Ten Chances

by LumiChan640

A nightmare come true, ten more experiments have been created by Jumba and were accidentally unleashed into the world. Now it's up to the heros to fix the mess before the mess fixes them. However, these experiments are unique, they cannot be turned good as others were without being in the perfect situation, unfortunately that part is yet for the heros to discover for themselves.

11. 11) Drifting to Sleep

Ten Chances) Chapter Eleven: Drifting to Sleep

It's been a long time, now that I think about it...
No new threat has appeared yet.
Is it because 629's been feeling better lately?
Is it because I've been trying to help him?
...But just a while ago...he attacked me again...
He's reverted to his mindset of killing again...
I know what that means, he's like this every time.
Someone's going to activate sooner or later.
But who?
"523, you seem comfy." 629 says to me, not from too far away.
I open my eyes and look over at him. We're at the beach, resting besides some palmtrees.
"Yeah...the beach is really nice." I smile, turning to the setting sun.
"...523, why do you still want to live?" 629 sits next to me. "All those years, you've wanted to end. But now...you've lost it...that anger, that makes no sense to me. You've had all this anger build up, where's it gone now?"
"Maybe it's gone into you." I snicker. "You're the one who's attacking me all the time."
"Maybe." 629 laughs. "You're a lot of fun to play with, 523. I see why 619 was enjoying himself whenever he played with you."
I frown. "That wasn't playing...that was..."
"Torturing? Same difference in my head."
"He's not like that anymore, he's my friend now." I stand up, wasting no time. I don't want any more things thrown at me about my stupid past.
My stupid, stupid past.
"Where are you going, 523?" 629 tilts his head up, frowning. "We were watching the sun together."
I sigh and sit down again. "Just...please...don't talk about the old me." I look over at 629. "Ok?"
"...Maybe." 629 looks back at the ocean. The waves push all the way to our feet, touching them gently. 629 jerks his head at me suddenly. "So, tell me."
"H-Huh?" I stutter, rather startled.
"Why do you want to live?"
"Ohh..." I smile. "Because I'm happy."
"So when you're sad, you won't want to live?"
"U-Uhh...that's not what I was implying..."
629 scoffs. "Make up your mind. I was made to end you because of your hatred and anger. Now you apparently have none, what am I supposed to do? Follow my orders?"
"N-No...l-let's not follow the orders..." I turn to 629. "Hey, you don't have to listen to your programming, you know."
629 pushes me over. "Yes I do, don't you dare say something like that!"
I sigh and lay in the warm sand, closing my eyes. "629, you should write your own programming."
"Huh?"
"Don't let people program your life for you, make it yours."
"523...you are my programming." 629 puts a hand on my shoulder. "Jumba didn't program me...well he did but...that programming was overridden."
"Hmm?" I sit up, raising an eyebrow. "Your programming was overridden? What were you supposed to do?"
"Oh, I was still supposed to be a mass-murder machine." 629 laughs. "But that's not what my new programming tells me."
"Your new programming?"
"I was created with a piece of you, 523. It was your anger. It bloomed and flourished into a complete programming script, my goal is to fulfil what your hatred craves for."
I really don't like where this is going. "M-My hatred? I-I don't have hatred anymore...I-I-"
"Your old hatred has been burning in your heart for all these years, lying dormant. It's still alive because..." 629 taps me on the head. "Well...you still remember."
"I-I don't hate anyone at all!" I cross my arms. "Never have, never will!"
"Lier." 629 chuckles. "I know your hatred, it's my programming after all."
"What would that be?"
He grins deviously and whispers in a harsh voice. "To annihilate all the experiments and step out of the shadows, to prove that I can be the most successful of all, to prove that the outcome can really be something greater than the blueprints have sought, I will show them all. I will be the only one."
"Is that you saying those things?" I whimper. "That's really dark and nasty."
"Haha...I'm quoting someone very famous."
"Wh-Who would that be?"
His grin shrinks to a casual smile. "You, of course. You said those very words a long time ago. You wanted to kill all the experiments and be the only one left so you wouldn't be a failure anymore. You were going to kill Jumba, anyone who put you down. The only lives you would spare would be the ones of the others on the 'failures' list, those who too just like you. You wanted to start a revolution."
"I-I didn't want to do any of that!" I stand up. "Never!" I can't imagine ever wishing anyone to be killed, I couldn't have...
"You don't want to anymore, I can see that. But those angered thoughts still live inside you." 629 stands up and taps my chest lightly, right around my heart. "It'll burst out in a fury one day, you wouldn't be able to hold your emotions back."
