The next morning at the Lucky Cat cafe, Hiro was treated to a plate of pancakes before the inevitable trip into the worst place in San Fransokyo.
Technically... Muirahara was outside of San Fransokyo, but he still hated the place!
Cass had just ended a call she was on, a happy look on her face. "I just got a great last-minute catering job. Oh, but I can't leave the Lucky Cat."
Mochi meowed in agreement as Ari frowned. "Hey, I could run the Lucky Cat!" She protested.
"Sweetie, I don't want to leave a fourteen year-old in charge of running a whole business." Cass shook her head. "The traffic rush takes years to master."
"It's the weekend so I'm good to help!"
"Sorry Aunt Cass, Ari. Wish I could help." Hiro lightly chuckled at the banter. "But I have to go to the woods with Krei."
"Was it due to a spontaneous camping trip clause?" Fred questioned, a stack of pancakes held by his fork. "That gets you everytime."
"No, I'm being paid extra, I have to restock my supplies." He explained. "Since someone-" he glared at Ari. "Has been stealing my gummy bears and chocolate!"
"Chocolate is a girl's best friend, how dare you hide it from her!" She stuck her tongue at him.
"I thought diamonds were a typical best friend for gals." Fred commented before trying to eat his entire stack in one gulp.
"You eat like an animal!" Mini-Max was astonished at the sight.
Honey Lemon winced at the sight. "And you can't even bring Baymax after what Bessie did to him last time."
Cass raised an eyebrow. "Who's this Bessie?"
"Bessie is not a person, Aunt Cass." Baymax explained. "Bessie is a-"
Hiro quickly cut him off. "A breed of chipmunks that are attracted to large, white surfaces." He chuckled. "They swarm."
Ari facepalmed. "Smooth."
"Okay then." Gogo, who had been patiently listening, gripped her coffee. "Krei has no idea what he's doing. I'll go with you." She told Hiro.
He smiled at her. "Really? Thanks, Gogo."
"Have fun at Muirahara, love." Honey Lemon gave her girlfriend a kiss on the cheek.
Gogo smiled at her. "Thanks, Honey."
"Awww." Cass smiled at the two, then sighed. "Well, I guess I should cancel my catering job."
"But, the money!" Hiro protested. "Can't you just close the cafe for a day?"
"That's sweet, but no." She replied. "I'm not an irresponsible parent or businesswoman, we'll be fine for cancelling."
"You don't have to, Aunt Cass." Honey Lemon told her. "The three of us can help Ari run the Lucky Cat." She gestured to herself, Wasabi, Fred, and Mini-Max. "I mean four of us."
"Five if you count Baymax." Wasabi added.
Ari gestured to them. "See? Now you don't have to cancel your catering job!"
Cass smiled. "Aw, that's sweet. Are you sure?"
"Absolutely." Wasabi nodded.
"It'll be a piece of taco."
They looked at Fred. "Don't you mean cake?" Honey Lemon asked him.
"I prefer tacos." He started to lick the syrup left on his plate.
"Wasabi, Honey Lemon, you'll for sure be here too, right?" The woman gave them a concerned look.
They nodded, they both were excited to run the Lucky Cat with Fred, but he does get distracted a lot.
On the other half of the cafe, a pair of green eyes eavesdropped on the convo with interest.
Until a fluffy white paw poked her nose. "Rach." Katie got her attention. "Stop looking at Ari like a sad sap."
Rachel squinted at her. "I'm not looking at Ari-"
"Today."
She growled. "I'm overhearing Hiro saying he's going to Muihara Woods."
The blue's ears perked up. "We haven't been there in awhile. Are you still mad at Ned?"
"For trying to kill an innocent robot because he condemns all of them?" Rachel gestured. "Yes, yes I am."
"I miss Bessie tho." She meowed, stretching her legs. "She was nice."
"Bessie?" Rachel rolled her eyes.
She didn't know why Katie and Ned thought the meteorite was sentient, but she didn't want to know. "What, do you want me to check up on the rock?"
Katie's tail wagging like a puppy gave her the answer. "Uhg. Fine. But you're not going."
"Why not?" She frowned.
"Because you'd spend all evening around that rock if you could." Rachel explained. "I'll drop you off at our house, then go hitch a ride to Muihara, in and out in a jiffy."
"Jiffy?" Katie questioned.
She just picked the cat up. "We're going."
In the span of half an hour, Cass had to leave for her catering job, then Gogo and Hiro left to escort Krei to Muihara.
The CEO had picked them up in an SUV, the teen giving Ari one last wave as they left. Then the three helpers got to work.
The doorbell chimed as a curly brown-haired woman walked in. "Hi Sienna!" Honey Lemon waved to her. "Welcome to the Lucky Cat!"
"Hi." She waved. "Uh, you're working here?"
"For the day."
