Chapter 45, everybody! Oh man I haven't updated this since LAST YEAR *bricked*

On that happy note, happy Escape From 2020! :D

In other news, finally hopped on the bandwagon and played Among Us today with some Discord friends…I kept getting imposter and I am concerned with my kill count thus far.

I think in my writing up on this I might be getting close to having it entirely written out…might bump it up to posting twice a week once that happens but in the meantime know that we have updates all the way past this fic's first anniversary. :D

Continuing blanket disclaimer: I still have not finished Season Two. We're flying blind, boys. And again, I am still in denial of the end of "Countdown to Catastrophe" don't at me this is how I cope, okay? D:

Now, interestingly, from what I've read hummingbirds have no sense of smell, despite having excellent eyesight and hearing. Matter of fact, most birds don't have an advanced sense of smell, or even an average one—the exceptions are birds such as turkey vultures, who need the ability to sniff out their meals, and kiwis, oddly enough. So in reality, Violet shouldn't have the best sniffer of the bird-kids, but she should have a much better sense of hearing. So in this case, we're either going with she has kiwi in there or she's made from a genetic cocktail, handwaving time. Since the other animal heavily sampled for bird-kid behavior is cats, which do have an advanced sense of smell that they rely on heavily, we're going with genetic cocktail time.

Also nothing fazes Professor Granville except maybe seeing Obake that one time, but I feel like if he tried it a second time she'd drop him like a sack of potatoes. That woman is scary. D: Saying that…I personally headcanon that she's the only person Obake is really actually afraid of, for a number of reasons (including the fact that in "Dog Days" she walks out of the café carrying over 200 pounds of dog IN HEELS).

Also was writing along, got to Tadashi's scene (you know the one) and had the moment of you know this actually doesn't look good. So yeah they acknowledge it too that is never the answer friends there is always another answer and you are loved.

Angelwings2002, thanks for the review! Oh yes. :D And oh my goodness yes poor Hiro trying to figure out how to explain bird-kids. XD Globby and Felony Carl are totally chill best characters best unofficial uncles ever after Jumba and Pleakley. YES AAAAH WE'RE SO CLOSE! Bird-kids need all the protection they don't understand threat matrixes and YES KARMI NO DON'T GO! D: Aw, thank you! :D

Hexyah, thanks for the review! My first thought was Belt the Sloth and my second was Kronk after reading your comment—oh yeah, it's all coming together we're heading towards the endgame, folks. :D

Big Hero 6 © 2014 Disney

Ducktales © 2017 Disney

Toy Story © 1995 Pixar (Tadashi's reference)

Violet had been torn on splitting up—on the one paw, covering more ground. On the other, being only, which was dangerous was no-good was bad.

But she was also certain she could cover more ground, had agreed, sniffing around for 'Dashi's-Hiro smell—followed it to a big-big-big room that had 'Dashi's-Hiro's flock his flight—

Disappointment at 'Zabi not doing up 'Zabi must not know this thing this very important thing that her flock her flight knew that made them better flock better flight—bark from the three olders told her that being here was probably a no don't do that, scramble to grab her so she couldn't run away—

Before, yes. And if they were 'Dashi, maybe.

They were not 'Dashi, and she was not slow.

Evading the olders took longer than strictly necessary, only because Violet liked this new play—since she was fast-fast-fast now that meant chase-flee-catch could last longer she wouldn't be caught and out early she would be the last one caught YES! Dodge around all attempts, running up and down halls and hiding, ignoring calls from olders about here Violet come here good girl no no running away that's BAD—that always signaled the end to play and she was NOT ready to stop yet.

She WAS ready to start catch.

Come around several turns, quick-fleet-quiet-soft, sneak up on 'Zabi, going here little bird-kid, come to Uncle Wasabi, be nice please—sneak, sneak, sneak—POUNCE!

