Peace
C/by: Kenjaje
Chapter 9: Pasha
"Bah! You are wanting a piece of Jumba eh?" Jumba sneered cockily at the oncoming sentinels. "Well, be taking that!" He fired precisely, hitting three of the seven clustered in front of him. They dispersed and spread around his ship. "Oh...thinking you're smart now aren't you?" He spoke, a sly tone in his voice. The dorsal blaster turned and fired on two of the remaining sentinels, the other two fired a laser at the ship.
"You think puny laser can penetrate shields?" Jumba laughed, and immediately destroyed the remnants. "That was so easy I forgot to...oh..." His eyes widened as he saw a few more sentinels off in the distance, followed by another barrage of them. Even more came, nearly forty of them from one direction. "Should not be opening big fat mouth; should be eating words." He muttered, launching the ship forward, charging at the fleet. "I'm just hoping 624 and little girl are having better luck then I."
Stitch cracked his knuckles, and then moved on to popping his neck. His mouth parted, revealing a very confident and barbaric smile. His eyes blinked twice as he glanced from the Lilo to Angel, observing his opponents.
Lilo could only look at her friend in disdain. He was obviously taunting them. It wasn't getting to her, but it sure was getting to Angel. Angel hid her bared teeth well under her lips; she didn't want to show any sign of rage to Stitch. That's what he wanted to see. Angel stepped in front of Lilo, blocking her from any frontal attack Stitch might do, and calmly, but hesitantly, lifted the blaster. Lilo flinched.
"Angel, what are you doing?" She questioned immediately as the gun aligned with Angel's aim. "You're not going to...shoot him, are you?"
"...That's his decision. It looks like he wants to fight dirty, so I'm keeping my guard up."
"But you can't shoot him!" Lilo yelled, grabbing onto Angel's arm.
"Lilo, what are you doing? Stop-"Angel heard Stitch's voice, he was charging at them, she could hear his footsteps pounding on the metal floor. Swiftly, Angel whipped free of Lilo's grasp, and fired a shot at Stitch. Lilo screamed, Stitch caught the bullet and spun around, shifting its inertia back toward the two girls. Lilo tackled Angel, the bullet dodging just by her ear, as it ruffled her black hair.
As Angel hit the ground, the blaster left her grasp and skidded across the floor, Stitch rushed by and seized the blaster in one motion, ran a bit farther away, and stopped a few feet from the girls. Lilo and Angel got to their feet, and froze as they saw Stitch with the blaster. Slowly, he lifted it to his eye, aiming it at Angel. She tensed her legs; ready to leap if he fired, but he didn't, he shifted the barrel toward Lilo. Angel growled.
"Don't do it..." Lilo thought, unable to move. "Please don't do it..."
"Hmph." He grunted, as he lowered the gun, and took out the cartridge, which he smashed immediately afterward, as if to say he didn't need the blaster. Lilo relaxed, heaving a sigh and dropping her shoulders. Angel screamed as she charged toward Stitch, extending her claws. "Chikata."
"Niga traba!" She hollered, sweeping a slash past him. He dodged fluidly; ducking his head just enough and yet not too much. She struck again, with the same result. One strike after another, he dodged them like it was nothing. A shiver came down Lilo's back, she wasn't expecting Angel to do this; she wasn't expecting anything like this at all. Angel was acting like she was trying to kill him, not rescue him.
"Ju gabra koita." Stitch spoke tauntingly.
"Miga lootapa!" Angel's voice echoed across the room. Stitch was still dodging her frantic attack with a smug smile on his face. Eventually, he backed up against the wall, and as it seemed like she was about to get a hit on him, he caught her arm with one hand. Another and caught the other arm, and deftly Stitch turned around, reversing their positions, and slamming Angel against the wall. Her eyes widened with fear as he leered at her with a devious smile.
"Egads, how many of these things is he having?" Jumba asked with amazement, as fleet after fleet of sentinels seemed to come infinitely toward him. His blaster had never stopped for more then a few seconds at a time before another ship was in his sights. "Am seeing why even 626 is having trouble fending off bogies from inside ship." He pulled up, looping around the sphere again. "Speaking of 626, I wonder what is taking girls so long to apprehend him..." Jumba reoriented the ship, and shot a few more sentinels down.
