I've got a dark alley and a bad idea

[bigdamnhiro]

[Hiro's really, actually sneaking into a bar called the Mean-Eyed Cat. The irony doesn't escape him.

He could be at home, at The Lucky Cat, but no. Mean-Eyed Cat it is.

That he even manages to sneak in behind a couple of conversationalists in ill-fitting suits is dumb luck; it's freezing out (it's snowing, it hasn't snowed in years), business is slow, whatever bouncer should be watching the door is hanging out at the counter instead where he doesn't have to deal with the drafts from the door. That he makes it to the other opposite end of the taproom and into the back hall before the bartender manages to mutter a hey wait is because he's small and knows how to duck behind obstacles and look inconspicuous.

Nobody comes after him, so that's a plus. He pauses at a corridor corner to get a good look around and listen to the noise, see if he can get some kind of direction.

He has a small port of Baymax's scanner, but it doesn't have the power to give him more than a general location. From there it was always going to take his own resourcefulness to find the guy. But he's definitely in this building - Hiro asked around, got some incredulous talk about the old-timer, yōkai, guy with the metal creepies, doesn't talk much, at that one bar down the street - stuff like that.

There's a couple of empty rooms - couches and televisions and darts, chipped paint and cracked baseboards, low hanging ceiling bulbs and so much dust and secondhand smoke he fights off a coughing fit - and then there's one with voices, near the back. He peers through the cracked door and finds who he's looking for, skulking on a couch in the back. Between the two of them, though, there's a couple of thugs playing pool and talking shit at each other.

Okay. He was sort of hoping Callaghan would be alone.

He tightens his grip on the folded duster tucked under his arm and stuffs the other in his pocket, fingers tightening around the solid metal object inside. And then he shoulders his way through the door.]

Hey. Delivery for the guy with the metal creepies.

Comments

[bigdamnhiro]

Wait, what?

[He had all his words carefully chosen, all the possibilities thought out, but this catches him off guard. He has no context or frame of reference for why Callaghan would choose to bring up Baymax now, when it should be obvious he didn't bring the nurse bot with him. The idea was to present as little of a threat as possible by not bringing any armor, or armored robots.

He stares at Callaghan for a long couple of moments, frowning, eyes narrowed, tilting his head trying to get a read on what's going on. He's learning that while Callaghan might be unreadable, the microbots make him an open book - and right now they look unsettled, angry.

Is it paranoia? Is Callaghan that afraid of Baymax?]

Call him off of what? I left him at home. He's not coming after you, and even if he did, it wouldn't be like - like - [He fumbles over the words, a flash of red pinprick eyes coming to mind; another deep breath.] - it wouldn't be like before. I patched all the possible loopholes and made everything dependent on his healthcare programming so he can't - can't be used to hurt people.

[He doesn't trust himself not to do it again someday, so he took the option away. Simple. But he's not going to say that out loud.]

[pushtheboundaries]

[remember how the microbots were just raising up? they're flexing more and more as Hiro goes on, and Callaghan's expression is darkening, until he finally shoves himself to his feet, throwing out a hand to the side] Don't lie to me! I haven't spent the last week barely able to sleep because a few hours after I'm in one place, there's that thing coming after me!

[and then something clicks. occam's razor. if Hiro didn't program it to attack- and based on everything else that's happened-]

Has another thing you've 'improved upon' gone rogue, then? Is that what you're telling me?

[he may not be making a move towards Hiro, but those writhing pieces of metal? they're pulling in tight, as though to form some sort of armor or shield to protect him. a warped sort of chainmail, perhaps.]

[bigdamnhiro]

[Maybe the microbots haven't gone after him yet, but Hiro takes two or three steps back anyway once Callaghan's on his feet. All the alarm bells in his head are screeching crazy and he finds himself reaching for one of the discarded pool cues without thinking about it.

This is stupid. This is so stupid, why did he even try, Callaghan's not even in his right mind and no matter what Hiro says to him it gets twisted into something else. He balls his fists and snaps right back.]

No, that's not what I'm telling you! What I'm telling you is it's impossible because I made it impossible when I rebuilt him. Besides, I think somebody would've noticed if Baymax went missing for huge chunks of time to go beat the streets for a crazy asshole in a mask!

Maybe it's an ugly dog! Maybe you're hallucinating! Did you ever consider the microbots might be messing with your head?

