THE BIG Hero 6 team flew out to Lucas Winston's house, following the address Dr. Cello got for them. Baymax, as usual, carried everyone and the guys decided that Dr. Cello should stay behind and monitor them from his lab.
"Do we have any plan to take this guy down?" Wasabi asked.
"There's no plan I could think of," Hiro said, "I have no idea how he intercepted our systems and Tony's tech is too advanced for me to recalibrate. Let's just hope we can find a weak spot on him on the field."
"We are so dead." Wasabi said.
"Yup." GoGo said.
"Come on, we're superheroes, we always win." Fred said.
"Yeah, and the Phantom took us out without a sweat and we lost to that Nazar freak." GoGo said.
"Well, the world's not gone yet, which means he didn't succeed." Fred said.
"Also means we still lost." GoGo said.
"Well, there's no guarantee we're gonna find him at all." Wasabi said.
"And that's a good thing." Fred said.
"Who am I kidding? We're gonna find him, I know it," Wasabi said, beginning to panic.
"Calm down; we're gonna be fine," Hiro said.
SEVERAL POLICE officers lay unconscious on the ground. Some of them had bullet wounds and others had stab wounds. Bullet holes and bang marks riddled the police vehicles. An officer grunted, fell over and died.
The Crimson Phantom walked slowly across the driveway, manoeuvring around the corpses. He pushed his door open and looked around the house. Broken glass cracked under his feet as he walked. He looked to his left and his wife's picture was in pieces. The Phantom tightened his fists until his knuckles turned white under his gloves. An engine whined and the whirring of propellers sounded around the house. An explosion blared from the next house.
He walked gingerly toward the kitchen, looking at the furniture torn up on the floor. The life and home he made was now in shambles.
He went out the back door and opened it gently. He entered the yard and saw a large circular portal gateway standing in the backyard. All its cables were cut off in a way that was too clean to him, as if they were made that way.
He looked around and something caught his eye. He walked up to it and picked it up. It was an open Capsule Corp capsule.
"What's this doing here?" He said to himself.
The sound of jetpacks landing came from the driveway and he pocketed the capsule.
Baymax landed on the driveway of the house and the guys got off him. GoGo looked around at the carnage.
"It's him alright." Hiro said.
"Oh man." Wasabi said fearfully.
"Whoa." Honey Lemon said as she looked around.
"Come on, we can take him." Fred said with zeal.
"Were you there when he beat us up?" Wasabi said.
"Doesn't mean we can't take him." Fred said.
"Come on, let's move." Hiro said.
The guys walked down the driveway, through the house and entered the backyard, finding the gateway.
"How the hell did he get it all the way here without a trace?" GoGo asked.
"This is nuts." Hiro said.
"I'm picking up something," Baymax said, "Footprints; he was here."
"You scanned him?" Honey Lemon asked.
"If he did, why couldn't we track him this whole time?" GoGo asked.
"You know, I don't know why, but I still haven't gotten to fixing his long-range scanners yet." Hiro rubbed the nape of his neck embarrassedly.
"Well, you should," Wasabi said, "If we make it outta here alive."
"Where's he headed?" Hiro asked.
"I cannot pinpoint his location, but I can follow him using his footprint trail." Baymax said.
"That should do," Hiro said, "Come on, let's go."
The guys climbed on Baymax and he flew up. He looked around and footprints appeared in his scanner, on walls, fences, rooftops and some sidewalks. He started following them from the air. The footage from his scanner appeared in each teammate's headgear interface.
"He's fast." Wasabi said.
"Like some kinda spider." Fred said.
"Where's he going?" Honey Lemon asked.
Hiro looked at the direction they were flying toward.
"Hey, Baymax, have we been here before?" Hiro asked.
"You recognize the area?" Honey Lemon asked.
"If it's where we're going, then I do." Hiro said.
"The trail stops here." Baymax said.
Baymax hovered over an abandoned warehouse. Hiro looked down at it.
"What is this place?" GoGo asked.
"This is where Baymax and I first found Robert Callaghan reproducing my micro-bots." Hiro said.
"Could've called the cops, had 'em close off the place." GoGo said smugly.
"Yeah, telling them didn't work out at first and then I kinda forgot." Hiro smiled impishly.