I shake my head and close my eyes, some tears slip. "I don't want to hurt anyone! Nobody! Not Splody! Not Jumba! Not anyone!"
"You couldn't hold your feelings back then, they stopped you before you grew out of control...but unfortunately...nobody will be able to stop you when the flames dance again."
I grit my teeth and push him away as hard as I can. "I don't want to hear it!"
629 frowns and brushes off some dust. "That was uncalled for..." He raises his claws. "I'll return the favor."
"N-No no no!" I step back. "I-I-I didn't mean it!"
He walks over to me, staring into my eyes. "You want to fight?"
"N-No!" I cover my face with my arms. "I-I'm sorry!"
He looks ready to pounce on me, but then he withdraws. "Hold up..."
I slowly move my arms down, only slightly. "Y-Yeah?"
"He's made it." 629 smiles, looking into the sky. "He's activated."
Someone just activated? 629 can sense that stuff?! "W-What? W-Who?"
"632." He looks over to me. "You'll have a lot of fun with him. Good luck, I know his tactics, you won't be able to fight him."
"W-What does that mean?"
"You'll see." He chuckles, disappearing in a cloud of smoke. "You'll see..."
I don't want to see, to be honest...
"I'll see you really soon, much sooner than you think."
I look around as a strong gust of wind hashly blows from nowhere. It sweeps me off my feet and knocks me far, far, far away. I tumble to the ground and crash, violently.

Early Wednesday morning on Kawaii. The sun peaking above the mountains' peaks, the water glistening and rippling peacefully. The birds singing as the flitter around in the sky, yes, this is morning.
Inside Slushy's home, Solar was awake, early as ever. It was as if he rose when the sun rose. He was sizzling bacon on the frier, plating them with fresh scrambled eggs.
The aroma of the meal caught Slushy's attention. He sat up slowly and rubbed his eyes, then stretching out his arms and yawning.
"Good morning." Solar greeted, just as any other day. "I fixed bacon and eggs. Oh, there's one in the fridge for you, I was just cooking my own.
Slushy slowly crawled out of bed and waddled over to the fridge. He pulled out his meal and brought it to the table, then rushing back to the fridge to close it. He sighed and sat at the table, picking at his eggs with a finger.
"Here's your fork." Solar handed Slushy a fork. He then took his own bacon off the frier and grabbed his breakfast, sitting down with Slushy. "Enjoy."
Slushy smiled, but then sighed, looking down at his food. He picked at it with his fork, not eating much of it at all.
"Something wrong?" Solar asked, a mouthful of bacon muffling his voice.
"...No." Slushy put his fork down. "Just not very hungry..."
"Something on your mind?"
"I'm good, thank you..."
Solar eyed Slushy carefully, examining his brother's mood. "You sure don't look 'good' at all. Wanna talk about it?"
"...629's right. I can sense it." Slushy looked out the window.
The birds chirped and flittered around, Solar wondered what Slushy was talking about. "Umm...did 629 say something about birds?"
"...No, an experiment."
"An experiment?"
"Yes...he told me an experiment activated."
"Really?!" Solar laughed, ironically.
"W-Why are you laughing?" Slushy looked back to Solar. "I'm being serious!"
"It's about time, don't you think?! Months!"
Slushy rolled his eyes and sighed, smiling lightly. "I guess he's a little late with the attacks."
"Did he tell you who?"
Slushy nodded. "632."
"632?" Solar scratched his chin. "He's the guy who helped 629 give you all those nightmares, ehh?"
Slushy nodded again, crossing his arms and closing his eyes with a sigh. "629 said I'll see him again really soon. Does he know when he himself will activate?"
"Dunno. But...we gotta focus on the situation at hand." Solar stood up. "You're the prime target for any of 629's army."
"Is that what you're calling his league? His...army?" Slushy opened his eyes and frowned, not liking the name Solar had presented to address their main antagonists.
"I don't really have a better name..."
Slushy stood up, put on his blue scarf, and walked to the door. "I'd better get going. Gotta get everyone together!"
"Wait a sec." Solar held Slushy back. "You should probably stay inside."
"What?!" Slushy turned to Solar, rather shocked. "I-I gotta help!"
"I know, but I need to warn you..." Solar sighed. "If 632 finds you, he will put you to sleep. Then, he will force his way into your dreams and then mess everything up!"
"How do we stop him?"
"Stay away from the mission, he will be coming for you. I know it's a little stupid to say..."
