Chapter Text
“Again.” A cold, calculating voice said before large volts crashed down onto a large blob of dark blueish biomass resting on a table.
“SSSKKKKRRRREEEEEEEEE!!!!!” A painful cry erupted from the biomass, its screams echoing throughout the room.
The electricity ceases. The blue biomass shudders in pain, whimpers escaping from its nonexistent mouth. Above it, the shock device hangs as a mechanical arm with sharp claws and crackling electricity. As the creature writhes, a scientist in a protective bio-suit circles the table with a tape recorder. He silently observes the biomass’s reflexes before clicking the tape recorder's record button.
“Doctor’s log number eight. Subject-01 shows incredible resistance when exposed to high amounts of electricity. Its endurance is more impressive than the other three.” The scientist said, still eyeing the creature called Subject-01.
“Further studies will be conducted on Subject-01 and the others as soon as the students arrive. End recording.” The scientist said before pressing the record button again, ending the recording.
Right as the scientist says this, another pair of mechanical claws hanging from the ceiling move and dig their claws into the Subject-01’s liquid mass. The claws lift the subject up into the air as its blue bio-mass hangs from the claws before they set the creature into a small canister. The claws release the creature and move away upon the canister, sealing itself with Subject-01 now trapped inside. Subject-01 writhes inside the canister before slamming against the glass, hoping to at least break free, but it is unsuccessful.
The scientist is about to leave the room when he looks toward two nearby guards and says, “Put the symbiote back with the others. And have the other three prepared for the showcase.” The guards nod before one of them readies their sonic gun while the other holsters his weapon and picks up the canister carefully. The symbiote inside feels the guard lift it up and carry it away back to the others with every step he takes, causing the symbiote to shake slightly. Soon, the guards arrive at a very large door, and the one not holding the canister opens the door with his key card.
Loud noises can be heard from inside the door as it slowly unlocks itself and opens for the guards to walk in. The guards step inside a room outlined with sonic turrets all aimed at three identical canisters similar to the one the blue symbiote is contained in. The guard carrying the canister walks over to a small table with two automatic clamps before setting the canister onto the clamps. The clamps seal around the canister before the guards leave the room, leaving the blue symbiote alone with three other similar symbiotes inside their own canisters.
One of the canisters houses a very riled-up orange symbiote with hints of black and sharp blades mixed in with its biomass. Another canister resting near the orange symbiote holds a purple symbiote with some violet mixed and oddly moves more femininely inside its canister. The final canister contains a dark green symbiote with some light green mixed in its biomass, and it is not moving as much as the others. When they are left fully alone, the purple symbiote opens a telepathic link with her siblings so they may be able to communicate with one another.
“Riot? Riot, are you ok?” The purple symbiote asked, clearly worried for her big brother.
Riot, groaning in pain, says, “I’m fine, Agony. It’s–urgh! Nothing I can’t handle.”
“What did they do to you?” Agony asked.
“*sigh* Nothing terrible. Just the usual electrocution. How are the rest of you doing?” Riot asked.
Agony sighs softly before saying, “Phage was poked and prodded for who knows how long. And Lasher… ”
Riot grows worried and asks, “What? What did they do to him?”
Agony is silent before saying, “Those scientists… they hurt him really badly.”
Riot stills for a moment as Agony’s words settle in with him before guilt slowly begins to grow inside him. These humans… even on a different Earth, they are just as cruel as the ones in our own universe. Riot thought to himself. However, as he is lost in thought, Phage suddenly starts striking against the glass in his canister with his blades, causing a loud noise. The noise starts to irritate Riot as he’s scolding himself before he finally just loses it.
“Would you stop that, Phage?! I can hardly think with all the noise you’re making!” Riot yelled.
Phage growls before yelling, “At least I’m trying to break out! Unlike you and the others!”
“Oh, that’s ironic coming from you!” Riot yelled.
Phage twitches before he asks, “What’s that supposed to mean?!”
“We’re in this situation because of you! Because you thought it would be a good idea to attack Knull and Brock when they were fighting!” Riot yelled out in anger.
Phage hisses, “You wanted payback on Knull for controlling us as much as I did!”
“That may be true, but I wasn’t dumb enough to attack him while he was fighting an empowered Eddie Brock!” Riot said.
“How the hell was I supposed to know that one of their attacks would send us to another dimension?!" Phage asked.
“Maybe you would have known if you had just—”
“SHUT UP!!!” Agony screamed out, silencing Phage and Riot.
“How we ended up here, or who is responsible, doesn’t matter anymore! We’re in this situation, and we’ve only got each other! So stop fighting!” Agony yelled, reflecting how much emotion she’s feeling.
She calms down slightly and takes a deep breath before saying, “Besides… you’re scaring Lasher.”
Riot and Phage are confused until they feel the fear coming off of Lasher through their hivemind. They feel Lasher shaking, completely scared to death over Riot and Phage’s fight. Both symbiotes feel guilty before trying to calm themselves down for the sake of their little brother.
