Retrieval Saga

Galvanized Wills

Chapter 4: Brother's Eulogy

For the first few seconds, all Draco and Contrinus could do was gape in shock. They could hardly believe what they saw. Mantichrome has just killed Chip. He fed him to a carnivorous moon and now he was laughing about it. Laughing fit to burst.

Draco suddenly growled deeply and started to extend his alien appendages. "Don't," said Contrinus, "You can't fight him here. We can't survive outside this ship and we're running out of air. We need to head back to the North Star." Draco sighed and took control of the ship and pointed it back towards the planet. "I'll never forgive him for this," said Draco, "Not in a thousand years."

After a while, Mantichrome left off his bout of triumphant laughter. He glanced back to see the cruiser now entering Galva Prime's atmosphere. This inconvenience only put a minute damper on his mood. He finally gotten rid of one of the beings he was programmed to eliminate. He felt rather elated, but he didn't let his giddiness get to his head. "Draco's going to be tougher," said Mantichrome, "He's much more skilled in combat than Chip was. And he'll be driven to avenge his fallen comrade." He thought for a while and then said, "I think it's time I got myself an upgrade."

Draco and Contrinus eventually landed on the landing strip. The North Star was still docked there and apparently Pivot hadn't finished with repairs yet. Matt, Lilo, and Stitch were waiting for them when they landed. "There you guys are," said Matt, "I was getting worried." "Hey, where's Chip?" asked Lilo.

Draco and Contrinus exchanged looks and Draco said, "He's dead." This stunned the others and they kept quiet while Draco and Contrinus told them what happened. "Mantichrome won't gloat for long," said Contrinus, "Eventually, he'll get around to taking care of us. We have to do something." Draco put a hand on her shoulder and said, "We will, but I think a wake's called for first."

Some time later, the crew was gathered at the bridge. Chip's framed picture was standing on the dashboard, with several candles lit about it. Everyone looked solemn, even Techo, who didn't always got along with Chip. However, Morph was taking a nap from being blasted so many times and wasn't there.

Matt cleared his throat and said, "Today, we honor the passing of our good comrade, Chip. He was taken before his time by the villainous droid, Mantichrome. He was a very important part of this crew and was special to us all. I think Draco would like something to say now."

Draco straightened up and said, "I've known Chip longer than anyone else here. We've always been together, even in the toughest of dangers. We never gave up on each other, even when he had our minor differences, even when our opinions didn't point in the right direction, even when one of us had been brainwashed and was trying to kill the other. His departure has left a gap in our lives, a gap that will be extremely difficult to fill in. I hope that he is in a better place now." There were a few tears from the female members of the crew, but they tried to control themselves. Draco in particular was having trouble with keeping only a few tears from getting out.

Then attention shifted to the next important issue: Mantichrome. Doubtlessly, he'll be at the landing strip for Draco, and possibly Contrinus. The two of them needed a place to hide. However, Techo had the perfect solution: hiding in plain sight.

Draco looked at the small cube dubiously. "I don't think we can hide in this thing," said Draco. "It's not for hiding," said Techo, "It's a holographic projector. You know like the one Chip… Anyways, you guys just stay close together and it should shroud you both." Draco pressed the button on the side and both he and Contrinus were surrounding by colorful light that faded to reveal a quite unexpected image. "Why do we look like NegaMorph?" inquired Contrinus.

Techo shrugged and said, "Mantichrome would never suspect it. I doubt anyone would think that someone would try to dress up as NegaMorph. Except for with that one girl you mentioned. What happened there?" "If you tell him, I'll tie your four tongues together," called Matt's voice from the other side of the ship. "How does he do that?" said Techo.

Draco and Contrinus left the landing strip and started wandering around the pit stop while wearing the hologram. Fortunately, the Galvans were currently in a neutral state regarding the Hamstervielian Empire. But that didn't stop them from shutting their doors and windows as they walked by.

Eventually Draco stopped and said, "I can't stand this any longer." "I know, it's not my first pick of disguises, but we need to bide our time until the North Star's fixed," said Contrinus. "That's not what I mean," said Draco as he shut off the hologram, "I mean we're hiding from Mantichrome instead of fighting him. We can't just let him get away with what he did to Chip." "I know you were close to him, but Mantichrome's too much for us to handle," said Contrinus.

Draco sighed and said, "We were closer than you think." Contrinus gave him a confused look so Draco explained, "It's not a well-known fact, but Jumba created both of us at the same time. So we're a lot closer than most other experiments. I know we're all 'cousins', but me and Chip are closer than that. He was my brother, my twin brother."

Contrinus gasped and said, "I'm so sorry, I didn't realize he meant that much to you." "Well, there is one person who meant more to me than Chip," said Draco. "Who's that?" asked Contrinus. Draco looked her in the face and said, "It's you." Contrinus flushed slightly, unsure of what to say.

Draco took Contrinus' hands in his and said, "Contrinus, from the first moment I saw you, I knew that we were to be very close to each other. The way we fly, our shapes, our personalities, they seem to have been made for each other." "Are-are you saying you love me?" asked Contrinus. "Yes, and if it weren't for Virustoxico looming over our lives, I'd take it to a higher level. I want to have you the rest of my life, but with Virustoxico plotting against my existence, I can't take that chance." "I feel the same way," said Contrinus, "and I don't care if you have a hundred enemies who want to kill you, which you might technically do. But I'm not going to leave your side. Nothing's going to tear us apart."

"What a touching moment," said a snide voice. Draco and Contrinus spun to see Mantichrome emerging from an alley, his eyes glowing with wicked delight. "But unfortunately for you two lovebirds, I'm going to be the one who will tear you apart, into as many pieces as painfully possible."

There's another chapter. I think is a rather touching one and well-defines Draco's relationships with Chip and Contrinus. However, Mantichrome is going to see to it that they won't get far. Will he succeed or can our heroes pull out of this? Find out next time.

I'm rather disappointed in the lack of reviews for the last chapter. I had thought that Chip would have a larger fanbase by now. Even if he often plays on the sides, I think he deserves some respect too. Please review for this chapter and the last chapter to show some support.