Thru New Eyes

Chapter 2

What's in a Name?

628 had been looking for hours, but he was extremely patient. He had seen several other experiments, none of them batting even so much as an eyelash at him. Indeed there were so many experiments that 628 didn't stand out at all. Many of the experiments had never even met some of the others, so they just figured that he was one of the other 626 experiments. 628 climbed to the top of the lighthouse, where 323 was suppose to have been. He activated his long-range vision, which caused his eyes to glow yellow. He scanned the distance of the island, and finally found the experiment he had been searching for.

Sparky was outside the hair salon, waiting for his bugee-boo to get off work when he was approached by a dark blue experiment. Now Sparky wasn't the smartest of the experiments, but he knew that this experiment had a design that was possessed only by the highest numbered experiments, and he had already met all of them. Not to mention this experiment kinda looked like 627 with a smaller head and a horn. "Who are you?" he said as he looked the experiment over. It didn't have any features that would betray its function, so there was no telling what it could do.

"You are 323, correct?" 628 asked as he looked 323 over.

"Umm…yes. But my name is Sparky." Now Sparky was sure this was a new experiment, the other experiments all called each other by name, not number. But before either could say anything else, Clip stepped from inside the salon. She noticed the new experiment and looked him over.

"So this is 628." she said, surprising both male experiments.

628 turned to face the female experiment. "How do you know that is my designation? None save Jumba are suppose to know of my existence."

"Nosy told me. He said that Jumba was making a 628, he had caught him working on it in the lab" she replied as she stepped beside Sparky.

"He didn't happen to tell you what his function was did he?" Sparky asked, still quite wary of 628.

"Don't worry Sparky, 628 is an apprentice experiment."

Sparky tilted his head as he continued to look at 628. "You mean he is an evil genius in the making?"

"No, I am allowed to research in any way I choose to do so. But my primary function is to assist Jumba in his work." 628 said in an attempt to clear up the matter on his programming.

"Umm…ok. But why are you looking for me? Something wrong?" Sparky asked, figuring if Jumba's new assistant had coming looking for him, Jumba had probably sent him.

"I wish to ask you a question."

This eased Sparky's worries. He wasn't in trouble, and nothing was wrong, at least not with him. He was being to suspect that Jumba went wrong somewhere with 628's programming, because he was acting WAY too civil for a newly activated experiment, or any experiment, for that matter. "What do you want to know?"

"Why did you ask for hair?"

Sparky sighed to himself. Of all the questions it could have been, why this one? He had been asked it so many times in the past months, and everyone who asked already knew the answer, they had just wanted to embarrass him. "I thought I told Jumba, I wanted something to groom. I wanted to add something to my appearance. Why don't people just leave me alone about it?"

628's reaction was unexpected. Sparky had figured he would laugh, or tease him, or, if he was truly ignorant on the matter, just drop the subject. Instead, he merely replied "Jumba said you did it for love. Was he not correct in his assumption?"

Sparky just put his hand to his forehead. This experiment was something totally different that was for sure. "No, it's true. I just don't know why people keep going on about it. It isn't a big deal."

Again, a surprising response. "Why? You are not yet able to mate, and I cannot see how hair would assist in this matter, as I cannot see why 626 would require an alternate form for the same reason."

Now Sparky was certain that 628 had been dropped when he was being created. Before he could answer, Clip answered for him. "You do things to make the one you love happy, and love is more that just eventually having children. As for Stitch, his girlfriend was of a different species, so his change made all the sense in the world."

628's head tilted slightly. "I believe I understand. 323 received an upgrade to be more attractive to you, his mate, and 626 received his upgrade to be able to be with his in a compatible form."

"That's about right. Sparky's hair does make him look cute, and Stitch and Lilo's relationship got a lot easier when Stitch became able to pass for a human. Oh and 628, you should call other experiments by their names, not their numbers. It more personable and I'm sure Jumba instructed you to not draw attention to yourself."

"Indeed, he did. Thank you, Clip." 628 said as he made a mental note to learn the names of the other experiments.

"Do you have a name, 628?" Clip asked.

This made 628 pause in thought. Did he have a name? He knew Jumba had given him a designation, but did he also give him a name? "I do not know. Jumba did not program me with the knowledge of my name, but perhaps in afterthought he gave me one?"

"Well, Lilo usually gives experiments their names; maybe she will give you one too." Clip said cheerfully. 628 was indeed very polite and calm, which was a nice change from many of the other male experiments.

"How bout 'Dork'?" Sparky said, somewhat agitated.

"Sparky!" Clip said as she knocked him upside the head.

