Oh mama Teresa, I'm so sorry about the huge wait! I was so busy; My school year's just started, (Yes, I live in NZ, ok?) plus, I've been making this the longest and most effective chapter possible. Good news, I'm working on a new Fanfic! First chapter could take a week or two, but IDC! (I don't care) It will be Awesome!

Also, Huge thanks to The Amazing Cat! You've been great reviewing me for most of the chapters, and your support will motivate me for the better.

And, -sob- this is the second-to-last chapter! I cannot believe it, but I will have to eventually. Plus, none of you have worked out what 'AC' stands for, (Hint: it's in the movie) So review me if you have an answer.

Thanks again! Balalalala!

Chapter 10: Last chance

Stop. I just need more time. I can think a way out, right?

No. There is no time. You aren't going to make it.

Yes, I am. No-one says I can't but you.

Exactly. I am you. I am your mind. You can't escape me.

No, but I can ignore you-

-Which is impossible. You know your friends and family can't get you back. They can't afford it, even if they slaved for it. You will die.

I can cope with it.

It's a goddamn gun. You can't even cope with that.

Well, I'm not giving my hopes up. I can wait and see what happens. Maybe it'll surprise me.

Shut up. You know what's going to happen.

Perhaps I don't?

You do.

How're you so sure?

…

Beacause.

Because What?

Because half of you is positive about it. Half will only grow and will quickly conquer, won't it?

The boy could only agree and begin to whimper about it.

"Are you sure this is right, Honey?"

"It is. I'm positive." She brushed a bit of dust off her briefcase.

"You gave heaps for this. It's more than a woman should have to pay for a teenager's life." Wasabi gestured towards the case.

"Wasabi, chill. Remember, I helped pay for it too. Although, I couldn't contribute too much. Two-thousand grant is even more than Heathcliff could fish out of the family account."

"That was a good deed of you, Fred. Thank you."

He gave a supportive salute before flipping the top half of his armour on.

"Well, we've come this far." Said Gogo, heading to the front of the group, the 'AC' visible behind her. "Let's give it our best shot."

She watched the sun dip lower, lower, hovering half-into the horizon.

"Uh… Gogo, when exactly did Yama say he was going to be here?"

"Shush. I've encountered stuff like this before." Gogo snapped. "They always come around… now."

On cue, the sun finally disappeared from sight, leaving a dim light over the area as a large, shiny black car slowly made it's way down the street and backed into the alleyway.

"Twilight..." She whispered. "Always Twilight."

She stayed silent as the light of the vehicle were switched off, followed by a click as a shadowy driver slipped out of the front seat, strolled to the back and opened the trunk. Almost immediately, Yama leapt out, followed by another shadowed figure, who helped his leader hustle a pale figure out of the car, friskily struggling to get away from his strong grip. Hiro.

Hiro was worse than ever. The hem of his khaki's had withered into a tangled, stringy mess, his shirt flapped loosely over his thin body. His almond-coloured eyes had faded into a depriving blankness, matching his dehydrated paleness of skin. His hands were tied behind him, using his own jacket as bindings. Hiro showed a sign of pleading, then looked away trying to avoid eye contact.

The team were so focused on Hiro that they didn't realise that several other smaller vehicles such as motocross bikes had jotted themselves down the street, allowing their riders to approach the leader but staying a distance from Hiro.

Gogo wasn't aware. She slipped her helmet off, keeping her face as straight as possible. There was a series of gasps from the team. Hiro's mouth dropped open.

"Tomago," Yama chuckled. "What a surprise. I never would have figured that you would be the speedy hero, out of all the team. Damn, I was even a bit surprised when this guy spilled his famous identity." He shook the teenager.

Gogo's eyes widened. The whole team were taken aback. "Hiro," Gogo dropped her helmet. "You told him!?"

"No! I didn't tell him! He guessed it, I swear!" Hiro assured in a panic.

Honey's face flooded with a look of concern. Hiro sounded more desperate than he would usually be. The captivity must've really made a turn on him, she thought.

"I swear, if you tell anyone-"

"Gogo, leave it be. We came here for one reason, Yama. Hiro is coming with us."

