Stitch's Revolution

by Bennie Stardust

A reimagining of Lilo & Stitch and its sequels. In deep space, a revolution made of genetic creations mercilessly attacks the expansive Galactic Federation. Sensing betrayal by their creators, a small band of revolutionaries breaks away, only for one to find himself stranded on Earth, where a lonely young girl gives him a far greater victory than the one he was fighting for.

4. Selection

Chapter 3:
Selection

I

"Your Highness!" The head of a shark burst into the ship, which was only barely larger than the pod now parked beside it. Captain Gantu, emitting a repellent, burning scent from his Swiss cheese of a uniform, marched his way hurriedly into the down the short hall, stopping at the figure who was hidden by the back of a black chair. Eight screens were visible to both him and the one in the chair.

"I take it you have urgent news, Captain," The figure, who had the soft but strict voice of an old woman, said passively.
"Yes, I-Well, no, not urgent-"
"So it would seem. The only urgent news would be that you'd never be able to deliver; it seems your suicide mission was unsuccessful,"
"It most likely was. I couldn't find out if any of the abominations were lost after Number 621 shot me-"
"Which explains the scent of charred cloth." She felt a pause, which told her that he was glancing down at the vest of armor exposed by the bullet holes. "I did tell you that it was a foolish idea,"
"Yes, well-"
"I only approved it because I knew you wouldn't be lost,"
Gantu's eyes narrowed. "...I was, however, able to discover that the terrorists have no knowledge of Jacques Hamsterviel." This, after a moment, prompted the figure to rise slowly out of her chair, and turn to face Gantu. She was about half his height, and slender enough to be obscured behind a street light. Her head was tall, and her skin was a grayish blue, like the Earth's ocean on a cloudy day. Despite the position she held in the Federation, she wore a black uniform not dissimilar to Gantu's, albeit with gold plates on the shoulders.
"No knowledge whatsoever?" The Grand Councilwoman inquired.
"None. When I held Numbers 624 and 626 back in a final attack, I mentioned 'Jacques' as the designer to Jookiba's creator, and they were completely clueless,"
"Number 626 has arrived already? Seems a rather hasty update..." She slowly approached the Captain, holding her branch-like arms down in front of her narrow form, pensive. "And this was when their deaths seemed imminent?"
"Very. As I said before, 621 returned and shot me before rescuing them,"
"Then it would seem redundant for them to feign such ignorance." She stepped to the left, as if wanting to pace the moderate-sized room, but this was the only step taken. "Eight years of terrorism, and yet they've no knowledge of one their inventors..."
"This could be crucial in us finally stamping out Hamsterviel, Jookiba, and their army of abominations!"
"How so, Captain?"
"I'm sorry, Your Highness?"
"How would you use this to 'stamp out' out enemies?" Though Gantu could not see it, he was now wearing a confused expression not unlike the ones he'd seen 626 and 624 wear not long ago.
"I'm...Sure I could strategize something, Your Highness,"
"That is what your position asks of you, Captain,"
"...Perhaps if we explained to some of them about Hamsterviel!? They might form a truce with us-"
"A realistic strategy, if you could, Captain. You do realize that these 'Experiments' have been born and raised to antagonize us, why would they ever align with us, even temporarily? If anything, they'd line you, me, Jookiba, and Hamsterviel up against a wall and execute us all equally,"
"...Yes, of course, Your Highness," Gantu grumbled.
"...The part about informing them, however..." She turned back to the eight screens behind her, a slight finger against her dry chin.

II

"Well, this was disappointingly easy." 626 could feel his victim's earthquake of a pulse on his elbow. He ignored the screaming of the confused and terrified idiots behind him, while 345 used whatever creative methods his body would allow to block their escape out the two tall, automatic, glass doors. 221 stood beside the blue veteran, allowing electricity to flow through his hands like a complex string puzzle. "Not so much as a bodyguard," 626 scoffed. "He might as well have jumped into deep space by himself, eh, man?"
"I think he and his mates still wanted to give us our fun," 221 shrugged. He sported a smirk that was as villainous as a murderer and as excited as a child.
"Maybe. Still, I'd have thought congressmen like ol' squirmy here would know better than to take a family trip to the museum." The blue Experiment smiled ominously at the leather-jacket clad creature pressed against the wall under his elbow. The politician's gray skin was becoming moist with more sweat than he had ever worked up in his career.
"Maybe that's why they ought to be taken out of office, huh?"
"True, true..." 626 slightly relaxed his arm. "Mr. Zorek, do you know anyone who worked in the Federation named Jacques? Perhaps, say, a decade ago, more or less?"

"I-I-I d-don't-" The congressman heard all he needed to in the names and the tone. The two Experiments thought he had the voice for a politician; deep and naturally loud. Unfortunately, it wasn't his voice that they cared for. "Th-There isn't! I d-don't know a J-Jacques, I swear!" He held his right hand up, his eyes becoming much like his sweating forehead. 626 snorted at them.

"Yeah, I didn't think so," He grumbled.
"Hopefully 621 and 624 have better luck with his buddy," 221 suggested, equally disappointed.
"Or 625 does, by some amazing stroke of luck,"
"Wouldn't be the sort of stroke I'd like him to have, though," He earned, not for the first time, a chuckle from his friend.

"Guys, watch your backs!" 345 reminded them of their situation just in time, as someone had broken away from the moronic crowd, and attempted to strike him with some long blade. "Oop, never mind," The clown added when he saw the sword had no effect.

"Uh, 221?" 626 began lightly. "You think you could take care of Zorek? I need to sorten out Captain Courageous here." He pulled his arm back, dropping the coughing congressman to the floor.

"No problem, mate." The yellow Experiment wrapped his sparking claws around Zorek's neck, holding him up above his as the weakling struggled. At the same time, 626 turned to his unsuccessful attacker, grabbing the blade of his sword with both hands and folding it like paper. While the Experiment did this, he could properly see the brave idiot. He was a white Human, found on Earth, and if he was frightened, he obscured it impressively. His shirt was blank, and he wore a fiery red color of what seemed like a skirt.

"For goodness' sake, Jamie!" The man was suddenly pulled from 626's reach by a speedy associate. He was much older, and sported a messy moptop, a black jacket, and a floppy, blue bowtie. He seemed like some galactic hobo to 626. With him was a girl in a sleek, black and red dress, and short, black hair under a thin, crimson braid. She brought the two men out of their bickering to see the blue Experiment approaching them with an ominous scowl.

"Ah, yes, well..." The older man muttered, smiling nervously at his oppressor, before attempting to flee with his companions. A certain pink creature with two antennae, however, had dropped within their path.

"Hey, they've redecorated the museum since last time," 624 chirped, momentarily distracted by the many Federation flags, with the familiar spider-like symbol; one large, black oval connecting multiple smaller, similarly-colored 'planets', against a white backdrop, hanging on the walls. Her hands and antennae sported blood like gloves. "I don't like it." Her attention quickly returned to the hobo.

"Oh, come now," He stammered angrily, finding a golden creature and an agitated green one, with silver hair in a mohawk and red dotting his face like blatant and sizable freckles, now approaching him from the east and west respectively. "Surely, a more reasonable solution other than violence exists!"

"Your pal in the skirt didn't seem to agree," 221 sneered, his foot on a motionless Zorek.

"This is a kilt, ya slimy-!" The younger man, audibly from Earth's Scotland, objected nobly, before being stopped by his older associate. His understanding of the Experiments' language forged a spark of curiosity within them.

"Besides," 626 ignored the kilted man's overruled protests. "All of you only ever seem to learn in one way." He now had all four hands out, each ready to seize the three idiots and then pass the job on to his imagination.

"I know there's a way out of this, Doctor," The woman whispered, obscuring her dread less successfully than the Scottish man. "I just need-"

"I know, Zoe. There is always a way," The hobo whispered back. "Now, when I say run..." The sound of shattering glass suddenly roared from across the room.

"OPEN FIRE!"

"RUN!"

Plasma flew through the air at the Experiments. 221 and 624 dodged them like restless flies past a descending newspaper, while 621 shot another out of the air like a starling. 626 caught two like baseballs, ignoring the three foolish, escaping civilians. He charged forward, acting like a shield from the sickly green projectiles to his following allies. He sped around several tall statues and glass cases that filled the museum, before coming up to the two leading soldiers, one of which was only about an inch and a half taller than him. The soldier's height, however, only made for a more satisfying uppercut. The other soldier then found himself out of the now-broken window he had entered through,and then out of the museum's surrounding oxygen field, all thanks to 626's back. The rest of the unit was claimed by either bolts of electricity, a slam and a toss from an antennae, or flawlessly aimed gunfire.

