"You want me to do what now?" Nicklaus said as he leaned forward, elbows on his knees.
This was all very sudden, he had made his way up to the principal's office after being told that he was wanted by Aizawa. He was still trying to process what he was hearing.
Shigaraki had gone where?
"I want you to follow him. You are the best choice we have so far. You're young and can handle yourself in combat with much more versatility than anyone. Honestly Nicklaus… I am hesitant to offer this to you after what you have done. But I truly believe that you are the best choice." His voice sounded tired, worn by the current events that he was dealing with.
"I get that, I am well aware that my recent actions haven't reflected on the idea of a Hero that you hold so high and mighty. But some things are unforgivable… and some people are too big of a risk." His voice was low, his eyes steady and sure of his words.
"I get that, I really do. And that is why we are doing this. Because we need to make sure that Shigaraki does not find these communities, if he can indeed awaken All for One as you suspect then letting him get to groups of dangerous individuals is a risk that I don't think I am willing to take. He needs to be stopped. I have prepared the proper documentation for you, not that it will be much use. And you WILL, under ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. Confirm your actions with me." Nezu said, pointing a pen a Nicklaus as he spoke. His eyes narrowed as if carefully watching Nick's response.
"Okay, I will, before I do anything big I will make sure that I talk it through with you. You are yet to tell me where I am going though? Like what do you mean I won't need verification?" His eyebrow-raising as he tilted his head slightly.
"One reason I am sending you is because you can change your appearance almost perfectly. You're going to Australia." Nezu said, his mouth set in a thin line. His voice was grim.
"Oh…" That was all Nick could respond with.
Australia… some animals developed quirks, and one of the worst things that could have happened, happened in Australia. An insect, specifically a queen ant. Had developed a small gigantification quirk… it only made it the size of a dog. But that was just the start. It laid a lot of eggs. All ants that shared the same quirk because of genetics… and with a lot of offspring. Mutations happened, it was only a few at first.
But as soon as the ants had entered the food chain, the genetics had spread somehow. But more insects and bugs started to become bigger, just by living off the corpses of the bigger insects. And soon, almost all of Australia was overridden with horribly mutated bugs of all shapes and powers. Almost to an unreasonable degree.
While people still lived there it was a lawless country. No one had authority and most people wanted to get out of there. It was just that not many were willing to help people get to Australia or try to get them out of it. It meant that small villages and towns had developed.
And strong quirks had become paramount. Those that were strong lived and soon only strong battle quirks existed in the lawless desert of an island. And with how big it was it had become a massive problem.
The united states had tried to restore it with Nukes of all things but it was soon seen as a hopeless cause after about a quarter of the island was turned into a radiated wasteland.
It was insane, it was almost infeasible the chain of events that lead to what it was today since quirks started emerging but it was probably one of the biggest disasters that had happened. It was just isolated to a country that no one really talked about even before quirks emerged. So it went unnoticed for far too long.
Hence becoming what it was today, the closest thing one would get to an apocalyptic wasteland. It was insane.
"Why the hell would he go there?" Nick asked, his voice filled with disbelief. He assumed it was because of the strong combatants, but how would he get them out of the fucking hellscape without someone like Kurogiri.
"One of the three known about communities is there." Nezu spoke as he put the papers down on the table. Nick leaned forward to look at them as Nezu started to explain.
"One is from the uppermost part of Norway, the one with the Ice Queen, Eira. It not only is further away but the state of her has been unknown since you battled her. He already knows who is there clearly since it is one of the most well reported ones that All for One knew about. He must not be interested in it for another reason however, something on top of all of this. I suspect that she was heavily wounded after your engagement with her. Although that is just an unconfirmed theory." Nezu said as he slid the paper to the side.
"The second one was last seen in the deserts of Mali but is nomadic and may have moved hundreds of miles away. It is also double the distance of both Australia and Norway. With little being known about it and it's unknown whereabouts it is a foolish choice." Nezu explained as he moved it to the third paper.
"The third one, is in Australia, and he was recently seen organizing a trip there, something like going to Australia makes waves in the underworld, fools have gone there before to test there strength and never returned. So just asking around. Some informants that I have connections to got word and told me about it, I have done my best to confirm this is what I am doing and I doubt that it would be a trick. After all, the community is well reported about, filled with almost pure combatants. And because of it's residents and where it is All for One, despite knowing about it, declared it too much of a bother to go eliminate saying it would crumble with time. Shigaraki is looking for strong allies, why not go somewhere with lawless people that are strong because they have to be. It is the best place for him to find those that are eager to go, 'bigger.'" His voice filled with concern.