"Is really starting to wear thin on patience." He muttered at the annoyance. He fired more shots at a retreating cluster, only knocking one of them out. He noticed that more clusters were retreating, eventually all of them fled. Jumba's eyes narrowed. He knew something was going to happen, they were drawing back to regroup. He peered out of the windshield toward a glint in the distance; something was coming toward him. Glancing at the radar, an expression of disbelief and gloom came over his face. "Oh boy...is not being my kind of day..." He seized hold of the steering stick. Frantically trying to retreat as the giant battleship before him fired a shot, rattling his ship violently.
"That is being it...you are wanting a piece of Jumba?" He screamed loudly, adrenaline pumping through his veins as he gripped the dorsal blaster's stick. "You've got it!" He declared, rushing toward his massive opponent, firing a barrage of bullets.
"Stop it Stitch, you're hurting her!" Lilo pleaded, as small whimpers of pain came from Angel. Stitch glanced back, Lilo froze her pace again as he did. His cold stare seemed to nullify her, disabling her ability to move. Without warning, he threw Angel at her. Lilo stepped back, and instinctively caught Angel, stumbling backward and falling down. Angel panted; she tried to get up out of Lilo's hold.
"Let me go." She demanded, trying to free her arms. But Lilo had her locked by the torso like a teddy bear.
"No." Lilo said lowly, almost sadly. Angel slowed her frantic movements as Lilo stood to her feet, and helped Angel to hers. Angel turned to face Lilo, who now dawned the same sad expression she had the night before in the cave. "This isn't working, fighting him won't do anything." Lilo had to hold Angel up to keep her from falling. Angel held her throbbing arm.
"There's no other way, I have to-"
"There's always another way." Lilo interrupted. "We gotta find a way to get through to Stitch, we have to find a way to change him back now. If we don't you'll-"
"Lilo, watch out!" Angel struggled to knock Lilo out of the way, but she was too slow. Stitch took Angel and threw her to the ground. Lilo backed away, but Stitch had his cold, dark eyes set on her. With two bounds he was in front of her, she froze again in fear, as his claw came up from the side. Her head turned, attempting to dodge the slash, but she wasn't quick enough. Four red marks crossed her left cheek as she stumbled to the ground again.
Stitch roared, readying another swipe. He leaned back, savoring the look in Lilo's eye; the fearful stare she gave him, as he was about to slash at her again. The look that prey gives to its predator, a stare of sadness with a desperate and silent cry for mercy. Stitch could see the shock and hopelessness reflected off of her quivering pupil, as he tensed his arm and began to strike down.
And then he stopped. Lilo panted quickly, her left eye staring at him, a tear made its way out and dripped quickly down her cheek. Stitch's tense claw slowly relaxed, and he began to let his arm down. He stared wonderingly; suddenly the fear that was in her eyes that he savored so much, started to scare him. He felt the same feeling inside of him again; the feeling like something was missing, something that made him happy; something that he wanted back.
Lilo's quick panting slowed to deep breaths as she lay on the ground, unable to move, staring back up at Stitch, relieved that he had stopped. She was still shocked, and scared at what had happened to Stitch. But, as she saw him lower his claw, and relax his body, she began to relax as well. To her surprise, his cold, dull eyes-at that moment-gave off a small shine. For a second she thought she was just seeing things, but soon she realized something inside of Stitch was turning back to normal. Stitch had recognized her, and knew she was someone he loved.
"Stitch..." She whispered, as he reached his paw out to her, bending down over her, and peering into her eye. He reached for the tear that was falling down the back of her neck, trying to understand why he couldn't bring himself to harm her.
"Stay away from her!" Angel yelled with rage. Lilo saw Stitch fly to her right, and Angel took his place. She had side kicked him, sending him hurling to the adjacent wall. Lilo lifted her head off of the cold metal floor, and glanced into his eyes. The shine had faded, and they were once again dark and hateful. Angel brought herself to her feet, struggling to stand.
"Angel...wait." Lilo muttered, trying to get up. Angel braced herself for Stitch's rebound, and caught his foot, twirling him to the other direction, and slamming him into the wall. She began to chase after him. "Wait Angel!" Lilo shouted, Angel stopped her pace and looked back. "He's still there. He was about to hurt me, but then he stopped. He's still inside, you have to trust me!" Angel looked back to see Stitch running at her.