"Not until the 'fee' is paid. We call this ransom for a reason, you know."

No, Hiro begged inside. No, gawd no.

Gogo kicked something from behind her. A gleaming silver briefcase slid to Yama's feet, stooping on a piece of gravel and clicking open. Inside were neat rows of $100 bills.

What? But how?

Hiro's stomach churned and his heart beat. He wondered how this was possible. Did they get a loan? No, it was an obviously bad choice. Did Fred sponsor it? Probably not, two million was hard for even him to get. Did they sell something? What would they sell? All they had was...

Oh, no. No. They did NOT just sell their invention for my ransom! They didn't! Well, they wouldn't, at least… oh Gawd. My mind's playing tricks on me!

Wasabi cautiously watched Hiro's eyes move about as he tried to conclude a solution to this sudden outcome, suddenly stumbling a bit, as if to faint.

"Hey!" Wasabi yelled. Yama stopped gaping at the tonne of money and shot an angry glare at the hero. "Uh.. you got what you want, so... hand the guy over, you hear?"

Yama laughed heartedly at Wasabi's confidence lack. He shoved Hiro a few steps towards the rest of the team, closed the briefcase and headed over to his group of colleagues.

Gogo cleared the set expression on her face, running over to Hiro and crouching down to his height. She caressed his cheek, checking for any cuts or injuries, halting at the bruises and cuts on his temple that had first formed at the kidnapping itself. Hiro tried not to shied away.

"Gogo, I'm fine, okay? It's just a cut…"

He was cut off when Gogo instantly tugged him into a warm embrace. Hiro was startled at first, but gave in. It was nice to have someone hold you in a non-threatening way for.

Hiro closed his eyes and allowed his head to rest on Gogo's shoulder. His hands were still tied, so he was unable to hug his friend back, but he didn't notice. He just enjoyed the moment, until his head popped up again.

"Gogo, don't tell me one of you sold your invention for that money. Please."

Gogo brushed a strand of hair from his face. "Hiro, don't worry about it. You do know we would do anything to have you alive."

Hiro nodded. It was true. They had done it before, they were doing it again, and it wouldn't be the last time. He fell into her embrace again, after catching a wink from Gogo. He furrowed his brow in confusion. What was that for?

His wondering was broken off by Gogo's questioning.

"Now, Hiro, before we get any further, what exactly did they do to you? You know, before the whole hostage situation." She pushed him away a little, softly grasping his shoulders.

Hiro gulped. He wasn't prepared to answer this question.

He stared into Gogo's nervous gaze, opening and closing his mouth a few times, even stammered repeatedly a little, but nothing came out.

"Hiro, it's no pressure. Just let it out. Tell Gogo what you remember." Honey gently pronounced. "Just take a breath."

Hiro took one deep breath before stammering. "He… Yama…" The others exchanged worried looks. "He… he sorta blackmailed me." There were sudden tears in his words.

The gang started amongst each-other, wide eyed.

"Oh my gosh… why did he blackmail you? Was it for your knowledge?"

Hiro nodded. "Yeah… he… he said he wouldn't hurt me, even though he did. They… the other ones… they beat me up every time I flawed or… well… every time I fought back."

Gogo's eyes glinted with fear and confusion.

"So, yeah… they said they wouldn't hurt me, but they said they knew my address. They said… they said they knew Aunt Cass. They said…" A tear rolled down his face. "They said they would kill her."

Honey's jaw dropped open. Wasabi and Fred traded expressions of shock. Gogo struggled to hide tears.

"And then… then they did the whole ransom thing."

Gogo's eyes pleaded for forgiveness. "Oh my gawd, Hiro, I'm so sorry. Listen, I tried so hard to find you. Heck, I travelled to three different parts of town looking for clues. I stole your aunt's car, searched for clues, got some good ones, got trolled, found you, failed again, when I could have just gone to your place and gotten Baymax to scan the city. I was stupid. Just… please, forgive me. I'm sorry."

Hiro gave a half smile, signalling that he accepted her apology.