[pushtheboundaries]

[Callaghan knows they're messing with his head. but he also knows, deep down, that this isn't one of those. he knows that there's some nuances changing within him, he's finding it easier and easier to consider and commit things he never thought himself capable of, but he's not sure how much is outright himself and just given the opportunity and motive to do so-

-because, after all, he is only human. and humans do things. it's one of the reasons he was so passionate about robotics, because robotics were simple in comparison.

nonetheless, like /hell/ he'll admit that- instead he reaches for his pant leg, hoisting it up. while he does have the wrappings there to hold them in place, the ones on his left are now revealed to be microbots, and he doesn't-quite-sag with them shifting around the limb. they almost seemed to be doubling as a guard, but now...]

Does this look like a hallucination!?

[...now, with an exoskeleton-like frame, it's clear that he needs them to actually /stand/. there is an injury, there, one that is fresh and gruesome and ugly. even with the basic first aid Callaghan's applied, it's clear that this is something that needs further attention]

You want further proof? Fine. Wait here for a few more hours, I'm sure I could get the bartender to even get you a drink. I wasn't planning on staying any longer than I needed than for Yama to make good on his promise of a doctor, but if that's what it takes for you to see the full consequences of your actions, fine.

[bigdamnhiro]

[Hiro presses a hand to his mouth, fighting off a sudden wave of nausea. He's not prepared for this. He doesn't have a sharp reply or a logical counter that he hasn't already given, except that this is recent and Hiro knows Baymax was docked at his charging station just this morning, that he'd been there all night long. But Callaghan isn't going to hear it.

Something hurt him. Hiro isn't convinced it's Baymax, but there's still that festering, tiny doubt, like what if, beyond all odds, it was true and somehow this all came back to him. Full consequences of your actions. Hiro flinches visibly.

Even if Callaghan's really paranoid and making this up, that's still a direct consequence of setting Baymax on him in the first place.]

I didn't do this. I swear. I don't know what's chasing you, but it isn't Baymax.

[pushtheboundaries]

[there's a bitter satisfaction at Hiro's reaction- hadn't realized it might not be quick and clean like you hoped?- but he remains standing for a few more moments before letting out a heavy breath and letting the microbots return to their position.]

I don't have any reason to trust you.

[there's a slight wince as they reseat themselves and as he sits down, but it'll pass. with the area deliberately numbed it's more uncomfortable than painful, especially with the microbots taking the weight. he still tries not to move it more than he has to, especially not when any revealing of weakness...

...hell, it was a bit frustrating to even ask for that doctor, with the forced promise of assisting in a heist.]

[bigdamnhiro]

[Hiro growls out a frustrated noise, eyes on the floor and fists balled at his side. He should give up, he's obviously not getting anywhere. But he's stubborn. In his opinion, more stubborn than one old man with a grudge and no sleep.

He came here to get information to help his brother. He's not giving up that easily.]

So you're not gonna help me. Fine.

[He pulls up a bar stool and plunks down on it, folding his arms and raising his chin.]

I'm gonna help you find and stop whatever's chasing you, and then you'll owe me again. Simple.

[pushtheboundaries]

[get out, Hiro. Callaghan certainly expects him to do as much, and by the beginnings of the slouch, seems about ready to return to his earlier position.

before pausing, as Hiro seats /himself/. he blinks a few times, expression shifting in to a slightly different frown.

you're serious, he wants to say. instead...he manages to snort, lightly, hiding his surprise by running a hand through his hair]

I was going to meet some people here.

[and you being around is going to make things incredibly awkward.]

[bigdamnhiro]

[Yama's doctor, right. And whoever of Yama's crew decides to come with him. Hiro stifles the nervous look threatening to dart across his face and shrugs instead, scooting the stool over and emptying his pockets on to the pool table. Battery-drained EMP generator, a small screwdriver, some rubber bands and a couple of nickels, and his phone.

He swipes a button on the screen and brings up the info he needs to get in touch with Baymax. Easy. He's text-enabled; Hiro can get him to hop a bus downtown with one simple message.

....And then he hides it behind a game of tetris, just in case.]

Don't let me interrupt you. Unless you'd like somebody with a little bit more medical experience to look at that.

[pushtheboundaries]

[the fact that Hiro's turning out his pockets without even being asked is...a little surprising, honestly. Callaghan might have demanded it as a condition, if and or when it occurred to him. a reassurance that he hadn't other tricks up his sleeves, so to speaks. he can't help but glance over, brow furrowing before he glances towards some of the microbots as if to ask 'seriously?'

they make the rough equivalent of a shrug.]

