Chapter Summary: Flashback of how and why Abigail became the villain, and what exactly happened to Professor Callaghan.

Disclaimer: I don't own Big Hero 6 and its characters.

Tadashi shook his head, his body and emotions had went numb. His friends were nearby watching this and they were shocked as well. They didn't know Callaghan has a daughter and they're confused about why she's a criminal.

"But... Abigail Callaghan died during a portal accident at Project Silent Sparrow!" Tadashi protested. He clearly remembered the video that shows the terrifying incident. Come to think of it, he stopped and wondered... the video didn't show what happened after Callaghan rushed into the control room.

"I didn't die," Abigail said, narrowing her eyes. "I was merely trapped inside the portal dimension for two weeks until I was rescued. But by then, the damage was already done."

She stopped and began to shudder, relieving the horrible flashbacks and memories that occurred after the accident and rescue. Even her hands began to ache; though they were already no longer hurting, reminding her of the wounds she received on that tragic day.

When her entire world was burned to ashes.

Two weeks after the government officials forced Krei to shut down the Silent Sparrow project and had everyone abandoned the lab, Alistair Krei quietly approached Professor Callaghan and told him that there is a way to rescue his daughter but Krei would need his help, and it had to be done in secret so the government won't get wind of it.

With those two, as well as the five engineers and technicians, they managed to rebuild a third but smaller portal in the biggest laboratory of Krei's old testing facility. Krei had Callaghan to keep contact with Abigail while Krei himself and his experts try to keep the portal stabilized and, using some special controls from the lab, pilot her pod towards the exit.

Callaghan saw the pod shot out from the portal and crashed into a wall of the lab, forming the giant hole. His daughter and only family, Abigail was finally back and safe.

Unfortunately, something terrible had happened to her.

Callaghan tried to restrain and calm Abigail who started screaming and crying in fear as soon he opened her pod. To make matters worse, it appears she was injured and her legs were paralyzed, probably from the explosion that destroyed the second portal (which she tried to go through) back at Akuma Island.

"The pod should have put her in hypersleep in cases of extreme accidents that could potentially harm her," one of the experts told a horrified Krei. "But it appears she had been awake and alert this entire time, while she was lost inside there for two weeks..."

"Krei, this is your fault! You did this to my daughter!" Callaghan screamed at the CEO while he stayed close to Abigail who was about to be carried away to receive medical treatment.

"N-no, it was an accident," Krei tried to tell the professor but Callaghan didn't listen to him. An engineer approached his boss.

"Sir, there's something else coming through the portal... We don't know what it is, but..."

That was the last thing Abigail was heard before she was sedated and drifted away to unconsciousness.

Months passed. While Callaghan and his daughter are now reunited, the accident of Project Silent Sparrow, however, had left Abigail confined to a wheelchair and in a physically and emotionally weakened state overall. Abigail suffered many sleepless nights, waking up to nightmares of being trapped and conscious inside the portal dimension. This episodes often left her shaking and screaming, to the point she sometimes doesn't remember where she was until she was calmed down. Another problem added to the list is that while her legs was physically injured, they were also paralyzed from the psychological trauma.

Greatly upset over being in such debilitation, Callaghan assured his daughter he will be there for her and Abigail will be given the best help and medical treatment he could find.

"No one expects you to bounce back so soon," he kindly told an emotionally-drained Abigail one day after they had breakfast in the kitchen. "I promise that with intensive physiotherapy training, you will be walking again."

Abigail didn't say anything but frowned. Her father decided to hire a nurse to take care Abigail in the day while he teaches at SFIT, and he looks after her at nights and in the weekends. Before he could leave the house that day, he received a visitor. Abigail was in the other room, and couldn't hear conversation but she noticed her father's seemed to be rising and becoming angrier. Then the door slammed loudly and a few minutes later, Callaghan returned and he was wearing a forced smile.

"Sorry, it's some rude guy selling encyclopedias," he explained as he wheeled Abigail out to the veranda in the backyard. "Sorry if my temper made you uncomfortable."