Leap up, latch on to 'Zabi's back, scream GOT YOU!—hang on for dear life as 'Zabi shrieked and danced around before running, cheering at the speed yes now they could go catch others 'Zabi definitely knew how to play this game—

'Zabi did, 'Zabi caught Gogo and Honey-Lemon-Aiko, sending them all sprawling—Violet hopped off lightly, bounded away out of pounce-range, sat up and chirped no-catch I win before speeding off again.

Fun was fun, but she still needed to find 'Dashi's-Hiro.

Sniff, sniff again at places where halls crossed each other, parsing out the smell that was strangeness was food was like Baymax like 'Dashi—faint-faint-faint 'Dashi scent, faint enough others wouldn't scent, just faint enough that said was flock-flight-clutchmate. Huff at that—wasn't sure, if he was then that meant no-good bad poison DID take wings take tail take feathers take beak take everything that was good and made small and naked and sad.

Grit her beak, hiss at that—that did sound like something she would do for fun.

But 'Dashi had saved them from the bad-place, 'Dashi would make everything nice and safe and good again, all they had to do was stick together be flock be flight. Huff at 'Dashi's-Hiro being so dense as to wander off for no-reason.

Stronger scent—he had been by recently.

Sniff—follow, excited—stronger this way, follow—ears twitched as she heard his voice—

Now would be good time for pounce.

Sneak, sneak, following scent and sound—sounded like came from cave-nest up ahead—sneak, sneak, put every paw just so, closer, closer—close enough to hear him talking with other….

Peek around opening, spot him, coil and wiggle hips, ready for pounce

Strange no-feather in white-coat happened to spot her, froze—

Right as she scented a smell burned into her memory, one she hoped to never scent again.

Bad-place.

HER.

Her scent was all over came from white-coat no-feather who must be part of her evil flock evil flight—

All happiness pleasedness everything all thought all warmth fled from her then, leaving her empty cold scared shell—terror screeched across her wiping out all coherent thoughts but one.

RUN.

Scream, screech BAD-PLACE-WAS RIGHT-FLEE-RUN-NOW!—run flee RUN anywhere anywhere vaguely heard 'Dashi's-Hiro running after her good yes flee bad-place bad-place no—

Big-big-big room big and bright exit please be exit please open to SKY sky was safe—

Spot 'Zabi, run straight for him, shrieking—leap on him, hugged tight as he stumbled backwards—yes okay yes was safe now olders would take her away from bad-place—

Webby's theory came back to her then—what if they were all feathered originally, had been given no-good bad poison, had been no-feather for so long they didn't know, had to keep coming here for more no-good bad poison

"NO!" she shrieked, pushing away—Gogo caught her before she could hit the ground—struggle—no-no-no no bad-place no no-good bad poison they weren't taking her wings she had just now finally did fly she wasn't giving that up she would fight would BITE—

"Will you stop that?" Gogo demanded, planting her on solid ground use that push off—free

HERE-HERE-HERE-WHAT-WE FIGHT-OKAY—

Relief sung through her, leap at flock at flight at Nox at Lena, tackle them in hug chittering in fear and relief was hugged back tightly question of what-who-you-okay-you—tell them about scenting bad-place and Webby's theory and no don't want no—

"I…hah…okay…don't remember her…being that fast yesterday," 'Dashi's-Hiro gasped, finally limping in before collapsing on floor. She would have had smug moment if weren't for fact that they were still in dangerous place but had flock had flight now all they had to do was convince these that this was not good place—

"Yeah that happened," 'Zabi said, sounding like 'Dashi did right before time-out.

"Are you okay, Hiro?" Honey-Lemon-Aiko asked, helping 'Dashi's-Hiro off floor.

"Yeah," he wheezed. "Wasn't…didn't really want to run two days in a row."

"Yeah that's a mood," Gogo said, stalking over to point at them definitely radiating anger-mad-you bad-you like 'Dashi had done after fight—quick, act innocent and start chittering no-sorry-no. "No don't try that cute act on me what are you three doing here you're supposed to be at Fred's."

