Author's Note: My, my, my... it has been far too long! I truly must apologize for leaving this alone for so long. Life has really been something, but I always had this in the back of my mind and I fully intend to see it through and hopefully beyond. For all of those who have kept up with my work, commented and supported... Thank you. I hope you will continue to enjoy this as much as I have in creating it. It is a labor of love that continues to be cathartic for me and I simply love Big Hero 6. With the new season out, I hope it will help push me to finish this and write more content. This fandom needs more love and support and growth.

Disclaimer: I do not own Big Hero 6 or Big Hero 6: The Series.


Big Hero 6: The Penitent Sparrow

Chapter 37: Path of Penitence

In the past, a massive audience fills an auditorium within the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology campus. One man stands before them, leading them through an impassionate presentation towards its final conclusion. His voice carries weight and authority, commands respect and awe. With dark hair that was notably graying, his very presence and demeanor denoted hard-earned wisdom that pioneered an entire field. The audience were captivated by this man, known as the "Father of Robotics," Professor Robert Callaghan.

"As robotics continues to bloom with the brilliant young minds it draws, we will bear witness to a truly fascinating future. It's been my honor to help this field establish itself. But I have only scratched the surface, and I realize this. We have found near-endless possibilities for robotics, with countless applications that can all help to improve our quality of life and society as a whole," Professor Callaghan smiled as he looked across the auditorium, seeing many young faces who undoubtedly desired to become future roboticists. He had their complete attention, both heart and mind.

"My presentation only showcases a mere semblance of emerging robotic projects. The truth is, that it will be the next generation beyond mine that will help to further realize this field's potential. The laws I have outlined merely provide a framework, a foundation. But it's only the beginning and I will not always be the best and brightest. Because in this field, it truly challenges the expression of our limitless imagination. It's why I've made the switch from being an active roboticist to teaching here at SFIT. A switch that I do not regret," the professor spoke with conviction and confidence.

"I'll miss working on robotics projects, but it's become far more gratifying for me to teach here. Because I have come to realize that it is the next generation that will go on to shape the future. And that it was never my place to decide where robotics will lead, but to enable our next best and brightest to decide where it will go… For all those who wish to express that future through this field, I encourage and welcome you to it. Shape the future, for the better… And with that, I would like to thank you all for attending my presentation. Farewell."

With that, Professor Callaghan simply smiled as he casually walked off of the stage amongst the cacophony of clapping and cheering. As he walked down a short flight of steps down the platform, he sighed heavily in relief after completing the long presentation. He opted not to remain in the auditorium, hoping to leave so he could catch Abigail for some lunch after she gets off of school. The professor walked off in a back hall, when a voice rang through the hall suddenly.

"Quite the presentation, Professor! Brilliant and eloquent as always, old friend!"

The sudden voice caught the professor's attention, looking back to see someone was following him. From afar, it was apparent that it was a man and his young son, who was probably around seven-years-old. Professor Callaghan lightly squinted, only to quickly realize that it was a very familiar face that was grinning at him.

"Dr. Hamada! It's been some time. I didn't know you would be attending my presentation?" Professor Callaghan's eyes widened, before he smiled widely and turned completely to begin walking towards the Japanese-American medical doctor. As he stepped towards Toshiro, Callaghan noticed that the young boy beside him began to shyly move behind his father.

Toshiro Hamada stepped forward with the boy sheepishly in tow, firmly reaching out to shake the professor's hand. The medical doctor chuckled, "Yeah, it's been awhile, Robert. Wanted to come out and support an old friend. Plus, it was fascinating for this lay robotics-enthusiast."

Professor Callaghan firmly gripped the man's hand and shook it with a warm smile. It was a pleasant surprise for him to see Dr. Hamada. The two had a mutual respect for each other, being subject matter experts of their respective fields and heavily involved in both academia and teaching. But most notably since Dr. Toshiro Hamada had frequently shown interest in learning about other fields beyond his own field of medicine. In this case, the medical doctor was fascinated by robotics and this was what led to their meeting previously at a scientific conference symposium.