Slushy sighed and retreated to his bed. "Do I just wait here? Can I rest?"
"No, no, no! That's the last thing you want to do!" Solar pulled Slushy out of the bed. "You can't sleep at all costs! That's like rolling 632 a big, fuzzy, warm, inviting welcome mat!"
Slushy groaned and walked back to the table, sitting down. "Well, you expect me to sit here and do nothing?"
"Uhh..." Solar shrugged.
"..." Slushy slammed his face into the table and moaned.
"H-Hey, that's not healthy, shoving your face into your table like that!" Solar crossed his arms. "Sure you can do something, as long as you don't leave your house or fall asleep."
"Honestly...why can't I sleep? If 632 doesn't find me, then everything should be ok..."
"If you sleep, 632 will be able to locate you because of...some dream powers or whatever. You gotta trust me."
Slushy sighed and sat up. "I don't want to be bored!"
Solar walked over to the small closet. "Do you have games in here?"
"...I dunno..."
Solar sighed and opened the closet, examining the contents. He found a lone orange surfboard shirt hanging upon a single hangar, a small, white hat ontop of the shelf, and not much more. Several boxes were cluttered on the floor, mostly inside there were books and toys.
"Aha! There." Solar picked up a box and dropped it at the table. "You've got lots of books."
"B-But..." Slushy looked at the books. "Solar, I-I..."
"You'll love these, right? I can take off that scarf for you Solar reached for Slushy s scarf.
N-No! I-I ll be fine...besides it s...really comfy! Slushy smiled. I-I mean Slushy, you re indoors. There s no need- P-Please! It s really important! B-But that doesn t make sense. Why would you-? Solar was about to ask more, but he then looked at the time. "I gotta get going, gotta go after that experiment! It's Wednesday, right? You ve got lots of vacation days to use. Take a day off, relax, chill out, read your books! Be back as soon as I can, see ya!" Solar zoomed out the door.
Slushy frowned and pushed the box away. "I-I...I already read all these books...fifteen times..."

I wince as light pours into my eyes.
Activating was a lot more painful than what I expected prior.
Regardless, that part is over now. I gently drift from the ground and float into the clouds, camouflage.
I won't be spotted as long as only few quick glances skip over me.
One of my problems with my genetic design is the fact that I'm a blue cloud.
If someone paid close enough attention, I'd be in plain sight.
Nevermind that, I have to follow 629's orders. Closing my eyes, I try to speak to him, with our unconscious link. We established it earlier, I agreed to allow him to use my own power as he pleased, anything for my leader.
'632, you hear me?' He asks.
'Yes, sir.' I nod, opening my eyes again. 'I've been scanning the area above the island.'
'What's your progress?'
'No luck, yet.'
'523 looks almost identical to you, I mean...same body color, practically the same body shape, same eye color, etcetera. It should me more than simple to identify him.'
'Right, sir.' I drift carefully to the edge of the cloudline and peak through it. '523 is not at the beach, sir.'
'So then, what do you do about it?'
'I'll keep looking, sir.'
'You will never find him with your head in the clouds.'
I sigh and cross my arms, shaking my head, his pun referring to my cloud-like body. 'Very funny, sir.'
'Get to the ground and scavenge around there.'
'Right.'
I quickly zoom to the ground, then into the forest.
Now that I'm closer to the ground, maybe I will be able to detect 523's conscious easier.
'Any luck yet, 632?' 629 asks, impatient as he always was.
'I believe I'm getting close-' I hear a ruffling sound from some bushes, not too far away. I turn my head to the bushes, the ruffling has stopped.
But that hasn't stopped my suspicion.
'629, I think I may be compromised.'
'What?'
I close my eyes and listen. 'Someone's here, 629, I'm being watched...'
And then, bursting out from the shrubbery, came 630 and a gang of other experiments.
Carrying...
Vacuum cleaners?
No time to think, they're charging me with them, I really don't intend on finding out what they plan on doing.
I start to fly through the forest rapidly, right on a straight course. I'm a cloud, no need to worry about flying into anything.
But the fact that I'm mindlessly wandering about, not being able to pinpoint the location of my target, makes for a real time waster.
Precious, valuable time...
'632, what's going on? Report!'
I gulp and turn back to 630, he's catching up quick, the trees serve as little an obstacle for him.
'I'm being chased by 630 and his gang, sir! They're chasing me with vacuum cleaners!'
'Slow down, what did you say? Vacuum cleaners?'
