Chapter Four: ʻAwapuhi

Heat's twin and her own fiance's entry the next day was very early in the morning-in fact, he was met with Witch's purple gaseous form billowing in from underneath the front door as he and Kixx stepped out into the living room. Before he could scold her, Witch was followed by a sheepish Crystallene and Sparky, the latter bundled up and carrying an umbrella to ward off the early-morning mist. Upon seeing the early 6-series' exasperated reactions, he simply shrugged and held up a hand in greeting.

"Sorry; forgot the time zones here-and the weather." He explained, shutting the door as quietly as possible and closing the umbrella, "I can't exactly stay out in the mist."

Kixx sighed, "You could've given us a heads up…"

"Thought it was gonna be sunny today. Clearly I thought wrong. Or I'm right and it gets there later in the day." Sparky awkwardly jabbed a thumb towards the blinds as he pulled his sweater over his head, "We'll be quiet, don't worry."

"...Speaking of, how's 001?" Witch asked, "She's about done right? Did you two check up on her yet or…"

"...We stopped you from doing that, didn't we." Crystallene finished, seeing Heat's glance towards the basement door. "Want us to wait for you up here?"

Heat sighed, "You should probably come down with us; I don't think Tigerlily would react great to seeing you just let yourselves in like this."

"Ah. Yeah. Might try to wack us with a broom or something." Sparky sighed, "You two lead the way."

The dim lights to the lab's main room clicked on as the group of five made their way down the hall, the blue glow of the tank holding 001 providing most of the illumination. The three visitors stood back as Heat and Kixx took out the binder containing the new experiment's measurements, but this didn't prevent the eldest of the group from stepping closer and squinting at the numbers glowing on the record next to her.

99.99%.

So close. And yet so far-only .01 of a percentage was enough to be problematic in many cases of this route of experiment creation. Even though this likely pertained to something small for 001's case-maybe some incisors left to sharpen, a few tail spikes to harden-if she'd even inherited them, maybe her nose hardening just a bit more-she'd still be staying inside that tank until the number read 100%-exactly.

"This is so weird to watch." Witch's low voice came from beside Sparky as she and Crystallene sat down next to him on the bench, "Then again, neither of us have seen someone get made before."

"That tracks. Everyone's unique though; I can guarantee you us energy experiments aren't made this way." Sparky said, "We're condensed over a few weeks even when we take this route."

"Really." Heat asked from the side table, carefully closing the binder and dropping a pen into the mug at the back of the table. "So it's the same for us either way?"

"Basically. We start off as plasma."

"Have you witnessed any of these?" Kixx asked as the two came to join them, and Sparky nodded, "One. You know those videos of stars being born? It was a smaller version of that."

The twins exchanged glances; it was true-Sparky had seen an energy experiment created, but he always refused to say just who it was. In their brief meetings in the old lab, they'd theorized it might be one of them, but neither knew for sure. Seeing 001 near complete must be as strange of a sight for him as it was for them…

"Well…we're done now, wanna head back up?" Heat asked, but before any of the newcomers could respond, the group was interrupted by someone slowly entering the lab. Kixx and Crystallene nervously eyed the hallway, but Heat shook his head, "Guys; it's Bon. Don't worry."

"Yeah. Wish I had better news." Bonnie said, crossing her arms as she stepped into the main room. "Lilo called; they're held up in traffic and they don't know when they're going to be able to enter Hyperspace."

Sparky's antenna drooped, "Does this mean…?"

"They might be late. As in, anywhere from a few minutes to a few days late."

The experiments grimaced, Sparky holding a hand to his forehead in dismay, "Blitznak; should we spend the night then?"

"If you wanna. I'm grabbing Nosy and 627 as soon as I can." Bonnie sighed and cast a worried glance to 001. "Really hope they can get here in time; this is the first one we've made this way after all."

"And…Hammer…" Heat began, but was immediately given an irritated stare by Bonnie, "How do you think Hammer Boy reacted?"

"Screaming?"

"Try road rage instead."

"Oh gods."

"Lilo and Clip were trying to keep him away from the steering wheel last I saw him, so…that's his response to all this." Bonnie shook her head and looked back down the hall, "In any case; you two'll have to help Tiger and Obaa with breakfast; Clyde and I have to get everyone together."

"Well, okay; we'll follow you back up." Sparky said. Bonnie nodded as the group got up to follow her. However, as they left, Heat cast a worried glance toward the tiny figure inside the tank. As he watched, 001 twitched and kicked at the inner layer of the vat.

He had to wonder if some part of her was impatient to be let out.

His thoughts were interrupted by Kixx's hand in his own, gently tugging him back down the hall. Heat looked up at him to see the same concerned expression as his own.

"Come on; if they don't make it then…"

"Guess we're gonna have to handle her?"

"Maybe."

"I hope not."

Kixx sighed and followed Heat's gaze towards the blue light of the vat, "So do I. Let's head up there, 'kay?"

Heat nodded, letting Kixx lead him back up the stairs.

Hopefully Lilo and the others could make it back in time…

Some panicked calls to 627 and Nosy later saw them rush into the house with their respective groups, captured experiments and members of 627's rescue team quietly conversing amongst each other. Bonnie, Clyde, Carmen, Nosy, Flute, Slick, and Sparky were sitting around the coffee table, poring over pads of paper stacked between them, while Joules, Sango, and 627 surveyed instructions for 001's removal from the vat alongside Jumba. This left the remaining experiments stranded around the yards and living room, four 6-series members clustered around each other as they watched all of this go down.

"Damn." Angel muttered, adjusting her hearing aides to the lowest setting, "Just. Goddamn."

"I know." Heat sighed, placing an arm around the song experiment, "This is…"

"Unfortunate, is what it is." Kixx finished, crossing his upper arms and narrowing his eyes at the conversion experiments, "It's great; we get called over to protect the family and then they get held up by timing of all things."

"Isa still better than Gantu and Gerbilboy breaking out…" Stitch offered, and the fighting experiment sighed, "At least there's that."

"Really though; glad I didn't have to use my powers this week." He added, "It just sucks the problem turns out to be this."

"Welcome to mundanity Beef Boy, enjoy the ride." Flute's sarcastic voice called from the table, and the four looked up to see her gesturing in their direction with raised brows. Kixx threw up his upper set of arms in exasperation, but couldn't help but grin despite the situation, "How was the recital?"

"Went well, I also get to stay early for my new niece despite this mess." Flute said, smiling as Slick guided her back to the task at hand. "Come on Bragg, we've got that niece to worry about right now."

Flute rolled her eyes, but waved to the 6-series as they returned to their own conversation. Heat returned it, though not without a knot in his stomach. Sure, they were well prepared in case Lilo, Hammerface and Clip were late, but it didn't feel right to have them unable to see 001 taken out.

Hopefully Bonnie was wrong about the timing…