Chapter 10

'Awaken, my son'

JJ sat bolt upright in his sleeping bag, stifling a gasp with one paw. He had definitely, most definitely, just heard a voice in his mind…a very familiar one: that of his adopted father.

Never one to believe in ghosts, spooks, or the boogiemonster, JJ looked around the dome-top room, lit only by soft white starlight. Stitch and Lilo slept peacefully in their beds on either side of the room. "Get it together ol' boy" JJ said quietly to himself, unconsciously running a paw back over the scruff of fur on his head.

"You've always 'had it together' son" said that same deep, benevolent voice, "Ariadne and I raised you, RJ, and MJ well." JJ looked up to see the bluish, spectral form of the Good Doctor, Jumba Gregor Jookiba, standing on the other side of the room. He wore a white lab coat, a white shirt, and matching pants. Unlike the mad scientist we all know, the Mirror Universe Jumba never lost his hair, as Clip nor any of the other experiments were created.

"Father, is…that really you?" asked JJ, not sure whether to believe what he was seeing. Dr. Jookiba smiled, "Only in spirit my son" he replied sadly. "The Empire's cruelty knows no bounds." The scientist sat down against the wall, and was joined by JJ, who was dwarfed considerably. "The Empress herself personally executed Ariadne and I."

JJ's hatred for She-devil grew a hundred times stronger upon hearing this. His thoughts took a very dark turn, and the urge to slaughter the evil child and her underlings was almost overpowering. He shook his head, but the darkness was still there, lurking at the back of his mind and in his heart like some prowling, venomous beast.

Dr. Jookiba looked down at JJ, who looked back. "What happened to RJ and MJ?" asked the young Kith, almost afraid to ask. RJ, short for Rupert Jacques, was his biological brother, and the Mirror Universe counterpart of Reuben. He was named after Dr. Jookiba's best friend and fellow scientist, Rupert Jacques von Hamsterviel, who was killed by the Empire's evil agents because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and was assumed to be part of a rebellion.

MJ, short for Marilyn Juno, was not related to them but was considered a sister. She was Angel's counterpart, and was named after Ariadne's mother who, like Jacques, was killed by the Empire for being a suspected rebel. Because of the unique way in which history happened, not everyone in the LS:TW Mirror Universe is simply an evil twin with inverted morals and/or a goatee. JJ's brother and sister were firmly on the side of good.

"They escaped Kweltikwan and presumably went into hiding, as I haven't seen them in the afterlife" replied Dr. Jookiba. JJ got up and walked over to Lilo's dresser. He studied the numerous photos stuck to the tackboard above it. "I'm going to kill the Empress, but first I've gotta get her away from Duke and the Demon Guard" said JJ, more to himself than the Good Doctor.

Overhearing his son's musing, Dr. Jookiba got up and walked over to stand beside him. "I understand your desire to see the Empress meet her long overdue death, but do not let bloodlust cloud your judgment" he said sternly, "She is a cunning warrior, and a deadly fighter."

"I'm fully aware of that, Father" snapped JJ, turning back around to look at the Kweltikwanian with fire burning in his blue eyes. "I have no intention of letting the Empress get the upper hand; I'm going to get her alone before cutting her down, then I'll wipe out the Demon Guard." The Kith crossed his arms over his chest with a frustrated huff.

Neither he nor the Good Doctor noticed that Stitch and Lilo had awakened. They pretended to be asleep, but listened to the conversation their new friend was having with his adopted father.

Both could see Dr. Jookiba: Stitch because he was a canine and more attuned to the Other Side, and Lilo because she knew and studied ancient magic, and had taught herself how to sense the good and bad in people, and even see auras and those of the ectoplasmic persuasion.

Dr. Jookiba sighed, then looked up at his son. "It would not do for you to die because of lack of common sense, poor judgment, and too much of overconfidence. I am definitely getting those vibes from you, JJ" he said angrily, clearly disappointed in the boy. "You were raised better than that."

JJ looked ready to start smashing whatever was within reach. "Lack of common sense?" he hissed through clenched fangs, trying to be quiet. "Overconfidence, poor judgement?" the alien picked up his combat suit and angrily stepped into it.

He put on his helmet and U-belt. "I'm not overconfident and besides, the Empress has a bad concussion. I can take her down easy...like this" JJ lowered his plasma cannon and pretend-fired it at the floor, in imitation of blowing She-devil's evil little noodle into gory confetti.

The Good Doctor stepped back towards the lift. "It is your decision to make, my son. I hope you make the right one." He started to fade away, "May the Wise Lord watch over you." Then he was gone, and the dome-top room darkened once more.

JJ was about to step onto the lift when he heard the ruffling of sheets. He turned to see both Stitch and Lilo sitting up in bed, looking at their new friend with the utmost concern. "We heard everything" said Stitch, wincing a bit as his scar twinged. "You're going to fight the Empress alone, aren't you?" asked Lilo.

The young hero walked over and sat down on the edge of Lilo's bed. He took off his helmet, then looked up at the Hawaiian girl who seemed to personify all that was good, and her friend who was JJ's Mirror counterpart, yet far from evil.

"I have to go alone Lilo" he said kindly, "The Empress is dangerous, and I couldn't bear the thought of what she, or her Demon Guard, might do to you." He reached out a gloved hand and ruffled the girl's jet-black hair. He turned to look at Stitch, "You take good care of Lilo, she's one of a kind."

JJ stood and shook his counterpart's paw. "If I'm not back by noon tomorrow, consider me dead and arm yourselves to the teeth, and don't let any of your Ohana out of your sight. If Duke and his men got their claws on Nani or Lilo here…" the Kith shuddered and turned slightly green at the very thought.

"Hold up a sec" said Lilo, walking over to JJ. He turned to her. She kissed him on one fuzzy cheek. "For good luck" she stepped back. Stitch carefully got out of bed and took something from underneath his pillow. He walked over and held the object up: it was his Ku Tiki, that Lilo had given him just before he left to be Captain of the Galactic Alliance.

"I know I made a promise never to take this off or lose it, but if the Empress is as dangerous as you say, your going to need this a lot more than me" said Stitch, handing over the Ku Tiki. JJ smiled, "Mahalo" he thanked with a nod, and unzipped the top of his suit and hung it around his neck inside, so it would not get caught on anything.

Lilo pulled her new friend into a warm hug, which he returned. "Be careful JJ, and don't go off thinking you're totally alone in this, cause no matter how far away you are, your friends will always be by your side, and in your heart" said Lilo, stepping back.

JJ stepped onto the lift. With a two-fingered salute, he was gone.

Well, that was Chapter 10. Next up in Chapters 11 and 12, we'll be introduced to two new characters from the Mirror Universe.