Dr. Hamada continued, patting himself in the chest, "Well, I'm speaking about myself, of course. I'm just an amateur enthusiast, really…" Toshiro chuckled as he adjusted his signature black San Fransokyo Ninjas baseball cap atop his head.

Momentarily, the physician gently side-stepped to reveal the young boy who attempted to hide behind his leg. Dr. Hamada gestured towards the young boy, "But, this little man already knows more about robotics than I do. Geniuses do run in the Hamada family, though. Isn't that right, Tadashi?"

Professor Callaghan smiled, kneeling down to the young Tadashi's height, "So, you're the little man your father's been telling me about. It's great to finally meet you, Tadashi." With a hand gently outreached towards the boy, Tadashi sheepishly stepped behind his father more.

Toshiro chuckled, "Sorry. He's just a little star-struck, Robert." Toshiro turned around and gently grasped the boy by his shoulders to nudge him back. Calmly, his father encouraged the boy, "Don't be shy, Tadashi. It's ok, trust me. It's the professor from your favorite documentary. Remember what I told you. You wanted to meet him, remember? What did you want to tell him, again?"

Professor Callaghan patiently knelt down, seeing the young boy muster up his courage and take a deep breath, undoubtedly something he learned from his father. The boy outstretched his hand to meet Callaghan's, gripping as tight as he could and shaking it. With a soft voice, he spoke a bit shakily, "Hi, I'm- I'm Tadashi. And I… I want to become a roboticist."

This made Professor Callaghan smile even more, "That's wonderful to hear, young man. What made you want to be a roboticist?" The boy shyly pointed his finger at the professor, as Dr. Hamada explained, "Most boys his age like to watch shows with robots. But Tadashi, here, watches shows on how to build them. He's watched that documentary of you and Dr. Catmull more times than I can recall. Drives Helen and I crazy sometimes, really. But he's always been into it."

Toshiro playfully shrugged his shoulders, "You know, I'm Tadashi's number one hero. But I think you're not that far behind, Robert." With a hearty chuckle, Callaghan asked, "Is that so?"

Young Tadashi shyly nodded, as he then turned to tug at his father's coat pocket, "Dad, can we show it to him, please?" Toshiro smiled and ruffled the boy's hair to his dismay, "Of course, little man."

Reaching into his coat pocket, the medical doctor carefully pulled out an object and handed it to the young boy. With both hands together, Tadashi cupped the object and cautiously walked closer to Professor Callaghan to display it.

Professor Callaghan smiled deeply, realizing that the object was a small robot. Dr. Hamada explained embarrassedly, "I would like to say we made that, but Tadashi was the one to show me how to put that one together."

Showing it off with a wide grin, young Tadashi pressed along the robot's back as it began shuffle its' legs and arms along with its eyes glowing red intermittently. Tadashi's demeanor had suddenly changed, being more brazen and prideful with his small machine. The boy raised it up towards the professor, asking, "Pretty sick, huh? Want to hold it?"

Professor Callaghan asked gently, "May I?" The young Tadashi nodded with a boyish grin, placing the moving small robot onto the professor's palm. Callaghan observed the machine as it shuffled around. It may had been a simple design, but a child of his age to have the capability of putting it together on his own was rather impressive and shows potential. With a smile, Callaghan spoke encouragingly, "You did an amazing job on your own, Tadashi. You really have a talent for this."

Tadashi's face brightened at that, "Really? You think so?" Professor Callaghan looked towards the boy and nodded, "That's right. I do. I think the world of robotics needs bright and enthusiastic young minds like yours. Say… Would you like to go to school here at SFIT, when you grow up, Tadashi?"

