Chapter 63, everybody! Happy Armed Forces Day, which is on a Saturday and I probably won't make the Tuesday update next week but we're getting back to a place where we can so…we're getting there. Still sticking with the we're 10-15 chapters away from the end but hopefully I'll have gotten ahead of things again so I can go back and iron out the last ten chapters or so of hot off the presses chapters. ^^;

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: And it's very strange writing this knowing both shows are over but were going strong when I started that's a weird feeling and yet I should be used to it by now. Once again, if you are dissatisfied with these shows ending, send all salt to Disney corporate every nastygram they get that represents fifteen people who couldn't be bothered so WRITE TO THEM.

And an important thing I need to bring up about last chapter that a reviewer pointed out: hemoglobin is actually the oxygen-carrying part of the blood makeup (could have sworn it was what I said though—oh well). This led to a lengthy back and forth and much research, but I think I've narrowed it down to the platelets instead—at least one source I looked at described avian platelets as being "less sticky" than human platelets, which would 100% affect clotting. There's a fancy word for it and when I find it again I'll be using it when I go back for editing. Apologies, and back to your regularly scheduled fanfic.

So now back to the fic…when the exit's right there but no one wants to leave yet. XD And again a character derailed the plot a little this time being Lena. Also no, Lena, you're not supposed to ingest most if not all healing sprays, specifically topical ones. And Nox wanting to get rid of that box is a mood I've been having to keep track of that thing and I'm about one more shuffle away from throwing it down the stairwell after Chris. X'D

Once again, we have some BIG references to the original Jumanji—the scene with Gogo and Honey Lemon I wrote ahead when I recalled the Gravity Falls plant but the scene with Cruz was more recent, and there's kind of a reference to the monsoon scene with Nox and Lena. Speaking of Cruz, I still haven't watched the latter half of Season 2, BUT—thought process with Cruz went like this:

So there's plenty of actual valid reasons for Cruz to not like superheroes these guys aren't gonna go for the clichés that were stale ten years ago *sees comments and discourse on Tumblr plus part of the offending episode* Actually you know what forget that we're not consulting canon we're going with my original concepts. Basically, yes Cruz can be salty at supers, but for more reasons than what canon gave us. Also, Officer Cabrera is referencing the Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451, with Guy Montag being the fire-starting firefighter protagonist of the book (the fire company started fires in the story).

And while yeah, the fully-mutated Gravity Falls plant is a reference to Jumanji, it's also a reference to the Ducktales episode "The Town Where Everyone Was Nice!" Maybe they should have brought Donald. And I looked for hours trying to find the proper name for those fire extinguisher cabinets and apparently that's just what they're called. Also, the scene with Gogo and Honey Lemon had some minor rewrites—originally Baymax had a fine coating of fluffy bird-kids.

Speaking of rewrites, one that kind of is a rewrite is the scene with Hiro and Nox—I had written up something similar to it as a sort of scrap scene but when I got to that part in the fic I went I know this. Reread it, then wrote it fresh so it fit with the flow of the scene. The reference to the grappling hook is a reference to one of the deleted scenes of the movie, where Fred insists Mabel Pines style that grappling hooks are important—which Hiro now agrees with because supporting your own weight can be painful. And speaking of ignoring canon or not…originally I had started writing and plotting before learning of the one big twist of "City of Monsters" but when I learned it…I had to I couldn't resist the pun.

And once again, we are referencing movies such as Back to the Future, Monsters University, Meet the Robinsons, and The Emperor's New Groove. 'Kase is probably happy she's unconscious right now.

Angelwings2002, thanks for the review! AAAAH THANK YOU! Yes he's very loyal and thank you I'm glad you liked that battle those two sprung it on me last-minute so I'm glad it reads well. :D And I'll do my best!

Big Hero 6 © 2014 Disney

Ducktales © 2017 Disney

Lena grit her beak at yet more wet dripping down, hissed when a drop plipped right on her head. No. This was bad.

