Chapter 1: Where we go
〖Like in child's play, may all thou know may be changing. As a child of cataclysm on their wake, silenced by the antagonist emptiness in thy sight most uncommon for a sheltered soul such as ye〗
When autonomy came back to be, the sounds of wherever he might be rushed back in an explosion deafening his eardrums, silhouettes of light painted a psychedelic picture on his eyes. In discomfiture, moving was the last of his problems, for he could only hear－and heard only the sounds of devastation.
With pain crawling through his body like spider webs, he slowly tried to move his fingers, sensing for anything in his surroundings to locate himself.
Debris and dust were all his fingers could feel－nevertheless－the pain felt minutes ago was starting to fade as cognition came to be. With a no longer blurry vision and a better understanding of where he was; sitting up and looking around only made the confusion felt before size up tenfold. Everything about had been wiped out of all there once was. It was as if a vacuum tried to absorb everything and anything in his surroundings. Everywhere, the eye could see was destroyed or ripped off the ground; buildings; roads－even underground structures didn't get spared.
With a pounding head－full of pain and confusion－the boy stood up as an attempt to walk. To where, he was not yet sure, but certainly somewhere away from his current predicament.
As he stood up, one thing he didn't notice before became clear. His once pained body didn't hurt any more, and the injuries he felt were now gone. The only explanation that came to mind was that this was an effect of his Eeng; seeing there's no one near him or anywhere close. Whit that noted－there are many questions that he wishes he had the answers. If not to explain what happened, to at least give him a bit of context.
Because the only things he could remember were vague images of places and bodiless voices; Why did this have to happen to him? He had no clue as to why. Was he a victim of a villain attack; a hero fight－or was he the one to blame?
The solitude in this zone of disaster didn't help his theory. By being the only visible human in the vicinity, alive and awake, made his fears grow. The assumption that this destruction was his fault only became more viable. If so to be his fault, he had no recollection as to how it came to be after all－he did not know what or how his Eeng work.
But alas. Standing In the same place wouldn't change anything, so moving it is.
Looking around, with the only things surrounding him being debris of cement; stone; and dirt, he tried to search through his hazy mind for anything of help but came empty. With an irritated huff, he decided the best he could do was to get away from the middle of all destruction and eventually come up with a plan for what's next.
While walking away from the centre, the eerie silence that encircled the area was starting to stir up his fight or flight sense, so he began to plan on what to do.
"When I find civilization, I will need to find somewhere to spend the night, my body may not hurt any more, but I feel exhausted. After that, I need to find somehow what happened here; which may not be that hard seeing how much destruction happened － there's no way the media isn't going crazy about it! Also-ah!"
Looking up－when did he stop looking up? He saw in front of him what may have been a wall; going around it; he sees in the distance what looks to be police light and a crowd of people sounding the edge of the circle. "Well I didn't account for the police, but I guess that makes it easier for me even though I don't remember anything before I woke up …" stopping to consider what to do next, thinking for a bit and then nodding to himself.
"HEEEEEEEEEEEYY! HELP!"
It may not be the most efficient manner to get help, but it's certified to get attention.
As if on cue, police officers and some heroes stationed turned around to see what the noise is. Only to see a young child－ten to twelve years old－with messy, long, ash-blond hair and a nasty burn over his bloody and swelled left eye wearing dirty and ragged grey jumper and sweatpants running towards them.
They were quite shocked to see someone running towards their direction coming from the destruction－seeing that their search parties didn't find anyone alive till now. But with that aside, the paramedics were quickly prepared to give first aid as the heroes approached the kid.
"Hey kiddo, are ya all right?" Questioned a short, black, female hero with curly black and gold hair. Her costume consisted of a black jacket with red sleeves over a red one-piece suit; a sort, dark grey skirt, with orange details on its pockets and two gas grenades attached to her belt. Her red to grey thigh-high boots had, thick, sound-absorbing, soles. And by the looks of her support gear－a pair of headphones with antennas－her Eeng seemed to be soundly based.
Her voice was calm and sweet as she spoke. "Are ya all right? Can ya keep walking or do ya need assistance?"
"I'm OK, I guess? Nothing hurts much, but I'm exhausted, like, I could pass out if I sit, tired." Answered the boy with a yawn as his body and mind grew drowsier by the second.