“Sorry, Lasher. We’re just… frustrated. That’s all.” Riot said.
Phage is silent before speaking much more quietly, “Same. Didn’t mean to scare you.”
Lasher feels slightly at ease before falling silent, “... Why do we even exist?”
This surprises his three siblings as Agony asks, “What do you mean, Lasher?”
“I mean… the minute we were born, we were just tools for the Life Foundation, the U.S. government, and recently Knull,” Lasher said
Riot then says, “Lasher… I know our lives have been hard, but it’ll get better soon.”
“Yeah? And how long until then? None of us has ever felt what it’s like to have a true symbiotic relationship with a host! And now we’re going to be experimented on for the rest of our lives!” Lasher yelled, his tone full of pain and anguish.
Agony, though she isn’t able to touch Lasher, comforts him with her voice, “Brother… things will change. And even if they don’t, we’ll still be together.”
“Exactly. Don’t go questioning why we exist. We were born into this life whether we wanted it or not, so we have to make do with what we’re given.” Phage said.
Riot adds, “Phage is right. No matter how shitty life is, we’re at least going to have each other. Never forget that Lasher.”
Lasher, hearing his siblings' words, makes him feel… warm. “You’re right… We’re in this together.”
The three older siblings are hit with a wave of pride in each other for being able to comfort their scared little brother. However, despite what they said, the three of them knew that it was going to take a long time for them to once again feel free again. Suddenly, the main door to the room opens with multiple guards entering, their sonic guns at the ready and pointed at the canisters. This surprises the four symbiotes before they feel the guards lift up their canisters from the clamps before carrying them away.
Phage is the first to speak, “The hell? More tests?!”
“I guess. Though I heard something about some children coming to watch.” Riot said.
This surprises the other three with Agony saying, “Children? What, do they want the children to watch and be amused by our suffering?!”
“I don’t understand it either, but that is what’s going to happen,” Riot said.
Lasher’s fear starts to return as he says, “No… please no more tests…”
Riot, Phage, and Agony hear this and can sense the fear in Lasher. His fear acts like a calling for the older siblings to do something to comfort him once again. So, though they can’t physically touch one another, the three older siblings use the link to the hive mind to metaphysically hug Lasher. Lasher can feel his siblings' warmth around him and slowly attempts to lean into it, a reassurance that they’ll go through the coming pain together.
Outside of the research facility, a school bus pulls into the main driveway of the facility and parks near the front entrance. Upon the bus stopping, a middle-aged male teacher with blonde hair exits with many students following suit. The children are junior high students wearing black school uniforms, and with each having a striking appearance, mostly those with mutant quirks. As the students exit the bus, a particular student with ash blonde hair steps off and glances around with a scowl. This is Katsuki Bakugou, the highest-ranked student in the class and the one with an explosive attitude.
As Katsuki glances at the building, he hisses, “Tsk! This is so pointless. Teach, why do we even have to do this?”
The teacher sighs and says, “Believe me, Mr. Bakugou. I would much rather be at home right now, but the school board demanded this trip to happen as a way to have some of you think about what you want to do with your lives.”
“Yeah? Well, did that school board hear that none of us want to be a pointless scientist?” Katsuki asked.
“Bakugou is right! We want to be heroes! Not scientists!” A random student yelled out.
The others begin to agree before the teacher speaks up, “I know. But listen, let’s just get through the day and get this over with. Ok?”
The students begrudgingly agree with the teacher, saying, “Good. Now, is everyone off the bus?”
The students look among one another, checking to see if they are all here. None of them notices anyone missing, except for Katsuki, as he feels a pang of annoyance upon knowing who is missing. Damn, Deku. Is he still on the bus? Katsuki thought to himself. As he thinks of this, someone else rushes out of the bus quickly and steps onto the ground, rubbing his eyes after having been sleeping.
“I’m sorry, Teacher! I fell asleep, and no one woke me up!” A boy with green, fluffy hair and freckles said.
The teacher sighs and says, “I expect all my students to be out of the bus when I say so. Do better next time, Midoriya.”
The boy, Izuku Midoriya, nods in understanding while his classmates silently make fun of him. Izuku looks at the ground, trying to drown out his classmates' harsh words and avoid the glare Katsuki is giving him right now. Izuku isn’t the most popular in his class, nor the most liked, due to the simple fact that Izuku lacks a quirk compared to everyone else. They all make fun of him for wanting to be a hero so badly despite lacking a quirk and having virtually no chance to ever be like his idol, All Might.
Now, with all the students together, the teacher says, “Alright, kids. Now, before we head in, I’m obligated to remind you to respect the people working here. They are putting aside a lot of valuable time to make this tour possible.”
Everyone simply rolls their eyes, with Katsuki being the one to speak, “Yeah. Let’s just get this over with!”
Right as he says this, a female scientist with blonde hair walks outside and says to the teacher, “You’re right on time, sir. I trust the trip was safe.”