The little boy's eyes grew wide at the thought, as he looked around the campus. With a boyish grin, he enthusiastically nodded at Professor Callaghan, "Yes, professor. I want to go here when I grow up. But… that will be a long time…" Indeed, the boy was just even starting grade school, let alone making any headway towards attending a prestigious college. It was a long way down the road… It made the boy mope and downtrodden at the sheer prospects of this undertaking.

Before Toshiro could motion towards the boy, Professor Callaghan placed his hand confidently on young Tadashi's shoulder. With a gentle smile, Callaghan spoke kindly, "Can I ask you something, Tadashi? Why do you want to make robots?"

Timidly, the boy looked down for a moment and thought about the question. In time, he looked up towards Callaghan and spoke from his heart, "Well… I want to help the world. I want to help people with robots."

It was a simple and heartfelt answer… This made both Callaghan and Toshiro smile at the boy. Tadashi had a good heart. "A great answer…" Callaghan nodded at the boy, "It will be a long time before you can go here. And it will be a tough road to earn your way here." This truth made the boy saddened for the moment.

However, the professor continued, "But… you'll have your path set before you. A clear destination through your efforts at school. To attend SFIT and become a roboticist. And if it gets difficult, keep reminding yourself why you want to do it, Tadashi. Because you want to help the world. Ok?"

The young Tadashi smiled and nodded enthusiastically back at Professor Callaghan, "Ok! I- I can do it!" Seeing the confidence in his little boy, Toshiro placed his hand on Tadashi's head, "That's my boy!"

Professor Callaghan looked to Tadashi with approval, continuing, "Remember, it will take a lot of work… So, tell you what. As an incentive, so to speak… If you can work hard enough to gain admission to this school and blow me away, then perhaps I will take you directly under my tutelage. Are you up for the challenge?"

Tadashi's face brightened as his eyes widened at the prospect. With a hand outstretched towards the boy, Tadashi looked at it with astonishment. Briefly, the young Tadashi looked to his father, who merely smiled and nodded with encouragement. Shortly, the boy gripped the professor's hand again and they shook, "I am."

"Good. I'm glad you're up for the challenge, Tadashi," Professor Callaghan responded with satisfaction. With the small robot in his hand, the professor motioned it towards the young boy, "Well, I believe this is yours."

Tadashi looked at the robot in the professor's hand, then simply shook his head and gently pushed the hand away. Professor Callaghan canted his head, "You… want me to keep it?" Tadashi nodded approvingly and smiled, "Yeah."

At which the professor stood up and looked at the small robot contemplatively. "Thank you, Tadashi. I'll keep it as a reminder to look forward to the day I'll be seeing you in my class." With a soft smile, the professor held up the small machine and set his gaze upon it and the young Tadashi, his future protégé…

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In the present, sitting within a Krei Tech limousine, Professor Callaghan gaze remained fixed upon young Tadashi's small robot… a memento from his student that he was finally able to retrieve from his stored belongings with his temporary freedom.

"You okay, dad?" Abigail's voice caught the old professor's attention, as he immediately broke from his gaze and looked up to see a concerned expression on his daughter's face. Abigail looked down at her father's hand, as Callaghan quickly placed the small robot within his pocket.

"Oh, yes…Sorry, Abigail… I'm alright…" her father smiled faintly, before he looked outside the tinted windows to see that they had now arrived in downtown San Fransokyo. Attempting to dissuade his daughter's concerns, he commented, "Well… I believe I still owe you some ice cream at Benihana & Jerry's afterwards. Don't I?"

Although she knew her father all too well, that there was something on his mind… Abigail decided to go along with the banter. "Well, Dad… I believe you owe me eight years-worth of ice cream. Since you didn't allow me to have some until I was 8-year-old!" Abigail responded with playful annoyance.