Clip was about to make Sparky apologize, when 628 spoke up. "I am not allowed to be seen by Lilo or Stitch."

"I see." Clip said putting her claw to her chin in thought. "Well, then I guess you should go ask Jumba then. If he didn't give you one, I guess you will have to make one up yourself."

"Thank you. When I finish my excursion, I will ask Jumba about my name."

As 628 walked away, Clip turned to Sparky. "What a nice experiment, but a bit on the inquisitive side."

"I still think Jumba dropped him during creation."

And then Clip smacked him again.

Lilo walked along slowly as she followed Stitch pushing his bike along. They were in no hurry to get home; they had a lot to talk about. It was not yet dark, and they had spent most of the day hanging out with Jason and the others, but now they were alone, and could talk freely about more personal matters.

"Stitch, I'm sorry for the way I've been acting lately, it's just that I've been trying to keep you out of trouble, and help you fit in more, but you just been making it so hard, and it's frustrating." Lilo said in a sad tone.

She looked over at Stitch and smiled softly as he replied to her. "It's okay Lilo. You have nothing to be sorry for. I do, I keep getting out of hand. I don't listen to you when you try to help me. I keep acting up, and yet you continue to love me anyway. You are the best thing that ever happened to me."

Lilo blushed. "Stitch, stop flattering me. But it's not all your fault. And you aren't the only one who has done wrong. Remember when Greg Derenger called the vice principal some very colorful names?"

This got Stitch's interest. "Yeah, I remember. He got kicked out of school. And it couldn't have happened to a more deserving person." Then it clicked in Stitch's mind. "Lilo, did you have anything to do with that?" He said with a stern tone.

Lilo turned her eyes to the ground. "Yes. I used my gaze on him to get him expelled. I altered his memories afterwards"

Stitch stopped her right there. "Lilo, how could you do something like that? You got him expelled, on purpose. I mean, I know he was a real jerk, but still…"

"Stitch, you should have heard what he called me and some of the other girls."

Stitch's eyes narrowed. "What did he call you?"

"Every sexist comment in the book, at one time or another."

"Why that little…" Stitch proceeded to mutter some very nasty Turanian curses. He then turned to Lilo. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't want you to get in a fight. The principal has been looking for reasons to kick you out of school. I knew if I told you, you'd confront him. So I decided to take care of it myself."

Stitch dropped his bike on the ground and grabbed Lilo by the shoulders. "Lilo, what if someone had seen you? Do you know what would happen if everyone found out what you are, what WE are?"

Lilo did the most surprising thing. She smiled. "See how you make me feel all the time Stitch?"

Stitch's eyes got wide. "Why you little…that wasn't funny. I was really afraid you had used your powers on Greg."

"I did." Lilo said a matter of factly. Then she leaned over to whisper in Stitch's ear. "Stitch, I love you. And I think I've finally begun to understand how this relationship is going to have to work for it to survive. We are going to have to realize that we are NOT human, and we shouldn't think we are. We may look it, and we may act it most of the time, but you are an experiment, and so am I."

Stitch was now extremely confused. Lilo had just pulled a 180 on him. A couple of hours ago, she was furious at him for getting into trouble. Now she said he SHOULD get into trouble. "Lilo. I don't understand, you were mad at me before about it, now why are you all for it?"

Lilo looked downwards again. "No Stitch, I was the one who didn't understand. I guess the 'incident' clouded my judgment a little."

"Lilo," Stitch said with a stern tone, "how many times have I told you she's gone?"

"I know Stitch, but the memories won't go away." Lilo said as she turned to face him.

Stitch rested his other arm on her "Lilo, I realize that."

Lilo followed suit and put her arms around him. "Listen Stitch. Today made me realize that I have to let you be yourself, and you tend to get into trouble a lot. And now that I remember correctly, Cobra didn't specifically say that you couldn't get into trouble, just that he expected you not to."

Stitch grinned at his girlfriend's words. "Your right. And I also recall he said that we were to only not change in public. Our powers were not included in that."

Lilo smiled back at him. "Yep, so I guess making Myrtle do the chicken dance in the school cafeteria isn't wrong either."

"Lilo," Stitch said as he held her closer. "Let's not get too carried away. Just like I can't lift a car over my head in human form, you can't be making someone do something TOO outrageous, some of the more paranoid students might get curious."

"You mean like Alex? You do know he is related to Cobra, right?" Lilo said with a knowing smirk.

Stitch's eyes widened. "You're kidding me."

