The Meta Liberation Army. A grand name for a grand cause; widely spread across the nation of Japan and yet barely noticed. It's intentions were noble, as per the founder of the cause, however the execution of said intentions were considered fruitful and left a sour taste in the mouth. However, Re-Destro, The Grand Commander, has sought council with his trusted lieutenants, he wished to discuss the nature of their organisation and their plans moving forward. For the better of the cause, for the better of all society.
"You all sought to follow Destro's goals yes? Then why do we find such tribulation in carrying them out... The fault does not lie solely on your shoulders of course my council; but we need to better and we need to identify our weaknesses so we can snuff them out and end our internal struggle." states Re-Destro.
The room is quiet for the first moment, however the first to talk is Trumpet, ironic really.
"Grand Commander... I feel the fault does not lie within Destro's ideas, but more so in the execution of our intentions lower down the ranks. They see it as a chance to simply cause chaos. Not to highlight the flaws in this broken world." he speaks. Prompting agreement from the grand commander in a short series of nods.
"On the contrary..." speaks Curious. "I feel that no publicity is the only bad publicity. How can we as an organisation that wishes to inspire the hearts and minds." she couldn't help but giggle. "Excuse my wordplay. of those in this world do so when we are unknown and quit. Skulking around if you will." she points out.
"I hijack enough broadcasts and interlude enough secrets to recruit members as it is. We should we overly extend ourselves to a point that we cannot sustain just to satisfy your lust for the spotlight." Skeptic interjects.
"Oh my dear Skeptic... How easy it is to throw out such allegations when you sit behind your screens and technology." parries Curious.
"I don't think I-" Skeptic is about to hit back at this insult, however as Re-Destro stands, the room falls silent. He commanded such respect and authority that he had this ability on top of his meta ability.
"Enough. We are pioneers of a better society. Not playground toddlers. I admire all of you using your respective meta-abilities to further our cause. But we must be a united front." Re-Destro walks around the table in silence, each member of his inner circle feeling the weight of his authority as he steps past each of them. He sets his sights on the door to the chambers and he walks in that direction, gently resting his hand on it. The mark of stress there for all to see. "I'm stepping out for some air. I've built up a lot of steam recently and it's not fair for me to let it out on my most trusted advisors. Please complete your proposals whilst I'm gone and we can discuss further when I return." he concludes
The three stand as he leaves, they may not get along so well one another as they verbally joust for supremacy as to what they think the best route for this cause is. However they all shared the mutual relationship with the Grand Commander, respect and communication at the forefront, it's part of what made Re-Destro such an effective leader. Re-Destro couldn't help but think as he places his hands into his suit pockets and steps into an elevator, he sighs as it clunks into life and shifts downwards.
'Destro. I take guidance from your ideals everyday, they drive me. But I need to take guidance from you in another way. What is the true direction, is it a place, is it any one person? I'll do whatever is necessary to bring your dream to reality and I relish the challenge.' the Grand Commander thinks to himself.
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Samuel slumps down on a park bench in the busy city's quiet green square. Yet another harrowing day in what he perceived was going to be the best years of his life. His Academy stated that he was to receive the best of treatment and the sweetest of nurturing as his quirk develops and he evolves into a fully fledged hero. Unfortunately, that was just another lie that he'd been taught and was foolish enough to believe. He kept his hood up on his old and discoloured blue hoodie to hide the cuts and bruises on his face, he was worried he'd terrify someone if they saw his face like that and he didn't want to cause a fuss, he always hated that.
'The life of a hero... Is this all I'm ever gonna be? Just some punching bag?' he thinks to himself. He relaxes into the bench as the warm sunlight washes over him, he loved the light, he couldn't quite describe it but it always made him feel at ease, helped him to think. 'Probably for the best you can't see me now mom and dad. You'd only be disappointed... I'm so useless.' he states internally.
Samuel sighs as tears roll down his face, he looks up at the tallest building in view, the Detnerat tower. He always loved that distinct shimmer it had at the top of the building, the refracted light that passed through beaming onto the ground to help the fauna grow.
'Maybe there's one way I can still be useful. To really atone for the dishonour I've had inflicted on me.' he thinks as he lifelessly stares at the top of that building... However he's ejected out of his own head by a voice. A very sincere one at that.
"Sorry to bother you young man; but may I join you?" he asks.