"345?!" 626 called over the howling of terrified bystanders.
"Yeah?!"
"Is there a chance that a Federation intercom is around here somewhere?!"
"Uh..." The clown's white face reddened as he found the tall, pale creature who had wandered on four legs to an intercom formerly encased in glass. "Well, it is a Federation museum,"
"Fair point. No worries..." 626 gazed at the higher parts of the walls, decorated with infinite Federation flags. As he found them, an idea crawled into his brain like some malevolent insect. "You guys took care of Beol?" He turned to 624 and 621.

"Yeah, he was just leaving. We found him outside. He was a real wiggler," 624 began.
"Fortunately, I can shoot a moving target," The marksman finished, his knife-like teeth peeking out in an evil smirk.
"Nothing about Mr. Long-Eared, Red-Coat-Wearing Jacques, though. Even when I sung to him, he had nothing,"

"Yeah, 221, 345 and I didn't have much luck, either, as per usual. Anyway, before we go..." 626 turned to his elastic ally. "We're done, 345! Think you could snatch me down a flag quickly before we go?!"

"Absolutely-tootly, 626!" He stepped on a few heads making his way over the crowd. He approached his allies with legs extended like stilts, sending an arm back to retrieve a random flag off the wall, before returning to his normal height by the Experiments. "Here ya go!" 345 handed 626 the flag using both rubbery hands.

"Excellent...Now, back to the roof." The blue Experiment threw the flag onto his shoulder as 345 brought a third arm out to wrap around 626 and 624, while his top left took 221 and 621. His right arm then grabbed the rim of what was once a glass skylight, but was now a rectangular hole in the ceiling.

"I hope 625's still by the pod," The clown said softly as he carried his comrades up like some unconventional elevator. He thought briefly that he heard a faint sound of an engine groaning, but quickly dismissed it as his own bizarre mind.

"By 'hope' you mean 'expect', right?" 221 joked, before giving an odd glance at 621.

"I'm not enjoying this position either, 221!" The green Experiment snapped, noticing the unusual look. Finally, they reached the flat rooftop, which overlooked a multitude of vertical, metal docks between dark rainbows of parked pods.

"You're really soft, 626," 624 cheerfully complimented when 345 released them.
"Pfft, I'll show you..." The blue Experiment waved the flag in front of him to make it straight again.
"What?"
"Just watch, and then you'll see who the real softie is!"
"No, no!" She guffawed. "I meant your fur, while 345 was smushing us!"
"Oh! Sorry,"
"It's Okay,"
"See, I thought you were calling me sensitive, when you really meant-"
"Did ya wanna do your flag thingy?"
"Yes! Um, 221?"

"...Yeah, mate?" The electric Experiment brought his smirking face from his palm, where the misunderstanding had buried it.

"Can you set fire to this?"
"Ah, I see. You are a clever little sod, ain't ya?!" Hardly wobbling, let alone grasping the flag and ruining its orderliness, 221 let a thin bolt fly off of his foot, scorching the flag's end like a campfire.
"Thanks, man." 626 pulled up the burning blanket and darted to the edge of the roof. Some of the pods had fled, other idiots were still hurrying into theirs, and the rest were bustling around out of foolish curiosity. Typical. Gripping one corner in his fist, he thrust the dying flag, now half fire, as if it were his own. The idiots finally silenced, their wide, moist, and terrified eyes attracted like flies to the burning symbol. 626 quickly found 221 and 345 to his right, and 624 and 621 to his left, staring triumphantly down at the intimidation below. "Remember, remember..." He announced. In that moment, the fire in each of them roared ferociously like a lion, fueled by both the real flames above them, and the Grand Councilwoman's supporters beneath them. After another second was spent savoring their fire, the Experiments' flag was floating down to the weaklings like an angel falling out of heaven, while the army of five retreated out of view, towards their pod across the roof.

"What gave you that idea, 626?" 621 inquired as they moved, a look of sick satisfaction upon his face.

"Well, I was just a little annoyed that the Federation essentially made a museum of their own ego," 626 answered. "All those 'guns that killed this' and the flags and such, I just thought that hitting them in that area would send a good message,"

"Certainly showed all those pillocks their place, eh?" 221 threw an arm over 626's shoulder, and the gesture was returned. "We oughta make that our own flag!"
"What, just their flag but on fire?"
"Yeah!"
"Don't you think that's a bit silly and, what's the word? Plagiarist?"
"...Hey, it was your idea." They arrived at the pod, where, to their usual absence of surprise, a porky, yellowish-brown Experiment awaited, sitting on a young citizen with a round head and light blue skin. All seven fingers on one hand clasped a long, dark green baton.

"There you are!" 625 exclaimed sarcastically. "What kept you?"

"Work," 221 retorted. "It's pretty engaging, you should give it a try sometime,"

"What do you think I was doing here, smartass?" He gestured to his seat.

"I don't think it's 221's ass that's in question, here," 345 cracked, earning a raised eyebrow from the mentioned Experiment.

"Who is that, 625?" 621 questioned, his former satisfaction lost for the time being.

"Some kid doin' parkour. Now, though, he's my new chair,"

"L-Look, guys, I-I don't want any trouble!" The teenager begged, tears and sweat indistinguishable on his face. "I-I'll leave, I promise, I-"

"What do you guys think?"

"Leave him behind the thrusters," 621 ordered blankly. "Let him burn if he's not quick enough,"

625 shrugged and rose slowly from his humanoid seat. "Man, I can't feel my butt anymore! You guys couldn't off those two congress trogs any sooner?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, 625," 624 began, pulling the pod's door open for the others. "We didn't know your butt was priority." She didn't enter until the more intelligent Experiments were already inside. 625 would've already entered, but he was stopped by a single, strictly raised hand from 624, who then entered first. An unwise action, as 625 took the disgusting opportunity to slap the nearest part of 624's body as he followed. "Hey, 625?" A chirp when a tirade would be expected. 624 turned around, a typical smile on her face, and hit the pervert with a powerful right hook coated in wet crimson. 625 was about to turn around and retaliate, but the first of these was done for him when he was struck again by someone else. Opening his eyes to their pathetic limit, he found 626 glaring at him next to 624, holding up a clenched and bloody fist.

"Did...Did you both give me a black eye?!" 625 exclaimed in disbelief. "You trogs gave me two black eyes?! Why, I-...Why don't I pay ya back?!" The pink and blue Experiments were ready for him.

"Actually, I think you need a time-out, 625!" 345 scolded; his bouncy voice was one of the least intimidating in the whole army of 626. A bright green arm coiled around 625 and pinned his arms. "621, can you sit in front with 626 and 624, please?" He pulled 625 into the back seat with himself and 221, while the marksman complied. "And if you try to be naughty again, 625, 221 will give a great, big electric shock!" As joyous as ever. "Right, buddy?"

"You bet, elastico," The electric Experiment replied with a malicious smirk. "And how bad the shock is depends on how naughty you're being." His hands traded thin bolts with each other.

"Why the hell do I keep getting stuck with you anti-Jumba trogs?" 625 grumbled.

"I dunno, why do you keep being horny when you're always beaten up for it?" 624 was static as she took the wheel, driving the pod away from the ego museum. "Thanks for the help, you guys," She called back to the clown and the electrician.

"Anytime, 624!" 345 merrily replied.

"You alright, 624?" 626 asked before too long.
"Oh, yeah, nothing new from Sergeant Slappy back there," She calmly replied. "Thanks for the little tag-teaming back there." She gave him a look even kinder than normal, like the sun instead of the blue sky around it.
"Anytime. It was my pleasure,"
"I'll bet. You've gotten a lot better at your punches,"
"Never leave the arm extended too long afterwards, right?"
"Exactly right!"
"Yeah, I've learned my lesson after our practice 2-on-2 against 149 and 150,"
"No kidding." They both scooted closer to each other almost automatically.

"It's silly, isn't it?" 621 lowly added.
"What is?"
"That we practice against each other. We're not going to fight against our own kind, are we? Aside from small squabbles like the one we've just seen, of course,"

"Hey, they started it!" 625 objected, rising from his seat. He was jolted back down with a thick bolt from 221's finger, which was then blown over like a pistol's barrel.

"Thank you, 221." 621 was answered with a cocky shrug.

"Yeah, it is a bit odd, isn't it?" 626 concurred. "Wouldn't be the first odd thing about Jumba, though,"

"You've got that right,"

"So you and 149 did a training fight?" 625 butted in. "Wish I'd known. I could 'a sold tickets." He earned another jolt, slightly thicker than the previous one.

