02 | VIDEO

[andgoliath]

Good evening, everyone. I hope you're doing well.

If we haven't met before, I'm David Xanatos, founder and CEO of Xanatos Enterprises. I have a couple of things to discuss tonight, so please bear with me.

Firstly, I'm happy to announce that I've taken over the role of Director at Xavier's School for Imports outside of Heropa, filling a more financial-oriented role with the always-capable Robert Callaghan as Headmaster. Import youth of all ages who would like to learn more about controlling their powers or who simply want a student body filled with people like them are welcome to enroll at any time, and we're always hiring for teachers and staff positions.

Secondly, I'm looking for science-minded individuals to collaborate with myself and Tony Stark in the design and construction of a state-of-the-art, multi-billion-dollar research facility near De Chima. The sole stipulation is that any discoveries made there be made available for others to build on, for the advancement of all.

I'll be happy to take any of your questions in the meantime.

Comments

[maglevflash]

Nonsense. You're my friend, got it?

I didn't blame you for stranding us on that island, didn't blame you for Baymax. Why would I blame you now?

[microbrobotics]

Because I hurt Tadashi this time around.

[maglevflash]

You made a mistake, there's no denying that. But Tadashi is your brother, and he's going to understand. I'll have your back on this, okay?

Besides. I bet most of the network isn't even going to be interested in all of our personal drama. Can you hack the post and lock that part? [Unintentional motivational boost, Hiro?]

[microbrobotics]

[ That does elicit a flicker of interest, no matter how small it is. He ... doesn't know how to respond to Tadashi understanding - or Gogo's offer. He's not sure he believes either right now. ]

... I dunno. Maybe? It's not mine, so that's harder.

[maglevflash]

Since when has harder been a deterrent? [If all else fails, they could probably ask Xanatos, but she figured Hiro could use the challenge right now.]

You've created wonderful things, Hiro. And what you're making right now? The plans you showed me? That's incredible. What's a network post against that?

[microbrobotics]

Software vs. hardware. Tadashi's better at programming than I am.

[ But he looks down at his comm. Maybe he can just blank out the post with Tadashi's death in it, skip the rest ... ]

[maglevflash]

Come on, Genius. Through everything you haven't let us down. There have been quite a few roadblocks, but we've been with you every step of the way, haven't we?

I know you won't let Tadashi down either.

[microbrobotics]

[ It's cheating to use Tadashi like that. Especially now. But he carefully starts thumbing at his phone, working his way back through his post ...

A few minutes later, that one comment disappears from view. ]

[maglevflash]

[It's cheating, but it works, and she reaches over to tap his shoulder with her knuckles.]

I knew you could do it.

[microbrobotics]

Just that one. I can't help it if anyone else comments about it.

[ But it should save some people from finding out, at least. ]

[maglevflash]

No, but at least no one new can see it from one of us.

What happened, Hiro? I've been here less than two months, and I feel like I'm so far behind all of you. What did I miss? [She knows that bringing it back up might not be the greatest idea, but she can't help if she doesn't know what's going on. Maybe...maybe Callaghan did do something. Maybe it was those dreams.]

[microbrobotics]

[ He tightens back up a little at that. Preparing to defend himself. ]

Were you here when we had that zombie dragon and plague?

[maglevflash]

No, but I heard about it after the fact. Heropa was under construction for a long time.

[Her expression and body language are both open. She is so non judgmental right now.]

[microbrobotics]

[ He relaxes a little bit at that, but not much. ]

He stole my powers while I was concussed. And my microbots.

[maglevflash]

[She knew about the power to take others', he used it on Krei during war, but she still tenses up at that. Without context of what was going on at the time, well. This sounds very damning.]

Why?!

[microbrobotics]

[ He tenses up a little at that. ]

... He says it because I was concussed. And he was trying to protect people. He took my intelligence too though.

[maglevflash]

Wait. He took your intellence?! How is that even possible?!

[See guys? This is why you tell Gogo these things before they're in the middle of drama. So she's not hearing this stuff at the worst time to hear it. She is going to have SO MANY WORDS with Callaghan.]

[microbrobotics]

[ Alas, Hiro isn't about to correct her. Or explain that it was an accident, and that Cal had promised never to take it again. Not when he's still simmering over this. ]

He steals superpowers, that's how. My brain counts.

[maglevflash]

[She'll get back to Cal in a moment, give her a second to be impressed.]

...you are literally super intelligent?

[microbrobotics]

Yeah. Go figure.

[maglevflash]

Huh.

Wonder why the Porter does that. It gave me g-force immunity. It adapted your intelligence. All these powers related to things relevant to our lives. Is everyone like that?

[microbrobotics]

Most are, I think. Even Aunt Cass got something like her.

[maglevflash]

So did Tadashi.

[She's quiet for a moment, trying to think. This...this was supposed to be relaxing, this trip. But the aftereffects of the dreams and...and this mess? What were they even going to do?

She did know one thing. She wasn't going to let Hiro figure it out alone.]

Hey, we'll get to the bottom of this. We're a team, remember?

[microbrobotics]

[ That earns a faint smile from Hiro, though his heart isn't in it. If he's going to do anything about Callaghan, he's clearly got to do it alone. ]

Would you go after him here?

[maglevflash]

If he's doing something again, then he has to be stopped.

However it's the same as back home. I know you're angry, and believe me after that? After what he said? I'm not too pleased either.

But we're doing it right. We'll make a plan and follow through. [She's not saying it, but she definitely doesn't want the island to happen again, and Hiro honestly looks that angry right now.]