So this chapter is fairly short since it's mostly a way of me saying that the story isn't dead and is back in business. I still want to rewrite it and fix up some of the small issues in the plot and clean it all up, but I decided I ultimately want to finish this story first. Especially since we are nearing the end!
Please review and I do hope you enjoy it.
CHAPTER FIFTY
Third Person
The upgrade takes much longer than Takashi would have liked, even longer to make sure no one became a ghost themselves. He can't, however, hide the pride in his eyes as he looks everyone over. To think Hiro did almost all the upgrades himself – coming up with the designs all on his own – makes his heart swell. He always knew his baby brother was smart, but Hiro never ceases to surprise (and impress) him. It was almost as if he expected them all to become heroes at some point. It is likely, considering how he knew about Danny's heroism. Hiro's slight idealism toward Danny doesn't go unnoticed. However, all of his pride is short lived as he looks down at his phone with a brief sigh. Still no word from Danny. It's been days. Worry and fear bubbles in his chest. This is a critical situation, one that Danny is more than aware of. He should have, would have, stopped by to talk them by now, or at the very least respond to any of their messages. Even Baymax's own video chat has proved useless. Danny is obviously occupied, but the fact that what's keeping him so busy has to be Plasmius causes even more fears to rise. He has to be okay. He has to be. Danny's too strong of a person to go down easily. Or go down at all. Hopefully.
He looks down at his hands and moves them, the texture of his own armor feels unfamiliar yet comfortable. He can move easily enough. His armor is similar to Hiro's own, but the colors resemble flames with mixes of oranges, reds, and yellows. He opted out of adding any special features like the others, having spent his entire time in college working on Baymax, he has little knowledge of how to do anything too specific well enough that he'd feel comfortable adding it this close to his body. Instead, after a quick stop to Danny's lab to grab equipment and blueprints – his armor is fused with Danny's own technology. No one knows Danny's anti-ghost tech well enough to do too much, but with some research on his blueprints, they were able to infuse their armors to generate shields and at the very least, be anti-ghost enough that no one should be able to go through their armor. He hopes this will be enough to at least give them a shot. If anything, Tadashi can help Danny while the others take care of the mask and regain control over Hiro's microbots.
He did, regretfully, have to fiddle with the chip Danny had installed into Baymax (something he'd have to talk to him later about). He left most of it untouched, but he had to take off the protocol that would cause Baymax to take them away from Plasmius. That would be too much of nuisance to deal with considering that's exactly who they were trying to fight. Or at least find. Because finding him and Vlad would mean finding Danny.
This is crazy. But it's too late to opt out now. Danny needs our help. I just hope he hasn't gotten himself into too much trouble. He adjusts his spot on Baymax, careful not to nudge any of the others, and looks out into the distance. As Akuma Island grows bigger, so does his worry. The closer they get, the more damage he can see to the old building lining the small island. Burn marks are the most noticeable damage, some large enough to make small craters into the ground.
"Are you sure Vlad will be here," Honey Lemon asks, eying the wreckage as they land.
"The damage is recent," GoGo comments, "So obviously someone has been here."
She has a valid point. The burning is recent, especially since the smell is still so prominent. It is unlikely for a person to do this much damage, so that means it is likely Plasmius or some other ghost. Tadashi dares to hope that it's even Danny – he doesn't know the extent of Danny's powers, but it isn't too far fetched to think he couldn't do this damage if fighting Plasmius. But if that is the case, he doesn't want to think of where Danny is now. Especially after not answering his phone for the past few days. He swallows thickly, his heart pounding in his chest. Please Danny… Please be okay.
"If Tadashi said he was likely here, he's here. But Plasmius probably is too," Hiro turns to face everyone, "Which means Danny won't be that far behind either. Come on."
Baymax is the most cautious, looking around slowly as if it is taking in all the information its sensors are picking up carefully. Baymax stops, causing them all to look back at it questionably. Baymax's eyes dilate, focusing on something in the distance.
"Ghost detected – twelve meters ahead. Ectoenergy level – 9. Ectosignature recognized as – Plasmius. He appears to be leaving the island with the masked man."
