Tatsumaki, and the most iconic Japanese hero overall. Cole looked up in disbelief. "What is this?" Yagi almost laughed. "This is help. We know about Kessler and The Beast. Mr. Stark was begrudgingly impressed by your future self's technological prowess."
Toshinori turned towards a boat and gestured for the two to follow him. "Kessler's depictions of The Beast have heroes around the world scrambling. Unfortunately, many heroes are currently off world, dealing with loose ends regarding the Galactic Empire invasion. Even smaller hero groups have their hands tied with the Blacklight and Outpost 31 pandemics. All we have is a contact in New Marias, one Doctor Wolfe, who claims he has a method to defeat The Beast and that he only needs you." Cole stopped in his tracks. "I don't suppose he gave you any details about this plan?" Yagi halfheartedly laughed. "Well, no, but it's all we really have to work with right now." Cole approached the boat's handrails and gestured towards Empire City. "Look, I'd love to help. Honestly, I would. But this place, this city, needs me. Who's going to watch it while I'm gone?" All Might waved him off. "Some hero from Metropolis, Superman, says he'll take care of things while you're gone. He'll be here in about three weeks time." Cole looked skeptical, before hesitantly offering his hand. "Alright. Deal. We'll meet with Wolfe, work out this plan, and then we're heading right back here." Zeke laughed. "C'mon Cole. Lighten up. This Superman guy, from what I've read, punches harder than most nukes. Nothing bad'll happen while you're gone."
Zeke adjusted his sunglasses. "Besides, what's the worst that could happen? We're headed to New Marias."
~
"You had to ask, didn't you?" Cole said in exasperation. Cole, with his mouth covered in blood and his eyes glowing red from his newly vampiric condition. Cole, with most of his powers drained thanks to an impromptu fight with The Beast after it appeared during takeoff. Cole, who had spent most of the past few days getting shot at by Bertrand's Militia. Cole, who had watched Empire City get completely destroyed. Zeke scratched the back of his head. "Now, I'll admit I may have spoken too soon." All Might, now fully transformed into his more iconic, heroic state, cleared his throat. "I suppose that means we'll have to put Bertrand on the back burner while we deal with" he gestured to Cole "this." Cole sighed. "Any updates on that Barbed Cross?"
~
"When's the last time you've talked to a villain before you locked them up?' Cole asked. Yagi thought for a minute. "Aside from banter? Can't recall. I don't exactly have many chances to have a civil conversation." Cole hummed. "Nix took me out to the swamp tonight. Said she had something to show me." He looked over at Nix for permission. She eyed All Might wearily before nodding. "Follow me."
~
The crater in the swamp still felt as empty and as dead as when he first visted it. It gave an aura that put you in a quiet awe. All Might simply looked at the Ray Sphere in silent shock. "Is this..."
"Yes."
"And her family..."
Cole only nodded. Neither spoke for a while after that.
"If you weren't forced to work with her, you probably would've arrested her by now." Cole noted. "I suppose, yes..." All Might agreed. "You never would've known about thus place then. You'd never know why she is who she is." Silence again. "Where are you going with this?" All Might asked. "I'm just wondering. Is there something more we could do? For the Sashas and Kesslers and Nixs of the world. Are we doing enough?" All Might thought for a minute. "It's one of the sad truths of hero work that you can't save everyone. I don't know if anyone could've saved Sasha and I don't think Kessler wanted to be saved." Cole looked at him for a moment. "Do you think it's too late to save Nix?"
~
Cole and Yagi sat quietly on the rooftops, one with a beer in hand and the other with a specialized protein shake. Half eaten food sat on a table between them. The two looked out at the immense destruction caused by an earlier battle against the Corrupted. Cole had focused on minimizing casualties with his agility while Yagi had fought of the Devourer with his strength. "You ever get used to it? All the crazy shit you do?" Cole asked. "Well, that depends. Heroes and Quirks, or Conduits I suppose, are far more common in Japan. Or in the Eastern World in general really. This kind of work is normal there." Cole took a nice swig. "Give me a comparison." Yagi hummed as he tried to recall the number. "Oh, I'd say around 80%." Cole did a double take. "Damn. Sounds hectic." Toshinori waved him off. "Well, most Heroes in the East aren't as strong as the ones here, with a few exceptions, so I'd say it balances out." Yagi took a sip from his mug. Cole set his beer down. "It's gonna be a busy day tomorrow." Cole said as he got up. "Zeke's got some intel on how Bertrand is shipping the Vermaak out to his buyers. I'll focus my energy on that. He says he's got a different assignment lined up for you. I'm heading to bed." Yagi got up and bowed politely. Cole awkwardly returned the gesture, still not quiet used to it.
