Chapter 4: Meeting Baymax, Fiona's ring, and meeting Callagan.
March 9, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Chapter 4: Meeting Baymax, Fiona's ring, and meeting Callagan.
Fiona and Hana followed Tadashi to his lab, but to their surprise, it turned out to be right next to the twins' lab. Hana: (asking) So, are you neighbors with "those" twins or something? (she said with a hint of displeasure) And this Mirabelle... (snorted) Tadashi: (explaining) I think so. (he glanced at his sister) Hana, forgive me about Mirabelle, she's not that bad. She just doesn't like it when young people aren't taken seriously and their potential isn't recognized. (he said, running his hand over his neck) Fiona felt sympathy for Mirabelle, and Hana was surprised, then looked with understanding and a hint of sympathy toward the twin girls' lab, then looked back at her brother. She understood her well. Fiona: (thought) When I see her again, I'll hug her. (she thought) Hana: (thought) Okay, I'll talk to her a little later. (she thought and sighed) They entered Tadashi's lab, and Fiona gasped. Fiona: (smiling) You're as cozy as Annabelle and Mirabelle. (she said, looking around carefully.) Hana: (asking) By the way, what are you working on? Tadashi: I'll show you. He picked up a roll of tape. Hana: (questioningly) Tape? Fiona: (surprised) Tape? Tadashi bites off a piece of tape. Fiona: (thoughts) Maybe it's a trick. My uncle created something special, but I just don't understand why he needs tape. (she thought) She suddenly notices the red box. Hana: (sighed) I don't want to upset you, but it's already been invented. (she said) At that moment, Tadashi took Hana's hand and rolled up her sleeve, and Fiona noticed. Fiona: (surprised) Uncle Tadashi... (she started) Hana: Hey! Tadashi applied the tape and tore it off. Hana: (winced in unexpected pain) Ouch! Ouch! What's wrong? (she screamed) Fiona: (frightened) Uncle Tadashi, why did you do this? My mom's in pain. Suddenly, a red box nearby activated and opened, revealing a white robot hatching and puffing up. Tadashi: (showing them the robot) I'm working on it. Hana stared at the robot in surprise, and Fiona covered her mouth with both hands. The robot stepped off the platform and headed toward Hana and Fiona. But it paused for a second, bumping into a stool. It picked it up, looked around, set it aside, and returned to Fiona and Hana. Baymax: Hello. I'm Baymax, your personal health care assistant. I activated to provide assistance when you said "ouch!" Tadashi mouthed the word "ouch." Hana: A robot nurse. Fiona: (whispering) He's so cute. Baymax: (asking) How would you rate your pain on a scale of 1 to 10? The robot displays a pain scale on its chest. Hana: Physical or mental? Tadashi pouted. Baymax: I'll run a scan now. Baymax examines Hana for injuries and symptoms. Baymax: Scan complete. You have a small skin wound on your forearm. I'd recommend applying some antibacterial spray. (He points to the wound on Hana's arm.) Hana: (Checking it) Wait, wait. What's in that spray? Baymax: (explaining) The main ingredient is bacitracin. Hana: (continues testing it) What a shame. I'm allergic to it. Fiona looked at her mother, confused. Fiona: (thinking) But my mom is allergic to nuts. (she now understood everything) Okay, wait. My mom is testing it now. (she thought and waited for Baymax to say something) Baymax: (explaining) You're not allergic to bacitracin. You're mildly allergic to... nuts. Hana: (extending her hand) Not bad. Fiona: (admiringly) He even knows about that. Hana: You created some serious programming, huh? Hana allowed Baymax to treat the wound, spraying antibacterial spray from her finger. Tadashi pressed a button on Baymax's chest, which opened a compartment containing a green medical chip with Tadashi's name and a doctor emoji. Tadashi: That chip is what makes Baymax... Baymax. Hana replaced the chip, and then they both began examining the robot. Hana: Vinyl? (she asked, poking her finger at the robot's inflatable cover.) Fiona gently touched Baymax's inflatable cover with her finger, then placed her palm against his cover. Fiona: (she closed her eyes and smiled.) It's soft. (she said.) Tadashi: (crossed his arms) Yeah, to make him look harmless and friendly. Hana: He looks like a walking marshmallow. Fiona nods her head in agreement at this point. Hana: No offense. Baymax: I'm a robot. I can't be offended. Fiona: (thoughts) I disagree about that. Every living thing has its own feelings, even robots, and they can have feelings like humans. (she thought) Hana: Hyperspectral cameras? Tadashi: Yes. Fiona and Hana huddled close to Baymax's chest, adjusting his robotic skeleton. Hana: Titanium skeleton? Tadashi: Carbon fiber. Hana: Exactly. It's even lighter. Fiona: (asking) Uncle Tadashi, where do you find these parts? Are they expensive, or do you make them yourself? Tadashi: (explaining to Fiona) Fiona, I made them myself in my lab. Fiona: (moving away from the robata, as did Hana) Really. Tadashi: Yes. It can lift 450 kg. Hana: (with a blessing) Okay, fine. Fiona: Wow! She glanced quickly at the red box. Fiona: (thought) So this turns out to be a charger for Baymax. (she thought) Baymax: You've been good. Take this lollipop. (He hands it to