"How do you suggest we do this?" She grunted, catching Stitch by the wrists, immobilizing him for the time. "What did we do in the first place?"
"Do something that will make him remember you, something that only you can do."
"Something that only I can do? Lilo...this is crazy." Angel told herself. "...But...I'll give it a shot." Angel took a breath in, relaxing on Stitch, giving him a bit of room to move his hands around with. "Acuto chuto..." Angel began, "egata nomuta." Stitch began to relax; Angel felt his fists go limp as she continued to sing. "Naga-toe nala, esuto taduho." Angel opened her eyes; Stitch stared back at her, motionless. Silence overcame the room, as Stitch and Angel remained motionless; still holding onto each other's wrists. Lilo shifted, to get a better angle at what was happening. "Did it work?"
Stitch sniffed in, answering Angel's question. Angel escaped from his hands before he could grip down harder, and ran a short distance, trying to regain stamina for another attack. She panted heavily as she turned to face him, gripping her paws into fists with desperation. Stitch came at her, taking his time, giving her the chance to get away from him, but she was too weak to move.
"It didn't work, Lilo..." She spoke softly, closing her eyes, her voice quavering. "I can't do it." The tone of doubt was strong in her words, as Stitch calmly stepped closer to her. She looked up at him as he stopped in front of her. Her eyes bolted with terror, and a wave of fear crossed her body as Stitch gripped his hands around her neck, and lifted her into the air.
Angel coughed, tugging at his arms trying to break herself free, but he was too strong. Soon, all will to resist Stitch's hands left her mind, as her arms dropped and her eyes closed, the blood in her neck felt heavy as her arteries pounded with her pulse. "I just hope Lilo gets away..." She could feel Stitch's grip clamp tighter around her neck with each passing second, and just when she thought it was all going to be over, a peaceful sound came to her ears.
"Alo...ha...hoy..." Angel opened her eyes, as Stitch's grip immediately let loose, letting her drop to the floor, gasping for air. "Aloha hoy." Lilo's voice hit their ears, as she continued to sing a song Angel had never heard before. Stitch squinted in her blurry vision, glaring into her eyes for a second, before turning his head toward Lilo, still lying on the floor. Angel saw something inside of Stitch change. Something in his posture, and in his eyes, seemed to come back to him. His anger subsided, and his muscles relaxed, as he turned warily toward Lilo, and took a step forward.
Angel couldn't move, she lay on her back watching Stitch slowly walk toward Lilo; except to her, they were upside down. He seemed drawn toward Lilo by impulse, as he tediously made his way to her. His nails clicked lightly against the metal floor, at an even but cowardice pace.
Lilo tried to stand up as he stopped by her side, but her back was still sore from the fall. She flinched as he meekly offered her his hand to help her up. She hesitated, staring up at his expressionless face, but took his paw anyway, and stumbled as he lifted her to her feet. She didn't stand for long, before she had to put both hands on Stitch's shoulders, and lean against him for support. She drew back, and looked into his eyes after he caught her. She smiled, but he tried to look beyond her, trying not to look at her face. Lilo wrapped her arms around Stitch's neck, ensnaring him into a hug.
"Lilo came..." He purred, meekly returning the embrace. "Even though Stitch...is evil..."
"You're not evil Stitch." She retorted softly. "You're just under Hamsterveil's control."
"Is no excuse." He replied, scolding himself. He closed his eyes with shame. "Stitch still under Hamsterveil's control."
"How can you be?" She asked hastily "Aren't you back to normal yet?"
"Stitch wants to be." He whimpered, tears of sorrow forming in his eyes. "But Stitch isn't strong enough to fight it off." His tear fell onto Lilo's shoulder.
"You don't have to do it alone." She replied, calmly rubbing his back.
"Lilo...will help?" He asked softly.
"Of course I will." She replied, lifting an arm to stroke the fur behind his ears, calming him down a little.
"But...what if Stitch hurts Lilo again?" He countered, opening his eyes.
