Second chapter is here too (just so you can read it. Aren't I nice?) As
always, please review because I, like you, love hearing from my readers.
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"Where could she be? We've looked everywhere." Jumba sat in a swivel chair outside his office, musing over the recent events. 625 and 471 sat nearby and watched him. It had been two days since 593 disappeared and Jumba wasn't anywhere near panicking. He was a genius. He'd think of something. His greatest concern at the moment was not 593's safety; it was whether or not she had been found. She WAS illegal, after all.
471 finally decided to make a suggestion. Her black ears twitched a little as she stood up next to 625, crossing her white arms over her chest.
"Why don't you send some of us? We can search better than any of those stupid maintenance droids. Jumba eyed her thoughtfully.
"And who would you send after 593?"
471 shrugged vaguely. "I don't know."
"Surely..." Jumba began to laugh. "Surely you had someone in mind. Perhaps yourself?" 471 felt her face grow hot. Yes, she had been considering herself, but she didn't take too kindly to being mocked. Before she even knew it, she was snarling at her creator.
"Yes ME! At least I'd be doing something about it! At least I'D do more than sit on my fat butt and pretend I CARE! You know, before you bring something to life you should be prepared for some kind of RESPONSIBILITY!!!" 471 snatched 625 by the arm and began to drag him away. He stared at her, bewildered.
"Jeez! I've never seen you go off on someone like that!" she ignored him as they came to the front of the common room. Most of the experiments were there; they quieted as she stormed around the room.
"Alright, LISTEN!" Absolute silence. "Doc Jookiba isn't doing anything to find 593. She's gone for good unless WE do something." She grabbed 625 again to keep him from sneaking away. "It's me and 625."
"WHAT!?" 625 squeaked.
"We'll take everyone who's willing to go. Don't take time to think about it, we're leaving now!" and with that, she and 625 were out the door and into the world beyond. Jumba frowned from his office door.
"That can't be good."
***
314 rubbed her nose as she pulled her face away from the window. Well, it wasn't exactly a window, it was more of a small slot through which she could see through the Dark and into the hallway beyond. She'd been there for at least a half an hour looking for 625. He had promised to come and see her, but he wasn't there. She sadly climbed down from the door, trying to think of reasons. Maybe he was busy; Jumba could have delayed him. Or maybe he just got lost. Yeah, that must be it. 314 sighed; knowing that wasn't even close to happening.
314 started to turn away, but stopped as a thought struck her. It would be risky, true. She could get into a lot of trouble, but she didn't care. She was lonely enough that she was willing. Nervously, 314 reached for the door handle. She hesitated as she gripped the cold metal.
"What are you doing?" 314 jumped and turned to see Jumba watching her suspiciously.
"Just.........watching." She confessed. He continued to stare for a moment before motioning her to follow him into a nearby computer room. 314 climbed onto her creator's shoulder as he sat in the old creaking chair and inserted a microfile into the computer.
"My next project." He told her proudly. "I think it will be a success this time." several images flashed across the screen. 314 saw a form much like her own: large, bat-like ears and pupil-less eyes accustomed to deep darkness. The form had modifications of extra, retractable arms and antennae and various shades of blue fur covering his body. 314 set into her usual questions.
"Gender?"
"Male."
"Abilities?"
"Bulletproof. Maybe even fire proof if I can manage. I won't know his strength until he begins his training."
"Number?"
"626."
"626...why is he blue?"
"Camouflage." Jumba removed the microfile from the computer and stood up, 314 jumped lightly to the floor. "Especially useful in twilight and dawn." The large scientist turned to leave, but 314 had one more thing to ask.
"Will I get to talk to him?"
"Of course not!" Jumba shook his head, not really surprised by the question. "If this is actually what I've been hoping for, then it will most likely be very violent."
"I don't think all the experiments are as bad as you make them out to be." 314 muttered and began to fiddle with the computer. Jumba swiveled the chair so she was facing him.
"What is that meant to mean?" he asked sternly. "Have you been going into lab?"
"No, of course not!" she said quickly. "It's just that I-I can see the hallway through the space in the door. I watch them sometimes. And there's one that gets chased sometimes."
"Let me guess." Jumba rolled his eyes. "Aquamarine, chubby, no means to defend himself." He chuckled. "You must remember the files from when I created him. He is wimp, but you stay away from him all the same." 314 felt like being childish and throwing a tantrum, but she somehow managed to control herself and watched sadly as Jumba left her alone once again.
***
"471, wait up!" 625 trudged along with the three experiments who had been willing to join the quest. First off, there was 597, the biggest of the bunch at three feet ten inches. Every inch of him was covered in brown fur except for his large black eyes. A row of blunt spikes extended from his forehead to his back, otherwise, he looked like 471. Next to him was 602, who was somewhat small and solid yellow. He was one of those Jumba had given some of his own genes, but that only resulted in his four brown eyes. He dropped to the floor and tucked his four dorsal spines into his back. He looked over his shoulder.
