Chapter 2: New Dog
As Jake tried to talk to Experiment 626, one of the workers threw a rock at him.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Jake said.
"That thing is a monster," the worker replied.
"No, he's not," Jake insisted.
But as soon as Jake turned around, he saw Experiment 626 holding his blasters once more.
"Hey, I'm not trying to hurt you," Jake said, but 626 blasted him in the foot, causing Jake to run away.
As Jake limped away, he glanced back to see Experiment 626 lowering his blasters, looking confused.
"Wait! I'm not your enemy!" Jake shouted, hoping to reason with the creature.
626 tilted his head, still cautious but no longer firing. Jake took a deep breath and slowly approached again, holding up his hands to show he meant no harm.
"Look, I'm just trying to help," Jake said gently. "You don't have to be afraid."
626 hesitated, his blasters still at the ready but not aimed directly at Jake. Seeing this as a small victory, Jake continued, "We can find a way to get you back home or at least keep you safe here."
Suddenly, the worker who had thrown the rock earlier stepped forward again. "You can't trust that thing!" he yelled, picking up another rock.
"Stop it!" Jake shouted, putting himself between the worker and 626. "You're just making things worse!"
The worker paused, his rock still in hand, but he didn't throw it. Instead, he glared at Jake. "You're crazy, kid," he muttered before backing off.
Turning back to 626, Jake offered a tentative smile. "See? Not everyone wants to hurt you."
626's blasters slowly retracted, and he made a curious alien sound, tilting his head as he observed Jake.
"Maybe we can be friends," Jake suggested, extending his hand cautiously.
After a moment of hesitation, 626 reached out with one of his four arms and gently touched Jake's hand, a spark of understanding passing between them.
"Come on, I know the perfect place to hide you," Jake whispered urgently. "We have to stay quiet."
626 gave a cautious nod, following Jake as they navigated through the construction site. Jake led him through narrow alleys and side streets, avoiding any prying eyes. They soon reached an old, abandoned shed near the edge of town.
"This place should be safe," Jake said, pushing open the creaky door. "No one comes here anymore."
626 looked around the dusty shed, then back at Jake with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. Jake quickly cleared a spot on the floor, spreading out an old blanket he found in the corner.
"It's not much, but it'll keep you hidden for now," Jake said. "I'll bring you some food and water later."
626 settled down on the blanket, still keeping a wary eye on Jake. Seeing the alien relax a bit, Jake felt a sense of relief.
"We'll figure this out," Jake assured him. "I promise."
As he turned to leave, Jake added, "I'll be back soon. Just stay out of sight, okay?"
626 gave a small nod, and Jake quietly slipped out of the shed, making sure to close the door behind him. As he walked back towards town, his mind raced with thoughts on how to explain this situation to his mom, and what they would do next to keep 626 safe.
The next day, they went to the local animal shelter. Jake had to take off Experiment 626's red suit, but 626 insisted on keeping the blasters.
They snuck around to the back of the animal shelter, making sure no one spotted them. As they entered the area where the dogs were kept, Jake noticed how the dogs reacted to 626's presence. They all cowered in their cages, eyes wide with fear at the sight of the strange creature.
"Don't worry, they're just scared," Jake whispered to 626. "They've never seen anyone like you before."
626 looked around, his blasters still tightly gripped in his hands. Jake gently patted him on the back, trying to offer some reassurance.
"We'll just stay here for a bit until I figure out our next move," Jake said. "Let me see if I can find something to make you more comfortable."
Jake rummaged through the supplies at the shelter and found an old blanket and a few toys. He brought them over to 626, setting up a small corner where the alien could rest. 626 hesitated but eventually settled down, still eyeing the scared dogs warily.
"We'll be okay," Jake said softly. "Just need to lay low for a while."
Until Jake heard someone coming and quickly looked around, trying to figure out a way to hide Experiment 626.
"Quick, hide!" Jake said as 626 started to climb the walls until he was stuck on the ceiling.
Then Jake saw it was just Clara walking into the back of the room with dog food in her hands.