"Don't worry then kiddo. C'mere, ya can sit on my back, and I'll carry ya to somewhere ya can rest." Said the hero as she bent down for him. "By the way, ya can call me Hertz, the sonic hero. So, what can I call ya?"
"…Shizu" Answered him as he climbed the hero's back.
" Shizu" She hummed "That's a lovely name. And how old are ya? I'm twenty-three－still pretty young. Haven't been a hero for long, only four years." Commented Hertz as she got back up and started walking. Her tone was light, but she was still clearly looking for more info on the kid. Asking questions in the middle of supposed idle conversation. But of course, the questioning was a necessary thing in this situation as she, or anyone present, didn't know who this boy－Shizu－was.
" 'M Twel-no eleven. Yeah"
"Oh!? So young still. Do ya have a favourite hero? Mines are Helker and Virtue-ala!" Excitedly questioned Hertz with a bright smile that slowly softened as the sound of quiet snores came from her back.' Hehe, kiddo wasn't kiddin' when he said to be dead tired.'
Making their way to the paramedic's side the kid was taken from her back and put in a stretcher to be given first-aid. Done with that, one of the detectives in the scene approached Hertz.
"Ah. Insho! Good news! We found the kiddo, and he seems to be all right, just a bit tired."
"That's good to know. And, yes, I received a message through my radio just now about the kid." Responded the taller male. Polar to the hero, Insho Tachiki appearance was rather simple. Being about four inches taller than the woman; his black, long-sleeved jacket covered a rather average physique. With short, smooth grey hair, dark brown eyes and a gruesome scar that covered the entire left side of his face, the only visible equipment he seems to carry was a utility belt, a radio, and a pair of goggles on top of his head.
"Great! The paramedics are takin' care of his injuries for now, Till the kiddo can be taken to questioning will be a while; he just passed out on me a minute ago." Said Hertz with a fond smile, thinking about the child.
"I imagined so. But I'm not here for the boy." Gesturing for her to follow the two of them went to a more reclusive area－a wall next to an alleyway. Away from the others, he continued "You see, it seems like the boy is the sole survivor in the central area. After you came with him, I received an all-clear from the other rescue teams, not counting the few injured in the outskirts from the damaged area, there is no other found survival." The longer Insho spoke, the faster her happy persona faded. She already knew what he was referring to, but seeing that kid, Shizu, so frail and confused, the harder she hoped It not to be.
"And from your face, I can assume you already know what I'm going to say" Continued the detective with a calm voice.
"Y'all think it's his fault; Or at the minimum that he's involved somewhat, don't cha?!" She answered no longer smiling.
With a deep sigh, the taller just nodded. Insho knew that his friend would be mad about it; she has always been too indulgent and protective towards kids. If he had to point out one of his friend's biggest weakness, it would be her instant trustworthiness towards those in need. And that－sometimes－could lead to situations like these.
"We're not sure yet, but it's all too convenient for them not have some connection. So please don't make a scene out of it－again" The detective said looking her in the eyes trying to make his point clear. Insho didn't want to repeat the case from last summer.
"Urg. Ya can't blame me for that one any more, and ya know It. ALSO! I'm gonna make a scene out of it if I feel like I need to do somethin' 'bout it. And ya can't stop me." Opposed Hertz with an annoyed tone to her voice. Hertz knew that she was hot-headed and temperamental when dealing with these kinds of cases, but she had morals and standards that she stood for－and not even her friend could convince her otherwise. That was a child she carried－not a monster.
"Ok, ok, calm down." Asked the detective pleadingly with his hands up in a gesture of peace. He kinda expected for her to get riled up about this topic but not this fast, her week must have been worse than he though for her mood to be this bad. "I get your point. But I don't want to be the one to clean it up when you fight someone over it. And look, this whole situation is way more serious than anything. Whole five-city blocks were sucked out of existence. So, if the kid has anything on it, there's going to be something done about it; Even if you don't like it." Explained the detective trying to reason with his friend.
"…I hate when ya have a point. But, I'm still gonna try to help this kiddo if I can" The heroin said with a determined face and walked away back to where the paramedics were still attending the boy.
