Ten Chances) Chapter 14: Fractures
"Now don't you drop that tray." An experiment unknown to me instructs. "I wouldn't want to be you if that happens…"
It's very heavy in my wobbly hands, I struggle to keep it from slanting to the side. On the tray is food, freshly cooked, with a fragrance that could be smelled from several feet away. However, I cannot have even a piece to eat...which doesn't help because I'm starving…
"Now go on and take that to Jumba."
I nod and wobble out of the room, arms shaking. The plate, with a sizzling, buttered cut of rich meat, slides up and down the tray. It smells so good...but it's not for me.
I nervously approach one of the he laboratory doors, I was told Jumba would be here. I give the door a light knock and wait, nervously.
The door opens, Jumba looks down at me, unhappy to be interrupted from his invention tinkering.
"What is it?" He asks, with a practically emotionless tone.
"I...I brought you...s-some...lunch a-and…"
"Do not stutter in front of me. Are you broken or something?"
I look up and Jumba. "N-No, I'm sorry...the tray is...very heavy and...I-I do not want to...drop it…"
Jumba scoffs as he picks up the tray. "Then go do more strength testing. You are being weaker than toothpicks supporting buildings. Is an embarrassment, 523. You are being an experiment. Such weaknesses are unacceptable." He turns his back on me and looks to his work. "If you be wanting to stay in my laboratory premises with rest of experiments, then put in the effort to improve yourself." The door shuts in front of me.
"Y...Yes Jumba…" I say, softly, then turning around to walk back to my room.
Other experiments look at me and snicker as I walk past them in the hallway. They call me things...some things I don't even understand what they mean...the most common word I hear from them is fabiko...failure. However...I've heard these things so often...it doesn't hurt me anymore. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing...but…
"Hey! What's with you, freak?"
I look up, it's one of 619's friends…
What number are they? ...I don't remember…
The experiment walks over to me, arms crossed. "Well? Not gonna say anything? You're walking like a hunchback! I can tell by your posture. So? What are you, a sloth? Don't even have the dignity to walk straight?"
I shake my head. "N-No...I'm just tired, so I'm going to bed…"
The experiment laughs and pushes me into the wall without much effort. "Listen up. If you don't wanna go back to that other place and live the rest of your pathetic life all alone, then you have to act like a real experiment. You know why you're the joke? 'Cuz look at you."
I look down at my feet. It's true...I'm just a joke…
"Give him some space." A softer voice says, walking over to us.
It's experiment 192. A small, white, feline resembling experiment, with her own petite labcoat. She is our medic experiment, and our only one. I imagine that she must be busy all the time with how much the other experiments like to get into brawls…
"Aww, the little kitty cat trying to defend the freak show. That's adorable." The experiment I do not know comments.
"Enough, I have other matters to deal with besides your ego and low self esteem, so do me a favor and go away." 192 says, on point.
Several watching experiments snicker.
"Whatever. I don't want to be associated with this thing anyways." The experiment walks away, casually.
192 looks at me and sighs. "Come on now, ignore those guys." She gives me a patient smile. "Will you do that?"
"U-Uh...yeah…" I continue to walk my way back to my room. The other experiments still look at me…
My room is small, but nice. I've heard that if I didn't come to stay in Jumba's lab, they would've turned it into a closet.
That's not very comfy to sleep in…
Laying on my bed, I look up at the ceiling. The dark blue painted night with little white specks of snow makes me feel at home.
But this isn't home...home is where you're happy to be...and I'm not very happy here…
I don't want to give up, though. I want to show them that I can be an experiment just like them.
Even though I'm a little broken…
I might not be the strongest or the fastest...but...I'm sure that there's something about me that's special.
There's a knock at my door, so I sit up rather quickly. "W-Who is it?"
"It's me." The voice replies from beyond the door.
I recognize that voice, and stand up with a smile. "Come in."
Hamsterviel walks into the room. His lab coat seems to be smudged a little from the things he has been working on with Jumba.
"How are you feeling?" He asks me. "Are you doing well here? It's been a while...I've heard experiments say some things…"
"I-I'm fine." I sit down on my bed again. "It's just...there's so many experiments and…"
"I'm not talking about the amount of experiments…" Hamsterviel adjusts his glasses. "They're saying things about you...that aren't very nice."
