An Old Nemesis.

Stitch reached forward, and pressed the button on the door. There was the sound of air escaping, and the door smoothly glided open. The room was large, it had the look of an exquisite ballroom. The room was long, and ended with a staircase that rounded upwards to the balconies above. The room itself was very beautiful, ornate pillars ran in two rows near the walls, giving the room a nostalgic feel. Down between the pillars ran a red silken carpet, that led onto the stairs, and up into the balconies. The pearly white floors gleamed in the light that emanated from above.

Stitch observed the staircase, on the second landing, was a large double door. Stitch motioned to Serenity, and they began walking towards the door. Stitch had his assault rifle ready, and Serenity had her powers in easy access. Their footsteps echoed in the hallway, Stitch checked the balconies to find them all empty, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming.

A sound resonated from the door, and Stitch and Serenity stopped as it opened, and their first challenge entered. He was a tall, reddish experiment. He had the looks of Stitch, though his head seemed to bring itself to a cone, both of his heads were cone shaped. He walked out in full experiment form, yet only four of his arms were extended, and both his heads were showing. He was taller then before, and had obviously had genetic enhancements, for he stood a full six foot five inches. Stitch had never seen him in clothing before, yet he wore black boots, with long, black dress pants, and a frilled white shirt. This experiment had most of the powers of other experiments, including regeneration, and was one of the only experiments Stitch had faced, that he could not defeat...

Experiment 6-2-7, smiled, and spoke surprisingly well, "Hello Stitch, how long has it been?"

Stitch raised his rifle, "Not long enough."

Serenity looked from Stitch to 6-2-7, then looked to Stitch, "Friend of yours?"

Stitch kept the gun aimed towards 6-2-7, and said, "No, long ago Jumba created him to teach me a lesson, however he got out of control. Luckily, Lilo and I discovered his extreme sense of humor, and dehydrated him, sealing him away...apparently, Chaos found some use for him after all. Serenity, meet experiment 6-2-7."

6-2-7 waved his hand aside, both his mouths snickering, "Please please, all this flattery is too much for me, oh, and your pathetic attempts of humor will not aid you this time 6-2-6, the master Chaos was kind enough to tweak my humor levels for me, so your old tricks will not avail you this time. Oh, and the name's Hades."

Stitch frowned, and thought, 'Great, without the humor weakness, I won't be able to stop him...yet Serenity might have different luck.'

Stitch looked to the newly named Hades, and spoke, "So, you sold yourself out to Chaos eh? How did that happen?"

Hades chuckled, and spoke, "After you dehydrated me in that cursed orb, I was transferred to a facility far away. Now, Chaos doesn't just hunt on earth you see, so, he finally tracked me down. We battled, a fight I shall never forget, a fight I had no chance of winning. Perhaps I impressed him during the battle, but he told me his intentions, which I found suitable, and fully offered my assistance. We are kindred spirits, Chaos and I, two of a kind..."

Hades threw back his head and laughed heartily, Stitch and Serenity watched him, still on the ready should the red experiment attack. Hades finished, and gazed at them, "Oh, how I have longed for this moment, dreamed of it. To finally take my revenge on the one who sealed me away, locked me in that damned ball. I've dreamed of it Stitch, dreamed of killing you...yearned for it, even tasted it...now retribution at last will be fulfilled..."

Hades began to slowly descend the stairs, taking his sweet time. Stitch held the rifle steady, but said, "Don't do this 6-2-7! You know you can't defeat our combined power! There's still time! We don't have to fight! Join us, and aid us in our fight against Chaos!"

Hades once again laughed maniacally, both his heads thrown back, mad laughter erupting from their lips. He calmed himself, and spoke, "For the last time, my name is Hades. And why would I turn against my master? He brought me out of that Hell, gave me extra power, gave me a life here with him. You two together do not threaten me, my master gave me a boost, not enough to match his strength of course, but just enough to deal with you nuisances."

Hades continued to descend the stairs, Stitch tried once more, "I defeated you once Hades! I can do it again!"

Hades reached the bottom of the stairs, and slowly began taking off his shirt, preparing for battle. He looked at Stitch, and smiling, spoke, "This time will be different, this time I will watch you bleed. And should that little whelp get in the way," he motioned to Serenity, "she will die as well."

Serenity extended her blades, "We shall see about that."

Hades removed the shirt, and tossed it to the side, revealing a mark on his chest. Stitch and Serenity were shocked to see the mark. It looked to be a pentagram, runes and other markings surrounded it. The mark seemed to be burned into Hades's skin, etched into his flesh in a most painful fashion. Hades smiled, and his eyes began to glow a deep red.

Stitch and Serenity prepared themselves, and Hades spoke once more, "It didn't even hurt, the mark, I couldn't feel a thing. I wanted the operation done, when I heard you were on your way. There is no other choice, you will either join him, or fall to everlasting darkness..."

