I could hear Mr Kuakini's cries for me to stop from behind as I ran away from his residence. I didn't stop. I didn't even turn around.

When I finally did stop I was a fair distance away. I caught my breath, sitting down against a tree. I was near the entrance to the woodlands at the edge of the town.

"Yo."

I jumped about a foot in the air, ears whipping up and looking around.

"Gaba leeba?!"

I heard laughter and looked up to see Chopsuey, hanging upside-down from the tree branch above me with his arms crossed.

"What're you doing here?!" I sneered at him. He opened an eye in annoyance and stared at me.

"Well, I was meditating. Up until you so rudely interrupted me."

I reeled back in disbelief. "Since when do you meditate?"

He didn't answer me, instead flipping down to the ground with a soft 'thud'. He leered over me, putting a claw to my forehead and pushing me back so that I fell onto my rear.

"Nice suit. I'm amazed you haven't busted the seams yet."

I growled loudly and pushed myself up. He just smirked again, circling around me with his arms behind his back.

"You should try meditating. Or perhaps exercise more. Might help you shake those extra pounds then you wouldn't be such a pushover. Hey, in fact, why don't you get Big J in on it too?" he poked at my stomach and I swiped at him. He just jumped back and laughed. "S'bout time good ol Large-n-in-Charge lost some weight."

"Stop insulting him!" I sneered.

"Ooh, feisty!" he grinned. "Suppose I'd be angry too if I was as fat as you are and the only way I got through each day is by having a little girl boss me around."

He pulled the hem of my tank top out and let it snap back against me. I kicked at him but he just dodged me again and did it to my shorts. I snarled savagely at him.

"Look, it jigg–"

"KNOCK IT OFF!" I screamed and tackled him to the ground. He laughed beneath me and I pushed my paws to his throat. He just smiled.

"No anger management therapy yet then I assume? Big J still too busy blowing his bank account on take out?"

I growled and shoved him hard back into the dirt. I didn't want to put up with him any more. He was just doing this to wind me up.

"Yo 626! You got something on your chin!" he called after me. I paused at that and turned to glare at him however once I put my hand up to feel my chin he interrupted me again.

"No, not that one! The third one down."

I screamed and picked up a rock, hurling it into his face and stormed away.

"...He is right though, you are a pushover."

Oh shut up.

I was in an exceptionally bad mood as I walked back into town a few hours later. And because of it, that damn demon voice was trying to bribe me to just let go and give into my anger. I ignored it the best I could up until I snapped in annoyance and ended up kicking a post box out of the ground.

"See, doesn't that feel so much better?"

I'd scared some locals out of their shops by doing that. A few came outside to look but I bolted before they could see me. I'd already caused enough trouble with Mertle and Aleka and as Jumba had said, I couldn't draw any more attention to myself right now.

I had no idea what to do.

"You could have a seat?"

That chair manifested again before me in my subconsciousness, illuminated brightly underneath a spotlight. I shook my head frantically, trying to get the image out of my mind. Those restraints made me feel uncomfortable. I still had no idea what the chair was supposed to represent.

I wished things weren't so confusing. But above all I just wished I knew what this voice was.

It went quiet again after that and left me alone. But somehow, I felt different. I didn't know what it was. It wasn't anything to do with what had happened at Mr Kuakini's – but more so something inside of me was bubbling deep inside and the sensation was getting stronger. It felt like a huge tidal wave was inside of me; a tidal wave of anger and frustration that had manifested over the past hour. My mind was screaming at me, hurling insults left right and centre. As I passed by townsfolk, all I could think about was how annoyed I was by them. How stupid they were, how stupid they looked. How much I wanted them out of my space.

I clenched my fists when they looked at me. I wanted to punch them, and I had no idea why.

Gritting my teeth, I sat down on a beach and tried to calm myself down. Something was very wrong with me. As I sat there, my body started shaking badly. I looked at my paws in shock, seeing them quivering. I thought for a moment that I might be starting to change again, but I didn't grow. The shaking eventually stopped and I hugged my legs close to myself.

What was wrong with me?

I thought about Lilo, trying to distract myself from the current situation. Her reactions to seeing the moon and hearing the Kweltikwan radio station I liked. I felt tears start to build and quickly wiped them away.

I had a feeling I was going to lose her. I really hoped that wasn't going to happen and I was utterly terrified.

Sighing, I started to trudge home.

