When Stars Collide, a BH6 x Dr Who crossover

Chapter Eleven: Portal

Baymax perked up as Hiro groaned in his sleep. He scanned the boy, noting his vital signs were still stable, blood sugar levels a bit low, but not like on previous occurrences. "Hiro?"

Without warning, Hiro gasped, sitting up from the bench seat. His eyes went wide like a fish, his hands grabbing at the frame of the impromptu bed. His chest heaved as he sucked in air like a man saved from drowning.

Hearing the boy, the Doctor sauntered over with his screwdriver. He ran the device around him, looking thoughtful. "They've broken the connection," he observed.

GoGo rushed to join the trio, resisting the urge to bite her lip, not sure what would happen next. Every time had been different. "Hiro? Can you hear me?" she asked, bending closer to the boy.

Hiro blinked a few times, then shook his head. "I had the strangest dream," he stated as he swung his legs to dangle over the edge of the cushions. "I was back in the portal and-"

"What portal?" The Doctor asked, interrupting him. He didn't recall hearing anything about a portal before. It could be literal or figurative. If it was from the boy's dreams, maybe it was just a representation. But if it was something else, a memory, perhaps, that was a different kettle of fish.

Rubbing at his eyes, Hiro leaned back against the seat. "The one Krei made," he answered. "Ugh. I feel so weak."

"What does he mean," Rose inquired. "The one Krei made? Who's Krei?"

GoGo straightened from her half crouch. "Krei is a businessman and leader in technology. A couple months ago, one of our professors stole a portal he'd created to allow instantaneous transport from one place to another. He tried to use it as revenge against Krei for sending his daughter through as a test pilot. She didn't come out and..."

"Hiro and I entered the portal to retrieve the patient," Baymax finished for her, sensing her stress levels rising at the telling.

Swallowing, GoGo nodded. "Hiro almost didn't make it back. Baymax... Baymax sacrificed himself so that both Hiro and Abigail could make it back out."

Rose glanced at the robot in confusion. "But he's right here. How could he have sacrificed himself if he's here."

"He left his chip," Hiro answered for her, swallowing hard. "I didn't realize it until later, though." He sat up again, head now bowed. "But when I did, I rebuilt his body. The original one, the one Tadashi made, is still floating around in there, somewhere."

The Doctor scrunched up his face in thought, one hand to his chin. He thought about it for a moment. "You mean to tell me that you went inside a portal that was meant to transport someone, or something, from one point of space to another?"

At his tone, Hiro looked up. "Well, yeah. Krei was working on a government contract, but something went wrong. The second portal was destroyed, trapping Callaghan's daughter inside. When we faced him later, Baymax found her and we brought her back."

Still making that funny face, the Doctor scrutinized them even further. "You mean to tell me that you went through a portal that basically slipped you between space? Please tell me you wore some kind of protective clothing."

"My gear?" Hiro responded, still feeling a bit groggy.

The Doctor rubbed at his face, shaking his head. "Not good. From what I've seen of your gear, it wouldn't keep out the radiation and other particles. Not a chance in a million. Not hermetically sealed. Skin exposed. Not good at all."

It was Rose's turn to look confused and a little scared. "What do you mean, Doctor? Surely you're not saying...?"

He ran his fingers through his hair, face long in expression. "That's exactly what I'm saying."