Tadashi doesn't even bother correcting the string of curses that leave Hiro's mouth – he wants to say all those curses and more himself. This is the last location he knew Danny had went. If Plasmius is leaving the island, does that mean Danny in't here? Or worse – he's already dead. Tadashi tries to keep his breathing under control as he steps out in front of the group, knowing that right now in't the time for him to loose control or freak out. He could already hear the others bickering between themselves, arguing about whether or not they should stay. Right now, he has a team – a family – that needs someone to guide them in the right direction.
"If they're leaving," Tadashi's voice immediately grabs their attention, "Then maybe this was their hideout. There's enough damage here to make it clear that something happened. I think we need to figure out what before we leave or before they come back."
And hopefully find Danny in the process. The group shares a knowing look before nodding, some a bit more hesitantly and cautiously than others, agreeing with his statement. He falls into the role of leader easily and leads the group through the wreckage, making a path straight to the building.
"Remember to be careful," Tadashi calls over his shoulder, "We don't know if there are any traps."
He is glad that he's ahead of them so none of them could see the worried expression on his face as he continues forward. Danny makes it all look so easy – the hero thing, the bravery, the courage. He wonders if, like him, Danny is scared and just hid it better. He finds it hard to believe, but as he ventures further into the building, he would find it hard to believe if Danny isn't scared. Or maybe… he thinks back to Danny's expression, distorted with anger, eyes flashing a bright red that he knows in't just the light… maybe his anger overpowers his fears. He sighs sadly. Try as he might, he can't ignore the fact that since Vlad made his appearance, Danny just grows more angry. He had promised not to kill, not to do anything too drastic, and Tadashi wants to believe that, but there is a bit of doubt settled in the back of his mind. He doesn't know what Danny is capable of when he is sane. There is no telling what he could do if he is that angry at Vlad.
"What exactly are we looking for," Fred speaks up, "I don't think they'd have their plans on some big bulletin board for us to see… But man wouldn't that be so much easier..."
GoGo is the only one to notice the way Tadashi fidgets under the question. She crosses her arms against her chest. She knows him too well and seeing the way he squirms under the question just confirms what she already figured out.
"If you wanted to stay to look for Danny, you could have just told us."
Tadashi turns around sheepishly, a flush spreading across his cheeks as he scrambles to find an explanation. But he feels a hand grab his arm and looks down to see Hiro looking up at him with pleading, wide eyes.
"This is where you last heard from Danny, isn't it," Despite Hiro's accusative tone, he doesn't seem upset. "That's why you thought Vlad would be here."
He looks away, ashamed, and unsure how the others would take it. Finding Danny isn't everyone's priorities and he, even though he did believe Vlad would be here, tricked them into coming here in hopes Danny would be here. When he finally does manage to look around at everyone else, he sees nothing but understanding, yet sad, smiles on their faces. He relaxes seeing that none of them were visibly upset, yet winces at the punch GoGo throws at his arm.
"He may be your boyfriend, but he's our friend too," GoGo acts as if she's going to throw a second punch but restrains herself.
"We're all worried about him 'Dashi," Honey speaks softly, "After telling us that he went to face this Plasmius and Vlad by himself and then not hearing from him for days..."
Wasabi picks up where she leaves off, placing a hand on her shoulder, "We were all figuring the worst. If you think Danny might be here then…"
"What are we waiting around here for," Fred throws in, picking up the pace, "We got us a man to find!"
Tadashi smiles fondly as the others find newfound courage to continue on through the dark, and rather eerie, building. It seems as if the idea that Danny might be here is exactly the push they all need. He follows them with the weight on his chest a bit lighter. He desperately hopes, that for all of their sakes, that they find Danny. You should have spoken up sooner Tadashi, he berates himself. If they were fearing the worse, he should have spoken up before they headed out. At least then they would have been a bit more courageous entering the facility.
The worst, he shudders. The more he focuses on Danny's disappearance, the more he has to face the reality that the 'the worst' is the most logical conclusion to Danny's disappearance.
But Danny has always had a habit of proving him wrong.
