man your battle stations, we'll have you dead pretty soon

[tadeadshi]

[Panic had run straight through his core when he knew someone had found their safe house. It'd been the best one yet, they had managed to stay there for months now, but it really was too good to last. They still had so much to find and clean up, he wasn't ready. He grabs his bag, the one he kept packed for if they had to run fast, and made for the door but stopped just outside.

It was them. It was the Six, they'd found him and Callaghan. He's not sure how, Callaghan's mods to his collar had jammed their trackers so... It must be something else they used. But if they're here then they could help. They could take over this mess, and he could go home.

Maybe.

Tadashi's throat's gone dry with the dirt and dust kicked up from their landing and scuffle with Callaghan off to the side and he stands watching, swallowing the lump in his throat. Callaghan, that's right, he-- He'd done so much to get them out, he couldn't let the guy just be taken back to prison, he'd be killed from the inside --

He makes a run towards the group, waving and trying to call out but any sound he makes drowned by the shouting.]

Comments

IT'S GREAT

[microbrobotics]

[ No portal, against an experienced enemy - it's no wonder the Six are having trouble at first. In fact they're all fighting in the same mode as they did during the previous fight: trying to take out as many bots as they can, as fast as they can. But without a portal to remove the downed bots from the field, Cal can easily scoop them back up and add them straight back into their horde. There's Wasabi, just about fighting himself into a corner keeping them at bay. Honey Lemon throwing up bursts of chemicals left and right, Gogo smashing through them with her disks, Fred melting what he can with their fire ... And Baymax of course, karate-chopping his way all over the place. There's errors and hiccups but no one is losing an arm at least. All of them fighting to meet Callaghan's rising tide of bots. And all of them have benefitted from the tech arms race that began with Tadashi and has been continuing ever since. Cal can likely recognize some of the tech being thrown back in his face - items that were reverse-engineered and then improved after they were first used on the six. Clearly Hiro's been doing a lot of work here.

In fact ... wait, where is Hiro? Normally he'd be perched on Baymax's back in all this, but their tiny leader is nowhere to be seen. Not with the main group, not with Baymax ... He's off to one side from the rest, hands out and fingers moving as if across an invisible keyboard. In fact he's manipulating something inside his HUD, with sensors in his gloves picking up his movements and letting him input information directly in addition to the neuro-transmitter band already built in. By the time he's noticeable, however, it's too late. The next wave that Cal sends out veers weirdly just as it was about to knock into Honey. The next blow stops entirely ...

And then the entire mass of microbots suddenly pull back towards Hiro as if drawn there by a magnetic forces. Callaghan can't control them any more - Hiro's hacked in with his own transmitter. And the rest of the team was using their old tactics specifically to buy their leader enough time to pull it off. After all, they don't really need the bots to be pulled into a portal. They just need their old adversary to not have them any more. ]

[pushtheboundaries]

[they really, really should know better. they should have improved. should have a /plan/ by now, they're /better/ than this, Callaghan is practically disgusted by their sloppiness, did they come here half asleep? what were they thinking, really? he punts one up in to the air, doesn't bother turning to watch Baymax catch them, wondering just what the hell is going on-

-and just as his eyes fall upon Hiro, he's starting to suspect. there's a moment of faltering realization, and then he's throwing the microbots forwards, because this better not be what he thinks

it

is

and what was a strike turns in to practically surrendering his best weapon. Callaghan can certainly be forgiven for the faltering steps he takes as the microbots fly from about him, abandoning him as though he held the repulsive magnetic force to their innate power.

he'd be impressed, if he weren't now being entirely defensive and trying to dodge the chemical bomb thrown in his direction. this does, however, put him directly in the path of another disc, hitting him in the mask- and isn't that a moment of deja vu? - and there's Wasabi running for him with all the presence of a quarterback.

Callaghan does the first thing he can think of.

he turns and dives for cover, reaching in to his coat for one of his emergency plans.]

[microbrobotics]

[ Even after two years, Hiro is still furious with the man who killed his older brother. No, even angrier now, since it's obvious that Callaghan must have been involved in all that ridiculous tech they've been fighting. His team has taken bruises and broken bones due to those weapons. Hell, he nearly died when an emp disabled Baymax and sent Hiro falling fifty feet to the ground below. If not for his experimental flight suit, he likely wouldn't have survived that one. He's lucky he got out of it with a shattered arm.