"Well, now the new villain's in the old villain's lair." Fred said.
"Does this stuff get any more cliché?" Honey Lemon said, "Villains really gotta stop hiding in warehouses."
"Clichés, it's a part of villainy, just like kidnapping." Fred said.
"Good thing this one isn't 'cuz I'm pretty sure I'd be the one you'd have to save." GoGo said, "Like that'd ever happen."
"How do you know?" Wasabi asked.
"They always go after the girl." GoGo said.
"Yup." Fred said.
"She's not the only girl here." Honey Lemon mumbled, taking offence.
"Don't talk about that, the Phantom might hear us," Hiro said, "He knows so much about tech, he may have bugged us or something."
Hiro frowned and GoGo sensed that he was afraid. She tapped his shoulder and he feigned a smirk.
"Scan the building." Hiro said.
Baymax did a scan of the building and spotted the Crimson Phantom it. The building seemed empty and there were boxes he could not see through.
"He's in there, there are no weapons in the building," Baymax said, "X-Ray scans could not penetrate some boxes."
"It's gotta be a trap." Fred said.
"Scans detect that it is safe to proceed." Baymax said.
"Okay." Wasabi said uneasily.
"Take us down, Baymax." Hiro said.
Baymax landed in front of the warehouse. The guys got off him and Hiro walked up to the door. It was locked.
"Gummy Bears." Hiro commanded.
Baymax's eyes glowed red. GoGo chuckled.
"It's not funny!" Hiro yelled.
Baymax shot a rocket fist at the door, breaking it into pieces. The guys walked through the door and looked around the dim building.
"Where is he?" Hiro asked.
Baymax pointed to a higher platform nearby and he and Hiro flew onto it. The Phantom stood on the other end of the platform and turned to them.
"So, here you are," Hiro said.
The Phantom did not respond.
"You took the law into your own hands and hanged criminals all over the city, instilling fear. You've helped the cops take down criminals and now you're attacking cops and you've murdered Alistair Krei," Hiro said, "But nothing amounts to you attacking my family and attacking my friends. You are going to pay."
Hiro pointed at the Crimson Phantom and Baymax flew toward him. The guys climbed up a ladder and ran up to Hiro. Baymax threw a punch at the Phantom who flipped out of the way. He threw a device in Baymax, causing him to short out and slam on the ground. Baymax deactivated and the Phantom walked toward the others.
"I told you we're gonna die," Wasabi said.
The Crimson Phantom drew out devices from his sleeves.
"So, is this how you're gonna do this? Beat down a bunch of unarmed kids?" Hiro taunted, "Fight like a man."
The Crimson Phantom withdrew the devices and chuckled.
"Alright." The Phantom ran towards them.
GoGo skated up to him and his eyes flickered. In his headgear interface, she moved much slower than she actually was. She threw a maglev disc at him.
The Phantom dodged the disc and rolled out of her way. Fredzilla shot flames at the Phantom and he flipped over them. GoGo skated up to him and he dropkicked her, hurling her back.
Hiro flew up to the Phantom who jumped up and gave him a roundhouse kick to the face, knocking him to the ground. Honey Lemon threw a Chem. Ball at the him, slamming him to a wall and covering him in a thick, black substance.
GoGo threw a maglev disc at the Phantom and he moved his head out of the way, letting it stick to a wall. Hiro got to his feet and aimed his repulsors at him. The Phantom's suit heated up and the substance melted off him. Hiro fired at the Phantom and he rolled out of the way.
"Spread out!" Hiro ordered.
The guys surrounded the Phantom and attacked him from all sides. Wasabi threw a punch at the Phantom who dodged and kneed him, tossing him away. GoGo threw a maglev disc at the Phantom who grabbed it and tossed it at Honey Lemon. She dodged it and threw a ball at him. The ball pulled the Phantom magnetically, flinging him toward a wall. He threw a device at the ball in mid air, shorting it out. The Phantom landed on his feet and flipped in the air, over the flames Fredzilla shot at him.
The Phantom threw a device at Fredzilla's foot, sending a wave of electricity through his body.
"Fred!" Honey Lemon cried.
Fredzilla fell on the ground and contorted as the device continued to electrocute him. Honey Lemon ran up to him and the Phantom reached for a device in his jacket. Hiro flew up to the Phantom and kicked him in the head.
