Chapter One: The Heart
Lilo let out a deep breath and placed her hands on her knees as the end of baseball practice was announced, springing up and dashing to collect her duffel bag from the pile it'd been tossed into alongside her teammates. Hers was right on top and partially open, the glint from her camera's lens alerting Lilo to its location.
She grabbed and slung it over her shoulder, paying no mind to the whisperings of Myrtle and her posse behind her. Her eyes narrowed at the comments, but she'd learned to tune them out over a year ago.
Having a quote-on-quote "creepy three-eyed dog" helped too, but she'd learned most of this on her own.
Speaking of which, he was waiting for her at the entrance to the field, cap pulled down as much as possible over the organ wedged into the center of his forehead. Like her, he was dressed in a baseball jersey, though his was the one she'd given as a gift from last season. Strangely, he seemed a little on edge, crossing his arms and glaring at something down the street.
"Hey Cal, I'm done with practice!" Lilo said, hoping to distract him from whatever he'd been focused on.
Cal started, but quickly readjusted his cap and nodded to her in greeting, "Hi Lilo; how was it?"
"It was okay-we tied again, but you know, at least it's not a loss." Lilo said as the two began to walk down the street, "Slugger says hi by the way; he's been doing really good since I last saw him."
Cal nodded, "That's nice to hear. Sorry if I seemed a little off, I just…saw something odd."
This got Lilo's attention, and she raised a curious eyebrow at the thermal experiment, "Huh. What was it?"
"You know how Hammer's got his artificial arm?"
"...Yeah?" Lilo gazed at Cal in concern; Hammerhead was an old lab veteran who was close with Cal, so he tended to worry about him a little more than she felt was necessary. The mention of his arm though…was a little strange; his right arm was artificial after an accident during a collecting mission, and he'd lost the occasional piece from time to time since he'd gotten to Earth.
She wondered…had Cal seen one of these? They were a bright glowing blue, so they weren't easy to miss…
"He-she, actually…didn't have the arm. Didn't have…" Cal paused and took a deep breath, evidently at a loss as to how to explain, "It wasn't him-it was some kind of clone. Or something like that."
"That's…weird." Lilo said, herself giving the forest a concerned glance, "Should we see what's up? Or…"
"It's a version of him Lilo, I'm not sure. I kind of want to tell him first before we investigate." Cal said, casting his own glare towards the treeline, "Even if it's a clone, I'm-"
He paused. His eyes suddenly widened and he gripped Lilo's arm, pulling her behind him and handing her his cap, charging up as he warily eyed a hammer-headed shape in the brush. Lilo gulped upon seeing it-the figure had very clearly noticed them, as their head turned right in their direction.
The trio stared at each other for a moment before the figure suddenly pulled something out, aiming it right at them. Cal gasped and grabbed Lilo, pulling both down flat onto the sidewalk as a kaleidoscope of light reflected off the shop window opposite them.
He eyed it warily. He'd never seen anything like it before, but he got the feeling he didn't want to find out what it was. The source it'd come from was so small he had a difficult time wondering what it could even be.
A low mutter came from the figure in the brush before they dashed off, leaving the two huddled on the sidewalk in shock.
It was a moment before Cal got back to his feet, pulling Lilo up along with him. "You okay?" He asked, and Lilo nodded, still eyeing the shop window the light had reflected off of. "What…was that?"
"Not sure. It's a weapon from how they aimed it, so…" Cal eyed Lilo's displaced duffel bag for a moment before glaring back at the forest, "How are we even going to face up against it?"
"Blindfolds?"
"For me, yeah. For you, you're gonna trip over yourself in there even if I lead you."
Lilo gazed at the forest for a moment, pondering how to go about this…
"...You can do your chilling thing again."
Cal raised an eyebrow, but took a deep breath and shrugged, "Well, not that, but that does give me an idea."
Lilo gulped and pulled her hoodie down further over her face, staring at the ground as Cal led her deeper into the forest. They'd stocked up on weapons-they weren't sure what they were up against, but this strange version of Hammerhead still couldn't be ignored.
She'd taken her camera, Cal was carrying her bat, and both had taken from her change of clothes; a tank top was tied across Cal's eyes, and Lilo was wearing her hoodie pulled down over her head. Despite Cal's evening out of the temperature to conceal them, Lilo still couldn't help but feel apprehensive as he led her deeper into the undergrowth.
The forest began to thin into a clearing, and Cal came to a sudden halt. Lilo slowed to a stop behind him, but still kept her eyes on the ground; she didn't know what he was looking at, but looking directly at their target would still be a bad idea…
A few moments passed before a chuckle came from the clearing's center.
"Not bad."
Something clinked and Cal's grip on her hand tightened, Lilo gritting her teeth and squeezing her eyes shut. Whoever they were facing seemed to notice, as she took the time to address her.
"...You can open your eyes, you know. I put it away."
"Put what away? And who are you?" Cal's accusatory voice cut in, but the other answered readily, "My weapon. I don't mean you any harm."
"Then why'd you aim it at us back there?"