Scurry over to Sue, tug on shirt to get her attention, point and squawk no-bad-wet—got pat on head and little hug, tell her would be fine—

SHRIEK meant not fine.

Panic—she and Webby leaped over the others scampering back to the olders who were surging forward—'Dashi handed Donald off to Beth and put Nox down, Sashi put Drew down and leaped after him, 'Zabi put Violet down and leaped after them—

She dashed forward, claws digging into floor as she skidded to a halt at opening, Nox and Webby and Violet crowding next to her—'Zabi had jumped but 'Zabi didn't have wings WHY—

He remembered. He remembered having wings and going SHRIEK and protect—

It was what she was quietly chittering with the others, after monsters were thrown into deep-down that was no-good and 'Kase was back up with them others back up with them—

Baymax and 'Dashi's-Hiro and Fwah and 'Dashi and Sashi did not, they were going up Brittany flashing after them and that was not good because she could smell fresh air that meant FREEDOM—

Hiss again at a drop of wet falling on her head—no that was bad it was not supposed to rain indoors it did in the one cabin they had stayed in and it was fun playing with mud but this was not fun and 'Kase was hurt—sniff gingerly at her injured face where he had pulled many feathers, lick gingerly to help with healing, go pleh when what Baymax had did fft with to 'Kase's face tasted bitter. Look over at chattering—

Canter over when Nox and Webby were at space and looking up after 'Dashi and the others, discussing how Nox could follow because right now he couldn't fly, thinking that those were good for climbing maybe and yes, Webby offering to catch—

Lena hissed, not liking this idea no-like—if Nox climbed and fell, if Webby tried to catch and failed, then both would fall down into deep-down with monsters and that was no-good no—

'Dashi, Nox insisted, paws flexing.

"No," Lena said—maybe using words would make it more impactful.

"Yes," Webby countered, ignoring her muted hiss. Yes-we go-go after 'Dashi.

Flock-flight-safe, Lena countered, pointing at current group, that was almost all of flock all of flight. Huey minced up to them, debating….

Handed box to Nox. Take to 'Dashi?

Nox hissed, recoiling—no-like box box had been cause of everything bad getting box had resulted in separation and broken-wing no—

Me-take-yes, Webby said, taking box. Nox-take-no.

Nox still hissed at that, but weaker. Lena hissed, not wanting them to go—

Want 'Dashi, Nox insisted. 'Dashi-Hiro flock-flight but not know-needs know-we show—

Lena ground her beak, thinking—what do what do what do….

Finally hug both tight.

Careful-please, she warbled quietly.

Careful-yes, they assured her, slipping away, Webby leaping into space and flapping wings, circling around so she could keep eye on Nox as he climbed up, careful-careful-careful—Lena watched, fretting, Huey making little worried-noises next to her as Nox climbed higher, higher, higher—

Made it to same-space that Webby landed on.

Deep sigh of relief, sag against each other—

Hiss again when drip landed on her head.

Padding back to the olders didn't promise to be fruitful, olders were locked in deep-discussion that they would most likely get head-pat out of. Think. How make it stop raining indoors?

Lena knew things, like how Nox knew things. Lena was the one who had figured out that screen showed things during day if you used wing to block sun from it. Lena knew things that made no sense to know, things about things she had never encountered, like lock and computer.

But these were things she felt she could do, and if she could make rain indoors stop then she wanted to. Go back to 'Kase, nudge carefully—

"No," 'Kase muttered, wincing a little as she curled up tighter. Deep breath—

Pad away, away from where fresh-air was blowing in, closer to different source of fresh-stale-air—

Found Louie at hole in ground, looking down into lower-section, trying to smother fret-worry on his face.

Want find thing-make rain stop, she told Louie.

Louie nodded—he too knew things that made no sense to know, were not things that usually were important but were right now. Chitter and cheep for flock for flight—

Huey was wilfed down low, Dewey and Violet were eager, Della too—

No, Della said when she realized new-flock new-flight Donald had followed her over, holding blanket tight around himself. No-you stay-protect youngers-back soon-yes.