"Hey, Jake, I didn't know you were coming this early," Clara said.
"Yeah, umm, I love staying busy, you know," Jake said nervously as he moved to help Clara with the dog food.
He soon glanced up at 626 and moved his head, signaling him to move. Clara noticed and looked up, seeing nothing there.
"Hey, Jake, are you okay?" Clara asked.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," Jake said as 626 climbed above them on the ceiling before making his way out the door.
But the second he got outside, multiple blasts were fired at him, causing him to run behind some rocks.
"Ha! Ha! How nice to see your face again!" Jumba called out, surprising him.
"Jumba?" 626 said, realizing he would need another plan.
Crawling back inside, he saw Jake and Clara finishing with the dog food.
"Okay, Jake, I'm going to go work on some paperwork out front. You make sure the dogs are okay," Clara said.
"Yeah, okay," Jake said as she walked away.
As soon as she was gone, 626 jumped back down to the floor.
"What happened?" Jake asked.
"Jumba," 626 said.
"Who's that?" Jake asked.
"Creator," 626 said.
"Well, like your dad?" Jake asked, making 626 look at him with confusion.
"You don't know what a dad is? It's like the person that made you. Also, well, you'd have a mom too, but that's too much detail for one day," Jake said as he looked at him. "You don't want to go back to him, do you?" Jake asked, making 626 shake his head.
"Okay, there's got to be a way we can hide you," Jake said as he looked around for anything.
626, looking at the adoption poster, decided to change his appearance. Pulling his extra arms in, antennae, and spikes, he did his best to mimic an actual dog.
Jake watched in awe as 626 transformed, pulling in his extra arms, antennae, and spikes to look more like an actual dog. His eyes widened in amazement.
"Wow, that's incredible!" Jake exclaimed, barely able to believe what he was seeing. "You look just like a dog now. This might actually work!"
626 barked, trying to imitate the other dogs, which made Jake laugh. "Perfect. Now we just need to get you an adoption collar or something. That should help keep you hidden for a while."
They quickly searched through the shelter supplies and found an old collar. Jake put it around 626's neck, making him look even more like a regular dog.
"Alright, let's get you out of here and find a safer place," Jake said. "But we have to be careful. Jumba is still out there looking for you."
Just then, Clara returned. "Everything okay back here, Jake?"
"Yeah, everything's fine," Jake said, trying to sound casual. "Just making sure all the dogs are settled."
Clara looked around and her eyes fell on 626. "Who's this new dog? I don't remember seeing him before."
"Oh, he must have wandered in," Jake quickly lied. "I was just about to check if he has an owner or if he's a stray."
Clara nodded. "Alright, make sure to keep an eye on him. We don't want any more chaos in here."
"Will do," Jake said, relieved that Clara didn't suspect anything.
As Clara walked away, Jake turned to 626. "Okay, let's get you out of here and find a safe place to hide until we figure out our next move."
626 nodded, and they quietly made their way out of the shelter, hoping to stay one step ahead of Jumba.
Meanwhile, at the front desk, Sam walked in and saw Clara doing some paperwork.
"Hey Clara, how's Jake doing working here?" Sam asked.
"He's doing good. Actually, he found a dog," Clara said, as Jake walked out with 626, causing her to freak out.
"What is that thing?!" Sam exclaimed, taken aback.
"It's a dog I found outside, wandering the streets, and I want to adopt him," Jake explained.
"Are you sure you don't want another dog?" Sam questioned.
Jake looked at 626. "Nah, I think we'll stick with this one. Now we need to think of a name," Clara said, filling out a form.
"How about…Stitch?" Jake suggested.
"Stitch? That's not a real—" Before she could finish, Sam cleared his throat, signaling to go with it. "Really common name for a dog, but it works. That'll be two dollars."
Sam paid the woman, and she handed Jake the license. "He's all yours."
Outside, Jumba and Pleakley were waiting as Stitch made his way out.
"You're all mine," Jumba said, aiming the targeting laser at Stitch, but Stitch didn't move. "Why don't you run?"
