"Are you sure you want to just hold you bot like that? I've got a blanket you can hide it with. If you aren't careful you might give some of the other contestants a good idea." Tadashi quickly stepped out of the elevator and looked back at his younger brother.

"Yeah Tadashi I told you it's fine." Hiro stuck his tongue out at Tadashi before readjusting the weight of his bot on his arm.

Following Tadashi out of the elevator, Hiro glanced around the conference center with a small smile gracing his lips. Benefactors from a few different robotics companies had rented out the conference center in order to see young aspiring roboticists new inventions. No expense was spared on the hotel because of this fact. On top of the conference room, half of the costs of the rooms were covered by the benefactors as well.

Every high school with a robotics club had people competing. From Sanfransokyo high school forty kids had entries. Hiro was sure that Tadashi's invention was the best by far out of that group. The question was what other big fish were lurking around?

"Quit gawking Hiro we need to sign in." Tadashi nudged his younger brother trying to pull him from whatever thoughts had him so preoccupied.

Hiro looked over at Tadashi before biting his lip. He held out his robot and student ID with an apologetic look quickly taking over his face. "I'm sorry Tadashi but could you sign me in?"

Tadashi frowned cocking his head to the side in question. "Um I guess I could but why?"

Hiro brought a hand up to his mouth and stifled a few small coughs. Until a few moments ago he had been too excited to notice but his throat had started feeling a little raw this morning. "I was going to see if the lobby had any tea. I'm kind of thirsty."

Tadashi looked his brother over curiously. It wasn't too odd of a request but something seemed off about his younger brother. "Yeah, I'll meet you in the lobby when I'm done. Before you go though I need you to answer me honestly about something ok?"

Hiro looked up at his brother and nodded. "Alright what's the question?"

Tadashi put his hand on Hiro shoulder and gave him a solemn look. "Are you just thirsty or is something else going on?"

Tadashi noticed Hiro's cheeks had looked a little flushed when he woke up and like any good big brother he'd been at least a little concerned. His suspicions were only growing as time went on though. Hiro's attentiveness was waning and although under normal circumstances coughing could be written off, combined with the other small changes, Tadashi was slowly becoming more certain of his assertion.

Hiro's eyes flickered away from Tadashi's and he shook his head. "No, I'm just thirsty."

Tadashi took a small breath and nodded. "Alright then, stay in the lobby 'kay Hiro? I'll meet you once we are all checked in."

Hiro smiled. "Thank you Tadashi."

Tadashi stepped away from Hiro and took his place in the check in line. Hiro lied to him. At least that's what it looked like. Tadashi had a hollow feeling in his stomach. His little brother lied to him about getting sick. If Hiro hadn't looked away when he answered the question Tadashi would have thought perhaps Hiro was just too excited to notice he was coming down with something but now looking at how he'd reacted to the question, Tadashi was pretty sure he'd been lied to. The question was why was Hiro trying to hide it?

Hiro took a seat by the window in the lobby and looked outside with a small frown. Why did he lie to Tadashi? On top of that why was it so easy for him to? Thinking back on it the reason was already pretty clear. Tadashi would pull the mother hen routine and get all worked up right before his big presentation. He didn't need that. However it was startling how easy it was to outright lie to Tadashi. He'd been doing it enough lately in order to go to bot fights it was becoming almost second nature.

Hiro took a sip from his tea cup with a small sigh. He felt a little bad lying to his brother after pulling that stupid stunt in the pool the other day though. He'd find a way to make it up to him later.

"Hey kid its Hiro right?" A young man in a suit quickly approached Hiro from across the lobby.

Hiro glanced up and looked the young man over curiously. He didn't look familiar. "Yeah I'm Hiro."

The nicely dressed man smiled charmingly and extended his hand. "I'm glad I found you my name is Tony Anderson. My boss has been interested in you for a while now. You see we know about your less than savory pass time."

Hiro bristled suddenly unsure of the man in front of him. Hopefully Tadashi wouldn't return while he was here.

Tony smiled. "It's alright; if you would just come with me my boss has a proposal for you."

Now Hiro was on edge. He couldn't just leave with this guy. He barely even knew him. Not to mention this boss he kept mentioning. Hiro would play it safe outright denying people involved in bot fighting was often a dangerous thing. "Sir I appreciate it but my brother's going to be back in a few minutes and I don't have any way of contacting him to say where I'll be going."

Tony placed a hand on Hiro's shoulder. "No worries kid. Does he have a cell? You can borrow mine and text him. Just say a representative from the convention requested a private interview. You can meet him back at your room when you're all done."

Hiro frowned. "I can't. You don't know my big brother."

Tony's lip twitched and he pulled a small bottle from his pocket. "Say kid, have you ever tried vanilla in your tea before?"

Hiro was tempted to run at this point. The man was standing far to close and would catch him if he tried to move. Hiro's eyes flickered towards the conference hall.

Tony's expression suddenly became cold. He poured a few drops of whatever was in that bottle into Hiro's tea. "You'll drink this now or we'll find your brother and when we are done with him you'll wish you did."

Hiro swallowed. He was tempted to call out. Tadashi had to be nearby right? God this was bad. Looking closely now Hiro could see a blade in the man's pocket. If he brought attention to himself or tried to escape his life might me in danger. Not to mention Tadashi's. All he knew now is that this man's boss needed him. At this point if obedient, he would probably be ok.

Tony pushed the cup towards Hiro. "Now."

Slowly Hiro lifted the cup in his hands and nervously sipped the now strange tasting tea. Seconds later he was very dizzy. His vision grew dark.

Tony smiled holding his arm out to catch the kid as he fell forward off his chair. He threw the cup away before walking out of the hotel with a small scientist in his arms.