The teacher nods and says, “It was, thank you for asking.”
He then turns to his students and says, “Class, this is Dr. Sadie. A very bright and smart scientist. She’s going to be your tour guide for the day.”
Dr. Sadie smiles at the class and says, “It’s nice to meet all of you. I hope you enjoy what you’ll be seeing today.”
She turns and gestures for the students to follow her inside the building. As they follow her, most don’t take a moment to look at the main building and see how magnificent it is. The only one who does is Izuku, as he sticks to the back of the class and looks at the towering building, observing every detail. It is filled with countless glass windows that show some scientists walking through the halls, talking with one another. The most eye-catching feature, however, is the giant letters on the top of the building that read ‘The Vault’. Izuku smiles to himself as he pulls out his journal to already write down notes. This is going to be amazing! Izuku thought to himself.
Dr. Sadie looks back at the class and says, “Before we head in, I’d like to ask you not to touch any of the experiments and not disturb any of our staff.” Everyone nods in understanding before Dr. Sadie pushes the doors open and allows the students to enter their main lobby. The students and their teacher step inside, observing the very large lobby with several elevators nearby that lead to the next floor. Izuku is already in awe at the sheer size of just the lobby, his excitement beginning to grow. Can’t wait to see what they have here! I’m definitely going to tell Izumi all about this. Izuku thought to himself, smiling at the thought of telling his little sister about what he’s going to see.
Somewhere inside the Vault, the four symbiotes are experiencing excruciating pain throughout every ounce of their being. The guards had brought them to a much larger room with four tables sitting in the center of the room. The symbiotes were removed from their canisters and held down onto the table by mechanical arms with sharp claws. Of course, they tried to escape, but before they could, the tables produced electricity that shocked the symbiotes and kept them from getting up from the table.
Now trapped on the tables, the symbiotes shriek and writhe from the constant strikes of electricity. Surrounding them are several scientists wearing hazmat suits as they take notes of the symbiotes' actions. As extra security, several guards wait outside with their weapons at the ready should the symbiotes escape. As the four are electrocuted, Phage glares daggers at the guards and scientists observing them, causing the blades in his biomass to sharpen further.
“Gonna… kill them! All of them!” Phage managed to yell out telepathically to the others.
In the table next to Phage, Lasher’s tendrils fly everywhere as he cries out, “ARRGGHHH!!! Make it stop! Make it stop!”
“Please! Please, stop!” Agony cried out before coughing up acid as electricity ran through her whole biomass.
Riot hears the cries of his siblings and roars out, “Bastards! Enough! Leave them!”
However, all their cries can’t be heard due to them speaking telepathically to one another. The only noise they can make is the painful screeches leaving their bodies as the electricity shocking them only gets worse. All four of them wonder if their pain is truly for the scientist’s research, or if they secretly enjoy watching the symbiotes suffer. It’s a reminder that, even though with their appearance, the true monsters are always those wearing human flesh.
Not far from the room where the symbiotes are contained, Izuku and his classmates walk through the hallways with Dr. Sadie leading the way while also pointing out some experiments they’re working on. While everyone else, including the teacher, is not interested, Izuku is in awe at all that he’s seeing all around him. He’s seen some scientists testing out new support items for heroes and others testing out complex chemicals that Izuku can only wonder what they are. This place is amazing! I’ve never seen so many amazing things in one place! Izuku thought to himself as he jotted down notes in his journal.
While Izuku is excited, Katsuki himself is not even batting an eye at the sights around due to being more interested in training for the UA entrance exam in a few months. Tsk! The school really thought that walking around a science facility and watching a whole flock of nerds being nerds would be amazing? What a joke. Katsuki thought to himself. Katsuki’s wandering gaze eventually falls onto Izuku as he walks in the back of the class, writing something in that precious journal of his. Katsuki huffs and thinks to himself, Of course he´d be the only one to enjoy this. Stupid Deku. He looks back toward the front of the class as Dr. Sadie stops at a large metal door before turning to look at the students.
“Now, before we continue, I want to inform all of you of what you’re about to see.” Dr. Sadie said, making everyone raise an eyebrow.
She smiles confidently as she says, “About six months ago, we came into contact with four creatures. Creatures never before seen, and ones we have been studying for a very long time.”
Izuku listens closely before asking, “What type of creatures are they?”
“Heh. That… is something you’re about to find out.” Dr Sadie said before using her key card to open the door.
Right as the doors open, Dr. Sadie motions the class to follow her into a large observation deck with many rows of seats, and the main windows are covered by metal shutters. The students are confused but soon walk into the room before sitting down in their own chairs. Izuku manages to get a comfortable seat in the front row with a journal in hand and eagerness written all over his face as he awaits to see what the scientists have in store. While everyone else sits down, a loud screech comes from the other side of the shutters that makes everyone jump in surprise.