Gogo pulled Hiro into another hug, allowing tears to stream down both their faces. Before Hiro knew it, he was lost in another moment, finally having that misery lifted off his shoulders, temporarily onto another's, but permanently off his. He could barely remember the times when he was kept hostage. He was finally at peace… until Yama's sudden interruption.

"Wait a minute, grab him back!"

The whole team poured out small screams as Hiro was once again tugged away from Gogo's grasp. He struggled as a henchman gripped his forearms, pulling him back towards Yama and the other criminals.

"I thought you said you would let me go!"

"Yama, we had a deal. Let Hiro off the leash. Now."

"You really thought we would negotiate that easily. Wow." He threw his own pistol to the henchman, who had now let go but instead pressed the barrel to the teen's head. Hiro gulped as his fear escalated. "You're less intelligent than I thought a SFIT nerd would be."

"Get to the point, Yama. What do you want?"

"Nothing else. The deal was sealed. My realistic movie-watching has given me enough knowledge to suspect that the money you gave me was a rip-off. I just have to hold onto this guy a little longer until I have proof that these aren't phony." He gestured towards Hiro, whose whole body was shaking in fear, unsure of whether his friends had faked the pay or not.

Gogo hid a smirk, which barely anyone noticed. "Why don't you look at the money yourself, Yama?"

"Maybe I will." He acted as if it was his idea. He unclicked the briefcase, grabbing a handful of the green notes. Hiro strained to see the notes for himself, cut off by a huge explosion of pink and blue mist. Panicked and confused, he glanced around trying to make out the faded silhouettes in the fog, when the henchman pulled him close, pushing the gun barrel further into his temple, ready to shoot.

This is it, he awaited for the bullet. This is how it ends after all.

Hiro was knocked back on the ground, shadows of a figure leaping right onto his captor and a flying gun flashing in front of him. Pain stricken and dazy, Hiro felt his hands being untied.

"Run, Hiro. Go! Now!"

He did as he was told, Racing towards the light which he presumed were Wasabi's plasma blades and ducking behind a barrel to avoid the violent impact around him.

"Hiro!"

Hiro gave a yelp, turning to the blue mascot next to him. He let out a sigh of relief. "Fred! What's going on? Where's all the blue mist coming from?"

"Honestly, I don't know myself." Said Fred. "You're better off asking Honey. You ok?"

"Fine. Just concerned. Ow." He winced, clutching his wrist. "What the…"

Fred flipped back his costume head. "You have bruises on your arm. Have you even seen Baymax yet?"

Hiro palmed himself. How could he have forgotten Baymax? The one thing that his brother had left of his selflessness?

"Oh, man. Ugh. Where is he?"

"Behind the nearby cafe. Don't go after him, though. He's preparing for a signal in case we need him."

"In case…? Fred! That means we need him right now! What gives?"

"We decided that we'll avoid showing Baymax because of the possibility that Yama will overreact. Being a bot-fighter and all."

"Yeah, I get that. Well, I least I think I do."

"Now you're not making any sense."

"Hey, I was dehydrated and overtired, ok?"

"Woah, you were dehydrated? What the Yomi did this guy do to you?"

Hiro looked up to see Wasabi standing next to him, his blades out. "Uhh… I just said. I was dehydrated."

"And overtired." Said Fred.

"And blackmailed." Shrugged Wasabi.

"And starved." Input Gogo, speeding up to the boys.

"And beaten." Honey leapt back from a chem-ball explosion.

"Okay, Okay! I get it now! I've been through a lot!" Hiro concluded. Gogo smiled. He wasn't unscaved, but at least he was back to his regular self.

When the smoke finally cleared, Hiro crept away from his hiding spot, out into the open. They all found that they had taken down quite a few henchman, but otherwise, they were still outnumbered.

Fred flipped his costume back on, then threw the barrel away, causing a cat to mewl out in fright. Yet, it still didn't break the awkwardness of the henchman glaring angrily at the five, and the opposition wearing visible expressions of awareness.

"Hiro, get behind me."

"No. I'm not leaving you guys. I'm still part of this team you know." The victim looked somewhat taller now, stronger than what he was before.