Donald did grit with beak, thinking, not wanting to leave Della not wanting her to leave…finally conceded, warbled be careful.

Della nodded, leaped after the others—Lena paused to assure Donald that they would be careful be very careful—

Leaped after the others, seeking to stop indoor-rain and maybe help 'Dashi that way.

At the very least, it would stop annoying drip.

Okay, when Cruz found her, he was totally locking Dr. Amara away until the end of time. Forget the fact that he could only hold her forty-eight hours without cause, everything he encountered thus far was a criminal act in its own right.

Let's get started with all the unconscious monsters the SWAT teams were hauling out, the flooded floors, the one stairwell full of smoke, the other full of vines, that then had forward progress halted by another monster—this was, plain and simple, a royal mess.

"We're having to clear it room by room," Officer Cabrera was briefing him. "The firefighters are on their way, but right now we have no idea how many…people," she elected to say, watching as they dragged another unconscious monster out. "Are in there."

"It's clear enough we have to get upstairs," Cruz told her. "That's where that vigilante group is, that's probably where Dr. Amara is—"

"That vigilante group is currently doing a better job than we are," Cabrera pointed out. "And when we find Dr. Amara she and I are going to have words."

Yes, and that was part of the problem—no, they couldn't have been able to get this far without the help of Big Hero Six, and that rankled more than words could say. And from what he could glean from the past year, this had been a recurring problem—and instead of improving the police force, everyone seemed fine with letting a bunch of kids do the job instead!

Shake his head—he could have this debate later. "How's progress with clearing the stairwells?"

"One's gone completely, another's torn to shreds as well, and we need to wait for the fire company for the third," Cabrera reported—arched an eyebrow as he thumped a hand on the roof of his cruiser. "That was my feeling as well." Debate. "But for the most part, the stairs to the basement levels are free."

"Oh that'll be fun," he muttered, leaning on the cruiser more so he could massage his forehead and the pounding headache that was threatening.

"Yes, well—Diego look out!"

He leaped, spun midair, hand going for his pistol—

Was not prepared for the green bands wrapping around his car—

He and Cabrera had to dodge around the cruiser being dragged sideways towards the building, more green…vines wrapping around it, tilting it on its side, squeezing harder—flinched when it made the car crumple in half, more vines wrapping around to compact it further as it disappeared into the depths of the building.

It took several very long beats for him to finally process what happened.

"Fine! Take it!" he yelled after it—turned to Cabrera. "How long did the fire company say they'd be?"

"Right now, I feel like we called the wrong fire company," she muttered, still staring after where his car had vanished.

He did too, but Guy Montag didn't have a listed phone number and he wasn't sure Roundup worked on…whatever that was. "Any other options?"

"At least six?" she guessed, wincing at his muted growling. "Sorry, we didn't cover mutant plants in basic training."

And that was definitely a thing that needed addressing. Later. Right now they had no choice but to keep on with the current plan and hope that the kid brigade solved their problems for them. Again.

He swore then and there that if it took the last of his strength, he wouldn't see his department helpless in the face of adversity again.

High Voltage was taken care of, them sparing a bare minimum of making sure they were protected from the never-ending deluge of the sprinklers, since they weren't up for walking right now. Gogo had tried raising Hiro on the radio, failed, finally pointed out that they needed to keep moving.

Globby returned to report that Dr. Amara wasn't on this floor.

"What do I do now?" he asked.

Gogo considered. "Take High Voltage, find a way out. The doors and windows aren't barred, and they're going to need medical attention."

"On it!" Globby said, saluting before grabbing the dance duo and squelching off.

"As for us…come on," Gogo told Honey Lemon, skimming carefully through the flooded floor. "Schematics say the stairs are this way—and the last info I got from Hiro had Dr. Amara on the floor above us."

"Hopefully it's drier," Honey Lemon said, wringing out her hair as she followed.

Something was wrong with this direction though, water still sluicing down from the sprinklers, too dark thanks to High Voltage knocking the power out—tap at her visor, switching it to night vision, having to wipe the water off to better see—

Which was when something wrapped tight around her ankle and yanked her off her feet.