"Uh." She saw Wasabi and Fred also working. "Do you want some help?"
"Oh, you don't-"
"Yes please!" Ari cut the chemist off. "Let me grab you an apron!"
Honey Lemon just raised an eyebrow at Ari, the girl gave her a look back. "Hey! Weekends are where the cafe is busiest, and you guys aren't used to that."
"It's not the first time I've helped in the cafe."
Ari raised an eyebrow. "Sure, here Sienna, follow me and I'll have you serve this part of the cafe…"
Once she was leading the artist away, Fred walked over to Honey Lemon. "Wow. Didn't know Ari had it in her to be a businesswoman. I'm so proud."
"Yeah." Honey Lemon chuckled. "Good that's getting confident."
"Confidence is key for heroism!" Mini-Max added, he and Baymax were setting up a table. Wasabi just shook his head at the small robot's antics.
"It's my SUV. Why can't I drive?"
"Because I know these woods better than you know your own private island." Gogo was the one who was driving the SUV, while Hiro watched the two adults bicker.
Krei was pouting like a small child. "Which one?" He questioned. "Krei-topia or Krei-tucket? Or Little Hawaii?"
Hiro groaned. "Can you guys stop arguing?" They had been going back-and-forth for the entire ride.
All of a sudden, the car stopped working and slowed down, the engine sputtering and the headlights turning off.
"Looks like we're in Bessie territory." Gogo told them. "We walk from here." They got out of the car.
"Intern, can you-"
"You don't need all those bags!" Hiro protested. "It's a short trip."
Krei pouted again. "Fine…"
Ferns and Nerds group chat:
Mikan Ferns: Where is everyone?
Sienna Kline: Lucky Cat
Honey Lemon: Lucky Cat
Fredzilla: Lucky Cat
TheLittleMermaid: No texting during work hours guys!
Sienna Kline: Sorry Ari
David 19: What on earth?
David 19: Where are Hiro and Gogo btw
Mikan Ferns: I think Muihara
Rachel Rosemary: I'm on the bus
Sara Ferns: Why are y'all at the Lucky Cat?
Fredzilla: Lemme explain, Aunt Cass is at a catering job so we're running it today!
Mikan Ferns: Nice, I'm gonna buy something there rn
David 19: Same!
Rachel Rosemary: Hey how's Mochi?
TheLittleMermaid: I think he misses Katie
Rachel Rosemary: Oh, she's at home.
Sara Ferns: Why are you on the bus?
Rachel Rosemary: Going to Muihara
Mikan Ferns: Have fun
TheLittleMermaid: Fred, get off your phone!
Fredzilla: No!
Fredzilla: Oh no she's comidsajkdjksnadjdsjkdszjds
Sienna Kline: Ari just yanked his phone, chewed him out, and gave it back
Mikan Ferns: I'm so proud
"Hello. Welcome to the Lucky Cat Cafe."
"Your dining experience will be exemplary!"
"Ooh, this must be one of those robot cafes!" It was the beginning of the afternoon rush, and everyone had their own jobs, the robotic duo were the ones who'd greet new customers.
"Sit anywhere you'd like!" Honey Lemon and Sienna were the servers bringing food to customers.
Wasabi was making the cappuccinos and coffees and Fred… Well Ari, who was supervising them all, made sure he didn't touch any of the customer's food.
Fred had tried drinking a coffee that Wasani was going to serve to table sixteen, but Ari stopped him via slapping his hand away from the drink. "Hey!" He whined.
"Don't eat the merchandise." Ari narrowed her eyes. "Making foam and latte art takes effort, don't force Wasabi to start over."
"Oh." The comic fan frowned. "Sorry Wasabi."
"It's okay, you're just excited." He waved it off as Sienna brought the coffee to the table.
"I am excited! Who knew running a cafe could be this much fun?"
The door opened as a teen walked in, adjusting her jacket. Ari bounced up to her. "Hi Megan!"
"Hey Ari." Megan waved. "Is Hiro here? I was hoping we could grab some lunch."
"Nah, he's busy at his internship." She replied.
"When is he not?"
They both giggled. "Do you want to eat here though?" Ari asked her. "The afternoon rush hasn't kicked in yet."
"Sure." She looked around at the cafe. "Where's your aunt?"
"At a catering job, some of my brother's classmates are helping me run it today." Ari explained. "You haven't met Honey Lemon, Wasabi, and Sienna yet, though she's an SFAI student, not an SFIT student."
"I guess I could grab a croissant." Megan nodded, but as she closed the door, a figure darted past it and left the cafe.
Mini-Max pointed to the door. "Was the feline supposed to exit?"
"Oh, no!" Honey Lemon gasped. "Mochi!"
Megan quickly opened the door again, and saw the calico booking it down the street. "I held the door open for too long!" She closed it. "I'm so sorry!"
"There he goes." Sienna gestured as she looked out the window.