“Pardon about that. The creatures are a handful to deal with,” Dr. Sadie said before walking over to the side of the room. Izuku keeps an eye on her before he sees a large red button that Dr. Sadie proceeds to press. Right as she does so, the shutters covering the windows begin to slowly lift up, making Izuku scoot to the edge of his seat as he waits to see the creatures. As the shutters lift up, the screeches grow louder as a large room can now be seen by the students. Once the shutters are fully up, everyone gasps at the sight of the four symbiotes lying on tables and being electrocuted.
Izuku’s eyes shoot wide open as he feels his pen nearly fall out of his fingers. His eyes fall upon the four different colored symbiotes, his mind shooting around questions as to what they are, whether they are even from Earth, and why they are different colors. However, he soon notices the electricity shocking them and also how the symbiotes are screeching in pain. Hearing their painful cries makes his stomach churn.
Katsuki is the first to say, “The hell are those things?!”
“Those ‘things’ are the creatures I was referring to. Children, I’d like you to be the first to gaze upon what we call ‘Symbiotes.’” Dr. Sadie said.
Everyone is confused and curious with Izuku asking, “Symbiotes?”
“Yes. You see, these creatures are sentient lifeforms with the ability to bond with a human host. Once bonded, the symbiote grants the host incredible power.” Dr. Sadie said.
This shocks everyone as she continues, “Now, we haven’t done human trials yet. However, I can assure you that when we learn how to control and replicate these creatures. They will be an incredible help to our pro heroes.”
This further shocks the students, mostly Katsuki, as he begins to imagine himself wearing a symbiote one day. However, he soon shakes his head and thinks to himself, Like I need some gooey creature to make me strong. Ha! While Katsuki is lost in his thoughts, Izuku has his own thoughts about what the symbiotes can provide. Yet, unlike the others, he isn’t fully thinking about the power they can grant, but rather… the pain each symbiote looks to be in.
The symbiotes’ screams of pain are starting to make Izuku feel sick to his stomach. Izuku feels his stomach ache as it threatens to make him puke from just this sight alone. These creatures… They're also living beings. How can they do this to them? Izuku thinks to himself. He begins to have the urge to do something to stop the symbiotes' pain, but knows there is nothing he can do for them. He whispers to himself, “This isn’t right… They haven’t even done anything wrong.”
While Izuku and his class watch, the symbiotes below continue to screech in pain as electricity ripples throughout their body. However, Agony is starting to be able to get used to the electricity, but this doesn’t go unnoticed by the scientists. One scientist says, “Subject 04 appears to be resisting the jolts. More power, please.” More powerful jolts strike at Agony, causing more pain as she screeches and spits acid everywhere, making the scientists step back slightly. Her screeches are heard by her brothers as they manage to look at her as she is suffering.
“S-Sister!” Lasher yelled out through the pain.
Riot hisses to himself and roars out, “Stop! Stop hurting her!”
Lasher and Riot begin thrashing around in the grasp of the mechanical arms, but as they do so, their middle brother is frozen still. Phage can feel the amount of suffering Agony is currently in, not even acknowledging the electricity anymore. Slowly, biomass begins to shift as his blades start to grow longer and sharper. The scientists notice this sudden action by Phage as he growls loud enough for them to hear, along with the students watching from above. Phage’s blades grow sharper as he says, “You… ruthless… heartless… that’s my SISTER!!!”
Phage roars as he shoots his blades out, cutting through the arms holding him down and breaking free, causing the scientists to panic. The students gasp in shock as the scientists in the room attempt to run for the exit, but Phage acts quickly. Phage leaps off the table and onto a random male scientist before he starts to surround the scientist's body. The scientist screams out in fear as Phage seeps into his pores before fully covering the scientist's whole body, drowning out his screams under Phage’s biomass. Phage grows muscular as blades from across his body, as well as white, jagged eyes that meet in the middle form along with a mouth full of black, razor-sharp teeth.
The scientists grow scared as Phage speaks to them, “You hurt my family… tortured us… Well, retribution has finally come!” Phage forms two large blades from his hands before leaping at the scientists, stabbing into some and cutting through their bodies like butter. Izuku and his class watch with horror as some of the girls in the class begin to scream in shock. It also causes some of the students to try to rush to the door, only for it to shut before they can escape.
While the students try to escape, Phage continues his massacre of the scientists, but leaves exactly three alive. The reason is that the ones left will serve as good hosts for his siblings. Speaking of Phage’s siblings, he thrusts his blades into the claws holding down Lasher and Riot before rushing over to Agony. He rips off the claws holding her and lifts Agony up from the electric table and cradles her close, worry and fear written in his jagged eyes.
While he holds Agony, Riot, and Lasher leap off their tables and latch onto two of the remaining three scientists. Lasher covers his host as he forms a pair of white, smooth eyes while lacking a mouth of teeth. He proceeds to form tendrils on his back before launching them toward the last female scientist, catching and restraining her. Meanwhile, Riot envelops his host as he grows large in size and forms his jagged eyes and a row of sharp, pearly, white teeth.