With a deep breath, he let his head fall back on the brick wall behind him. Honestly, he didn't want to be in the middle of whatever situation Hertz would make for the child, but he also couldn't help himself when it came to that woman. She is too much of a family to him to ignore her.
Dismissing the incoming headache that this case would eventually give him, he pushed himself from the wall and straightened his jacket a bit. He still had work to do and wasn't time to slack around, even if he did deserve a break.
Back to where all the other cops and heroes were standing, he could see Hertz at the side of an ambulance car talking to one of the paramedics. Even if there wasn't much to do any more, the packed place had rescue heroes, policemen and paramedics. Insho went back to where his superiors were discussing their next step in this situation.
Approaching the group of five, Marisu Wakana, his superintendent from the station where he worked noticed him and waved her hand. "Hello there Insho, I assume you already talked to Hertz about our situation with the child" Greeted the tall brunette woman with long wavy hair that reached her thighs. Her bright yellow eyes combined with her Eeng, flash bomb; it let her make a blinding ball of light with her hands and throw it like a grenade.
Her expression was stern, but he could hear the amusement in her voice as she greeted him. Of course, his superintendent would know about Hertz stubbornness when dealing with this case.
"Greetings superintendent Marisu. Yes, I did, but she already seems to be attached to the child so you can imagine what her answer was." Responded Insho as he entered the conversation.
"Hahaha, I told you that she would be attached already." Exclaimed inspector Fukusei Kagero. A short Asian person with medium, spiky, jet-black hair. Their iris was a milky green, and the white of their eyes was a dull black decorated with long lashes. Their androgynous appearance was something that always confused Insho quite a bit when referring to the other. Not being sure about either using female or male pronouns, so he kept to gender-non conforming ones just for sure, and by how the other acted towards Insho with such lax casualness, referring to them as such was of preference. His Eeng let him make doubles of himself from the shadows where they reside most of the times — giving their habit of staying in the dark in the office more sense than just for scaring the interns.
"Good riddance. That child will be lucky to have Hertz give him some space when he wakes up." Said Inspector Guttari Sujikiro, a tall, tanned, male with long limbs and a relaxed appearance, his short spiky yellow hair contrasted with his tired navy-blue eyes circled by deep eye bags from all-nighters. His lanky stature may be due to his flexibility Eeng; giving him the characteristics of rubber, making his body bulletproof and the perfect armour for hostages' situations and shootings.
"Yeah, yeah Hertz loves kids, we all know that. Can we get back to the point?" Asked pointedly the deputy chief of police Kumome Hachiko; A pale woman of average height with a pixie hair cut on her black locks with red hight lights. Her narrow maroon eyes gave her a stern appearance together with her perfect posture and eight arms－making her an intimidating presence. Her spider mutation not only made her look dangerous, but her venom as well was proof enough. With her high ranks in the police hierarchy and powerful Eeng, she could only be seen as a woman of power when it came to working. Indeed, a force to be reckoned.
"You're right deputy chief Hachiko. We should go back to the topic. Toeime, if you please." Said superintendent Marisu while gesturing to the person on her left to continue where they stopped their previous conversation. Activating her Eeng, deputy inspector Toeime Kikaiichi, a short blond female with milky white skin. Her short hair was put in a bun on top of her head messily. Shining, opal eyes glowed like lenses creating a projection with the images taken from atop of the destruction centre.
"Oh, wow. I knew that the destruction was big, but not that much," said Fukusei with a shocked look in their face.
"Yes, it may not seem like it, but the hole destruction area is about five and a half city blocks, and it doesn't look like any transportation quirk could've done it by what we know from the archives."
"But with that child here, we may now have our answer for what happened" Commented deputy chief Hachiko giving Insho a sideways glance. Grimacing, he nodded. And yes, what she said may be accurate, but It doesn't mean he likes it. It's not every day a child causes such destruction, and with that comes the question of what kind of punishment he will receive－if he will receive one at all.
"So, if that kid did do it, what of it? He seems to be only a child to me, and children make mistakes all the time. What if he didn't know what he was doing?" Asked Guttari with a frown tugging at his lips and arms crossed on his chest, getting to a straighter posture than before.