"GOGO!" Honey Lemon barked, barely able to react—Gogo, meanwhile, was focused on trying to halt her momentum, unable to get traction on the soaked floor—curled up to grab at what had nabbed her ankle—

A vine?

Which was when something bulbous and red opened up before her, fleshy yellow petals circling a boiling red eye with a vertical slit pupil, vines crawling all over the walls and ceiling, making it buckle in places—had to take a moment to shield herself from debris falling—

Realized when overly large Venus flytrap mouths came for her, snapping open and shut and showing deep gullets, that she had bigger problems.

Slam a discus against the vine repeatedly, realized it was too woody and tough for that to work—bounce the discus off the flytrap mouths, fling it again at the eye—

That got it to recoil, petals closing on the eye as it flinched back, gave Honey Lemon some time to catch up—shot a gene cleanser ball at it only to have the same issue she had with fighting High Voltage: the water washed it off right away. Switch gears to grabbing Gogo under the arms and hauling back—

"No—no that's not going to work!" Gogo said, kicking at the vine. "Get something to cut this with!"

The petals pulled back, revealing that angry eye again—Honey Lemon hung on, digging her heels in as the monster plant tried to reel her in—wasn't going to work, let go when Gogo told her, Gogo switching to hanging onto a sleek pillar as Honey Lemon shot a gene cleanser down one of the flytrap's gullets—

Nothing happened.

"Oh no this is bad," Honey Lemon gasped.

"Honey Lemon!" Gogo barked. "Get something to cut the vine!"

"Right—right like an axe or—"

"HARVEST TIME!"

Both of them started, took a nonplussed moment at the flash of feathers hitting the wall and bounding over them, a fire axe from one of those fire extinguisher cabinets swung back and nearly touching their hips—

Swung it back, burying it square in the monster-plant's eye.

Said monster-plant actually screeched, recoiling, yanking Gogo with it as it thrashed—she was barely aware of the bird-person trying to yank the axe free as Honey Lemon caught her again, trying frantically to yank back—saw arms wrap around Honey Lemon's waist and haul back, clawed hands grabbing her own and pulling—

"SASHI!"

The axe-wielding bird-person glanced back, finally yanked the axe free—leaped over, swinging the axe again—

Chopped through the vine that had trapped her, sending the rest of them sprawling—

And then Fred bounded forward, flame surging out and washing over the monster-plant, him not stopping, screaming as he tried to burn every last square inch of it—finally got it to catch fire and start burning despite the pouring water—

Something internal must have caught fire, must have been highly flammable, because it burst in a wave of heat, knocking them back further and causing the whole thing to burn ragingly strong.

"Dude," Fred noised, sitting up. "Rock and roll."

"We talked about the movie quotes," Gogo groaned.

"Yeah while we're talking about things," Tadashi said, identifying himself as one of the bird-people present. "Sashi, I have questions and concerns about you going totally feral with that axe."

Sashi was probably the bird-person with the axe, currently still with a grip on it as he rolled upright. "Zombie prepper courses."

"Ah. So now we've found the dark side of preppers."

"Or the dork side," the third bird-person said in a Valley girl accent. "Sashi, you were almost cool again."

"Hey, planning for possible zombie invasions is very cool," Fred argued.

"Are you okay?" Tadashi asked Gogo.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, using a discus to scrape the dying vine off her leg—the vine itself looked like it had a fine covering of cactus spines that had been strong enough to scrape up her leg armor, so she wasn't risking touching it. "Where's Hiro and Baymax?"

"They're right—" he started, gesturing behind him as he looked—took a double-take when he realized that there was a decided absence of healthcare robots and boy geniuses. "Hiro!"

"So in other news bird-dudes with axes are totally feral and this feels like this will serve us well in the endgame," Fred offered as he helped Gogo up—she decided to pass on commenting, reattaching a discus to her foot so she could skim after Tadashi.