"You don't really get how this works, do ya, wanker?" 221 cracked.

"We'd know about all of Jumba's 'odd things' if somebody out there knew-" 345's eyes then widened in remembrance that 625 was right next to him. He noticed 221 making an anxious cutting motion along his neck. "His...Favorite...Color,"

"A bit slurry, there, Three-Four-F-OW!" Another shock. "What's your friggin' problem, asshat?! I didn't do anything!"

"That was practice,"

"Too close, 345," 621 whispered back. "We'll talk about it back at base, alright?" He received a collection of rapid nods in response.

III

"Alright, I'm gonna report you smegheads' abuse to Jumba!" 625's fur was smoking like a cigar when he exited the pod. His exclamations rendered the usual bustling inaudible.

"Knock yourself out, porky," 221 smirked, walking past him with 345. "Oh, and mind your damn language,"

621 said nothing to 625, simply continuing on his own way. 626 and 624 were about to do likewise, but 625 wouldn't have it. "And I'm throwing in these gifts you two gave me, as well!" He firmly pointed to his darkened eyes.

"Really?" The pink Experiment kept walking, unintimidated. "Maybe add the part about lazing around the whole mission, and then getting frisky at the end?"

"I-That's different,"

"Exactly!" 626 added. "You deserved what you got!"
"I didn't even do anything to you, 626, so can it!"
"I know; you didn't do anything on that mission, period!
"You're just getting pissed at me for wanting 624, as well!"
"...What are you on about?" The blue Experiment was putting more effort into not blushing than retorting.
"Well, you always train with her, most of your missions are together, you both usually sit together in a pod, and even outside of all those things, it's always-"

"Sounds like it's you that's pissed, 625," 624 cut in cunningly. "Pissed that 626 isn't into sandwich breath,"

625 turned crimson from a mixture of fury and embarassment. "There's nothing wrong with having a sandwich,"

"Yeah, there's nothing wrong with having a sandwich." She stepped forward and tapped 625's yellow gut. "Hey, 626, why don't we go visit 10?"

"I think that's a great idea, 624." He followed her away, leaving 625 boiling like a tea kettle, before turning to contact Jumba in the redundant hope of distracting himself.

"Look at you," 624 chirped on their way to the medical ward. "Weeks ago, you'd never come back at 625 like that!"
"Well, to be fair, you did kinda land the final blow on him there,"
"About his sandwich addiction?"
"No, well, I meant about fancying me,"
"Oh, yeah," She laughed, which created an inexplicable warmth within 626's furry stomach. "What better way to come back at his remark about us fancying each other, eh?"
"Yeah, ridiculous..." They both found themselves becoming crimson, looking at each other as if reflections of the same innocent expression. The warmth in their stomachs only seemed to intensify, and the gibberish voices in the background fell on deaf ears.

"'Ello, comrades!" 221 cut into the moment from behind them, throwing an arm around each. "Sorry, but I couldn't help hearing you two givin' the flab-monster hell back there," He ruffled the fuzz on top of their heads. "I've gotta say, pal," He looked to the blue Experiment. "You sure have compensated for 624's successor. Why don't we just retcon him and then you'll be Number 625,"
"Well, I don't want to have to learn to answer to a different name. And when 627 comes down, and everyone starts saying '626' again, it'll get even more confusing,"
"True, true,"

"221!" An all-too-familiar plump form with one metal hand suddenly appeared in front of them like a terrifying apparition.
"Woah, cool your jets, 150, what's the matter?"
"It's 149! She tried to hack a booby-trapped device on our assignment and, well, 10's not sure if she can save him!"
"What in-Oh, BOLLOCKS!" He flew off to the left like an electric bat out of hell before the others knew it. They all ran to the medical ward after him; they would've burst through the door, but 221 had beaten them to it.

"Damn, what happened to her, 150?!" 626 panicked.
"She pulled these wires out and then all this plasma got in her eyes and mouth,"
"Oh, plasma, isn't it always the friggin' plasma?!"

"How is she, 10?!" The golden Experiment emitted sparks as he sweated.
"W-What?!" 10 was at the very end of the room, near a long, black counter with both a stove and a sink, gripping a tall pot in both hands.
"Why in the galaxy are you not fixing up my poor 149?!"
"S-S-She isn't here! I'm sorry! I don't know what you mean!" He hid himself behind the pot, shaking in fear of a thousand volts hitting him at any moment.
"DO I LOOK IN THE MOOD TO BE-" Before even a stomp could be taken towards the petrified medic, a small but rough hand shot out from under one of the many beds like a bullet, and grasped 221's ankle. Reaching to 626, 624, and 150 for dear life after he'd fallen to the floor, the electrician quickly found himself violently pulled out of sight with an embarrassing yelp. The three at the door, though, had recognized the hand; 624 and 626 smirked while 150 chuckled, but not as powerfully as the southern cackling that sounded from underneath the egg-like bed. 149 then emerged, laughing like a hyena. She turned around and helped what looked like 221's ghost up. "Good one there, you little devil," He panted.

"As good as your 'back pod seat scare?!'"
"Definitely,"
"There it is! 150!" She held a hand out for her fellow prankster, who gladly obliged the high-five with his flesh-and-fur hand.

"So, 221?" 626 calmly and slyly approached his pale ally, throwing an arm over his shoulder as he had done to him before the fright. "On the way to the museum, you were saying how you wouldn't be scared 'if Captain Gantu became a satanic demonspawn', and yet that little scream you made when your girlfriend touched your foot..."

"Alright, first, there's a difference between 'touching' and 'death grip followed by dragging across the floor'..." The light in his face slowly returned. "Second, if you'll recall the shriek you gave when you got a face-full of plasma on your third trip out?"
"Yeah, but that was weeks ago. Yours, however, was only seconds,"
"...Whatever..."

"Aw, it's okay, sparky," 149 wrapped her arms around 221 and touched her small, red nose to his fuzzy cheek. "We didn't mean to scare ya,"
"Yeah, you did,"
"Alright, we did, but we were just muckin' around, ya know?"
"I know, I know, I'm just having a bit of after-scare grumpiness." He playfully returned the hug, his sopping tongue coming out to greet 149's face.

"Hey, uh, guys?" 150 interrupted with a loud cough. "I'm gonna go bring 10 our of his hiding spot, alright? Seems like he nearly messed himself." He gestured to the pot at the end of the room, which seemed to have sprouted a skinny tail ending with bush, and a smooth, thick trunk.

"Ah, non!" A thick French accent sounded from a light gray Experiment in a bed near the end of the room, who had a bandage around his upper torso. He was the only patient in the room. "Dix!" 62 tried to reassure his frightened caretaker. "It's alright! Get back up!"

"We'll come with you, won't we, boys?" 149 added, receiving a pair of curt nods in response. Before leaving however, 221 was pulled aside by 624.

"Hey, 221? Can I talk to you for a sec?"

"Sure, 624. What's up?"

"Be gentle with him, now!" 149 called back in a teasing tone, moving onward with the others.

"I'm not promising anything!"
"So, you were saying?" 221 inquired. The pink Experiment didn't speak until her allies had taken a few more steps away.
"I've been a colossal nincompoop,"
"That's nothing new," He earned a careful smack on the back of the head as he chuckled.
"Smartass. I mean I've done something really stupid, and not deliberately for a laugh, for once,"
"i.e.?"
"Well...It's my blue protege over there,"
"What about 'im?"
"...I like him a lot. I like him so much that I actually kinda hate him for being so likable,"
"You fancy 626? What's wrong with that? Him and his soft, blue fur and his big, strong arms and his huge, adorable eyes and his-"
"Yeah, yeah, I know,"
"Then what's the problem?"
"It's distracting is the problem! We're supposed to be bringing down a government, and it's not at all helping that I've got this crap racking my brain now. It's like-..." She trailed off, suddenly looking off at 150's back. Her arms flapped down beside her as she drifted off to some other, more enticing place.
"Like what?"
"...Nothing." She returned.
221 smiled and shook his head. "You really are a colossal nincompoop, then. Look, 624, we're all gonna head the new order together, right?"
"Right,"
"And what kind of leader would you be if you can't be honest with the people ruling alongside you? You can't be shady and hiding like Gantu and the Councilwoman, can you?"
"...Good point,"
"I know you hate being distracted, and you hate us being distracted even more, that's why 149 and I piss you off so much." They both chuckled. "But we got into it because we decided that's how we wanted to rule. We've come up with new laws and all sorts of stuff,"
"Really?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, we have, like 'All citizens must attend jujitsu classes every day,'"
"149's idea?"
"Yep. I came up with one called 'All pink Experiments must admit their feeling to all blue Experiments, because then, instead of being distracted, they can focus on the revolution as a partnership,'"
"...That's not a bad law,"
"You think?"
"Yeah...In fact, I think I'll go and obey it now...Thanks for your help, buddy." She playfully smacked him on the back a little too hard, and then approached 626. The stillness of her body paralleled with the pounding in her chest. She was nearly at the blue Experiment, but then suddenly went past him and reached the sink of the back counter, and began doing away with her gloves of blood.