"We don't know it yet. So, for now, our priority is to make sure the child is safe and healthy." Answered Hachiko with a face that conveyed no emotion and an authoritarian tone to her voice. "Now, I shall go continue with my investigation. I will see you all at the station tomorrow, goodbye." Putting her arms on her back, she turned around and left to one of the cars stationed at the side of the road.
"Well, at least she made her point clear this time." Murmured Toeime with bitterness in her tone as she closed her eyes and ended the projection.
"Aaahha, I don't know 'bout y'all, but she intimidates me sometimes. Hahaha." Said Fukusei was nonchalantly putting their arms behind their head and relaxing their stiff posture from before. "I get that she gotta be all serious 'cuz of work and all but can't she try to smile a bit sometimes. Ya know, relax and all" As if giving an example, they gave a big toothy smile to the others.
"Not all of us like to slack off at the office like you do Fuka" Marisu pointed out as she leaned to her right with hands-on her pockets and a smirking.
" 'S not slacking if you do your work correctly and on time" Retorted the other swinging at their feet back and forth.
"HEY! I only got that paper later twice, and the second time it wasn't even my fault!" Exclaimed the woman as she leaned forward to look the shorter in the eyes.
"Hush now, guys. We don't want to see you two fight in the middle of work, again!" Interjected Guttari as he holds both of their shoulders and torn them apart from each other. At the back of the group, Toeime and Insho just kept watching as their colleagues' banter like a bunch of children. With a low chuckle, Toeime made her way closer to help Guttari. She knew the man would need some when it comes to those two. Insho－in the other hand－preferred not to get involved in their drama and just let it happen as he watched it with a small smile on his thin lips.
Looking at his team, he couldn't say he wasn't proud of them. Sure, they were a bunch of goofs most of the time, but they are his goofs.
Taking a deep breath, he stretched his back and grimaced as he heard his vertebra pop in multiple places. He was getting old and work as a detective was strenuous on his body, after all, being thirty-two and feeling like fifty should be in the job contract.
Straightening up he cracked his neck and knuckles just for sure. With a brief overview of his surroundings, he saw that behind him, the ambulance that was taking care of the troublesome kid gone leaving Hertz, who seemed to be relishing in her thoughts. At his left where stationed police cars and heroes waiting to be released. To his right was the border of the devastation that happened just this afternoon. Thinking about time, it was already sundown, five to six-thirty to be more exact. Damn, he was exhausted. Feeling the tiredness creeping through his limbs, he decided to go back to the office to finish paperwork and then go home.
Looking back at his colleagues, he saw that they had stopped joking around and were talking calmly.
Deciding to say his goodbyes for the day, he went first to his team.
"Hey guys, I'm going back to the office for now and then going home. So, see you all later." He said as he approached the group with a small wave of the hand.
"Ah. Yeah, now that you say it, it's quite late already, and it doesn't look like there's much to be done here any more; Deputy chief even left a while ago." Responded Fukusei with a tilt of their head and a nod of affirmation to themselves. "I think I'm going to go too; my limbs feel like jelly, haven't slept in two days." They whined with a grim expression and lazily prompted themselves on Toeime's side, holding her arm like a support pillar.
"Quit whining you overgrown foetus" Murmured the woman as she pushed the other to face away from her.
"Aarrrrg!"
"Fukusei, please" Pleaded Guttari with a hand over his face in exasperation. Up close, the man looked more tired than death itself. His eye bags were a dark purple, looking more like bruises than eye bags. His spiked hair was tamed looking flatter than anything. Indeed, he was the one person on his team that most needs a break but would never take one－overworking himself to the bone every day.
"Ignore him Guttari, and don't think I can't see your eye bags pleading for sleep from here! You better go straight home from here and rest. And if you try to go to the office, I'll knock you out" Threatened Marisu.
"Yeah! you better go sleep today 'cuz I swear I haven't seen you sleep in four days" Exclaimed Fukusei letting go of Toeime and pointing up to their friend.
"All right, all right. I swear I will sleep today. Can you all quiet down, please" Pleated Guttari with his hands up in the air in a sing of defeat.
"Good. Now shoo, go home. You too Insho and Fuka, see ya later" Commanded Marisu, pointing her finger at the three of them.