The two departed lightheartedly.
~
"Humanity is dying. Help me save what I can."
~
Cole set the RFI down in the table with a heavy sigh. "Things aren't… quiet as black and white as we thought." Zeke and Yagi leaned in. "It turns out The Beast is someone I knew. A conduit named John White." Yagi perked up. "You mean that NSA spy we sent in during Empire City?" Cole nodded. "Listen, what he's doing isn't mass murder. He's activating a Conduits powers. He's making them immune to the plague." Zeke didn't even hesitate. "But…. He's killing everyone not lucky enough to be a Conduit." He said bluntly. "His body count is in the billions." Yagi added. Cole sighed. "He asked me to help him."
"Help him?" Nix asked incredulously. "Your friend killed all my babies! He slaughtered them like cattle!" Cole winced. "I know." Yagi stood up. "Regardless of his reasons, we can't let his crimes go unpunished." Cole nodded. "We won't." Cole took a deep breath, picked up the RFI and began to charge.
Then his whole world errupted into fire.
His nerves screamed in agony, had he been able to see, he'd have seen Toshinori and Nix collapse beside him. The pain only stopped when the RFI hit the floor with a crack.
Cole feel to his knees, breathing ragged, skin singed. Steam was pouring from his pores. "What…. Was that…" Yagi gasped out. "It was killing me, I could feel it." Cole rasped. Nix rose with a belly full of fire. "What the hell did you do Zeke?" Zeke looked over incredulously. "What was I supposed to do?" Cole stood up again and everyone stood in silence. "If we use this…" Cole started. "It will kill all Conduits, not just the Beast." All Might finished. "I don't care what happens to me! All I care is that The Beast dies!" Nix shouted with a snarl. Cole looked at her, slowly, then nodded. "It's the only way to save the world."
"No. It's the only way to save your world."
Yagi had pulled himself to his feet. He was currently leaning over the railing, all gangly limbs and tarnished hair. Staring into the sunset. When he turned around, he looked lost. "Is that right?"
"What are you talking about?" Zeke asked. "No, he has a point." Cole sighed. "Roughly 80% of Japan's population, hell, of the entire Eastern World's population, is a conduit." Zeke opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. "So, what you're saying is…" He trailed off. "Nearly everyone on their half of the globe will drop dead. Governments will collapse, civilizations will disappear, the Eastern World will just be gone." Cole surmised. "Yeah, but, if we let John through then the same thing will happen to us."
No one said anything after that. Not even Nix.
Cole walked over to All Might and leaned over on the rail next to him. "Let's talk." Yagi looked at him, somehow even more tired and old than before. "Not here."
~
The two heroes stood on top of St. Ignatius church, looking down at a dying world. "I can see the, you know." Cole said. "All the people infected with the plague. Dying without knowing it. I can't even walk down the street anymore without knowing the end is near." All Might nodded. "These people look up to us you know. As Heroes, Saints, sometimes even Gods." He murmured out a humorless laugh. "In those comics they sell, in the stories the tell about us, this is usually the part where someone pulls out a miracle cure. Saves the day at the last minute. Let's everyone go home." Cole nodded and Yagi began to walk away. "Zeke and I have a saying. Half as long, twice as bright. Almost feels poignant now." All Might sighed and transformed. "Everything is going to happen fast. There won't be time for goodbyes. I just want you to know now that I respect you. No matter what happens, you will always be my friend." Cole nodded. "Hey, man. This doesn't change anything."
It was a solid moment that passed before Yagi finally left, departed to meet up with John.
~
The Beast had fallen, stunned by Nix's explosion. By her sacrifice. Cole had the RFI strapped to his back as he stood just outside the church. An object crashed into him. Cole knew exactly who it was long before he crashed through those sacred walls.
Cole coughed and sputtered as he got to his feet, the RFI bouncing out of sight. The Symbol of Hope stood stoically on the opposite side of the church. He wasn't smiling. The two shared one more look with each other, one last moment before their world ends.
Cole sighed the sigh of a thousand lifetimes. "I have to try."
All Might nodded. "I know."
The stain glass murals above watched with baited breath.
~
Base inFAMOUS 2 Cole.
Wounded All Might.
Speed Equalized.
Both start with several weeks of prior knowledge and personal experience with the other.
Both start at opposite sides of St. Ignatius Church.
Sometimes I hear people talking about Conduits and Humans like they're totally different. That's bullshit. Cause there ain't nobody with more Humanity than Cole MacGrath.