"Oh...it's ok. I don't mind them…" I look down at my feet and let them swing back and forth. "They're...aggressive…" I think about what I went through in the hallway. "But there are some that are nice to me. Like...192."
"You've already known her, though." Hamsterviel sits next to me on the bed. "Don't you have any new friends?"
That makes me think about it for a while. "Umm...625 and 624 and nice. 625 likes making everyone sandwiches, he gives me one sometimes, hehe."
Hamsterviel smiles. "Yes, hehe. I suspect Jumba did the programming for that because he usually gets hungry while in the lab…" Hamsterviel leans in and whispers. "He won't go get food himself because he's too lazy to."
We giggle for a few seconds and then sit silently for a little more.
"I didn't see 625 at the lab today. I guess that's why they made me bring Jumba food to eat." I lay down on the bed. "I wonder where he is."
Hamsterviel looks in my direction. "625 is busy training at the moment."
"Training?" I sit upwards. "Can I go join him?"
"What for?" Hamsterviel raises an eyebrow. "You're not one to train...well...muscles or anything like that…"
I nod. "Yeah...but...I wanna spend time with 625."
"...Jumba told you to do more training, didn't he?" Hamsterviel crosses his arms. "You shouldn't be reckless about getting his attention. Otherwise you will get it for the wrong reasons."
"But I really want to go train." I look over to Hamsterviel. "Really!"
He sighs and uncrosses his arms. "Alright. I'll take you to the training room. But, don't overwork yourself. Training is not supposed to be for impressing others. It's supposed to be for impressing yourself...without going too far...you...umm...understand?"
I blink, showing my confusion, but also my understanding. Hamsterviel sighs once again and stands up, leading me to the training room where 625 is.
Once we get there, Hamsterviel waves a goodbye and goes back to do lab work. I don't know if he is working on the same project with Jumba or not…
I spot 625 over at the far corner, so I walk over there, cautious not to get into any experiment's way. "H-Hi 625...you look very busy…"
625 looks over to me. "Oh. Hey there bud." He lowers a giant weight to the ground carefully. I get a glimpse at the weight lable, about a thousand pounds…
"That looks very heavy…" I say, twiddling my fingers nervously.
"This thing?" 625 chuckles. "Nah, I'm lifting light today."
I gulp. I knew 625 was very strong...just not...very, very, very, very strong...that's four very's in total.
"What brings you here, 523?"
"H-Huh? Oh…" I glance around the room. "I came to do a little...training…"
The other experiments pause for a second and laugh.
625 rolls his eyes at them. "Haha, yeah. I bet you'll be laughing when 523 here will be able to lift even more than you." He gives me a small weight, the label says ten pounds.
My hands wobble a little with the weight in them.
"Come on then." 625 gives me a patient smile. "Just move your arms up and down slowly."
I do as he instructs me to do, for a little while. I then have to put the weight down to take a breath. The experiments laugh again.
"That's it? Even those primitive humans could lift more!" One experiment comments.
625 sighs. "Maybe we should practice in privacy, 523."
I'm still looking down at the weight I placed on the ground at my feet. I'm weak…
"Come on, bud. Let's leave." 625 places
an arm around my shoulders and walks me out towards the exit. However, I stop him, something caught my eye…
The swimming pool.
625 raises an eyebrow. "You're sure about that?"
The experiments laugh again. They say that very few experiments can actually float, let alone swim.
"I can do it." I say, with determination.
-...-
"Come here, 632." 629 waves his hand, motioning me to come over.
"Yessir?" I tilt my head slightly to the side in confusion. "If I may ask...how does this accomplish your great, evil plan?"
"It doesn't" 629 replied, dryly and dissatisfied. "I expected these to be...I don't know…" He holds his arms out infront of him, then squeezing his fists. "Intense! You know?"
I give him a shrug, things seem to be pretty intense in my perspective.
"It's a good thing I had plan B prepared…" 629 looks at me and smiles. "After all, you should always be ready for any outcome."
I give 629 a nod in understanding. "Yessir."
"So!" 629 crosses his arms behind his back and turns to me with a beaming smile. "Let us...spice things up a little, shall we?"
Spice things up, he says? With what, a little paprika with a touch of cilantro? Or perhaps he wasn't being literal. It would be quite the odd of circumstances to sprinkle 523 with pepper in his own memories…
"You do realize what I meant by that, I would hope…"
"O-Oh yes! Undoubtedly!" I look up quickly. "You request me to pour sriracha sauce into all his meals!"