Tadashi, meanwhile, had found Baymax, holding the box of gene cleansers, rivulets of water running off him and puddling on the floor, alerting her to the fact that the sprinklers had finally stopped. "Baymax, please tell me the reason you are currently kidless is because they went back to the others."

"Hiro, Webby, and Nox: have headed upstairs," Baymax stated.

"Okay this is bad."

"Maybe not—we still need to get Karmi out of here," Honey Lemon said.

"Girl about Hiro's age," Gogo explained upon seeing Tadashi's confused look. "And then there's still the issue of an escape route."

"I can't go back to jail again," Sashi said simply.

The other bird-people in the hall both gave Sashi a dumbfounded look. "Sashi," Tadashi said slowly, in his you knucklehead voice. "When exactly did you go the first time?"

"I haven't, I just wanted to say it."

"Well speaking as someone who's already done it, don't."

"Dude, hardcore."

Gogo rolled her eyes, her next comment cut off by Globby barking "Hey!" Turn, look—saw him waving at the end of a corner. "We've got a way out!"

"Good—start taking it," she ordered, ushering the bird-people out. "Go. Go." Pointed look at Tadashi when he told Baymax to start looking for a spot to punch through. "That means you too."

"We'll be right behind you," Tadashi said, expression stern as he focused on his task.

"Tadashi."

"Gogo." Look at her, still with that stern expression. "Not without Hiro."

Deep sigh, knew she wasn't going to talk him out of this. "No fighting, we will be right back, don't waste your breath telling me to be careful I'm not the one charging in like an idiot."

"Gee thanks," Tadashi said drily; looked at Baymax. "You got it?"

"I have identified a location to break through," Baymax said, looking up. "Please stand back."

They did so, Gogo starting to skate away—

Surprised Tadashi by crashing into him in a hug.

"Be careful, you idiot," she said thickly.

Crushing hug back. "I will."

"Liar." Let go, skate away. "Baymax! Make sure he stays out of trouble!"

"I will do my best," Baymax stated.

It was the most she could hope for.

This space was wet-wet-wet, as wet as when it had rained and rained and rained forever and ever and ever until 'Dashi had found cabin and made it better—tried bounding through, Webby unable to while holding onto box, immediately soaked through by powerful rain indoors—Nox hoped that Lena had found way to stop rain like she said she would—

Squeak when they ran into Globby, who was carrying no-feathers as he sloshed and splashed through wet.

"I—what the—" he squawked at seeing them. "What—"

"'Dashi," Webby said.

"Oh, he went that way," Globby said, pointing. They chirped thank you-yes, bounded in direction he indicated—"Oh wait hold up—"

"What was that?" one no-feather asked, sounding exhausted.

"Okay you know what that is an excellent question—"

Later—found room with many-many-many exits, sloshing around and trying to find one that 'Dashi had gone through, keening in distress as indoor-rain washed away scents—feathers were soaked, this was not-fun not-fun not-fun—

Grit his teeth, wishing for beak—of course it was not-fun, this was her nest, and she delighted in making misery.

Webby splashed about in circle again, trying to find right tunnel as he stood in center, shivering from cold and from box Webby had shoved at him—

Box containing no-good poison.

Was that what had happened to those no-feathers? Was that happening to 'Dashi right now? They had to find him had to find the others bring them back to bigger flock bigger flight—

Webby gave happy-chirp at indoor-rain stopping, that was one problem down—

Screams redirected their attention, made them scurry down one tunnel—

Tackled 'Dashi's-Hiro, shrieking in relief as they hugged him.

"AAA—what!? No, bad bird-kids—BAYMAX!" 'Dashi's-Hiro squawked, toppling over with SPLASH.

Baymax picked them off of 'Dashi's-Hiro, set them down—Nox happily handed the box of no-good bad poison to Baymax, he didn't want to handle box any longer and now he didn't have to.

"'Dashi?" Webby asked, ears pricked—looked when 'Dashi's-Hiro pointed to see him with other flock other flight. Chirp, nod, good—

"Okay…one problem down," 'Dashi's-Hiro sighed, shaking his head before looking at Baymax. "Baymax, can you scan for Karmi?"