If your brother's waiting outside, I'm going to be a little upset.

[it probably says something about the quality of care he's expecting that Tadashi is 'somebody with a little bit more medical experience'.]

[bigdamnhiro]

Yeah, right.

[He laughs a little in spite of himself. Hiro has some lines he won't cross, but there are far more he wouldn't think twice about crossing - especially when his brother's life is at stake. Tadashi's...not that kind of person. He's too good for his own good, sometimes.

Hiro doesn't like lying to him, but he doesn't have time for "safe" solutions.

He sneaks a sidelong glance at Callaghan, and then quickly, while he's looking at his microbots, keys in a message with a series of commands to Baymax - coordinates, transportation instructions, no armor, bring the nice first aid kit with the bells and whistles. It's sent and gone just as fast.]

Trust me, if Tadashi knew about this, he wouldn't be here and neither would I.

[pushtheboundaries]

[he's learning to expect anything with these two. or to expect nothing, and simply prepare for the worst. nonetheless, he looks back at Hiro just in time to not catch sight of anything suspicious.]

Fine. Then who...

[waitaminute. he narrows his eyes. you better not be implying whom he thinks you might be implying.]

[bigdamnhiro]

[Well, at least Callaghan hasn't figured out he already sent out the call for help. Now he just has to stall for time, which he does by folding his hands in his lap and somehow managing to look totally innocent.

He's practiced. Baymax isn't the only one who knows how to look huggable and non-threatening. Hiro just uses it for less honest reasons. Previously, bot fighting cashmoney reasons.]

Don't look at me like that. He's very nice and knows over 10,000 medical procedures. And if you're a good boy, you'll get a lollipop after.

[pushtheboundaries]

[unluckily for Hiro, Callaghan knows very much what a little shithead piece of work he really is. he's not fooled, and the slow roll of the microbots affirms it. Hiro may have attempted to be reassuring, but he's being the exact opposite, right now.]

You have a short attention span, because I believe I already mentioned how my latest encounters with that thing have involved it trying to destroy me.

[he's not quite standing up to leave, but he looks close to it. guess who's getting upset anyway?]

[bigdamnhiro]

[Woah now. Cool your jets there, Callaghan. Hiro hrrmphs, dropping the innocent look to replace it with frustration.]

And you have some really weird logic going on in your head! You have information I need. Don't you think maybe the last thing I wanna do right now is try to destroy you? You need help. Baymax can help.

He can even do it in huggable, squishy mode if it makes you feel better.

[pushtheboundaries]

Don't patronize me. [it doesn't suit you, Hiro. still, the snapping is more for bravado than anything else, because he has to admit (to himself, if no one else) that he's not looking forwards to what Yama is going to supply him. logically, he knows that they're going to do the job; Yama wouldn't dare send him subpar anything, not with how intelligent he knows Callaghan is. the anesthetic may be questionable, but he should be able to at least set the bone properly.

or figure out an alternative.

...Callaghan is not looking forwards to an alternative.

he ends up getting to his feet, and while he does take a few steps for the door- he also turns and takes them right back, pacing.]

Assuming I do end up helping you. Through what conditions does Tadashi...'fade'? [he glances briefly at Hiro as though to confirm the term.]

[bigdamnhiro]

[Hiro is not-so-subtly halfway to his feet when Callaghan turns back from the door. He'd thought, for a second there, he'd have to chase the man out into the street - and he absolutely would've done it. That he doesn't have to shocks and humbles him enough that he thunks back down onto the stool without a word, his mouth open but struggling to form words.

A friendly reminder that he still can't ever predict what Callaghan's going to do next.]

It...h-he...

[He fumbles over words, and at first he can only nod and acknowledge, yes, fade is probably as accurate a description as anything else he could come up with. He didn't think he'd get the chance to explain so soon; consequently, he's not prepared to do so, and it all just sort of tumbles out in a rush.]

...Mornings, and late afternoons, almost never at night. The first time, it happened while we were out flying with Baymax, but I don't think that caused it because sometimes it just happens when everything's calm and normal. And it's happening more and more frequently.

He gets...warm. Burning up. Not like a fever, but like a space heater. And parts of him start to disappear, like see-through, like you could reach right through him - which I'm not planning on trying, by the way.