629 snorts, cracking a smile. "W-What? No, 632. Not like that."
"But boss...all the other methods didn't work in my mind. The powdered spices wouldn't be spicy enough and-"
"632." 629's voice is much sharper now. "It was a metaphor."
My response is a blink.
With a deep sigh, 629 puts his right hand on my left shoulder. "What I'm saying is...let's change his memories."
"His memories, sir? B-But...the repercussions of this could be...resulting in a complete change in his personality and…"
A solemn headshake is my response.
"Sir?" I look at 629 in the eyes. "...There's no telling what will happen...he may not even side with us and become a lone wolf or who knows what!"
629 chuckles. "Do you think I care about the outcome?" He eyes at the ground, his right foot slightly swinging back and forth, angled from his heel. "The first question is not how to get him to join us. The question is...how do we keep him away from them?"
"I...suppose I understand…"
"So...let's mix it up a little." 629 looks over at 523, rather patiently, and expectantly.
I glance over to what seems to be amusing him so much, and as it turns out 523 is slowly doing breaststrokes across the pool.
"632…" 629 looks back towards me. "Let's hit the rewind."
-...-
"Now don't you drop that tray." An experiment unknown to me instructs. "I wouldn't want to be you if that happens…Now go on and take that to Jumba."
The tray is extremely heavy in my hands, all covered in the most delicious-smelling foods that I could only dream of tasting...
Something about this feels...familiar…
It must be my imagination, or maybe I've been bringing Jumba food trays much longer than I thought.
"What are you standing around for?! Go already!"
"S-Sorry!" I stutter, wobbling out of the room.
I feel the world warping around me, I just can't focus on my simple mission, for some reason…
This only makes things ever the more ridiculous of me...an experiment that can't even follow the simplest of commands...Jumba'd scrap me for sure…
My eyes keep falling down to my feet, as if it were that if I didn't, my legs would give up on me.
I make my way to Jumba's lab room, which I was told he would be at right now. With a light knock, I wait patiently.
The door opens rather abruptly, as Jumba stares down with a complete lack of interest in my visit.
"What is it that you are doing here?"
"I...brought your meal, J-Jumba…" My legs wobble more than before, I feel like I'm about to drop the tray all over the floor…
"Speak clearly. Are you broken record?" Jumba scowls. "If you wish to speak to creator, must do it with proper articulation."
I take a quick breath. "I brought your meal…"
Jumba huffs. "I see that."
I slowly hand the tray over to Jumba, my arms wobble more. Just don't loose my balance...I can do this...at least something as simple as giving food…
"Outta the way, blue-trog!" 619 yells as he runs down the hall.
Everything goes in slow motion. 619 pushes me roughly away from him, I feel the platter slip out of my hands...slowly lifting off...the food flying into the air…
The next thing I know, I hear Jumba screeching my number...the hall suddenly full of experiments…
It's all blurry...they grab me and drag me to the cafeteria...they pin me to the wall and pull rotten food from the trash, throwing it at me.
"How do ya' like food being thrown at you, huh?!"
"How does this taste? Probably delicious for a freak like you!"
"You can't even give people food! You're useless!"
"You should be scrapped!"
The words continue even after the food throwing is over. They chant to have me scrapped, and it never stops. I fight through the sea of words and grabbing arms, struggling to get to my room. I get inside and lock the door, sitting behind it, hugging my knees. They haven't given up, and start bashing the door, threatening me, saying they'll rip off the door, saying they're not done with me…
"S-Stop...please...leave me alone...I...I'm sorry! I won't do it again...I-I mean it!"
But my words fall upon deaf ears. The experiments, some of them I don't even know...they stay in front of my door for who knows how long, until they finally grow tired and decide to leave me be…
How could it be that experiments I don't even know hate me? What have I done to them?
Or maybe Jumba poisoned the well...just to make sure no other experiment would ever turn out like me…
-...-
"Excellent work, 632." 629 compliments me.
"R-Right, sir…" I pause for a second. "So...after all this time...why do we keep changing all these memories like this? Wouldn't it be better if we get involved in them so he thinks we're his friends?"
629 chuckles. "Because now is the time when we sneak into the memory and plant some seeds."
"Seeds, sir?" I blink. "We're going to plant vegetables in the memory?"
"No…" With a sigh, 629 knocks on 523's door. "Hello, anybody inside?"