"House cats can run up to a speed of 30 miles per hour." Baymax stated, his screen showing a cat tied to a rocket.
"We have to find him!" Wasabi exclaimed.
Fred stared at the door, placing two cups he was holding on the counter. "Guys, watch the cafe. Baymax, Mini-Max, we've gotta bring back Mochi."
"Dead or alive!"
Baymax and Fred gave the small robot a look. "Well, you know, let's just go with 'alive' for now."
They took off their aprons and ran out of the cafe to chase Mochi.
"Great, we're three people down and the afternoon rush is looming over us." Ari groaned.
Megan frowned. "I could maybe help out a little, I feel terrible for letting Mochi escape."
"Of course you can help!" The sweater girl smiled. "Have you ever worked in a cafe?" Megan shook her head. "Oh, it's fine. Put on an apron and help set tables."
"Got it!"
"I used to be a waitress at this diner near my high school." Sienna stated. "Wanted to earn myself some cash in my first year."
"What made you stop?" Honey Lemon asked.
"The diner was going through some rough times, they had to lay a few people off." She shrugged. "I volunteered since I didn't need the job badly, and my coworkers needed it more."
"Aww, that's sweet of you." Wasabi told her. "No wonder David fell in love with you." She had to look away to hide her blush.
"What about you?" Sienna shook it off. "You and Honey Lemon have partners now, right?"
"Mhm!" Honey Lemon grinned. "Gogo and I's first date got interrupted, but afterwards we had time to ourselves, it was nice. I love her."
"That's cute." Wasabi chuckled. "Chris and I mostly talked, he's got an interesting life."
"Chris works at Sycorax, of course he lives an interesting life." Ari pointed out.
Megan however, frowned. "Sycorax? Those guys have been really active since the monster attacks, it's weird."
"They're just trying to help out." Wasabi told her.
"Well it doesn't make sense." She crossed her arms. "First Sycorax got a lot of investors, then suddenly supervillains started mutating into monsters and they magically have the cure? I'd like to know the budget for that place before I make my final judgement."
"Are you saying that they're profiting off of the attacks?" Ari narrowed her eyes. "Liv said she was trying to help. Just because her company's doing well, doesn't mean she's evil or anything."
Megan shook her head. "Ari, never lose that optimism of yours."
"Thanks!"
It was late afternoon in Muihara Woods, the sun had yet to dip under the pines. Rachel kicked a pebble into the river. "Definitely close." She mumbled.
It had been awhile since she went there, not since late summer. Not like Ned missed me or Katie, he's always obsessed about that meteorite.
A rustling in the bushes made her look over, she thought it was a fox, so shrugged it off. More rustling made her look.
Rachel saw through the trees an unconscious Ned with something purple on his neck, the man dragging him and placing him down in a clearing was Liv's assistant. What was he doing here? Sycorax didn't win the bid for ownership of Muirahara.
"There." The man smirked. "Better get the containment unit to get the rock." Chris gestured to the box in his other hand, then he ran back into the trees.
Rachel frowned. "Why is he here?" She mumbled. Containment field?
Wait a minute! She realized. They're trying to steal Bessie! She started running to the treehouse. Whatever Liv wants Bessie for, it can't be good. I have to find out and tell my dad!
Looks like Katie was right, there was something off about Sycorax.
The calico kept running down the road until he got to a much nicer neighborhood, then he walked to one of the houses and hopped towards a window. It opened, and a blue feline hopped out. "Hi Mochi." Katie stared at him. "I didn't expect you to leave the cafe, did you sneak out?"
"Yep!" He grinned. "It's boring when Aunt Cass isn't there. So I thought I'd visit. Is Rachel here?"
"No." She stretched her legs as the window closed. "We're going out!"
"Be back before dark!" Sarah, the only Rosemary home, waved to the cats as they hopped off the window and started walking down the street.
Katie then turned back to her friend. "So, wanna explore the city then?"
"I'd love to!" Mochi chuckled. "It's fun with you."
She twitched her whiskers. "It's not a date-date though."
"I know." He rolled his eyes. "I don't get the romance stuff. You're my best friend, silly!"
"If only the press would learn their lessons." She snorted. "Let's go tour the city!"
"Yeah!"
Rachel managed to follow Chris all the way back to the treehouse, she waited until he used the lift before trying to climb up.
It was a good thing she knew the other way to get up, Katie was good at scouting shortcuts after-all.
As she snuck by the door, she heard two voices chattering.
"-ane, relax. I brought the unit." Chris placed the box on the floor, then put Bessie in the box after removing the decorations Ned put on her.
"Good." Liv smiled. "The containment unit should cancel Bessie's disruption field."
"I think it's sweet he named it." Chris chuckled.
"Everyone names or nicknames their pets." Liv replied. "I nicknamed you, didn't I?" She took a cookie out of her bag and tossed it to Chris, who gobbled it up like a dog.