Lilo smirked. "Nope. Don't you see the resemblance? Besides, Cobra told me a long time ago he had a nephew on the island, one that wanted to be just like his uncle Cobra."

Stitch smirked back at her. "Well, that explains why Knuckles treats our pranks like missions and gives them code names."

The two continued to talk and laugh until they got near home. Lilo turned to Stitch and looked him in the eyes. "Stitch, the past few months have been the happiest I've ever known. The only thing wrong is that we were trying to act like we were normal. But we aren't. You can lift several thousand pounds, and I can fire beams of energy from my hands and manipulate a person's mind."

"Lilo, we cannot use our powers in public, we will give ourselves away. I'm extremely happy that you have finally come to terms with the fact you are not human anymore, but don't get carried away Lilo, I don't want you taking control of your teacher to get out of a pop quiz."

Lilo turned to meet Stitch's gaze. "I know Stitch. But Jumba said I was a peacemaker experiment, and I'd like to be able to use my powers to do that. You know, fulfill my purpose?"

"Lilo, if I fulfilled my purpose, I'd be causing chaos on a global scale." Stitch replied.

"Stitch, that's not the same thing." Lilo said as she kissed him on the cheek. "And you do cause chaos, just smaller."

Stitch wasn't amused. He didn't use his powers in human form for a good reason, and the same reason applied to Lilo. "Lilo, making your enemies make fools out of themselves is not peacemaking; it's you amusing yourself at the expense of others."

Lilo smiled slightly. "Since when did you have such a strong moral compass?"

"I have you to thank."

"Yeah, I know. Hey Stitch, you remember that story Jumba told us when he explained my powers?"

Three months prior

Lilo and Stitch were sitting in Jumba's ship while he was working on some minor invention. They were asking him questions about Lilo's powers, mostly about why he gave her the ones he did.

"I am telling you, little girl is a peacemaking experiment. Gave her powers to match function."

"Ok, but why did you give her the beam cannon and the wing blast? Those have nothing to do with peacemaking."

Jumba sighed. "How are you knowing that? Sometimes force is only way to be beating force."

"Jumba, I don't understand, how can destructive powers like mine help create peace?"

Jumba turned to them and smiled. "Little girl, let me be telling you story about a war that ended not by words, but by force. Not force of evil kind, no, force of kind that was inspiring awe in all who was seeing it. Listen closely."

Jumba's story

A long time ago two races, the Rodieniens and the Feliendians, fought a great war that lasted many centuries. They hated each other with a fury, but had all but forgotten what they were fighting over. They fought merely out of a need to destroy one another and though many innocent worlds were caught up in their war, the two fought over them and their people without regard to the wishes of the natives. But all that changed one day, a day that should have been the last for an innocent world known as Tyrus.

The people of Tyrus were peace-loving, but only due to the many wars they had fought over the course of their history. When the Rodieniens came to Tyrus to ask for a trading partnership, the Tyrusians refused outright, knowing it would eventually lead them into an interstellar war. Then the Feliendians offered the same, and again were rejected. To the Feliendains that was the end of the matter, but the Rodieniens wanted the weapons grade ores on the world, and continued to pester the Tyrusians. Of course, the Feliendains were not going to let the Rodieniens get a hold of the ore, and were prepared to occupy the planet; just they had done so many times before.

Both armadas gathered to fight over the planet, and there were sure to be major casualties to the native Tyrusians as the two fought over the world. As all hope seemed lost, a man in a strange red armor, unlike any ever worn by any race, came from nowhere. He hovered in space before the lead ships of the two armies and telepathically commanded the two to stop fighting, that their foolish war had destroyed so many lives already, and that they would end up destroying everything if they continued.

Now the Feliendain leader was not about to take chances, this man seemed to radiate power. The ships systems were going haywire from his mere presence. He immediately had his ships back away from the being. The Rodienien leader believed it to be a trick, what could stop an entire armada single handily? He ordered his men to fire upon him, and the blaze of a thousand cannons brightened the skies of Tyrus. The general laughed as the light cleared, sure that he had vaporized the interloper.

He was wrong. There he floated, looking as if the beams had missed him completely. All were frozen in shock as he began to glow brighter than the sun. The scanners on the general's ship confirmed that ALL the blasts had connected with their target, but it seemed to have done nothing. Undaunted,he ordered his men to fire again. A flaming blade appeared in the being's hands, and with it he made a single horizontal slash. The blade created a massive shockwave of energy, and the last thing the general of the Rodienien army saw was the energy from his own weapons turned back at him by the sword of fire.

