Neutrality Order (TomBoo)

C.L. - Chapter 1: The Line in the Sand

He wasn't too proud to admit that he puked in his mouth a little after he could breathe again, but after the foulness that had enveloped his entire being, Tommy felt that it was completely understandable. Even more so when he chose to spit it out rather than swallow it back, and was glad he did so when he got his breath and bearings together and looked up to see where he had been abducted to.

SO glad he hadn't swallowed it back, or he'd be puking even harder now.

Pipes and wires littered the floor connecting to huge tanks filled with Nomu. Almost fully-formed, dangerous-looking terrible Nomu.

"...oh what the fuck."

"Admiring my children, Tommy?"

Tommy jumped at the voice that spoke, looking around and seeing a figure in a chair seated in front of multiple monitors, someone he couldn't make out from the dim lighting. He stayed where he was, hands trembling as he prepared to use One For All or perhaps Black Whip to start fighting his way out.

"Settle yourself down, Tommy, you haven't been brought here to fight," the figure said again, sounding almost humored. "In fact, you're here on special request."

Tommy didn't settle down, but he didn't further tempt possible escape. "...what is it you want?" he asked. "It can't be Dream, he's in Tartarus...but that quirk-"

"-simply a borrowed one from Johnny here," the figure said, patting what looked like a small Nomu's head, from what Tommy could figure at his distance. "It was given back specifically for little talks like this."

Swallowing back another wave of nausea, Tommy gave another look around with his eyes, still VERY uncomfortable with so many Nomu in one place. "...what do you want with me?" he asked.

"Right to the point. I like it. For simplicity's sake, you may call me the Doctor...it's not too far from the truth, but as you can understand, names and identities are very much precious and dangerous, given the right...or wrong...person."

"...you know who I am though."

"Of course," the Doctor said. "Dream wasn't the only one watching you back in the old base."

Tommy groaned, running a hand down his face. "Oh son of a-"

"But that is neither here nor there," the other continued. "My point is, before that whole fiasco with the heroes and such, the Master left me with one last order that I have seen fit to finally carry out, all things considered." The Doctor chuckled softly. "Normally I'd be against it, citing that I only give my loyalty to where loyalty is due, but Dream had a convincing argument for it."

Tommy massaged his temple. "...yeah?" he asked, already 110% done with today as it was. "If he wants One For All, that ship's sailed, pretty sure everyone in there won't let me give it up so easily-"

"Not that, boy, relax. It has nothing to do with your power." The Doctor lightly drummed his fingertips over the dome of 'Johnny's' brain. "Rather, it has to do with YOU changing up all of the Master's plans concerning the future, and Ranboo." He seemed to stare at Tommy for a reaction from the boy, seeing Tommy stand up straighter to listen. "Now then, a little storytime. Bear with me.

"Long ago, there was a budding scientist who found the grand history of a man who could wield multiple quirks. He began to think, 'what if I could make others accomplish the same'? Of course, it was impossible by conventional means, and no financial sponsor worth their salt would consider giving so much as a yen to such a ridiculous endeavor.

But then an anonymous donation with the stipulation of 'one single success' came in, giving the scientist just enough money and enough drive plus a small handful of willing participants to make that one single success. The donations kept coming in, and underground sources began to form. Everything from biology to technology thrived under the scientist's encouraged creations until the sponsor came forth as none other than Dream himself.