Vs.
The Symbol of Peace
Epic Orchestral Music - Of Gods And Me
Toshinori turned towards a boat and gestured for the two to follow him. "Kessler's depictions of The Beast have heroes around the world scrambling. Unfortunately, many heroes are currently off world, dealing with loose ends regarding the Galactic Empire invasion. Even smaller hero groups have their hands tied with the Blacklight and Outpost 31 pandemics. All we have is a contact in New Marias, one Doctor Wolfe, who claims he has a method to defeat The Beast and that he only needs you." Cole stopped in his tracks. "I don't suppose he gave you any details about this plan?" Yagi halfheartedly laughed. "Well, no, but it's all we really have to work with right now." Cole approached the boat's handrails and gestured towards Empire City. "Look, I'd love to help. Honestly, I would. But this place, this city, needs me. Who's going to watch it while I'm gone?" All Might waved him off. "Some hero from Metropolis, Superman, says he'll take care of things while you're gone. He'll be here in about three weeks time." Cole looked skeptical, before hesitantly offering his hand. "Alright. Deal. We'll meet with Wolfe, work out this plan, and then we're heading right back here." Zeke laughed. "C'mon Cole. Lighten up. This Superman guy, from what I've read, punches harder than most nukes. Nothing bad'll happen while you're gone."
Zeke adjusted his sunglasses. "Besides, what's the worst that could happen? We're headed to New Marias."
~
"You had to ask, didn't you?" Cole said in exasperation. Cole, with his mouth covered in blood and his eyes glowing red from his newly vampiric condition. Cole, with most of his powers drained thanks to an impromptu fight with The Beast after it appeared during takeoff. Cole, who had spent most of the past few days getting shot at by Bertrand's Militia. Cole, who had watched Empire City get completely destroyed. Zeke scratched the back of his head. "Now, I'll admit I may have spoken too soon." All Might, now fully transformed into his more iconic, heroic state, cleared his throat. "I suppose that means we'll have to put Bertrand on the back burner while we deal with" he gestured to Cole "this." Cole sighed. "Any updates on that Barbed Cross?"
~
"When's the last time you've talked to a villain before you locked them up?' Cole asked. Yagi thought for a minute. "Aside from banter? Can't recall. I don't exactly have many chances to have a civil conversation." Cole hummed. "Nix took me out to the swamp tonight. Said she had something to show me." He looked over at Nix for permission. She eyed All Might wearily before nodding. "Follow me."
~
The crater in the swamp still felt as empty and as dead as when he first visted it. It gave an aura that put you in a quiet awe. All Might simply looked at the Ray Sphere in silent shock. "Is this..."
"Yes."
"And her family..."
Cole only nodded. Neither spoke for a while after that.
"If you weren't forced to work with her, you probably would've arrested her by now." Cole noted. "I suppose, yes..." All Might agreed. "You never would've known about thus place then. You'd never know why she is who she is." Silence again. "Where are you going with this?" All Might asked. "I'm just wondering. Is there something more we could do? For the Sashas and Kesslers and Nixs of the world. Are we doing enough?" All Might thought for a minute. "It's one of the sad truths of hero work that you can't save everyone. I don't know if anyone could've saved Sasha and I don't think Kessler wanted to be saved." Cole looked at him for a moment. "Do you think it's too late to save Nix?"
~
Cole and Yagi sat quietly on the rooftops, one with a beer in hand and the other with a specialized protein shake. Half eaten food sat on a table between them. The two looked out at the immense destruction caused by an earlier battle against the Corrupted. Cole had focused on minimizing casualties with his agility while Yagi had fought of the Devourer with his strength. "You ever get used to it? All the crazy shit you do?" Cole asked. "Well, that depends. Heroes and Quirks, or Conduits I suppose, are far more common in Japan. Or in the Eastern World in general really. This kind of work is normal there." Cole took a nice swig. "Give me a comparison." Yagi hummed as he tried to recall the number. "Oh, I'd say around 80%." Cole did a double take. "Damn. Sounds hectic." Toshinori waved him off. "Well, most Heroes in the East aren't as strong as the ones here, with a few exceptions, so I'd say it balances out." Yagi took a sip from his mug. Cole set his beer down. "It's gonna be a busy day tomorrow." Cole said as he got up. "Zeke's got some intel on how Bertrand is shipping the Vermaak out to his buyers. I'll focus my energy on that. He says he's got a different assignment lined up for you. I'm heading to bed." Yagi got up and bowed politely. Cole awkwardly returned the gesture, still not quiet used to it.