"Scanning," Baymax announced, looking around before looking at them. "Karmi: is one floor above us, with: Dr. Amara."

"That's not good," 'Dashi's-Hiro sighed. "Start looking for a spot where we can break through—what, Webby?"

Webby stopped tugging on his arm, chirped that big-crash that she could hear was no-good—went to square in wall that hid tunnels, hooked claws hooked fingers in and tugged—

Pop went square to go splash in water—Nox hurried over to help her drag it sideways, looked with her at 'Dashi's-Hiro as she chirped how this was good-clever-smart way to sneak in and grab flock-flight-Karmi (because this had to be flock be flight for him to be so worry-fret) without letting her know. 'Dashi's-Hiro looked at Baymax, away where 'Dashi was with others—

Finally looked at them and nodded.

Webby chirped, crawled into tunnel, tail twitching in follow-follow-follow—Nox crawled in after her, tail twitching in follow-follow-follow, looked back and chirped encouragement as 'Dashi's-Hiro crawled in after him, tighter-fit for him because he didn't know how to slink low back legs were all wrong WHY—

Swallow growl at reason why—her. Her who made bad things made good things all sad and small and naked threatened flock threatened flight—

He wanted to run, to scurry out and fly as FAR away as possible fly forever and ever and ever until she was distant speck on horizon and then not even that—he thought they had, when they fled the bad-place, but this was the bad-place too stank of HER—

But part of him wanted to fight, to drive her away, part slowly growing and gaining feathers like how youngers did when fledging, growing until it was big and growly like Grump wanted to crawl out and tear her to tiny-tiny-tiny bits—

Other part, part that wasn't him wasn't part like Grump, other part wanted to just grab all flock all flight and go, not from fear-terror even though that was big part—wanted to grab everyone and go because away from here was safe. It was soft, was sensible, was calm, was 'Dashi-part.

But 'Dashi-part and Grump-part and even Nox-part all agreed, coming together like flock like flight when settling in for long-flight—all parts agreed that she was no-good, and that it was best they rescue anyone she had sank claws into. Fleeing was best, no-sense in getting hurt, but if had to….

If had to maybe, just maybe….

Full-body shudder at thought, at thought of facing her…no. Best to sneak in, rescue flock rescue flight and flee.

Webby sensed, looked behind and chirped at him, whistle question—he shook head, not wanting to voice thoughts, not needing to—if voiced thoughts then Webby would assure him how she would fight with claw and shriek—he did not want to fight but Webby would Webby helped to keep flock keep flight safe but…he did not like thought of Webby getting hurt to defend from her, not if they could avoid it.

No. Better to be hidden and sneaky, to be shh and quiet and safe—

Pass turning as they looked for space that went up—

Froze, ears pricking as they heard anger-scared-SHREE coming from space.

"What?" 'Dashi's-Hiro asked. "What was that?"

Muted hiss of worry—of course 'Dashi's-Hiro wouldn't know even though what they said was what they said because she had robbed him of understanding so he didn't know—look at Webby who looked at him, eyes round and full of worry-fret for others—

Go, he squeaked, small movement of head emphasizing this. Go-you go-help-I stay-protect.

Webby looked conflicted now, and he knew that deep-inside she was debating because she did protect she would fling herself at attacking things to defend and she did it for flock for flight but with them scattered—

No time. No time and she knew it—squeeze back, small nuzzle, small warble of careful-brave-safe-me worry-you, him returning careful-brave-safe-me worry too-need do thing—

Clung tight, claws slipping uselessly on tunnel surface, as Webby scampered along side tunnel and disappeared down bolt-hole.

"What's going on?" 'Dashi's-Hiro asked. "Where is she going?"

Make small whistle, keep going with tail twitching in follow-follow-follow—'Dashi's-Hiro didn't understand their-language, and he didn't have enough words to explain.

He just had to focus on the task at hand. Focus and hope that they all made it out okay. Made it out, made it free, all flock all flight together again—

And as far away from her clutches as possible.