With a raspy chuckle, her father shook his head with a grin, "And do you remember why? When you were little, you managed to sneak away with a whole tub and-" Before Callaghan could continue, Abigail rolled her eyes and completed the story, "And ate the ice cream until I felt sick… Yeah, yeah… you always have to remind me, huh? But, c'mon! What cold-hearted man would deny their daughter such sweet delicious goodness?"

Callaghan simply shrugged his shoulders, "How about a caring father who doesn't want his precious daughter to keep losing her teeth to cavities or spoiling her appetite with dessert?" Abigail let out a hearty chuckle, "Well, I had plenty teeth to spare! Still do, in fact! See?"

Abigail bore her teeth at her father with an overly-exaggerated grin, much to his amusement. The father and daughter shared a heartfelt chuckle, as they smiled at each other. Suddenly, Abigail playfully threw a dark grey cloth at her father. Catching it at his chest, he looked at what he realized was the very same mask that his colleague, Dr. Catmull, had used to disguise himself at Akuma Island.

Professor Callaghan gazed back at his daughter, seeing that her visage had completely changed to that of a stranger with green eyes, freckles and short brunette hair. She was using her Krei Tech cell phone's camera to see herself, pursing her lips stylishly and sprucing her "hair" as she gawked at herself, "Really liking the hair! I missed having it this short, maybe I should get a haircut maybe?"

"I remember when I freaked out when you cut your hair so short the first time," her father commented with a fond smile, slipping the mask on himself. Abigail laughed at the memory of it, "Well, to be fair that time… I was only eight years old and had no business cutting my own hair!" She observed as her father's "face" digitally formed into a gruff man with a full beard that was showing streaks of grey. She shifted her phone towards him, showing his disguise.

"Hmmm… Shame I was never able to grow a beard like this…" the professor commented as he turned his head to the side. He looked to his daughter with a soft smile, "How do I look?" Abigail smirked, "Like a complete stranger. Oh, one last thing to put on when we get in… Let's see…" The young woman fished through her purse, promptly taking out two white objects with sharp red stripes adorning them. Revealing two Kabuki masks for them, she grinned, "Now we are really dressing for the occasion!"

It was a bittersweet moment, seeing that Abigail had her original mask that he had given her. The one he used to wear with her and his late wife, Gale, was destroyed under Baymax's grasp. Receiving his own mask from Abigail, it was almost haunting as he stared at it and ran his fingers along the mask. It was a different design, a new one. Reading the moment, Abigail aptly commented, "A new mask, for a new beginning." She smiled warmly at her father. Despite the odd disguise of another's face, Callaghan couldn't mistaken that smile, "Thank you… Abigail. I love it."

Her father grimly chuckled as he held up the Kabuki mask, muttering to himself, "Hiding behind a mask behind another mask, huh?" The two of them quickly noticed that the limousine was slowing down and promptly stopping in front of a large white building with Greco-Roman pillars and Japanese-style arched rooftops. With the father and daughter being hit with a wave of nostalgia, Abigail giddily burst out of the limousine doors before the Krei Tech employee could even get out of the driver side door. "I've missed this place so much! Come on, dad!"

She was already running towards the ticket stand, while Callaghan simply laughed and curtly nodded at the Krei Tech staff member finally getting to hold the door open. Catching up with his daughter, she was already handing in her tickets to the concierge at the booth and grinning widely. Looking up at her father, she quickly placed her hands to cover his eyes, "Guess what show they are having on today! It's one of my favorites!"

Callaghan's disguised visage contorted in wonder, the false beard shifting around, "Hmmm… That will be a hard one. You have a lot of favorites, young lady. But I bet I can get it on first try…" With a grin, the professor spoke with certainty and matter-of-factly, "Chūshingura."

Abigail lowered her hands and pouted at him, "That's cheating, you looked. Didn't you?" Callaghan chuckled as he patted her on the shoulders and took her along into the building, "Powers of observation. Come on, let's get to our seats!"