The armored space knight turned back to the Feliendains, who were shocked to find that their ships would not move. He then spoke to them once more. "Go, leave this world in peace. Return to your own homeworld, and there tell your leader of my words. Had you fought over this world, you would have eventually caused the destruction of not only it, but your home as well. The elements on this planet are not what you believe them to be, they are infused with Dimenion. The war you fought over mere words told centuries ago almost became the end of everything. Now go, and remember the folly of the Rodienien fleet, and the price they paid for it."

The Feliendain leader heard the tale from his men, and immediately called for a truce. The Rodieniens hastily agreed, most of their armada having been destroyed. The war ended, and the two formed a pact that one day became the Galactic Alliance. The strange being was never seen again.

End Jumba's tale

Both children looked up at Jumba in awe. "Did that really happen Jumba?" Lilo said wide eyed.

"Is impossible to say. Something did happen, and whatever it was, it scrambled all communication devices on ships. But is probably an exaggeration, no creature is capable of such feats. More likely something went wrong with Rodienien ship, causing chain reaction. Ships of that day were very unstable."

"What was that thing?" Stitch asked.

"Well, no one was knowing exactly until the discovery of ruins on Aragor 3." Jumba said, now having lost all interest in his invention.

"What was so important about Aragor 3?" Lilo asked, her attention still completely on Jumba.

"Aragor 3 was at one time home to very advanced civilization. Excavations showed that the Aragorians could travel space thousands of years before any other race. And that's not all, texts found on the planet suggested they were being capable of many things the Galactic Alliance is now just learning, such as teleportation and time travel."

"But what does that have to do with the red warrior?" Stitch asked, wanting Jumba to cut to the chase.

"The most surprising find was certain texts claiming to know secrets of interdimensional travel. Most were too illegible to discern how, but did reveal that Dimenion was used in the process, and that it was extremely unstable, could cause massive wormhole to form."

"Just like that guy said it would. He is real." Lilo said in an excited voice.

"Well, am unsure about him being real, but many of the texts recovered were stories about him. It was King of Felein that recognized the description of the mysterious being." Jumba said as he paused for a moment before finishing.

"The texts called him Siron."

Return to present

"Lilo, what are you getting at?"

"Think about it. Words weren't going to stop those two groups from fighting, so something else had to be done. It's the same with me. Greg, for instance, wouldn't stop making comments at us, no matter what we asked or who we told."

"Yeah, I do remember something about Greg's dad being on the school board." Stitch said as they got into the driveway.

"Well, I used my power to make it stop. And if you think about it, a little mind control could solve quite a few problems." Lilo replied.

"You can't be going around and just solving everyone's problems by mind control. You might get caught, not to mention the fact it isn't right."

Lilo turned her head away. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I have no excuse to use my powers, but it's just so hard to resist sometimes."

Stitch leaned in close. "But you can do it Lilo, I did."

Lilo knew what he wanted, and she gave it to him. Their lips met, and for the moment, they had no troubles in the world.

It had grown dark by the time 628 decided to return to the ship. He found Jumba working on his latest project while eating on a cold piece of chicken. "I have returned from my exploration Jumba."

Jumba put down the device and the leg of chicken and turned to face 628. "Good, good, was needing your assistance about now. Could you fetch me a generator coil from the storage container?"

628 went over to the container and retrieved the coil. "Here you are Jumba."

And so it went on. Jumba would work on the device and give 628 directions, and 628 would bring him the parts he required. The two didn't talk to each other for awhile, but Jumba finally broke the silence. "So 628, what have you learned today? Was 323 able to answer your questions?"

"It was Clip that answered them for me, Jumba, but I did get the answer I was looking for."

Now 628 calling an experiment by anything other than its number was surprising. "628, why were you calling experiment by name little girl gave it, and not by number I assigned?"

628 turned to his creator, hoping he had not upset him. "She asked me to call her by name, she said I would attract attention if I did not call the experiments by their names. I hope this does not upset you."

Jumba laughed. "Of course not, 628, is good you are trying to keep low profile."

"Jumba." 628 said in a tone that implied he wanted to ask a question.

"Yes 628?" Jumba said as he looked down at his experiment.

"Do I have a name?" 628 asked, not in his usual scientific tone, but in an expectant one.

Jumba sighed. 628 took this as a no. "If I do not have a name, perhaps I can make up one for myself?"

Jumba closed his eyes and slowly opened them again. "Is not that, 628, you do have a name.Unlike other experiments, I was giving your project special name, and thus is your name."

"What is it?" 628 said in anticipation.

"It was...Project Siron."

End Chapter 2

Next Chapter

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