"It's alright," Abigail muttered.

Her father placed in her under a cool shade so she could look at the trees and sky. The fresh air did not seem to lighten up her moods; while she has her dad with her, she couldn't enjoy this morning. Something was missing...

"Dad, has Alistair come by yet?" she asked her dad quietly. "I haven't heard from him since I was rescued. I thought he would want to see me..."

Callaghan's face darkened and placed a firm hand on her shoulder, much to her mild surprise.

"Abigail, I think you should forget about Krei," he said. There was a hint of anger and hate in his tone. "He let you enter that portal even though he knew there was something wrong. He only saved you so he could save his hide. That's why he didn't bother to come visit you. You... were just a setback to him."

Abigail felt as though she could sink into the ground. She couldn't believe what her father told her, but everything he said seems to make sense... She could feel tears flowing from her face and she couldn't hold back her sobs.

She felt her father pulling into a tight hug, trying to soothe her. Since that day, Abigail found herself slowly hating Krei too; she had put so much trust and respect in him, only to learn she was nothing to him.

He was just an arrogant businessman. To think he was actually something different, because she saw a different side to him one time before...

A year went by, and Abigail hasn't recovered due to lack of significant progress. While she could finally move her toes, her legs were too weak and she could not take more than a few steps without collapsing. She even snapped at her father in her frustration over being dependent on others for everything.

Immediately realizing what she had done, she apologized quickly. "I'm sorry, dad," she said. "I didn't mean..."

"No, it's alright, sweetie," Callaghan assured her. "You have every right to be frustrated."

"I really wanted to walk again, but I can't!" Abigail ranted. Her pent up emotions began pouring out like poison. "I hate Alistair so much for making me like this! He doesn't know what it's like to be trapped and lost, feeling scared and not knowing if you're going to end up dying sooner or saved! I wished he was dead!"

She noticed her a strange glint in her father's eyes but she didn't think so much about it.

"That's an interesting idea," she heard him mumble under his breath. "Wouldn't that be brilliant..."

A few months passed, Abigail began to notice her dad is gradually distancing himself away from her and spending more time in the basement of their home. Abigail is no longer receiving any more medical help from her doctor. Callaghan even stopped the physiotherapy training.

Abigail also noticed her dad is becoming a bit foul-tempered lately, and she tried to lighten up his mood a few times.

"So, how was school today, Professor Robotics?" she asked cheerfully while her dad worked on something on his laptop in the living room.

"Mundane as usual," Callaghan replied without looking up. "Though one of my student is building a nursebot for his robotics project. I find it rather interesting-robots in the medical field! ... He seems too idealistic, in my opinion."

"That sounds interesting!" Abigail exclaimed. "You know, I don't think Alistair ever invented something like that in Krei Tech-"

Her father's laptop suddenly slammed down and Abigail saw her father's shine with anger.

"Don't ever mention his name in this household ever again! What did I tell you?!"

"I'm s-sorry, daddy, I forgot..." Abigail cried in a tiny voice.

Callaghan grabbed his laptop and went down to the basement to continue his work. Leaving his daughter behind and without apologizing to her. Abigail is starting to think her dad has simply given up her.

No, that's ridiculous, she thought as she wheeled herself through the kitchen to get a glass of water from the tap. Her body was still trembling. Daddy would never think I'm like a useless load since I never made any progress at walking.

But then again, a voice inside her said with a sneer, what if he really does gave up trying get help for you? You're like a doll who can't even use the bathroom without assistance! It's no wonder Alistair never came by to see you. He probably moved on and forgot about you... And what if it's the same for dear father? Maybe he's finding ways to get rid of you too... The only thing that's left of your former self is your beauty...

It was true, Abigail no longer felt like her old self before she joined Project Silent Sparrow. She used to be care-free and full of life and adventure, a talented botfighter who became a brave pilot. Now she's wasting away in cynical despair, and there would probably be no future for her.

"No," she suddenly said as she set her glass on the kitchen table. "I'm not letting that happened to me. I will... walk again! This is not my dead end!"

