Lilo sat next to Stitch, watching Angel gently tend to the newborns, alternately singing, chirping, or licking them. They were certainly the center of her world just now, and there could really be no arguement there.
Lilo smiled as she watched. "Aww, what adorable...puppies? Is that the right term?"
"It is as good as any," Jumba said, setting up some monitoring equipment, to record visual and vital signs data for Angel and the babies. "I still can't figure out how they were able to do this. I did not design them for this functionality. It is impossible! How did you do it, 626?"
Neither Stitch nor Angel paid the question any attention. Lilo looked up at Jumba, smiling. Lilo had decided they should limit how many people came through here to look at the babies, until Angel felt they were ready for more exposure. As such, only Lilo, Stitch, and Jumba were allowed in the hyper fusion chamber. Lilo was there since Angel acepted her presence, Stitch was there as the father, and Jumba was there as doctor, although he was plainly lost. "Jumba, you made them by splicing DNA from several creatures together, right?"
"Yes. I have told this story before. But that doesn't-"
"Well, each of those creatures had its own mating cycle, right? And Stitch and Angel were made from the same creatures, right?" At Jumba's nod, Lilo continued. "In that case, when they thought they were ready for this next step, the mating instincts from all those creatures must have congealed and surfaced, teaching them how to go about it. It's like what Jeff Goldbloom said in Jurrasic Park; life found a way."
Jumba thought about this. "Yes, I suppose that could be the explanation...but how did they do it? Where are their sexual organs?" He started to reach forward to examine Angel and the pups, but pulled back as Angel snapped at him, her jaws clacking together millimeters from his hands. "Right. No touch puppies. Gotcha."
There was a knock at the door, and Stitch ran to open it. "Here's the little lady's order," Rueben said, pushing a cart so heavily laden with sandwhiches that only he or Stitch could push it. "Any idea how long this crazy appetite's gonna last? She's eating me out of ship and mess hall!"
"Naga. Mahalo plenty, cousin." Stitch took the cart to push it inside.
"Say, any idea when it'd be okay for me to see the babies?" Reuben asked hopefully.
"Tomorrow," Stitch said confidently. "Energizing be done then." Closing the door behind him, he carried the trolley up to Angel and started handing her the sandwhiches. She devoured them rapidly, as she had the six previous loads since morning.
Jumba, watching, began to pontificate. "It seems to generate the lactation the larvae need to survive, Angel must consume immense quantities of food. Logically, then, the lactations are extremely high in nutrient concentration, as they do not appear to consume that much individually each time they nurse. Also, the gradual energizing needed for their molecules as they grow will hopefully pass once they are able to move about on their own, otherwise we will constantly be chasing them down all over the island to herd them back here."
"As opposed to chasing them all over the island just to get them home for mealtimes," Lilo said, smiling. Suddenly, one of the pups seemed to shake a little, and he sprouted wings. "That one's likely to be trouble," she mumbled, staring at the size of the wings relative to the rest of the body mass.
"Indeed," Jumba said, staring. "That one's molecular density is rather low, and now that the wings have sprouted, it is plain that it is built for flight. Could possibly fly all around the world without tiring, once it learns to fly. Will examine later to determine if contains the philigapher."
"Philigapher?"
"It's an organ some races contain, attatched to the lungs. It allows them to breathe in space."
Lilo's eyes went wide. "If it does have it, we might have to chase that one all across the solar system?"
"Quite possibly. Based on how the energy it is absorbing is being focused, can probably propel itself via energy projection, like having rocket booster on butt. Wings, while normal flight capable, are probably as much for steering and staying aloft as propulsion."
Angel, having finished the sandwhiches, turned to Stitch. "Time," she whispered. Nodding, Stitch herded the other two out of the room, activating the hyper fusion chamber from the outside once the door was closed.
Heading towards the bridge to talk to Gantu, Jumba, Lilo, and Stitch got into a discussion. "626, perhaps you can tell me how you made the babies?"
"Naga. Angel want that kept private. Stitch keep private."
"You're really doing whatever she tells you just now, aren't you?" Lilo asked. Stitch nodded.
"Why?" Jumba asked, totally confused.
"Three reasons." Stitch held up one paw to count them off. "One: Stitch love Angel very much, and will do anything for Angel." Lilo nodded, understanding. Jumba nodded, still having trouble after all this time understanding 'love'. "Two: Stitch want be good father to babies, and Angel knows more than Stitch here." Lilo and Jumba nodded together, getting this perfectly. "Three: Stitch like insides in functional pattern, thank you very much."
Jumba laughed uproariously. "That's my 626!"
Lilo shook her head. "Stitch, I don't think Angel would really rearrange your internal organs."
Stitch shook his head. "Stitch not want take that chance."
As Jumba laughed, Lilo looked up at him. "So how does it feel to be a grandfather, Jumba?"
"Eh? What Lilo talking about?"
"Well, you made Stitch and the rest of the experiments, which kinda makes you their father, doesn't it?"
Jumba opened his mouth to object, and paused. "...I never thought about it that way. But...you're right, one could think of things that way..." Jumba got misty eyed, and wiped his eyes with a sniff. "Jumba has kids...and grandkids. I'm so happy!" He scooped Stitch into a bear hug.
"Love you too, Papa," Stitch said, a little misty eyed himself. After they got themselves under control, they continued on to the bridge.
Gantu waited for them on the bridge. "I've reported this turn of events to the Galactic Councilwoman. She is...somewhat concerned. She asks if she can trust you, Lilo, to keep the young ones under control while they grow, as well as to find their one true place once they are grown."
Lilo nodded. "I'm sure I can handle it. I mean, I've already done it 626 times. What's five more?"
Jumba laughed. "Wait until they are walking and see if you can still say that!"
Lilo chuckled nervously.