"At least it's just these three," Honey-Lemon-Aiko said.

"Ahem."

Everyone looked over at authority-noise, spotted authority standing there holding paw—

Webby shrieked, ran forward, hugged, chittering relief-so glad-was worried-not now-you-safe-you—Violet moved her head to keep authority in sight they were not free of time-out threat yet—

"Mr. Hamada," tall dark no-feather authority said, pinning 'Dashi's-Hiro in look that made Violet freeze even though she wasn't the one getting look. "I understand you have something to do with this."

"What? Me? W-why would you think that?" 'Dashi's-Hiro tried, tone no-sorry-no.

"'Dashi-Hiro!" Webby chirped, pointing—ran over for tackle-hug, Nox moving to follow but stopped by look from tall dark no-feather authority, burrowed further under Lena's wing instead.

"Call it a hunch," tall dark no-feather authority said, sounding tiny bit amused, still with corner of eye on them even though she was looking at 'Dashi's-Hiro.

"I can explain?" 'Dashi's-Hiro noised, not sounding sure.

"I would love to hear it."

"Um…."

"We're—they needed help," Honey-Lemon-Aiko said, hugging 'Dashi's-Hiro from behind like they hugged each other, saying here-here-here-here for you-love-don't worry.

"And we are totally sorry about any mess they made," 'Zabi offered.

Tall dark no-feather authority didn't seem convinced.

"They escaped from evil geneticists, that is the extent of our knowledge," Gogo said.

Tall dark no-feather authority gave them all long, long looks, long enough for someone to break—finally settled on 'Dashi's-Hiro.

"I'll give you until the end of the week," she said finally. "And then I want a full report on my desk."

"Uh…oh…kay?" Dashi's-Hiro noised.

"And Mr. Hamada—please find someplace else to station them. There's too much they can get into here."

"Right—sorry—we tried that—" Faltered under look. "Yes, ma'am."

"Good." Look at them—could feel Nox shrinking further under Lena's wing—finally turn and leave.

Everyone gusted with relief once she was gone.

Scary, Nox fweed.

Yes-scary-very, Lena agreed.

Violet chirped, deciding that that was over with, that problem was less now—pad over to 'Zabi and put her arms up. "Up!"

"Excuse me?" 'Zabi asked, looking at her. "No—no, bad bird-kid you kept running all over the place I have bruises and too much knowledge of the floor thanks to you bad bird-kid."

"No."

"What are you all even doing here?" 'Dashi's-Hiro demanded. "What happened to Fred and Baymax?"

"Hello," Baymax greeted, waddling in.

"Baymax!" 'Dashi's-Hiro greeted, relief-happiness giving way to annoyance. "What are they doing here?"

"Good question," Gogo agreed.

"Nox, and Lena: requested to see: Hiro," Baymax explained, indicating them.

Violet chirped at Lena, mildly annoyed—got plan-plan worked in response.

"UGH," 'Dashi's-Hiro gusted—walked towards them, waving his arms in shoo. "Okay you saw me go with Baymax back to Fred's place."

"No," Webby said, tugging on his hoodie. "No stay go bad—"

"Uh, yeah, you heard Professor Granville—staying is bad, okay?"

"Yes," Violet agreed. Yes-all go-leave. Inform Webby she was right she had seen and scented a white-coat that smelled like her and 'Dashi's-Hiro had been with her which meant she was giving no-good bad poison that stole wings—

"Okay what did you just tell them no bad get off BAYMAX!"

Baymax picked up 'Dashi's-Hiro, which slowed attempts to mob and drag away from bad-place even though it didn't smell like bad-place now there was still vague threat

"Hey, you, stop it," Gogo ordered, dragging Lena away—grabbing Violet instead when Lena squirmed free. "What's wrong with you?"

"Bad," Webby explained. "Bad-no good-bad—"

"Yes you were. Bad bird-kids, no treat for you, you're all going back to Fred's."

