IC Contact Post for Mask or Menace

[dadroid]

Contact Post for Baymax

Comments

text;

[lasthugs]

[after this]

Hi Baymax. Can you be on stand-by to pick up a drunk boy from a friend's house tonight?

text;

[dadroid]

[ Finding Hiro took a load off Baymax's proccessor, allowing him to focus on tapping into the communicator network directly. His response is quick. ]

Not Hiro, I hope.

All joking aside, I'd be happy to help.

[lasthugs]

If it were Hiro I would personally stop him before he could step foot outside the house!!

No, it's his brother. Tadashi. He's 21, it's ok, he's just new to being 21 and I don't think he really drank before this if ever

[dadroid]

I'll make sure he gets home safe.

If you'd like, I could come along to ensure he paces himself -- provided, of course, he doesn't find a robot caretaker too stifling.

[lasthugs]

No, that won't be necessary. He's with a trustworthy friend and will be safe. They need their time together. Thank you though.

[dadroid]

Just let me know when and where. I'll escort Tadashi home. I don't sleep, so don't be concerned about waking me.

[lasthugs]

Xavier's. The school for imPorts. I'll let you know when when I hear from him. Thank you Baymax.

8/30

[microbrobotics]

hey um ... can i talk to you about something?

[dadroid]

Of course.

Is everything all right?

[microbrobotics]

oh, yeah. everythings fine. tadashis out of the hospital now and things are much quieter.

[dadroid]

[ Baymax was damaged severely in the fight with Gogo, as well -- he, too, is feeling much better. ]

Quiet is a nice change of pace from... recent events.

[microbrobotics]

yeah. no kidding.

[ He'd heard a little bit about that but not the whole story. ]

what about you? i lost track after you got me to safety.

[dadroid]

[ There's a pause before he responds. He doesn't want to upset Hiro, but what could be gained by lying to him?

Of course, the irony of that thought isn't lost on him, considering what he'd been hiding from the boy thus far. ]

I ran into some trouble, but I'm all right. I've been laying low since then -- sorry to have been so quiet. I didn't feel it was appropriate to intrude while you were visiting with Tadashi.

What was it you wanted to talk about?

[microbrobotics]

[ Boy that smacks of hiding some key details. He wants very much to know more ... but he might lose his nerve on the other question if he does. Maybe he can circle back. He resolves to do just that. ]

wed have been happy to see you. i was worried.

when ... when i was inside your head, you had me between a couple directories. hamada_h and takachiho_h.

[dadroid]

[ Sorry Hiro, it just seems like you've had enough on your plate without hearing Gogo nearly killed another friend of yours.

There's another pause before Baymax replies. ]

I see.

I suppose I haven't said much about him. It's only natural you might be curious.

[microbrobotics]

yeah. i mean, i kind of wanted to look but ...

[ But with everything going on, he thought it'd be better if he didn't distract Baymax in the heat of battle. ]

could ... could you show me now?

[dadroid]

Of course.

[ He knew this moment would come eventually, but it frightens him -- he knows Hiro has had some extremely rough times prior to his arrival, things that beat down on his self-perception. He doesn't want Hiro to start comparing himself to his counterpart. But it would be unfair not to share this with him.

So it's best, Baymax feels, to set the standard right now about how he thinks about the two Hiros. Not to versions of one boy, but two different boys who have so much in common. ]

I only regret that you can't meet him in person. I think he'd enjoy having you for brother.

[microbrobotics]

yeah? you think so?

[ He finds it hard to imagine any brothers other than Tadashi. Much less someone his own age and as bright and troubled as he was ... ]

guess ill have to make do with what we have.

[ He sends a quick email from his comm - empty, except for a basic tracker in it. If Baymax opens it, he'll take that as an invitation. ]

[dadroid]

I do.

[ He opens the e-mail and the attachment, downloading the tracker and opening his communications for Hiro to enter. ]

[microbrobotics]

[ He hesitates for a moment on his end. Falling into Baymax's programming hadn't been his plan during the fight - it had just happened. The thought of doing this on purpose ... that's a little terrifying. But he has to know. He wants to see ...

Slowly, carefully, he lets himself fall into his comm. From there it's an easy jaunt to the email, and then along it to Baymax's communication functionality. He lets himself float once he's there. Baymax can direct him to the best spot to land. While he assumes that the place he wound up in previously is a good one ... well, he'll let Baymax make that decision. ]

[dadroid]

[ When the data around Hiro settles and clears, he'll find he's still in a home environment, but a different room. A bed, a desk with electronics in various states of construction... walls covered with posters and news clippings. Upon closer inspection, Hiro might notice they're all focused on something called "Sunfire." ]

"He's a mutant. One of the X-Men. But he's Japanese, like me!"