523's timid voice answers. "W-Who's there…?"
629 winks at me and whispers. "Watch this…" He coughs lightly and speaks louder. "It's uhh...it's me, experiment X-34?"
"...X-34?" 523 confusedly replies. "W-Who are you?"
"Oh...you haven't heard of me? But we were in Hamsterviel's lab together...did you forget me?"
"H-Huh? N-No I-" 523 defends himself. "I just don't recognize...the way your number is…"
"I don't have number like you, 523." 629 says, patiently. "I wasn't lucky enough like you to be given one. I'm just visiting the place now, but I have to hurry…before someone spots me…"
"W-What do you mean...before someone finds you?"
"Just open the door!" 629 snaps. He then coughs. "I-I'm sorry...didn't mean to yell…"
523 slowly opens the door and looks at us in confusion. "I...I've never seen you before…"
629 pushes 523 to the side and we walk in. He then closes the door and sits on the floor.
"Listen up, 523." 629 smiles. "We came here because we need your help."
"M-My...help?"
I look over at 629 and whisper. "He really DOESN'T remember us...or that he's sleeping at all...it's as if we put him back in time…"
629 nods, then turning to 523. "My power lets me see the future, 523."
A cunning lie...while he isn't capable of this, it would seem here in these terms that he really knows the future…
"T-The future?" 523 blinks.
"Exactly." 629 closes his eyes. "You are going to have your true powers flourish soon...and believe me, nobody will ever dare mock you again. You're going to be incredible."
523's eyes look up quickly. "I...I am? My powers...they're going to...to come out?"
629 huffs, on the verge of walking out. "Yes. Now...there's something I need you to do for me."
523 taps his fingers together while thinking. "W-What would that be?"
"Jumba's hiding a very important object, one that we need in the future. After he used it five minutes ago, it will go untouched for years. I need you to look for the key and tell me where it is." 629 smiles. "It will be a saving grace one day."
"A key…?" 523 thinks shortly. "Y-You mean Jumba's Ultima Key? The key that can operate any machines in the facility?"
"Exactly." 629 nods. "Since we can't be spotted, I need you to do this for me."
523 grows nervous. "B-But...if Jumba saw me anywhere near his lab…"
"T-That's what I'm here for." I cut in, with a small smile. "I'm LQ-21. I can make people...invisible! All you have to do is to tell us where the key is."
"A-And then?" 523 asks.
"Then we will part ways, for now." 629 smiles, in an oddly kind way. "Think you can do that?"
523 nods with confidence.
"Great."
-...-
The leaves of fall flutter to the ground, then covered in a fresh layer of snow, then the buds of Spring-time's flowers break through the frozen layers to bloom into vibrant colors.
A light breeze goes by, picking up a few blossoming petals with it. Some land in a nearby creek, slowly floating down to the wide ocean.
Splodyhead walked downtown on his way to light torches with David, preparing for a hula party for that night. His mind, however, walked in a different direction.
Days turned to weeks that turned to months.
And yet...nothing to be said or done, except to merely wait for this supposed miracle.
Splodyhead wasn't sure what he was waiting for. Was it waiting for Jumba to give word that everything was set and much more prepared this time? Or was it the news that this was not necessary, and his best friend would be standing in front of him just at the other side of the street, waiting for him patiently with a smile.
But it never turned out to be either of these, at least for those many months.
"Splody!"
Splodyhead turned around to see Solar running in his direction.
"Solar? What's going on? I-I have to get to the beach and-"
Solar cut him off, putting his hands on Splodyhead's shoulders. "It's time."
Splodyhead blinked. "...time?"
Solar took a few breaths of air and nodded. "Jumba says this time we won't get fooled, and we'll really do it!"
Splodyhead looked down, eyes glancing around the ground as his thoughts were scattered, as if he was looking for them to pick them up again. "Y-You mean…?"
Solar nodded.
"B-But...now?! What about my job? T-The party-"
"Melty can take care of it." Solar cut him off. "I already asked him if it was alright."
Splodyhead chuckled. "Melty? He's just going to turn the beach into shards of glass. He works at the junkyard, man. He's just gonna blast everything."
"Come on Splody." Solar's tone became more serious. "He needs you."
"Playing the pronoun game or what? Who needs me?" Splodyhead counted with his fingers. "David? Melty? You? Well you wouldn't refer to yourself as 'he' so...Jumba?"