Sam didn't really know what to say, he couldn't remember the last time he'd been spoken to so politely.
"Oh... um. Yes of course, please do." the fractured boy states as he gestures for him to sit down, however he botches it a lot. The man doesn't really notice though as he sits down.
"Thank you very much. It's nice to get outdoors I think, it's easier to be at one with your thoughts. Heh. I have a lot of those, hence the hairline." the man says as he gestures to his receding orange hair.
Samuel shoots a glance at the man, his hood still up, seeing the man's hairline; realising this was an attempt at humour.
"G-good one." he nervously laughs.
The man looks in at the boy's covered face, seeing his eyes. His broken, tired, blue eyes.
"Young man, are you okay?" the orange haired man asks.
"Just... having a really shitty day." Samuel croaks as his breathing starts to increase.
The orange haired man looks towards him for a moment longer before turning away, he didn't want to interfere on his privacy, and if the hood was up on a day as lovely as this, it was probably for a good reason.
"Oh? I'm sorry to hear that. What happened?" he asks.
Samuel couldn't help but sniffle, rethinking the past day of his life and how awful it had been. Then the last week of his life, then the last month, then the last year.
"My Academy... where I train to be a hero. Use me as a training dummy. The other trainees don't hold back on me, and I'm not allowed to defend myself. I'm terrified to use my own quirk... I- I'm just a useless piece of shit." he blurts out.
"Young man." The orange haired man says as he gently rests a hand on the boy's head. Samuel flinches as he feels the hand on his head, but he relaxes as he realises that the man wasn't going to do anything malicious. The orange haired man keeps his hand there, it was like a calming force, exerting gentleness and restraint. "I was taught from a very young age to never be afraid of who you are. To accept who you are in your entirety. Ability or no." he continues.
Samuel wipes his eyes as he tries to hold off his emotions again, he wasn't going to go to pieces in a public park in front of a man he'd just met.
"May I ask... what is your ability anyway?" The orange haired man adds.
The fractured trainee looks around hastily, he didn't want to attract any attention to himself. The orange haired man sighs as he uncuffs his suit jacket's sleeve and holds his hand up for Samuel to see.
"It's okay... I can show you mine first if that would put you at ease?" he says as the markings on his hand starts to multiply and his right hand bulks up through the quirk into a greater mass.
"It's a part of me. Once I accepted this side of myself, I never looked back and became the man I am today." The orange haired man confidently says. Prompting the young man to sigh, he lowers his hood, revealing his bruised and emotional face. He too rolls up his right sleeve on his hoodie and lifts his hand up, he tenses in his face as his arm starts to glow with a gorgeous golden aura, he turns to the orange haired man, his eyes now blue with a shimmering of gold within them.
"I'm... an Energy Manipulator... I can absorb latent power and convert it into attacks and strength." he mutters.
In that moment, the orange haired man can see Samuel for what he truly is; a scared, frightened and lonely yong man. Something he himself once was, he holds out his bulked out hand.
"My apologies, I never properly introduced myself... My name is Rikiya Yotsubashi. That building we've been staring at happens to be mine." says Re-Destro.
Samuel looks at the Detnerat building and then back to him with a sense of amazement, he extends out his hand and softly grips the stressed hand with his energy infused hand.
"I'm Samuel Stark. It's nice to meet you." he says as the pair shake hands, it lasts a moment before they both return to their normal positions, each deactivating their quirks.
"You're very well mannered Samuel. For an academy full of degenerates you're staying true to yourself, your parents must be very proud." declares Re-Destro.
"I... They... They're not here anymore, sir." Samuel bluntly says, prompting Re-Destro to look at the young man again.
"Oh, did they move away?" he asks.
Samuel stays silent; prompting Re-Destro to get the message loud and clear.
"My sincerest condolences Samuel." he solemnly adds. He couldn't help but look at the young man with a sense of awe and curiosity, he felt that great potential lied within him and with the right influence, it could be awakened.
"Do you aspire to change the world Samuel? Is that why you want to be a hero?" gauges Re-Destro.
"I... I just want to help make a world in which everyone can be happy and know peace. To feel the hope that I've always lacked... sorry, that's oversharing." sighed the tired trainee.
"Funny. We share the same dream. A world where people aren't discriminated for their abilities or person, a world where we're all equal and can be ourselves peacefully."