"Goodbye then guys, see you all tomorrow. And please no more fighting" Waved the taller man to the two others as he and Fukusei turned away to the pavement where their cars were parked. As he turned away, Guttari asked Insho if he would want a ride, but he politely refused.
"I still need to talk with Hertz before I go and It may take a while, but thanks for the offer." Answered the detective with a smile as he turned back to where he last saw the hero.
She was now talking with one of the stationed police officers with her back to him, probably giving her report of the day. As he approached the two, he noticed how tense she seemed to be. Something was not right－she wouldn't get this tense over a situation like this－she had appeared much worst before in disaster scenes. Now sprinting over to where the two stood, the officer noticed him and was a bit startled, which in retrospect made Hertz startle as she turned back ready to strike.
"Hey, hey. It's just me." He said with a soothing tone trying to tone down the tension of the situation " Officer, if you're done here, I would like to talk to Hertz" The detective said as he came closer to his friend and put a hand on her back. The police officer saw that the mood of the conversation had gone sour and just agreed with a nod.
As they watched the officer going back, the shorter woman started to relax under his hand. That was good, he didn't want a discussion right now, and a tense Hertz would only lead to that. A real hothead may he say.
"All right. I know ya gotta ask me lots of questions now－but I'm not in the mood, and I wanna go home now, ok?" Asked her as soon as she saw the other open his mouth to speak. He had already seen lots of outbreaks from the woman just this year, and this wasn't a response he hadn't got before. He was going to retort, but then he stopped. This month has been brimming with missions. They haven't got a break for days without a case on the table. Even Fukusei has seemed active in the office. After thinking for a few seconds, he made a decision.
"All right. Let's go home" Answered the man as he soothed his hand through her back as a calming gesture. Looking at his friends face that wasn't what she was expecting from him. True, he was not one to just let it go, but even he knew others had limits.
"For what's that face? Gocha by surprise, didn't I?" He said jokily but only received a quiet nod in response "Ok, look. I know I can be persistent."
"Oh, you sure are" Was Hertz automatic response.
"Don't interrupt me. But yeah, I can be persistent, but I know when someone is at its limits. And I know how much work you have been doing better than anyone! So, let's go home and relax" Concluded the man as he moved his hand to her shoulder, giving her a one-arm hug. The shorter leaned into the embrace as they started their walk towards her car two streets down.
The air of the late afternoon came to them in a murmur. The leaves of the still resisting trees moved with the soft breeze, making the birds resting in them chirp in restlessness. The sound of footsteps in the concrete pavement and the buzzing of the city around them filled the comfortable silence around them. Walking by the other policemen and heroes, they waved or nodded their goodbyes.
By the time they came closer to the car, the sun had already rest by the horizon, and the orange hues of the sky painted a peaceful image contrasting with the day they just had. The calming atmosphere continued through their climb into the black BMW. Entering the vehicle and making themselves comfortable, they stopped for a minute, just staying sited there with the car engine roaring as they relaxed.
Insho again was the one to break the silence.
"I feel boneless. Complete and utterly bone-deep tiredness." Commented Insho as he leaned his head back and closed his eyes, with his body completely relaxed into the cushions he let out a deep, long sigh that seemed to deflate the man even more.
"…Same. Honestly, thanks. For ya know, not questioning my mood earlier and all." Responded the woman with a calmer tone than before, a bit of guilt could also be heard in it as she looked at the other with bleary eyes and a wavy smile. He could see that her words only rang truth; she was too honest to be good and wore her emotions on her sleeve. Honesty, a thing, unfortunately, more and more difficult to find in a long-time pro hero. But not too surprising when considering their world situation.
"There's no need to thank me Otona, you know I don't like to see you angry nor uncomfortable, so I only took the logic decision." He said lowly as he tenderly put his hand on top of hers and squeezed it for reassurance.
"Oh, so now ya using my name. Ain't ya just a big ol' sap! Hahaha" Proclaimed the younger with a hearty laugh and a bone-crushing hug. Just like that, Otona was back to her happy demeanour. And even If his spine would give him hell for it later, he liked this version of his friend way more than a sulking or angry one.
"Hah ha. All right, now please let good old me go and start driving. I have paperwork waiting for me."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Yormeks
Yormeks this is history still in progress ,slow progress. But nevertheless! I hope you enjoy it
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