Hiro wasn't sure what was going on, knew that the bird-screech that had echoed up was concerning, more concerning when Webby went to investigate—

A little more concerning when they continued on without her.

He set his jaw, focusing on the task at hand—get Karmi out, capture Liv Amara, get out alive. All important things, all things he was focusing on. Just—focus on step one.

Nox reached a spot where the ducts angled up, stopped, stood, pawing at the sides, leaped—

Slid back down with a bump, whimpering upon impact.

"Hey shh," he hissed, putting a hand to Nox's shoulder. "It's okay, it's—I can work around this, okay?"

"Okay," Nox sniffled, trembling. "Okay shh—"

"I…." Debate, look up to see soft green light streaming through a grate far above their heads. "Look, is up this way the right way? You can head back to the others, it's okay."

"No," Nox said emphatically, shaking his head hard enough to make the feathered tips of his ears slap against his face. "No 'Dashi-Hiro stay."

"Yeah can't stay, other people in trouble," Hiro said, getting a couple of magnet disks, activating them—let's see, fiddle with the strength, and….

"Ah-ha," he noised, when he was able to pull them back off the duct wall. "Think this will hold our weight—go back, Nox."

"No," Nox insisted.

"Okay, can't say I didn't try. Grab on."

Nox seemed confused—repeat the order, indicating himself, think about how to make it clearer…."Like how I hold onto Baymax?"

Nox chirped, clung to Hiro's back—chirped again when he realized Hiro was hauling them up using the magnets.

"Don't be too impressed," Hiro grunted through gritted teeth, having to yank every time he moved a magnet on top of having to support his and Nox's weight using only his arms—okay in retrospect why had he not rigged his shoes to be magnetized too why had he stuck with them being coded to Baymax why. Put magnet shoes on his to-do list alongside magnet gloves—actually, why not a magnet grappling hook Fred insisted every good superhero had a grappling hook and right now he was really regretting not going with that particular idea dangit.

"Dashi-Hiro," Nox said quietly when Hiro paused to catch his breath. "Dashi-Hiro good yes good."

"Glad one of us thinks so," Hiro wheezed, resuming his uphill climb. Come on, this should be like ten feet why did it feel like ten miles? "You know, it's a good thing you're not some huge fat guy or we'd really be in trouble."

The movie that quote came from did make him think (and check for 'Kase, half-expecting her to yell at him about doing that again—painful thump as he recalled Wasabi holding her and how small she looked)—tested pushing his feet against the duct, telling Nox to do the same on the other side…still the issue of it being too slick.

"It was worth a shot," he assured Nox, resuming the climb. Ow, ow, ow, would never be able to use his arms again, ow, ow, ow, why didn't he come up with all these really good ideas for climbing vertical surfaces before finding himself in this position, ow, ow, ow—

By the time they reached the next vent grate, Hiro had some detailed blueprints and pain all the way down his back. Less certain was if he still had arms, had that certainty returned when he tried hauling himself up to push a magnet against the grate and realized what a bad idea that was—had to climb just a little bit higher to do what he wanted.

"Okay," he wheezed, fixing a magnet to the grate. "The general idea is, I reverse the polarity, and this goes shooting out. Ready?" he asked, pulling another magnet out.

"Yes," Nox chirped.

"Good. Glad one of us is." Fix the magnet against the other—

Both of them shrieked at getting forced away from the grate, but the grate gave first, shooting across the room. Wait with breathless anticipation, expecting a monster to come investigate at any moment….

Breathe a sigh of relief when nothing happened, tell Nox to go in first—Nox obliged, helped to haul him out of the grate—

Hiro collapsed right there on the floor as his arms finally, finally no longer had to hold up like ten zillion pounds of deadweight.

"Ohh, OHHH," he groaned into the tile—couldn't even lift his arms to wave Nox off when he started poking. "No, no, go on without me, tell the others I love them…and tell 'Dashi he can't sell my Gravity Falls stuff. I know how he is."

