Mirko was alive when Shine arrived--but asleep.

Shine realized her mistake, though it was the middle of the afternoon. 

The light woke up the Pro right away though, and she had kicked Shine into the floor before she realized who it was.

"What are you doing in my house?! In my room?!"

"Sorry," Shine gasped, "I didn't expect you to be in bed... Oww..."

"Well, that's what you get for startling me." Mirko took her foot off Shine's collarbone and pulled her up. "Why are you here?"

"Your phone broke, remember? I wanted to verify the Originals didn't pick you off."

Oh...that was a good reason... Kind of sweet.

Mirko felt a little bad for kicking her now. [How is it any different from how you usually act, Rumi?]

"Well, as you can see, I'm fine." She gestured. "Actually a little surprised at that myself. I thought they'd be waiting for me."

"Well, I can just leave now," Shine said, "Text me when you get a new phone. We should all check in... At least they can't target any one person without all the rest of us finding out about it, though I'm not sure how much that will deter them."

"Well, you don't have to leave right away," Mirko said, "I'm up anyway." She picked up her clock and turned off an alarm that was set for later that evening. 

It went off by accident first. "Curse this stupid, analog device!"

"Are those...cricket noises?" Shine asked.

Mirko rubbed her ears. "Yeah...to me that's loud enough to be an alarm...and shrill enough. Why?"

"Just thought it was odd... I hate alarms. I actually always wake up before mine goes off because my mind dreads being startled awake so much."

"Useful. But not me. Bunnies are deep sleepers." Mirko finally got the darn thing to turn off. "I didn't even know I had this till I realized I couldn't use my phone."

"You know I'm surprised someone like you doesn't have this whole apartment souped up in tech," Shine said, opening the door to see the very ordinary looking living room, "In fact, this is less fancy than my apartment is."

"Who needs it? I live here like 60 days out of the year," Mirko said.

"Even so..."

"I put all the maintenance into the gym on the next floor."

"Get real. Really?" Shine headed out. "Can I see?"

"You want to see a gym?"

"Why not?"

"Sure, I guess."

Mirko grabbed some carrots out of the fridge and then took her up the circle stairs to the gym.

Shine noted how it was geared all to be just right for someone of Mirko's height and quirk skills.

"I'd rather have my own Princess Diaries closet though, if I had money to spend on personalized stuff."

"Why would you need a closet?"

"I never have enough room for clothes... Then again, I shared a room most of my life," Shine said.

Mirko probably had a total of 10 outfits max that she wore out of costume, so she couldn't imagine this at all.

"Well, anyway, that's the tour. I never have guests, anyway."

They went back downstairs.

"I'd feel better if you weren't here alone though," Shine said, "It's not safe."

"Nothing's safe," Mirko said, "but I'll be fine."

She wasn't as sure as she was trying to sound.

Shine was going to say something, but then she paused and went to the window. She opened it and plucked something out of the tree...a paper tied to a knife.

They both stared at it.

"I would have taken days to notice that was there for how often I look out that window." Mirko tried to play it off. She took the paper.

"What does it say?" Shine asked.

Mirko read it aloud: "Loose lips sink ships. POWs are to be given fair treatment. It was a hare-brained scheme. Down the rabbit hole. Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."

She looked blank. "What the h--- does all this mean?"

"I don't know if this was intentional, but all of those were American/European colloquialisms, except for the POW part. That's just our law," Shine said.

"And why would anyone leave me a note using phrases I don't understand?"

"They knew you would ask me, maybe-- or Wally...or look it up. Allow me to explain. 'Loose lips sink ships' is a reference to the WWII internment of Japanese prisoners, and the motto they would say, not to tell secrets or information to anyone," Shine said, "Which to me can only reference the camp and the sub, and how we found it. The POWs are either who we found or who they captured. Or it's us ourselves. The 'hare brained' thing as you know means either our plan or their plan not being a smart one. 'Down the rabbit hole' means things got crazy (you knew that one too, I bet), and 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush' means it's better to have one thing securely than many things that you can't control as your resources."

"Right...and all that together means?" Mirko said.

Shine tapped her chin. "You're not dead or attacked, so they don't want you dead, or you would be. I can only assume it's a threat telling you that you'd better keep all this to yourself. I think they are implying that you are the bird in the hand...or maybe it's Hawks. Maybe it's saying as long as you don't make them any more trouble, they will not make you any more trouble, but it'll be all downhill from here if you do."

"And they'd go to all this effort just to say that because...?"

