To lead by example is difficult when you're a follower of fear--T. Sachs
"That's impossible!" Stitch cried. "How could 188 have a son?
"Very simple, 626," Jumba replied with a trace of sarcasm. "When mommy experiment and daddy experiment are loving each other very much, they-"
"You know that's not what he meant!" Basha interrupted angrily. "Just tell us what that thing is!"
Jumba sat down in a large chair and gave a heavy sigh. "Is long story. All started when I created first amphibious soldier-experiment 189. She could survive under the water long as needed, or fight on land. After fiasco with 188, I kept her caged in room for dangerous experiments-just temporarily, for to be sure she would not harm me. Let me tell you, that tail will be breaking your back with one blow!" Here he brought his huge hand down on a pencil. It snapped in half like a twig, and Jumba gave a short, evil laugh before continung his story. "But I made mistake of putting 189 in cage next to 188. Even after she was allowed free roam of lab, 189 kept sneaking back for to visit 188. Somehow, she unlocked cage one night and..." He trailed off uncertainly.
"Oh no," Pleakley said. "He killed her, didn't he?"
"Oh no. I am actually believing 188 had no desire for to harm 189. And when she became pregnant, I knew right avay who father was. Here is where story gets confusing. One morning I found 188 out of cage, caught in evil genius air vent trap. When I pulled him out, he said," and here Jumba did a fair imitation of 188's gruff voice," 'I should have known. You say I'm your greatest creation yet, but you won't give me the one thing I need most.'"
"And where was 189?" Stitch asked.
"189 was gone. I do not know where she is, or why they tried to escape," Jumba said.
There was another uncomfortable silence. No one knew if they should pity 188, or what to say to Jumba-his expression gave no clue as to what he wanted to hear. Basha finally stood up and walked slowly over to the cage containing the creature. He stopped casting terrified glances around the room and stared at her through narrowed eyes; she stared back. The two experiments studied each other through the glass for a long time, as if sizing each other up.
"Why don't you try talking to him?" Basha inquired, still looking at the creature.
Jumba placed a hand on his chin, considering her question. He had his doubts that the experiment could possibly be safe, but decided to give him a chance. He reached over and selected a small green button. The glass container was lifted up into the ceiling, leaving the strange creature free. Everyone held their breaths. But instead of attacking or bolting for the door, he just looked suspicously around everyone, as if they were stains on his pelt.
"Who are you all and why are you keeping me here?" he finally asked. His voice made it clear he was young, probably Basha's age.
"Um...hi!" she told him, choosing her words carefully. "I'm Basha, that's my uncle Stitch, that's our friend, Pleakley-"
"Don't tell him my name!" Pleakley screeched, though inside he was deeply grateful Basha hadn't revealed his first name.
"And over this Jumba Jookiba. He created your parents and mine."
The creature folded his arms and glared at Jumba. "My mom told me she was created by some pathetic fatso. She said he's the reason I don't have a father. Are you that fatso?"
Jumba's face was twisted with rage, but he didn't speak-it looked like he was using all his energy not to strangle the creature.
"Jumba saved your life, you know," Stitch scolded. "You were passed out on the beach when Basha found you and brought you here."
Having someone on his side seemed to calm Jumba down a bit, though he spoke through gritted teeth. "He was in no danger-just nasty bump on head. Evil genius experiments are built solid and so are evil genius experiment children."
"Fascinating," the creature said, rolling his eyes.
"What's your name?" Basha asked, trying to change the subject. "How did you get here?"
The creature once again turned his attention to her. "My name is Komadjie. I've lived my life on the planet Keehar with my mother-"
"189 is alive?" Jumba interuptted.
"If you're talking about mom, she died not long ago. That's when I left. I saw this one had a lot of water, so I came here. The last thing I remember is crashing into the ocean. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go find my ship and get off this stinking rock."
Komadjie hopped lightly down onto the floor and started walking towards the exit. But before he could get two feet, Jumba's huge hand siezed him by the tail, jerking him up into the air.
"Oh no you don't!"
It happened so fast. Before Komadjie could fight back or even say a word, a bright red collar was clipped around his neck and he was back on the ground again. He clawed and pulled at it like a wild animal. Though it wasn't uncomfortable, it was securlely fastened with a lock and impossible to remove. Komadjie glared up at Jumba with unimmaginable hate.
