I'm glad you all stuck with me after what happened last chapter. This one shouldn't take very long.

***

Diary of Dr. Jumba Jookiba

IF YOU ARE NOT BEING ME, GO AWAY

Data log entry # 318669-0325

The world is coming to an end.

At least, that is what I was thinking (Despite the lack of any telltale signs such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or tidal waves) when Little Girl came home in tears two weeks ago, saying that 626 had abandoned us for his new religion.

Needless to say, I was shocked. Although his deep obsession with this new religion of his had been unanticipated and unwanted by all, I originally wrote off his peculiar behavior as some large error in programming that I was intending to correct the next time he was asleep (Too bad I never got the chance.).

But I could not be believing that he would just leave us. Is one thing to join stupid religion and force his irritating beliefs on us, but is another for him to just cut all ties to us and go away. At least when he was preaching the laws of Ban-Kar, he saw us as his family. And now he is casting us off like flake of dead skin or clipped toenail. I fear the error, if indeed it is just being that, runs far deeper in 626's consciousness than I could ever have imagined. And now that he is gone, I believe our fragile little o'hana is falling apart.

626 was constant in all our lives, whether we were appreciating him or not. Now, all of us are suffering deeply from his absence.

Surfer Boy David has nobody to surf with in his free time. Is spending more and more time at household, trying to score date with Big Girl. Unfortunately, she is never in so he is often occupying himself by talking to me. Very annoying.

Speaking of which, Big Girl is rarely in as well. She has been spending more and more time at work. She claims she is just trying to secure her pay raise, but I am seeing through her feeble web of deceit. She is staying out because household no longer seems as warm and inviting as it used to be.

It is too quiet in the house. Pleakley has mentioned this to me often during his many cleaning patrols. The sound of laughter, smashing, and things breaking on the floor that usually followed Little Girl and 626 wherever they went is no longer here. Although Pleakley was always complaining about the messes they made, it was being quite obvious to me that he is secretly loving to clean them up. After all, what is a neat freak without a mess to clean? With no broken glass or furniture to fix up, Pleakley has been finding himself with far too much free time. He is seeing dirt and germs everywhere he goes, and is never about without a can of cleansing fluid, goggles, or tissue boxes to wear on his feet. He has cleaned the house so many times now the kitchen is shining brightly enough to hurt the eyes. Whenever he is not cleaning, he is trying to sew replacement clothes for the ones 626 threw out. He has already been making enough to fill all the closets in the house twice, and half the space in the attic.

As for me, while I have completed my cure for AIDS and at least half a dozen new experiments which will hopefully remain hidden forever, I find I am missing the times when Little Girl or 626 came to me for help with capturing a difficult experiment or some other juvenile project. They were always welcome distractions from my work. I am having to invent my own diversions to keep from getting so absorbed in what I am doing that I am forgetting to eat, sleep, or perform regular hygiene (Just like when I was making early experiments. I am always wondering if I would still be married to ex-wife if I had not been in such an obsessive state of mind.).

I am missing 626 for other reasons, though. I have always felt very close to him. He is being my greatest experiment (Even better than 627, even if he is much more powerful) and almost like son I am never having. For him to betray us like this…it is hurting. It is hurting a lot.

And as for Little Girl…I am worrying about her. She has rarely left her room for any reason during the last two weeks. Any attempts to talk to her are like speaking to brick wall. I should know, I actually did that several years ago. (I was drunk, thought it was ex-wife. Long story) She barely eats, she barely sleeps, and I am always hearing her crying at night. (Note to self: Make ceiling soundproof.)

I recently talked with 221 when he came over a couple of days ago for a checkup. Said he went to see if 624 was all right. I am not surprised to hear she is exhibiting symptoms identical to Little Girl's, 626 was most important male in both their lives after all. I am a little more worried about 624 though, seeing as she is more mature than Little Girl is and may consider taking her life to end the pain. (I certainly hope not, attending a funeral after all that's been going on might tear us all apart forever.) 221 also mentioned he went to give 626 a piece of his mind after he heard what he's been doing recently to us, but 626 would not even give him a second glance when he found out 221 was not interested in joining Ban-Kar. 221 is worried, and I am surely correct in believing all the other experiments are as well. If 626, who has been an idol and role model to all of them, would turn his back on his own family and join a ridiculous religion because he thinks it is more fulfilling than we are, do they have much of a chance of finding true happiness in their new places in Earth society?

I have decided this is going on long enough. 626 is cause and solution of all recent problems. Something must be done to end that which is breaking apart our great extended family and repair our o'hana before it is too late. I am the only one who can stop this madness, and I will do so…

No matter what means I must be taking to accomplish this.

***

Stitch sat in the pew, his head bowed toward the giant grotesque statue at the back of the church in prayer. He spent a good deal of his time doing this every day. The rest of his time was occupied trying to win converts to the church. He had targeted his former cousins at first, only to find they were angry and refused to listen to him for some reason. He then tried the more human members of the community, but they weren't interested either. He wasn't worried, though. Sooner or later, they would all see the error of their ways and come to Ban-Kar to save their souls. Of this, he was most certain. His ears pricked up as someone with an abnormally large foot stomped into the church. At first he thought it was Gantu, but quickly realized it couldn't be, the footfall was too small. He stayed motionless until the person stood right next to him. "626?"

Stitch immediately recognized the voice. "Jumba!" Sure that his sinful creator had finally come to his senses and was seeking to redeem his soul, Stitch whirled around to greet the scientist.

He found himself face-to-face with the barrel of a plasma cannon. Jumba fired.

***

Well, that was certainly an eerie cliffhanger wasn't it? Tune in next time, when the truth behind Stitch's actions is finally revealed!