"It's not traceable, right? This is gibberish to anyone without context," Shine said, "But using all those terms only we would know implies they thought you'd pass it on...so I think the warning is for all of us. No doubt it's easier to come here than UA for them. Is that all it says?"

Mirko turned the note over. There was something on the back. "This part just says: Be Ready."

"So...they intend to use us more...because they have us at their mercy, then?" Shine guessed, "They must be clever enough to know that we can't go to the law with the real story on all this yet, without irrefutable proof. They destroyed your phone that you had pictures on. We've got no case. So you leave them alone, and they don't have any reason to make you disappear. That would be more trouble for them than it's worth. But in exchange, they still think they can blackmail us."

Mirko's hands were shaking without her being able to stop it. "And you're sure all this gibberish means that?"

"No, but it's likely the most plausible answer, isn't it?" Shine said, sitting down, "And the best one for us right now. I don't like it, but I have to admit, it's better if they don't care about us than if they do. You were useful to them with tracking down the LOV, and Wally and I have power they are interested in, from what he told me. While we clearly resisted attempts to recruit us, they aren't ready to give us up as pawns yet. But I admit the POW part bothers me."

[For anyone confused, POW means "prisoner of war", and probably is referring to the people they found on the submarine, or else them themselves because they are caught in this situation.]

"Yeah, aren't all those people in police custody now?" Mirko asked.

Shine shook her head. "They aren't safe there... In fact...let's check the news."

She turned on the TV. Mirko hardly ever used it, except to play work out videos occasionally, but Shine found a news channel quickly enough.

At first nothing unusual was on, but then a breaking news byte did play.

The anchor was talking about a large jail that had been holding some prisoners suspected of human trafficking...being attacked. Apparently a group of outraged people had come by night and murdered 38 of the 43 people arrested. A sign was left that explained the reason was to show how the people felt about quirk based trafficking. But no one knew who was behind it for real.

Mirko and Shine felt sick.

"I thought they wouldn't be safe, but...38 people...murdered..." Shine said.

"But the other 5?" Mirko said.

The other 5 were gone, not confirmed dead.

"The same five I spoke to?" Shine wondered, "Or a different 5?"

"The odds of them still being alive after all this will be slim too," Mirko noted, "This is...creepy... I don't know what else to call it."

"They would never risk their members talking." Shine hugged her sides. "I didn't know any of these people...but that's so...horrible. I feel awful...like it was our fault."

"Whether they were arrested or not, they could have still been offed just for losing." Mirko tried to convince herself this was true. "And it's not like we could just let them go... This is not our fault."

"Oh, I know we didn't murder them, but we made it so easy..."

"Technically, Likstar, you didn't arrest anyone. Blame us Pros if you want to point fingers. You're the one who made the LOV let them live."

"And it did a fat lot of good... I know it's not my fault, Rumi, but I still feel horrible." Shine looked truly distressed. "I've never had to be this close to something like this before."

"Witnesses getting killed off is a common occurrence," Mirko said, "It's not something you can always prevent, even as a hero."

Not that it made it better.

She sat down too and sighed. "And 5 going missing, who could get questioned."

"But I remember now-- one of them said they'd be called to give an account to their holy leader or something," Shine said slowly, "and they'd be killed for it. They accepted that, but  I guess I hoped it wasn't going to happen that way."

"A fine group this is, leaves their enemies with a warning, and kills off their own subordinates." Mirko was disgusted. "Even the LOV is not this bad."

"They are much nicer to their own than any cult I know of ever has been," Shine agreed, "But as crazy as it sounds, Shigaraki actually cares about his little group of crazies. I knew that after I heard about Overhaul's gang... They planned to help the Pros sink it, you know...because they killed one of their guys."

"What?" Mirko said.

"Oh, yeah, that's why Chisaki hates them. It was all an elaborate double cross. I put most of it together after they told me Magne was killed. They basically handed the gang to the Pros on purpose, then took the drugs and Chisaki's arm to pay him back for hurting Compress."

Shine laughed lightly. "For all it was for revenge, they pulled it off pretty well. I wouldn't say this to Shigaraki myself, for fear he'd try to kill me, but his real strength is knowing how to work the hero system to his advantage, not destroy it. Their goal doesn't match their skills...but when does it ever?"

"All the things I'm learning about them, and I'm starting to wonder if the Pros have as good a handle on the League as they think," Mirko admitted.

"They really don't," Shine answered for her. "Not at all. I've never worked with active villains so much on projects before. My longest stint with villains before was mostly just hanging around outside of missions. The LOV are a conundrum to me too. So bad, but so intriguingly close to good some of the time... You're catching on, huh?"

