The day after.
We find ourselves just a block away from the target location. During the long school hours and the time it took to patrol, Uiharu had more than enough opportunities to uncover about the place we needed to raid.
Set on the metaphorical dividing line between the 10th and 11th district lies what outwardly appears to be a nuclear energy facility. That, by itself, blends in like a tree to a forest, as one of district 10's focus is on nuclear research.
Which also makes part of it restricted to the public. But then again, nothing much of a hurdle if your current partner is one of Academy City's finest teleporter.
"We're going in." I sent my voice over to the earpiece I'm wearing.
"Yes! Leave the systems to me!" Replied Uiharu.
"I feel bad about leaving this to the two of you. But I know that I'll be more of a burden there if anything."
"You don't have to feel sorry, senpai." Kuroko said. "We can handle something like this easily."
"Although it sounds like you have other reasons for not coming, you don't have to tell us." I replied. "Everyone has a thing or two they keep to themselves."
"We're friends aren't we? It's fine to rely on us more if you feel uncomfortable, Konori-senpai."
"Everyone... Thank you."
We can practically feel the emotions seeping from her voice. It couldn't help but make the three of us smile.
"Let us be off, Shuzenji-san." Said Kuroko as she placed her hand on my shoulder. In the next instant, we find ourselves a dozen or so meters above the ground. The view was spectacular to say the least, but now wasn't the time to appreciate it's beauty.
Another blink later, and we found ourselves by the main entrance. The guard post behind us was distracted --Slacking on the job-- and the security cameras have been intercepted by Uiharu.
Other people would normally sneak in from the back entrance or some other secret route, so it wouldn't be surprising to see tighter security from there. But with the help of a super computer expert and a teleporter, going in from the main entrance is easy.
The two of us didn't have to wait long as the door opened as soon as we approached.
We quickly and quietly made our way inside. The goal? The main control room.
By installing the program Uiharu entrusted to us, we can get the relevant data from private and isolated servers and uncover whatever dirty secrets are hidden and whoever is truly running this whole operation.
The long metal corridors gave an oppressive feeling. Moreover, because it was already after closing hours, the entire place is currently shrouded in darkness. The only sources of light would come from the patrolling security personnel and the security bots.
In when we ventured into the gaping maw of darkness, we were able to make our way by a fancy little prototype gadget in the shape of a monocle. It shows us a small map of the passage way by supersonic echolocation. But because of the size, it only has a maximum radius of six meters, enough to navigate the corridors.
The deeper we sneaked inside, the colder the temperature got. The study of nuclear energy required cooling systems to keep them stable. It doesn't exactly help that the metal corridors didn't come with heating.
I'm faring just fine since I switched out of my uniform and came in my standard outfit, but Kuroko? She's still wearing her Tokiwadai summer uniform.
"It's cold. You wanna borrow my capelet?" I whispered to her.
She took a look at me and whispered a refusal. "No need. Not only would it hinder my movement, but it would also work against me when a melee comes up."
I thought for a moment. Sensing that she did feel cold, I undid the ribbon on my head and wrapped it around her neck. "Use this at least. You don't want to catch a cold now, do you?"
Not only was it long enough to act as a short scarf, but it's also has a minor enchantment of warmth retention. It was gift made by Marisa for Christmas last year. --I obviously wouldn't wear my sister's precious ribbon on a potentially danger raid, now would I?-- Possibly handmade with how it was too thick to be a normal ribbon. Honestly, how bored was she at her job to make this?
"Thanks." She said while readjusting the makeshift scarf. "Now let's hurry."
We encountered a few obstacles along the way. The place has a multi-layered security, with the second layer being connected to the isolated servers.
In addition to the patrolling guards and bots, we faced mini heat-sensing turrets and alarm triggers. Both of which were circumvented with my heads and Kuroko's teleport.
Moments later, we finally found the door to the main control room. We waited for a bit before Konori-senpai contacted us.
"Is something wrong? Why did the both of you stop suddenly?" She asked.
"We're already at the target. We were waiting for Uiharu to open the door." Kuroko replied.
"Ah, what door?" Uiharu spoke.
"The one in front of us."
"...Neither of us here can see it. It's probably isolated like the servers."
"We'll use the other method, then."
Kuroko gently tapped the large metal doors. She's feeling the thickness of the door by it's vibrations to get the measurements for her 11th dimensional calculations to teleport both of us inside. Uiharu couldn't open this door as it's connected to the isolated servers. An oversight, but not unsolvable.
And this process is important as the needed mental calculations must be as accurate as possible. Because according to Kuroko, teleporting inside a wall is a very traumatic experience. Most teleporters would have acquired PTSD and subconsciously hinder their own calculations, making it a dividing line between the 'good' and the 'great' teleporters.