"Ok, but be extremely careful. The last thing we need is you getting even more hurt."

"I survived a time-space full of collapsing buildings and debri. I think I can handle this."

"But without your suit?"

Hiro ignored Gogo's remark, but she couldn't handle it anymore. She whistled a quick note, calling a huge red-armoured robot to soar down the street, causing henchman to shied away in small fright.

"I appreciate your courage, Hiro, but I'm not risking your loss again."

Hiro looked at her and nodded.

"Woah, now that is a robot! Why couldn't this be an inspiration to your other one, Hamada?"

"It's not mine, it's Tadashi's. But you wouldn't care, Yama. You only care for the part when money gets involved or comes out!"

Yama chortled. "So right, yet so wrong."

"It's 'So close, yet so far', and, while I have a moment to speak, can you tell us what we're still here for!" Yelled Wasabi.

"You already know!" Roared Yama. "You trolled me! Nobody trolls me, you hear?" He glared particularly at Hiro.

Honey saw Hiro's hands form into fists. "You can threaten all you want, Yama." The henchmen stepped back in mild shock. "I'm not afraid of you. Not anymore."

"And he shouldn't have to." The team followed his words as if rehearsed.

Yama eyed the rest of his team, who seemed to nod and mutter in some sort of accord.

"What the glob…?"

"Tell ya what, Hamada."

Hiro eyed his rival with misunderstanding.

"How 'bout we settle this the way we first did. The legal way. No money, no bets. Just one bot-fight. Your robot," He pointed at Baymax, "Against your other robot."

Hiro's eyes widened in realisation. "You win, you can keep your skin."

The teen stumbled back, almost fainting until he was cut off by Baymax's body.

"Hiro," Gogo lifted him back onto his feet, "What's going on? What does he mean by your other robot?"

Hiro jumped to conclusions. "I built him a robot. I had to. It's what he blackmailed me for. But it doesn't make sense. Look, I know he wants to battle it against Baymax but it's confusing. Why would he battle a robot that's too big for the house rules to apply?"

"Simple. He saw what Gogo did to summon Baymax, he knows that he can do what people say. I think he just wants you to use simple instructions rather than a controller to fight his robot, yet with Baymax's strength, you could easily win!" Wasabi said.

"No, I built it way too advanced! I couldn't help it, my aunt's life was on the line. Oh, why didn't I listen to myself!? I knew it, I'm never getting out of this. I'm not!"

"Hiro, you're are getting out of this, ok?" Gogo pried Hiro's hands from his face. "Or you'll die trying."

"Woah, what!?" He grew pale as she pushed him towards the circular area where the gangsters had set up to fight.

Hiro looked back, his eyes pleading for reassurance, when Gogo just whispered, "Woman up!" much friendlier than her usual way.

Hiro took to deep breaths before speaking, calming his nerves as much as possible. "Baymax, you can come up."

The robot padded over slowly, even in his armour he wasn't very quick. "I am not fast."

The criminal team broke into laughter. Hiro grew red with embarrassment.

"Baymax, come on. I really need you for this. There could be more than one life on the line here."

"Will this protocol make me a better healthcare companion?"

"Beyond better, buddy."

"Of course. What is it you will instruct me to do?"

"Just do the actions that I tell you to do, Okay? Nothing else. Just like when we trained for the Krei tech incident, but without instructing yourself do this. If you do, me, Cass and possibly the others could be in danger. Understand?"

"Yes. I will do the best that I can. Clearing manual programming temporarily."

Hiro stood back, allowing the robot to hum his coding aside, ready for the bot-battle.

"Tomago, would you like to do the honours?"

Gogo took a polishing cloth from her pocket. Taking her helmet off and stepping on the edge of the circle between Baymax and the gleaming robot that Yama had placed before himself, she leaned on one hip, holding the cloth out in front of her, giving the impression of a bot-fighting MC. Snapping her gum, she breathed the final lines;

"Two Bots enter, one Bot wins."

Remember, if anything happens, just think a way out, think a way out…

After a seemingly hour of intensified silence, the cloth was raised, and the words were screamed as it hit the ground.

"FIGHT!"

