Chapter 1: Experiment 626

Deep in space, at the Galactic Federation Headquarters, the Grand Councilwoman stepped forward as an alien with four eyes was on trial. This was Jumba Jookiba.

"Read the charges," she said.

"Dr. Jumba Jookiba, lead scientist of Galaxy Defense Industries. You stand before this council accused of illegal genetic experimentation," Gantu said.

"How do you plead?" the Grand Councilwoman asked.

"Not guilty. My experiments are only theoretical," Jumba denied.

"We believe you may have actually created something," she said.

"Created something? Ha! I would never create—" Before he could finish, a small ship brought in a small blue creature with four arms, spikes, and antennae. "Make more than one," Jumba admitted as the creature growled.

"What is that monstrosity?" Gantu asked.

"Monstrosity? What you see before you is the first of a new species. I call it Experiment 626. He is bulletproof, fireproof, and can think faster than a supercomputer. He can see in the dark and move objects 3,000 times his size. His only instinct is to destroy everything he touches!" Jumba laughed.

"So it is a monster?" the Grand Councilwoman asked.

"Just a little one," Jumba said.

"It is an affront to nature and must be destroyed," Gantu declared.

"Calm yourself, Captain Gantu. Perhaps it can be reasoned with. Experiment 626, give us some sign that you can understand any of this. Show us there is something inside you that is good," she asked.

Looking at them, 626 cleared his throat to say something. "Meega, nala kweesta!" he declared, shocking everyone.

"So naughty," the Grand Councilwoman said as 626 laughed.

"I didn't teach him that," Jumba said.

"Place that idiot scientist under arrest," Gantu ordered.

"I prefer Evil Genius!" Jumba said as they took him away.

"And as for that abomination, it is the flawed product of a deranged mind. It has no place among us. Captain Gantu, take him away," the Grand Councilwoman ordered.

"With pleasure," Gantu said, cracking his knuckles.

Bringing 626 to the prison transport, they loaded him into a containment unit that only allowed his head to move and had two large blasters aimed at him.

"Uncomfortable? Good. The council has banished you to exile on a desert asteroid, so relax, enjoy the ride, and don't get any ideas. These guns are locked onto your genetic signature. They won't shoot anyone but you," Gantu said, poking 626, but ended up getting bitten. "OW! Why you little—"

"Ahem. May I remind the Captain that he is on duty," a small alien said, causing Gantu to growl.

"Secure the cell!" Gantu ordered as he made his way to the control room. "Uh, does this look infected to you?" he asked, showing them his bitten finger.

Suddenly, an explosion went off followed by an alarm.

"Gunfire in the cell bay!"

"Open a channel!" Gantu ordered.

Inside, 626 had tricked the guns into firing at whatever he had spit at, allowing him to break out of his cell and make his escape.

"Security converge on door 7!" Gantu ordered as security went to capture 626.

As 626 lifted a heavy door, he made it to the other side to see security firing at him. Moving quickly, he entered the vents.

"Security to bridge! He's in the ventilation system!"

Gantu looked up, hearing 626 crawling in the vents above him. Taking out a blaster, he fired at the vents. "He's heading for the power!" Before Gantu could finish, all the power in the ship went off.

Suddenly, they heard something take off from inside.

"What was that?" Gantu asked.

"I don't think he's on the ship anymore."

"Confirmed. He's taken a Police Cruiser."

Looking out the window, they saw 626 flying in a red police cruiser.

"Yeah…he took the red one."

As 626 fought off the other police cruisers, he broke something that was in glass.

"Hyperdrive engaged! Warning: Guidance system is not operational! Do not engage—"

Before the computer could finish, 626 activated Hyperdrive, making his escape.

"Get me Galactic Control," Gantu groaned, not liking where this was going.

At Galactic Control, the Grand Councilwoman stormed in.

"Where is he?!" she yelled.

"Still in hyperspace."

"Where will he exit?" the Grand Councilwoman asked.

"Calculating now. Quadrant 17, Section 005, Area 51. A planet called E-Arth."

"I want an expert on this planet in here now," she said when she got a good look at the planet. "What is that?"

"Water. Most of the planet is covered in it."

"He won't survive in water. His molecular density is too great," she said, causing most of the aliens in the room to smile at the thought. But as they zoomed in, they saw 626 would, in fact, be landing not in water but on Kauai. "Of course. How much time before he lands?"