Once she was done, she held onto my shoulder once more and teleported us inside. The room was empty as expected. The guards have no qualifications nor capabilities to manage an important part of this building so they don't dare to even come near it, in fear of accidentally committing a grave error. Losing their job would be a matter of course, but causing a nuclear meltdown is terrifying enough of a thought for them.
Kuroko made her way to the front desk and turned on the computer.
The computer itself was a part of the wall. It was connected to the main servers itself so once it was booted up, she inserted the USB and the program automatically updated itself.
"The data extraction is going to take a few minutes." She said while looking through the files using another monitor.
"Sure. I can wait." I said while making two heads to keep guard. I then hear Kuroko click her tongue as I went over to her side and looked at the files she was going through. "Human experimentation? Talk about cliché."
She quickly snapped her head in my direction. "And how can you be so nonchalant about this?! Innocent lives are at stake here!" She glared at me.
I looked at her in mild shock and opened my mouth. Though, the only word that I managed to squeeze out was a small "...sorry..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harrumphing at his attitude, I set my sights back to the files portraying the atrocious deeds commited by these people.
'Such disregard towards human life, and he's the grandson of one of the nation's topmost healers?' I grumbled inwardly. 'And during patrols too! Even I don't resort to breaking multiple bones! He's lucky that Konori-senpai didn't report him for excessive use of force. Honestly, he's like a brute!'
I took a deep breath to calm myself. 'No, Kuroko! Now's not the time for such complaints, focus on the task on hand!' I shake my head to clear myself of those thoughts and refocus on analyzing the data in front of me. 'The ones behind everything are... The ProtoMera Corporation.'
According to the files, they have been undergoing experimentation for the last seven years. They illegally kept multiple gene samples of children that came to their hospitals for a quirk check-up, and behind the scenes, they kidnapped orphaned children not only for the same purpose, but to also use them as guinea pigs.
Eventually, they succeeded in creating a quirk stimulant. This 'medicine' as they call it, would help awaken the laten quirk factors in one's genes.
Despite various smaller flaws like a weakened physique, The biggest drawback was that, depending on the genetic compatibility, one dose was either too little or too much. The bad part of this was that there is no telling which one is which until the quirk shows up.
And an even worse part? Despite branding it as such, there was not even a guarantee that a quirk would manifest! The chances are only 9% at best! And these people still have the gall to say that the problem was because they only needed more doses.
Even knowing this risk, in a competitive quirk-based society, many parents are still willing to not only repetitively pay the price for the expensive 'medicine' but to ironically also gamble the safety of both their children alongside the public just to guarantee their future.
Reading all of this, I couldn't help but click my tongue in frustration. On one hand, it is disgusting to release a misleading product and on the other hand, it was irresponsible for the buyers to even gamble with their lives at stake.
"The data has been extracted. We're going back." I said to both Shuzenji and the others as I take out the USB and shutdown the computer.
"Alright. It should be clear to leave right now." Said Uiharu. "The security bots are far from your position, but please be mindful about the guards."
"Will do. Don't worry." Shuzenji replied over his earpiece.
The way back out was quiet. Although I had been a bit impatient and accidentally teleported us closer to a guard that was just about to turn a corner. The unwelcome suprise had almost made me send out a kick, but fortunately Shuzenji-san had pulled me upwards and had both of us float in the air by standing on his heads. If it wasn't for that, we would have been found out here.
In addition, I have noticed that Shuzenji-san seen to be adept at espionage. The way he moves is as if he has prior experience with sneaking in restricted areas. Granted that this place as mediocre security --Presumably to avoid leaving a trail of (il)legal documents-- It's almost as if he was just having fun at a playground. He has even went through this is entire ordeal with barely any shifts in his expressions.
'Even back then, when he was taken hostage, he looked unusually calm For the most part. Almost like a doll.' For a moment, the thought of him being a spy flashed through my mind. 'Impossible! There's no way that the grandson of Recovery Girl would be like that!' I shake away such thoughts.
'Although...' I look at the extra head flying beside me. The head noticed my gaze and grinned at my direction. 'Is the main head subconsciously projecting the emotions to the spare ones?'
'Thoughts for later...'
After running for dozens of minutes, we finally left the building. I immediately grab a hold of his shoulder and promptly executed a series of teleportation to get the both of us out of the perimeter and into the sky.
To save my stamina, Shuzenji-san carried the both of with his heads.
I must admit though, never in my life have I ever thought I would one day step on someone's head, much less use said head to fly... --I still have my reservations against sitting on someone's head. Even if we are coworkers, modesty must be demonstrated.--
'At least the wind feels nice.'