"Slushy." Solar grabbed Splodyhead's hands. "There's no time to chat about this! Everything is set up, and everyone's there except us!"
"O-Ok!" Splodyhead replied. "I get it, let's go."
-...-
Not too long after his departure, 523 returns to us and sits on the floor.
"So?" 629 asks.
523 thinks, quietly. "It's in his office, his desk, third drawer to the right, right under the one where he keeps some DNA samples from specimens that he may use for other experiments."
"Excellent." 629 rubs his hands and smirks. He then coughs lightly and his smile seems more innocent. "You know...there's something else I want to ask you."
523 blinks in response.
"Do you remember me?"
523 thinks for quite some time, then slowly shakes his head.
"Ahh, don't worry. It was probably Jumba's doing." 629 holds 523's hands. "He would want to hide my existence from you, I am, after all, one of the people closest to you."
"Jumba...messed with my memories?" 523 continues to think. "Is that why...my head feels all...fuzzy?"
"Exactly. But don't worry, I'll help you remember, and then we can be together again, just like before." 629 smiles. "You, me, Hamsterviel, and the others, too. Then we'll go to that planet you always wanted to go, and nobody can stop us. We'll be free to live our own lives."
"Free…" 523 whispers.
"That's right." 629 nods. "Close your eyes."
523 does so.
"We're your friends, 523. They are your enemies." 629 looks over to me and nods.
"...No backing down now." I whisper. "This...may either work or not...but…" I put a hand on 523's forehead, it emits a faint aura.
It only takes about three seconds before there is a reaction. 523's eyes snap open.
"Are you alright?" 629 asks, his voice gentle.
523 hugs 629 tightly and cries softly. "W-Why...why can't I even keep my friends? Why are they all against me? W-W-Why do they hate me? W-What did I ever do to them?"
629 looks unsettled, but then pats 523. "This is why we need you, 523. In sometime in the future, something huge is going to happen."
"H-Huh?" 523 looks to 629.
"You're going to be incredible." 629 smiles. "You're going to prove them all wrong. You're not a mistake, 523. No matter how much Jumba shuts you down, you aren't a mistake. Otherwise you wouldn't be here now."
I decide to step in and drop in my two cents. "523, you need to let things go. All those people who don't accept you just won't change. They'll always be after you, when you're hurt it makes them feel better about themselves…" I put a hand on 523's right shoulder. "But one day, they'll try to lower your guard. They'll lie to you about being friends, and when you least expect it, they'll try to make you disappear for good. You have to fight back. You have to remember this."
523 looks over to me. "B-But...what do I do?"
I give him a warm smile. "Have faith in yourself. You're the one that makes the calls...you know who your real friends are."
He nods in response.
629 then takes a turn. "You're going to forget us for a very long time, 523. But...don't worry. I'm going to give you a special code. Say it to yourself when you need someone to talk to, I'll be there."
"W-What code?" 523 looks over back to 629. "How would that work?"
629 ponders for a while. "How about...you call my name?"
523 frowns lightly. "How will I remember your name if I'm going to forget you?"
"Hmm...maybe you can call me by something that you see all the time...something a lot of experiments have? Something that I have, too?"
Examining 629 for some time, 523 brings up his idea. "How about...Spines?"
629 coughs lightly, as if he was holding in laughter. "Ahh...I like that."
Their conversation fades out from my mind as I take notice to something peculiar...those experiments are back. Looks like we didn't end up with as much time as boss wanted to try and get 523 on our side. We've been at it for a few months, however...is it really enough? Will this be effective? Will the memory alterations be able to convince 523?
I learn over to 629 and whisper, "Boss...it's finally the time."
629 nods in understanding, then looks back to 523. "It is time we parted ways. I hope to see you again in the future, 523."
"Y-You're leaving...so soon?" 523 seems saddened.
So soon, he says…
With a nod, 629 leads me to the door, waving back to 523. "Remember my name, ok?"
523 smiles lightly. "I will...see you again. Y-You promise?"
"I promise." 629 exits the room after me and closes the door. He then turns to me. "Alright...I need you to let them capture you."
"P-Pardon, boss?" I stutter.
629 smirks lightly, with a light chuckle. "Trust me, I've got this all sorted out. You'll be able to sneak around, be my spy…"
"Ahh...I see, sir." I nod.