"His landing will be in 3 hours and 42 minutes."

"We'll have to gas the planet," the Grand Councilwoman said.

"Hold it! Hold everything!" Turning around, a green alien with one eye came walking in, carrying lots of documents. This was Pleakley. "Earth is a protected wildlife preserve. We've been using it to rebuild the mosquito population, which is an endangered species."

"Am I to assume you are the expert?" the Grand Councilwoman asked.

"I wouldn't say expert. Agent Pleakley at your service," Pleakley said.

"Can we not simply destroy the island?" she asked.

"No! Crazyhead! The mosquito's food of choice, primitive humanoid life forms, have colonies all over that planet," Pleakley said.

"Are they intelligent?" the Grand Councilwoman asked.

"Not even close and incredibly delicate," Pleakley said.

"In fact, every time an asteroid strikes their planet, they have to begin life all over," Pleakley said.

"What if our military forces just landed there?" the Grand Councilwoman asked.

"These are simple creatures. Landing there would cause mass mayhem and planet-wide panic," Pleakley said.

"A quiet capture would require an understanding of 626 which we do not have. Who then would you send for his capture?" she asked.

Pleakley looked at her for a few seconds.

"Does he have a brother?" Pleakley asked.

Rolling her eyes, the Grand Councilwoman saw there was only one person who could help them.

Taking him to the jail cells, they entered Jumba's cell.

"He got away?" Jumba asked.

"I'm sure this comes as no surprise to you," the Grand Councilwoman said.

"I designed this creature to be unstoppable," Jumba said.

"Which is precisely why you must bring him back," she said, surprising him. "And to reward you, we are willing to trade your freedom for his capture."

"626 will not come easy. Maybe a direct blast from a plasma cannon might stun him long enough," Jumba said.

"Plasma cannon granted. Do we have a bargain, Dr. Jumba?" the Grand Councilwoman asked as Jumba nodded.

"But it's a delicate planet," Pleakley said,

"Who's gonna control him?" Pleakley asked.

"You will," she said before leaving.

"What?" he said, shocked.

"Now tell me, my little one-eyed friend. On what poor, pitiful, defenseless planet has my monstrosity been unleashed?" Jumba asked.

Meanwhile, on Kauai, an airplane landed on the runway, and walking out of it were a whole bunch of people. Among them were a mother and her son.

The mother had long blonde hair tied in a ponytail and glasses. She was wearing a light blue shirt, jeans, red shoes, and a yellow jacket. Her name was Sam Evans.

The son, named Jake Evans, was a 14-year-old with a small black afro hairstyle, brown eyes, and soft facial features. He had a kind demeanor and a black skin complexion.

They were on a family trip visiting Kauai.

Jake was looking down at his phone, checking for any texts from his best friend, Luz Noceda, but no messages popped up.

As they walked through the airport, Sam Evans took in the tropical surroundings with a smile. "Isn't this place beautiful, Jake? I can't wait to explore the island."

Jake nodded, though his attention was still on his phone. "Yeah, Mom, it is. I'm just wondering why Luz hasn't texted back. She usually replies right away."

Sam placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Maybe she's busy. Don't worry, I'm sure she'll get back to you soon. Now, how about we grab our luggage and head to the hotel?"

Jake reluctantly put his phone away and followed his mom to the baggage claim area. After retrieving their bags, they made their way outside to catch a taxi.

As they rode through the scenic streets of Kauai, Jake's thoughts drifted to Luz. She was always up to something interesting, and he couldn't help but wonder what adventure she might be on now.

When they arrived at the hotel, they were greeted by a friendly receptionist who checked them in and gave them a map of the island with popular attractions marked.

"Thank you," Sam said, taking the map. "Jake, why don't we unpack and then head out to explore? Maybe we can find a nice spot for lunch."

"Sounds good, Mom," Jake replied, trying to shake off his worries about Luz. He decided to focus on enjoying the trip with his mom.

After settling into their room, they set out to explore the island. As they walked through the bustling streets, the vibrant atmosphere and beautiful scenery began to lift Jake's spirits.

They found a quaint beachside café for lunch and enjoyed fresh seafood while watching the waves crash against the shore. Jake's phone buzzed, and his heart skipped a beat as he saw a message from Luz.