So no, Hiro doesn't wait to see what Callaghan will pull out next. He's got all the microbots on his side now, and after fighting Cal for the first time? He sure does have some ideas on how to use them. Poetic revenge fantasies, even. The first torrent slides out alarmingly fast, aiming for Callaghan's legs as Hiro himself follows after. His patterns are more geometric, more fluid, moving in complex interchangeable arcs with no physical tells from Hiro himself. He really should have made microbots his weapon; he's damned efficient with them, that's for sure. If the first strike won't hit, then there's another where that came from. And another, from the other side. It'll box Callaghan in swiftly if he doesn't come up with something fast.

He grits his teeth, reining in the temptation - still hot in his mind, despite everything - to harm the professor. But like hell he's going to let this guy hurt his friends either. When he speaks, his voice is low and distorted by the vocal modulator attached to his suit. ]

Give it up, Callaghan.

[pushtheboundaries]

[it's funny that Hiro's mind wanders to the EMP- because Callaghan's improved on the design. it's a prototype, it's nowhere near stable, but it might be enough to get him out of this jam and then...running?

and abandoning the microbots. great. but considering they're being used against him right now, tripping him to the ground as black walls come up and surround him- the mask still on his face renders it difficult to read him, but his body language certainly looks stressed. panicked? close, but he's at least pulling out the switch, thumbing off the safety, looking up through the microbots towards the direction of that modulated voice...

...and all he can do, at first, is make a short 'hnh' of amusement]

Sorry to disappoint.

[beep. he can feel the buzz through his transmitter as the EMP flares out, but he's got no idea of the range or duration...]

[microbrobotics]

[ Hiro really hates EMPs. Goddammit. The microbots immediately collapse into harmless piles around Callaghan as the blast disables Hiro's transmitter. Their radios are out too, and all of their suits - the one downside of switching to fully powered exoskeletons is that it's a pain making all the systems work without power. But at least he designed them flexible enough that they're not trapped in their own armor.

As for himself ... well. Like he was going to take an EMP blast and not build in safeguards for next time. He flicks a switch on the underside of one palm - and his armor hums back to life again courtesy of the backup generator he'd specifically shielded to hold up against an EMP blast. He drops to one knee, like a runner at the starting block, then he screams forward at frankly an alarming speed. Not as fast as GoGo, maybe, but still being powered by the rockets that he usually saves for limited bursts of flight. He's on Callaghan in the next split second, tackling him to the ground physically. ]

[pushtheboundaries]

[he'd expected that to disable.

he'd expected Hiro to startle, to give him a chance to run- in all fairness, as soon as the microbots drop, he's booking it. he's not sure where he's going short of away, coat flapping behind him as he begins to work up inertia-

-and then he's tackled from behind, yelping in surprise. they shouldn't have recovered that quickly-!

old training and more recent experience take over, and he's struggling against armor, trying to get an elbow or knee in a weak spot. considering Hiro's armor, though, just the first strike ends up with him hissing in pain]

[microbrobotics]

[ There really aren't a whole lot of soft points in his armor - mostly at the major joints, like the backs of his knees and around his neck. Otherwise it's built to handle him possibly flying into a concrete wall without being killed, which means that some professor? Isn't gonna do much damage to it. The scars and scoring all over his armor is testament enough to that. Every one of those matches up with a weapon Cal or Tadashi made...

He grabs for Callaghan's face, trying to hold him down against the payment as hard as he can. Even in his armor, he's still too small to keep much of a grip; he only has a limited amount of time before Callaghan gets free. Less if he manages to find a good weak spot. But the rest o the Six are behind him now, and they will gladly help him keep Callaghan from escaping. ]

[pushtheboundaries]

[he's still got mass and weight on Hiro, and if he tried, he could probably at least flip them over and grapple that way. but as Callaghan starts to push himself back up, he catches sight of the incoming Six, and a few things run through his head.

one, how while he may outmatch Hiro in close-quarters, the rest of them could easily overpower him.
two, how he could very well continue to fight, but at this point, he's got only so many options or defenses. he'll be wasting his energy.
three, how between being caught again by the mob, the police, or the Six...

with a grunt, Callaghan lets himself be pushed down, flattening his palms against the ground and spreading them out in what he hopes comes off as a yielding gesture. and just in case Hiro needs another clue;]

All right, all right. I'm done!

