----------------------------------------------------
Beginning of Chapter
----------------------------------------------------
Location: Switzerland, Bern
-----
The Capital of Switzerland, Bern stands as a gleaming bastion of peace and innovation nestled within the heart of Europe.
The city has seamlessly merged centuries-old architecture with the sleek, modern Quirk-era advancements.
Limestone buildings laced with defensive barrier tech, cobblestone roads patrolled by autonomous security drones, and the iconic clock towers embedded with surveillance systems.
The country of Switzerland is known globally for its neutrality and peacekeeping efforts, whereby Bern has become a central node for diplomatic operations between hero nations. The City of Bern houses the United Quirk Regulation Council, or UQRC, that monitors international Quirk usage and supports global hero cooperation that fell underneath the Global Hero Oversight Board of the UN.
The culture of Bern's ProHeros, and in Switzerland in general, is unique. Rather than flashy figures like those in Japan or America, Swiss heroes are precise, tactical, and often dual-trained in diplomacy.
The city has a zero-casualty policy, and its elite response team consisting of the top 10 pro heros, the Alpenwacht, is built around heroes who value control over destruction.
Currently there was a celebration happing at the centre of the city. The truth was, the rankings had just come out.
The 'International Hero Ranks' had just been published and announced, and with that, among the heroes of Switzerland, a new Special Grade Class member was announced to be part of the new four Special Grades.
Along with the countries own national Hero Ranking updated, it was clearly a cause for celebration.
People were gathered in celebration, proud and happy, not only due to the fact that their country had acquired a Hero with the class of a Special Grade, but also for the hero himself.
The heros on stage were standing, posing for the camera, one of the heros, wearing a black blazer with matching pants and standing at 6ft (approx. 1.8m) was standing on the stage with the rest.
"That's right, Refract has just been moved in the rankings, now at position second in the country!" While the announcer hyped up the crowd and congratulated the man, everyone was waiting for the first place.
Kids were jumping up and down, the boys having katana toy or box swords, girls wearing masks with a monstrous masks, all in excitment for the top one hero.
The more mature and adults, while applauding Refract, all were also waiting on the number one. The man who had become their Special Grade.
A loud and violent explosion appeared, everyone turning the heads, screams being heard as the crowd started running, people falling down and grabbing the sides of their heads, some having blood run down from their ears.
A man with a large blue trenchcoat, a crisp white shirt, matching blue trousers, and gloves with open palms revealing tech nodes, stood there, the ground destroyed behind him, the pro heros on stage jumping off the shield the civilians and asses the villain while the rest all hurried ti the aid of the civilians
The villain lifted up his hand pointing to one of the Pro Heroes before yelling out his demands, "Bring me a the special grade, or else ill destroy his entire city!" He shouted as he grabbed a boy who was crying loudly, with bleeding ears, near him and held him up by his collar.
"It's the Sonic Villain! Thunder Clapper!" Shouted the announcer, both with fear and awe to watch the heros engage in battle before them.
'Crap, he's the villain who's able to slam his palms in order to create a massive sound based blast. It explains the civilians pain, hopefully no one was seriously injured or possibly deafened...
Not to me to mention he has a hostage... it won't be easy to deal with.'
Refract thought to himself, looking down to consider using his quirk, 'Refraction' which allows him to direct and focus light as if using a high power human magnifying glass.
"I'm sorry I'm late. I had transportation issues." Came a voice from behind the heros.
There, a slim, slightly lanky young man with a fair complexion was approaching them. He had messy black hair that fell around his head, giving him a disheveled look, and dark gray-blue eyes that appeared tired.
His facial features are soft but expressive as he wore white collared jacket with black pants and black shoes with a sling connected to a sheathed Katana on his back.
The faces of the Pro Heros relaxed, some even let out sighs. Refract being one of then who put his hands down to great his old student, everyone now completely ignoring the villain as he fumed by the disrespect.
"Nows not the time. How about we catch up after we take down the villain." Says the young man as he touched Refacts arm, his hand glowing a hue of pink before turning normal.
"We will handle this." The public now came closer to watch, all now conpletely disregarding the villain, the heroes even rushing away to attend to the injured.
Why?
Because their country's special grade hero was here.
The villain pulled his arms back, hands trembling, ready to unleash another concussive blast, grinning ear to ear as his target was here.
Meanwhile the Special Grade Hero stood their, his tired eyes and neutral expression unchanging as he reached for his blade from his back, his other hand now glowing.
"...Come now..."
The villain let out a roar as he then wilding dashed towards him
"... Rika."
----------
Location: United States, Utah. Lone Star Base
-----
Within the deserts of Utah, was one of the many military bases of the Americas, but it was not just any military base. It was home to one of the most powerful people on the planet.
Soldiers could be seen scattered about, exercising, at the target practise shooting training dummy's, the multiple hangers with military vehicles. Not to mention, within those buildings were multiple large rooms, rooms for discussions, sleeping quarters and bars among other things.
This was not just any ordinary Base. It was "The Base". For decades, this was the beloved home to the only Special Grade, until now, who stood atop one of the many buildings.
Standing at over 6'5ft (approx. 2m), broad-shoulders and golden hair that dan down her shoulders fluttering in the wjnd. The angular armor upon her wrists, lower abdomen and shins shining bright against the sun.