[pushtheboundaries]

[Callaghan's only ever followed his own patterns, which, to a degree, are predictable. he does what he believes is necessary, whether it be taking a firm hand with his students, doing a little bit of manipulation to help them get over themselves, or setting a fire to cut himself off from everything that could have gotten in his way of closing an unpleasant chapter of his life. when stressed, he tends to simply things - perhaps too much - and with the 'threat' of Baymax being pulled in (even if he /is/ going to come, sooner or later, a simple fact that Callaghan has come to understand and perhaps not accept but acknowledge), he's trying to simplify what he can.

but as a man of science, Hiro's lack of attention to detail offends him. the narrowing of Callaghan's eyes is solely because if any of his students had given him that vagueness, he may have assigned them some extra work because clearly they weren't doing enough on their own. they - and Hiro - should know better]

Start a log. Time, date, any and all circumstances you can think of. Or find out if your brother already has, because if he's not doing so then he's slacking off.

[he raises a hand to point, and the microbots make their own sort of gesture in accompaniment...before pulling right back to him as he lowers his arm. they've taken to a slow flexing and curling, a tight writhing that only ever goes so far away from his body. it's almost as though someone was constantly working their fingers in to and out of fists, but for the most part, they avoid moving towards Hiro- Callaghan's attention seems to be inward enough that they focus on /him/]

[bigdamnhiro]

[Even as he's keying a reminder into his phone - start journal logging Tadashi's incidents - he's intermittently glancing back up at Callaghan, scowling at him, scowling at the microbots, scowling back down at his phone. You can throw him around the room and accuse him of lying, and fine, Hiro will put up with that. You don't accuse Tadashi of slacking off, though.]

You don't have a clue, you know that? Slacking is the last thing he's doing. He went right back to school, and he's dealing with that and this, and it's stressing him out enough as it is. I'll handle the log.

[While he's being rebellious, he notes as well the things he already knows, mouth pursed into a tight frown; Callaghan might not act like it's important, but when you're grasping at straws, it's all important.]

He doesn't remember anything between the - the fire - [A friendly reminder, that he's talking with the man responsible, and having to talk around that fact at the same time -] - and the hospital. That's a few months' worth of missing memory. He doesn't know how he survived or where he was during that time.

[pushtheboundaries]

I think that Tadashi's enough medical and scientific experience to know that with all of this going on, if you don't understand it, then you need whatever information you can get and maybe you'll be able to find a pattern.

[his voice is tight, and there's - maybe - the hint of experience of his own there. the circumstances are nowhere near the same, but an ailment they didn't understand, a decline, watching helplessly on the sidelines-]

From there, you might be able to find a diagnosis, or even come up with a way of avoiding these- incidents. It's not a sure thing, but if you haven't picked up the habit, start. If - and I wouldn't bet on it, but if - Krei's hands are clean, it's going to be the only thing you've got.

[it's so very clear that he really doesn't think Krei is innocent, but hey.

even the devil has an advocate.]

[murderbot]

[The first tremor is the most unnoticeable, the building quakes slightly, accompanied by a light rumble. The second impact brings dust down from the walls and ceiling and a crack starts to form.

The third, fourth, and fifth punches cause similar amounts of damage, the only difference is that instead of a crack, a hole begins to appear. The view isn't helpful, though, all that's visible is a fist made out of concrete debris.

The sixth smash brings a large rubble-coated arm into the room.

Once the arm is removed, giant fingers appear at the edges of the hole and are pulled outwards, ripping into the wall and widening the opening. When they've reached an acceptable width, the large hands are suddenly slammed down all the way to the ground, carving out an outline of an opening.

There's a brief pause followed by a kick that knocks down the still-standing piece of wall. Now that the way is clear, Baymax strides into the room, seeking out his target: Robert Callaghan.]

[bigdamnhiro]

[Hiro stiffens. If Krei's hands are clean... He's been so focused on finding out how Krei is involved, he hasn't thought about what to do if he isn't, and it's an unsettling new thought.

One he doesn't have much time to process, because the building starts coming down around him.

Hiro tumbles off of the bar stool in shock as a shower of dirt rains down on his head; by the time he recovers, he's only got a split second to register Callaghan fleeing the room out of the corner of his eye (he yells after him), and then a fist bashes its way through in front of him. Suddenly he's surrounded by a cloud of drywall dust, scrambling to his feet to face down the giant looming out of the haze.

It's not hard to recognize the two tiny pinpricks of red eyes piercing into the room. Oh, god.

