Chapter 8 (Hiro's POV)

I was more than happy to enjoy a sleepy Tuesday at work. Not to mention it being a student presentation day meant I had less to say. Maybe that was why teachers always loved to load us up with class assignments?

It wasn't just SFIT, all of San Fransokyo had been quiet since the art party. A more alert me would have said it seemed too quiet, but I was trying to take it as a good thing. Karmi was trying to teach me not to be so paranoid, and she was usually right about everything. Just remind me not to admit that to her.

But not every emergency is really dangerous, sometimes they're just really annoying. I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. It was on silent, so I assumed no one would notice if I just took a quick peek…

"SOS ALERT! - Krei"

I rolled my eyes. Getting a message like that from anyone else would have sent me straight into action, but Krei was the definition of the CEO who cried wolf.

"What's going on?" I slowly texted back. If he could manage to type out a response I figured it couldn't be that big of a deal.

"I need to meet with BH6 pronto! Profits and the future of Krei Tech is at stake, Hiro!"

"You lost me at profits…" I replied honestly.

"LOL very funny, your sense of humor is sick indeed. No seriously, when can you come?"

I tried not to sigh loud enough for class to hear it. "Give me a few hours, I'm at work."

"Work?! Isn't it your job to be a superhero? What could be more important than that?!"

"Funny thing is, they don't pay me to be a superhero. Though I am thinking of accepting tips…"

"Never mind, a few hours is fine…"

Krei was so predictable it was almost comforting, except his dare I say, stupidity usually got him in trouble. And when he was in trouble BH6 was sure to be drug into it with him. Still, nothing about it was setting off any alarm bells inside my head. At least for the moment anyway…

After class, I rounded up Baymax and made a few calls to see who was free. Gogo was ready to come until I mentioned Krei then I'm pretty sure she just made up an excuse. Honestly, I couldn't blame her. When all was said and done Honey Lemon was the only one who agreed to go with me. Still, it wasn't a big deal, I'd just give everyone else the summary later.

"Mr. Krei is very prone to…exaggeration," Baymax mused thoughtfully, as we headed down the sidewalk.

I scoffed. "Yeah, you could say that. Let's just hope it's not a repeat of that squirrel drywall incident. Does he really think BH6 has nothing better to do than try and bait furry animals out of his apartment walls?"

"The squirrel bit me," Baymax mumbled matter of fact.

"Yeah, you weren't the only one…"

"Mr. Krei has also been involved in more pressing incidents," he went on. "Could this be one of them, Hiro?"

I shrugged. "Anything's possible, Krei is certainly good at walking into traps." Flicking through my phone, I figured I'd tell Karmi I'd be a little late.

"Whatever it is," I added. "Let's just get it over with."

"Haste," Baymax corrected. "Often leads to accident or injury."

"And too much time spent listening to Alistair Krei ramble can lead to hypertension." I felt my phone buzz with Karmi's reply. It read straightforwardly enough: "If it's about squirrels just say NO."

"Will do," I shot back before tucking the phone back into my pocket.

Honey Lemon was already waiting for us outside of Krei Tech, so we headed in without much hesitation. Judy looked about as haggard as you'd expect. She didn't even look up from her desk, just waved us into Krei's office with all the enthusiasm of wet cardboard.

"Hiro, finally!" he shouted pulling his heels off the desk and sitting up straight. "Look, I know you love small talk, but I've got a meeting in an hour, so let's make this quick."

I tried to hide the giddy smile on my face. "Oh, what a shame…"

"So what can we do for you, Mr. Krei?" Honey Lemon asked; even she seemed chipper at the news.

He smiled, his ego inflating. "Well, Krei Tech is on the verge of yet another life-altering breakthrough. As in truly life-altering." He paused for effect and I tried not to roll my eyes. "But being so successful and on the cutting edge always draws attention from jealous wackos, especially in this city…" He pulled an envelope out of his coat pocket and tossed it at me. "Judy pulled this out of our PO Box this morning."

I unfolded the letter inside as Honey Lemon leaned in to look it over.

It wasn't much to go on honestly. It was just some cryptid threat signed: Marugata

"Well, what do you make of that?" he asked impatiently.

I shrugged. "Not much honestly, it isn't a lot to go on."