The blue body suit with the white and red stripped chest and shoulder area that connected to her cape, red with twin white stripes, that fluttered behind her as she stood upon the rooftop of one of the hangers overlooking the desert.
Her fierce redish brown eyes, scanned the area. This was none other than the world's first classed Special Grade. Someone with one of the most powerful quirks.
The Ultimate Patriot: Star and Stipe
She leaped off the building, before falling the the ground, she blasting off in flight, scarring the soldiers as they were thrown back, hearing her laugh as she flew away.
"NEW ORDER: There's less friction between myself and the air."
With her command, she rocketed through the skies tearing clouds apart and leaving sonic booms in her tail.
What caused this was her Quirk, known as 'New Order'. Her quirk allows her to impose rules on anything she touches, incuding herself, granting her immense power and the ability to manipulate reality.
'The President needed to talk to me. It must be about the new Special Grades that were announced.' She thought to herself. She had gotten a message earlier to go to the Whitehouse in Washington to attend a meeting.
A large grin appeared on her face, wondering the challenges and the outcomes of having new people who are in the same class as her.
A few minutes, she had flown from the desert of Utah, to the skies above Washington and immediately into the Whitehouse, blasting off the reinforced doors before setting foot onto the hallway.
Multiple people walking around and past her, a group of four already fixing the door as she looked around before a man wearing dark blue janitor clothing and a bucket with a mop came to her.
"Hey there Char-" she began before being immediately cut off by the man as he turned around.
"Blast the doors off again and I'll blast you to the grave. Come, the President's this way." Said the cleaner as he walked, Star and Stripe rubbing the back of her neck as she followed, trying to move past the multiple people around her while keeping her eyes on the cleaner.
"So Charlie," she began as they got to an elevator. "Did you hear the news?" She said, almost with an excited tone.
"There's more freaks of nature like you? Like what, four of you now." He said with a deadpan face as she gave a slight pout before the elevator doors opened to show a high tech room with even more people working with holograms, tablets and carrying files around.
She steppes out to follow Charlie as he walked out, some waving at them both as they walked across the room into a quiet hallway, red emergency strips lit the corridors, casting long shadows on chrome walls.
"Well yea, it feels good to finally have people I can relate to." She said as she walked behind the man.
"More playmates huh. Sounds horrible for any cities you have a play date in." He said, Star and Stripe behind him gave a chuckle as they finally approached the room.
He opened the door to reveal the large war-room-style chamber buzzing with activity. Digital maps floated in holograms, tracking hero movements, alert systems, and quirk-regulated zones around the world, all on screens upon the walls, and on the long titanium-alloy table.
Multiple people in the room were seated, from high-ranking military officials to tech advisors, and at the head of the war table sat a tall, silver-haired man, presumably in his late fifties with light toned skin and ice-blue eyes. He has a atheltic build, hidden under the tailored navy-blue suit, with a military medal and pin of the america flag om his chest.
This was none other than the President of the United States of America. President Malcolm Graves.
He tapped a gloved finger against the cold metal table, the others all sitting down as the cleaner and the hero entered. The atmosphere had shifted. Like the gravity changed. No announcement, no salute.
The generals and aides in the room simply sat straighter. Those seated stopped talking. Star and stripes expression changed immediately to a intimidating one. Her eyes sharp and focused as she stared at the President, as he reciprocated with narrowed eyes.
No one spoke for a new minutes, the tension building in the air.
"Star and Stripe, great to see you good friend." Said Malcolm, breaking the tension as he got up with a warm smile on his face, Star walking to him as well as the two shook hands.
"Always great to see you Mr. President." She replied as the room was now filled with slight chatter.
"Star, I apologise for the short notice, but we need to speak. The reports, the records. Your new playmates." Malcolm said with a serious face as he pointed his finger to one of the screens.
On the screens were 3 faces. One showing a blonde woman sitting inna large crator, another with a calm tall Chinese man shaking hands with the President, and the last showing a young man with black hair and tired eyes.
"Yuta. Yuki. And Geto. These are the new Special Grades, from Switzerland, Germany and China respectively."
Star let go of his hand as she turned to the screen, looming over one of the generals who seemed uncomfortable.
Her grin slowly appeared, Malcolm and a few others sighing before speaking.
"Star. We need to establish close connections with these countries. We are now not the only ones at the adults table." Malcom said as he went back tk his seat.
"Wherea Japan. Do they not have a special grade?" Star asked, a little disappointed.
One of the generals spoke in a gruff voice, combing his pure gray hair as he spoke.
"Japan has All Might. He's the world's top grade one hero. Unfortunately, Grade One isn't enough to have drinks with the big boys." He said as a few chuckled.
Star smiled, hiding her disappointment. "He was a great hero. I just expected Japan to have a Special Grade."
As Malcolm opened his mouth to speak, Charlie spoke for him.
"They produced the only near Special Grade hero. I wouldn't be surprised if they bring a real monster of a Special Grade." He said as he scoffed and shakes his head.
"Charlie, can you please leave-" as Malcom was about to reason with the Old Janitor to exit the room, he shot back, breaking the man's pride infrokt of his military and their countries Special Grade.
"I wiped your ass as a baby, don't disrespect me old man." Laughs came from a few, who then immediately tried to hold it as they saw their President head fall onto the desk. Star letting out a boisterous laugher.
"I'm the damn President, of possibly the strongest nation, and my cleaner is telling me off."
----------------------------------------------------
End of Chapter
----------------------------------------------------