Chapter 10: Upgrades

"I know a place, don't worry." Fred remarked as they followed after the blond, shivering and shaking.

"Aunt Cass is gonna freak out." Hideki groaned, shoving his hands in his pockets but only felt colder.

"We don't tell her this. EVER." Hiro gave his twin a hard shove as he toppled over into a hedge.

"OW!"

"Guys, stop it." Gogo growled, holding up a fist. Hiro sighed as he helped Hideki up before they all halted… sans Fred.

They were in front of a large manor.

"Fred, what are you doing?" Honey Lemon asked.

Fred halted at the front door, blinking before giving a nonchalant grin.

"Oh, welcome to Mi Casa! That's french for front door."

"It's… really not." Honey Lemon said, trying to be polite as they came up to him.

Gogo grabbed him by the shirt.

"Listen here, funny boy. I am not in the mood for this kind of bullsh-"

The door opened as a man in a tuxedo with a mustache looked out.

"Welcome home, Master Fred."

"Heathcliff! My man!" Fred fist bumped him as he bounded inside.

Everyone followed after, Baymax fist bumping the butler before following.

"Ba-la-la-la."

The others looked around, confusion taking over.

"This is YOUR place?" Hideki asked.

"I thought you were a hobo." Gogo replied, looking at some of the portraits.

"Nope, this place technically belongs to my folks-" Fred thumbed to a large painting of Fred when he was younger with two people who looked to be his parents. "But they're taking an extended vay-cay on the family island. We should go sometime. Frolic."

The twins fell behind as they took another look at the man in the painting.

"Why does that guy look familiar, Deki?" Hiro whispered to him.

"I don't know." Hideki whispered back before they hurried to catch up… halting at what they saw.

There was superhero memorabilia everywhere. From action figures to… a very odd portrait of Fred.

"If I wasn't almost killed by my former teacher in a Kabuki mask, THIS would be the weirdest thing I ever saw." Wasabi deadpanned, looking around.

"My brain hates my eyes for seeing this." Gogo muttered.

Hideki ran over to some of the display cases.

"Lessee… We got that one… That one… Aunt Cass tossed out that one… Hey, when did you get Iron Man's autograph!?"

"I was in New York for awhile." Fred shrugged but gave a smug look.

"Lucky." He breathed pretty much pressing his face up against the glass.

"Deki, quit that. You're bein' rude." Hiro muttered loud enough to be heard as he knelt in front of a coffee table that had some colored pencils and paper on it.

Baymax waddled over to Hiro, scanning him.

"Your body temperature is still low." He noted.

Hiro grunted a response as he started to draw. Baymax had an orange glow emit from him as he leaned over the boy, hugging him. Hiro blinked but shrugged as he kept drawing.

Fred went over and leaned on the bot, sighing as he came in contact with the warmth.

"Oh, that's nice. It's like spooning a warm marshmallow."

"So warm." Honey Lemon hugged Baymax, nuzzling him a little.

"Oh yeah."

"Good robot."

The college students were all stretched across the robot, enjoying the warmth.

Hideki went over and squeezed under one of Baymax's arms, huddling close to his twin. He let out a small yawn, laying his head on his shoulder.

"Deki, you're on my dominant hand."

"Liar-Oh wait…" He blinked. "Sorry."

Hiro rolled his eyes. He was tired, he was grouchy and he was curious as he recognized a symbol on the metal the man was carrying. He kept sketching until the image of a bird took shape.

"This mean anything to you guys?"

"Isn't that a tori symbol?" Hideki tilted his head.

"Tori? Like that weird girl who dropped out two months back?" Fred asked.

"No, tori." Hiro replied, rolling the R. "Bird. It looks like something from Japan but… it doesn't make sense." He murmured, lifting up the paper, letting the others see.

Hideki tugged his own piece of paper over, sketching out what he could remember of Callaghan and then of the man in the mask.

"... Hey, looks like Calla-loser lost weight. Kabuki man is pretty slim."

"Hmph, stealing from us. Bet he can't eat like a normal guy."

The twins still felt some anger heat up. They both stood as Baymax stood fully, the others taking place on the couch.

"Hiro. Deki. Do you really think it's Callaghan?" Gogo asked softly, giving the two a concerned look.

"Nothing. Else. Makes. Sense." Hiro emphasized. "Right, Deki?"

"Right. He tried to kill me that night. But…" Hideki looked away. "... Dashi-nii protected me… Covered me… Callaghan wanted those bots more than Krei did."

"So… our robotics teacher is an insane creep." Wasabi murmured.

"And he faked his death." Honey Lemon covered her mouth, some tears in her eyes. "And he… he murdered Tadashi."

"And we haven't told the police this?" Gogo questioned.

"We tried that!" The twins groaned in unison, sitting on the floor. "He thought we were insane!"

"Yeah! The cops are useless!"

"Then... what are we gonna do?" Honey Lemon asked softly, swiping away some tears.

Hiro sighed.

"I don't know. I don't even know how to find him. He finds us." He got up and started to pace. "I don't even know how to find a guy who's hiding."