Suddenly, Stitch let out a bark.
"I'm coming," Jake said, making his way out.
"Stop!" Pleakley shouted, pushing Jumba aside. "This situation is far too hazardous!"
"Don't worry, I won't hit him!" Jumba insisted.
"Here, educate yourself," Pleakley added.
"Using a little boy as a shield?! This is low even for you!" Jumba shouted as Stitch teased him. Roaring in anger, Jumba rushed down the hill towards them, causing Stitch to bark.
Pleakley tackled Jumba into the bushes just as Sam walked out.
"What was that?" Sam asked, looking over to see nothing. "Don't bark at nothing."
In the bushes, Pleakley was lecturing Jumba. "You can't shoot, and you can't be seen. Look at you, you look like a monster."
"We need to blend in," Pleakley said.
Down the street, Sam gave Jake some money.
"Alright, you keep a close eye on your dog and stay safe," Sam said, kissing Jake on the cheek.
"Come on, Mom, I'm 14 years old. I don't need kisses," Jake protested.
"Whether you're 14 or 21, you're still my little boy," Sam said, making Jake blush with embarrassment before walking away.
Looking into a nearby store, Stitch saw a movie of a giant spider attacking a large city and grinned as he acted out what he saw in the movie.
"So, what do you want to do first?" Jake asked, spotting a boy and his friends on bikes nearby.
"Hey!" Jake called out, startling them before he approached.
"What do you want?" the boy asked.
"I'm sorry, I'm new here. My name is Jake Evans," Jake apologized.
"Apology not accepted. Now get out of my way before I run you over," the boy threatened.
"You can't talk to me like that. I was just trying to be nice," Jake said, walking away with Stitch, who unnerved them.
"What is that?" the boy asked.
"This is my new dog. His name is Stitch," Jake said.
"That is the ugliest thing I have ever seen," the boy remarked.
"Yeah," his friends chimed in agreement.
Stitch walked over and examined the boy's bike, which creeped him out. "Ew, get it away from me! I'm gonna get a disease!"
Stitch's ears perked up as he saw Jumba and Pleakley wearing disguises, prompting him to steal the boy's bike and grab Jake. "Somebody do something!"
"Oh great, he's loose," Pleakley sighed.
"His destructive programming is taking effect. He will be drawn to large cities where he will back up sewers, reverse street signs, and steal everyone's left shoes," Jumba explained.
Stitch took Jake everywhere he could, but wherever they went, they ended up looking out at the ocean.
"It's nice living on an island with no large cities, at least until I have to go back home," Jake remarked.
Hearing this, Stitch fell to the ground, groaning about how he would never fulfill his programming.
"Are you okay?" Jake asked.
"Hey, let's take a picture," Jake said, pulling out his phone.
Stitch grumbled in response, still feeling dejected.
"Come on, Stitch, it'll be fun," Jake encouraged, trying to cheer him up.
Reluctantly, Stitch nodded and posed awkwardly beside Jake as he snapped a quick photo.
"There, smile!" Jake chuckled, showing Stitch the picture.
Stitch looked at the photo and managed a small smile. "Good?"
"Yeah, great!" Jake replied enthusiastically. "Let's keep exploring. Maybe we'll find something cool to do."
As they walked along the beach, Jake noticed a group of kids playing volleyball nearby. He turned to Stitch with a grin.
"Hey, want to join them? It could be fun," Jake suggested.
Stitch hesitated, unsure about joining in with humans. But seeing Jake's excitement, he nodded, curious to try something new.
Jake led Stitch over to the group, introducing him as his new dog, Stitch. The kids stared at Stitch, unsure of what to make of him.
"Um, hi," one of the girls finally said tentatively.
Jake tried to break the ice. "Stitch is really good at volleyball. You should see him in action!"
The kids exchanged skeptical glances but decided to give it a try. They set up a makeshift game, with Stitch joining in as Jake's unexpected but enthusiastic teammate.
Stitch surprised everyone with his agility and unique style of play, occasionally using his extra arms to spike the ball. The kids laughed and cheered, enjoying the game despite Stitch's unconventional moves.