[microbrobotics]

[ Well -- good. Or damn, he's not sure which; he was getting ready to enjoy punching this guy in the face. His modulator's still out so he can't say a word. But he nods, gesturing for the others to stay close. He's rigid and stiff all over, clearly upset to be dealing with Callagahn again. ]

[pushtheboundaries]

[har de har har, Hiro. Callaghan turns his head so that his cheek is against the ground, working on catching his breath. as the others get close enough to help 'contain' him, he doesn't /fight/, but he only cooperates so much, either. they can get Hiro off him and he doesn't try and run, they can get him in to a sitting position and he doesn't resist, up on his feet with arms tucked behind his back...

well, he seems almost /sullen/, and his silence probably says a lot on its own...but if they were hoping for him to start bargaining?

not so much. he really just seems like he's trying to regain his strength.]

[microbrobotics]

[ Fine Cal, be that way. Within a few minutes, the EMP has worn off enough to Hiro to have his modulator back. So it's safe enough for him to risk speaking. What does he even say? To this man he hates, who built all these weapons and tried to kill them - is there even anything left to say? But he has to do something now. ]

What the hell are you doing here? Making more weapons?

[pushtheboundaries]

[he will. he's not quite the same man there was, back at Krei Tech; he's a bit harder for all of his experiences, and a bit more of the mindset that given time, he can outthink even the most hopeless situations. he may hate himself for his own methods, but that's besides the point. when Hiro addresses him, though, he remains quiet for a few more moments, seeming as though he's going to keep his peace on it and perhaps everything else...

before making that little 'hnh' noise again.] What can I say? The best defense...[...is a good offense. so that's a roundabout way of saying 'yes']

[microbrobotics]

[ Ugh, Callaghan. Behind his faceplate, Hiro's face contorts a bit with anger. He reminds himself to breathe, that he's not here to hurt Callaghan. Throw him back in jail, definitely. But nothing worse than that. Still, it takes a few moments of him clenching his fists to find his voice again. ]

Is that all you've got to say for yourself? Why'd you join up with Yama?

[pushtheboundaries]

[ticking off Hiro may not be the smartest things to do, all things considered, but the thought of provoking him until he can't see straight has occurred to Callaghan. upon further review, however, that plan's going nowhere but down.

the question, however, causes his upper lip to curl, and his chin to raise just slightly. disgust- to cover what twisting there is inside. but Robert's always prided himself on hiding his emotions and thoughts, so...]

Well, I didn't ask to be broken out of jail.

[microbrobotics]

[ Gee, not provoking the kid with anger issues may indeed be he best plan, yes. Mostly because he's the one out of the group who'll hurt him first. If he can hold back, the rest of the group sure will. Heck, they'll be the one stopping him.

He stops, though. Taken off guard by that comment. ]

What do you mean? You were working with them, right? I know you built those weapons.

[pushtheboundaries]

I did.

[he won't deny that. he will, however, give Hiro a long and measuring look, considering it all. because on one hand, he's pretty sure that whatever he says, there's a chance they won't believe him and think he'll just be lying to save his skin...

on the other. he could stall and buy a bit more time of Tadashi to get out of here, if he hasn't already. finally, Callaghan swallows and looks away.]

And I won't discuss this here.

[microbrobotics]

[ Hiro's fists clench. There's likely nothing Cal can say at this point; nothing that will convince Hiro to let the ex-professor go. Except maybe a certain brotherly revelation, but that is a tricky, tricky subject anyway. ]

Plenty of time to talk about it back in jail. You --

[ And then he stops. Helmet jerking to one side as his mouth goes dry. He sees a familiar figure behind Callaghan, one he never thought he'd see again. His brother. ]

[pushtheboundaries]

[Hiro'd outright call him a liar if he dared bring that up. sometimes the truth isn't the right answer, but the promise of jail...

well, it's not hard to see the tightening of his jaw, the stiffening of his posture. Baymax, were he paying attention, would be able to notice the elevation in heartbeat; these are distress responses, even fear.]