629 sighs and looks around. "You know...I find this very interesting. I knew there was something special about 'em...just not...this, you know?" He then laughs lightly. "It only gives me more confidence in his abilities. If this plan works...we won't be disappointed I assure you."
629 then vanishes from my sight in a cloud of darkness.
"I hope not, sir…" I whisper to myself.
-...-
"It's just too easy!" Sparky whispered, harshly. "This is obviously a trap! Why would that cloud guy just...stand there?!"
Solar coughed into his hand. "Correction, float there."
"Oh, pardon me!"
"Shh!" Splodyhead looked around the corner, eyeing at the cloud experiment. "This whole dark, lab setting clearly has been made to terrorize Slushy...and for so long, too...they know his weak spot. We've gotta jump in before things may get even worse!"
Sparky scratched behind his head. "But I've been telling you, Splody...doesn't this place look familiar in the least bit? I mean...not counting the rust...but the structure...all of this...it's all too real."
"Except it's not." Splodyhead huffed.
Stitch waved a hand in between his cousins. "Shh. Now is time to strike!"
"How can you be so sure? It's a trap, I tell ya!" Sparky countered.
Solar showed his special vacuum cleaner-shaped device. "That's why we have these. We'll catch 'em before anything gets out of hand."
Splodyhead nodded. "Exactly that...let's move."
Sparky stepped in front of Splodyhead. "Woah, woah, woah! We're just going to rush without a plan? Do you know how...well...idiotic that is?!"
"Hmm...nope." Splodyhead smirked. "Let's do it."
"B-But...w-wha?" Sparky was pushed to the side as Splodyhead ran forwards. "H-Hey!"
Splodyhead mercilessly attempted to tackle 632, but ended up flying right through the cloud experiment, crashing against the wall on the side.
"W-What the-?" 632 stuttered, greatly confused.
"Now!" Stitch charged into the scene, raising his own weapon, laughing madly.
After a couple of laser-blast shots, 632 was sucked into Stitch's vacuum cleaner device, oddly showing a lack of resistance.
Splodyhead smiled. "Great work…" He then frowned. "If only this was done months ago…"
Solar then turned his attention to the door that was being guarded. "Do you think...Slushy's in there?"
Sparky walked over to the door and gave it a knock. "Let's find out...anyone home?"
"Anyone home?! Sparky, this is certainly not a place to call home!" Splodyhead crossed his arms.
Sparky rolled his eyes.
"Nobody's answered…" Solar seemed worried. "What do we do?"
"Bust in." Stitch grinned mischievously, grabbing hold of the doorknob.
"Wait...you might give him a heart attack!" Solar warned. "It's been so long...what if he's expecting some...unpleasant visitors?"
Stitch shrugged. "But weega not unpleasant. Ohana!"
"J-Just...don't break in so...violently…"
Stitch turned the doorknob and entered the room. "Slushy?"
Slushy looked up to his younger cousin, but stared blankly.
"Hello?" Stitch waved. "Is meega!"
Slushy blinked in confusion.
Splodyhead pushed Stitch to the side lightly. "There you are! It's been so long! I've been worried sick, and Jumba's stupid computer was flipping out and-"
Slushy backed away, pressing his back against the wall of the room.
"S-Slushy? Don't you recognize me?" Splodyhead frowned. "I...I understand if you're upset...I don't have an excuse for...leaving you like this for so long...and if you're angry, that's ok, too...I…"
Slushy's eyes were frantic, looking around the room, then eyeing his cousins he couldn't recognize.
Solar then squeezed through the door past Splodyhead. "What's going on here?"
"I-I don't know...it's like he doesn't even know who we are!"
Sparky peeked from behind Splodyhead. "Hmm...you know...maybe he's actually sleeping and stuff...still?"
"...Huh?" Solar looked over.
"I mean...what if what he sees isn't what we see? What if this whole world is different to him...and he can't see us as us?" Sparky entered the room completely.
Slushy's eyes moved towards the floor.
"Let me talk to him." Splodyhead walked over, cautiously. "H-Hey...Slushy? It's me!"
Slushy looked up quickly, he seemed to grow nervous for every step Splodyhead took.
"Hold on a sec." Solar slid in front of Splodyhead. "I think sparky has a point about this. You and him think this place is familiar, right? Maybe...somehow it makes Slushy think you're...evil monsters of doom and stuff?"
"That's ridiculous." Splodyhead remarked, crossing his arms. "And how would that even work?"