As they followed along the directed paths for their seating, they found themselves at a private booth above the main seating assembly with the best view they had ever had of the auditorium. Abigail whistled in amazement, "Best seats in the house! Alistair really didn't spare any expense!" Callaghan smiled, he had to admit, he was grateful to Hiro and, even, Alistair for arranging this. It was almost a foreign feeling, but for once in for such a long time, the old professor actually felt happy and somewhat at peace. To be here, with his daughter, in a place that his family had loved to spend time together.

Before they knew it, the majority of the auditorium became dim as the main center stage was brilliantly lit to highlight the performers entering on the stage. Abigail quickly tapped on her father's hand in excitement, looking down at the performers. In that moment, it was as if Abigail had transformed into that little girl that Callaghan had always adored. It was a spectacular sight, seeing the play unfold before them and immersing them in the scene. All of performers were just as he remembered, clad in their traditional Kabuki play costumes depicting Samurai nobility within a palace setting. Faces adorned with elaborate white paints to create their "kumadori" make-up, their facial expressions were exaggerated and contorted. Their movements were equally exaggerated and calculated with practiced timing to their background drumming. Their speech was elongated in utterance with dramatic pauses. From Abigail and Callaghan's balcony view, there was a hologram screen that non-intrusively presented them with English translated subtitles in real-time.

In this beginning act, the actor depicting Lord En'ya Hangan dramatically took within his hand a theatrical knife. Hovering it near his abdomen, he suddenly plunged it within himself and slid it across with a face contorted of seemingly controlled anguish. Callaghan could not help but chuckle as Abigail's grip on him tensed at this moment, as if she had never seen it before. Suddenly, another performer in a dark grey kimono swiftly walks over and stops before his lord, bowing respectfully until Lord Hangan beckons him forward to hear his last words. It is in this very moment that Lord Hangan entrusts his loyal retainer, Yuranosuke, with his blade. Without words, Yuranosuke nods in understanding. The retainer then vows his promises to respect his lord's wish, to exact revenge on his behalf. "I understand your wishes! It will be done!" he proclaims as he and the other retainers bow in both grief and reverence. Before them, their beloved lord succumbed to the wounds of his ritual suicide.

In a quick scene change, Yuranosuke and the other former retainers meet amongst themselves. No longer serving their lord, they are now master-less warriors known as "ronin," having lost their titles and their stipends to which they and their families relied upon. The former chief retainer proclaims to his brethren, "Our anger is directed at just one man! Understood?" To the man responsible for their lord's death, Lord Morono. At which the forty-seven ronin promptly bowed in solidarity for the vengeful task before them. To seal his promise to his late lord, Yuranosuke ceremoniously unravels the haunting keepsake, the kusun-gobu dagger that was still stained of Lord Hangan's own blood. To never forget his promise, he licks the blood and dramatically motions the blade as if he were to slit the throat of Morono. His every movement calculated and dramatically timed with the beat of a drum.

It is a powerful scene, so pivotal in this storyline and performance that the holographic screen politely reminds the audience that this is regarded as a "tosan-ba," or a moment that the audience would traditionally not be able to leave the auditorium as it is going on. But for Callaghan, it is a particularly resonant scene that engrossed him and bound him to his seat. It that seemed to poetically coincide with his own path in the past. For him, when he had lost Abigail to Project Silent Sparrow… It was then that he had become like Yuranosuke, convinced that his anger was to be directed towards the one man he saw responsible for his daughter's apparent demise: Alistair Krei. And Abigail's gifted keepsake of a Kabuki mask, would become the haunting reminder of her blood that he saw on Alistair's hands. And he set on a path to take everything from that man; a path that would lead to taking his life at the very end as a form of retribution. How odd fate is… that a tale of revenge would be the very play he and his daughter would watch together.

