The Tejina Chronicles: Ambush on the High Seas

By: Kioko the pirate

Chapter 9: Devotion

Sunlight nearly filled the entire room now, three hours had passed by and the girls and their experiments had regained their strength. Stitch was now on his feet, glaring up at 6-2-7 with an angry look upon his face. 6-2-7 merely smirked down at him before getting up to his feet. Lilo and Victoria both got to their feet and picked up their spell books. The room couldn't have been more silent; it was if the whole world was standing still. A warm breeze rushed through the open windows and broke the silence.

"I suppose I don't need to ask if you are ready to begin." blurted 6-2-7 as Vandercamp retrieved their book from his coat.

"If you wanna fight, then fight, don't talk." barked Stitch impatiently.

"Now you shouldn't expect me to just jump into battle, Stitch. After all, it is two against one."

"No, it's not two against one," blurted Lilo, "there is a third."

6-2-7 seemed to take an interest in this fact and raised an eyebrow curiously. "Oh, and just who would that be?"

"The most powerful people we know, that's who!" smiled Lilo confidently.

Vandercamp gave a small chuckle. "You wouldn't be referring to 6-2-4 and her partner would you? Because if you are then I'm afraid they won't be showing up." said the man with a smile. "You see, slightly before my ball ended some of our agents captured her in her room and took her down to the deepest part of the ship and her foolish partner went after her. Their survival is slim to none. Even if he makes it down there and frees her, our strongest agent will stop them."

Despite this news Lilo never lost confidence in Kioko and Angel. It was shocking that an experiment as strong as Angel could be captured but if Kioko managed to get to her she couldn't see anything stopping them.

"I think you are underestimating them." said Lilo confidently.

"Oh believe me, I'm not. I know full well how strong 6-2-4 is, she posed a great threat to my mission. Fighting her and 6-2-6 would be far too difficult, so I had to separate them. And though it would be fun to fight her, she is not my target, so it makes no difference to me if I beat her or not. You, 6-2-6, are the only one I need concern myself with. And I am the only one you should worry about, 6-2-4 and her partner will fall, trust me."

Meanwhile, down in the bowels of the ship Kioko had managed to save Angel from her bindings and had propped her up gently against the wall. Her breathing was faint and she could barely hold her eyes open. Tears were building up in Kioko's eyes as he looked his partner over for wounds, but he found none. His heart was a flurry of emotion as he ran his hand gently over her head. He was so glad to have saved her and yet he was terrified by the condition she was in. He had no idea what could have worn her out so badly.

"It's… about time… you got here." said Angel, so weakly that it was barely a whisper.

"Please, don't talk, you have to save your energy." said Kioko concernedly.

Angel just smiled. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. The metal… that those chains are made of absorb energy. Jumba… uses them to keep unruly experiments under control. My strength should… return shortly."

Kioko instantly felt relieved by this. At least he knew she would get better, but he quickly remembered just where they were. With all the hostile guards around there wasn't much time to sit and rest. "Where'd they put the book? If we had it I could get you feeling better a lot quicker."

"I'm not sure, they took it away when they chained me up." said Angel, her voice already getting stronger.

"Is this what you are looking for?" asked a deep voice from behind Kioko.

The boy quickly turned around to see the man he had seen at the ball standing in front of the large doors of the room, in his hand was the black book. A wave of panic rushed through Kioko's heart as he got to his feet; he never trusted anyone but himself when it came to holding the spell book and now the enemy had it, he couldn't think of a worse nightmare.

"Hand over the book now!" shouted Kioko, trying to sound as intimidating as possible. But just as he had expected, the man didn't even blink.

"I don't think you should be ordering people around, Boy," said the man as he reached into his coat pocket and produced a small lighter. He placed it just underneath a corner of the book and prepared to ignite it, "You are hardly in a position to be making demands."

A fear like none he had ever felt covered Kioko. Everything he cared about was just a moment away from destruction. In that moment he felt trapped, he could find no way out, there was nothing he could do to prevent the flames from consuming the book and his precious Angel from being taken away. He could see it clear as day, her smiling face disappearing forever, leaving him alone once again. Cobra could see the boys terrified expression and in a cruel trick he flicked the igniter of the lighter. The boy's heart stopped as he saw the sparks leap forth toward the book, but no gas was released and so no flames appeared. The book was safe for the moment but the damage had been done to Kioko. The boy seemed to fall into a trance with nothing but fear in his expression and he trembled uncontrollably.