"He is 6'2''. His blood type is AB positive." Baymax announced.

They looked to him.

"Baymax… you scanned him?"

"I scan everyone to provide the best healthcare possible."

"... Then we can use this." Hiro grinned as he jumped up. "You can scan everyone and find him!"

"Hiro, that would take forever." Gogo rolled her eyes.

Hideki got up, picking up one of Fred's toys, a robot that beeped.

"Not if we upgrade his scanner. Right, Nii-san?"

Hiro winced a little. He still wasn't used to being the only "Nii-san" still.

"Right. We'll have to make changes. Heighten the sensor." He looked up, seeing the groups reflections looking back, covering the heads of the figures inside a glass case. "In fact…" He looked to everyone, a wicked grin crossing his face. "I need to upgrade all of you."

"Bro, you just sound like a psycho killer." Hideki said, backing away slowly behind his twin. "Take Wasabi first!"

"Upgrade us how!?"

"Hiro… We're just…" Honey Lemon trailed off.

"We're nerds!" Wasabi threw his hands in the air. "We don't know how to be vigilantes! We're just…"

"We're just us." Gogo drawled.

Hiro shook his head.

"No. We gotta shake things up. We gotta look for a new angle."

Fred was bouncing in his seat.

"I like where this is going! Our origin story starts now!"

Hiro looked at a poster as everyone followed his gaze, a new sense of determination coming over the group.

"WE'RE GONNA BE SUPERHEROES!"

oooooo

"Arms up!" Hiro called as he scanned the group.

Hideki perched on the side of the computer desk as Hiro pulled up a render of the mask, showing where the neurotransmitter had to be.

"The transmitter is in the mask, likely. There's two transmitters in existence. He took Deki's off of him, so that means MINE is somewhere. We find the transmitters, he can't control the bots. Game over!"

"Get the mask!" Hideki grinned. "It's that simple!"

The next couple of days were spent going over skill sets and scans. Time spent in front of the 3D printer as Hiro worked with everyone.

Figuring out "powers" for the majority of the twins' friends was easy.

Get rid of the bike, give Gogo special skates and she was unstoppable in speed. Harness Honey Lemon's chemicals and give her a portable lab in a small machine, it could be deadly if she wanted. Wasabi's lasers were concentrated into blades.

It just left three people with suits needing to be made.

Hideki.

Baymax.

And Fred.

"What do we do for a guy who's just… the mascot?" Hiro whispered as he sketched on his tablet.

"Kaiju!" Hideki chirped.

"Kaiju…" Hiro hummed in thought. "Like a demon… YES!"

Before long, Fred had his suit, testing it out.

"Super jump! SUPER JUMP!" He lept into the air as he activated the flame thrower. "I BREATHE FIRE!"

"This was a terrible idea." Hideki was trying not to laugh as he watched.

"I know right?" Hiro chuckled as they fist bumped. "This is awesome."

The younger twin nodded before looking to his brother.

"So, what do I get?"

Hiro grimaced, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Weeell…"

"... You forgot me!" Hideki screamed, storming back inside. "I KNEW IT!"

"Hideki, I didn't forget you!" Hiro chased after him. "C'mon!"

"Then what do I get?" Hideki crossed his arms, giving his twin "The Look". "Well?"

"Look, I didn't think about it because… I'm scared of losing you. Maybe it'd be better if you stayed here, held down the fort."

"It's a smelly garage that right now stinks of the gyros we had for lunch and the cubans we had an hour ago." Hideki waved his arm around. "THIS isn't worth anything."

Hiro frowned.

"Deki, please."

Hideki turned away.

"... Tadashi was my brother too."

"And he died protecting you. Don't make that be in vain."

"I refuse to let you die too." Hideki looked over his shoulder. "Please, Hiro. Let me help."

Hiro sighed.

"Well, we both need weapons. C'mon."

The team looked in as they saw Hiro and Hideki work, muttering as they did.

"Green."

"Purple."

"No matchy, match. That is never happening again."

"Nope. Similar suit modeling though."

oooooo

Soon, everyone was done "training", although some of them wondered if tearing off a mask off of a standing target would be enough.

For the twins, it was just time to get Baymax suited up as Hiro finished rendering and printing it.

Hiro tried to slip on one of the gloves, blinking as Baymax slid back.

It took several different positions and attempts before Hiro was able to get the rest of it on.

Hideki… was no help as he had fallen to the ground, laughing until he cried at the struggle.

"BAHAHAHA! OH MY GOSH I WISH I STILL HAD MY PHONE!" He howled, wiping a tear out of his eye.

"Shut up!" Hiro hissed, tossing his brother his helmet. "Suit up ya brat."

"Sure!"

They soon made their way outside, the team looking over the boys.

They wore similar armor, but while Hiro's was purple and black with some red, Hideki's had dark almost black green, with navy blue accents. The only real similarity was how it was built.

"C'mon, you guys gotta see this!" Hiro grinned as the twins jogged ahead, leading the way.

"Meet…" Hideki started as they presented what it was to them.