Sensing this tension, Abigail looked up at her father with concern. Wrapping her arms around him to reach his opposite shoulder, she leaned her head and resting upon him. It was her way of both cherishing this moment together and reassuring him, and perhaps even herself, that this was very much real. They were together, watching the story unfold together. Although they have seen it plenty times, it was no less special. Grateful for her presence, for the love that she had continued to show him since they embarked on Project Penitent Sparrow… the old professor leaned further and affectionately rubbed her arm as he hugged her tightly. He felt like he never wanted this moment to end, and thankfully the play was quite extensive in length. In fact, it had eleven acts to be exact.

At the final act, a series of spectacular theatrical fight scenes depicted forty-seven ronin raiding the Morono estate on a snowy night and ultimately exacting their revenge upon Lord Morono, with his dramatic beheading. Understanding their crimes in defiance of the shogunate, the forty-seven ronin are shown to voluntarily surrender themselves before the shogun. In reverence for their undying loyalty of their former lord, they are granted the honor of committing ritual suicide rather than to be executed like common criminals.

As the performers dramatically perform this historical event, Callaghan could not help but reflect on what it represented to him… Truth be told, he understood that at the end of that path he took, there was nothing else for him. Were it not for Hiro's intervention, Alistair would have lost his life at Yokai's hands. And at the conclusion of it all, Callaghan would have allowed the violent grasp of the rebuilt Silent Sparrow portal to rip him away and take him to where he had lost his daughter. To join her into that abyss…

But yet, of course, fate had chosen a different path for all of them. As the performers dramatically stabbed themselves with theatrical blades, Callaghan realized that as they too were dedicated loyally to their cause for vengeance, he too was a slave to that path and that end. And it was the noble actions of a grieving young boy that unshackled him from that course and returned to him what he was mourning the loss of. When it was this young boy who was bound on the same path, briefly moved on a course for retribution for the loss of the brother that Callaghan had inadvertently taken away from him. Ironically, it was Hiro, above all, who could understand and relate to him the most. And yet he was able to take a better path.

And it was the events of Project Penitent Sparrow that allowed Callaghan to perhaps finally break the constraints of his blind hatred and blame for Alistair. It was thanks to Abigail, it was thanks to Hiro once again… that it seemed that he was being freed from each level of hell that he had engrossed himself in. But why? Surely, he of all people, he felt, did not deserve this. He was loyal to his anger and led himself to his downfall. And yet time and time again, the boy had granted him both mercy and this? A cherished moment with his daughter?

As the day wore on, with the father and daughter enjoying their time together, Callaghan knew that before the curtains would close and he must leave the stage back to his prison… He knew there was one thing he had to do while he had this last freedom… For the Hamada family.

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"Dad, you're sure about this?" Abigail held her father's hand, gripping it ever so tightly. "Yes," he merely nodded at his daughter, placing his other hand atop her own and squeezing it lightly. Robert Callaghan was unquestioningly certain, there may never be another opportunity to do this… He peered out the window of the limousine, the undulating waves of green hills rolling along their view. These luscious green hills populated by uniformly placed marbled squares. The vehicle slowed as it reached its destination, rolling to a halt as the reality continued to dawn on the professor for what lay right before him.

Stepping out of the vehicle, he saw that there was no one else there but themselves. He looked up the hill, seeing the path that was calling him. Determined, he treaded ceremoniously up the vibrantly emerald hill. A long-anticipated pilgrimage finally undertaken, a path of penitence. Abigail remained behind him, a comforting presence. It wasn't far, the path would end and reach it's fated conclusion rather shortly. And it was then that his legs refused to move and take him to its end. His hands trembled; his vision blurred momentarily. He felt the reassuring hand behind him at his shoulder, looking at his daughter as she nodded to him. Encouragement that required no words, just her presence alone was enough.

Callaghan nodded back, he had to steel himself for this. It was a reunion that Professor Callaghan both dreaded and longed for… His body finally yielded to his will, taking him before the marbled floor that read,

"In Loving Memory of TADASHI HAMADA."