[ On the far end of the room a young boy -- probably no more than ten -- is excitedly taping another poster to the wall, grinning excitedly. Beside him is the unmistakable form of Baymax's human guise, but it's -- slightly different. The clothes and the build are just off enough to make it clear this may not be the same Baymax -- or at least, not the modern version of him. If Hiro Hamada tries to interact with either of them, he'll pass right through, like a hologram. ]

"He's not just a mutant. I've run some calculations on his power output based on a simulation -- he's like a force of nature! The greatest hero this world's ever seen! Except my father, of course."

[ Hiro Takachiho casts a meaningful glance at Baymax when he says that, but provides no context for it. Baymax -- the memory, at least -- doesn't react to it.

Next to Hiro Hamada, another Baymax appears; This one is far more tangible than the memory. ]

Truthfully, if he knew I was showing you this, he might have me dismantled.

[ He chuckles as he says that. ]

But his Sunfire phase was such a happy time for him. And for me, as well.

[ Not that the expression - or lack thereof - on the Memory Baymax's face was any indication. ]

[microbrobotics]

[ Hiro watches the scene play out, awed. So this is what it's like to grow up in a world where superheroes already exist ... That's what hits him first. Mostly because looking at the other Hiro - this strange, funhouse mirror version of himself - makes him feel weird. No wonder Baymax had mistaken Hiro for him. There are little touches in their mannerisms, in that hair, in the fact that Hiro knows he needs glasses but just doesn't wear them ... Hiro never doubted that this alternate Hiro was really him, but this confirms it. This Sunfire guy already seems super amazing.

He looks up at Baymax afterwards, still kind of awed. ]

He never would. It's you, and plus he'd have to be okay with showing something to himself.

[ He's reasonably sure of that. Mostly. ]

... Were you in a different body? You look kinda different.

[dadroid]

[ He smiles down at Hiro. ]

Worry not. I was simply making a quip.

But yes - you have a keen eye. My current form is the result of several upgrades. Hiro had a very different... aesthetic, when I was first constructed.

[ The scene around them freezes and fades out, replaced by a decrepit old temple ravaged with earthquake damage. Hiro Takachiho and his Baymax are face to face with a man covered with ash and burns, and the stranger throws a hand up defensively. ]

"Stay back!"

A torrent of flame leapt from his hand, and his eyes went wide with horror.

"No... I meant only to gesture, but my atomic flame burst out of my control!"

Baymax, always hyper aware of Hiro's safety, had Hiro in a protective hug immediately, shielding him from the flames with his own body.

"If it's control you seek," Baymax growled, turning to glare at Sunfire, "Allow me to be of assistance!"

"Baymax, no!" Hiro cried out, futily struggling against the synthformer's grip. "I forbid you!"

"Sorry, Master Hiro. But you should know better than anyone else that I was designed to serve and protect you." As he spoke, his limbs shifted, stretched and bulged, his outfit giving way to the look of green scales and an overall monstrous appearance. "And while one form is more condusive to attending to your daily needs, this form is certainly better suited for defending you."

Still holding Hero, Baymax leaned in close, giving Sunfire a threatening growl. "Threaten Master Hiro again -- even unintentionally -- and a slow death will be the least of your concerns."

[microbrobotics]

[ Hiro's heart seems to catch in his throat. Now that he's staring down his alternate self's hero and seeing him on the verge of attacking him ... That's like a punch to the gut. When Takachiho reaches out to stop Baymax, Hiro mirrors the gesture unconsciously. He wouldn't have wanted Baymax to hurt this guy either. He reminds Hiro of Tadashi a little, what with having looked up to him and having uncontrollable flame powers...

Hiro jolts at that. Is it possible? Tadashi doesn't exist in Takachiho's world - could he slide into that role in Hiro's own? It sounds like a classic comic book setup. Someone is caught in a fiery lab explosion, surrounded by all these experimental materials and inventions, and gains superpowers as a result. ]

How'd he get like that? The fire powers, I mean. Was it an accident?

[ A tiny tremor of hope blurs his digital voice. ]

[dadroid]

[ Baymax hears the tremor, but isn't quite sure what to make of it. ]

Mutants in my world don't come from lab accidents. At least, not those associated with the X-Men. As far as I'm aware, Sunfire was born with his abilities.