"What did you do to me?!"
The alien creator lifted up a small, round, silver something that looked like some kind of remote control. In the center was a large button, the color of which matched the collar.
"This is evil genius shock collar. I press this button, you get mild electrical shock," Jumba told him. Like so."
Click.
Pain unlike any Komadjie had ever known shot through him, starting from his collar and spreading like wildfire to every nerve in his body. This was mild? Then, as quickly as the pain had come, it vanished, leaving the young experiment breathless on his hands and knees.
Jumba nodded in satisfaction. "That is what will happen if you mishbehave. I am not trusting you, Komadjie."
Komadjie's look of hate change to disbelief. "Why not? You don't even know me!"
Jumba ignored him. Instead he gave Pleakley, Stitch, and Basha a stern glare that said plainly said "nobody is to tell him the truth." Though they where suprised at his sudden cruelty, they trusted his judgment and nodded.
"Good," Jumba went on. "Now, we are needing to be keeping eye on him. Any volunters?"
The three looked at each other uncomfortably. Stitch slowly backed towards the door.
"That reminds me," he said nervously. "I have to go find my kids. They're probably playing with matches or knocking over lamps. Yes, that's it!" He quickly ran out the door and back towards the house, eager to tell everyone what had happened.
That left Pleakley and Basha. And seeing how the former reacted to Komadjie, Basha knew what she had to do.
"I'll take him," she said quietly.
Jumba nodded and handed her the remote control. "If he is doing ANYTHING dangerous, just press that button. Understand?"
"Yes."
"Good. You can go now." He turned to Komadjie, who understandably looked furious. Jumba's voice was stern. "And you do whatever she tells you."
The two young experiments left the lab without another word. Komadjie walked a good distance behind Basha, on all fours with his head hanging low, looking like the prisoner he was.
Jumba watched their retreating forms from the window even after they were gone, the events of that night several years ago flooding his mind. As 188 had breathed his last breath, it seemed the whole story was over. To Jumba, Komadjie was a punch that had come flying out of the past to hit him in the back of the head, just when he'd been at his most content.
Presently, Pleakley came up beside him. "Why can't we tell Komadjie what happened-I mean, doesn't he have a right to know?"
"Hm? What?" Jumba stammered, jerked out of his train of thought.
"Komadjie. Why can't we tell him the story?"
"Because I do not want to be telling him his father was bloodthirsty murderer, and I had to kill him."
Pleakley looked outraged. "So you're going to keep all this from him just because you don't want to look like the bad guy?!"
Jumba narrowed his eyebrows. "As I am recalling, you fired gun too. Maybe we should tell Komadjie that?"
"No! I mean yes! I mean-" Pleakley was trapped. His fear of possibly being gutted overrode his sense of honesty. Giving it up, he turned to stare out the window. "You know, I only went on that monster hunt to protect you."
Jumba was unable to hide a smile. "I am not doubting that you did, my little one-eyed one."
Basha had a scattered family. Each of her parents lived with a human "owner." As a result, the three found themselves bouncing between houses. As a matter of fact, they would be joining at the library the very next day. But for the night, Basha was staying with her father and Kara-and that's where she took Komadjie. The house was completley dark and probably locked, but the dog door allowed them to get in easily.
Komadjie had mixed feelings. All his life he'd lived in the ocean. Now he'd not only been thrown out of it, but he was being treated like a criminal for no apparent reason. Still, he couldn't help but stare at everything on this strange new planet. He had to fight the temptation run away from Basha and explore it all.
"My dad and Kara went out for the day, and they won't be back until late," Basha said simply when they reached the upstairs. "Don't worry if you hear them come in."
Instead of answering, Komadjie just stared at her. The expression on his face was unreadable, but it didn't look friendly and Basha felt her heart speeding up. Suddenly, Komadjie turned and slunk into the shadows of the hall.
Shocker remote held tightly in her paw, Basha backed up towards her room (an old storage closet, perfect for her size). Once safely inside, she shut the door and locked it, then climbed into the dog bed she slept in.
'What have I gotten myself into?'
Basha pulled the blanket over her head as though it alone could protect her from the outside world. And while she didn't completley believe Komadjie was capable of murder, she couldn't help but notice the sounds of talons clicking against the floor as he wandered the house.
to be continued...