'Sir, yes sir!' I face forward again and push myself to fly even faster. 'It's intimidating, sir!'
'Don't let them distract you of your mission.'
I nod, while the situation is still hectic. 'Yes, sir.'
Continuing to fly about the forest, I look around.
If I'm correct, 523 should be a deep sleeper, so why can I not pick up his conscious?
He likes any chance he has to sleep, and if he is on break, he should be sleeping now with all logic.
But, I suppose not...
I'll do this, I've got to do this for 629.
For my sake, too.
I can't fail him now.
Just a little longer, I've gotta hope I'll find-
A group of experiments leap in front of me, also with vacuum cleaners.
630's coming up from behind.
I've only got one place to go.
Down.
I dive into the ground and zoom underground.
I had hoped I would have no reason for this, it's pitch black, and I'll have a hard time picking up any conscious from here.
I should be safe now-
The ground then erupts, plasma blasts striking it in my location.
I force myself out of the ground, discombobulated.
"I'VE GOT YOU NOW!"
I turn around, 619's charging at me, full speed.
Funny, he's got the same spark of energy as 629...
No time to stay around, gotta go fast.
I dodge his attack with the vacuum cleaner, and his plasma blasts fly right through me, not affecting me at all.
Gotta keep moving.
I zoom straight forward, faster than before. No more time lingering about!
As long as I survive the chase long enough against these guys, I'll be able to find 523.
Maybe...
I continue to be chased by these pestering creeps, zooming around strategically to avoid being cornered.
Just a little longer...
A little longer...please...
As long as I'm patient...
Come on...
Being tangled in my worries is distracting me from being focussed on escaping the pursuit of the vacuum cleaner-wielding gang.
The V.C.W.G. That's catchy.

A sigh, a yawn, a page flip.
Slushy was flat out bored.
He had been reading through his books for a long while now, but he didn't feel awake at all.
In fact, he felt very tired.
He wanted to try and read some of the books he had received that were in another language, but he couldn't understand them at all.
As of now, he was reading a sort of picture book thing, a manga. He didn't know what exactly it was, but he ignored that fact and tried to read it.
It was strange, his computerized mind was signalling that the pages are read as left to right, then down, back to left, right, down, repeat, and so on.
Actually, the entire 'book' he was reading was backwards. Rather than starting from the 'front' it was as if he was starting at the 'back' and reading to the 'front.'
He was confused, Lilo had taught him to read right to left, then down.
All the pages were black and white, too.
Why make a picture book without color for the pictures?
The only colored thing was the cover of the manga.
Mangas were weird, he concluded. Slushy sighed and tried to pronounce the words in the book, his computer mind would try to break down these strange characters and replace them with English letters.
"G-Goki...genyou." Slushy stuttered. "Ah, Mirajane...o-ohayo...?"
What was gokigenyou? What was ohayo?
He sighed and went to a translator online and tried to pronounce the words to the speaker. The website set to translate whatever language he spoke to English.
"'Good day.' 'Ah, Mirajane, good morning.'" Slushy read.
The language identified was Japanese.
"Japanese?" Slushy scratched his head. "How did I end up with a Japanese picture book thingy?"
He sighed and shook his head, no matter. He returned to his seat at the table and flipped the page.
"E-Elf-ni-chan...ohayo!"
He then tried to translate it on his own.
"Good morning, Elf-niichan."
Sounds good, right?
Just the Elf-niichan is a little confusing.
There was a picture of a girl in a dress waving to a taller boy.
No...wait.
A man?
Was this her older brother, or her dad?
Then in the next picture, another girl appeared, waving.
"Min'na, ohayo!"
What was min'na?
Back to the translator, he typed in the sentence.
"Good morning, everyone!"
This story was starting to make a little sense.
These people were greeting each other.
Slushy was now intrigued about learning how to read Japanese.
But over time, reading this new and exciting story grew boring, not because of the story...but because Slushy had a lack of a complete night's sleep.
Mainly because of 629 constantly infiltrating his dreams, Slushy had been lacking good sleep lately.
Just another page flip...
Slushy groaned as he saw practically paragraphs of Japanese on the next page.
He decided perhaps it would be best to try and find an English dubbed version of this manga.
What was it called?
Slushy checked the cover. "Fairy Tail?"
Confusing, this didn't seem quite relevant to fairies at all.
He went to his mini-laptop and searched up the manga.
A story about wizards in a guild defeating evil and saving the world.
"Sounds awesome." Slushy smiled. "I guess I'll have to look up some English chapters."