"No," Nox whispered—turn his head a little to see Nox looking around, ears flat and feathers wilfed. "No Dashi-Hiro up yes up-up-up—"

"Hold on, hold—ow," he breathed, wincing at the absolute pain that lanced through his arms as he pushed himself up—or tried to. Roll to his side, roll to a sitting position, flexing his hands as feeling slowly started to return to them—oh he hoped he wouldn't have to do anything with them soon.

"Dashi-Hiro," Nox whispered, snugging in close and wrapping his good wing around him, trying to see everywhere at once with wide terrified eyes—Hiro felt a stab of guilt at dragging a little kid into this situation, a stab of fear at once again seeing that face in green lighting—

Him excitedly laying out his plans for some twisted demented world where Hiro happily went along with the deaths of millions and apprenticed himself to some—some crazy person—

Shake that off—more important issues at hand, and his arms were finally starting to feel like actual limbs again.

"Come on," he hissed, getting to a crouching position before carefully sneaking through the place, machines and test tubes whirring about them and illuminating the room with sickly green light—temporarily froze when he rounded a corner and saw green screens glowing in the dark—

Being brought to his lair by a converted Baymax, seeing him turn from in front of those glowing screens, greeting him with such a smug triumphant attitude, and the worst of it was Hiro had basically walked right into it—

Keening, muted but jagged—turn—

Nox was backing up, low to the ground and curled up tight on himself, eyes fixed on those screens—look at the screens, back at him—

"No—no wait—here," Hiro said, touching his shoulder—Nox twitched, flinched away, wide terrified eyes staring at him—

Eyes that seemed a million miles away right now.

"It's okay," Hiro insisted. "It's okay. I'm here. Nox it's okay."

Blink, blink—

Bundle up tight against Hiro's side, breathing ragged, keen staying muted—he knew the importance of being quiet right now, but….

Hiro looked at the screens again—how…how much of his original's life did Nox remember? Did he remember being a scheming nutcase in a lair under the bay?

Did he remember that lair being destroyed?...

"Nox," he said quietly. "Nox you need to go back to the others."

"No," Nox whimpered, clinging tightly. "No 'Dashi-Hiro stay—"

"I can't—" Stop, him and Nox both twitching at the sound of heels on tile, hardly daring to breathe, trying to see everywhere at once—

The sound stopped, silence stretching, only noises coming from the machines and tubes….

"Okay," he breathed. "Nox, go back—"

"No," Nox insisted.

"Fine then—stay behind me, and be quiet."

Nox nodded, followed close enough to keep walking on the backs of his shoes—Hiro ignored that for now, flattening himself against the wall as he eased around, peeking around the corner—

There.

"Stay," he told Nox quietly, before slipping around the corner—could tell as he palmed a couple of magnet ties that he wouldn't be obeying that order for very long, but hopefully by then he'd have her taken care of. Deep breath—

Step into the open space in front of the elevator.

"It's over, Liv," he announced. Great, Hiro, nice declaration, could you be more cliché?

Dr. Amara turned, smiling at him, chillingly like Obake then with the turn and the smile and the green lighting what was with villains and green lights?—

All thought processes juddered to a halt when he saw what was in the tube behind her. "What—"

"Oh, you like?" she asked, tapping the glass. "She should be waking up soon. Seems fitting—she left me with a mess, I might as well return the favor."

"Who—how—" Look at her. "Another clone."

"Mmm, you're in the ballpark," Dr. Amara said, waving a hand airily. "Remember how I said that Liv Amara wasn't creating the monsters? Hi, I'm Di—which is what you're about to do."

Snap her fingers—

Nox screamed as something huge and shrieking launched itself out of nowhere, clawed hands wrapping around Hiro and slamming him against a bank of machines, knocking the breath out of him and making him drop his disks—

The horror he had for this new monster deepened when he saw the tattered remains of a cream-colored sweater and orange skirt hanging off scaley green skin, hands finding bangles as he tried pawing at the wrists, cold soaking him as he looked into the unseeing, controlled eyes of—

"Karmi."