Stage 7
Aunt Cass was more than willing to help when it came to this. She got Tadashi new clothes out of his old closet, stuff he wore all the time.
Tadashi just sat still keeping his neck craned so the collar wasn't completely against him.
My job was reading off the instructions while Baymax worked on the collar, his eyes narrowed in focus. "Keep going until you hear it click."
This was the moment of truth. If Tadashi was going to speak or go insane and kill us all.
Tadashi twitched but it stopped after the two wires, the ones connecting the wiring in the collar to the electrodes in his body were cut.
"A different procedure will have to be done to remove the electrodes on a later date." Baymax explained as he snipped away the last of it. You couldn't even see the wire anymore and running my fingertip quickly ensured that nothing was poking out of my brother.
"Got it…" I took a shaky breath before going in front of Tadashi holding up the now detached collar for him to see. "It's off bro… What do you say?"
Tadashi cleared his throat, coughing a bit.
He opened his mouth to speak when Aunt Cass hurried in. "No, time no time, I distracted them with free doughnuts but Tadashi for the love of all that is holy get dressed!"
My brother snapped off a salute and hurried to go do so. Before long his green hoodie and baggy jeans were replaced with brown pants, a tan sweater and a white T-shirt with a green jacket over it. He was even wearing his favorite sneakers, the neon green ones.
He was missing something though. I snapped my fingers remembering as I ran up to my - our- room and grab it before running back skidding to a halt in front of Tadashi and presenting it to him.
His favorite hat.
Tadashi's eyes widened a bit before he nodded putting it on.
Then before we know it the soldiers were coming up the stairs. They asked us questions about our health and who we've been in contact with.
"Hey this one's eyes aren't dialating." One said gruffly while shining a light in Baymax's eyes.
"My pupils cannot dilate I am a robot."
"He's telling the truth look at his hands." I said gesturing to the silvery appendages. Baymax held up one demonstrating as his index finger turned into a pen light. "See?"
"Alright and what about you?"
This is how it goes they looked at me and Aunt Cass to be sure we're not contaminated and then they looked to Tadashi.
"Your name?"
Tadashi coughed again as he tried to clear his throat.
C'mon…. C'mon Tadashi…. I urged him silently.
"Tadashi Hamada." His voice is hoarse but it's loud enough to be heard. Tadashi Hamada.
He did it.
The soldiers left satisfied and as soon as they were gone there was cheering to be heard from our apartment.
We pulled Tadashi into a group hug. "Tadashi you did it!" I cheered laughing hugging my sibling tightly. He chuckled a bit returning it. He's warm… I sighed happily burying my face in his chest a bit.
"Oh Tadashi…" Aunt Cass murmured glassy eyed as she hugged him. "My little nephew…"
Baymax squeezed his shoulder giving him what could only be described as a proud look.
"I'm back guys… It's okay now…" Tadashi said smiling. "It's all okay."
And for the first time in a long time…
I believed him.