"I wouldn't say I'm the kind of obsessed you are with this," Mirko said, "but there's a few things I don't get. How much do you know about their backgrounds?"

"A lot about some and nothing about others."

"Which ones do you know?"

"Why would I tell you?"

"You partner found out one yesterday. That was pretty disturbing."

Shine's eyes widened. She clearly knew what Mirko was referring to.

"Ah...yes, he told me that... Shigaraki's past.. Yeah, it's harder with him. He won't talk about it. Others will tell you to your face what they're about. Sad, isn't it?"

"Grotesque."

"Grotesque that no one did anything to help? I agree."

"Would you have?" Mirko said, "If you weren't a hero, anyway, and heard a story like that? People are afraid of it."

"Would you have even though you are a pro?" Shine retorted, "I don't care about the quirks... I don't even care so much about the family... I mean I do feel awful about it, but would it deter me? No. I've heard worse than that. At least it was an accident... I knew a guy once who killed his father on purpose...then ended up not being so bad with a little redemption. If that can happen, why not accidental?" [She's referencing a RWBY character there.]

Mirko shook her head. "I'm not saying to blame people with bad quirks for accidents, but all the rest of it is pretty messed up. It doesn't change a thing to know something like that."

"And you brought it up for what reason, then? If it changes nothing."

"It's a relevant detail."

"It's not relevant if it changes nothing," Shine said, "Who cares what happened to a kid years ago? They are a bad guy now. They're never going to change, and it's their fault for being so stupid as to get deceived into it." Her sarcasm was razor edged.

"And it's okay to let them off the hook?" Mirko said.

"I never have and never will do that," Shine said, "not for a sad story, anyway. But I do think it's not the same... I know a bit more than you do, even. I know why AFO one found Shigaraki-- whose real name is Tenko Shimura."

"That's a much less creepy name. Makes sense. Who names their kid Tomura Shigaraki?" Mirko made a face.

"Why, what does it mean?"

"The first one means 'mourning'," Mirko said, "The other one doesn't really make sense to me. I've never heard that last name before."

"'Mourning', huh?" Shine mused, "Well, that's messed up. I wonder who's idea that was... I bet it was AFO's."

"So why did the old guy go after some random gutter trash?" Mirko asked.

"I can't disclose that to you. Too much is wrapped up in it that's not my right to share." Shine tilted her head. "But I can tell you, it was to use him, for a purpose I also can't explain, but one that would disgust you. It disgusts me. But from talking to Shigaraki (or Shimura, I should say) himself, I know it's no use to try to persuade him of that. AFO is the only person he cares about, and the only one he thinks cares about him. It's deeply twisted...and, as I understand it, that is how AFO wanted it, twisted. He wants the guy to be as twisted as he is, to like it that way, to prefer to be twisted to being anything else."

"Who would prefer that?"

"Plenty of people would," Shine said, "Villains take it as a sign of their grievance being real to be twisted. They use their injuries to justify it... It's pure desperation, really. They can't fix it, so they become proud of it. An age old way to dull the pain of being marred for life. I thank God I never could make myself do that. I was taught too clearly how futile it was to do that...but, well, if you're told it's possible, even prudent, to do that...and you're a kid, what are you going to believe?"

Mirko shuddered. "Gross."

"Yes, it is, but, Rumi, it's not the kid's fault AFO is like that," Shine pointed out, "I'm not defending the LOV's actions, but AFO is mostly responsible, it's been clear to me from the start, for planting those ideas. Shimura himself especially is brainwashed. It's not fair to judge him the same way I would a person who had every opportunity to know better. So I don't. You make up your own mind about what to do with the information you were not supposed to hear. But I won't join you in censoring him or any of the others for what is not their fault. Don't expect me to."

"Don't get so worked up. I haven't actually done anything with the info," Mirko said, "I don't see what I could do. I just happened to hear it, that's all. I can't acknowledge it or act on it, and what would I act on? Backstory doesn't matter. I just wondered what else you knew-- apparently a lot that you won't let on."

"I am still missing a few pieces. I'd like to know just what AFO has in store for the guy-- and the LOV. I'm sure it is not what they think it is," Shine said, "And going to prison was part of his plan. I know that. It's clear as day. But I can't be certain of what the plan is...nor do I know if it's even my job to thwart it. I know we are shown these things for a reason, but not everyone for the same reason. I wouldn't just throw away the fact that you found out. Maybe you're meant to put this together for some reason neither of us know."

