It was deemed too dangerous, and David wanted it for All Might!

"Our sponsors confiscated this device, and our research data, and demanded the project be abandoned," Sam continued to explain. "They feared that something like this would drastically affect the structure of superhuman society, and cause more chaos and complications than governments around the world were prepared to handle. Governments from around the world agreed, and put pressure on us to end it."

"...pussies," Bakugo groused, getting a look from Izuku and Melissa. "What? I'm still not excusing what these two did, but I can see they were screwed over!" he replied a bit defensively.

"That's why we did all this," Sam continued. "Though your father was hesitant, we came up with a plan to steal this device back. We agreed to hire people to pretend to be Villains and hold the island hostage and "****" us to unlock this vault. No one was to be harmed..."

"But those aren't fake Villains, are they, Sam?" David asked, giving Sam a side glare. "You clearly went ahead with the plan, even though I told you to call it off earlier today..."

"Of course they're not fakes. You never would have agreed to the plan if you knew they were actual Villains," Sam replied. "They're easier to find and hire than people who can put on that kind of act and are willing to risk getting criminal records. You still tried to back out when All Might showed up today."

"...but why? Why would you go along with the plan at all?" Melissa demanded. "The Papa I knew never would have acted like a Villain, no matter what!"

David looked away. "Before today, I thought I had to... For All Might," he stated quietly. That brought the three up short.

"For... All Might?" Izuku asked.

"You three are probably not aware of this, but... His Quirk is disappearing. Growing weaker. He suffered horrific injuries he kept hidden for years, and pushed his body regardless. Though someone healed him, his Quirk is still fading. But when he showed up today, the rate was much slower than I had been afraid of. So I tried to call off the plan. I had feared that his Quirk would be gone before I had a chance to rebuild the device in secret, but once I was sure his Quirk could last that long, I no longer saw the need to do something this drastic. With this device, he can get his strength and light back, and keep saving people, like he always has!" David explained.

"All Might's Quirk is... Disappearing? That's bullshit, Quirks don't just vanish!" Bakugo growled.

"And yet, the data from scanning his Quirk factor doesn't lie," David replied regretfully. "What I still don't understand, Sam, is why you decided to keep going when there was no longer a need to!" David rounded on Sam.

Sam clenched the briefcase tighter. "Because I deserved better than this! I've been your assistant for years, and yet you still just let them take our research away! If I don't get something out of it, then my entire career was a waste of time!" he stated. So Sam had been in this whole endeavor for himself, and just wanted to sell the device.

"...alright, that's all I needed to hear!" Bakugo stepped around Melissa, cracking his knuckles. "I'm bringing you both in, but I'm definitely kicking your ass first!" he declared, glaring at Sam, who took a nervous step back.

Before Bakugo could make good on his threat, a gunshot rang through the room, the bullet whizzing right by Bakugo's face, and making him flinch backwards.

"I wouldn't take another step if I were you," the leader of the Villains stepped into the room, still holding out the smoking gun, and accompanied by another of his accomplices. "If you Hero wannabes try anything else to stop us, I'll just go ahead and kill you."

"Wolfram, you made it!" Sam exhaled in relief.

"That's right, now bring the device here, Sam," the now named Wolfram ordered. As Sam started to move, Bakugo did too.

"Like hell! Die!" he roared, suddenly lurching to get out of the immediate line of Wolfram's gun, and throwing an explosion at him. Wolfram acted fast, putting a hand on the floor, and the metal reshaped itself, forming a wall that took the blast.

"...his Quirk lets him manipulate metal!" Izuku realized as he ran to try to outflank Wolfram.