That was enough to make Samuel develop a subtle smile
"That'd be nice, right?" he says through his smile, with Re-Destro nodding in agreement.
"This academy of yours. Do you want to go back?" Re-Destro asks.
There's not even a pause from the fractured hero.
"No, I hate it, I hate it so much. I just... I don't even know how to act around people anymore." Samuel sighs.
Re-Destro rests a hand on the boys shoulder, he was confident the feelings he had for this boy were genuine and if given enough time, they'd be proven right. Never mind the MLA, the society he aimed to create could use people like this young man.
"Then come work for me. I'll give you a proper education, a roof over your head and security to perfect yourself into the best version of yourself that you can be." offers the Grand Commander with a smile.
"T-That's a joke, right? I..." utters Samuel as he tilts his head. He's met with a sincere look from the suited man.
"I understand that trust is something that is earned and not given. But, if you trust me on this one decision. I promise you, that you'll never regret any of the days that follow in its wake." Re-Destro says.
Samuel takes a few heavy breaths... Was this his moment? From the comics he read when he was little, every single hero had one stand out moment like this that set down the path to the paradise he dreamed of, being someone that could help people and inspire them to be better. This was his moment, it had to be. He'd made up his mind.
"I... I accept your offer, sir." he states.
The Grand Commander smiles warmly as he gets to his feet.
"Well then, we'll start immediately! No time like the present; walk with me young man." he says, Samuel didn't have to be told twice as he gets up slowly and walks after his new mentor. "Truthfully, I'm having somewhat of a crises at my work, Samuel. Our path forward diverges, so I'm not sure which one to take." the Grand Commander adds, Samuel all the while nodding as he speaks. "A lot of people count on me to make the right decisions. For every right decision can help change hundreds of lives, but every wrong decision can set back our goals..."
Re-Destro remembers his surroundings as he zones back in, the birds chirping and the wind gently caressing the leaves of the trees, he feels the built up stress in him subside.
"Sorry! That's an awful lot to burden you with. Especially five seconds into the job, haha!" he jokes, meanwhile his new mentee gently pokes his head whilst he thinks.
"W-well, did you... N-no actually, don't worry about it, forget I said anything." he murmurs. However this is enough to get the Grand Commander's attention as he turns on the spot and kneels down before his new prodigy, staring sincerely at the young man.
"Go on, an idea can change the world. So don't be afraid to share them. Okay?"
Samuel takes a deep breath in and he sighs, if he was going to be working for such a prestigious figure, he'd need to talk sometimes.
"W-well, um. I'd stay true to what you want to accomplish, but if there are other options that can help you achieve it, then maybe explore them too? Like, you might not find what you're looking for to solve that specific problem, but you might find a solution to a problem you could have in the future..." Samuel looks back at his new mentor's face expression, it hadn't changed, the tired trainee's face wrinkles up. "That sounds stupid, forget I said anything sir." he murmurs.
Re-Destro however is overjoyed as he smiles and pats his shoulders, that's what he'd been looking for! An outside opinion!
"I was blind, why didn't I see it before... In order to truly navigate a path, one must know all of its routes and their destinations. Samuel, your suggestion was excellent, you have my thanks." declares Re-Destro, Samuel couldn't help but smile.
"N-no problem sir." he replies as Re-Destro gets to his feet and the pair begin to walk along again, shoulder to shoulder.
"I feel this'll be the start of a very beneficial relationship." says the Grand Commander.
"Yes sir. I promise I'll be useful." vows Samuel.
"I appreciate the formality, it's not lost on me. But it's not necessary I insist, you can call me what you like."
Samuel thinks for a moment.
"Okay... Thank you so much for the opportunity Mr Yotsubashi." he says. It brought a smile to Re-Destro's face hearing that, such sincerity.
"Thank you, my boy." replies Re-Destro as the pair walk back through the peaceful park. Re-Destro couldn't help but pick up again on his earlier thoughts, before he'd left the inner circle meeting.
'This boy, this victim of this stained society. I'll teach him in your ways and he'll see for himself. I'll liberate him from these chains and together we'll change the world.' thinks the Grand Commander.
A man powered by stress and a young man powered by light, The man would free the young man from his stressful past and the young man would light the man's way. They were two sides of the same coin and now they had become two birds of a feather.
Made by truen