Honey Lemon looked at Fred and began to panic as the device continued electrocuting him. She grabbed it and it electrocuted her. She shook her hands and blew on her singed fingers. She looked around and saw Baymax lying on the ground across from her.
"Okay, here goes nothing," She said uneasily.
She grabbed the device and endured the shock it sent through her arm. She pulled the device that dislodged slowly from the armour of Fred's leg. She screamed in pain as she pulled the device out. She dislodged the device and tossed it away. She breathed heavily and fell over, having a slight fit. She struggled to look at the fight.
The Phantom blocked two forearm strikes from Wasabi and backhanded him. GoGo skated up to him, he grabbed her and threw her on against wall. Hiro flew up to the Phantom and punched him. GoGo tried to leg sweep the Phantom and he flipped over her and punched her onto the ground. Hiro fired sonic beams at the Phantom who flipped out of the way.
The Phantom ran up to Hiro, weaving through the sonic beams he shot at him. Hiro directed micro-bots to wrap around him and pin him to the ground.
Hiro, GoGo and Wasabi walked up to the Phantom and looked at him.
"Not so powerful now, huh?" Wasabi said smugly.
"Let's see who's under the mask." GoGo said.
GoGo reached for the Phantom's mask and the platform shook violently.
"What the hell?" GoGo said in surprise.
Hiro looked at Baymax and his body was surging. His palms pressed against the floor and vibrated rapidly.
"Oh no," Hiro said.
"What's happening?" Wasabi asked.
"Baymax's seismic shock gloves," Hiro said, "The Phantom activated them."
"Worst power ever," GoGo said.
"At least," Honey Lemon said weakly, "Tony didn't actually give me pocket dimensional balls. Now that would've been a disaster."
"It'd be worse if he got control of those." Fred said weakly.
"Yeah, yeah, that's funny – run!" Hiro yelled.
The guys ran towards the ladder and the end of the platform and the floor cracked. The floor broke through underneath them before they could reach there and they all plummeted.
The world slowed around Hiro as he fell. Debris, pieces of metal, crates and pieces of the guardrail seemed to float slowly around him. The guys were falling gently in his eyes and looked peaceful, even though they were falling to their possible deaths. He was at this moment again as he had to decide who was more important to him.
There were two fliers in his team and one of them fell helplessly as well. He could fly and grab his friends one by one, but he would not be fast enough. There was less than 60 feet between them and the ground and he had to act fast. Right now, he was only fast enough to catch one person. Some of his friends could land on their armour and survive, so Fredzilla was safe, but he had to decide who among the rest of them to save.
As he approached the ground, Hiro decided that GoGo was more important.
He flew up to her and caught her as the others crashed on the ground.
Hiro landed slowly and GoGo looked at him as he held her in his arms. She looked into his eyes and felt dumb as she smiled at his heroism. That quickly faded as she looked at the others on the ground.
"Oh crap."
He set her on her feet and she looked around fearfully. Baymax laid on rubble, Honey Lemon laid on her face, unconscious and bleeding from her mouth and Wasabi laid on his shoulder, coughing badly.
"Oh my God," GoGo said, "Guys?"
"I'm okay!" Fred said weakly.
Fred sat up weakly and strained to sit up.
"The armour works," Fred said, "Cushioned the shock and fall, but still gotta headache."
The Crimson Phantom struggled to his feet, but sustained far less injury than the rest of the group.
"No, I'm not!" Fred went unconscious.
"You'll pay for this!" GoGo yelled.
GoGo skated up to the Phantom who lifted her by her neck, kneed her in the gut and backhanded her. Hiro flew up to the Phantom who threw a device at his chest, electrocuting him.
The Phantom lifted GoGo, ripped off her helmet and punched her out. Hiro ripped the device out of his breastplate and it electrocuted his arm. Hiro tossed the device and struggled to his feet. He watched as the Phantom tossed away GoGo's limp body.
Hiro screamed angrily as he shot his palms out. His repulsors fizzled as he tried to shoot out sonic beams.
"So, it's you and me now." Hiro said angrily.
"So, it seems." The Phantom said.