The two brothers then quickly rush to Phage and Agony with Lasher saying, “I’ve got a host for her! Hurry, Agony! Bond with her and regain your strength!”
Phage holds Agony up near the screaming scientist while saying, “Here… It’s going to be okay now.”
Agony ripples before reaching out toward the scientist with her tendrils as she screams. “No! Stay away! Stay away–hmmph!” The scientist is silenced with Agony leaping onto her. Up in the observation deck, the students watch with horror as the female scientist is enveloped. At the same time, Dr. Sadie’s fingers are flying across a keyboard next to the board, sweat dripping down her head as she tries to open the door.
“What’s taking so long?!” The teacher yelled toward a terrified Dr. Sadie.
“The– The quarantine! We installed it, should the symbiotes escape! It won’t open until I type the override!”
“Well, hurry! Those things could come after us if they see us!” The teacher yelled while his students panicked.
Meanwhile, Agony fully envelops her female host as her long, purple hair forms and her semi-jagged eyes appear, along with black teeth. Breathing heavily, Agony feels Riot and Lasher grab her arms and help her to her feet with Phage standing in front of her, helping Agony regain her balance. Once Agony is fully balanced, Phage holds her close while stroking her hair.
“You’re going to be ok now, Agony… the pain stops here,” Phage said.
Agony shivers before leaning against Phage and saying, “Thank you… all of you.”
Lasher and Riot both feel relieved before Lasher says excitedly, “We’re free now! We can escape and leave this place at last!”
“One thing at a time, Lasher. The alarms are going off, so their guards are on the way. We must be vigilant.” Riot said.
Phage, still holding Agony, asks, “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s get moving.”
Riot replies, “Agreed. But—”
Before Riot finishes his sentence, the main door opens, and rushing in are guards with sonic weapons at the ready. The four are shocked, and before any of them can react, the guards fire powerful sonics at the symbiotes. Though the electricity earlier was painful, it is nothing compared to how the sonics are affecting the symbiotes right now. They screech loudly as they begin to fall apart from their hosts while the sonics keep hitting them. “Keep putting pressure on them! We gotta free their hosts!” One guard yelled to the others.
The symbiotes fall onto the ground as they all thrash around in pain before they are forced to abandon their current hosts. All four of them leap from the hosts and attempt to flee, but are again hit with sonics. The four scientists who were bonded with the symbiotes are scared and terrified at the same time as they quickly back away from the symbiotes, while the guards keep firing their sonics. The four symbiotes begin to crowd together in a corner of the room as whatever strength they had begins to fade fast.
“It’s too much! The sounds!” Lasher yelled out.
Agony screeches loudly as Phage attempts to shield her with his biomass before yelling out, “We won’t be able to last much longer!”
Riot roars as he looks at his siblings, trying to think of something… before an idea comes to mind and Riot manages to yell out, “We… must… fuse! Completely!”
The other three look at Riot with shock as Agony asks,”Wha… What?!”
“It’s our only chance! We must do it!” Riot yelled.
“But, Riot! We never fused to the level you’re suggesting! If we do this, we’ll never be able to separate! We won’t even be ourselves anymore!” Lasher yelled in fear.
Riot, grunting as the sonics hit him, says, “We have no choice… we will be stronger together! It is the only way!”
The other three are scared and hesitant, but Phage says, “He’s right.”
Agony looks up at Phage in shock before seeing the reassurance from him and says, “... Ok… let’s do it.”
Lasher is the last one and says, “I… I’m scared…”
“I know… but we’re in this together… as one,” Riot said.
Suddenly, to the shock of the guards and the students still watching, the symbiotes suddenly latch onto one another tightly as their bio-masses begin to mix together. All four of them screech to the ceiling as they become one giant blob of biomass with a mix of purple, green, orange, and blue. However, slowly, the blob begins to rise, taking on a human-shaped form. Noticeably, the colors begin to change from a mix of random colors to a solid dark red color.
Izuku, still watching, is shocked by what he sees and calls out to Dr. Sadie, “Doctor! What are they doing?!”
Dr. Sadie turns her gaze from the panel toward the combined symbiotes and gasps, “It… It can’t be…”
“What?! What the hell are those things doing?!” Katsuki yelled.
Dr. Sadie stutters as she speaks, “They’ve… They’ve joined… merged! They’ve become some sort of… Hybrid!”
Right as she says this, Hybrid rises with their bio-mass now fully red with what appear to be white claws on what are supposed to be fingers and two bright red protrusions over its eyes. They screech toward the guards as they back up in fear of Hybrid as they speak, their voice being a combination of all four symbiotes’ voices. “Leave… us… ALONE!!!” They yelled before they formed two large hammers and slammed them down onto the ground, knocking the guards off their feet and cracking the ground.