"386, you all right back there?" 386 came trotting into view. Aside from being the oldest of the group, he was also the smartest. This sometimes led to problems, as he liked to invent things that promptly exploded. 386 was a dark bluish shade, with bright red wings spreading from his back. His was in the process of learning to fly, but all he'd achieved was gliding (which he quite enjoyed). His only fault was that he seemed to constantly be out of shape. He was wheezing by the time he got them.
"Sometimes I actually question why I'm an intellectual." he moaned. 471 rolled her eyes.
"I'd help, but I can't exactly transfer my physical prowess to other people." 597 shushed her with a raised hand.
"Something strange, guys." He pulled his nose away from the floor. "I can't smell 593. The trail just stops. Like she disappeared. Those other smells are still here, though."
"They must've been dragging her until they got this far." 386 said, "let's keep going." They began to move on again. 597 pulled ahead of the group; 471 followed him, walking close so the others wouldn't hear.
"I'm sorry."
"About what?"
"Don't bother. You like her." "One sided feeling there." 597 sped up a little, but 471 didn't let him go.
"We'll find her, 597. I promise." He didn't look at her, but she knew he was grateful for her confidence.
***
314 sat at her window gloomily, not even noticing the cityscape below. She was used to being alone, but that was before 625. Before she had any friends. And she had really been looking forward to seeing him. Sure, he wasn't exactly a knockout, but he was charming.
"I guess this would've happened sooner or later." She sighed and got up." If he isn't coming here, then I'll just go to him."
***
"Stop it!"
"No, you stop!"
"I'm not doing anything!" 625 gave 602 a hateful glare. "If anyone's doing anything it's you!"
"Why don't you both stop it before I throw you through the floor!" 597 barked. He needn't have threatened them. The lift finally rose to the 253rd floor and opened upon a wasteland of a hallway. Garbage and broken lab equipment was everywhere (not to mention a horrific stench). 471 gagged and turned to 597. "Are you sure she's here?"
"Yeah, the trail leads here, but there's no door apparently." With a paw clamped over his nose he led the group to a small ventilation shaft near the floor. 386 eyed it doubtfully.
"In there? But 597, you and 625 would get stuck."
"Then we'll go last."
"No," 386 shook his head, sending his ears flapping. "How about, only two of us go? Just far enough to find out if she's here. After all, five inadequately prepared experiments wouldn't have an easy job of storming a laboratory spanning an entire floor."
"He's right. Let's do it." They quickly settled it with rock; paper, scissors and it ended up with 471 and 625. "Fancy that." 602 smacked his forehead. "Keep him in line, 471."
597 pulled away the vent's covering so the pair could climb in. 471 and 625 nodded silently to the others and together they disappeared into the darkness.
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"Where could she be? We've looked everywhere." Jumba sat in a swivel chair outside his office, musing over the recent events. 625 and 471 sat nearby and watched him. It had been two days since 593 disappeared and Jumba wasn't anywhere near panicking. He was a genius. He'd think of something. His greatest concern at the moment was not 593's safety; it was whether or not she had been found. She WAS illegal, after all.
471 finally decided to make a suggestion. Her black ears twitched a little as she stood up next to 625, crossing her white arms over her chest.
"Why don't you send some of us? We can search better than any of those stupid maintenance droids. Jumba eyed her thoughtfully.
"And who would you send after 593?"
471 shrugged vaguely. "I don't know."
"Surely..." Jumba began to laugh. "Surely you had someone in mind. Perhaps yourself?" 471 felt her face grow hot. Yes, she had been considering herself, but she didn't take too kindly to being mocked. Before she even knew it, she was snarling at her creator.
"Yes ME! At least I'd be doing something about it! At least I'D do more than sit on my fat butt and pretend I CARE! You know, before you bring something to life you should be prepared for some kind of RESPONSIBILITY!!!" 471 snatched 625 by the arm and began to drag him away. He stared at her, bewildered.
"Jeez! I've never seen you go off on someone like that!" she ignored him as they came to the front of the common room. Most of the experiments were there; they quieted as she stormed around the room.
"Alright, LISTEN!" Absolute silence. "Doc Jookiba isn't doing anything to find 593. She's gone for good unless WE do something." She grabbed 625 again to keep him from sneaking away. "It's me and 625."
"WHAT!?" 625 squeaked.
"We'll take everyone who's willing to go. Don't take time to think about it, we're leaving now!" and with that, she and 625 were out the door and into the world beyond. Jumba frowned from his office door.
"That can't be good."
***
314 rubbed her nose as she pulled her face away from the window. Well, it wasn't exactly a window, it was more of a small slot through which she could see through the Dark and into the hallway beyond. She'd been there for at least a half an hour looking for 625. He had promised to come and see her, but he wasn't there. She sadly climbed down from the door, trying to think of reasons. Maybe he was busy; Jumba could have delayed him. Or maybe he just got lost. Yeah, that must be it. 314 sighed; knowing that wasn't even close to happening.
314 started to turn away, but stopped as a thought struck her. It would be risky, true. She could get into a lot of trouble, but she didn't care. She was lonely enough that she was willing. Nervously, 314 reached for the door handle. She hesitated as she gripped the cold metal.
