Alternative Care

Chapter 11

Hiro rode Baymax at high speed over the South of Caravan Street neighborhood, attached firmly at the magnetic contact points with his suit. Baymax carried Wasabi bridal style for maximum safety. Thanks to Baymax's sensors, they soon spotted their colorful friend bound away down a street. It seemed no destruction had been caused to people or property...yet.

They closed in on him and Hiro opened his pouch for the taffy ball. Suddenly, in mid-jump Fred swung around and blasted fire at them. Hiro and Wasabi yelled as Baymax narrowly dodged the flame. Fred spun back around in midair and continued to flee. A few cars moved about in the area, and Fred nearly bounded on top of one and missed it narrowly. The car came to a halt, and its horn blared. Hiro had the chemical ball ready to toss, but hesitated a moment.

"Gotta make this count. Baymax, cut him off," Hiro said. The robot shot ahead faster and blocked Fred's escape, which caused the controlled youth to hesitate and pick a new direction. Wasabi hopped out of the hovering Baymax's arms and landed on the asphalt of a small parking lot in front of what was likely an office.

"C'mon Fred, it's us! Fight it!" Wasabi shouted and ran at an angle towards him, out of the line of another potential flame shot. Baymax swooped in behind Fred and Hiro lobbed the ball. Fred turned at the sound of Baymax's thrusters, ready to leap. But the ball exploded into adhesive taffy and attached his legs and lower body to the ground. Hiro disembarked Baymax and was joined by Wasabi.

"Now we just need to get him and the others back to normal," Hiro said in relief, and he looked from Wasabi to Fred in concern.

***

Clover, still positioned on the roof of the mansion, wasn't able to get through to Hiro on her latest call, and left a brief message explaining the situation. Siu ended his own call, exited the car, and walked up the steps to the front door. Sam signaled to Clover and Alex to move in, and they activated their jet packs to hover over the roof to the other side. They dropped in altitude a bit to block his path.

"Hold it!" Sam said, mustering an authoritative tone.

The man pressed something inside a coat pocket and within seconds, was covered head to toe in protective armor and a specially treated plexiglass face plate on his helmet as the other CuraTech workers had earlier. He looked curiously at the girls, and stopped his advance.

"So you're the spies," he said in a metallic voice. "Following me around? I'm flattered," he said.

Sam subtly fished out a gadget, obscured from his view. "How'd you find this place?" she asked. "And why are you here?"

Alex looked at him in distaste. "Also, the only reason we followed you is to stop you," she said.

Across the street, an elderly, slightly heavyset woman with white hair looked on in mild shock. She held the leash of her small terrier, who barked occasionally at the strange happenings. The woman managed to get her phone out of her purse, made a call, and remained out of sight.

Siu shrugged and gestured with outstretched palms. "That robot you trashed at the bowling alley shot a tracking device into that kid's hair. Too bad that one didn't have any control chips," he explained. "Then you all stopped by here to hang out." He suddenly dashed forward, and pushed past them before they could react, hit the doorbell precisely with a forefinger and turned back around to face them. "I think I'll take it," he said.

Sam pulled out her Ice Queen Perfume and shot at him the moment he pushed past, but he hopped aside to dodge the spray of rapid-freeze ice spray. Clover pressed the heart-shaped center of her Bungee Belt, which caused it to shoot out and attach magnetically to his armored forearm with a metallic impact. She pulled away from him with the strength of her jet pack thrusters, but he jerked back his arm with surprising power. Clover flew towards him as he reared back his other arm for an unavoidable strike.

"Rrgh!" Clover growled, released the magnetic buckle, and moved to dodge the blow.

"Clover!" Alex yelled. She flew in, grabbed Clover, and rocketed away from the punch.

Sam used the opening to aim another icy spray at him. While he turned his attention to her quickly, Clover shot her Bungee Belt heart again, this time towards his legs. The reinforced metal cable wrapped around his legs a few times, and Sam then shot her gadget once again.

Incredibly, Siu ignited a small blue energy blade from his gauntlet, sliced the cable that bound his legs, and dodged the ice spray at the last second. Heathcliff then answered the front door, and looked in surprise at the commotion.

Siu dashed over instantly, avoided the patch of ice where the first spray had missed him, and snagged the butler by his coat lapel. The girls quickly flew in as he moved, but Siu had slipped behind Heathcliffe in a flash, energy blade held closely to the man's throat. Siu made a sound of relief as they halted their advance.

"Okay, you girls need to calm down," he ordered them. "Come in and close the door."

They looked at him in frustration, but hovered into the doorway, landed inside, and Clover shut the door. Sam studied Dave. "I assume you have the Super Processor," she said.

His eyebrows raised slightly. "Hmm," he replied, then motioned for them to walk further into the mansion towards Fred's eclectically decorated 'super-shrine'. They came to a stop shortly after, and looked to the villain, who still used Heathcliff as a shield. "I manage to lose Big Hero 6, and now I get this. Well, at least I have a sweet base and some new servants," he said.

Alex glared at him. "We've already got WOOHP confiscating your CuraTech shipments," she said. "You've lost. Just give it up." Siu's eyes widened a bit, and the girls tensed up, ready to move in an instant.

He thought a moment, then regained his composure. "I don't know what WOOHP is," he replied. "And how do I know you're not bluffing?" His gaze flicked to each of them quickly and tightened his grip on the hostage. Heathcliff breathed heavily, and worked to stay calm, fists balled at his sides.

Clover clenched her teeth. "This is-- okay, okay-- Just tell us what you want," she said soothingly. A distant siren could be heard, and the girls exchanged glances.

"I want control. And I want to win," he said and quickly turned his forearm to shoot a tiny chip into the back of Heathcliff's neck. The butler grunted in surprise. The spies responded with noises of shock and fanned out slightly, but Siu's blade was back at Heathcliff's neck.

"Agh!" Heathcliff said as the metallic armor formed around him and he lost his own thoughts.

"Always wanted a butler," Dave said menacingly. "You three will be great additions to our team," he said and fired out control chips at them.

A/N:  I hope enjoyed this chapter!

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