Leaning heavily on the kitchen table, she managed to keep herself standing and slowly pressed her foot forward, and a pain shot throughout her leg. She bit down her cry and moved another foot forward, and another until she lets go of the table. She remained standing without an aid, and took a couple of steps before she lost her balance and crashed on the floor. The vibrations moved the glass of water and it fell to the floor.

The noises alerted Callaghan who hurried into the kitchen.

"Abigail?!" he called out to her. He saw her sprawling on the floor and he gently set her back on the wheelchair. "I heard something while I was in the basement. Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"N-no, dad, I'm fine. I tried to reach for the graham crackers on the top of the shelf but I leaned too far," Abigail lied. She was smiling in the inside.

She finally walked!

The next several weeks while her dad is busy teaching at SFIT, Abigail practiced trying to walk around the house; she could feel her legs getting stronger each day and her health is returning. She wondered if her dad had noticed any difference in her mood but he seemed to be preoccupied with something. Abigail decided to keep her training a secret just wait for the right moment to surprise him.

And maybe we can be a family again, she thought hopefully as she ran around her home. She felt as though she was flying like a sparrow.

One day, her father told her something interesting; today, he will be a judge at this science showcase that would take place at the exhibition hall at SFIT.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this before, Abigail," Callaghan said as he hastily fixed up his clothes. "I've been busy with so many things. Will you be alright here by yourself?"

"I'll man down the fort while you're gone," she told her as she sat in her wheelchair. "Go have fun, I bet it'll be a blast!"

Callaghan gave her a smile, a genuine smile which Abigail hadn't seen for a long time, before he disappeared out through the door. Waiting for her father to completely leave the driveway, Abigail leaped out of her wheelchair and put on her best clothes. Today, she will be going out for the first time in more than a year. She will spend the day walking around San Fransokyo, visit her favorite spots, and then end it by meeting up with her dad at SFIT when the showcase ended and surprise him with her new, healed self.

Craving for some sweets, Abigail decided to head down to the popular Lucky Cat cafe only to find it closed.

"That's odd, this place is usually opened at this hour of the day," she said. There was a sign on the door that says that owner has left to see and support her nephew entering the SFIT showcase. She pressed her face against the glass door and stared longingly at the shelves filled of untouched pastries.

"But I was in the mood for cat doughnuts," she groaned, pouting in mild disappointment. "Ohhh, I guess I could go for Tako Taco instead... This sucks..."

The day came by so fast, Abigail was having the best time of her life. There was so many places her legs can take her, she hadn't felt this alive for a long time. It was sundown that she decided to it was finally time to drop by the showcase.

As she strolled into the campus, she saw Krei and his secretary leaving the exhibition hall. She hid nearby so she can watch them; she didn't realize Krei would be here! Maybe he was here to look for the next "big thing" he could buy and mass-produce at Krei Tech. She the saw sharp-nosed entrepreneur frowning, as though someone had irritated him or refused to sell him something.

She thought about popping out of her hiding place and say hi to him but she stopped herself. Despite her bitter feelings towards Krei, she wanted to forgive him for his careless mistakes and faults; yet she felt hesitant of her decision.

What if he's not interested to see me again? she thought and a small wave of sadness washed over her. We used to be so close, but now he's like a stranger to me...

Old, painful memories of her suffering during the past year alone-despite her father being there for he-came back, and she remembered how Krei almost ruined her life. Her hatred re-emerged and she found herself wishing she could strangle him.

She darkly watches Krei and his secretary leaving the campus but she continued to stay at her spot, to calm her senses. Minutes later, a small group of people walked out from the entrance doors and noticed the youngest of the group, a messy-haired Japanese boy (or he could be biracial, she thought, noticing his features) holding up what it appears to be a letter. She guess that this boy's invention must have won an admission to SFIT, since it's like one of the prizes at the showcase.

Remembering her plan, she crept around the back of the exhibition hall to find the exit. She knew her father so well, he would probably be handling some of the inventions that were accepted and moving them to a separate room in the back of the hall.