Hana.) Hana: (She takes the lollipop.) Cool. Baymax: I won't pass out until you say you're happy with the treatment. Hana: Well, I'm happy with the treatment. Baymax started to walk away toward the red box, and Tadashi approached Fiona and Hana. Tadashi: He'll help a lot of people. Fiona: (Thought.) I believe it. (She thought, smiling tenderly.) Hana: (asks) What kind of batteries does it have? Tadashi: Lithium-ion. Hana: (gives her brother advice) Supercapacitors would charge much faster. All three watch as Baymax returns to his box, deflates, and shrinks. Tadashi: (as if considering this) Hm. Male voice: Working late into the night, Mr. Hamada? All three turned to see a man standing at the entrance, and Fiona quickly hid behind her mother. Tadashi: Hello, Professor. I was just finishing up. He walked over to the computer desk and then suddenly showed us a gray string around Fiona's neck, and then showed us half a silver ring that was on the string. When Fiona hid behind her mother, her ring was accidentally sticking out, not under her sweater, but Fiona didn't notice. Man: (looking at Hana) You must be Hiro. The creator of the combat bots? When my daughter was younger, that was all she cared about. (extending his hand) Will you show me? Hana: (hands him the Megabot) Okay. Fiona: (thoughts) This guy seems suspicious. Why would he want my mom's Megabot? (she distrusts him) Man: (looks closely at the Megabot) Magnetic servos. Hana: Cool, right? Let me show you how I built it. Tadashi: Hey, genius. He came up with this. Fiona and Hana were shocked to learn who this man was. Hana: (shocked) Are you Robert Callaghan? The creator of the "Callaghan-Catmull curve"? And the "Callaghan Laws of Robotics"? Fiona: (also shocked) Are you Aunt Abi's father? She suddenly emerged from her mother's back. Robert: Right. So, you're that Fiona? He looked at Fiona and squatted down in front of her. Robert: (with interest and a soft smile) And how do you know my daughter? (he asked her) Fiona (smiling): The last time she was in our coffee shop was six months ago, and that day I gave her a bracelet. Robert: (smiled) Now I understand where my daughter got that bracelet. Do you make them yourself? Fiona nodded, and Robert Callaghan noticed her half of the ring on a string and suddenly reached out for Fiona's ring. Fiona noticed, pulled back, and hid behind her mother again. Fiona: (incredulously) Why do you need my ring? Callahan looked surprised, then stood up and looked at Fiona with understanding. Hana was silent, as was Tadashi, but Tadashi, unnoticed by anyone, frowned and looked at Callahan suspiciously. Robert: (explaining to her) Sorry, it just seems unusual to me. And I just wanted to take a closer look. But you seem to be against it. Fiona: (clarifying) You just wanted to look at my precious treasure? Robert nodded, and Fiona paused for a few seconds and sighed, then walked up to Tadashi and held out her hands. Tadashi understood and picked up his little niece. Fiona gestured for Callaghan to approach, who did so. Fiona removed the string with the half ring from her neck and held it out to Callaghan. Fiona: (explaining) You may only look, but touching is forbidden. Is that clear? (For the first time, her voice sounded very serious, as did her gaze.) Tadashi and Hana weren't surprised; they knew Fiona treasured this half ring very much and always forbade strangers to touch her treasure. Callaghan leaned closer and carefully examined the half ring on the string. Not even five seconds passed, and Fiona quickly put the ring back on her neck. Fiona: That's enough. (She told him and looked at her uncle.) Brother, put me down. (She asked him, and Tadashi did so.) Robert: (He looked at Hana and handed her back the Migabot.) Have you thought about coming here? Your age isn't a problem. (He looked at Fiona.) You and your brother can come here and maybe make friends. (He suggested.) Tadashi: (approaches Callaghan and they both begin to leave) I don't know. My little brother wants to dedicate himself to bot combat. And my little sister isn't interested in making friends. Fiona and Hana: (simultaneously) But it's not final./But it's not final. (they said and followed them) Robert: (he glanced at Hana) I understand why. With your bot, victories come easy. Hana: Yeah, I guess. They approached the elevator. Robert: If you prefer the easy way out, my course isn't for you. We push the limits of robotics. My students shape the future. Tadashi and Hana entered the elevator, and Fiona was about to get in, but for the first time, she felt a strange sensation and turned to Callaghan, who looked at her strangely. Fiona: (approaching him distrustfully) W-what's wrong? (she whispered, but her voice trembled slightly) Robert: (whispering calmly) You look like Vincent. Fiona: (surprised) Who? Robert: I'll tell you about him another time. Fiona: (hesitantly) O-okay. By the way, say hi to Aunt Abi... for me. (she said and ran into the elevator) Robert: (waved his hand) Of course... I'll tell her. (There was a hint of anger and sadness in his voice, but Fiona didn't hear it.) The doors closed behind Tadashi, Hana, and Fiona, and the ring on Fiona's neck began to glow faintly white. Continued in Chapter 5: Conversation and Big Ideas.