"What are you doing?" 314 jumped and turned to see Jumba watching her suspiciously.
"Just.........watching." She confessed. He continued to stare for a moment before motioning her to follow him into a nearby computer room. 314 climbed onto her creator's shoulder as he sat in the old creaking chair and inserted a microfile into the computer.
"My next project." He told her proudly. "I think it will be a success this time." several images flashed across the screen. 314 saw a form much like her own: large, bat-like ears and pupil-less eyes accustomed to deep darkness. The form had modifications of extra, retractable arms and antennae and various shades of blue fur covering his body. 314 set into her usual questions.
"Gender?"
"Male."
"Abilities?"
"Bulletproof. Maybe even fire proof if I can manage. I won't know his strength until he begins his training."
"Number?"
"626."
"626...why is he blue?"
"Camouflage." Jumba removed the microfile from the computer and stood up, 314 jumped lightly to the floor. "Especially useful in twilight and dawn." The large scientist turned to leave, but 314 had one more thing to ask.
"Will I get to talk to him?"
"Of course not!" Jumba shook his head, not really surprised by the question. "If this is actually what I've been hoping for, then it will most likely be very violent."
"I don't think all the experiments are as bad as you make them out to be." 314 muttered and began to fiddle with the computer. Jumba swiveled the chair so she was facing him.
"What is that meant to mean?" he asked sternly. "Have you been going into lab?"
"No, of course not!" she said quickly. "It's just that I-I can see the hallway through the space in the door. I watch them sometimes. And there's one that gets chased sometimes."
"Let me guess." Jumba rolled his eyes. "Aquamarine, chubby, no means to defend himself." He chuckled. "You must remember the files from when I created him. He is wimp, but you stay away from him all the same." 314 felt like being childish and throwing a tantrum, but she somehow managed to control herself and watched sadly as Jumba left her alone once again.
***
"471, wait up!" 625 trudged along with the three experiments who had been willing to join the quest. First off, there was 597, the biggest of the bunch at three feet ten inches. Every inch of him was covered in brown fur except for his large black eyes. A row of blunt spikes extended from his forehead to his back, otherwise, he looked like 471. Next to him was 602, who was somewhat small and solid yellow. He was one of those Jumba had given some of his own genes, but that only resulted in his four brown eyes. He dropped to the floor and tucked his four dorsal spines into his back. He looked over his shoulder.
"386, you all right back there?" 386 came trotting into view. Aside from being the oldest of the group, he was also the smartest. This sometimes led to problems, as he liked to invent things that promptly exploded. 386 was a dark bluish shade, with bright red wings spreading from his back. His was in the process of learning to fly, but all he'd achieved was gliding (which he quite enjoyed). His only fault was that he seemed to constantly be out of shape. He was wheezing by the time he got them.
"Sometimes I actually question why I'm an intellectual." he moaned. 471 rolled her eyes.
"I'd help, but I can't exactly transfer my physical prowess to other people." 597 shushed her with a raised hand.
"Something strange, guys." He pulled his nose away from the floor. "I can't smell 593. The trail just stops. Like she disappeared. Those other smells are still here, though."
"They must've been dragging her until they got this far." 386 said, "let's keep going." They began to move on again. 597 pulled ahead of the group; 471 followed him, walking close so the others wouldn't hear.
"I'm sorry."
"About what?"
"Don't bother. You like her." "One sided feeling there." 597 sped up a little, but 471 didn't let him go.
"We'll find her, 597. I promise." He didn't look at her, but she knew he was grateful for her confidence.
***
314 sat at her window gloomily, not even noticing the cityscape below. She was used to being alone, but that was before 625. Before she had any friends. And she had really been looking forward to seeing him. Sure, he wasn't exactly a knockout, but he was charming.
"I guess this would've happened sooner or later." She sighed and got up." If he isn't coming here, then I'll just go to him."
***
"Stop it!"
"No, you stop!"
"I'm not doing anything!" 625 gave 602 a hateful glare. "If anyone's doing anything it's you!"
"Why don't you both stop it before I throw you through the floor!" 597 barked. He needn't have threatened them. The lift finally rose to the 253rd floor and opened upon a wasteland of a hallway. Garbage and broken lab equipment was everywhere (not to mention a horrific stench). 471 gagged and turned to 597. "Are you sure she's here?"
"Yeah, the trail leads here, but there's no door apparently." With a paw clamped over his nose he led the group to a small ventilation shaft near the floor. 386 eyed it doubtfully.
"In there? But 597, you and 625 would get stuck."
"Then we'll go last."
"No," 386 shook his head, sending his ears flapping. "How about, only two of us go? Just far enough to find out if she's here. After all, five inadequately prepared experiments wouldn't have an easy job of storming a laboratory spanning an entire floor."
"He's right. Let's do it." They quickly settled it with rock; paper, scissors and it ended up with 471 and 625. "Fancy that." 602 smacked his forehead. "Keep him in line, 471."
597 pulled away the vent's covering so the pair could climb in. 471 and 625 nodded silently to the others and together they disappeared into the darkness.