She found the exit and entered. That's when she smelled smoke in the air and heard screaming in the distance. She quickly followed the sound down the hall, and ran into the main hall where a horrifying sight awaits her. The walls and floors were engulfed in huge flames, and smoke is beginning to fill up. She was about to escape when she saw someone in the distance, near one of the stages. She ran to person, avoiding the flames and keeping her body low to avoid inhaling smoke.

She recognized him immediately.

"Dad!" she screamed.

"Abigail?" Callaghan turned around and his eyes wide when he saw who called him. He was wearing a strange metallic headband on his forehead. "Abigail, you're walking?"

"Dad, what are you doing here?" she demanded, her voiced filled with fear. "The whole place is burning up!"

Then a low beam collapsed from the ceiling it fell with a crash behind them. The beam had blocked their only exit. Abigail's heart hammered, panic rising inside her chest. How does this happened? She heard something else and a swarm of what looks like tiny robots dismantling what looks like a machine full of chemicals that was strapped up in the ceiling located far away from them and near the doors of the main lobby. Then the nanobots crawled down and moved towards Callaghan, as though they were controlled by him. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Dad, what are those?" she asked.

"These are microbots," he replied quickly. "This neurotransmitter I'm wearing controls them."

"What did you just do with them? Did you... " she stopped and brushed away her suspicions since there are more important things at hand. "Look, we have to get out of here!"

"You shouldn't even be here!" Callaghan shouted at her. He looked worried and, at the same time, outraged. "I'm not in even in danger!"

"What does that even mean?"

Just then, they heard a cry over the roaring, crackling flames.

"Tadashi! ... Tadashi!"

Callaghan's face turned pale as he saw Hiro Hamada coming out from a corner. The young teenaged boy was holding his brother's baseball cap.

"Professor Callaghan!" Hiro shouted, coughing from the smoke. "You're here! Have you seen Tadashi, he ran in here to find you!"

"You're that boy I saw earlier..." Abigail gasped.

Hiro's eyes widened when he saw his professor wearing the neurotransmitter and saw the swarm of microbots near his feet.

"Wait, those are my microbots!"

Callaghan then shot a hand forward and a pillar of microbots lunged forward and knocked Hiro against a wall, knocking him out. Abigail stared in shock.

"Dad, why did you that?!" she yelled. Her mind tried to process what she just saw.

"He saw too much," Callaghan said cruelly. "Let's go, we're leaving him."

Abigail heard another beam cracking above. She and Callaghan saw it ready to fall on top of Hiro's unconscious body; but the former dove in and grabbed Hiro away as the beam smashed in the floor. While Abigail checked to see if the boy was alive, Callaghan saw the flames burning the machine with chemicals. Thinking quickly, he used the microbots to form a spherical shield around Abigail and Hiro.

Then the bomb went off.

After the explosion ended, Abigail was surprised to see the strength of the microbots had managed to save both of her and the boy. But her surprise was replaced with terror when she remembered her father used the microbots to save them. The microbot sphere began to fall away and Abigail's heart stopped when the entire main hall covered in flames nearly everything destroyed, debris scattered all over the room.

She looked around for her father and saw his body under a huge pile of burning wood.

"Daddy!" she shrieked, distraught and panicking. She ran to his side and tried to lift the wood off him but her hands got burned. She winced in pain, feeling herself ready to cry.

"Abigail..." Callaghan wheezed, coughing heavily from the smoke. "Get out of here, save yourself..."

"S-shut up, I'm not leaving you here!" Abigail shouted. Her tears kept falling, her body shaking violently as she tried to control herself. "We're going home together, you're my only family left!"

Callaghan just gave her a regretful smile and used his remaining strength to remove the neurotransmitter band from his hand dropped it on her burned hands.

"You are truly... the greatest joy a father could ever had," he whispered. Then his head went limp and he closed his eyes.

Professor Robert Callaghan never breathed again.

Abigail's anguished wails were drowned out by the flames.

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