Hybrid then uses many tendrils to restrain the guards by pinning them against the wall with parts of itself. The guards attempt to use their sonic guns, but Hybrid easily disarms them quickly before wrapping their tendrils around the guards' necks. They don’t strangle the guards to death, but enough until the guards fall unconscious. With all the guards down, Hybrid takes a moment to look at itself and takes in its new look, as well as having a combined mind of the four symbiotes.
Riot, Phage, Agony, and Lasher have fused in the past, but never to this degree. Their minds have become one, and it has allowed them to share their thoughts, feelings, and function in perfect harmony. Their own individuality is slowly becoming blurred into a singular mind, with each slowly starting to see themselves not as many, but as one. They’re no longer separate symbiotes anymore… they’re a singular entity with the minds and voices of four beings combined.
They want to learn more about their new merged form, but with the alarms blaring, Hybrid decides it's best if they escape first. Hybrid quickly looks around the room for a vent or something to hopefully escape before more guards arrive. That’s when they notice the observation deck housing the students and their teacher as they attempt to flee. An idea then forms in their mind as they think to themselves, We must… bond with one… of them… won’t attack us… If we have… a child. Hybrid suddenly leaps toward the observation deck before it bursts through the glass window, shocking and scaring the students. They all back away in fear, with Dr. Sadie now more anxious to open the door as fast as she can.
“Tsk! Hurry! Get the door open!” Katsuki yelled.
Dr. Sadie sweats as Hybrid begins to make their way to the students before Dr. Sadie manages to get the door open and yells, “Hurry! Run!”
The students quickly flood through the door in an attempt to escape while pushing each other aside to do so. Something that happens to Izuku as he attempts to run away with the others, but he keeps being shoved aside until he’s in the very back. He panics as Hybrid looks directly at him, causing him to freeze in fear as chills run down his spine upon locking eyes with Hybrid’s white eyes. Hybrid observes Izuku for a moment as the other students are all nearly out, and they think to themselves, He… will do.
Hybrid launches its tendrils at Izuku, which causes him to yelp and attempt to run toward the door. However, Hybrid’s tendrils latch onto Izuku before yanking him back toward them while Izuku screams. Izuku struggles in Hybrid’s grasp before feeling the unified symbiote begin to bond with him. “No! No, please!” Izuku screamed out as pain began to build inside, finally having his class notice him.
Katsuki, seeing Izuku in Hybrid’s grasp, gasps in fear for Izuku and yells, “Deku!”
He is about to launch himself forward with his explosions when Dr. Sadie stops him, “No! You’ll only hurt him!”
“But I have to get him out before that thing does something to him!” Katsuki yelled, surprised that he was genuinely worried for him.
Dr. Sadie shakes her head, “It’s too late! The symbiotes… they’re already fusing with him!”
A painful cry is then heard from Izuku as Katsuki whips his head toward him to see Hybrid’s biomass begin to cover Izuku’s body. Izuku screams out in pain as he feels the symbiotes enter his body, causing him incredible amounts of pain. He thinks to himself, It hurts! It hurts so much! Please! Someone help me! Mom! Izumi! Izuku thrashes in Hybrid’s grasp as Hybrid tries to hold Izuku still to finish the bonding process… however… a sudden jolt is felt between Izuku and the symbiotes as both go still.
Izuku’s cries cease as his vision is suddenly flooded with memories that are not his own, and very painful memories at that. He sees five tiny symbiotes being forcibly extracted from a large, muscular, black symbiote before seeing the five symbiotes being bonded with what looks like five guards. The memories change to have the same black symbiote and a man dressed in blue and red fighting the five before using a weapon to turn the symbiotes to dust. What… is this… I feel… pain… Izuku thinks to himself. The memory changes to show the symbiotes now recovered and holding a muscular blonde man hostage before one of the five symbiotes murders the others. The female purple symbiote is stabbed in the back along with the orange symbiote, while the blue symbiote is stabbed in the chest, and the green symbiote has his throat slashed.
The memories shift once again to show the surviving four symbiotes being tortured and drugged by what looks like American soldiers. It then shows the same four symbiotes being forcibly bonded with four soldiers while being heavily drugged. It then changes to show those same soldiers being cut down by a crimson red symbiote as it laughs maniacally before the symbiotes bonds with a mercenary dressed in red and black. The mercenary defeats the red symbiotes before having them bond with a dog and then leaving them alone.
The memories show how the symbiotes are corrupted by a terrifyingly evil god before attacking a family of four. The symbiotes are then shown to have been defeated by a young boy before finding new hosts to serve the evil god. However, they’re soon confronted by the previous fifth symbiote, who betrayed them before a fight breaks out. The symbiotes are defeated when the fifth symbiote uses some kind of powerful fire magic to defeat them and also sever their connection to the dark god.