Krei frowned, seeming a little disappointed. "Well, all I know is this, I have a shipment of important test prototypes arriving tonight. They can't be stolen by some fruitcake!"

I sighed. "So you'd like us to hang around and much sure they arrive okay, I take it?"

"Yes," he added emphatically. "The shipment arrives at the docks around 8:00 tonight. I expect Big Hero 6 to be there to protect them."

"Yeah, alright," I agreed reluctantly. He was probably worrying over nothing, but I knew he'd never leave us alone about it if we didn't go. And I guess, it was the hero thing to do, even if it was Krei we were talking about.

"Well, there goes another quiet evening at home…" I mumbled playfully as we stepped out of the elevator and headed for the lobby doors.

I expected Honey Lemon to have something light to say about it, but instead, she seemed deadly serious all of a sudden. I stopped and glanced at her. "You okay…?"

She nodded slowly. "Yes, it's just that name, Marugata, it seems so familiar… Like I've heard it somewhere recently."

I raised a suspicious eyebrow. "For real? I just assumed it could be anyone."

She thought silently for a few more moments before trying to smile. "It's probably nothing, Hiro, don't worry about it. Anyway, I'll see you tonight."

"Right, later…" I mumbled as I watched her walk away. "What was up with that?" I asked Baymax when she finally rounded the corner.

He blinked silently, the same ominous thoughts seeming to come to our minds. "Hiro, I do not know…"

The docks of San Fransokyo harbor were mostly desolate by 8:00, save for a few cargo lifts coming and going. All in all, it looked like the perfect setup for an ambush. Or at least Fred certainly thought so…

"And so our heroes wait in silence. Watching, waiting, completely unaware of what dark secret lurks in the shadows. Da dom da dom-"

"Absolutely no theme music," Gogo quipped, cutting him off. "I thought we were waiting in silence?"

"Any chance your middle name is Killjoy?" he teased her.

She rolled her eyes. "I could live with that."

"I could live with a cleaner local for a sting," Wasabi whispered in horror as a rat ran past the crates we were hiding behind. "And besides, haven't we done this before? The meet at the docks and get ambushed routine? I'm almost positive we have."

"That's because it's a classic," Fred explained.

I expected Honey Lemon to laugh, or say something to lighten the mood, but she was still as weirdly serious as when we'd left her at Krei Tech. I glanced back at her, wondering for the thousandth time what was up. I didn't know if it was just the nature of the larger looming mystery of Enkei or if something more personal was bothering her.

Adult life certainly had no shortage of personal problems… In my case, it included a mostly still busted hand and a major complex that went with it. If I was honest, I was hoping that Krei was just paranoid. I could still use a little time off to mend. But when did superheroes get time off…

"That's Krei's cargo," I whispered beside Baymax as I pointed out our target.

"Well, at least they're on time," Wasabi added.

I nodded. "Yeah, let's stay on our toes just in case."

"Roger, Roger, Captain!" Fred said with a salute.

"Captain…?" I mumbled, walking right into it.

He smiled. "Yeah, cutie."

Rolling my eyes, I sunk a little lower behind the boxes. Never mind, bring on a little action. But you know what they say: be careful what you wish for.

"Marugata…" Honey Lemon finally whispered. "I know where I heard it now."

"Come again?" Gogo asked not following.

So I tried to explain. "The threat Krei got was signed by somebody called that."

"Okay, so who is it?" she asked, glancing back toward Honey Lemon.

Honey Lemon frowned, a somber look overtaking her. "Marugata was the name of the artist who painted the artwork from the exhibition. In other words, it might be linked to-"

"Enkei," I said as my blood ran cold. Tapping the side of my helmet I switched between view modes, scanning the darkness desperately. This time, we'd have the upper hand, we had to.

"We have company," I whispered as I gestured toward a stack of cargo containers. We have a heat signature where nobody should be. Baymax and I will go sneak around the back to flush them out, the rest of you provide cover."

Without waiting to hear if anyone had any objections we headed out, keeping as low a profile as possible. This time I'd use the darkness to my advantage, we'd get to make the first move. But everything about Enkei seemed designed to purposefully make a fool out of me. Every move I made, she already had a counter…

Ducking behind another stack of crates I saw the heat signature move. Looking up I didn't have to guess where.