"I am hesitant to do this Nicklaus, you are the only person that I would be willing to send into such a place. And I understand that in such a place killing may not be something you can hesitate to do. But it truly is lawless, do not let the feelings of freedom and power cloud your judgment just because you can do something." His brows slanted as worry was clear in his eyes.
"You are truly the only person I would be confident sending to a place like that… just be careful. Remember, Oboro can take you back at any time. We just want you to stop Shigaraki before he gains too many allies. Because I understand what you said before. We need to act before he becomes too strong, and you are the only one that can act. Aizawa offered to go with you. Think on the offer…" He said as he tapped the desk thoughts clearly spun through his head.
"I don't think Aizawa coming is a wise idea… despite how useful his quirk is… I doubt that against hordes it would do anything. It is to much of a risk." Nick said as he looked up from the files he was holding.
"Very well, think about what you need to. The finalizing details can be told to you and whoever else may or may not go when you are ready. Thank you for hearing me out. And Nicklaus, thank you for making us act. Shigaraki is a danger that is growing exponentially fast… so we needed to act. Getting rid of Kyudai was the right decision. He was building another Kurogiri and many more concerning High-Level Nomu. Thank you for stopping him from hurting anyone else." His voice was sincere.
Looking at Nezu Nick simply smiled slightly as he said. "Don't mention it, I just did what I thought was right… I- I just wanted to keep those close to me safe." His mind filled with thoughts as he said that, he had a responsibility to use this second life. To live it to its fullest. He needed a safe world to do that.
With departing pleasantries exchanged Nick left the office.
Looking forward he wondered why Nezu had really picked him to go Australia, after what he had done being 'un-heroic,' he had expected Nezu to want to keep a close eye on him but something like that wasn't really possible if he was overseas. Especially in that hellscape.
Something wasn't right but it wasn't anything malicious. He was sure of that. Maybe he just wanted to give him a chance, a moment to prove himself, with a task that only really he could do relatively safely. He really was the only choice for this… if they wanted the person to come back. They couldn't send All Might with the current state of Japan and Nick's versatility made him even better in swarm situations as seen with the provisional license exam.
This was going to be fun. To be able to cut loose? This was going to be fun.
Maybe it was the part of Dabi that was still influencing him but to be able to just fight freely in such a high-stakes battle. No… it was part of Nicklaus that had loved the fight against Kendo. The part of him that had wanted to go wild in the entrance exam. He enjoyed a fight, he wanted to fight freely. And where he was going he could.
---
The final talks soon unfolded. The final pieces of paper fall into place. Most of this was kept from the Hero Public Safety Commission under other wording and complicated procedures that kept what was really happening cleverly under wraps. It didn't take long for it all to be going as planned. Most of it was managed by Nezu.
Nick had given a receiver to Yomi as The Doctor saying he was going somewhere for something that interested him. With Nick having the tracker inside him it meant that Yomi could warp him home with a thought if he was asked to do so. Mostly to keep the business as The Doctor running.
Cracking his neck Nick said the parting goodbye to his Mother which was beyond emotional. The only reason she accepted him going was that she thought that he was going to intern in America just like the rest of the public. He would be going there by plane for what Nezu had set up. Since he needed to be 'official.'
He was pretty sure the Committee didn't know he was going to Australia either.
It was only a few days before Nick was in the back of a plane. Having gotten onto a normal plane he was going to be leaving it mid-flight to be caught by a cargo plane with a sky hook.
The shit that Nezu was pulling right now was really insane. It was what the mouse was now willing to do now that the necessity arose… he was smuggling Nicklaus to Australia.
From what the Committee knew Nick was going to America for an internship overseas with a friend of All Might's. He was going to be warped there by Oboro in secret at predetermined times to make an appearance to the public. Oboro's quirk hadn't been changed on the registry either.
Things had been set up well beyond even Nick's understanding. He didn't understand how Nezu was weaving such a detailed lie but it seemed that Nezu, Nick and Oboro were the only ones that knew what was really happening. It was insane.
Looking out the window he smiled slightly. Things were getting exciting again.
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Sorry that the chapter is a bit shorter today. I wanted to set up the next Arc well! Nick is going to do some hunting in Australia. Expect a more action focused wild Arc from this one.
Let me know what you think!
Thanks for all the comments and support, I do make sure to read them all even if I have not been responding to nearly as many lately. Work has been getting very busy and it is getting hard to find time to write haha, just as I wanted to start writing a second one as well lmao. Your advice is always more than welcome! I want to hear what I am doing well and could do better!