The former mentor gazed at a framed photo of his protégé, seemingly smiling at him as if he were greeting him. The tragic irony not lost on the professor. "Tadashi… Please allow me to pay my respects to you…" Solemnly, he took out young Tadashi's keepsake, the small robotic toy that he had given to him on their first meeting each other. The former mentor ceremoniously placed the robot besides a bouquet of flowers already placed there, standing it next to Tadashi's memorial photograph. Placing his palms together, he bowed his head in a heartfelt show of respect towards the late young man. But his hands quivered and trembled… Opening his eyes once more.

Seeing besides this marbled stone was two others, reading, "TOSHIRO HAMADA, MD" and "HELEN HAMADA" respectively. Taking in the view of the fallen Hamada family, it was then that he could no longer steel himself. His vision blurred once again, his breathing became labored and quickened. In that instance, reality was betraying his very eyes as blood seemed to soak his hands and flames engulfed the fields around him. "DAD!" The world spun around him as his knees crashed onto the ground.

It was suffocating… he grasped at his face and ripped the flexible-display mask off, throwing it to the floor as he violently gasped for air. Abigail quickly threw her mask off and slid beside her father, her hands caressing his and prompting him to look at her face, "Hey, dad. It's ok, it's ok. Breathe, please. It's alright." Seeing his daughter's face, Callaghan was able to slowly catch his breath and see the vibrant green fields once again. No fire setting ablaze their surroundings… he looked at his hands, which were now only slightly green from the grass he was death gripping only earlier.

Unbeknownst to them, a Krei Tech buddy guard materialized above them, holding a cloth that flickered in its imagery. Undoubtedly, it was a safety measure to conceal Callaghan should his mask be removed and the risk of him becoming caught or discovered was imminent. It remained above them, observing…

With his eyes closed, it was then that Callaghan spoke, his voice ever so shaken and weak, "Toshiro… Helen… Please forgive me… Because of me… Tadashi joined you… Your baby boy… I took him away from Hiro… I never meant to… Why did he have to run in for…?"

Professor Callaghan was flooded with his memories of the young man. His first encounter with him, challenging him to become his student at SFIT. Accepting him to be his mentor, as he would invest himself in the young man's development. Supporting him on his endeavors to complete his project that would be Baymax… To the thought of that same young man selflessly placing himself in danger for him…

His body continued to tremble, as tears flowed with complete abandon, "TADASHI, I'M SORRY! I… I… I never meant for you to be caught in… I wasn't worth running in for! It was my mistake! Mine… Only mine… I'm so sorry… You had your whole life ahead of you. With so much promise to make the world even better. To help guide your brother… I failed you, Tadashi. I'm sorry… Toshiro… Helen… Tadashi… Hiro… Please forgive me…"

Abigail continued to hug her father, remaining by his side as the former mentor could only continue with what he had kept within himself for so long, remaining collapsed towards the ground right above the grave of his young protégé…

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Back at his lab with the two Baymaxes and Dr. Bay, Hiro was quickly startled by an alarm on his phone. It could only mean that Callaghan's mask had been… The boy genius walked off from them and quickly sifted through interfaces on his phone to pull up the imagery from his pre-programmed buddy guard. His eyes widened at the sight of a place he was intimately familiar with… seeing Abigail and Professor Callaghan kneeling before Tadashi's resting place. And along with the feed, the younger Hamada brother heard the mournful words of the grieving man who cried out in penitence… Hiro's eyes solemnly fell to the floor.


Author's Note: I am planning for two more chapters after this. As I said, this has been cathartic and explores some themes in my life I've been dealing with. So I must see it through. Big Hero 6 for me has always been a blend of dealing with difficult matters but finding growth and healing. So I apologize, it can be heavy or at least has been for me. But healing is on the other side, and that was the intent to be able to provide for Abigail, Callaghan and Hiro. That being said, thank you for reading! Stay tuned, next chapter is "The Path of Forgiveness."