"Hello, Hiro, so we meet again." She smiled, her dark hair blowing in the chilled night air.

"Enkei, I don't know what you want, but this ends now!"

"No," she said readying her wrist-mounted flamethrowers. "This is only the beginning!"

Jumping off the crate above me she opened fire, the flames singeing us as we ducked just in the nick of time. Mounting Baymax we rose through the air attempting to get a better angle to attack. Flame throwers had a relatively short firing range, almost like melee. We had to use that to our advantage. And unlike at the museum, we were all together now.

Gogo took the offensive as always and flung a disc directly toward one of her flame throwers. It made contact and I saw the stream of flames sputter to a stop. "One down," I thought, feeling a little encouraged.

"How about we fight fire with fire!" Fred yelled as he let loose some flames of his own. It provided the perfect cover while Honey Lemon composed an orb that would extinguish fire on contact. Once the fire was out Wasabi went in for close qauaters combat. All in all, the strategy was working seamlessly. But her two flame throwers weren't the only trick in her arsenal. Far from it.

Pulling two dagers from hip sheaths she matched Wasabi blow for blow. When she'd pushed him back I knew it was my time to act. "Baymax, now!"

I watched breathlessly as the rocket fist made contact, knocking her back into the containers. That should have been enough for anyone, but she wasn't just anyone…

Pulling herself back onto her feet she glared up at me. "Your toys are quaint, but your emotions will ultimately be your downfall."

Tapping a panel on her wrist she launched a barrage of small seeker projectiles from a device on her back. We spun left, avoiding a few, but it wasn't enough. Those that still got through exploded on impact.

My senses blurred, my ears ringing before fading into a humming silence. I felt the heat through my armor, the smell of smoke triggering every painful memory I'd ever tried to forget. My vision swam, as I struggled to cling to consciousness.

"Someone has to do something."

I heard his voice inside my mind as clearly as if I was that same kid again.

"T-Tadashi…" I whispered as reality came back into view. Shaking myself awake again I looked through the smoke. Everyone was still fighting. Now wasn't the time to get lost in the past…

"Baymax are you alright?!"

"I h-have sustained d-damage…" he stammered as the jets gave way and we started to spiral toward the ground. All I could do was brace for impact as we crashed into a stack of crates. Bits of metal and splitters of wood rained down on us just to make matters worse. But I didn't have time to stay down.

"Baymax!?" I shouted as I scrambled to my feet. But there was no answer, his entire system was down. I wasn't in much better shape, but I could still walk, and that was enough. Grabbing a piece of the metal shrapnel littered around us, I locked it to my palm magnetically and headed back into the battle. We had to end this quickly and get Baymax help.

I did my part to help, by my improvised weapon was hardly ideal. Still, with all of us attacking at once it seemed ridiculous that she was still holding her own. She didn't even seem…human.

Finally, we'd pushed her back against one of the piers. She had nowhere to run, just a wall of black churning water on one side and the 5 of us on the other. This was going to end now, it had to.

"Stop this, you have nowhere to run!" I shouted, through my sweat and frustration.

"Your sense of control is merely an illusion, Hiro," she said with the same calm brazen.

Activating the last flamer thrower that still functioned, she aimed it toward the pier. Instead of turning it on us, she quickly traced out a shape into the wood. Burning an image into place. Before I could even realize what she'd done she turned and dove head-first into the water.

"Enkei!" I shouted as I ran to the edge of the water. But there was no sight of her. Not even a trace…

"Hiro…" I heard Honey Lemon whisper.

Turning, I glanced down at the pier. The spot where all our eyes were locked. That symbol…it was…

I clenched my fists, the same cold running through my heart. Kneeling down I traced my finger through the shape of the symbol; still warm to the touch. It was like still the first image I saw in every one of my nightmares… An image that filled me with as much anger and grief as it did guilt.

Pushing the denial away I finally admitted the reality in front of us.

"Silent Sparrow…" I whispered.

Thanks to those who have read or reviewed thus far. I plan to try and release a chapter once a week, but it could run a little longer, work is keeping me pretty busy lately. With that said, don't worry it won't be a major delay or anything.