Hiro flew up to the Phantom with a punch and he dodged and grabbed his leg. The Phantom threw Hiro on the ground and flipped over with a heel kick aiming for his head. Hiro rolled out of the way and onto his feet. The Phantom got to his feet and stared him down.
"Come on!" The Phantom taunted.
Hiro flew up to him and threw two kicks, which the Phantom blocked. The Phantom backhanded him, Hiro blocked and the Phantom kicked him in the head. Hiro stopped his fall with his jetpack and tackled him toward a wall. The Phantom elbowed Hiro in the back, wrapped his arm around his neck in mid air and slammed his head on the ground.
The Phantom flipped to his feet and Hiro turned in pain on the ground. The helmet cushioned the blow, but it still hurt. The Phantom threw a kick and Hiro jumped out of the way. The Phantom elbowed his shoulder and kicked him away. He flew up to him with a punch and he blocked, twisting his arm. The Phantom lifted Hiro and tossed him away.
Hiro struggled to his feet, clenching his arm painfully. The Phantom ran up to him and Hiro scanned him. Hiro punched his right thigh and grabbed it, shocking him with his damaged repulsor.
The Phantom screamed in pain and fell over. Hiro got on one knee and punched his thigh repetitively, getting screams of pain with every punch. Hiro grabbed a dagger from a sheath on the Phantom's leg and pinned him down. Hiro held the dagger to the Phantom's neck, ready to stab him.
Hiro held the dagger tightly, shaking as he tried to decide what to do next. Memories of him murdering the man during the blackout flashed in his mind and he backed out. Hiro stood and looked at the Phantom in distress and frustration.
GoGo came to and struggled to sit up. She looked at Hiro standing over the Phantom.
"What're you waiting for?" GoGo shouted.
Hiro turned to GoGo and the Phantom used the chance to reach for a weapon. Hiro threw a dagger into the Phantom's arm, stopping him in his tracks.
"You have questions to answer." Hiro said angrily.
Hiro walked up to the Phantom and roughly pulled his jacket off him, ripping its sleeves off as he did. Hiro tossed the jacket on the ground and kicked his chest.
"Why are you doing this? Why are you attacking us?" Hiro yelled angrily.
"Take him down," GoGo said as she walked up to him, "He's a monster."
The Phantom breathed heavily as he knew he was cornered. With his leg and arm injured, there was no way he could get away in time. He ripped the dagger out of his arm and sat up.
"I'll finish him off," GoGo said as she lifted her arm.
The Phantom pressed a button on his glove and the armour on her battle gear dismantled and fell on the ground.
"That's it!" Hiro said as he ran up to the Phantom.
"Stop!" The Phantom yelled, stopping Hiro in his tracks, "I'll talk."
The Phantom ripped the mask off his head, revealing his face to them. Hiro frowned angrily. He had seen his face when Dr. Cello mentioned the address of the house that exploded.
"You're … Dave Callaghan." Hiro said angrily.
"And Lucas Winston." Dave said.
"What are you talking about?" GoGo asked.
"Years ago, when the accident happened at Krei Tech, I was a scientist working on the Silent Sparrow experiment," Dave said, "When my sister –,"
"Abigail?" GoGo asked.
"Yes, when my sister ended up in that dimension, I knew something was wrong and I decided to go dark and lay low," Dave said, "I changed my identity and moved away."
"Only a few blocks from your old house?" GoGo asked smugly.
"Money doesn't come easy." Dave said.
GoGo nodded and shrugged.
"My father was always angry about losing her and wanted revenge. I told him it was a bad idea, but he did not listen to me and look where he ended up," Dave said.
"Just like you will end up," Hiro said.
Dave frowned angrily.
"You took him down because he would not let it go," Dave said, "When you put him away, I decided my wife was more important and I did not want to leave her alone. When a man killed her during the blackout," Dave said, "I took my revenge."
"So, that was you?" Hiro asked, remembering that he saw him stab a man in an alley.
"Wait a minute; I knew I'd seen you before," Dave said, "I should've killed you back then."
"Just take him down," GoGo said, "I'm tired of seeing his ugly face."
"It's not just about revenge anymore," Dave said, "This is far bigger than me."
"How?" Hiro said, interrupting GoGo from speaking.
"My father is dead." Dave said.