"It's not in my interest to connect with alternate versions of my family. But I digress; I understand if you don't trust me for that."
Despite the danger, Lilo couldn't help but lift her gaze from the forest floor to the clearing directly in front of her. When she did, her eyes widened at the sight in front of her.
Hammerhead stood in front of them, but like Cal said, it wasn't "him"-it was someone who looked and spoke and even stood like him, but…they weren't "hers". They weren't a clone like she'd originally thought…they seemed like they were from a completely different world. The Hammerhead was dressed in a dark blue suit and tie, though they were dusty from time spent running through the brush. A small gold chain was visible around her neck, and Lilo guessed it held her weapon-as its end had been pushed into her shirt and beneath her jacket. Her head was turned to the side to give them a full view of her face, revealing familiar red-tinted eyes and gold cuffs over her ears. Upon seeing Lilo's stare, she gave her a gentle, but awkward wave given the circumstances.
Cal's blindfolded head turned back to her, sensing her movement. Lilo nodded to him to untie the fold; he hesitated, but a quick scan of the alternate Hammerhead in front of him seemed to convince him. He silently removed the tank from his eyes, but kept them narrowed in suspicion at the gray experiment.
"Who are you?" He asked, crossing his arms as he studied the Hammerhead, "And what was that thing you were shining at us?"
The Hammerhead placed her hands on her hips, sighing at the two of them, "My name is Argent. I'm a version of experiment 033; not yours, but my world. As for what I was pointing at you, it's-"
A whispered "Say Hubble" suddenly echoed from the bushes. Both Cal and Lilo cast wide-eyed stares in its direction; it sounded almost exactly like her voice and knowing what Argent had just told them, it could very well be another…
The Hammerhead groaned and rubbed a temple, her composure dissipating as she confirmed Cal and Lilo's suspicions. "...You just gave yourself away."
"Then I might as well come out." The Lilo's voice came from the brush as she pushed aside a fern, adjusting a pair of purple glasses and stepping out into the clearing to face the two counterparts. "Hi, I'm Lilo Makali'i." She said, smiling and awkwardly sticking out a hand for the two to shake.
Lilo stared in shock; this…this version of her was her opposite in nearly every way-dressed in a white and purple sweater and skirt with socks and mary janes, her short hair pulled into a pair of pigtails. Her glasses had small rhinestones embedded in the sides, and they seemed to flash in the sunlight as her smile grew into a sheepish half-grin. Lilo couldn't help but return it, feeling as though she were looking into a funhouse mirror or got hit by Dorkifier's ability.
"H-hi." She stammered, Cal glancing back and forth between the two in stunned silence.
It was a moment before he regained his composure and stretched out a hand, giving Lilo M.'s waiting one a quick shake. "...Okay…" He said, his voice cracking in confusion.
"Right. Wonderful. Blitznak." Argent said, putting her head in her hands and taking a deep breath, "Want me to answer the second question? Because it was to prevent exactly what's going on here."
"Speaking of. Maybe you should." Cal said, snapping back to attention and raising an eyebrow at Argent. She nodded, "Then I will. It allows me to alter the perceptions of anyone I shine its light on."
Cal sighed as he looked between the two Lilos and strange Hammerhead alternate, now seeing why she'd tried to use it. It wasn't as though he agreed, but he could at least understand why. "Well, okay. How'd you get here if you're from another world?"
Argent's face darkened as he asked the question, and she drew in a deep breath, "...About that…the two of you need to get back to your house. Immediately."
Cal was back to glaring at her. "Why?"
"I'm not the only 033 in the area, and neither's yours in case you want to be smart. There's another, and he's the reason we got sucked in." Argent explained, Lilo M. nodding beside her, "Since there's no point in using my weapon anymore, you'd best bring us with. Now that we've met, none of us are safe."
Cal and Lilo exchanged glances before the former turned back, eyes narrowing, "If what you say is true, then-"
A ringtone suddenly blared out from Lilo's pocket, causing the group to collectively jump. Lilo gasped, but felt for it and flipped it on, gulping as she held it up to her ear. "Mom?"
"Lilo? Where are you?"
"Uhhhhh…in a clearing? Cal and I got lost."
"...If this is alien-related, then I kind of already know."
"Oh. Sorry…"
"It's alright Lilo, but I am gonna need you and Cal to run over here as fast as you can. There's…I dunno how to explain it, but there's another you at our house and this teal Stitch-just run over here when you can, okay?" Mrs. Ka'aukai's voice was lacking in its usual calm, and Argent's eyes widened as her words sunk in. Lilo and…well, Lilo shared a stunned glance between them before she stammered out her answer.
"I'll-we'll be back right away then Mom-we ran into more counterparts and they're saying to take them with."
There was a pause from the other end before Mrs. Ka'aukai spoke again, her voice hoarse from the realization, "Oh jesus…Lilo-all of you, please be safe, okay? None of this looks right."
"Okay Mom. Love you." Lilo said, gulping as she closed the phone and quietly slipped it into its pocket.
