Chapter 4
The small town of Kauai bustled with activity, local men and women bartered, shopped and exchanged terse greetings with each other. Mixed in with the regulars were huddled groups of tourists. They stuck together like penguins in a snowstorm, penguins with cameras and Hawaiian shirts. The people parted like the red sea, as the Jeep trundled past sporting a big red engine on the back. After dropping Snoopy off, they headed up the incline toward Lilo's home.
As they parked loudly under the porch, Pleakly and Nani raced down the stairs to greet them. Pleakly, today, was the veritable definition of colourful. Multi-coloured nylon dress and a bright yellow shirt, a large black afro sat lop- sided on his head draping down. Nani sported the more manly costume, jeans and a shirt.
"Lilo you're late, I was getting worried, how about I order pizza for dinner," Nani stroked her cheek,
"YOU were getting worried, what about me, poor Pleakly, you can't just take off like that and for so long too! Oh I'm going to get wrinkles from all this worry,"
"Calm down Pleakly, we're Ok, right Stitch?"
"Ih," Stitch shrugged off Pleakly who was checking him for injuries.
"Why are the seats all wet, Lilo," Nani had her hands inspecting the seats where Stitch and Snooty had been.
"Oh… I can tell you later- we need to see Jumba though,"
"Jumba, what's so important that you can't give us a proper hello? I've been so worried!"
"It's ok Pleakly they are probably tired, come on I'll order the pizza,"
With that they all went inside. Nani disappeared into the Kitchen. Pleakly, Lilo and Stitch went up to Jumba's makeshift laboratory. As they turned the corner they noticed a green glow coming from the cracks in the closed door.
"Oh no, green, when Jumba's doing something green it normally turns out evil."
"Jumba," Lilo said opening the door,
Jumba turned round in his swivel chair, a modified pair of goggles, with space for all four of his eyes, adorned his face, apparently Pleakly had stuck feathers to the rims of the goggles- they had been singed though.
"Ah, little girl and 626 are back, how was modified Earth vehicle."
"Fine, maybe bit too fast though."
"Eiqutaka, vroom vroom, moqua porta" Stitch said looking at Lilo,
"626 is disagreeing, says that car is not fast enough,"
"We almost crashed though,"
"nagaa, eiqutaka,"
"Anyway, Jumba did we miss any experiments?" inquired Lilo,
"No we have not,"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, what has little girl found?"
Lilo was holding out the white pod. Jumba picked it up inspecting it closely.
"Is much like experiment pod, lack of moisture, but is not,"
Pressing a button on his goggles he looked again.
"No little girl, is not experiment,"
"But we found Gantu with it in the forest, are you sure it's not,"
"Are you doubting evil genius opinion!" he laughed," Is not experiment, look, I show you,"
Grabbing a vile filled with water he dropped the pod into the water. What followed was familiar to them all, a sphere of energy rose from the water. Shapes and colours flowed like liquid inside, flowing, fusing and settling into position. Then the bubble of energy burst- leaving a small furry experiment.
"Some genius you are," said Pleakly looking over Lilo's shoulder, "Who is he?"
"But is impossible, we caught all experiments." Jumba scratched his head. Then Jumba spun round. He began tapping at his modified computer.
"Did you forget about this one," Lilo bent down. The experiment stirred, breathing its first breath of fresh air.
"Hello," said Lilo,
Stitch jumped up to the experiment inspecting it.
"Looks like cousin,"
"Looks like, but is not, look." He spun the screen round showing rows of ticks down the page.
The experiment stood up, flexing his limbs-six like Stitch- his burgundy fur bristled with as the elation of reattachment wore off. His head was round with small cupped ears, and perhaps most noticeable was the smooth grey ovals that appeared at regular intervals on his arms and one big one on his forehead. He wore a vacant look- almost confused. He looked at the four heads staring unblinkingly at him. He scratched his fur, sat up and stretched, then he stood and yawned. When he finished he stood, his ears rotated.
"You know- I was expecting something a bit more violent," Pleakly commented.
"Is not made by evil genius, perhaps not evil," Jumba looked at the creature.
"Well that would make a change," Pleakly turned and began organizing his wig collection.
"What can you do little guy," Lilo bent and scratched him under the chin.
"You know- I have no idea," said the furry experiment-like creature.
"Well you can talk, at least, where do you come from buddy?"
"Yeah, see, all I remember is going to sleep in a dark room, ok?"
"Hold still," Jumba swabbed the mouth of the experiment, "I might find something with a simple DNA test eh?"
"Ok but no surgery," turning to Lilo," Where am I anyway."
"We are on Earth, Hawaii, I am Lilo and this is Stitch," Stitch was pacing round the experiment, poking and brushing.
"Hey, when does the exercise therapy end? Cause I am hungry,"
"Stitch hungry too,"
"Come on lets have some food, you coming Pleakly?"
"I'll be out in a second, as an Earth expert I need an appropriate wig to wear."
"You don't need a wig for dinner Pleakly, what about you Jumba?"
"I want to check something,"
Lilo, Stitch and the newcomer left to have pizza, ordered by Nani. Pleakly left as soon as he had chosen a bright blonde wig, and matching dinner wear. Jumba kept tapping on the touch screen of his supercomputer.
"I did not make experiment, then why is he so similar. I think someone has been messing around in my old lab, must tell the grand councilwoman to check, here is hoping it is not you-know-who."