He turned back to his own mangas.
"But...Lilo gave these to me...I shouldn't quit because I can't understand them. I will have to read through every one!"
He returned to his table and started to read more.
Page flip.
More words.
Open translator.
Take notes on new words.
Comprehend sentence.
Move onto the next one.
Finish page.
Next page.
More words.
Open translator.
Take notes on new words.
Comprehend sentence.
Move onto the next one.
Finish page.
Page flip.
He was starting to learn about this magical world very quickly, and he did enjoy it.
"This is so cool! This fire guy has a flying talking cat, and I think he's been taught magic by a dragon? That's really cool!" Slushy remarked in awe.
However...overtime his drowsiness overruled his interest in the story.
"Keep reading. Must keep reading...what happens to Natsu...is he gonna save the day...?"
Slushy yawned and stretched.
"Can't fall asleep...need to know...what happens next..."
A thud to the table, he slowly fell asleep...

Signal!
Yes!
I got a signal!
I take a rapid, sharp turn to the right, narrowly escaping another pursuiter. A green tunnel, a distortion of the forest bends before my eyes as I zoom lightning fast.
Get out of here, I need to get out asap!
I bullet straight through any obstacle.
Nothing can stop me now.
Faster, faster, faster.
I was waaaay off from the target area.
Gosh...
The location is a mile away!
Faster, faster, faster.
Aha!
Hit the breaks!
I slowly drift inside a small home.
There he is, sound asleep on top of a picture book of some sort...
He was trying to stay awake by reading, poor thing couldn't manage.
Anyways...
It's time to enter his dreamscape.
He will have a deep...deep...deep sleep...
I place my right palm on his forehead and whisper...
"Goodnight. Sweet dreams, 523..."

A soft and gentle wind brushes me...
What...?
The smell of lemon grass...the soft splashing of waves...the feeling of warm, soft sand...
Where am I?
I slowly open my eyes, then sit up.
After rubbing them a little, I look around.
The beach...?
I was at my house last time I remember...how did I end up here?
"I see you're here, how're you feeling?"
I turn around, there stands 629. He leans against a palm tree, smiling.
"6-629?" I ask, standing up. "A-Are you playing with my mind again? Did you somehow walk me to the beach?"
629 chuckles and walks over to me. "No, silly, you haven't left your house at all."
"Huh?"
That made no sense.
I'm at the beach, and at home?
Unless...
Oh no...
I didn't fall asleep, did I?!
This is bad, very bad!
What if 632 finds me like this?! I'm completely vulnerable!
"Hey, would you like to take me on a tour?" 629 smiles, stopping my train of thought. "I've been looking at your life events and stuff, but I think maybe I'll be able to understand more about you once you explain the things, right?"
"I...what do you mean tour?"
"You know...like...if I show you something, you can tell me about it?"
"Maybe..."
Wait, what am I saying?!
I shake my head. "N-No, just...just beat me up really hard! You love getting angry at me, right? Come on, shred me to pieces!"
This is my only hope to wake up...
"But I'm not angry at you." 629 looks confused. "Have you grown to...actually have the feeling that you...need pain?"
Yes.
No.
Maybe so?
Not at all. I don't need pain, I-I just...
I don't know...
"Come on, 523, show me around!" 629 whines, childishly. He tugs on my arm, it feels like he's going to rip it off without even trying.
"I-I...Okay..." I sigh, looking down.
But it's not okay...
I'm asleep, and if 632 finds me...there's going to be lots of trouble...
"How about you show me your old room first?" 629 asks.
"My...old room?"
"Yeah, I'll take you there too! All you gotta do is explain it and stuff."
"I-I get that...but...my old room?"
"Yeah!"
The sand from the beach is picked up by the breeze, it swishes around us like a tornado.
Faster, faster, faster.
I can't see anything anymore, and 629's let go of my arm.
But...where am I going?

"Where did that cloud go?!" Solar asked, looking around.
"I saw him for like two seconds, literally I did!" Splodyhead pointed to his left, past a large oak tree. "He was right about to fly into my trap, then he turned sharply left and...WOOOSH!" Splodyhead waved his hands in the air. "Like a rocket, WHOOSH!"
Sparky looked over in that direction. "You don't think...that sudden burst means...he found him?"
"B-B-But I told Slushy he couldn't fall asleep! I gave him boxes of books and stuff so he wouldn't fall asleep!" Solar defended. "I...I don't understand..."