"Hey, you alright, little guy?" 150 leaned down on way knee to find 10 against the floor behind the tall pot, his arms over his head as if an earthquake was occurring.

"Y-Yeah, I-I'll be okay..." He gently held the top of the pot and pulled himself to his feet. "I just thought 221 was gonna run up and electrocute me,"

"Sorry about that, 10." 149 scratched behind her head. "The whole thing was my idea, so it's all my bad,"

"Oh, it's alright, 149. I'm not even scared anymore,"

"You still look a little pale, 10," 626 observed the sheet-white color that substituted green on the medic's face.
"Yes, well, um...Hey, anyone want some soup?" He hurried to change the subject.
"Oh, thanks. What sort?"
"Just some Earthly chicken soup 62 found in a big kitchen on a military ship..." He pulled a stack of bowls from a cupboard a ways behind his head. Then he removed the pot's lid, releasing an aroma from heaven that traveled on smoke through the Experiment's nostrils.

"I would very well prepare it myself," 62 called, though his bed was not far. "But 10 insisted that I rest,"

"Well, considering you had some plasma graze your side," The blue Experiment replied.
"True, true. Of course, you, six-cent-vingt-six, do not need to worry about plasma,"
"No, I don't,"
"Too bad I got one of the few plasma missions you missed out on,"
"Yeah. Good thing we have 10, though, huh?"

"I, uh, I do all I can." 10 scurried to 62 with one of the bowls filled with soup.

"Ah, très bien, mon ami! Merci!" The patient gladly downed half of the soup with one sip. "It is generous of Jumba to allow us all this cooking equipment, is it not? Someday, Dix, you must enlighten me in food preparation."

"Maybe when the Grand Councilwoman's gone." The medic returned and scooped five more bowls with soup with assistance from his spare arms and trunk, as 624 and 221 had joined them. Each was taken and consumed just as quickly as 62 had.

"Aw, thanks, buddy," The pink Experiment chirped, licking a dark mustache of liquid off her lip. She opened her mouth again as she turned to 626, but the jumpy 10 spoke quicker than she could.

"Oh! Any updates on Jacques?" He spoke quietly to avoid the feasting 62's earshot.

"No, sorry," 221 answered.

"Those two congressmen didn't give us crap," 626 continued. "And after dealing with some hobo and his skirt-wearing friends, we found one 625 sitting on some dumb teenager back by the pod,"

"Our trip to the boot camp also turned up jack and shit," 149 added before taking a heavy sip. "And jack had left the quadrant,"

"Ah..." 10 replaced the lid on the pot. "Doesn't seem like any new info is turning up. We might need to try something else,"

"Our best bet is what it's always been; finding Gantu again or the Grand Councilwoman," 624 responded, regaining a tall stature that had been repressed by 626's presence. "Unless, of course, we can find a way to Jumba's lab-"

"EXPERIMENTS 010, 149, 150, 221, 300, 345, 621, 624, AND 626, REPORT FOR YOUR NEXT ASSIGNMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!" Jumba's voice exhaled throughout the base like an exhausted, mechanical echo. Both the quantity and choice of Experiments were an oddity to them all, but one of these things took the color that had only recently returned to 10's face, and transformed him into a sculpture of pure ice.

"Heh-Hey, your first time out, 10!" 221 exclaimed merrily, stepping by him to drop an arm around his shoulder. "About eight years late, but still!" He only then noticed the water that peeked out from under 10's moon-sized eyes. "You alright, mate?"

"10, is there a pr-" 150 reached his normal hand out to the stature, but 10 darted away like a terrified rodent to an empty bed. All but his clawed feet vanished underneath it. "10?"

626, 624, 149, and 150 exchanged concerned looks, while 221 approached the green feet protruding from the bed. "Come on, 10! There's nothing to be scared of!" No response. "You'll be able to spend some time out of the base, get some fresh air..." The feet began to scoot away, but were unfortunately slower than the electrician's powerful hands.
"Eep!"
"At least come and hear the briefing!" He struggled to pry the medic from the bed leg that he clung to, making him hover over the floor as he pulled him by his legs, as if he were sucking him into a whirlpool.

"221, let go of his feet," 624 ordered softly, walking around to the opposite end of the bed.

"...Alright, sorry." 221 complied, and 10's feet immediately vanished under the bed.

"Hey, 10?" 624 spoke softly as she put her stomach to the floor to be level with 10. The medic lay curled up on the ground like a cat. He blinked more frequently than usual, and his fingers seemed to run about his hands like the stupid, panicked citizens back at the museum. "You a little scared?"
"I am...Why would Jumba call me out all of a sudden? What does he need me out there for?"
"I guess it's a special mission, and it involves something only you can do,"
"Why me, though? I don't understand..."
"Well, tell you what; let's take you down to the pod bay to hear what it is..." She held her palm up on the metal floor to her friend. "We'll be with you every step of the way..." It wasn't long before 10 had complied 624's hand, gripping it with a tightness that was not unfamiliar to her. The green medic was led slowly out from under the bed, and into the sight of his awaiting allies.

"C'mon, bud..." 626 calmly approached him, placing a hand gently on his shoulder.

"Bonne chance, dix!" 62 called after his six departing comrades. Just as they were leaving, 626 caught a grin and a wink coming from 624, and cheekily returned it.

"...Were you winking at me?" 10 shyly asked his reddening supporters.

IV

621, his usual arsenal already clinging to him, and a face cleaned for more circulatory filth, 300, and 345 were lined up when the others reached the loading bay. This would've been peculiar, but the sight of the hesitant 10 rationalized it.

"Your very first mission, 10!" 345 cheered. "Isn't it exciting?!"

"Um...A little bit, I guess." The green Experiment felt his stomach, which now seemed like a cage restraining thousands of vampiric butterflies.

"I'm assuming you all found that announcement as suspicious as we did?" 300 took a step towards them.

"No kiddin'," 149 replied. "Not just askin' for poor ol' 10, but calling nine of us instead of six..."

"Then you understand what it implies?" 621 approached them now. "It's either something huge, or..." He lowered his voice as he leaned forward. "Jumba's discovered our little side-project,"

"It might be," 626 added. "He has only called down us involved in it, and none of his stronger supporters like 625 or 158 or 276,"

"We thought likewise," The blob responded. "Regardless, why idle with curiosity when we can have him elaborate himself?" He motioned to the intercom just by the large, lifeless screen. 300's allies all nodded, and he approached it. "We are all prepared for our debriefing, Dr. Jumba." The screen flickered on almost immediately, and four eyes appeared underneath a moist brow.

"Ah, good, good, great! You've all arrived," Jumba gasped, out of breath, slowing down in his seat and holding his hands still in front of him.
"You seem pressured, Doctor," 300 condescended Jumba effortlessly, to his comrades' typical amusement.
"Yes, well..." Though his strict exterior was impervious, 300 always smirked inside when Jumba made no attempt on his attitude. "Now, three extra, one of them being our fine caretaker; you must all think it unusual, and I'm sure you'd all like an answer." This now came as a surprise. Everyone's ears perked up, as if jerked awake from a nightmare.

"That'd be nice," 221 cracked.

"Well, I summoned you nine because you are the best and most skilled of the six-hundred-and-twenty...three that we have, and you will all be needed for this mission to be a success. It's more important now than it has ever been..." A moment's pause, to the Experiments' agony. "I have pinpointed the location of the Grand Councilwoman's ship..." The statement collected a gasp, some brief, others stronger, from each mouth facing it. Even 300 was moved from his solid posture. 10 took a step back, but was able to return it with a friendly nudge from both 626 and 624. "It took me ages, but I finally have the coordinates. I've sent them to pod #01. I know you're all quite familiar with the gravity of this assignment, correct?" Multiple curt nods were given in response. Jumba hoped he could comfort his creations with a smile, but this was made difficult by two particular ones. 300 and 621 looked right at him. He was not unaccustomed to the blob's old eyes and the marksman's cold ones, but now there was something different. They locked right onto his own, as if they had agreed to each take two of his four eyes. Their gaze penetrated him in that moment, though he was not sure if they discovered anything within. All he knew was that the opaque statue that they had been staring at everyday for years was shattered, and they now saw directly through him.