"What?" Hiro asked.
"He was murdered and the police covered it up. I thought it was Krei Tech and I killed Alistair as revenge … I was wrong," Dave said, "Something else is going on; Robert was killed by a Soviet made gun with a shot in the neck and Krei Tech has no deals with Russweden. They are after me."
"Who is 'they'?" Hiro asked.
"I don't know, but somebody's after me." Dave said.
"Why should we believe you?" GoGo asked, clearly getting impatient.
"Whoever is doing this planted the Silent Sparrow gateway in my backyard," Dave said.
"Oh really?" GoGo asked disbelievingly.
"You honestly think I could've stolen a gateway cleanly without a trace and then would place it in my backyard for everyone to see?" Dave asked.
GoGo did not respond, not willing to admit that she did not believe he stole the gateway.
"Then how was the gateway stolen?" Hiro asked.
Dave pulled out the Capsule Corp capsule and tossed it at Hiro. Hiro caught it and looked at it.
"Capsule Corp." Hiro said as he recognized the company logo.
"A scientist from Capsule Corp visited my father –,"
"On the night of the blackout," Hiro said, realizing a connection, "Something strange is going on here."
"It's not just that; whoever is doing this also wants to take down Krei Tech," Dave said, "There has been a scandal over an EMP bomb being responsible for the blackout and evidence points to Krei Tech. I checked the bomb and had nowhere near enough power to do so and it had never been activated."
"Yeah, I can vouch for you there." Hiro said.
"The case is over because I killed Alistair, but there's more going on." Dave said.
Hiro tried to think.
"Who cares if he's right? He still attacked us." GoGo said.
Dave calmed his breath and composed himself. It was over for him now and he knew it.
"I was angry, just like my father and I wanted revenge when my wife died," Dave said, "I took out the criminals and avenged her, but it wasn't enough for me. I attacked you kids because I wanted to avenge my father …, I thought I was doing the right thing. I attacked all the wrong people and I've become exactly who I hated; a criminal."
"And you're the criminal we're gonna take out," GoGo said, "Do it Hiro, kill him."
Hiro turned to GoGo and looked her in the eyes. She was serious.
"You can't be serious," Hiro said.
"I am; he attacked us, he put my father in a coma," GoGo said, "He would kill us if he had a chance. He almost killed Aunt Cass."
Hiro looked away from her and tried to think. He sighed angrily.
"Remember what you said when I wanted to kill Callaghan?" Hiro asked, "We are gonna catch the guy, that's it. We've caught him; he has nowhere to go."
"Oh, I'm going somewhere." Dave said.
Hiro turned to Dave who was now on his feet.
"I was on my way to Capsule Corp HQ to investigate and find out what's going on." Dave said.
"That's all the way in another state," GoGo said.
"It'll be worth it to find out who's behind all this." Dave said.
Hiro frowned and tried to think through all of this. GoGo looked at Hiro and was shocked.
"Are you even considering this?" GoGo asked, "This man is a liar. Even if he isn't, he attacked all of us, you and took Aunt Cass' life's work. He attacked me and put my father in a coma. If my father was not there, he would have killed me."
"There is more going on here, GoGo," Hiro said, "It's not just about him."
"You told me that your world would never be the same without me; well, he would have made it happen," GoGo said, tears welling up in her eyes, "If you truly love me, you will avenge me."
"GoGo, do you know what you're asking me to do?" Hiro asked, "You're asking me to kill him."
"It's not like you haven't done it before." GoGo said.
Hiro looked away from GoGo and she covered her mouth. GoGo started to cry, regretting what she had just said.
"Choose Hiro …," GoGo said, "Him or me."
Hiro frowned and did not answer her. GoGo wiped her tears and tried to compose herself.
"Goodbye, Hiro." GoGo said.
GoGo walked away and Hiro watched her leave. He turned to Dave who was waiting for his answer. Hiro picked up Dave's mask and tossed it to him.
"Let's go." Hiro said.
He left the warehouse and Dave followed him. Honey Lemon, Wasabi and Fred had come to moments ago and heard the entire conversation.
"Hiro," Honey Lemon said solemnly.
As always, Follow, Favourite and Review and Await the Awesomeness as we dive deeper into the universe. Thanks for reading.