Cobra found the sight all too amusing, such a strong willed boy who single handedly fought through countless armed guards without any hesitation, could crumble so easily into a helpless, quivering child. Cobra felt confident now that he had the boy right where he wanted him, he was no longer a threat.

"You see now the hopelessness of your situation. Everything you've done to get here is meaningless," said Cobra in a cold voice. He put the lighter back in his pocket and then began to put the book back in his coat, "I'm not sure what to do with you, hand you over to the guards or kill you myself, which would you prefer?"

Suddenly, as Cobra was placing the book back in his coat, the sound of running feet caught his ear. He looked back toward where Kioko was, but just as he looked back Kioko's fist slammed into his cheek. Without completely realizing it Kioko had overcome his fear and changed it to anger, which he used to drive his knuckles into the man's cheek as hard as he could. Cobra was caught off guard and stumbled backward; he still held the spell book in his hand as he tried to recover. Kioko took the opportunity and reached for the book, but just before he could lay even a finger on it he felt Cobras knee being driven into his gut. The large man recovered his footing while Kioko fell to his knees in pain, gasping for the breath that had been knocked out of him.

"Little punk!" shouted Cobra as he glared down at the boy. He then cocked his leg back and kicked Kioko straight in the chin, knocking him back a good distance. "I told you it was hopeless!" he said as he wiped away a little blood from his mouth.

Despite the immense pain in his body Kioko began to sit up and slowly he got back to his feet. Hunched over and holding his gut with one hand he still managed to look Cobra right in the eye. "It's never hopeless. I'm saving her and there is nothing you can do to stop me. But if you insist on getting in my way… I'll have to kill you."

Kioko now stood straight up, standing eye level with Cobra. Meanwhile, Angel looked on nervously as her partner made his daring stand. She could sense that Cobra was much stronger than Kioko was and this made her worry. She knew he was a good fighter, but there was something about Cobra that made her feel uneasy.

"Do you really think that you can beat me without your experiments help?" asked Cobra mockingly. "You don't stand a chance against me. I'm Mr. Vandercamp's top agent, Cobra."

"His top agent huh, how special. That'll just make it even more impressive when I beat you!" said Kioko with a smile before charging toward Cobra.

The boy cocked his fist back and threw it at his opponent, but Cobra sidestepped the attack easily. Before Kioko sailed by he planted his foot on the ground and leapt into the air, swinging one leg right at the large mans head. Cobra easily blocked the kick, blocking it with his forearm. He then countered, grabbing onto Kioko's leg and swung him around and around before throwing him toward the wall. The impact knocked the wind out of the boy before he fell to the floor. Angel even winced at the sound of the impact. But unlike the last time, Kioko didn't stay down long; he got back on his feet and took after Cobra once again. This time he let fly a fury of kicks, all of which were dodged or blocked by Cobra. He then countered the boy's kicks with a few punches of his own, all hit or were blocked. But even the ones blocked knocked Kioko around; the mans strength was incredible and none of his own strikes even seemed to phase him.

Kioko then tried a rather daring move. He twisted his body, planted his left hand on the ground and brought one swift kick up to Cobras head. But once again the attack failed and Cobra countered, driving the toe of his shoe a few inches into Kioko's gut. The young boy gasped for breath as he slid across the floor. Cobra had an un-amused look upon his face as he watched the boy cough up some blood onto the floor and then stand slowly back up.

"You sure are stubborn," said the man sounding slightly irritated, "that quality will be the death of you."

Still holding his gut in pain and with trails of blood running out of the corners of his mouth Kioko still managed to crack a wise-ass smirk. "I think you're wrong about that. My stubbornness has always worked for me in the past."

"Today it will fail you." responded Cobra coldly.

The large man began to walk toward Kioko, cracking his knuckles in his hands. But suddenly Kioko turned and bolted to the right, running behind some of the large machines that filled the room. Cobra just puffed and slowly followed. "Are you trying to hide now, you coward?"

As the man walked beyond the machines a whole new world seemed to appear. It was no longer the cavernous space that they had just occupied, but it was now dark and cramped like a cave. Wires stretched from machine to machine like vines and canopies of pipes, narrow walkways, and girders criss-crossed overhead. Cobra's eyes darted left and right, searching for Kioko, all was quiet, too quiet. Suddenly, Kioko swung down from one of the girders and caught Cobra off guard. The boy drove the heels of his feet into the man's face, knocking him backward with a painful grunt. Kioko instantly saw the opportunity and went for it. He dropped down and charged the large man; leaping into the air he kicked the man across the face, knocking him even more off balance. Moving to finish his attack Kioko went low and swept Cobra's legs out from under him. As the man fell Kioko went into a handstand and brought the toe of his foot ramming into the man's chest.

