The Nightmare Crown

Chapter 13: Hiro's Parents

Back at Fred's manor, the team, and Callaghan gathered around Hiro at the dining room table.

"Hiro," Honey said. "What's the connection with Alistair Krei and your parents?"

Hiro sighed. It was now time to tell them something not even Tadashi or his aunt had ever told him... till now. "I suppose I could tell you." He said. "But promise not to tell anyone." He added.

"We promise." Wasabi, GoGo, Fred and Honey all said at once.

"You see," he said, "Mom & Dad were actually good friends of Alistair Krei. They, Me, Tadashi & Aunt Cass used to vacation on Kikiwaka Island when we were younger. Krei was a good friend, and he did the best hot dogs."

"Maybe that's why Krei liked your microbots at the showcase." Wasabi said.

"Yes," Hiro said. "but there was more. Mom & Dad were also part of a special project – a group that researched the properties of the futurite crystal."

"Was it the same group that made the Crown of Nightmares?" Fred asked.

"Yes, yes it was." Robert said, then turned to Hiro. "Your father went to great lengths to keep that project a secret. That crown is very dangerous. It can do terrible things in the wrong hands! It turned my college buddy into a yeti!"

The team gasped. "That's why Gregor could hardly remember much about his past." Honey said.

"And Gregor said there was a fight." Wasabi added.

"Yes." Robert said. "We had to do something about the crown when we discovered how dangerous it was. It was my suggestion to have the crown destroyed. But Langstrom was furious. He wanted the crown for himself."

"Why does he need futurite for the crown?" Wasabi asked. "It's to focus the energy that went into the crown." Callaghan said. "The crystal is what gives the crown it's power."

"I knew Sharon & Antonio said it was a powerful crystal." Wasabi said.

"Gregor mentioned an explosion at the lab." GoGo said.

"Yes. That is correct." Robert said. "You see, Langstrom was so angry, he decided that if he couldn't have the crown, nobody could. So he set off hidden explosives in the lab, and we had to evacuate, but after Gregor's rampage when he turned into a yeti, the ceiling crumbled, and Kelly pushed me away, saving me from getting trapped under some falling stone. But when Ryan ran back in to save her, the building blew up, and they..." The last bit was quiet, and somewhat tearful. "They.... were killed." He wiped a tear that was flowing down his cheek. "Killed when the building... blew up."

Hiro gasped. He remembered when Tadashi died in the fire at the showcase. He remembered the words his brother said before his death.

'Callaghan's in there. Someone has to help.'

"Mom & Dad died like Tadashi..." he said, quietly. The team hung their heads in respect of the late Tadashi Hamada.

"So," Honey said to Robert, "If we keep the Cipher crystal safe here, Langstrom can't use it, right?"

Robert thought about it. "Yes. As long as we keep the crystal here, we'll be fine." The team grinned in relief. "But," Hiro said sternly, "Langstrom must not get the crown."

"Why doesn't he just make another crown?" Fred asked. "He can't." Robert said. "He could make a powerful futurite crystal to replace the one we have, but the crown is special. It has special technology that could take years to create, even for someone as brilliant as Langstrom or his brother Alistair.

"So that means he can't do anything until he finds the actual crown, right?" GoGo said. Robert nodded.

"Do you know where the crown is, Callaghan?" Hiro asked.

Robert sighed. "If it was that easy, I'd tell you. Only Alistair Krei hid the crown. I suggested he hid it somewhere nobody'd ever think of looking, so nobody could use it."

"Like your underwear drawer?" Fred said. Robert glared coldly at Fred. "I'll pretend I didn't hear that." He muttered. "Then he destroyed all the proof of its location, to cover his tracks, so the crown wouldn't be discovered." He said.

"Then maybe tomorrow," Hiro said, "we'll try to find out more." "I'll ask Heathcliff to put the crystal away somewhere Langstrom can't find it." Fred said. "Everyone agree?" Hiro said. The team, and Callaghan, put their arms in. "Agreed." They all said.