Baymax led the group to a warehouse in San Fransokyo's industrial district. It reminded Tadashi of nights spent rescuing Hiro and running form angry BotFighters. Tadashi left the team, hiding around the block and took to the air for some reconnaissance. He located several possible entry points. Baymax had said there were three people inside. One of them was Hiro and he was in the center of the building. The other two weren't far away. Peering in the windows, Tadashi decided the bottom floor was empty. He couldn't see into the second floor. All the windows were covered in heavy black paper, but small gaps let out light. The building had power. Tadashi smiled grimly. Hack hadn't hid himself particularly well. That implied cockiness. Tadashi returned to the others. He still stumbled on the landing, but didn't dwell on it. "Everyone still inside?" Tadashi asked Baymax the robot nodded.
"They have not moved. I pulled the building's blueprints off the internet. I believe there is a guard at the top of the stairs. He is in his forties, in excellent health, and quite large. A right turn at the top of the stairs will take you to Hiro. A left leads to the third person, who fits Hack's age," Baymax informed Tadashi.
"Alright then. Listen up guys. I have a plan," Tadashi said. There was a fire in his voice. "Wasabi and Fred will go in hot through the front, distract the guard, and draw Hack's attention. Honey and GoGo will sneak in the skylight. It should put you very close to Hiro," Tadashi explained. "Find him and protect him," he ordered.
"You aren't going after Hiro?" GoGo frowned.
"Risa's antivirus is holding, but if Hack has got something else up his sleeve, the two of you stand the best chance against him without your suits. Wasabi's got Fred's back if the Kaiju armor malfunctions. Baymax and I are the most vulnerable. Which is why we're going after Hack. It will force him to show his hand. Hiro is our main objective. If things go bad, you and Honey should be able to get him to safety. Wasabi and Fred should be able to get away. You can regroup and come back for me and Baymax if we don't get away," Tadashi explained. He looked over his friends. Their faces were set. They'd follow him to the end. "Any other questions? All things work out, we meet up inside."
"Let's do this," Wasabi replied.
"For Hiro," GoGo nodded.
"For San Fransokyo," Fred added.
"I'm pretty sure I've seen this in a comic book," Tadashi snorted. An evil smiled played on Tadashi's lips. Hack was in for a rude awakening if he thought he could get away with hurting anyone on Big Hero 7's watch, let alone one of their own. Baymax and Tadashi took off. Baymax carried the girls to the roof and set them down silently. They crouched beside the skylight. Honey had a chemisphere in her hand, all ready to go. Baymax and Tadashi hovered outside the window nearest to Hack. Fred and Wasabi waited until the others were in position. They walked side by side to the front door and Wasabi sliced it through with his lasers. It was overkill, but the sound of metal sheets clattering to the concrete definitely got someone's attention. They could hear someone inside cursing. Fred further announced their arrival with a ferocious roar and burst of flame. The guard ran down the stairs, gun in hand, and found himself to face with a fire breathing monster and man nearly as big as he was. Wasabi glared at the guard. He was an intimidating figure in his uniform with his laser's running. The remains of the door still glowed red hot against the concrete floor. The guard raised his gun and fired. Wasabi ducked behind Fred and listened to the bullets clatter against the armor. Honey and GoGo shattered the skylight under the cover of gunfire and dropped onto a crash pad created by Honey's chemisphere.
"Rocket fist?" Baymax asked, looking to Tadashi.
"Do it," Tadashi ordered. Baymax's fist slammed through the window, taking a descent chunk of the wall with it. The soft tinkling of broken glass from the girls' entrances was masked by the boys' entrances. Tadashi followed Baymax in through the opening.
Hack stared at the screens around him. He could feel his plans shattering the instant Fred and Wasabi smashed through the front door. Their suits should have been out of commission. Permanently. Hack watched his guard open fire on the two heroes. The one with the lasers slipped behind the other. They seemed unfazed by the bullets. That's when the robot and the one with wings smashed through the wall. Hack turned his attention to his computer, his best bargaining chip. The heroes could posture all they wanted. It didn't change the fact that Hack controlled the city. Honey and GoGo slunk through the building, hugging walls and sticking to shadows. Had Hack been paying attention to the security footage, he would have seen at most a glimmer of yellow in the corner of the screen. Of course the door was locked. GoGo turned to Honey. The taller girl was already typing a formula into her dispenser. Honey stepped back and motioned for GoGo to do the same. She threw the sphere at the door handle and waited. The metal smoked on contact with the chemical. Tadashi stalked down the hall. Hack was at the end of the hall. His door was open which took Tadashi by surprise. Tadashi shoved the door. It swung easily and slammed into the wall. Hack flinched at his desk.