"It's not your fault, I mean..." Splodyhead looked to the ground. "Slushy's been having trouble sleeping, he's been really tired...they got him at his weak spot..."
Solar sighed and sat down. "I should've kept him company, to try and keep him awake, at least to try and protect him..."
"Naga your fault." Stitch comforted, patting Solar on the back.
"Guys, we can't linger around anymore." Sparky looked back to the forest. "We need to hurry and get back to Slushy's house fast!"
Transferia nodded. "Yes, good point. Standing around here only puts him in more danger."
Flash raised her hand. "I volunteer to carry you guys!"
Dash nodded. "We can get you there fast!"
"No need for that." Transferia sighed. "I know I said we can't stand around, but we don't need to take drastic measures!"
"It's not drastic, watch!" Flash picked up Transferia and Solar effortlessly and zoomed in the direction Splodyhead had pointed to.
"...And they're gone..." Sparky sighed, shaking his head.
"Want me to carry you?" Dash offered. "I think I can get you, Stitch, and Splody."
"No thanks, I'm good." Sparky zoomed away.
Dash nodded. "Alright then." He then scooped up Stitch and Splodyhead and dashed away.
After zooming through the forest for quite some time, they arrived and regrouped at the crime scene.
"Sleeping on a manga." Transferia sighed, hands on her hips. She frowned and looked at Slushy, then to the manga. "He was really trying to train his brain, this is written in Japanese."
"Yeah, you're right!" Solar observed. "And look," he pointed to Slushy's scrap piece of paper, "Slushy was trying to translate some words and make his own personal dictionary!"
"How do you know he's been reading Japanese mangas?" Splodyhead asked.
Transferia shrugged. "I'm programmed to identify maybe a couple hundred galactic languages, so are the other...the others who are related to Slushy. Of course, he doesn't have the programming like us...at least he's got a computer to help him."
Solar nodded. "Right, we can straight-up translate lots of languages."
Flash tapped Slushy on the shoulder. "Hello? Slushy? Are you sleeping?"
"What do you think?" Dash asked, crossing his arms. He then glanced over to the scarf. What s with the scarf? There s no need "Must be a fashion statement."
Sparky frowned and eyed Slushy carefully. "Hey...Solar?"
"Mhm?" Solar asked, turning to Sparky.
"Have you noticed...something strange about Slushy?"
Splodyhead looked up. What do you mean by that? "There's like...this strange aura around him." Sparky squinted his eyes. "Like...an aqua-like color, you see?"
"Oh yeah...maybe that means...632's inside now..." Solar frowned. "This is not good, not good at all."
Splodyhead sighed, growing worried about the current problem.
"We need to get him to Jumba." Transferia picked Slushy up from the chair. "Immediately, Jumba can help us."
"What can Jumba do?" Splodyhead asked.
"Use special technology to help us get inside, then we gotta catch 632."
"Oh, like how meega went to Lilo's dreams to catch cousin Remmy?" Stitch asked. "Meega expert at that!"
"Like Remmy, yes...but..." "632's like...much much much much muuuuuuuuuuuch worse..." Flash frowned. "How else do you think 629's been able to mess with his conscious all the time? Appearing in Slushy's dreams, even in his subconscious when he's awake...632's been helping 629 with those things..."
"The fact he's inside now makes this situation very critical." Dash nodded. "We need to move quickly."
"Since when are you so mature all of a sudden?" Transferia whispered.
"I can be immature for fun, yes...but..." Dash looked up to Transferia. "Big brother's hurt."
Big brother.
Splodyhead bit his lip.
No, now wasn't the time to get angry! He couldn't let it get to him, even if he didn't like it.
He sighed and nodded, opening the door to the house. "Guys, let's hurry, we need to get to Jumba's ship as soon as possible!"
Transferia sighed. "I don't think I can carry him all the way..."
Stitch offered a hand. "Can meega help?"
"Sure, knock yourself out." Transferia gave Slushy to Stitch, in a cradle position. "Aww...he's really cute when he sleeps...but we gotta get on task, let's go!"

When I can see again, we stand in a small room.
Small, blue, white snowflakes on the walls...
A small bed, just my size...
A small closet by the door...inside there is only a small bodysuit, white with electric blue stripes.
That's...
That can't be...
My...old uniform?
Then...this means...
I glance over to the door and open it, looking at the plate by the entrance.
'523'
This...
This is...
My old room...
I go back inside and sigh. This bring backs memories...
"This is your room, mhm?" 629 looks around. "I can tell just by looking at the decor, very reflective I must say."