"Hey, Jake! Sorry for the delay. I've been caught up with something super cool. Can't wait to tell you all about it! How's Kauai?"

Jake smiled and quickly replied, "Hey, Luz! No worries. Kauai is amazing! We'll catch up soon. Enjoy your adventure!"

Feeling more relaxed, Jake put his phone away and looked at his mom. "You were right, Mom. This place is awesome. Thanks for bringing me here."

Sam smiled warmly. "I'm glad you're enjoying it, Jake. Let's make the most of our time here and create some unforgettable memories."

As they continued their day, Jake couldn't shake the feeling that this trip would be more eventful than they had anticipated. Little did they know, their peaceful vacation was about to take an unexpected turn.

Time passed, and Sam and Jake were walking past an animal shelter when they saw a woman with light skin, brown hair, and glasses. She was wearing the animal shelter uniform, which consisted of a green shirt, blue pants, black shoes, and a light green apron. She was walking eight dogs, all on leashes, until one dog escaped and started running down the street.

Sam and Jake watched as the woman frantically tried to gather the remaining dogs while looking worriedly after the runaway. Without a second thought, Jake turned to his mom. "Mom, I'm going to help her!"

Before Sam could respond, Jake took off running after the dog. The streets were busy, and Jake had to weave through the crowd, keeping his eyes on the quick-moving pup.

"Hey! Stop that dog!" he shouted as he ran. Some passersby tried to help, but the dog was too fast.

The woman at the shelter managed to secure the other dogs and watched Jake with a mixture of hope and anxiety. "Thank you!" she called out, her voice filled with gratitude.

Sam stayed with the woman, watching Jake's progress. "He's a good kid. He'll get your dog back."

Jake chased the dog around a corner, into a quieter part of the street. He finally spotted the dog sniffing around a small alley. He approached slowly, trying not to startle it.

"Hey, buddy," Jake said softly, kneeling down and holding out his hand. "It's okay. I'm here to help."

The dog looked up, its ears perking at Jake's gentle tone. Slowly, it started to walk towards him, sniffing his hand.

"That's it," Jake whispered, moving carefully to grab the leash. He managed to secure it and gave the dog a reassuring pat.

He walked back to the shelter with the dog in tow, feeling a sense of accomplishment. As he rounded the corner, the woman and Sam were waiting for him, relieved expressions on their faces.

"Oh, thank you so much!" the woman exclaimed, taking the leash from Jake. "You saved the day!"

Jake smiled, feeling proud. "No problem. I'm just glad I could help."

Sam ruffled Jake's hair affectionately. "Great job, Jake. You've got a good heart."

The woman introduced herself. "I'm Clara, by the way. I run the animal shelter here. You and your mom should come by sometime. We're always looking for volunteers."

"Nice to meet you, Clara," Sam said. "We'll definitely consider it. Thanks for taking care of these animals."

Jake nodded. "Yeah, I'd love to help out."

As they walked away, Jake felt a newfound excitement for their trip. Helping Clara had made him feel more connected to Kauai. He couldn't wait to see what other adventures awaited them.

Later that night at the hotel, Jake was on his phone, texting Luz about the day he had.

"Hey, Luz! You won't believe what happened today," Jake typed, a smile on his face.

A few moments later, his phone buzzed with a reply. "Hey, Jake! What's up? Tell me everything!"

Jake quickly typed back. "We were walking by an animal shelter, and this lady lost one of her dogs. I chased it down and brought it back to her. She was super grateful!"

"Wow, that's awesome! You're like a hero!" Luz replied.

Jake chuckled. "Thanks! It felt good to help. She even invited us to volunteer at the shelter while we're here."

"That sounds so cool! Are you going to do it?" Luz asked.

"Definitely! I think it'll be fun," Jake responded. "How's everything with you?"

"Same old, same old," Luz replied. "But I've got some exciting news too. I finally convinced my mom to let me take a trip to visit you this summer!"

Jake's eyes widened in excitement. "No way! That's awesome! We're going to have so much fun!"

"Totally! I can't wait to see you and explore Kauai together," Luz said.

Just then, Sam called from the other room. "Jake, it's getting late. Time to get ready for bed."

"Okay, Mom!" Jake replied. Then he texted Luz, "Gotta go for now. Talk to you tomorrow?"

"Sure thing! Goodnight, Jake," Luz replied.