"There was no need for that," Hack retorted. "All this posturing is pointless."
"Get on the floor with your hands behind your head," Tadashi snarled.
"You going to make me?" Hack sneered.
"Yes," Tadashi said. His voice was like ice. Baymax's threatening bulk filled the doorway behind Tadashi.
"I'm afraid you won't like the results if I leave my computer," Hack replied. "You see. If it doesn't receive a code from me every five minutes the turbines will fall and a surge will hit the grid. It's enough to destroy all electronics connected to the system and maybe kill the people who are too close. At the least they'll have some nasty burns," Hack chuckled. Tadashi clenched his fists.
"Tell me the code," Tadashi demanded.
"Can't. It changes every time. It generates an encrypted prompt which I have to answer," Hack shrugged. He could feel power tipping in his favor.
"Tadashi. We've got Hiro," GoGo's voice came through the com. It grounded him. GoGo swallowed hard. "He's in bad shape Tadashi," she added softly. Tadashi felt his blood run cold.
"What did you do to Hiro?" Tadashi snarled at Hack.
"The kid?" Hack frowned. "He tried to fight and he lost. Same as you have," Hack snorted. The computer beeped. Hack turned his back on Tadashi to watch the code scrolling across the screen. He typed a couple lines and swiveled back around to find Tadashi's visor inches from his face.
"You hurt my little brother and you're hurting my city," Tadashi's voice was soft and deadly. "You will stand down or I will make you." It wasn't a threat. Hack swallowed. They were close enough, Tadashi could hear his breath catch and see Hack's throat jump as he swallowed.
"Told you I can't. The city's mine. Take the twerp and leave," Hack replied. He struggled to keep his voice steady with Tadashi in his face. Hack searched the visor for some sign of the face underneath and all he could see was his own reflection. Tadashi grabbed Hack by the shoulder, lifting and slamming him against the wall. Hack shivered. His feet didn't touch the ground. "You can't hurt me," Hack protested. "If I can't enter the code because of you then all those deaths will be on your head."
"Funny. I used the same logic to persuade myself that my brother would be fine," Tadashi sneered. It was then that Hack realized just how big of a mistake he'd made in touching the kid. He'd crossed a line and the figure in front of him was ready to follow. The gloves were off.
"I won't enter the code," Hack said. "I don't care if people die. They're nothing to me."
"I believe you," Tadashi nodded. He drove his fist into Hack's stomach. He could hear the air being forced out of Hack's lungs. Suspended off the ground in Tadashi's grip, there was nothing Hack could do, but open and close his mouth, gasping like a fish out of water. Tadashi dropped him and turned his attention to the computer. Hack ripped his mask off, trying to get more air back into his lungs. A timer in the top right of the screen informed Tadashi he had three and a half minutes before the code needed entered. Tadashi stared at the code scrolling across the screen. Bits and pieces made sense, but not the whole. It was beyond him. Tadashi had a sinking feeling in his gut. He could hear the others on the coms, but ignored them. Instead he pulled off his helmet and dialed Risa. Downstairs, Wasabi was handcuffing the guard while Fred stood and looked menacing. The guard had dropped his weapon and surrendered when he ran out of bullets. He took one look at the monster and the soldier and decided he hadn't signed up for this. On the other side of the building, GoGo cradled a confused Hiro and battered while Honey tried to reach Tadashi and Baymax on the coms. Hiro kept trying to smile at GoGo. He wanted to tell her he was okay, but his mouth couldn't seem to form the words. Everything was blurry and each movement sent a wave of agony through his body. Hiro's face was so swollen that the sound that come out his mouth was a soft whimper when GoGo jostled him.