"That's the point. It's a dream." Solar looked around. "It doesn't have to work. Whatever 632 dictates here, it just happens, even if it doesn't make any sense."
"B-But...don't dreams usually come from experiences a person has in life?" Splodyhead scratched his head. "I've heard Jumba say some things about that before whenever Pleakley would complain about his own dreams...something about raining cats and dogs."
"And when does that ever happen?" Splodyhead frowned. "Cuz it doesn't."
Stitch coughed lightly. "Err...thunderstorms?"
"It's not literal, though. And raindrops don't resemble cats or dogs!"
"It doesn't have to, Splodyhead." Solar raised his pointer finger. "It's a dream. It can take even the smallest correlation and make it something entirely different."
Moaning, Splodyhead walked away from Slushy. "I hate this dream stuff."
Slushy backed away timidly as Solar approached him, with a hand laid out in a friendly manner. Solar smiled lightly, moving slowly to be careful not to startle his brother. "Hey there. It's me, remember? I'm your younger brother, Solar. You called me your brother, remember?"
Slushy slowly extended his hand to reach Solar's.
"Don't be scared now. We stopped the bad guy, you're safe." Solar reassured.
As Slushy grabbed Solar's hand, he closed his eyes. He then opened them quickly and started to breathe quickly. "W-W-Where am I?! 629! He was here! A-And that other guy and..." He looked around, eyes dancing on the walls. "This place...it feels familiar…"
Sparky approached Slushy carefully. "Hey...you remember us?"
Slushy rubbed his head. "I do, but...what I don't remember is...what happened here?"
Splodyhead ran over and gave Slushy a tight squeeze. "I'm so sorry! I...that stupid computer! That stupid experiment! This stupid dream!"
"H-Hey, don't call 'that experiment' stupid." Slushy frowned. "How would we be able to make them good if we hate them?"
"But…" Splodyhead let go. "It's my fault...I fell for that stupid trick and…"
"Why are you acting so...nuts about this?"
A sigh, Splodyhead shook his head. "Let's get out of here, this place creeps me out."
"Oh...alright." Slushy looked around. "Where's the exit?"
Stitch motioned to the door with a smile. "Weega escort you."
.-.
Light poured into Slushy's eyes as he opened them. He grabbed his head and groaned. "Close the windows...ghh...my eyes…"
"The windows are closed." Sparky yawned, getting off of the high chair. "It's cuz...you were sleeping for a very long time."
Slushy frowned and rubbed his eyes. "A long time? No details, though? Just...a long time. I don't think my eyes would be like this after only a few hours…"
Splodyhead climbed down from his own high chair. "You're right about that."
Slushy continued to rub his eyes, shaking his head in attempt to get his vision to focus. "S-So...a few days?"
"Err…" Sparky tapped his fingers. "Change the word 'days' and you'll be better."
Slushy gulped. "W-Weeks?"
"A liiiiitle more." Solar sighed.
Slushy fell silent.
"But it's all better now!" Splodyhead leaned against the bed. "You're awake now. Sure the Halloween candy is a bit..err...off...and the Easter candy too...but your Christmas presents are still here and waiting...as long as nobody put candy or food in them…"
Slushy sighed and smiled, looking over to Splodyhead. "Thanks."
Stitch carried the vacuum-cleaner device out of the room that contained experiment 632. "Jumba!"
"What is it, 626?" Jumba called from outside the ship, currently doing yard work by Pleakley's command.
"Weega have 632!" Stitch cheered.
"Really?" Jumba stood up, arms at his sides as he stretched. "Ahh…may I see?"
Pleakley frowned. "See the mess you're making, you mean! Look at what you just did to my poor lilies!"
"Ach." Jumba waved his hand, walking into the ship. "Will grow back."
Pleakley rolled his eye and crossed his arms.
Entering the ship, Jumba crouched by Stitch. "You be having 632?"
"Ih." Stitch grinned with pride, handing the vacuum cleaner to Jumba.
"Excellent work. And is 523 awake now?"
Stitch nodded, motioning over to the room in the ship where Slushy was resting.
Jumba peeked from behind the wall, a smile spread across his face. He turned back to his creation, "Is wonderful news."
"Naga see Slushy?" Stitch asked, baffled.