"We shall head off now," 300 said solidly. "Do dry your forehead, Jumba." He left without waiting for Jumba to end the transmission, leaving with 621 into the first pod on the left.

"Come on, 10," 624 guided her friend gently by the hand, while 626 waited for them to enter after the others. "We can do it. We'll teach you, alright? Nothing to worry about,"

"OK...I'm OK, I..." He stepped up to enter with 626, but then he stopped. He turned his trunked head back to the screen, where a sweating Jumba was still watching them. "I..." His lip hung open, being far ahead of his words. "...I don't like you." He finally said to Jumba, before finding a seat next to 626.

Jumba flinched with curious shock as the green caretaker left his sight. 624 became the last one in the pod, and she shut the door with a final glare into the four eyes. The screen still survived even after the pod had rocketed into the darkness. Jumba buried his face into his meaty hands; the debriefing had been more taxing than he had foreseen, but even that was not the plan's conclusion. What came next was nigh impossible, but it was essential. Once he had collected himself, he reached for the thin, grey microphone that sat not far from him on his once-paper-coated desk. "Experiment 625, can you report to the pod bay, please?" The Experiment in question arrived in less time than Jumba took to take one breath.

"All set, boss?"

"...Yes, yes, everything's prepared," Jumba answered firmly. "The traitors are gone, all you need to do now is make sure everyone gets to the new base,"
"Alright, then. You got it!" The plump Experiment was about to head for his 613 allies.
"You, however..." This brought him back. "I want to come over here,"
"Over there? Really?!"
"Yes, after all the help you've been in monitoring the traitors in the field and such, I feel I should reward you. Think of it as a promotion,"
"A promotion? Well, thanks, boss! W-What kind of stuff will I be doing?!"
"You'll be giving some much-needed assistance on a few non-Experiment projects. Also, there's somebody who'd like to meet you,"
"...Oh, right." 625 tapped the side of his scarlet nose. "Him. I gotcha,"
"Yes, 'him.' Now, the other Experiments?"
"Oh, right..." 625 returned to the main room of the base, finding multiple rainbows of varying shapes of Experiments either mingling, exercising, or a few sleeping against a wall. "EVERYONE!" His obnoxious Brooklyn voice took everyone's attention like military trainees from slumber. "JUMBA NEEDS YA ALL TO GET TO THE POD BAY! A FEW THINGS ARE GOING TO BE CHANGING NOW!"

V

The pod was quickly transformed into a sardine can with the three extra Experiments. 624, 10, 626, 149, and 221 were sandwiched together in the back seat, while 150, 345, 300, and 621 occupied the three-person front seat.

"Everyone else saw right through that mess of blubber, right?" 621 strictly inquired, his top two hands becoming like wet cloth to the steering wheel that he gripped.

"Probably one of the more transparent messes of blubber I've ever seen, actually," 221 replied.

"And sweatiest," 624 added. "Unless, of course, that's because he's actually tryin' to work off all that fat,"

"M-M-Maybe he's just nervous," 10 suggested. "I mean, it is a real delicate mission, right? He's probably j-just...Scared,"

"But you said you didn't like Jumba," 626 inquired. "Just before we left. You turned to him and said so,"

"W-Well, I-I just...I..." 10 spoke in the same disjointed patterns that his fingers moved in.

"Hey, c'mon, 10," 624 gently held her ally's furry shoulders and pulled him close, which was simple, given the quantity of free space left in the pod "You'll be alright. We've all gone through what you're feeling before. Just think about how great it is that it's not my first go, otherwise you'd be drenched in Past-Me's nervous sweat,"

"That sounds attractive, 624," 626 sarcastically responded.
"Oh, believe me, it was," More sarcasm.
"I'll bet..." This made 624 raise an eyebrow. "...Sorry, I'm somewhere else right now. What was I saying?"
"We were trying to calm 10 down,"

"I amcalm!" 10 objected. "I'm just...I'm just scared..." His head hung like a lifeless doll's. "I'm scared that...That I'll get hurt, maybe like 501 and 502...And what if one of you guys gets hurt, too, and I can't help you!"

"Oh, 10..." 624 and 626 both hugged him at once.

"We won't let anything happen to you," The blue Experiment warmly promised. "None of us will. You know, I was just as scared as you were on my first assignment,"

"I know," 10 sniffed through his long, handsome trunk. "You've told me six times; how Gantu trapped you and 624, and then 621 burst in and shot him,"
"Yes, and then-"
"345..." The clown turned around and put his hands in the air at the mention of his name. "-Managed to drop his arm down so you could escape before the ship exploded,"
"That's right, but-"
"You lagged behind, and 624 saved you by having you grab her leg and lift you away,"
"...How many times did you say?"

"So you've got nothing to worry about, buddy," 624 chirped. "We'll be with you every step of the way,"

"Won't we, guys!?" 345 cheered. 149, 150, and 221 cheered back.

"Thanks, guys..." 10 was still possessed a ghostly, gray color.

"You're still scared, 10?" The clown inquired, leaning over the front seat. He got only a jittery nod in response.

"You said you were scared of being hurt or dying, 10?" 300 leaned over the seat as well; his powerful voice acted like a magnet to the Experiments' attention. "So you're scared of the military and the Grand Councilwoman, then? They're what you're scared of being hurt by?"
"...Y-Yes,"
"Then don't be. They're scared of you, 10. Do you understand?"
"Y-Yes, I do!" 10 forced a shivering hand into a firm salute.
"Good..." The blob turned back to face front. "There's to be no drama on this mission, is that clear?" He announced to the whole group. He did not need to raise his voice, as it boomed and echoed effectively throughout the pod on its own. "I understand 10 has his doubts, one of you is feeling left out, and two of you are experiencing a...realization..." 626 and 624 exchanged brief, awkward glances.

"You, uh, should really start asking permission to read our thoughts, 300," 150 muttered grumpily, becoming scarlet. He was ignored.

"Whether this mission is legitimate or just a wild goose chase for Jumba's own ends, it's far too important either way. Even if it is false, we need to at least confirm so; it's a wasted opportunity against the Councilwoman otherwise. It may even be an amalgam of both cases. Whatever it is, you are all to devote your utmost concentration. Is that clear?"

"It is." Everyone but 621 chimed.

"Good,"

"Alright, daddy," 221 whispered to get a snicker out of his girlfriend.

"Was I to hear that, 221?" 300's tone cut through the air like a blade through fruit.
"That, uh, was never actually considered, 300," In an imitation of the deep voice.
"Hmm...Smartass,"
"Now, was Ito hear that?"
"Perhaps..."

VI

If it was truly was the Grand Councilwoman's ship, it did not differ much from the thousands already fallen prey to the Experiments. It was still in the shape of a whale, though its most distinguishable trait was that it was only slightly smaller. "Not much strategic use," 621 explained when they were all on top of it. "It wouldn't need to be as big as most of the military vessels if it's only to hold the Grand Councilwoman,"

"'Only?'" 221 cracked. "Maybe also enough kitchens to put the 'Grand' in 'Grand Councilwoman?'"

"Man, you're on a roll today, hon." 149 playfully leaned against him.
"You ready to give the Tubby Councilwoman her just desserts?" He pulled her into a hug from behind and lifted her into the air with a simple heave, as if she were a piece of cardboard.
"If you haven't punned her to death by the time we find her!" She broke free and entered a handstand on his shoulders, from which they touched noses. 300 rolled his yellow eyes away from the sight, while 150 watched on distantly.

"Hey, 150?" 624 called quietly for his attention, and it was given to her with a distracted jolt. "Still not sure of it yet, huh?"
"...No...I know you said I should at least tell her, but I'm just struggling with the, uh...The wording..."
"Well, you seem to be getting on with her alright these days, like your prank on 221 earlier. Good one, by the way,"
"Yeah, well, things like that, it just feels...Strange...Having something like that inside me and then doing things like that with her as if it's not there...I just don't know what to do, 624,"
"...Tell you what?" She leaned an inch closer, whispering. "I'm gonna do something when we're done here. Just watch what I do then, and maybe you can use that as a reference,"
"...626?"
"How did you know?"
"You always train together, sit together in pods, you both get excited when you get missions together-"
"Alright, alright, I get the image...You'll give it a look?"
"A brief one, I guess,"
"OK, then..." She glanced off to where 626 and the now-floored 149 were attending to a closed hatch on the ship's hull.

