The airport was full of people, but for Lena, everything felt strangely quiet, like sounds were reaching her from far away. Her small suitcase felt heavy in her hand. Beside her, Kyoka Jiro stood tall and steady, her presence a solid anchor in Lena's swirling fears. The "Hole" inside Lena was calmer today, but it was the calm before a big change. She was about to leave everything she knew behind.
Around them, the entire Class 1-A had gathered, a colorful crowd of young heroes-in-training. Their usual loud chatter was softened by a shared sadness and worry.
Tenya Iida, always the diligent leader, stood straight, chopping the air with his hand. His voice was loud, trying to be strong for Lena. "Oxton! We've gathered to see you off! Remember, your journey to I-Island is a mission of great importance! Return with new control, for the good of everyone!" His words were formal, but his eyes, behind his glasses, held deep concern.
Mina Ashido, tears already welling in her eyes, rushed forward and hugged Lena tight. Her voice was muffled against Lena's shoulder. "Oh my gosh, Lena, I'm gonna miss you so much! Don't forget to call us! Don't let those super smart scientists poke you too much!" She sniffled, her usual bubbly energy replaced by real sadness.
Ochaco Uraraka joined the hug, her warmth comforting. "We'll be thinking about you, Lena! Get strong and come back safe! We'll be waiting!" Her voice was soft, full of understanding.
Lena hugged them back, tears finally escaping her eyes. "I'll miss you all too," she choked out, her voice tight with emotion. "Thank you. For everything."
Eijiro Kirishima gave her a firm, encouraging thumbs-up. "Come back super manly, Lena! You got this!"
Denki Kaminari and Hanta Sero shuffled awkwardly. "Yeah, uh, don't let them turn you into like, a robot or something, okay?" Kaminari joked, trying to lighten the mood but sounding a bit nervous. Sero just nodded, a worried frown on his face.
Momo Yaoyorozu approached with a small, neatly wrapped gift. "Lena, this contains a few important comfort items. And a small, secure device for private calls, should you need it. We wish you a safe trip and good research. Don't hesitate to contact us." Her words were formal, but her gaze was kind, truly caring.
Tsuyu Asui quietly patted Lena's arm. "Ribbit. Take care, Lena. We'll be waiting for you to come back." Her simple, honest words were a comfort to Lena's aching heart.
As the speaker announced their private jet was ready to board, Lena took a deep breath. She looked at each of her friends one last time, trying to remember their faces, their laughter. This was hard. But they were her reason.
"We have to go," Kyoka said softly, gently guiding Lena towards the gate. "They'll be fine. And you'll be safer."
Lena turned one last time, waving goodbye. Her friends waved back, a mix of sad smiles and firm nods. She carried their worry, but also their hope. The "Hole" inside her stirred, a silent promise to get this under control.
In her dark, high-tech lab, Moira O'Deorain watched live data showing a private jet taking off from a special airport near UA. A faint, knowing smile touched her lips. "She's on her way," she murmured, a satisfied hum in her voice. "The hero society's desperation is quite… easy to guess."
Reaper's voice, rough and low, crackled over the comms. He was high above the jet's path, far enough away to stay hidden, but close enough to confirm its direction. "Target is in the air. Heading west. Place confirmed: I-Island." He paused. "My sensors show no direct hero guards, just a small amount of regular security. A bold move, trusting Shield's fortress."
Moira nodded slowly, her eyes fixed on the moving dot on the map. "David Shield's trust in I-Island's security is well placed, Reaper. As Sombra can tell you, it's… impossible to break into with our usual methods. Her last try caused us some problems, for her." There was a hint of cold amusement in Moira's voice when she spoke of Sombra's past failure. "However, this gives us a great chance. Sombra, have you set up your outside observation plan?"
Sombra's voice, electronically changed, replied with a hint of sarcasm. "Always, Moira. The 'secure' fortress still needs to talk to the outside world. I've got my eyes on satellite calls, flight lists, and requests for supplies for strange experiment rooms. Anything that quietly hints 'Lena Oxton' without saying her name." She sounded annoyed by the high security but focused on her job. "No direct hacks, but I'll know every time they order a new power cable or a bigger containment field. The heroes are about to do a big experiment. And we'll be taking notes."
Moira's smile grew. "Exactly. David Shield has a sharp, though perhaps wrong, understanding of Lena's special 'time-bending core.' He believes he can make it stable. But true understanding often comes from pushing limits. And he will push them. We will simply watch what happens. His failures, or his successes, will both be very useful for our own… plans. This time of watching is very important. Don't act directly. Just watch, and gather all the data on her energy patterns once his experiments begin."
"Understood," Reaper confirmed, his voice dark and final.
The long hours of flight were quiet. Lena stared out the window at the endless blue of the ocean, the clouds like a soft blanket below them. She was leaving Japan, leaving her friends, for a place she'd only seen in magazines. The "Hole" inside her felt huge, a silent passenger on this lonely journey.
Kyoka was asleep in the seat next to her, her breathing soft and even. Lena wished she could rest like that. Every time Lena closed her eyes, she saw the glitching alley, the fear on her friends' faces. She hugged her knees to her chest, trying to make herself smaller. She just wanted this to be over. She wanted control. She wanted to be safe again. And she wanted her friends to be safe from her.
The thought of David Shield, the brilliant scientist, made her both hopeful and nervous. Could he really help? Or would he just see her as a problem to be locked away? The fear of the unknown twisted in her stomach, a knot of worry that wouldn't loosen.
Suddenly, a voice spoke from the cockpit over the plane's speaker. "Attention passengers, we're starting our descent to I-Island. Expected landing in twenty minutes."
Lena sat up straight, her heart leaping into her throat. I-Island. The safest place in the world. Her new, temporary home. The place where she would face the "Hole" head-on. She looked at Kyoka, who was now waking up. This was it.