"Goodnight, Luz," Jake typed back, a smile on his face as he put his phone down and got ready for bed. He couldn't wait for the adventures that awaited them, both in Kauai and with Luz's upcoming visit.

Before Jake went to bed, he took a look out the window to take in the beautiful Kauai night sky. As he gazed at the stars, a sudden green light streaked across the sky, catching his attention.

"Whoa, a shooting star!" Jake thought, feeling a rush of excitement. He had always heard that seeing a shooting star was a sign of good luck.

But as he watched, the green light grew brighter and seemed to move in a strange, controlled manner, unlike any shooting star he had ever seen. It wasn't just streaking across the sky; it was descending.

Jake's excitement turned to curiosity and a bit of concern. "That's weird," he murmured to himself. He watched as the light continued to descend, disappearing beyond the horizon.

Feeling a bit uneasy, Jake decided to text Luz one last time before bed.

"Luz, I just saw the weirdest thing. I thought it was a shooting star, but it was green and it looked like it was coming down, not just across the sky," he typed quickly.

His phone buzzed almost immediately. "That sounds spooky! Maybe it was a meteor or something. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. It just looked strange. I'll check it out tomorrow," Jake replied. "Goodnight for real this time."

"Goodnight, Jake. Be careful!" Luz texted back.

Jake put his phone down, still thinking about the strange green light. He got into bed, wondering what it could have been. As he drifted off to sleep, his mind buzzed with possibilities of what he might discover the next day.

At the crash site, 626 emerged from the crater, laughing at his successful escape.

As he made his way down, 626 suddenly felt a raindrop on his head before the rain began pouring down. Hating the water, 626 suddenly heard a noise.

Pulling out four blasters, he aimed to see it was only a frog. He threatened to blast it, but the frog didn't budge.

Suddenly, from down the road, a truck headed his way. 626 held up his guns but ended up getting run over with ease. As he got out from under the first truck, a second truck ran him over.

"What was that?" one of the construction workers shouted, running out to see what had happened.

"It's stuck under the fender," another worker said as they noticed a claw.

"We, uh...we better call someone," one of them suggested, eyeing the strange creature under the truck.

The next morning, Jake woke up with the memory of the green light still fresh in his mind. He decided that after breakfast, he would head out to see if he could find where it had landed. With a sense of adventure and a bit of trepidation, Jake prepared for the day, eager to uncover the mystery of the strange green light.

After a quick breakfast with his mom, Jake grabbed his backpack, filled it with some essentials, and set off on his quest. He retraced his steps from the night before, heading towards the area where he had seen the light descend.

As he walked, Jake's excitement grew. The lush greenery of Kauai surrounded him, and the morning sun cast a warm glow over the landscape. He reached the outskirts of the town and ventured into the more secluded areas.

Eventually, Jake stumbled upon a construction site. The area looked recently disturbed, and there were deep tire tracks leading in and out. Curious, he followed the tracks and soon heard voices up ahead.

"What's going on?" Jake wondered aloud as he approached cautiously.

He peeked around a corner and saw a group of construction workers gathered around a truck. They seemed agitated and were pointing at something underneath the vehicle. Jake inched closer, trying to get a better look.

"It's stuck under the fender," one worker said.

"We, uh...we better call someone," another added nervously.

Jake's eyes widened when he saw what they were talking about. Under the truck, partially obscured by the fender, was a small, blue creature with four arms and antennae. It looked like nothing Jake had ever seen before.

"Is that...an alien?" Jake thought, his heart racing. He watched as the creature, 626, pulled itself free from under the truck and shook off the dirt.

Before Jake could process what was happening, 626 noticed him. The creature's eyes locked onto Jake, and for a moment, they simply stared at each other.

"Hey, kid! Get back!" one of the workers shouted, snapping Jake out of his trance.

But instead of running away, Jake took a deep breath and stepped forward. "It's okay," he said, trying to sound calm. "I think it needs help."

The construction workers looked at each other, unsure of what to do. Jake slowly approached 626, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. "Hi there," he said softly. "My name is Jake. Are you...okay?"

626 tilted his head, seemingly considering Jake's words. Then, to Jake's surprise, the creature lowered its blasters and took a cautious step forward.

The construction workers watched in stunned silence as Jake and 626 began to communicate. It was the start of an unexpected and extraordinary friendship, one that would lead them on many adventures together on the island of Kauai.