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

[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. ]

well then

[pushtheboundaries]

[off to jail with him, he figures, and then off, period. though the thought of another place makes him cautiously optimistic. perhaps he can find a way to escape and go back on the run if...

...he looks over his shoulder, the hair at the back of his neck prickling, and then- then he realizes, and swears under his breath.]

Damn it, kid.

[this won't end well.]

[microbrobotics]

[ No. No it won't. Though at least now Hiro is well and truly distracted;Callaghan could escape on the back of a unicorn and he wouldn't give it a single glance. Not with his dead brother alive and - well, he's alive even if he's not well. But it's clear that Tadashi doesn't recognize Hiro, and Hiro can't even give him a hint while they're out in the open like this.

And then he reaches for Tadashi's collar. ]

[pushtheboundaries]

[Callaghan doesn't move as Hiro approaches his brother. he doesn't respond to the confused murmuring, nor does he even think of escaping when their attention drifts to Tadashi. all he can think about is how this is it; this is something that he'd known had to happen sooner or later, even if he was torn between the thought that Tadashi himself wasn't ready for it...

...and being glad for such, because it meant he'd have more time with him.

he's still and he's silent, but only, only when Hiro begins to move for the collar does he stiffen, and then try and move forwards]

No!

[immediately they're holding him back, but it's too late, either way; Tadashi convulses and then collapses, and Callaghan's voice goes raw with desperation]

It's implanted, you can't get it off without major surgery! Back off, damn it, Hiro!

[he has to get the attention, he has to pull it off Tadashi, Wasabi's got strength to hold him but the others have to get involved because he's fighting- there's a hiss about the usage of the name, but thankfully it's close enough to another word that it could be mistaken for such. in desperation, Callaghan tries to meet their eyes, anyone who'll actually listen to him.]

Tell him to stop touching it! They designed it to resist tampering, and if he keeps messing with it it'll shock him again-!

[it was hard enough for him to work on it, when he had the chance, and he can still remember Tadashi's terrified stillness as he forced himself to not rush through it, to be sure, to be safe and not trigger the damn thing-]

[microbrobotics]

[ At least Hiro backs off immediately; he recognizes a nasty piece of implanted tech when he sees one. Baymax leaves Hiro's side to hover close to Tadashi, monitoring his vitals and sending all that information to Hiro's HUD. And Hiro himself - now he's the terrified and desperate one, standing over his brother's collapsed body. If he's hurt his brother... No, he's already done that. If he's killed his brother... ]

What is it? Who's they? How do I --

[ He needs that thing off right the hell now. ]

[pushtheboundaries]

It's a collar, and you can thank the mafia for that while we were their 'guests'! [he swallows, because here's the part Hiro's going to hate just as much as he does.] You can't stop it once it starts, you have to- you have to let it finish and then leave it alone. The jammer I put on it keeps him from being tracked

[by Baymax as well, incidentally, and Robert himself has a modified wrist-bracer with a similar device within it {he has two- the other, however, holds a dart-launcher for when he's in a position where the microbots aren't feasible}]

but I couldn't do anything to interfere with the shock itself without...without...

[...without risking massive trauma, if not death. and that was not a risk he was willing to ask Tadashi to take, not after everything.]

[microbrobotics]

[ It utterly kills Hiro to watch his brother writhe in pain. Like watching him run into that burning building all over again, when he hasn't even recovered from the initial shock of finding out that Tadashi is alive. He breathes in huge gulps, struggling to find any sort of calm. Breathe, stupid. Baymax is routing every detail to him right now. If his brother dips too far, then they'll go right then and there... ]

Why? Why did they take him?

[ Why the collar, why everything else? He already knows, but he's hoping beyond hope that Cal has a different answer for him. ]