"Baymax, hammerfist!"

The robot slammed his fist down onto the pavement, Yama quickly snapping to his wits and dodging it just in time.

"Backick!"

The robot missed again, only to have the other spring onto his arm.

"Knifehand! NOW!"

It was too late. The robot had already sawed through the fibre, leaving part of one arm armourless and exposed. Baymax easily batted the robot off, but was at risk already.

Hiro found it hard to keep himself together. "Roundhouse then knifehand! Hurry up!"

Hiro continued shouting and pledging for the robot to keep going, Yama avoiding loss at ease. Eventually his pleading turned to commanding insults, making the four other heroes look him on with concern.

"Stupid robot! Why'd you have to be a nurse!?"

Honey Lemon couldn't hand it anymore. "Hiro, stop! This has gone too far!"

"You sound like you want me beaten to death! Is that what you want, huh?!" Hiro snapped back at Honey.

Her mouth dropped. "Hiro, stop! Take a five! We don't need this!" Gogo said in her defence.

"I can't! Baymax, roundhouse!"

The smaller robot leapt into the air, bringing out it's huge razor, sawing down on the exposed part of Baymax's arm.

"NO!"

Hiro unhesitantly ran out into the ring, unpermitted. he kicked the smaller robot out of the way, removing Baymax's excess arm armour and tying the loose fabric to stop more air coming out.

"HEY! That's against the rules! You've lost already, get yourself over here NOW!"

"No, Yama, stop! Please, just give us five minutes, we promise, we'll get back in the game, we just need more time!" Gogo pleaded as she ran up to Hiro.

"Yeah, he said that last time! I'm not giving in again.

"Yama, have I ever told you how much I despise you? Because I need to tell you. I hate you! You're sick-minded. You're violent. You're just so… Unbelievable!" Hiro ran in the direction of the team.

Gogo pushed Baymax in the direction of Hiro, who was on his knees, ignoring the others and trying to suppress tears.

"Hiro, calm down, just breath, we just need to look for a new…"

"New Angle? There are no more angles! Don't you see? First I had to build that bonehead a good robot in order to save my aunt's life and what happens? I make it so complicated that she and I have to die anyways!" There was rage and stress in his eyes. "I- I never knew that you would go back to get Baymax's suit. If- If I had known, I would have told you to grab megabot. It works like a miracle against this guy. But I had no way of communication. Man, why did I leave my helmet at home? Why did I have to go through that damn alleyway by myself? WHY DOES IT HAVE TO END THIS WAY?"

Gogo was almost lost for words. "I- I don't know Hiro. Gawd… I'm… I'm so sorry. The last, last thing I want is to see you be killed, if that even happens in front of me. But I told you, you're getting out of this, whether you're alive…"

"Or not. Yeah, I think you already know the answer to that." He wouldn't look at her for a long time. He took a breath and finally spoke "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I've been through a lot, I confess. But I shouldn't have insulted Baymax like that. I shouldn't have yelled at you. I've been selfish. I've risked my family's last possession of Tadashi for my own life, which I would count on you guys to keep safe. I'm just.. I'm… I'm so sorry. But I don't think we can get out of this."

Gogo bit her lip, completely out of ideas, when she saw the scrap of carbon fibre in Hiro's hand.

"Wait, listen, Hiro, I know this is almost hopeless, but you have to listen to me, ok? Look, I know that I've failed you so many times over the past couple of days, but you have to count on me just one last time, ok? This time, I swear, If I have to watch you leave us, I'll have to die too. Promise, I won't lose you again."

He nodded, his focus completely on her again.

"Okay, you built that robot. Is there any weaknesses that it has? Or a self-destruction method of any kind?"

"No, I didn't even build a second controller." Hiro's eyes narrowed at the sight of his burnt hand. "Unless... wait, there is a part which isn't immune to chemical substances like…" They widened. "Baymax, get onto the ring, now!"

"Woah! Hiro, what do you think you're doing?" He turned to see a wide-eyes Gogo and a confused Fred, Honey and Wasabi holding his arm back.

"Gogo, I know what to do now, trust me on this." He ran before they could stop him again.