The memories then show Izuku that same evil god battling the black symbiote that gave birth to them,but now wielding an axe. The orange symbiote, in a fit of rage, launches toward the dark god while the others try to stop him. However, one blow during the battle causes an energy wave that teleports all four symbiotes to another world, Izuku’s world. As these memories flash in his mind, Izuku tears up and thinks to himself, They’re… scared…not evil… scared…
At the same time, Hybrid sees Izuku’s memories as flashes of Izuku as a child come to their mind. They see a smiling boy dressed up like a hero and dreaming of being the greatest hero of all time. Yet, his dreams are shattered by a doctor telling Izuku that he has no quirk and cannot be a hero. The memories shift to show Izuku being comforted by his mother as they cry together. Pain…saddness… Hybrid thinks to themselves before the memory changes again. It shows Izuku being bullied and picked on by Katsuki for many years, earning the name Deku.
Seeing this saddens Hybrid, but that memory is nothing compared to the next one. It shows a ten-year-old Izuku crying and holding the cold hand of his dead mother lying in a hospital bed. Izuku bawls his eyes out to his mother while in the background, a baby’s cries can be heard. The memories soon show Izuku holding and feeding a baby girl a bottle of milk while humming a lullaby. The baby soon grows into a five-year-old girl with hair identical to Izuku’s. The memory then shows Izuku growing up as well, while raising his sister alone and working a job in a convenience store to earn money. The last memory shows Izuku cuddling up to his little sister in bed, keeping her safe from all harm. Hybrid is left stunned as they think to themselves, This boy… he is… like us.
However, before a stronger connection between the two can form, Hybrid is suddenly struck by sonics. New guards arrived just in time to attack the symbiotes and separate it from Izuku, and with one of the guards saying, “Get that thing away from the kid!” The Hybrid screeches in pain before dropping Izuku to the ground as its eyes look around for something, anything. Its eyes soon land on a nearby open vent before launching itself toward it and seeping inside before the guards can fire any more sonics at it.
“Dammit! We can’t let it get away!” One guard said.
Another guard says to the others, “Alert everyone in the facility! I want every soldier to stand guard at the vents!”
With a nod, multiple guards rush out, with one saying to the students and teacher, “Take the kid and leave, now!”
“O– Of course! Everyone, back to the bus now!” The teacher said.
The students begin to rush toward the exit along with the teacher, but Katsuki shockingly stays behind to help Izuku to his feet and say, “Come on! We gotta go, Deku!”
Izuku, however, is crying and muttering, “So much pain… paaaiiinnn…”
“The hell are you saying?!” Katsuki yelled, worried about what those symbiotes might have done to him.
Izuku looks up at Katsuki through his tears before saying, “I… nothing… It’s nothing.”
“Then stop crying! We have to go now!” Katsuki yelled as he pulled Izuku to his feet.
Izuku stumbles to his feet, but manages to follow Katsuki as the pair begin to run down the hallway in an attempt to catch up with their class. As the pair runs, Katsuki begins to think to himself, Dammit! I may find you annoying, Deku. But I’m not going to let Izumi grow up without her brother! These feelings Katsuki is having are something he hasn’t felt for a long time since he gained his quirk and his and Izuku’s friendship ended. However, Katsuki has recently grown to sort of respect Izuku for being able to care for his little sister and ensure she grows up happy. He just hopes those symbiotes didn’t mess with his head during that short period of time.
Little does he know that the symbiotes left more than an effect on Izuku… it has him questioning everything. Those visions… they weren’t just dreams. I think… those were memories belonging to the symbiotes. The pain, the loneliness, the betrayal… when they killed those scientists, I thought they were evil. But now I know they are far from evil. They’re just scared. Izuku thought to himself before recalling how cruelly the scientists were treating the symbiotes and how Izuku felt their pain. His hands clench into fists as he runs before thinking to himself, Those animals! Could they not see the pain they were causing them?! Did they just not care—
“Izuku…”
Izuku gasps softly upon hearing his name be called out right as he and Katsuki are about to reach the exit. Katsuki keeps running while expecting Izuku to at least be right behind him, which is why he didn’t look back to see Izuku slowly come to a stop. Izuku looks around at his surroundings, wondering who just called out his name. Wha… Who said that? Was it just in my mind? Izuku thought to himself.
“Izuku…”
Izuku gasps upon hearing the multiple voices speaking in sync as it continues, “Please… help us… We need you… can help us.”
Izuku’s whole body goes stiff as he hears the word ‘help’. A word he never expected to hear ever since he was diagnosed quirkless and has been told countless times that he’ll never be a hero. He looks around the area for a moment before his gaze falls on a dark hallway as the voices say, “Please… save us.” Izuku hesitates before taking a deep breath and stepping into the dark hallway.