As the sun began to set, Jake and Stitch sat down on the sand, catching their breath.
"See, Stitch? That was fun, right?" Jake grinned, feeling proud of his new friend.
Stitch nodded, a hint of a smile on his face. Maybe this island wasn't so bad after all.
Meanwhile, in Gravesfield, a house not too far from the place, inside her room was a teenage girl with brown hair. This was Luz Noceda, Jake's best friend. She was finishing up homework from summer school until she received a text message from Jake in Kauai. She looked at it and saw a picture of him and Stitch with the caption saying, "Got a new dog."
Luz smiled and quickly typed a response. "Wow, Jake! He looks so cool! What's his name?"
A moment later, her phone buzzed with Jake's reply. "His name is Stitch. He's... unique. How's summer school going?"
"Same old, same old," Luz texted back. "Can't wait for it to be over. Your dog looks awesome! Tell me more about him."
Jake, now sitting on the beach with Stitch, began typing back. "Well, he's not exactly a regular dog. There's a lot more to him, but it's a long story. How about we video call tonight?"
Luz's excitement grew. "Sounds great! I'll be ready at 8."
After agreeing on the time, Jake put his phone away and looked at Stitch. "Luz is going to love you," he said, patting Stitch's head.
Stitch wagged his tail, seemingly content with the idea.
As the evening approached, Jake and Stitch made their way back to the hotel. After grabbing some dinner, they settled into their room. Jake set up his phone for the video call, eagerly waiting for Luz to join.
At exactly 8 PM, Luz's face appeared on the screen, smiling widely. "Hey, Jake! Hey, Stitch!"
Stitch barked a greeting, causing both friends to laugh.
"Hey, Luz! So, about Stitch... he's not just any dog. He's an alien experiment with some pretty crazy abilities," Jake explained.
Luz's eyes widened with excitement. "No way! That's so cool! Tell me everything!"
Jake began recounting the day's events, from finding Stitch to their encounter with Jumba and Pleakley. Luz listened intently, her curiosity piqued by the strange and exciting story.
As the call went on, the bond between Jake, Luz, and Stitch grew stronger. Despite being miles apart, their friendship remained unbreakable, and they were ready to face whatever adventures lay ahead together.
Meanwhile, outside the window unbeknownst to her, an owl was digging in the trash and picked up some garbage. The owl flew into an old abandoned house. Following after it, a bright light engulfed the area as the door closed.
Inside, Luz and Jake continued their conversation. Luz was brimming with questions. "So, how did you end up finding Stitch?"
Jake chuckled. "It's a long story. He actually fell from the sky. I thought it was a shooting star at first."
"Wow, that's incredible!" Luz exclaimed. "What's he like? Is he friendly?"
Jake glanced at Stitch, who was now happily chewing on a toy. "He's got a bit of a mischievous side, but he's definitely friendly once you get to know him. He's just... different."
Luz nodded, understanding. "Well, different is good. You two seem to be getting along great."
Jake smiled. "Yeah, we are. But there's more to this. There's a scientist named Jumba and an alien named Pleakley who are after him. It's complicated."
Luz's eyes widened. "That sounds intense. What are you going to do?"
"Right now, we're just trying to stay out of their way and figure out how to help Stitch," Jake replied.
Luz thought for a moment. "If there's anything I can do to help, let me know. We're a team, remember?"
Jake felt a warmth spread through him. "Thanks, Luz. That means a lot."
As their conversation continued, the mysterious owl from outside settled in the old abandoned house. Inside the house, it dropped the garbage in a hidden corner, and the light flickered once more. The house seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, unnoticed by the town around it.
Back at the hotel, Jake and Luz finally said their goodbyes. "Take care, Jake. And keep me updated on everything," Luz said.
"I will. Talk to you soon, Luz," Jake replied before ending the call.
Jake looked over at Stitch. "Alright, buddy. We need to figure out our next move."
Stitch nodded, his ears perking up in determination. Together, they were ready to face whatever challenges came their way.