"If it was to take down AFO, I'd be all over that," Mirko said.

"I do not think either of us will ever take down AFO," Shine said, oddly, "It's not my role...and I doubt it's yours either."

"Someone has to. Who cares who it is?"

"I know you pros embrace that idea, but face it, fate has it that some people are meant to be defeated by others and some aren't. If someone refuses to step up, the mantle can move on to someone else, but I don't know we're at that point yet. I know what All Might thinks-- that the next Great Hero like him will be the one...but I'm not convinced that is true."

She tugged her hair. "But AFO is not even the biggest problem. He's just given all this a face. And the real trouble is hero society. It will be ripe for anyone to take over. But that you can be a part of fixing."

"Fixing?" Mirko said.

"Don't play dumb. You know it's a mess as well as I do," Shine said, "You don't subscribe to the popular hero image for a reason, right?"

"I think it's weak."

"Right you are. So what do you do about it? Keep to yourself all your life? Or do you get involved in it? I'm still trying to answer that question for my own problems...but I've always been taught it's our duty to be a part of the world we live in."

"So I am. What more do you want?" Mirko said.

"I'd like it if you joined my core group," Shine said, "We're studying, learning, preparing for all the real things that need to change... Of course hero society is not our focus, but it comes up a lot, as it is a part of the problem.  You see, Rumi, war is coming. I've been told that by more than one person...and I'm not here to fight in it...but if you don't shoot, carry bullets. That's what I think. There are people who will have to fight. I can do my best to prepare them. I've been in many a war that was just mostly ideologies clashing and leading to bloodshed. I don't know that there's any worse war than that. The territory battles are tame compared to that kind."

"I've heard that too, but if war does come, it's gonna be between groups of people who want to run this world their way," Mirko said.

"Exactly, and I don't get involved directly in that, but you'll hardly be able to help it. You could be more ready than you are now." Shine shrugged. "I think you've been put in this position for a reason...Rumi, really...but you don't have to. I'll still be your friend and all and talk. The only thing is that this means it would be more often and more to the point."

"I don't know what you're on about, but would there be information and stats in this?" Mirko leaned forward. "Inside tips-- that kind of thing."

"I can't guarantee it, but it could be that way. But that's not why I want you to be part of it. I want to give you a better chance to survive. Or at least to thrive... The physical danger is tbd in all this. Could be bad, could be nothing."

"I don't understand," Mirko said, "What does your group do?"

"We transform..." Shine said, "Fight corruption, that type of thing. Right now it's mostly just training to spot this stuff, but my concern is any day now it could all be put to the test in some drastic way. I've never felt so on edge anywhere."

"And yesterday? Was all this overnight?"

"Oh no, it's ongoing... Yesterday though, could be a first taste of what's coming," Shine said, "The Originals...the Metas...the whole problem is that they're partly right. If they were all wrong it would be easy to ignore them." Shine rubbed her forehead. "And heroes are horribly unprepared to answer any of the criticisms... I can't stop them from going under...but if a few people know how to start over...it'll be a chance...and the alternative is letting the LOV be the ones to decide what replaces all this."

"You...think it's that certain." Mirko felt the hairs on her arm standing on end.

"Oh, it's already in motion." Shine was dead sure. "Are you under a rock, woman? Yes, it's certain... All societies crumble sooner or later. Sorry...building anything on the foundation of man-made things, man's abilities, heroes...it's like building a house on sand. It seems okay for a while, but when the floods come, whatever they are, it collapses like a house of cards. Only having the foundation of what's timeless, ageless, and true will withstand that kind of pressure. Like rock. That's the story my own Sensei taught us. I've seen the signs since coming here it's all going to burn soon... That's not a real issue for me, but it is for all of you. So Wally and I want to help."

"You say it's not an issue that society is crumbling? How are you working at a hero school?"

Shine smiled oddly at her.

"Maybe it's time to let you in on the full story, Rumi... You've kept enough secrets by now, so I know you're no snitch..."

* * *

After hearing the truth about how they'd come to UA ...Mirko was skeptical about their credibility.

What a story though!

Mirko didn't know whether to conclude Shine was crazy...or genius.

Shine demanded nothing of her. "I get it if you don't buy it. That's fine...but all this is on such a larger scale. I would like your support still, if I could convince you to cooperate with us still somehow...?"

"That's...a lot to...convince me of..." Mirko was non committal.

"Right...well," Shine was writing down the contents of the note while talking, "I'll let you think about it. Tell me what you decide... There's so little time before the feathers hit the fan with all this stuff..."

She left after that.