"Yama, I'm ready for you this time."

"You sure you're not gonna break down again, little man?"

"Well, if I do, I didn't do it effortless. Fighting you is the best and only way out of this. I don't care if I don't get away alive, 'cause, you know, at least I tried.

"Great speech. I'm getting teared up over here."

"Will a second round of bot-fighting cure your tears, Kuso yarō?"

"Will a beating cool your mind down, Tensai?"

"I dunno, because I actually enjoy my pure genius, and I take the pledge of making the most of it. And you? You choose to take yours out on betting a living."

"Maybe that's what I enjoy, but I would like to try antagonist for once."

"If you haven't realised yet, you've actually been an antagonist for the past three days. The term you're looking for is actually murderer. Burn!"

"No burns can get to me, unlike you." He eyed the razor mark on Hiro's hand.

Hiro grinned. "This scar probably isn't permanent, but if it is, it'll be a…pleasurable memory for me, considering I would've beaten the best bot-fighter in the city."

"What makes you think you're gonna beat me, kid?"

"Maybe I'm so genius that I can predict the future with that big brain of mine."

"Girls, girls, you're both pretty. Can we start the game now?" Gogo stood in the middle of the ring, separating the boy's view of each-other.

"Sure, only if Yama isn't chicken enough to come up again."

"You think I'm scared, boy? Just remember who the fourteen-year-old is here."

"Are you kidding me? There was a girl younger than me who pushed herself in front of a truck as a prior lesson of road safety!"

"She has thrill issues."

"Maybe all kids do."

"But you? I can't picture it."

"Please. I'm one of the guys who… you could say laughs In the face of danger."

"But cannot face it directly?"

"Done. Several times."

"But will you count on a robot to keep you from consequences at this case?"

"Oh, heck yes. I will."

"Then let the battle begin."

"FIGHT!"

Yama aimed his robot to Baymax's faile arm, ready to finish it off…

"Smackdown!"

Baymax's hand came down on the robot, effortless.

"What?" Yama explained as he lifted his easily-stricken robot off the ground.

"Holy cow! Hiro, where did you learn to teach Baymax to do that?"

"It's a pretty simple move. No programming required. I've been working on it." His eyes shifted from Gogo to Baymax, and his expression turned serious. "Baymax, knifehand!"

When he missed, the robot took a move which Hiro had expected to have done, so he was prepared. "Backick!"

The robot flew across the ring near Hiro, sprinting and jumping towards Baymax once more.

"Now, Baymax! Grab him!"

On cue, Baymax held his hand up, grabbing the robot on the chestplate, losing his balance and falling to the ground, but his damaged arm and the captured robot keeping him up.

Gogo could only wonder what was going to happen next. Was Hiro going to order Baymax to destroy it? Did he have some sort of weapon? (Next to his rocket fist).

"What's going on?"

"I don't know, he's completely disarmed the robot, for now. What is he meant to do?"

Gogo realised that the robot was twisting his head back and forth, revealing an unshielded part of it's neck. "Wait, what the…"

"Baymax, Bacitracin!"

"WHAT?"

Baymax began spraying the white substance onto the exposed neck as it stuttered helplessly, Yama furiously jabbing at the controls. It stopped, finally bursting in a small explosion on the concrete, lifeless and broken.

The five cheered in victory.

"I can barely believe that actually happened. Baymax!"

Hiro ran over to the collapsed robot. "Activate manual programming."

Baymax slowly got to his feet. "Manual programming activated."

Hiro grinned and looked over to the gangsters, the henchman paralyzed with shock and Yama raging with fury. "Wha… how did this happen? AGAIN?"

"What? Disinfectant? Ever heard of it?"

Yama looked as if he could strangle Hiro. "Look, boss. You lost. It's no big deal. Let's just get back to the apartment and find another nerd."

"Nah. I think we should settle this more legally." Said Gogo, flexing her knuckles.

Hiro stood back and watched the others deal with the villains, a warm sensation of satisfaction and strength coming over him.

"Hey, Hiro!" Called wasabi from the chase. "How does it feel? You're free from threat now!"

He was right. He was finally liberated,