"Yes," Violet agreed, before saying "No" because THAT was SHINY and now that they were surrounded by flock by flight again and the scent was faded like source was gone they were good—unless source was going to go tell her in which case bad—

"Yes," Honey-Lemon-Aiko said, picking up Webby. "Because I bet Fred's worried about you guys, right?"

"Like this wasn't Fred's idea," Gogo huffed—

Which was when big blue monster dropped in from up high, prompting Violet and Webby to shriek and hug at olders prompting Nox and Lena to dodge behind Baymax—smaller blue thing darted in, landed—

"We have located the bird-children!" it announced.

"Great!" blue-monster said, sounding like Fwah. "Now we just get them back before—oh," it noised, looking around. Lifted thing to show it was Fwah. "So I guess getting them back before you guys noticed is out."

"Huh," 'Zabi noised. "Guess it wasn't Fred's idea after all."

"My dudes no I'm not THAT irresponsible."

"Could have fooled me," Gogo huffed.


Okay, so yeah, he could get 'Kase being irritated at him, this actually worked out a lot better than skulking about in back alleys (note to self: never tell Hiro you did that).

Mostly because Felony Carl (still not over that name) had stopped and bought some breakfast burritos and coffee before continuing on, keeping two burritos in a front pocket for the other two kids, he explained.

Tadashi was cool with that, Tadashi was busy nursing a cup of coffee that had been made without a horseshoe and was enjoying being somewhat revived by the caffeine and the wind—Huey had sniffed curiously at his coffee before going back to the burrito, and Louie had surprisingly ignored both in favor of continuing to cling to the windshield with his face to the wind.

"So on a scale of one to ten," Tadashi asked finally. "How much do you trust this Big Hero Six team?"

"Let's say about an eight," Felony Carl said. "I like to keep a couple of reservations just in case."

"I mean he basically adopted a bunch of bird-people out of a back alley," 'Kase muttered, only loud enough for Tadashi to hear. "D'you really think he's that great a judge of character?"

"'Kase, be nice," Tadashi muttered back.

"Make me."

Huff at her, ignore her in favor of bursting free of the buildings and soaring across the Golden Gate Bridge, light starting to tinge gold in the late afternoon sun. On the other end was where the mouth of the river was, where Dewey and Della were hopefully still waiting.

Hopefully it wasn't just them.

"Okay right here pull over," Tadashi said, pointing. Finish the coffee as Felony Carl pulled over, extricate himself from the sidecar when they came to a stop. "Okay you kids stay here with 'Kase I will be right back."

"No," Huey said, looking concerned. "No stay bad—"

"I'm just going to get the others, I will be right back, two min—little bit, okay?"

"Yes," Louie said, climbing up in front of Felony Carl and clinging to the handlebars. "Rmm."

"So Louie's going to be the kid who grows up and gets a motorcycle," 'Kase observed.

"I know a guy," Felony Carl offered.

"Right," Tadashi muttered, slipping over the guardrail and hanging on tight as he turned, intending to drop into flight—looked down at the water way too far below—

Was kind of smacked with what this must look like—look back at the others. "I swear I know what I'm doing."

"Pretty sure everyone who gets there thinks that," Felony Carl said.

"Do a flip," 'Kase ordered.

"Not funny, 'Kase," Tadashi told her.

"Speaking of not funny, if you make that stupid joke you did last time you jumped off a cliff—"

"It wasn't a joke, it was a reference—it wasn't my fault me and Sashi were sleep-deprived." Which reminded him.

'Kase did groan at him going to infinity and beyond before jumping off—might have heard Felony Carl gasp either at him jumping or the wings shooting out, couldn't be certain.

What he knew he did need to focus on was angling around to that small island, circling around overhead trying to see everywhere and bleeding off altitude while he was at it—he felt exposed, skin crawling even as he saw nothing to prompt that feeling. Maybe it was flying in broad daylight within full view of a city and bridge. That could be it.