"Baymax 2.0!" They both shouted as Baymax, who was decked out now in red and purple armor, looked over.

He did a small wave.

"Hello-" He was cut off, looking at a butterfly that landed on his finger before trying to follow it.

Hiro halted him.

"Hey, big guy, focus, alright?" He said, holding up a fist. "C'mon, show 'em the fist."

Baymax held his fist out, mimicking Hiro before…

"... Ba-la-la-la."

"No, not that! The thing! The other thing!" Hiro said as he and Hideki ran around to the other side.

Baymax nodded, seeming to understand before flames started to appear on his fist before it jetted off, tearing a hole in the garden wall and taking out a statue.

The team's jaws dropped.

"Oh… My… Gosh."

Fred clapped, bouncing in place.

"Rocket fists make Freddy so happy!"

"And that's not all. C'mon Deki, show 'em." Hiro grinned, nudging his brother.

"Right." Hideki looked off to the right before a familiar… and alarming sound was heard.

The team were now aware of purple and green glows coming from the twins visors as a wave of similarly colored microbots lifted them up.

"Um…. Guys. Aren't we trying to STOP your bots and not give 'em more!?" Gogo yelled, feeling her eye twitch a little.

"These are special." Hideki replied, looking to Hiro. "Right?"

"Our transmitters are in the helmets. These ones also are coded to only respond to Hamada TWIN DNA. If anyone else who isn't a twin in our family tried they couldn't."

"... Why does it matter if you're twins?"

"Because they're coded to mine and Deki's DNA. Watch." The twins traded helmets and as before, the microbots lifted them up. "See? Easy."

"Buuut Deki's got main control until we have to fight." Hiro replied as he stepped down. "Because Baymax has more to offer." He replied, going over to Baymax. "Alright, Baymax, wings!"

As if by magic, two wings were produced from Baymax's back. Hideki disabled the microbots for a moment as he smirked.

"You goin' without me?"

"I'll be back for you later." Hiro smirked before climbing onto Baymax, his sneakers and gloves giving him a magnetic hold. "Thrusters!"

The rockets in question activated as Baymax hovered unsteady.

"I fail to see how flying makes me a better healthcare companion."

"And I fail to see, how you fail to see that it's AWESOME!" Hiro smirked. "Fly!"

Baymax toppled over… before taking off as Hiro let out a very unmanly scream.

"WAH! BAAAAYMAX!"

"And this is why I'm glad I stayed here." Hideki said smugly.

oooooo

Hiro held on for dear life as Baymax flew almost in a craze around the city.

"WAH! SLOOOOW DOWN!" He screamed as Baymax flew over the Crimson Gate bridge. "TOO MUCH THRUST! TOO MUCH THRUST!"

He sighed in relief when they slowed… before screaming as they fell.

"BAYMAX!"

BOOM!

The thrusters started again as Baymax took a new glide path. Hiro felt himself start to calm and actually enjoy it as they flew over the bay and past a large cat statue.

It felt… freeing. He was up so high, but he was safe. He was happy.

Next time, I gotta bring Deki up here. This is AWESOME. He thought, smiling a bit as Baymax flew past a window.

He felt like he was flashing back to when Tadashi had jumped over the dumpster on his moped as he watched his reflection go by.

Things have changed so much since then.

They continued until Baymax came to stop on top of the Crimson Gate Bridge. Hiro panted as he tried to catch his breath.

"Whoo…" He chuckled, relaxing as Baymax turned his head to him, scanning him. "I think that's enough of that for one day right?"

"Your neurotransmitters are rising rapidly." Baymax informed him. Hiro had a nervous look as he leaned backwards.

"Which means…?"

Baymax tilted his head back forward.

"The treatment is working."

"Treat-"

Baymax tilted backwards as they fell straight down.

"BAAAAAYMAAAAAAAAAX!"

Baymax's thrusters started up again as they began a new glide path.

"YOU'RE CRAZY!"

"I have been programmed with utmost sanity."

"TADASHI PROGRAMMED YOU! SANITY MEANS NOTHING!" Hiro screamed, holding on but found himself laughing. "THIS IS AWESOME!"

Baymax flew upwards as they zipped and ducked through the various wind turbines before coming to rest on one of them. Hiro slid down and took off his helmet, laughing as he sat down.

"That… Was… Amazing!"

Baymax sat beside him, looking at Hiro, mimicking a bit when the boy shifted.

"I don't think Deki and me are gonna be buying those bikes we've been saving up for anymore."

"Your emotional state has improved." Baymax replied. "I can deactivate if you are satisfied with your care."

"Eh?" Hiro looked to him confused. "N-No! I'm not satisfied with my care! We still have to find Callaghan. He needs to be stopped before he hurts anyone else!" He stood up, putting his helmet back on. "Baymax…" He began as the robot stood up. "Activate super sensor."

Baymax began scanning, negating most of the scans… except for one.

"He is not in San Fransokyo."

"What?"

Baymax pointed to an island.

"He is there."

Hiro gulped.

"Akuma Island…" He narrowed his eyes.

"Alright. Let's do this."