Jumba shook his head lightly. "Not yet. 523 is currently occupied. Instead, Jumba be letting others know that the cloud has passed." Jumba looked back towards the door. "Keep 523 resting until he is well enough to walk again, ok? I will be making formula to help with recovery, as well as deciding what to do with rascal 632…"
Stitch nodded, walking back into the room where Slushy was resting with the other experiments.
Jumba carried the vacuum cleaner with him as he walked back outside, deciding what consequences the experiment inside would face.
"There you are!" Pleakley frowned waving a hand-shovel at Jumba. "These flower's won't plant themselves!"
"And that's why you're doing it." Jumba countered, a grin growing on his face as he walked towards Lilo's house.
"W-Well I never!" Pleakey grumbled.
Entering the house, having to squeeze his large body through the door's frame, Jumba walked towards his bedroom he shared with Pleakey.
"Hey Jumba!" Lilo waved from the kitchen.
A warm smile spread across Jumba's face. "Hello there, little-big girl."
"I've made dinner tonight, it's chicken and rice!" Lilo proudly showed Jumba her work.
With a light sniff, Jumba gave Lilo a pat on the back. "I be looking forward to it soon." He then turned to face his room, then walked inside, being sure to close the door behind him.
Once in the room, Jumba placed the vacuum cleaner beside his desk where his smaller, yet still very capable super-computer was waiting. Using wiring to connect the capturing device to the computer, Jumba uploaded the captive experiment into the computer. His eyes became more focused as his creation faced him through the screen.
632 rubbed his eyes, not showing much concern over how Jumba was watching him closely. "My head feels like it was squeezed through a really small hole…"
"Hello? Not going to acknowledge the presence of creator?" Jumba frowned.
632 looked up, then tilted his head slightly to the left. "Where'd you come from? I was somewhere else before."
Jumba rolled his eyes. "Listen here. Actions will not be going without the consequences."
"Actions?" 632 crossed his arms. "You mean what I was created for? Why would I be punished for doing what I was made to do?"
Jumba gave it a quick moment to reflect. "See, Jumba has not quite yet learned the goodness code when creating experiments, so doing it the old fashioned way works."
632 squinted his eyes. "Are you saying you made me to be something I'm not?"
Jumba shrugged.
"...Do you even value the feelings of your 'creations,' Jumba?" 632 turned his back on his creator. "Have you ever stopped to think that maybe experiments aren't your sheep to herd?"
Jumba frowned. "You be getting wrong idea, 632. Was simple mistake on Jumba's part, but we be willing to give you chance-"
"Give me chance?" 632 began to laugh. "Like you've ever done that before."
A pause, Jumba scratched his head. "Pardon?"
"Oh, do you not remember? All the things you've done?" 632 turned his head slightly towards Jumba. "You tried to bury the hatchet, you tried to wipe everyone's memories...but it's starting to fall apart. Someone has begun to remember the past."
Jumba was dumbfounded. The past was as clear to him as crystal even to the extent of his childhood. "...Assuming this is not some bluff, would you care to enlighten Jumba on what was forgotten?"
632 turned his body to face Jumba again. "Not exactly forgotten, yet at the same time, it was. You've been playing mind games with yourself and everyone."
"What's this 'past' then?" Jumba was starting to grow tired of the conversation that seemed to be going nowhere.
"The lab."
Jumba laughed. "What? But memory of lab is perfe-"
"Not that lab." 632 frowned. "The true lab. The lab hidden deep beneath your simple creation station."
"I understand. Jumba aware of larger lab." Jumba stood up. "You seem to be simply desperate for stalling, Jumba has grown uninterested."
"The true lab in the past, Jumba. You don't remember it, but someone does." 632 motioned his hands to make his points. "The lab casted in the shadow of an unwanted past, covered in rust, and blood splatters."
Jumba took a moment to process what 632 had said. "...What?"
"If you really want to know…" 632 raised his hands. "I wasn't there, but…" His hands lowered. "I know someone who was, and his memory is starting to break free...thanks to my help."
Jumba blinked. "You mean…?"
632 nodded. "I was in his mind for all those months, after all. It wasn't too hard to find out how to...cause some leaks in memory."
Jumba frowned. "You planting fake memories?"
"No, Jumba." A headshake. "My powers do not create memories. My powers allow me to tap into the inner parts of a person's mind and dreams...these were memories that were suppressed."
"...what memories?"
A smile spread across 632's face.
"Why don't you go and ask him yourself?"
To be continued.