Hades raised his hands, and crashed them into the floor. The shockwave was so great, that jagged marble shot from the ground in deadly projectiles. One of the projectiles shot forward, and smashed into Stitch's face, knocking him over, his gun clattered away. In a flash, Hades was on top of Stitch, sending blow after blow into Stitch's face. Stitch found his energy, and extended his extra limbs, and drove them both, claws first, into Hades's gut.

Hades jumped away, pink blood flowing from his stomach, yet still, his two heads wore those overly confident grins. Stitch rose and charged, Serenity, having been knocked over by the debris, rose and followed suit. Together they sent blow after blow to Hades. Hades extended all of his limbs, and expertly blocked the flurry of punches and blade swipes. One of Hades's heads opened wide, and a green light filled his maw, and before Serenity could react, Hades fired a mighty energy blast that smashed into her unguarded face.

Serenity went flying, and she smashed into a pillar, and fell to the ground, dazed. Stitch watched, and realized he would be fighting alone for awhile. Stitch concentrated on Hades, and realizing he would lose a close quarters fight, leapt to the overhanging balconies. Stitch whipped out his dual sub-machine guns and unloaded into Hades. The high power shots inflicted damage on Hades, and he covered himself with his arms. Stitch remained on the balcony, and continued to pump plasma rounds into the experiment.

Stitch realized the fight was going nowhere, so he leapt down, ceasing the fire. Hades let down his guard long enough to see Stitch's boots coming to his face. Hades felt the kick, and flew backwards, smashing into the staircase, creating a small crater where he landed. Hades shook his head, trying to clear it after the blow, before he could recover however, he saw a small white object in the air above...

Serenity had recovered, and she held a small ord of energy in her hands. She raised her arms back, and sent the orb down to Hades. Hades was still partially dazed, and did not move in time, the orb smashed into him, and an explosion rocked the staircase, a blinding light filled the room.

Stitch and Serenity both watched, hearts beating, to see if Hades was finished. A heavy smoke filled the space, yet slowly, a silhouette began to appear. Before Stitch or Serenity could react, Hades leapt forward, and grabbed Stitch's leg. Using Stitch as a club, he swung Stitch around, colliding Stitch and Serenity together. Serenity went flying, once again, across the room, she crashed into a pillar, and rubble covered her. Hades gripped Stitch's leg, and swung Stitch into a pillar, Stitch was slammed straight through the pillar, then Hades brought Stitch around, and crashed him into the floor. Hades let go of Stitch, and leapt back to the staircase.

Hades smiled, "How's it feel Stitch? Painful? Embarrassing? Hahaha!"

Stitch rose, 'Dammit!' he thought, 'He has gotten stronger! And if Chaos is even tougher...'

Suddenly, Stitch felt a tingling, it seemed to be inside his head. Then he heard the voice, that sweet melodious voice, 'Stitch! How did you beat this guy last time!'

Stitch stood, and glared at Hades, yet continued to talk to Serenity through his thoughts, 'The last time we fought, he had enhanced everything, including an extreme sense of humor. By forcing him to laugh his head off, Lilo and I got him in a dehydrator, and put him back in his pod.'

Stitch glanced over to where Serenity was emerging from a pile of rubble that had toppled over her when she flew through the pillar. She wore an unbelieving look on her face, her eyes were wide, a slight grin on her face, 'Your kidding, right?'

Hades spoke, he sounded as if he was running out of patience, "Standing around won't kill me, unless you intend to wait until I die of old age."

Stitch faced him, and thought a message to Serenity, 'I don't know if he has a weakness now, but if he has it, we have to find it! Watch when he attacks, I'll cover you from behind with some fire power, you go in close, if you see anything, tell me!'

From across the room, Stitch could see Serenity nod, and she spoke in his mind again, 'Got it, ready?'

Stitch nodded, and they both faced Hades once more. Hades's heads smirked, and he motioned them to bring it on. Stitch brought out his plasma pistols, and sent a continuous stream of fire to Hades, who immediately brought his hands up in a guard. Serenity charged, and extended her blades, she leapt high in the air, and fell, the blades pointed down. Hades noticed, and brought his hand up, and caught Serenity by the leg, and began to swing her to the ground. Serenity saw what he was doing, and on the way around, grabbed Hades's head, and shoved him to the ground instead. Serenity leapt on top of Hades, and attempted to slash him with her swords. Hades noticed and caught the light blades, thin streams of blood dripped from his palms where he held the blades.

Stitch couldn't get a clear shot, so he leapt to one of the overlooking balconies, and began to take careful aim. Stitch got a clear view of Hades's chest, and fired a round. Because Hades was too busy trying to keep Serenity's blades from his heads, he did not notice the plasma shot, and it smashed into his chest, right on the area with the pentagram. The shot hit the pentagram, and it ignited, it began to glow brightly, and Hades let out a scream that gave Stitch and Serenity chills. Hades immediately focused all of his power to throw Serenity off. Stitch saw her go flying, and leapt from his balcony to catch her. They landed safely and watched Hades.