Risa was having a hell of a day. She'd almost died three times and it wasn't even close 8 o'clock yet. Getting the analysis out of the SFIT computer system had been a challenge, but not beyond her by any means. Getting from campus to the Lucky Cat Café proved to be more difficult. It was after curfew and everything seemed out to get her. She was zapped by a traffic light and an idiot in a truck nearly ran her over. The wind and rain were worse than ever. She staggered into the café clutching her laptop and fighting back tears. The electricity from the traffic light had arced down and struck her shoulder. Every movement made cloth rub against her raw skin. Cass looked up from the café table, hoping to see one her nephews duck through the door. Instead a girl with pink hair staggered inside looking half drowned. "My name's Risa. I'm a friend of Hiro and Tadashi's for SFIT. I'm trying to fix the city computer system. I need your computer," RIsa blurted out. Cass stared at the girl, a million thoughts through running through her mind.
"Are they alright?" Cass asked. Instantly, she was out of her chair and helping the girl into one.
"Last I heard," Risa said, shrugging off Cass's help. "So can I use your computer?"
"We don't have any electricity," Cass frowned.
"I can fix that," Risa sighed. Of course, this couldn't be easy.
"Right this way," Cass said. She led Risa to the office off the Café. "Sorry it's a bit of a mess," Cass apologized, sweeping papers off the desk. Risa dropped into the computer chair and started digging in her backpack. She pulled out what looked like a miniature car battery and hooked it to the computer. The monitor turned on to reveal lines of code scrolling past.
"Good. It's still connected to the internet," Risa muttered. Cass hovered in the doorway, watching. Next Risa pulled out her laptop with the virus analysis and plugged it into Cass's computer. "This is going to take a while," Risa told Cass.
"Can I get you anything?" Cass asked.
"No. Thanks," RIsa smiled slightly. "You're HIro and Tadashi's aunt Right?" she clarified. Cass nodded.
"Are you the one who's been helping Tadashi with programming?" Cass asked.
"Yeah," Risa smiled. She shrugged off her coat and settled into the chair. Cass saw the angry red skin on Risa's shoulder and went to go find the first aid kit. When Cass came back, Risa was typing on the laptop and watching the code of the desktop monitor.
"I've got some cream that will help your arm," Cass explained. Risa nodded. She was totally absorbed in her work. The virus was complex, ever changing. She and her program were testing its limits, feeling it out before engaging in a serious fight. Cass pulled a chair up beside Risa and started working on the burn. Risa flashed her a grateful smile. Forty minutes later, Cass was trying not to fall asleep in the chair and RIsa sat up straighter at the desk. The code had changed. The virus was preparing to attack. It wasn't clear what exactly would happen, but it couldn't be good. Risa typed faster. There was no more time for sparring. It was go time. Then the attack stopped, or more accurately was delayed. Risa frowned. This new game was not good. Risa didn't wait. She kept hacking away at the virus, unraveling it's code and neutralizing it piece by piece. It was brilliantly written, but even the best code always had loop holes. Risa heard her phone ring but ignored it. She was gaining the upper hand.
Tadashi stared at the screen in desperation. He'd tried using his program on it, but is hadn't been able to read the multiple languages used in the virus. The countdown was almost out. Tadashi screwed his eyes shut and waited for the sound of turbines smashing to earth. It never came. The countdown stopped with seven seconds left and message filled the screen. "Sorry, but this city is protected." Everywhere else, the lights were coming back on. Tadashi collapsed into Hack's chair.
"Guess what," Tadashi said. "You lose." Hack didn't respond. "You see, there's this girl. Her name's Risa. You might know her. She's brilliant, bit reckless, but her hearts in the right place. Dyes her hair pink. Any of that ringing a bell?" Tadashi continued.
"No," Hack managed to choke out. Disbelief and fear were written on every line of his face.
"Yes. And she sends her regards," Tadashi smiled. It was over. It was finally over. He was going to get Hiro and patch him up. Hack was going to go away for a long time. Tadashi stood up and made his way towards the hacker. Hack was a guy in his twenties with sandy blonde hair, gray eyes, and a face that didn't stand out. He struggled slightly when Tadashi put the handcuffs on him. "Knock him out quick so we can go help Hiro," Tadashi ordered Baymax. The nurse bot nodded and approached Hack. The man struggled wildly. Baymax wasn't going to hurt him, but Hack didn't know that. Baymax injected a sedative into Hack's wrist and he went limp in seconds. Tadashi followed Baymax out of the room towards Hiro.