Free Hiro to the Rescue! by Disney Book Group Page A

Hiro.
    The professor stared at the fighting bot in Hiro’s hands. “May I?” he asked.
    â€œUh, sure,” Hiro said, reluctantly handing it to the professor.
    Callaghan asked where Hiro had learned to make it.
    â€œTaught myself,” Hiro said.
    â€œHave you thought of applying here?” Callaghan asked.
    â€œActually, sir, my brother’s pretty serious about his career in bot-fighting,” Tadashi said, giving the professor a wink.
    Callaghan stared at Hiro. “I can see why. With your bot, winning must come easy.”
    â€œYeah, I guess,” Hiro said.
    â€œWell, if you like things easy, then my program isn’t for you,” Callaghan said. “My students go on to shape the future.”
    For once, Hiro didn’t know how to respond.
    Hiro and Tadashi said goodbye and then went outside. Hiro stared at his brother. He was no longer thinking about bot fighting. “If I don’t go to this nerd school, I’m gonna lose my mind!”

S FIT sponsored an annual Tech Showcase. Anyone could enter, and the kids with the best tech won admission to the school!
    â€œCome up with something that blows Callaghan away, you’re in!” Tadashi told his brother.
    Hiro got to work. In a makeshift lab in his aunt Cass’s garage, he worked night and day. When it was time for the showcase, Hiro was ready.
    Hiro, Tadashi, and their friends arrived at the showcase early. The building was packed. Hiro moved quickly through the crowd.
    â€œI really want to go here,” Hiro told Tadashi. He didn’t want to blow his chance to get into SFIT.
    â€œJust take a deep breath,” Tadashi said. “You got this.”
    When it was time, Hiro walked onto the stage. He began to speak, and the microphone squealed with feedback. He nervously put on an electronic headband. Then he opened one of his hands. In it was a small black piece of metal.
    â€œThis is a microbot,” Hiro said. But the crowd wasn’t paying attention.
    Offstage, Tadashi gave his brother a thumbs-up. He knew Hiro could blow the crowd away and win them over.
    â€œIt doesn’t look like much,” Hiro said, “but when it links up with the rest of its pals...”
    Suddenly, the whole room buzzed with microbots. They moved through the crowd like a swarm of insects and gathered onstage. Now people were paying attention!
    â€œThe microbots are controlled by this neural transmitter.” Hiro pointed to his headband. “I think what I want them to do, and they do it.”
    The microbots joined together and formed the shape of a hand.

    Hiro used his microbots to show that one person could move big objects. Eventually, people using the microbots would be able to save time and money. They could even save lives by sending bots into dangerous situations instead of humans.
    The crowd roared with approval. They loved Hiro’s bots!
    One man, Alistair Krei, was particularly impressed. He was the owner of a large tech company, and he wanted to talk to Hiro.
    When Hiro exited the stage, Krei took one of Hiro’s microbots and held it in his hand. “With some development, these could be revolutionary,” he said. “You are about to become a very wealthy kid.”
    Hiro was surprised. Krei wants to buy my microbots?
    Professor Callaghan walked over. “This is your decision, Hiro, but you should know that Mr. Krei has cut corners and ignored sound science to get where he is.”

    Krei objected. “That’s just not true—”
    Callaghan cut him off. “I wouldn’t trust him with your microbots...or anything else.”
    Hiro was quiet as he looked from one man to the other.
    â€œI appreciate the offer, Mr. Krei,” said Hiro. “But I’m sorry, they’re not for sale.”
    Krei turned to walk away.
    â€œMr. Krei,” Tadashi said, “that’s my brother’s.”
    Krei looked at his hand, still gripping the tiny robot.