I sit down on my old bed.
It feels just as soft as the day I left...
"Are you gonna tell me about this place?"
I pat my bed, 629 takes a seat by me. "This is...my bed. I used to sleep here."
"Okay..."
"Umm...there's my closet..."
"What's that suit? Your old uniform, right?"
"Yeah..."
629 gets off the bed, then turns around. "So...what's that under the bed?"
"Under the bed...?" I sit at the edge of the bed and flip myself over, looking under the bed in an upside-down perspective. There's a box here.
I pull it up on top of my bed and open the lid.
My eyes widen.
It's...
Fluffy...my old teddy-bear...
I carefully scoop up Fluffy, also taking notice to other scraps in the box.
Couple sticks, a rope, two pieces of candy, and a cloth.
Scraps from the outside, where we were all forbidden to go.
I look back to Fluffy and pet him gently, this brings back memories...
Everyone kept trying to take Fluffy away from me...it made me look not evil at all...
They almost even destroyed Fluffy in front of me...
But Jumba gave him back.
That maybe was the only good memory I have with Jumba...
Without me being enhanced...
I remember how Jumba cradled me in his arms, rocking me gently as I clutched Fluffy in my arms.
Fluffy...
His fur is softer than a pillow, colored a light caramel. His eyes twinkle, a deep fudge color, and a warm smile stitched below his cute, little nose.
"That's your teddy bear, yes?" 629 pats it gently. "Ahh...it's a cutie."
"Thank you." I smile, giving it a hug.
"Who got you that bear?"
I...I actually don't remember...
It couldn't have been Jumba...he doesn't give gifts like that...
And none of the experiments I knew back then could make toys...
I wasn't...so I couldn't have stolen it...
"Well?"
I shrug. "No...I don't remember..."
"Hamsterville."
I drop Fluffy and freeze.
No.
No.
No.
That's...no...it can't be true...
Hamsterville's nothing but an evil, insane, deranged space gerbil.
He...was nice to me?
I...
"You okay?"
I look at 629. "No...not really at all..."
629 crosses his arms. "Then even you have forgotten some things."
"...What do you mean?"
"Don't you remember? Let's even start by talking about this very room. This wasn't your original room. You were going to move in here, but that was when you weren't yet created, that was when you weren't yet a failure."
My original room...
I remember...barely...
"In Hamsterviel's lab, that's where your real room is. This one's just for show. You know you don't belong here."
The more I think about it...he's right. I didn't belong here back then...and definitely not now either.
629 picks up Fluffy from the ground. "Now then..."
"H-Hey!" I reach out to grab Fluffy. "Give him back!"
629 holds Fluffy tauntingly. "Aww...little 523 wants his teddy-weddy. Whatever will he do?"
"I said give him back!" I frown. "Please?"
629 chuckles and throws Fluffy into my face. "Sure."
I sigh and lower Fluffy onto my bed, gently. Memories like these should be left behind...even if they were good...but any reminder of this place...it just...
Hurts me...
629 takes my hand. "Go ahead and show me your real room, won'tcha?"
I nod, solemnly. "Alright..."
We exit my room from Jumba's lab, I close the door gently and rather slowly.
629 looks down the hall. "Ahh, this place looks so peaceful...if only it was like that today, now am I right?"
I wince slightly.
"The lab accident you caused, yeash! It sure did a number, am I right?" 629 leans in. "Besides...I heard you talking to 619 back there when you were telling each other about secrets...you know, back at that party? He told you more than you told him in terms of being truthful."
I bite my lip. "I didn't think he'd want to take it all in at once...so I said a little..."
"Lier." 629 flicks my cheek. "You just said you caused a lab accident and wiped everyone's memories about it. You didn' now did you?"
"I-I-I-I...I...I...w-well..."
"Pfft." 629 crosses his arms. "You still don't trust him, your 'best friend'?"
"T-That's not it!"
"Well...whatever it is..." 629 smiles. "The truth always comes out, one way or another. He'll find out what he really did besides what you said...what was that again?" He leans in deviously and smirks. For everything he then says about what I told Splody, he over-exaggerates it with dramatic movements. "Something you said about... 'Oh noes! You were bullying me and everything! You threw my lunch on the floor and left me stuck in a locker in high-school and everything!' Hah!" 629 laughs. "I can't believe he bought those stupid stereotypical excuses. Something more accurate would be along the lines of..."
"That's enough." I frown. "I thought you wanted a tour, not...whatever this is."