Argent's eyes were bulging out of her head in horror at the call, and she silently pointed her claw towards the path out of the clearing, "House. Now. Wherever it is."
The green and yellow house was soon in view, resting right next to the ocean near the main street of Kokawa Town. Lilo led her alternate and the experiments up to the front door, Cal knocking and announcing their arrival as Argent glared back at the driveway. The door opened to reveal Mrs. Ka'aukai, hair tied back in a ponytail and a worried look on her face. Upon seeing them, she immediately ushered the group of four inside, shutting and locking the door behind them.
"Oh thank God-Lilo-what's going on here?" She asked, "And who's the-I guess-the alternate Hammerhead with you?"
Lilo K. turned to Argent, who stepped forward and clasped her hands together as she introduced herself. "My name's Argent; I…we," She cast a nervous glance back towards her Lilo, who grimaced, but nodded for her to continue, "...Alright."
"We're interdimensional agents. We work for a group that monitors and intervenes with timelines." She explained, causing Lilo to cast a shocked glance with her mirror. Lilo M. carefully nodded in confirmation, adjusting her glasses as Argent continued, "We were pulled in here by a criminal jumping universes, and…we're going to need your-their-involvement since they discovered us."
Mrs. Ka'aukai's eyebrows were raised so high they looked as though they were about to lift off her head. She was obviously suspicious of her, and she had every right to be given what she'd just told her. Argent sighed and crossed her arms, returning the stare as she further explained herself, "I apologize for that last part, but the person in question is targeting Lilo. Mine, yours, the other pair you found…"
"Wait wait wait-" Mrs. Ka'aukai waved her hands to stop Argent, "Are you saying this person's after all versions of Lilo?"
Argent nodded, "As a collective, yes. He's been doing…shall I say, individual work before expanding his ambitions."
Mrs. Ka'aukai's eyes narrowed in anger as Argent's words sunk in. Having this person targeting her daughter was one thing, but to hear he was doing this to all versions of her-and might've already hurt some…she didn't know how else to react except with her usual dull fury.
She took a few moments to calm herself before addressing Argent, "...Alright-you're more involved in this than I am, so, besides taking you in, is there anything else I can do to help you out?"
The Hammerhead alternate shook her head, "This is more than enough. I would like you more involved, but…"
She seemed to pause, her eyes darting to the floor. Mrs. Ka'aukai's eyes followed her, "...Well?"
"...It's nothing. Just…I'll come to you if we need anything else, okay?" The alternate Hammerhead said, "Thank you for taking us all in."
Mrs. Ka'aukai sighed, seeing Argent's apparent secrecy was something that'd simply come with the territory, "Okay then."
"The other 'you' is in the alien's room with their experiment; I think you should go and meet up with them." She said, but before the group could respond, a teal striped head poked its way out from the hall, ears and antenna flattened against his head. Argent and her Lilo were unsurprised, the former merely offering the final pair a small wave. Cal and Lilo K. were the opposite, gaping in stunned silence at the sheer contrast between them, Argent and Lilo M., and this new pair shyly peeking into the living room.
The Lilo was wearing a white and pink floral dress, crossing her arms and backing away from the others in apprehension. Her "Stitch", a teal variant of experiment 626, waved back at Argent an the rest of the group with a smile on his face. "Aloha! Meega Scratch!" He announced, "Isa Lilo Noelani. Naga worry; she's just a bit shy isa all."
"Scratch…" Lilo's voice trembled as she addressed her experiment friend, "I can handle myself."
"But isa picture day and-youga know." Scratch gestured around at the room, "We're on a whole different island now at that! Meega thought you might need extra help."
"Well, thanks, but it doesn't seem to be that different. I can do it, I just need time." The Lilo explained, but her reddened face implied she was still struggling with her words. Scratch nodded, gesturing to the remaining group, "Gaba youga? Youga must be from other worlds like us, ih?"
Argent nodded, albeit with a bit of relief at not having to repeat herself again, "Yes. I…wish that I could say this was under better circumstances…"
"...Speaking of." Cal said, crossing his arms, "Who exactly is this we should all be afraid of? From how much you've been dancing around the issue they must be a big one."
"I'm in agreement." Mrs. Ka'aukai added, "Whatever's going on, we need to know what we're up against."
Argent nodded, "Right. Is there anyone else here with-"
She was interrupted by two things at once. The first was an excited shout of "There's being more?! Incredible!" followed by the entrance of Jumba and Pleakley-the former of which was overjoyed at seeing alternate versions of his experiments. Argent turned to him in slight exasperation, her stomach clenching at the potential meaning…
She fumbled with the communicator, bringing it up to her side and holding her finger out towards her alternate creator to keep him quiet.
"Galena, what's going on?"
"Hello."
Her eyes widened. That voice…
"Surprised?" Arsenic asked, placing one purple arm into the crook of his elbow, "You don't have to worry about them by the way; I've given them a reason to come to you."
"And what would that be?" His counterpart hissed through the communicator. Arsenic grinned as he watched Galena continue to sprint away from him-his companion starting to turn visibly purple from behind his oversized jacket.
"You'll see."