"What's eatin' ya, Blue?" The small, green Experiment innocently inquired.
"Uh, nothing. Why do you ask?" He bent down and dug his claws around the edges of the hatch.
"Oh, I dunno, just, uh, seen ya lookin' at 624 a lot recently,"
"...And why is that your business?" He glared up at her, loosening his grip on the hatch.
"Well, it isn't, really..." She gave a brief glance over at 221, who was pretending to wait with his back facing them. He turned his head and sent her a wink. "You seem like ya know what you're doin', anyway, so, never mind..." She turned away with a casual shrug. The ocean blue Experiment was silent for a moment.
"What, um, should I say to her?"
"Anythin' that comes 'round." 149 spun back around. "Well, anythin' nice, ya know. Try not to be a 625,"
"Oh, for sure." They both chuckled. "But anything in particular? I mean, what did 221 say to you?"
"He just started yammerin' on, tryin' to make it sound all witty but failing miserably, so I just smooched 'im to shut him up,"
"Ah, well, I guess I'll try that," He smirked.
"Yeah. Or you can be clear and comprehensible; whatever flies your ship,"
"Right..." He found 149 kneeling down to his level.
"The thing is that it really don't matter in the end what you say to start it off. If she likes ya too, she won't care; she'll be too busy huggin' ya to death. The real hard part's finding out if it's for real or not, and that's already over for ya, ain't it?"
"...OK. Thanks, 149." He smiled, and it was returned. "Hey, did you just start this off so I'd ask you for advice?"
"Maaaaybe..."

"A rather prolonged time to open a door, 626?" 300 now approached them; his liquid-like form towered over them both like a sentient wave waiting to crash down on top of them. "You both recall our agreement on the way here?"
"Yeah." 626 answered a second ahead of 149, but they both had the same low, discomforted volume.
"Then I'll warn you this once to hold to it until the Councilwoman is eliminated." He nodded to the hatch, which 626 promptly tore off like paper.

"Right, there's one guy comin' up..." 149 immediately noticed one guard slowly making his way past the area beneath the hole. "I've got 'im, guys. You can hop in after me." She leaped into the hatch before anyone could respond, and landed with a loud, repulsive crack; her foot pressed the guard's head into the floor. 345 was the first to follow, stretching down like an extended accordion folding back up again, while the rest proceeded in one thick clutter. "Awright, then," 149 clapped her hands together and kicked her victim's head away from her foot. "If one 'a us were a Grand-friggin'-Councilwoman, where would we hide?"

621 was about to answer, but the loud, unsettling clicking of a plasma rifle cocking beat him to it a hundred times over, as if a choir of firearms singing against him. Glancing quickly around them, the Experiments discovered a sea of soldiers blocking either way down the hall. "You'll all find that there's a fine line between being surprising and being irritating," The marksman growled passively, taking a blaster in both right hands and stealing five soldiers from their company. Seven of the Experiment leaped into the air; 10 was carried up with a short yelp by 345. 626 stayed and took the storm of plasma. Bringing out his extra arms, he grasped four of the projectiles from the air. Using one soldier's head, he boosted himself over the chaos, and took out three fractions by chucking the plasma in mid-air. He landed with a fistful of it atop a flattened head, not unlike 149's foot had done earlier. He stood up to find 345 landing similarly, though he allowed the soldier to stick to his rubbery foot and be flung over the crowd.

"C'mon, Tenzy!" The clown let the ghostly, sweating, and tearing up 10 down, giving him a gentle nudge on the rear to move him forward.

"IuhIuhaheeeohahumah-" The medic seemed like a terrified child who had clumsily wandered into the battle. He found one soldier aiming at him from the right, and went down with his arms clasped over his head. 626 was quick to roundhouse kick 10's oppressor, who promptly went tumbling over the cowering, green body.

"You can finish him off, 10!" The blue Experiment quickly pulled 10 to his feet, pointing vigorously at the soldier who struggled to recover. With barely a look of shock and unease, let alone a word, 10 hurriedly stepped up to his first victim and punted him across the floor like a soccer ball, tripping up several enemies.

"Good going, 10!" 624 cheered, not far away, taking a guard's arms and legs in her antennae and pulling them away from each other, creating a satisfying snap before dropping them on the floor. "Here; watch what I do..." She turned and threw a right hook across an unfortunate guard's face. She followed up instantly with a left hook, and then jumping and spinning like a tornado in an uppercut, which made her opponent airborne.
"W-Wow..." 10 stared in terrified awe at the soaring soldier.
"Now you try,"
"W-W-What?! Oh! Alright, uh..." 10 pulled in a soldier aiming at the hovering, lightning-firing 221, and imitated 624's combo to the best of his ability. He did well until he stumbled after the spinning uppercut, from which his victim did not fly as high as 624's, but he recovered himself quickly.
"Awesome, 10!" 624 caught her descending opponent under the jaw with her foot, and another rewarding crack sounded. "Isn't he doing great, 626?!"

"Swimmingly!" 626 grabbed an unsuspecting soldier from behind in a bear hug, and threw his torso backwards in a suplex, hitting the soldier's neck on the hard, metal floor. "Way quicker than me right away, that's for sure!"

"I dunno, you improved pretty quickly." The pink and blue Experiment each grabbed an enemy's head, and smashed them together like two eggs, with a similar cracking result. "See?" She winked at him, and his ears descended behind his head. "Oopsie!" She yanked him downwards in time for a projectile to sail swiftly over their heads. Its firer aimed for another shot, but it was time unfortunately with 624's antennae pushing the barrel towards his neck.
"Are you really this good at saving me? Or are you staging these things with some of these trogs?" They both turned scarlet as their noses were but a centimetre apart. The flames of battle that had burned within them became gradually softer, as the centimeter became shorter and shorter. As they were distracted, what appeared to be a lion commonly found on Earth leaped over them, attacking a multitude of soldiers. A lucky one who was not claimed in the attack shot at the creature, who easily leaped over the bullet, transforming into a miniature, pale piranha which sunk its forest of teeth into his neck. When the fish was done feasting, it flopped back up and towards another part of the crowd, now becoming an enormous, steel pillar, under which more soldiers were flattened.

"Would you two like to contribute to our victory today?" 300 sternly asked his two onlooking allies. "Or will you simply spectate?"
"You seemed to have it under control, 300," 626 replied, passively scratching behind his ear.
"Hmph. 221's influence is apparent...Even 10 is aiding his comrades." He glanced off to the side, where 10 was now deliberately firing red streaks from his trunk, whilst standing back-to-back with 150, who fired from the cannon he had for a left hand. 149 slithered through the crowd around them like a snake, striking as many necks as she could, which was an impressive quantity. "Look, what you two are going through right now, it does not take priority over the 'double-rebellion' we've agreed to. You may indulge in it on the way back, but until then, I would ask that your heads remain distant from the clouds." His liquid-like body then rolled backwards onto another antagonist, but not before transforming into a large, thick, black brick.

VII

It didn't take long for the Experiments to win the battle. Within a minute, the metal floor was obscured by multitudes of fallen bodies. Eight of the victors stood proudly, admiring their handiwork, while the ninth, emerald one stood hunched over, his dry mouth panting, and his face and trunk dripping sweat like clouds with rain.

"Holy crap, doc." 221 approached him. "I've never seen anyone sweat like that after a fight. You've gotta be at least a pound or two lighter now!"

"Why don't...I go hide somewhere..." 10's exhausted panting was like a tiger about to pounce on his prey. "And you...Can pull me out...By my feet...And we'll see..." 221 took a step back at 10's suddenly malicious tone.

"You alright, 10?" 624 and 626 patted him on the back at the same time.

"I'm fine...I..." He shut his eyes for a moment, as if his mind were stopping to recharge itself. "...Now...Should we start looking...For the Grand Councilwoman..."

"I hear you, buddy," 626 responded, looking ahead of them and finding a single soldier still crawling across the floor. It had to be the most pathetic sight he had ever seen; someone believing he could escape at the speed he was dragging in. A snail would be gone quicker. "Hang on a sec." He walked away in a firm stride towards the lone survivor, and quickly found 621 marching alongside him.

"Oh, God!" The soldier clawed at the floor ahead of him, desperately trying to flee his oppressors, but the newborn uselessness of his legs was uncooperative. 621 snatched him by the top of his head, dangling him like a shirt by a hanger.
"We understand that the Grand Councilwoman is somewhere on this vessel, and we were hoping you could specify that for us,"
"I-I-I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Don't play dumb!"
"I don't! L-Look, I have two kids; twins! A boy and a girl, and-"
"Hmph." The marksman dropped the soldier's head to the floor, causing him to bang his chin against his helmet.