629 nods. "Of course of coarse." He takes my hand. "So then, show me your room, won't you?"
I sigh and roll my eyes. "Okay...it's down the hall...across the next wing...and into an elevator...into deep...deep...deep...underground stuff...and..."
"Just shut up and take me there!"
"Okay okay!"
I just hope this tour thing can be finished soon...I need to wake up.
If I don't...632 will find me...
But...hey...with just my luck with everything else in life...he's already found me, hasn't he?

Jumba scratched his chin and sighed. "Well, atleast evil genius has had plan B in store, yes?"
Splodyhead crossed his arms and nodded, then waving his right arm. "Okay, we get the jist, evil science-y stuff and the whole 'mwahahaha' package. Just cut to the chase and tell us what to do."
"W-Well...aww." Jumba frowned. "Was going to give evil genius exposition."
"Splody's right, we don't really have the time for back-stories." Transferia glanced to the couch of the ship where Slushy laid asleep.
"So are we doing the same dream thingy Stitch was talking about with Remmy or...something else?" Sparky asked.
Jumba walked over and picked up five spaghetti-strainer helmets attached to wires. "Slightly different..."
"What makes it different?"
Jumba tapped his fingers. "Ah, well you are going into mind of experiment, yes? Experiment minds are much more complex than minds of humans. There could perhaps be hundreds of different dreamscapes, but what would I know? Never been inside a creation's head before, hehe."
"So it's going to be harder, that's fine then." Transferia leaned against the wall of the ship. "What's life without its challenges?"
Flash then crossed her arms. "So then, five...erm...helmets? So I'm guessing that one of them is for Slushy. Four of us go in?"
"Ah, yes. Exactly." Jumba connected the five helmets to his computer. "With help of Super-Duper-Computer-"
"Super-Duper-Computer?" Dash laughed. "What kinda of a name is that?!"
"And I thought you said you were being serious right now..." Transferia whispered under her breath.
Jumba crossed his arms. "Oi! Is evil-genuis name! Directly states intelligence of computer!"
"Stop steering from the topic people!" Splodyhead groaned. "Focus here!"
"Right...apologies." Jumba picked up an experiment container and attached it to the computer as well. "When you find 632, bring him to special dock-point I make for you in dream-scape. Is artificial, and will not be lasting forever. Dock will last for twenty-four hours, should be long enough, yes?"
"Ih." Stitch confirmed.
Jumba smiled. "Better work fast, but you will anyways. If not..." Jumba then dropped to a more serious tone. "You be lost in dreamscape...FOREVER! Hahahahaha! Evil genius at its finest!"
"...Greaaaat." Solar walked over to the couch. "Well...let's get in then."
Jumba brought out four baby-high chairs that had been modified by himself. "Whoever four volunteers are, have a seat."
"In those things?" Dash frowned, crossing his arms. "What are we, babies?!"
"Well considering that you were made months ago...yes?" Jumba shrugged. "Anyways, we must be getting started."
Splodyhead climbed into the first chair. "Sign me up, just don't try to force-feed me while I'm in there."
"Granted." Jumba put a helmet on Splodyhead.
Solar climbed into the second chair. "I'm in too."
After placing another helmet on Solar, Jumba turned to the remaining experiments. "Any volunteers, or shall Jumba be picking himself?"
"I'd rather not." Flash frowned. "I mean...I call dibs on monitoring him from outside his head!"
"Same!" Dash agreed. "No icky psychological transfers for me." "Rock paper scissors?" Transferia shrugged, looking at Stitch and Sparky.
"Naga, meega going." Stitch climbed into a chair."
"Sparky?"
Sparky nodded. "You're on."
"Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!"
A tie.
"Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!"
Yet another tie.
"Do we really have time for this now?!" Splodyhead ranted. "I mean...ROCK PAPER SCISSORS?! Right now?!"
"Okay okay!" Sparky sighed. "I'll come with."
After setting up the final hotseat, Jumba walked over to the computer. "You all ready? I will be here to instruct you and talk to you if you need guidance, yes?"
"Thanks, Jumba." Solar smiled.
"Let's get in there!" Splodyhead urged. "Time is running out! Who knows what's already happening in there?!"
"Calm yo butt." Transferia waved, again leaning against the wall of the ship. "You guys got this. Do your best!"
"Well...I be asking you again...since I had no clear answer...you ready?" Jumba placed a hand on a button.
"Ih!" Stitch gave a thumbs up.
Jumba nodded and smiled. "Good luck."
Then, he pressed the button.

To be continued.