Galactic Alliance Memorial Hospital, Planet Turo...
"Will she be okay?"
"Well, she lost a lot of blood, but I think she'll be fine."
"When will we know for sure?"
"We'll know when the time comes. Now please, just let her rest."
Maya tried to open her eyes to see who was talking, but they refused to open. She opened her
mouth and tried to speak, but all that came out was a long, soft moan.
What happened to me? she thought. Where am I? Where are my parents, my friends? ...Jet?
There was so much she wanted to ask, but she was too weak and tired to even whisper.
She felt a warm hand on her forehead, and another stroking her gently behind the ears.
She could hear a soft voice talking to her, but it sounded so far away.
What's happening to me? ...Why won't I wake up? ...Am I dying? ...Somebody please tell me
what's going on...!
Suddenly, there was a flash of bright light, and Maya's eyes flew open. She sat upright, panting
heavily and blinking against the harsh light that assaulted her eyes. As her vision cleared and
adjusted to the light, she saw that she was in a hospital room, lying on one of those rolling metal
beds. Her clothes had been removed, and she was now clad in a pale green hospital gown. She
removed the blanket that covered her hind half and looked down at her injured foot, noticing it
was snugly wrapped in medicated bandage strips.
"What in the world...?" Maya started to ask herself, but was interrupted when the door to the
room slid open. A pink cat-like nurse walked in, carrying a computerized clipboard under her right
arm.
"Ah, you've awakened," she said cheerfully when she noticed Maya sitting up in bed. "I'm just going
to take your blood pressure real quick, and then I'll check your foot." She pulled a small metal device
attached to a tiny cushion-like thing out of her pocket, then she gently placed the cushion against
Maya's throat and held it there for five minutes.
"Your blood pressure is normal, sweetie," said the nurse as she checked the results. "It was
pretty low when you were first admitted, but I think you'll be just fine now." She put the device
back into her pocket. "Now let's check and she how your foot is doing."
She gently removed some of the bandages on Maya's foot and examined the damaged hoof.
"It looks like you've taken some pretty heavy damage there, young lady," she chided gently.
"However, it looks like it's going to be okay." She sprayed the wound with disinfectant and
replaced the old bandages with fresh ones, then walked to the door.
"Wait!"
The nurse stopped and turned to look at Maya once more.
"What is it, honey?" she asked.
"Where are my parents and my friends? Are they here, too?"
The nurse nodded. "They're down in the lobby right now. They'll be able to visit you in about
thirty minutes."
"Okay, thank you," Maya replied as the nurse walked out the door.
Lilo giggled as Jet told her about how Stitch had rescued him and Maya. She had to fight to keep
herself from shrieking with laughter when he got to the part about the Tallests' snacks.
"I wish I could have been there to see that," she said. "'No, our precious snacks!'" She began
running around in little circles, pretending to be the Tallests trying to save their goodies. However,
a warning look from Nani made her stop.
"Yeah, it was pretty funny," said Jet. His smile quickly vanished as his thoughts turned back to
Maya. "I just hope she's okay."
Pleakley placed a gentle hand on the Irken's shoulder. "I'm sure she'll be just fine," he said.
"If I know Maya, and I do, she's never been one to give up easily."
Jet nodded. "You're right. I should stop worrying about her. She's a tough girl, I'll hand her
that. And also pretty good-looking, for a Centauri."
"And very spunky, ornery, and stubborn," Jumba added with a chuckle.
"Yes, that too," Shadowfax agreed.
While the group continued to share their favourite things about Maya, a wolf-like doctor
appeared in the lobby, holding a steaming cup of coffee.
"Follow me, please," he said in a deep but gentle voice. "Princess Amaya wishes to see
you."
The visitors got up from their chairs and followed the doctor to Maya's room. When they
arrived, the doctor knocked on the door and entered the room first.
"Princess, you have visitors," the doctor announced as he entered. He turned to the small
crowd gathered behind him and motioned for them to come in, which they did.
The moment they entered the room, Stitch and Strike climbed up on Maya's bed and threw
their arms around her waist, causing everyone, Maya included, to laugh softly.
"Thanks a lot, Stitch," said Maya, patting Stitch on the head. "And you too, Strike. I had no
idea you cared about me that much."
"Any friend of my master's is a friend of mine," the SIR unit replied.
"Hey, what about me?" whined Spaz. "I'm Jet's friend too, right?"
Strike walked up to Spaz and stared at him for a while. Suddenly, he grabbed the Thraxxian's
right leg and hugged it tight.
"I guess that means yes," Jet remarked.
Maya's parents approached their daughter and sat down on the end of her bed. Noticing the
grave look in her father's eyes, Maya hung her head.
"I'm in trouble, aren't I?" she asked.
"A lot more than you think, young lady," her father replied. "Your mother and I were worried sick
about you the whole time. Honestly, what were you thinking, taking Lilo and running off into a
dangerous part of space? You know better than that."
"I know it was a stupid thing for me to do," Maya said softly. "I just wanted to teach the Irkens a
lesson, but I almost killed myself and others because of my foolishness. I deserve to be sent back
to Centauria and not allowed to leave the planet until I die."
Hippodamia placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "No sweetheart, if you're happy on Earth,
then of course you may stay there. However, you did disobey us, so you will still be punished."
"You mother and I have talked about it," said Shadowfax, "and we have decided you may continue
to live on Earth. However, starting when you return there, you may not leave the planet for a month.
And for another month after that, you may leave the planet only with a qualified escort."
Maya sighed. She wasn't too thrilled about having her privileges temporarily revoked, but at least it
was better than being grounded for life.
Suddenly, she remembered Jet and Strike.
"Hey, what about Jet and Strike?" she asked. "What's going to happen to them?"
"Maya's right," Lilo piped up. "They can't go back to Irk, and I don't think they can continue to live on
Thraxx. They need somewhere to stay."
"Us," Stitch announced.
Everyone in the room looked at him, confused. "What?"
"Jet come live with us," Stitch explained. "On Earth."
"Me, live with you?" asked a very puzzled Jet.
"Yes, that's a great idea," Maya said. "Earth isn't exactly the fanciest planet in the galaxy, but I think
you might like it."
Nani immediately objected. "Ohhhh, no!" she said firmly. "We've got enough aliens in the house as it is."
Lilo, Stitch, Maya, and Jet all cast pleading looks at Nani, who continued to object. "Look, I said no, I mean
no...We don't have any room...We can't...Where is he going to sleep...?" Finally, Nani gave up.
"Oh, what's the use?" she sighed. "Fine, he can stay with us."
Everyone in the family, incuding Jet, cheered. Smiling happily, Maya and Lilo threw their arms around their
newest family member.
"Welcome to the family, Jet!"
Well, that was my first fanfic, I hope you all enjoyed it. I would like to thank all my reviewers, especially
KotaWingz, for your kind reviews. They really kept me going. Thanks everyone. You guys are awesome!