Hades writhed for a moment, clutching the area Stitch had shot. He slowly stood, breathing heavily. He looked at his chest in wonder, and spoke, to himself, "What...what is this? Why...why did it do that?"

Stitch sat Serenity down, and looked carefully to where he had shot Hades. One of the lines in the pentagram was cut, almost shattered from where Stitch had shot it. Stitch watched as the lines glowed, and seemed to separate from Hades's body, they glowed brightly, and Hades seemed to be invisible to the lines. The lines slowly came back together and reformed. Stitch nodded, "I understand."

Serenity nodded as well, "Yes, the pentagram is his weakness."

Stitch watched Hades, and said, "His regeneration powers can bring the pentagram back...but maybe if we hit it in the middle, where all the lines connect..."

Serenity understood, "It'll shatter."

Stitch drew the Omega Sword, and Serenity extended her blades. Hades glanced at them, and he prepared himself. As if on cue, Stitch and Serenity both charged, and greeted Hades with their blades. Hades blocked their blows, yet found it increasingly difficult as the two experiments continuously attacked. Serenity sent a flurry of slashes and stabs with her blades, and Stitch swung his sword expertly, weaving in and out of Hades's range.

Hades leapt over the two, and grabbed them by the backs of their armor. He turned and flung them away. Serenity flew backward, towards a pillar, yet this time she was ready. She flipped in mid-air, and landed with her feet on the pillar, she pushed off, and was sent flying towards Hades. Hades saw this, and charged, meeting Serenity halfway, and they began to fight once again.

Stitch landed hard on the ground, and his sword clattered away. He saw Serenity launch herself at Hades, and he watched them battle. Stitch looked for the sword, he saw it lying a short distance away. He rose and sprinted for his weapon.

Hades began to tire, and he leapt back, noticed Stitch. Pulling in his power, Hades sucked in a breath, and launched a large energy blast towards Stitch. Stitch saw it coming, he saw the sword, Stitch dived for the sword, then quickly turned, and swung the sword into the blast, sending it flying back towards Hades.

Hades wasn't fast enough, and the blast hit him fully, and he staggered backwards. Serenity saw her opportunity, and dove in for the kill. She reached Hades, and slammed both her blades directly in the middle of Hades. The blades cut through the lines, and Hades bellowed once more. This time, the light grew even more intense, and the sound of gathering energy, a sharp pitched whirring, could be heard. Serenity leapt backwards, landing close to Stitch, and they watched Hades...

The pentagram was shattered, the glowing golden parts were scattered. Hades doubled over, blood trickling from his mouth. Stitch watched, and gasped as he noticed Hades's second head begin to evaporate, much like the Grims had. Hades noticed too, and began to panic, "No! NO THIS CAN'T BE! MASTER! WHY GIVE ME SUCH A WEAKNESS!"

One by one, Hades's body parts began to disappear. His legs went, and the process began to run up his body, as he slowly drifted away. Serenity watched for a moment, then turned her head, she did not wish to watch anymore. Stitch watched on, and solemnly muttered, "I'm sorry...cousin..."

Hades, who was halfway gone, bellowed one last thing, "MY MASTER! YOU WILL NOT DESTROY HIM! NONE CAN TOUCH HIS AWESOME MIGHT! YOU WILL DIE!"

Slowly, the process ended, and the experiment 6-2-7 was no more. Stitch and Serenity stood silently for a moment, catching their breaths after the battle. Stitch glanced to where he had dropped his rifle, and saw it was buried beneath a pile of rubble. Stitch sighed and thought, 'There goes my good rifle...damn...'

Stitch tapped Serenity on the shoulder, she was still shaken by what she had seen. Stitch talked to her, gently, "Are you going to be okay?"

Serenity shrugged, "I don't know, destroying Grims is one thing, but he...he was an experiment..."

Stitch was silent for a moment, he let Serenity gather her thoughts, and when she seemed like she had calmed herself, he spoke, "Are you going to be able to handle the battle with Chaos?"

Serenity nodded, slowly, and said, "I have to, I have to ease his pain..."

Stitch stood, and said, "I don't mean to rush...but..."

Serenity nodded, "Yes, time is of the essence..."

Stitch and Serenity, slowly walked up the stairs to the door. They opened it, and found another slanting hallway, that led to another door. Stitch patted Serenity on the back, and they proceeded to the next challenge. Serenity however was now uncertain, for one thought wavered in the back of her mind, 'When the time comes...can I do it? Can I really kill Chaos?'

They reached the door, and Serenity brushed her thoughts aside, 'They can wait until later,' she thought.

This time, Serenity reached forward, and opened the door, and they saw what appeared to be their next challenge...