The two departed lightheartedly.
~
"Humanity is dying. Help me save what I can."
~
Cole set the RFI down in the table with a heavy sigh. "Things aren't… quiet as black and white as we thought." Zeke and Yagi leaned in. "It turns out The Beast is someone I knew. A conduit named John White." Yagi perked up. "You mean that NSA spy we sent in during Empire City?" Cole nodded. "Listen, what he's doing isn't mass murder. He's activating a Conduits powers. He's making them immune to the plague." Zeke didn't even hesitate. "But…. He's killing everyone not lucky enough to be a Conduit." He said bluntly. "His body count is in the billions." Yagi added. Cole sighed. "He asked me to help him."
"Help him?" Nix asked incredulously. "Your friend killed all my babies! He slaughtered them like cattle!" Cole winced. "I know." Yagi stood up. "Regardless of his reasons, we can't let his crimes go unpunished." Cole nodded. "We won't." Cole took a deep breath, picked up the RFI and began to charge.
Then his whole world errupted into fire.
His nerves screamed in agony, had he been able to see, he'd have seen Toshinori and Nix collapse beside him. The pain only stopped when the RFI hit the floor with a crack.
Cole feel to his knees, breathing ragged, skin singed. Steam was pouring from his pores. "What…. Was that…" Yagi gasped out. "It was killing me, I could feel it." Cole rasped. Nix rose with a belly full of fire. "What the hell did you do Zeke?" Zeke looked over incredulously. "What was I supposed to do?" Cole stood up again and everyone stood in silence. "If we use this…" Cole started. "It will kill all Conduits, not just the Beast." All Might finished. "I don't care what happens to me! All I care is that The Beast dies!" Nix shouted with a snarl. Cole looked at her, slowly, then nodded. "It's the only way to save the world."
"No. It's the only way to save your world."
Yagi had pulled himself to his feet. He was currently leaning over the railing, all gangly limbs and tarnished hair. Staring into the sunset. When he turned around, he looked lost. "Is that right?"
"What are you talking about?" Zeke asked. "No, he has a point." Cole sighed. "Roughly 80% of Japan's population, hell, of the entire Eastern World's population, is a conduit." Zeke opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. "So, what you're saying is…" He trailed off. "Nearly everyone on their half of the globe will drop dead. Governments will collapse, civilizations will disappear, the Eastern World will just be gone." Cole surmised. "Yeah, but, if we let John through then the same thing will happen to us."
No one said anything after that. Not even Nix.
Cole walked over to All Might and leaned over on the rail next to him. "Let's talk." Yagi looked at him, somehow even more tired and old than before. "Not here."
~
The two heroes stood on top of St. Ignatius church, looking down at a dying world. "I can see the, you know." Cole said. "All the people infected with the plague. Dying without knowing it. I can't even walk down the street anymore without knowing the end is near." All Might nodded. "These people look up to us you know. As Heroes, Saints, sometimes even Gods." He murmured out a humorless laugh. "In those comics they sell, in the stories the tell about us, this is usually the part where someone pulls out a miracle cure. Saves the day at the last minute. Let's everyone go home." Cole nodded and Yagi began to walk away. "Zeke and I have a saying. Half as long, twice as bright. Almost feels poignant now." All Might sighed and transformed. "Everything is going to happen fast. There won't be time for goodbyes. I just want you to know now that I respect you. No matter what happens, you will always be my friend." Cole nodded. "Hey, man. This doesn't change anything."
It was a solid moment that passed before Yagi finally left, departed to meet up with John.
~
The Beast had fallen, stunned by Nix's explosion. By her sacrifice. Cole had the RFI strapped to his back as he stood just outside the church. An object crashed into him. Cole knew exactly who it was long before he crashed through those sacred walls.
Cole coughed and sputtered as he got to his feet, the RFI bouncing out of sight. The Symbol of Hope stood stoically on the opposite side of the church. He wasn't smiling. The two shared one more look with each other, one last moment before their world ends.
Cole sighed the sigh of a thousand lifetimes. "I have to try."
All Might nodded. "I know."
The stain glass murals above watched with baited breath.
~
Base inFAMOUS 2 Cole.
Wounded All Might.
Speed Equalized.
Both start with several weeks of prior knowledge and personal experience with the other.
Both start at opposite sides of St. Ignatius Church.
Sometimes I hear people talking about Conduits and Humans like they're totally different. That's bullshit. Cause there ain't nobody with more Humanity than Cole MacGrath.
Vs.
The Symbol of Peace
Epic Orchestral Music - Of Gods And Me