As the darkness begins to envelop him, Izuku looks around to see where the voice is coming from. A shiver runs up his spine as his body begins to feel a little colder the further he walks into the darkness. Taking a deep, shaky breath, Izuku says, “Hel-Hello? Whose there?” He receives no response, which only makes him more nervous, and he slowly begins to back up out of the darkness. Maybe I was just hearing things? Maybe—
“Izuku…”
Izuku freezes in his tracks upon hearing the voice before shakily looking up toward the ceiling, causing his eyes to go wide upon seeing a shocking sight. Sticking on top of the ceiling near an open vent with their red tendrils surrounding them and acting like a shield is Hybrid. Izuku gasps upon seeing the symbiotes and is about to run away, but then he hears their voice.
“Please… don’t run… we need you… you can save us… get us out of this hell.” Hybrid said, their eyes showing the desperation behind.
Izuku is surprised and stutters out, “M-Me? But… why me?”
Hybrid begins to seep from the ceiling until they’re face to face with Izuku and says, “You saw our memories… as we saw yours… You understand us… Don’t you?”
Izuku is silent for a moment before saying, “I… I did. I saw your memories, and I felt your pain. But… I don’t know how I can help.”
Hybrid fully falls from the ceiling and crawls closer to Izuku as they say, “We are weak… terribly weak… need a host… but not a random host.”
Hybrid is now a few inches from Izuku as they say, “We need… a kind one… you… bond with us… We can protect each other… can help each other.”
Izuku is shocked to his core and says, “I… Maybe there is something else we can—”
“Please!... We’re… so tired of being thrown away… like we’re nothing… help us…We beg you.” Hybrid said, their eyes pleading with Izuku.
Izuku looks at Hybrid and is torn on what he’s supposed to do right now. Should I really do this? What… What could happen to me? Izuku thought to himself. He looks down, trying to think of an answer to this situation while Hybrid watches silently, hoping that maybe Izuku will accept. Izuku takes a few deep breaths and looks up at Hybrid, seeing the desperation in their eyes and the desire for freedom. And he knows that he is the only one who can deliver them from this hell. So, with a heavy sigh, he looks up at Hybrid before opening his mouth, about to give his answer to them.
“Hurry! Get on!” The teacher yelled as the students began to flood onto the bus in a panic. As they rush in, the teacher is counting the students to ensure that everyone is getting on and that no one is left behind. However, as the last student runs up into the bus, the teacher realizes that he’s missing at least two other students. He panics and looks out toward the building and thinks to himself, Dammit! Did they get left behind or—
His thoughts are cut off when he sees Katsuki running toward the bus while breathing heavily between his sprints. The teacher sighs with relief as Katsuki reaches the bus, huffing and puffing next to the teacher.
“Thank goodness you made it! Is there anyone else left in there?” The teacher asked.
Katsuki, breathing heavily, shakes his head and says, “No. Deku and I are the only ones left.”
“Midoriya? Well, where is he?” The teacher asked.
Katsuki is confused before looking behind him and seeing that Izuku is nowhere in sight, and this causes fear to shoot up through every portion of his body. No… Nonono! He’s right behind me! Where the hell did he go?! Katsuki thought to himself. He looks back at the building and wonders if Izuku is still in there, and hisses under his breath. Tsk! Dammit, Deku! The one time I actually wanted you to follow me, and you couldn't do that right! He thinks to himself.
“... I’m going back after him!” Katsuki announced to the teacher.
The teacher is shocked and says, “Absolutely not! You’re not going back in there while that monster is loose!”
Katsuki glares at the teacher, making the teacher step back in fear as Katsuki says, “I’m not going to leave him! Got it?!”
The teacher, though terrified, is about to respond when both he and Katsuki hear footsteps heading their direction. Both look toward the source and see Izuku running toward them, and seeing the sight of Izuku makes Katsuki sigh with relief.
However, he soon glares at Izuku and yells, “Where did you go, you damn nerd?! I told you to follow me!”
“I… sorry. I got distracted.” Izuku said, looking really nervous about something.
Katsuki raises an eyebrow at Izuku before the teacher says, “Great! Everyone is here! Now get on the bus!”
Katsuki and Izuku are surprised but quickly get on the bus with the teacher close behind before saying to the bus driver, “Go! Go, now!” The driver nods and shifts gears before driving away from the facility as the alarms still blare loudly inside the building. As the bus makes some distance between itself and the Vault, the students sigh with relief with many still shaken by what they have just witnessed. Katsuki falls onto his seat, breathing heavily as all the nerves in his body begin to settle down.
Izuku, meanwhile, goes to his seat in the back of the bus before sitting down and laying his head against the window. Izuku is taking deep, long breaths, attempting to calm himself over what he just saw… and for the decision he just made.
“... Are you ok, now?” Izuku mutters under his breath.
The voice of Hybrid responds inside his head, “Yes… Thank you.”
Izuku had accepted the bond, and now, Hybrid has become a part of Izuku. The process was painful, but Izuku was able to bear it before he and Hybrid ran for the bus. Izuku sighs to himself in relief, and he looks out of the window into the night time sky before his eyes flash with red tendrils shifting over his eyes before disappearing. Today has not gone the way Izuku hoped, and now he is praying that he did not make a terrible mistake.