Rachel felt her gut twist at the sight. That's sick… that's real sick, I knew she wasn't all that nice. But she hadn't expected that.
"Good boy. Now shut it."
Chris complied with the order, and closed the box, Rachel saw in the corner of her eye Liv's phone lighting up as Bessie's disruptive signal was blocked.
"Perfect." She chuckled. "Bye-bye, Alistair."
Rachel gasped, and thought back to the conversation in the cafe. Hiro! Gogo! They're in danger! She had to run and warn them, as she crept away, a hand grabbed her by the shirt.
"Darling!" Chris dragged her over to the blonde woman. "I found a little spy."
Liv had a villainous grin on her face. "Well, well, well. Rachel Rosemary."
"Liv Amara!" Rachel chuckled. "Funny seeing you here in Muihara." She felt her face getting sweaty. "Are you visiting the Hibagon?"
"Nice try, I know you heard us." Liv shook her head. "You can't talk your way out of this one."
The scruffy brunette knew she was in trouble, but Rachel didn't go down without a fight. "Whatever you're doing with Bessie, you won't get away with it!"
The CEO laughed. "Oh, sweetie. I got away with blackmailing Knox, I can blackmail you too."
"Blackmail Knox…?" Horror filled her entire being. "Katie was right! You are behind the monsters!"
"Clever girl…" Chris muttered under his breath.
"You're sick! You know that?!" She spat at her. "Turning people into monsters for profit. I know what you said to Ariel, how dare you say that to her after what you did to High Voltage! When Big Hero 6 finds out what you've done, karma is gonna slam down on you like a hammer, and you'll never hurt anyone again!"
Liv was unaffected by her rant. "Oh, you're so noble like your father, aren't you?" She snapped her fingers. "Chris!"
His grip on her tightened. "Yes?"
"Change of plans, dispose of this little spy, with Ned running around it'll be easy to cover it up."
They both laughed, Rachel's eyes went wide as Chris started dragging her away to her demise.
Elsewhere…
Gogo, Krei, and Hiro continued to walk through the woods. "Which way, Hiro?" The former asked him.
He looked at their surroundings. "I think we're getting close." Hiro gasped as something emerged from the thicket.
"Ned! Golf buddy. Hello!" Krei ran to him. "You're going to need to shave if you want to get back in the club. There are spiders living in your beard."
Ned shook his head and stared at the CEO. "Think you can jump on my head?" He slurred, looking at Hiro before stumbling off.
Krei turned to Hiro. "Intern, did you jump on Ned's head?"
"What, no?!" Hiro protested. "When could I have time for that? I haven't seen him since my first trip to the woods!"
"Out of nowhere, from above." Ned was rambling to himself. "Handsome sky man, beautiful eyes."
"Hmm." Gogo frowned. "He's acting weirder than normal."
"Maybe he hit his head." Hiro raised an eyebrow. "He could have a concussion."
"Not like we can ask him."
Krei gave Ned a funny look. "This is who protects Bessie? Ned has really let himself go."
"He nearly threw Baymax off a cliff." The teen genius explained. "But yeah, living here has made him nuts."
Ned swung a few fists in the air. "Show yourself, dum-dum." Then he looked at the trio. "Ooh, city folk think they're so smart."
Beep!
There was a high-pitched whir in the air, which made Hiro place a hand to his ear. Then, the former real estate guy started growling and shaking.
They all took steps back. "Does that seem right to you?" Krei questioned.
Ned groaned, the sound of cracking as he shook, then his eyes changed into yellow slits, his hair starting to grow.
"Oh, definitely not right!" Hiro shivered.
"What is happening?!" Was all Ned could say as his fingers and feet grew yellow claws, and black fur bristled on his limbs.
Krei fell to the ground and whimpered at the sight.
"Definitely not getting more 'not right' by the second." Gogo's eyes widened.
"What is going on?"
Ned growled and got bigger, his ripped clothing barely holding back his bristling black fur. He roared, no longer a man, but a monster.
"The Hibagon is going on." Hiro stated as Ned-no the Hibagon loomed over them, ready to maul the trio that had stepped in Muirahara Woods.
AN: Oh hey, Megan makes an appearance n.n
thought it'd be nice of her to show up more in the COM arc more often, and it was fun writing her interact with the rest of the gang and Sienna
Ari's totally going to run the cafe in the future, like when Aunt Cass retires.
And instead of Mochi going on a joyride this ep it's Mochi going on a joyride with Katie, bc I love their friendship, celebrity cats, so cute.
Speaking of Katie... poor Rach, she's not having a good time rn. Found out her friend was right about "Liv" but will she live to tell the tale?
...Well you'll have to find out next week.
QOTW: Would you visit Muirahara woods if you could? Why or why not?