There are far more merciful ways to kill me, Mister Hamada!

[if Yama got him out once - without cooperation - then there's no doubt he could get someone in to 'take care' of him. and he'd have every reason to, with how much of a thorn Yokai's been since slipping the leash, he'd probably relish it.

Callaghan just hopes the shock is enough to pull Hiro's attention back to him, because he doesn't want to risk looking behind and see what Hiro might have noticed]

[microbrobotics]

[ Baymax turns to Hiro, in fact, to confirm just that. But now Hiro's gone stock still for another reason. His name. Callaghan just called him by his name, out in the open where anyone could hear. So Cal's got Hiro's attention again, whether that was how he'd intended it or not.

A fearful response but using his name? What kind of game is Callaghan playing at? Hiro doesn't like it, not one bit. ]

We're going to put you somewhere safe. No killing. Which is better than what you're doing.

[ A modulated hiss on that last phrase. Shut up about his name right now or else. ]

[pushtheboundaries]

[fear makes people do things.

it makes people play what cards they have, to try and pull any bluffs they can think of, rash decisions that may be better served thought through but Callaghan has committed himself now. the stressed response is still there, peaking, even, but he ignores everyone else but Hiro. he locks eyes, hunches his shoulders, and lowers his voice to an intent firmness]

If you turn me in, I will not survive the week, and I cannot promise your secrets will be safe.

[its an odd threat, to be sure. but it's either that or outright imply he'd betray them]

[microbrobotics]

[ No mistaking that. Odd or not, it's a threat - and a threat that Hiro has to take seriously. He's kept their identities secret for too long, taken too many precautions. He's already seen (and subtly defused) the mafia surveilling his home; he knows that if they had his secret identity, even a whiff of who he could be, then he and his Aunt would be dead or kidnapped within the day. The Six have been busting up way too many of Yama's operations - plus, Yama has plenty of reason to hate Hiro, specifically.

So what does he do with that? A counterthreat bubbles to his lips immediately - try it and your daughter will be next - but he forces it back down. Refuses to stoop that low, no matter how oppressive the temptation might be. That ... doesn't leave him a whole lot of options. Except, maybe, to try calling his bluff. ]

Should have told them earlier then. Your mistake.

[pushtheboundaries]

[he wasn't sure what he expected. Hiro to explore options? he knows very well they're similar and respond in similar ways to being pushed; the first response is to push bezel, to overcome with their own force of personality or whatever they have at hand.

but it's those two words that are the final blow. after staring at Hiro a moment longer...he heaves out a heavy breath and lowers his head, eyes closing]

... your choice.

[the defeat in him is palpable. he knew he wouldn't be trusted. ]

[microbrobotics]

[ Hiro is stubbornly stiff through all this, but the rest of the team ripples at that; they know their professor better than Hiro does, and what that expression means. Hiro hears their murmurings in their headset, knows what's coming. They're going to try to talk him out of this and he hates that. Especially since his friends almost always turn out to be right. ]

What do you want, Callaghan? For us to just let you go? So you can make more weapons to hurt us?

[ He shifts a bit, turning that badly scored left arm towards him. Emphasizing his point. ]

aaaand i just noticed that html bork a couple comments back. whupsies at small-SMALL text.

[pushtheboundaries]

[there's something to be said about Hiro reaching out earlier, as well; while Callaghan's eyes do raise at the question, they don't stay that way for long. his face his neutral, all but blank, and the fear response is beginning to ebb in to resignation.

his voice, when he speaks, is quiet. steady, but quiet.]

I already told you - I'm not going to discuss this here.

EXTRA small text just makes it more fun to read

[microbrobotics]

[ They need more information; Hiro can see the practicality in that. But he can't risk Callaghan escaping either, and like hell he'll let the professor try and fight them again. He opens his mouth to say something - and then he sees that figure behind Cal again. The one that looks like his brother, close enough to be a ghost or ...

He pushes forward and past Callaghan. But not without issuing a command to the team behind him: ]

Don't let him move. We'll find someplace to interrogate him. Six, hold him.

[ Baymax obediently looms over Cal while Hiro takes awkward, halting steps towards his brother. ]