Finally land, looking around—cup his hands around his mouth. "Dewey! Della! Here, kids! Come here!" Look around—they were supposed to be here—

Chirp.

Freeze, ears perking at that (still weird)—spin around—"Yes! Here, kids!"

Dewey poked his head out of a bush growing on the side of a small cliff—

Screeched at the sight of him, diving straight at him—Tadashi turned, caught him with his chest, went down because Dewey hit him so hard, clinging tight and sobbing—

"Hey, hey, it's okay, it's okay! I'm here," he said, hugging the little bird-kid as he sat up—was knocked flat again by Della crashing into him. "No, Della, your leg—"

"'DASHI!" Dewey sobbed, hugging him tight. Della was sobbing the same thing, burrowing tight against him, claws finding a way through fabric and feather to poke in his skin.

"It's okay," Tadashi told them, hugging them close, curling up around them as much as he could with little thought to wings moving around them. "It's okay, I'm here now." Couldn't help the heat in his eyes. "I am so, so sorry—I should have…."

Should have insisted Nox stay with you guys so we could have been back sooner, should have come back sooner and asked for help with finding Nox, maybe shouldn't have run from that Big Hero group—

Couldn't finish the statement—just stay there for a long moment, hugging them close. Calming them, calming himself…there was so much going wrong, all of it—these couldn't be the only two—

"Did anyone else make it out?" he asked them—got sad looks and head shakes in response. "W-well…it's okay, we'll fix it, we'll get them back." They had to—and if this Big Hero Six was as good as reported, they might actually help with that. "For now, let's get back to the others." Struggle upright with two bird-kids that refused to let go. "Come on, guys, I can't get airborne with two kids clinging to me."

"No," Dewey said, burrowing his face against Tadashi's collarbone.

Sigh, resolve himself to having a repeat of Webby and Violet—took several jumps and rapid forceful flaps to finally get off the ground, had to keep flapping hard to stay out of the water, harder still to gain anything resembling altitude, ended up having to aim for the end of the bridge where it angled down instead of closer to where the others were.

"UGH," he wheezed, landing on the ground near the railing—had to suck in some hard breaths before climbing over the railing; bird-kids were clinging hard enough to squeeze the life out of him. Walk up the sidewalk, arms cradling the bird-kids, keeping up a steady murmur of reassurances as he got his wind back—

"See?" he asked, when he spotted the others, Felony Carl and 'Kase apparently having a discussion. "Told you—there's Huey and Louie and 'Kase, big guy is Felony Carl, still on the fence about him."

Louie had remained perched on the handlebars playing at motorcycles, spotted him first and shrieked with glee, startling the rest of them. Dewey and Della returned the happy shrieks—Tadashi crouched so they could launch off, running for the other bird-kids running for them—'Kase looked at him—

Behind him—

Her cry didn't have a specific warning—not look out, watch out, behind you—somehow though it signaled all of that, made his nerves scream DANGER-RUN!—

Spin around to see a van had stopped, veering into the wrong lane to do so, men in black armor aiming at them—

Leaped in front of the bird-kids without thinking, first instinct being to protect—

Felt sharp stings graze his wings, something impact deeper in his arm—reach, yank it out—

A dart filled with some sort of glowing green substance.

"RUN!" he bellowed, already feeling dizzy—"RUN! JUST RUN! I'LL HOLD THEM OFF! GO!"

Everything was spinning, world was tilting—managed to steady himself, wings out to foul any shots aimed at the others—leaped forward at his best estimation of where the bad guys were—

The pavement jumped up and slapped him, which was very rude of it come on he used to like this bridge—heard screaming as he crumpled in a heap, mind spinning away and off the bridge to plunge into darkness—

But the last thing he heard was the motorcycle gunning away, screams fading with it—

And the last thing he felt was rough hands grabbing him and hauling him away.

I'm sorry—I'm sorry everyone—

I failed.