But as his foot hit. He felt the hard cover of the spell book beneath his foot; he suddenly remembered what his main goal was, get that book away from him. Kioko quickly righted himself and quickly reached for the stunned mans inside coat pocket. But Cobra was not as stunned as the boy thought and before he could lay a finger on the book the man grabbed his wrist. Like a child playing with a rag doll Cobra flipped Kioko over onto the hard metal floor. The man got back on his feet, still holding tightly to Kioko's wrist. With an animalistic growl the man swung the boy by the wrist and slammed him into one of the machines and then flung him down the narrow corridor. As soon as Kioko had rolled to a stop, Cobra picked him up and wrapped his large arm around the boy's neck.

"You really are out of your league, Boy," growled Cobra angrily as he began to strangle the boy. "You won't be getting out of here alive."

Unfortunately, the two men had stopped in an opening in the machines, in plain view of Angel. The female experiment gave a terrified gasp as she watched her partner gasp for breath, his face slowly changing color. A sudden rush of adrenaline struck her and commanded her to get up and help. In a sudden outburst of strength she managed to push herself to her feet and away from the wall. But she quickly fell back down onto her hands and knees. 'Damn it, damn it! I still don't have enough energy,' thought Angel angrily as she clenched her teeth in frustration. 'I need to help him, I need to! But my body is still too numb. Damn it, move, move!'

Despite her desire she still could barley raise her head. She saw that Kioko was still in Cobras deadly grip and she could tell just as well as him that his strength was fading. Kioko already couldn't breathe, his stubbornness and his desire to save his Angel were the only things keeping him conscious. 'This can't be happening," thought Kioko as the feeling disappeared from his legs. 'I can't die now! I can't afford to die now.' Kioko looked toward where Angel was, though his vision was becoming blurry he could still make out her pink form. 'I can't let her down. I made her a promise,' like a slideshow all of his memories of him and Angel came rushing back, the good, the bad, all of them. He could not think of anything but her smiling face, and suddenly there in his mind was Michelle's face smiling just the same as Angel. 'I made a mistake, I let you down and you were lost forever.'

His vision was now growing dark and the sensations in his body were almost gone. 'Up until now there was no way for me to make it up to you. But now, I have her in my life and through her… by protecting her with all my strength and by not failing her… I shall make it up to you… I swear it!'

Kioko was mere seconds away from no return, his strength was gone, he was helpless. But by some twist of fate, Cobra released his grip and precious air rushed into the boys lungs, saving him from death for the moment. But Cobra, unaware of what was going on continued his attack, picking Kioko up by the face with one hand and ramming his head into the floor. He repeated this a few times before kicking Kioko across the floor. Tears welled up furiously in Angel's eyes, her partner's body seemed lifeless and a terror she had never felt before filled her. With rivers of tears streaking her cheeks she finally found the strength enough to get to her feet and run shakily toward her fallen partner.

"Kioko!" she cried as she stumbled toward him. But before she could reach him she was knocked back to where she had been by a kick from Cobra.

"I wouldn't bother trying to call his name, he's as good as gone." said Cobra coldly, kicking Kioko in the back again.

"He won't die that easily you bastard," said Angel as she slowly sat up. Unfortunately she had regained enough feeling to know that the man's kick really hurt. "He's stronger than you think. It'd be smart not to underestimate him."

"Underestimate him?" laughed Cobra, "I overestimated him. I thought he would be a harder challenge than this. He disappointed me; it would appear that you were stuck with a worthless human. Though I suppose it is fitting for an experiment such as you."

Angel let out a toothy growl as she made her way back onto her knees. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? You know nothing about me!"

Cobra let out a small chuckle. "6-2-7 told me all I needed to know about you."

"You must be crazy, there is no 6-2-7. 6-2-6, Stitch, was the last experiment Jumba created before this tournament. There could be no newer experiments in this battle."

"You right about Stitch being the last experiment made before this tournament. However, Jumba, it would appear was not pleased with his design. And thus made an experiment for a single purpose. To retrieve 6-2-6. I guess your creator had no plan for recalling an experiment other than the burning of their book, so it was necessary to send some one to burn Stitch's book and quickly." explained Cobra casually.

"Jumba was never the most patient one around." added Angel.