Hiro sprints out of the room after Callaghan, not wanting to stick around to find out if this Baymax is choosy about who it smashes. He shoves past the confused barkeep in the front dining area, waving frantically for the few daytime customers hanging around to go.]

Get out get out get out!

[Maybe it's a seedy dump, but none of these people deserve to die here. He can only hope they'll listen and not try to take on the six foot concrete monstrosity tearing through the back hall, and in the meantime he dashes out the front door into the street, his mind racing.

That - can't be Baymax. It's too soon. And there's armor at home. Why microbots? Why concrete and glass and jagged edges of broken iron -

A half-dozen leftover images flash through his mind, months gone now, of an empty world of color filled with the broken rubble of Krei Tech's headquarters. He's the only person left besides Baymax who remembers what it looked like - Abigail was asleep, the original Baymax is gone -

That's not even possible. His brain grinds to a halt even thinking about it.

Get as much information as possible? Okay, fine. He's starting here. He catches Callaghan just out the door, sprints up behind him and grabs the back of his jacket before he can flee completely and jerks back sharply to stop him.]

Something's not right here! What did it look like last time it attacked you? Did it look like that?

[pushtheboundaries]

[didn't think about that, did you? Robert smirks just slightly, but it's hardly pleased or satisfied. and it doesn't linger for long, because the tremor has him looking up, crouching slightly as his eyes widen, and as the microbots still upon his form.

at the second, they're forming the hood- and he's bolting for the door. this is sooner than he'd thought, but there's something to be said about being true to form. Callaghan can be very good at identifying danger and threats, and with painful recent experience- even the microbots upon his leg aren't enough to keep it from sending stabs of pain through him with every step.

they don't stop him. nor do the looks he gets, because what the hell is enough to send Yokai rushing through the bar as if being chased by a hound of hell? distantly, he hears shouting, but it does't /process/. once he gets outside, he's already searching for a means of true escape.

the thing can climb. the thing is only so fast, but if he hops on top of a truck or something he can get some speed until the rest of the microbots arrive, he sent them away thinking he /had/ that time, but he doesn't-

-he doesn't quite /squawk/ at the grab, but the microbots are immediately lashing backwards to attack whatever took hold- Hiro's hand may very well get a new laceration or two by the time Callaghan spins around and is able to register who it is. and to his credit, at that point, the microbots are more inclined to grab at Hiro and keep him from running as the man takes a final look at the street and traffic.

nothing he can use.]

This is not the time or place, Hamada-!

[excuse him while he casts a meaningful look at the bar and WHY IS HE NOT ALREADY GONE]

[murderbot]

[Baymax doesn't even give the bar's patrons a second glance, he ignores them unless they actively try to stop him. If that's the case, then he'll simply pluck them up and toss them out of the way. His target is Callaghan, nothing else and no one else matters, except if they try to prevent him from accomplishing his goal.

He's slow, but steady, marching his way through the bar, shoving aside anything that's in his path. The careful path-finding skills the green chip had are not present, he goes in a straight line, clearing out everything in the way.

Baymax has a solid lock on Callaghan, so it doesn't take him long to plow through the bar. Fortunately, he's easy to outrun, a fact some of the fleeing bystanders are currently discovering.]

[bigdamnhiro]

[Well at least Hiro lets go, yelping in pain and snapping his hand back away from Callaghan.]

Seriously??

[And then they grab at him and that actually, really doesn't help at all, in fact it kind of scares the shit out of him and he spends about .7 seconds struggling until he realizes they're not hurting him anymore, they're just fixing him in place, and - okay, fine. Fine.

He doesn't have time to be mad or disgusted about it; just a split second to level an accusing look at the man and then glance away, tight-lipped and nursing a bleeding hand close to his chest, thinking he'll probably get a half-dozen fresh, tiny scars to go with the ones the microbots gave him the last time this happened. But he doesn't look at the microbots, ignores them and shoves the panic instinct way down deep because there are bigger problems armored in concrete to deal with.]

I, I, uh...not Baymax. I mean it is but it's - scanner, it has a scanner, you have to get out of range or find somewhere to hide where it can't reach, like inside the Krei Tech facility on the island - I know a place, I can show you -

[- Stupid microbots, make his skin crawl, make it hard to concentrate and he can't think - and then the thing tears itself a bigger doorway through the front end of the bar and time's up, time to run, Hiro just flings a hand out and points in the right direction -]

Andit'sthatwayholyshitmove!