"He'll cough something up eventually," 626 reassured his ally. "Just give him a moment,"

"Alright. All the same, we may as well have a seat while we wait." The two Experiments exchanged villainous smirks before they each sat down on one of the soldier's empty legs. The usual pleasing crack was inaudible underneath the soldier's deafening cries.

"DOWN THE CORRIDOR!" Experiments would've covered their ears had his exclamations been less helpful. "DOWN THIS WAY, AT THE END! JUST, PLEASE GET OFF!" His request was acknowledged.

"Some good those kids did you, huh?" 621 growled at his victim as he passed him.

"Thank you, soldier," 626 stepped up to the whimpering soldier's head. "For your contribution to the rebellion." A split second passed, and the whimpering ceased underneath the blue Experiment's foot. "Alrighty..." He turned to his other seven comrades. "If everyone's ready, then follow 621! It's finally time!"

VIII

The door at the end of the corridor was tall. That was the extent of its uniqueness. Aside from its unusual height, it appeared just like any other door the Experiments had ever encountered in eight years; it completely contradicted the rare intensity of the fire burning like Hell inside each of them. 621, stepping in front of the group, gazed up at the long door as if it lead into Heaven. "This is it..." He whispered. "It should be it...It very well might be it. What do you all think?" He turned to his companions to find them all but 300, 10, and 345 mirroring his evil smirk, though the last wasn't because of his immortal beam. "Alright, then...150, 221, 10, if you'd be willing to lend your respective projectiles?"

"'If?!'" 221 proudly stepped up next to 621, as did the other two requested Experiments.

"Now, who would like to do the honor of opening the door?" The marksman looked to the four remaining choices.

"Ooh, ooh! Dibs, dibs! I called it!" 345 hopped from one foot to the other, shooting his hand in the air like a child in a class. 621 nodded towards the door, and the clown immediately hopped onto it, standing with one foot on the door and another on the wall next to it. "Ready?!" He held his arm ready to chop through the air, while 621, 221, 150, and 10 were more than ready to open fire. "Ai-FIRE!" 345 thrust the door open with his foot, falling, laughing innocently to the floor; his giggling rang with the sound of gunfire, streaks, and lightning shooting into the room. The display was like the Fourth of July, nearly blinding 626, 624, and 300. Once the deafening projectiles had ceased, the group immediately darted into the room, discovering the eyesore version of a small, colorless office. The only thing worth a shred of interest was the Federation's spidery, black and white flag high up on the wall. Scanning over the whole room, the Experiments' delighted, hopeful beams slowly devolved into the most malicious of snarls. 626 threw his head back before throwing his foot into the toppled, Swiss cheese-like desk, quickly putting it into a vast multitude of pieces. His cool, blue fur felt like it had turned a fiery red as he glared around at the lifeless room. His head felt as if it would burst violently like the setting of his first mission at any moment, but not due to the excruciating absence of their target.

"He knows," He growled. "He knows that we've been working against him! Now he's gotten us all out of his hair for...DAMMIT!" His claws dug around his head, wishing that it was instead a certain fat one with four eyes.

"It's OK, 626." He felt a soft hand on his shoulder; he did not need to turn to confirm that it was 624. "He can't escape us. Whatever he's planning, wherever he's hiding, we'll find him. We will get him." She gently tugged his head to face her. "I'll make sure you get him." She smiled, and 626 reflected itas she pulled his forehead to hers, rubbing the back of his furry head. "You have my word...If we can't make an example out of the Grand Councilwoman..." She turned to the rest of their comrades, raising her voice triumphantly. "Then you can bet your ass we'll make one out of Jumba!"

"And at least now we know for sure that Quadri-Sight was full of baloney," 345 added. 624 chuckled at the nickname.

"Jumba's kept us all in the dark our whole lives," 621 stepped up alongside his blue and pink allies. "He's had the advantage of both knowledge and distance all this time, but there is one miscalculation on his part! He's made us stronger, faster, smarter, and more powerful than he can even begin to compete with! Our plan now is to head back to base and investigate any changes, and then we go straight to find Jumba and Jacques!" He threw his fist into the air, and the action was returned by all of his companions.

"YES!" 10 answered with a vigorous shout. His face was still moist with sweat. Upon noticing everyone's surprised eyes upon him, his tense face relaxed to its typical, timid expression as his fist opened and lowered slowly like a leaf. With a firm grasp of his forearm, however, 221 revived his confident gesture.

"Still not quite adjusted to terrorism yet?" The soft but strict voice of an old woman rang passively into the room, jolting everyone from their triumphant stance. "You poor thing." It took one Experiment three seconds less than the others to deduce the owner of the mocking announcer.
"The Grand Councilwoman of the Galactic Federation, I presume?" 300 inquired firmly.
"And you are Number 300, correct? Do you realize that a good number of our military's soldiers have resigned out of trauma from your...Abilities?"
"How wise of them,"

"Y-Y-You can understand us?!" 10 stammered, scanning the air, as if to find the Councilwoman levitating somewhere above them.

"Of course, Number 10. I've always been listening to you. Don't think I haven't been paying attention all this time. Besides, it's not an entirelyoriginal language. Perhaps pay a visit to the planet Turo sometime,"

"Hey, uh, Councilwoman?" 149 stepped forward. "See, we were really lookin' forward to snappin' your spine. Any reason why you just left us hanging?"
"As you often left our guards 'hanging' when their backs were turned, Number 149?"
"That's what they turn them for, isn't it?
"I was never supposed to be here in the first place, but the nine of you were supposed to believe I was, though I highly doubt that Jumba even thought that, let alone my true whereabouts. What you see here isn't my office, but that of the captain's, who you will now find laying down the hall." A hint of malice appeared in her voice.

"A decoy ship?" 221 questioned. "Why, you sly, little c-"

"That is no such language for a child of your age to be using, Number 221!" The Grand Councilwoman snapped, a hint of malicious cheek underneath her sturdy tone. The electrician scowled at the air, looking almost as 626 had upon discovering the Councilwoman's absence.

"Ooh, what about me?!" 345 became a child in a class again. "Say something about me now!"
"What about; 'I'm not sure if your enthusiasm is admirable, disturbing, or obnoxious?'"
"Oh, I like that first one!"

"Wait, wait..." 624 interrupted. "What you were saying just now, about Jumba? What did you mean?"
"I meant that Jumba perhaps just wanted you out of the house,"
"...Well, no shit! You were eavesdropping, right? We already got that far!"
"Yes, but even further than that? Here's a hint: I've heard you've been inquiring about him for a while now..."

"...Jacques?" 626 inquired. All ears immediately perked up like the deceased from their graves.

"Yes, Number 626..." The Grand Councilwoman's tone seemed suddenly cunning; a breath of fresh air after the terrified stammers from anyone else asked about the mysterious Jacques. "Dr. Jacques Hamsterviel worked under Captain Gantu for some time, towards the end of which he and Dr. Jumba Jookiba began making the first of you. I believe you were the last of what could be called 'the first', Number 10. However, one particular mission brought an unfortunate mistake on the Captain's part, which Hamsterviel saw as being unforgivable. Understandable, but he was only further upset when Gantu did not face the punishment he thought appropriate, and after one resignation and eight years of work, here we are. Not much farther than where we were eight years ago, if you ask me." The rest of the Experiments joined 221 in his scowling. "Why Hamsterviel would want his existence kept from you is beyond me. What I can tell you, though, is what might be awaiting you at your base of operations, wherever it is..." The scowls turned into raised eyebrows. "Now, you all want to become rulers; what would you see as an appropriate punishment for treason?"

"Execution," 621 answered firmly, as if he had anticipated the question.

"And what do Jumba and Jacques do when they must steer over an issue in their organization?"

"...He makes a new Experiment..." 150 answered. Everyone suddenly felt a chill of realization colder than frostbite. "Oh, crap!"

"I would suggest that you move along, but there's really no rush..." The softness of her voice became suddenly sharp like a blade. "I'm sure the plasma missile will reach you by then. Enjoy wherever your journey takes you next, terrorists." Every Experiment stiffened upwards like icicles, but their marksman was the first to thaw into a glare.

"Another time. Perhaps once you've tried a more original way of eliminating us." He drew one of his blasters in his upper right hand, aiming it at the flag in the devastated office. Within seconds, the thin cloth was in the jaws of a thick, emerald flame. "Remember, remember..." His voice was stronger and more still than it had ever been. "Right, come on! Our mission's still not complete!" He quickly took the lead of his comrades, with 300 barely an inch southwest of him.
"The plasma missile may not be our most immediate concern,"
"Why's that, 300?"
"Her tone as she threatened it; I sensed something insincere in it. All the same, you're right, a greater dilemma awaits us back at base,"
"I never said-Oh, right," 621 recalled 300's telepathic abilities.