"No matter what happens," She replied, gripping her arms around him tighter, "I won't let go." Stitch blinked, not wanting to let the robots take control of his mind again, for the threat that he wouldn't return back to normal. In order to fight them successfully, he'd have to allow them to take full control of his body, which might end up backfiring, and becoming permanent; which he now feared above all else. "Ok?" She asked, telling him she was willing to take the risk.
"Ok..." He replied unsurely, closing his eyes. Angel watched with wonder, not understanding what was going on. She kept her thoughts at bay, as Stitch's eyes opened, the shine was gone again; he had let himself be taken control of again. He growled viscously, trying to break free of Lilo. But she moved her arms across his shoulders, immobilizing them. He took his claw and moved it slowly to her back.
"Naga!" He spoke to himself; resisting the robot's control. He tried to pull the claw away, his arm quivered tensely, but still steadily moving closer. "Naga, Naggara!" He shouted again, demandingly. He managed to pull his arm away, and now was trying harder to escape from Lilo. "Miga...no...legweesta!" He shouted slowly, writhing and struggling as hard as he could, but still not able to break free from Lilo's arms. Eventually, his body went limp from exhaustion, and he opened his eyes. Stitch grinned, wrapping his arms back around Lilo, as she opened her eyes and looked up at him. "Thanks." He spoke, returning back to normal.
"You're back!" She exclaimed softly, embracing him tightly again.
"Eh." He replied, closing his eyes peacefully. A tear left Angel's eyes, and dripped onto the floor. Ger smile parted with disbelief. "She did it..." Angel thought to herself skeptically. "I don't believe it..." Angel found herself turning onto her stomach, and up into a sitting position. A silence of happiness came over them. Exhausted, panting, and glad the tension was over, they all relaxed, but were not given a very long time.
"626!" The silence was disturbed abruptly, as the door burst open. Hamsterveil stepped into the room. "What are you waiting for you incompetent fool?" Lilo felt Stitch's arms tense with anger at the sound of the hamster's voice. "Get rid of these two pests, now!"
"No..." Lilo pleaded softly, reading Stitch's mind. "Don't do it, please." The robots inside of Stitch seemed to take command again, but this time for his purpose. Stitch's hands clenched the sleeves of Lilo's dress, his claws ripping through the fabric.
"Lilo...stop Stitch..." He quickly begged, before he tore away from Lilo, a bit of her sleeve stuck to his claw. With a hiss he leapt toward Hamsterveil as the rodent screamed and tried to run, but Stitch was too quick. Pinned down by the neck, Hamsterveil watched in horror as Stitch raised his claw, and thrust it toward his face.
"Stop Stitch!" Angel and Lilo both yelled, and just before his claw reached Hamsterveil's eye, Stitch haulted. He looked coldly into Hamsterveil's face; the rodent's frozen expression of shock and horror made Stitch relax his hand with realization..
"What am I doing?" Stitch asked himself, looking at the small piece of Lilo's sleeve that seemed to cling on to his hand. "Is that how I've been? Angry and cold-hearted?"
"You should never have disobeyed me, 626." Hamsterveil scolded, his expression returning to normal, and the color returning to his fur. "Kaika Narata." He spoke, commandingly. Stitch peered back at the evil hamster quickly with surprise, before he felt a surge of pain rush through his body.
"Ah!" Stitch screamed. Electricity surrounded his body, and his insides burned. His vision blackened as Hamsterveil kicked him off, sending him floating through the air, and landing hard on the ground.
"Hamsterveil!" Angel screamed with rage, as her referred quickly darted out the closing door. Angel slammed against it, pounding on it as hard as she could, and eventually starting to swipe at the door with her claws. Lilo walked over to Stitch's body, and lifted him over her shoulder, then made her way to Angel.
"Angel." Lilo spoke, putting an arm on her shoulder. Angel stopped immediately, the irritating noise of her claws scratching at the metal stopped along with her. Placing her palms against the door, Angel glared beyond it with a burning desire for vengeance. "Come on, let's get out of here." Lilo implored.
"But Stitch was electrocuted. He could be-"
"He's fine, just sleeping. I can feel him breathing." Lilo interrupted calmly, her voice sounding tired. "Can we go now? Please?" Angel looked back, following Lilo's arm up to her convincing stare. Finally, Angel nodded, and turned to follow Lilo back outside to the ship.