Cobra just smiled. "6-2-7 didn't want anything slowing him down. He wanted to get his job done quickly. He saw that you had become rather close to Stitch and his partner, he saw that you had become strong enough to be a nuisance, so he ordered your capture. He assured us that despite your strength you were still the pathetic little experiment that you have always been. Tell me, how does it feel to lose five times?"

Angel's blood was boiling, her teeth were clenched so tight that her jaw was beginning to hurt and her fists cracked from the strain. She pictured herself leaping up and clawing the man's face off, but still her body remained too weak to fight. "I will not lose this time!" snarled Angel, "Kioko and I will win it all, no one is going to stop us!"

"You really are foolish aren't you?" Cobra reached down and grabbed Kioko by the collar and lifted him into the air, the boy's body still limp, "Are you telling me that he is going to help you win? This boy couldn't even save you, you stupid little experiment!"

Suddenly, Kioko's arm shot up and into Cobra's coat, grabbing hold of the black book. The large man gasped in shock just as Kioko opened his eyes and stared back in triumph. The length of their conversation allowed enough time for the boy to regain his consciousness and some of his strength. But he still wasn't in good condition, he barely noticed Cobra tossing him away and kicking him in the gut. He felt the dull thud of himself hitting the floor and the feeling of friction beneath him as he slid a few yards away, but he felt no pain. The only thing he felt was the book slipping a few inches from his hand on impact, it was just out of reach.

Angel's ears shot up with the surprise and a sudden burst of hope overwhelmed her. She cried her partners name again with joy, this time she knew he heard her, as he turned his head and looked back at her with a smile. Tears once again came to her eyes, but now they were tears of joy. Cobra was not as joyous about what had just happened, he looked at the boy furiously and with certain amazement, it was as though he had just sprung back to life.

"You are the one who is a fool, Cobra. I have saved her," Kioko reached his hand up above his head toward where the book had landed and began reaching for it. Cobra suddenly became very frantic and ran toward the boy, yelling angrily.

"I will never let you succeed, I will never let you win!"

"And we will win, we will always win!" smirked Kioko as he laid two fingertips upon the books cover.

The book erupted in it's dark light just as Cobra reached the boy and raised his leg, intending to crush the boys rib cage. "You bastard!" cried Cobra as he drove his foot downward. But before his foot got even close to its target a pair of fury pink paws stopped it in its tracks. The large man gasped as he felt his foot being driven back. "What the hell?"

In an instant Angel had regained every last bit of her strength, her tears of joy dried as she now found her enemy right where she wanted him. "I warned you not to underestimate us," growled Angel as she peered around the man's foot and glared into the man's eyes. A look of fear appeared on the man's face as the experiments eyes stabbed into him. "Now you will pay for what you have done. Just as Kioko cannot stand to see me injured, I cannot stand to see him injured. Especially by bastards such as you!"

With no difficulty Angel launched cobra into the air. In a flash she appeared in front of him, her fist cocked back and her teeth clenched with rage. Then, with a rebel yell, she threw her fist as hard as she could into the man's face. Sending him shooting across the room and smashing into one of the large machines in an explosion of smoke and steam. Angel landed on the ground panting and staring into the cloud. It quickly vanished and revealed Cobra lodged in the machine, a second later he fell to the ground, unconscious but not quite dead. A satisfied smile appeared on the females face as she turned back toward her partner, who was barely sitting up.

"Remind me… not to… piss you off." said Kioko weakly.

Angel just smiled and sat down next to him. "Don't speak, you need to save your strength." she said as she wiped away the blood that was running down his brow.

"I'll be fine, don't worry," laughed Kioko, "Come on, we need to get out of here. I'm sure Lilo and them could use some help."

Kioko began to push himself up but Angel put her paw on his chest and kept him down. "They'll be able to hold their own long enough. You need to be thinking about yourself. As beaten up as you are we wouldn't stand a chance of getting out of here."

"Beaten up? I wasn't beaten up, I just got a little roughed up."

"Uh huh, sure. Just rest a little while longer, would you please? There's no need to rush just yet."

Kioko just smiled and gave in to the experiments request, lowering his head onto her lap, which she offered up as a pillow. He smiled up at her as she smiled down on him. "I don't know what I would do without you, Angel."

"I don't know what you'd do without me neither, Kioko."

Well that's the end of this chapter! Next chapter! The battle between 627, Stitch and Snooty begins! Can they defeat this great opponent? Find out next time on The Tejina Chronicles! Please review.