"Seriously, 300, you need to start asking permission to go through someone's mind palace," 150 firmly suggested.
"No, I don't,"
"...You know I'm older than you, right?"
"We must accolade your perception, 150,"
"Forget it..." The towering Experiment growled. Within seconds, the entire group was back on the decoy vessel's exterior, and then into the pod even quicker. 626 and 624 toppled into the front seat, with the others following immediately behind them.

"Whew," The blue Experiment panted as the ship became distant behind them. "We sure learned a lot back there, eh?"
"No kidding." 624 scooted an inch closer to him. "We've got a lot to do,"
"An awful lot,"
"...Hey, 626?"
"Yeah?" The blue Experiment responded. There was silence while 624 only smiled at him, and then something round and wet met 626's nose. The pink Experiment pulled away as she continued to smile at him, despite his awestruck expression and her innards bouncing inside her like maddened inmates.
"Just wanted to get that out there where it isn't distracting." She chirped, lying about her inner panic. The blue Experiment's hanging jaw stretched into a warm beam, which then released a slimy, pale tongue that kissed 624's cheek. She turned to him with a beam even wider than his and scooped him into an airtight hug as their fuzzy cheeks brushed against each other, and their long ears hid behind their heads. 626 did not even care that his saliva was being sandwiched between their cheeks.

"Hey, 624?" 149 leaned over from the back seat.
"Yeah, 149?"
The small Experiment gave a quiet chortle before answering. "I told you so!"
"AUGH!" 624 pulled her long ears under her chin with a groan, though her beam was impervious.

"Now you two will be able to emulate everything you make fun of 149 and me for!" 221 joked to the new couple. "It'll be the greatest irony since 345 called 300 a-"
"Bud?" 626 interjected.
"Yeah, mate?"
"Shut up,"
"Ah, alright." He and his grass-colored mate plopped back to their seats as 626 and 624's noses met again. As they were wrapped in each other's arms, the flames that had once singed their insides now seemed to warmly tickle them, like the fire in a furnace on a cold winter night. At the same time, a sudden coolness overtook their once-boiling brains. Not at all frigid, but like the comforting ease the shade brings on a scorching afternoon. All the correct temperatures encompassed them even after they'd split away. "Is it me...?" 626 began softly. "Or do you also have a sudden burst of confidence? Not just about Jumba and Ja-er, Hamsterviel, but...Just anything that could come around? Life, really..."

"Well, of course." 624 scratched gently behind both of his tall, descended ears. "It's all part of being a good ruler, right? Honesty with your fellow governors, instead of being shady and hiding like Gantu and the Grand Councilwoman." She turned and gave a quick wink to 150 in the back seat, who gave a curt nod and a shy smile in response. In the corner of their eyes as they glanced, 626, 624, 150, and the rest of their company were finally revealed the pod's pilot. Next to 621 in the front was a gently panting 10, whose fingers suffocated the steering wheel.

"You alright, Tenzy?" 345 inquired, concerned.

"Yeah, yeah, 345, I..." He paused for several seconds, as if being piloted himself. "I'll be alright...Let's just...Get back to base,"

"That sounds agreeable, 10," 300 calmly approved. With little more than a glance back at him, the cooling medic resumed his piloting.

IX

"Oh, you guys are so adorable!" 345 chirped as 626 and 624 exited the pod with jointed hands.
"Is that important at all?" The blue Experiment replied, somewhat bothered.
"Not really, I was just stating a fact,"

Suddenly, any unease that had vanished on the trip back to base returned with a sickening pit in every stomach. The typical bustling echoes were substituted with silence, and the lights were dimmed to create an irritating brown sight.

"I should have known..." 621 grumbled after observing the changes to their base before turning to his comrades. "He's evacuated the other 614 of us,"

"Yeah, all the other pods are gone." Everyone turned to find poking his head into one of the other bay doors.
"Very sharp, 10," The marksman firmly complimented.
"Oh...Thanks, 621,"

"We know now that Jumba has some unpleasant surprises awaiting us in here," 300 stepped forward.
"Wish we's known that before we left, huh?" 149 stated. "Woulda saved us all the trouble,"
"Had we known then, 149, we'd never have learned it at all,"
"...Fair point,"
"Regardless, a small group of us should scan ahead, while the rest of us back them up,"

"Good plan," 621 replied, pulling his rifle from his back. "I'll volunteer to scout ahead...626, 624? Would you come with?"

"Oh, so you're making us volunteer, then?" The pink Experiment sarcastically replied as they stood alongside 621. She was greeted with an unamused glare. "C'mon, let's check it out." She motioned for him to proceed, which he did.

"None of you act until these two have, alright?" The marksman called back as he walked. Both 626 and 624 thought to bow to each other to allow them to pass first. They both rubbed their heads and chuckled in sync at the resulting collision.

"I understand you two are hoping this will help you both focus..." 300 stepped forward as the laughter silenced. "All I ask is that you prove that,"

"Alright. Sorry, 300." 626 took 624's hand, which truly was as soft as he had pondered shortly after birth, and lead her ahead. 621, rifle at the ready, was backed against the western wall, right next to the corner, where his two selected assistants quickly joined him.

"Okay, there's nothing straight ahead..." The marksman nodded to the dim, empty room, as white as purgatory and little more than a few long, box-like benches. "I'll head around this corner and call you and the others forward if it's safe. If anything happens, I'll let both groups keep their element of surprise, which you'll use as you see fit. All I ask is that you don't use it recklessly..." He was responded with a pair of curt nods. He was about to enact his plan when he suddenly halted, his back still to 624 and 626. "...But you two have always been loyal to me, so I know I can count on you. I just hope I'm right in thinking your newfound partnership increases your effectiveness as a team,"

"It will, 621." One of 624's antennae rested reassuringly on 621's upper left shoulder. "We can promise you that,"

"And no matter what happens to you..." 626 added. "You'll be repaid for what you did on Gantu's ship,"

621 gave a short glance back to his comrades, though he was around the corner and out of sight before too long. It was even less time before his gravelly voice was heard again.

"Hello,"
"...Hello..." The reply was not immediate. "...Which number are you?"
"621...You must be Number 627,"
"I guess you could say that...That's what Dr. Jumba says, but...I'd really rather not be associated with you..." If he was 627, his voice was as low as 300's, yet with a timidness like 10's. The others listening struggled to find a better word than depressed.
"Why not?"
"It's not obvious?" There was a brief pause, as silent as a corpse. "You don't remember, then? On the fields of Turo?"
"...I've been on a few planets with fields. Do you think you could be more specific?"
"More specific? Hmph, no, I doubt that I could. From what I know, all these planets and fields you've mentioned are more or less the same to you, aren't they? You'd never give them a second thought, no matter what..."
"I might. Maybe-"
"No!" The unseen depression suddenly became the firm voice of a judge sentencing execution. "You wouldn't, you insolent bastard, because you never have...Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary..." The spontaneous, soft, angry reciting flabbergasted the listening Experiments. The larger group was carefully approaching the corner like stealthy leopards, and had been since 621 had vanished from sight. "Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore…"They all quickly noticed that their marksman had not responded 627 as immediately as he had been, and that his voice was substituted by some vague gagging. Thinking quickly, 626 gave a determined look to 624, who nodded firmly back. She turned and raised a hand like a yield sign before ascending the wall, while her blue mate followed 621 around the corner. What he could see in the dim light was an Experiment taller than him, yet shorter than 150. He had long, notched ears like his own, and a thin and triangular head like that of a bloodied arrow. His fur was crimson like the fires of Hell, and his pitch black eyes burned similarly. His torso was like an enormous ant's, with two ferocious hands gripping a kneeling 621's throat, and four more restraining all of the marksman's bony arms. 621's rifle lay dropped by 627's feet. The new arrival was quick to notice his approaching predecessor. "While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly, there came a tapping..."

"Let him go, 627!" 626 demanded. "I mean it! Experiment or not, I have no problem making you feel what 621's feeling now!"
"As if someone gently rapping..." The flames in 627's eyes grew shorter for just a moment, and in that moment, he glanced again at his victim before throwing him away without a turn of his head. "Rapping at my chamber door..."
"Now, maybe you'd like to tell me where Lardass sent you from-"
"'Tis some visitor, I muttered..." The red Experiment cut him off like an axe through wood. "Tapping at my chamber door..." He straightened up, four of his arms retreating within him, and his eyes beginning to glow as red as his fur. 626 braced himself for the glow's projectile climax. "Only this, and nothing more!"