The house was empty when I got back. I had no idea why. I headed straight for the dome and curled up underneath the bunk. I usually hid there when things bothered me a lot. After half hour or so had passed, I heard voices and my ears perked. A lot of them.

I crawled out from the bunk and looked out of the window. It was the family again. My ears picked up on car brakes creaking and I had a feeling more of them were coming. I spotted Nani walking up the driveway shortly after that, with some people I didn't recognise. Iwalani and David were beside her and David was carrying Lilo.

Fantastic. They were coming into the house.

"Lilo, may we see your bedroom?"

Crap. I heard the door open and quickly hid in the closet. A few moments later I heard various footsteps and realised there was about three people out there with her.

"Wow... what a beautiful room! So who do you share here with?"

Finally I heard her speak. "Stitch."

"One of those aliens? Will we get to meet them soon?"

Lilo was definitely not in too much of a mood for it. "Him. Maybe."

I turned on my x-ray vision and saw who was out there. Three adults I didn't recognise; two female, one male. I could see instantly that Lilo looked a bit despondent.

They chat amongst themselves, but I zoned out only focusing on Lilo. She sat down on my bed as the adults probed at things around our bedroom. I wanted them to leave. Finally, after another ten minutes, they did. Lilo looked relieved behind their backs and I saw them head down the stairs, the dome door finally shutting.

Lilo sat there for a while. I was about to go out to her when I saw tears fall from her eyes and she curled up against my pillow. My heart sunk. She was quiet. I finally pushed open the door and she jumped up in fright, her eyes widening at seeing where I'd been.

"STITCH!" she screamed, darting off the bed and throwing her arms around me. "Oh my gosh, where were you?! I was so worried!"

I gave her a sad smile. "Soka. Was at Kuakini's. Geetu jata naquoa."

She put her hand to my face. "Ugh... I guess you heard them right?"

I nodded. I sat down on my bed and she sat down beside me.

"Nani grounded me. I had to go with them to some stupid family breakfast thing, so I was allowed out for that but she made me come straight back up here. She wouldn't let me go with Jumba to try and find you. He went out somewhere."

I nodded again. "Told him where I was."

"I know. But he was worried when you didn't come home this morning."

Lilo curled up against herself.

"I hate how Nani is acting," she continued, holding my paw tightly. "Around the family she's acting as though everything is fine. Acting all sweet and happy. It's annoying. I don't want to be around them right now, I just want to be with you. It was so boring without you there and I already met them before anyway."

I gazed at her. I wondered there and then if I should start telling her the truth, but I just couldn't bring myself to. Each time I tried to get the words out, I locked up, feeling tightness in my throat. How do you explain to the one you love the most that you were responsible for obliterating an entire planet? For wiping out countless thousands of innocent aliens, and that Earth was looking to suffer a similar fate?

"..."

Lilo sighed. "All they do is gush over me. My cousins are nice, but... I just want to be alone. I just want to be with you, Stitch. Or up in the clouds again. Gosh... it's so relaxing up there."

I nodded slightly. I bit my lip, recalling what had happened this morning.

"Saw 621."

Lilo looked alarmed at hearing that. She sat up and looked at me. "You did? Where?"

"Woods."

She looked confused. "Why was he there?"

I shrugged. "Made fun of Stitch. Smitic hak dinko te fabba meega togo spabata."

"You're not fat!" she cried at hearing that. "You just look like Jumba because you're his son, but..." She trailed off, looking awkward.

"Is okay," I told her. "I know I am. Stitch naga offended."

"Yeah well... I don't care about that," she said matter-of-factly. "You're perfect to me."

I gave her a smile. She stroked my ear.

"Stitch, they're going out again soon. To a lunch thing. Please come. I don't want to go by myself again."

I sighed. "Lilo... I don't know..."

She put her hand to my face again. "You're scared of meeting them, aren't you? I can tell." I looked away from her at that, but she pushed my head back to face her again. "That's why you've been avoiding them, right?"

"Ih." She knew me too well.

"Nani hasn't said anything bad. I promise. She just kinda... avoids the question when you or Jumba are brought up. Aunt Iwalani is quiet about it, so is David. The rest... they really want to meet you. They like Pleakley."

"..."

"Stitch?"

I sighed. I put my arms around her and hugged her. "Lilo, isa big thing for Stitch. Have wanted this, for so long. But... isa all going wrong. Fighting... arguing. Naga supposed to be this way. Was supposed to be good."

I felt her stroking my back.

"Stitch feel..." I trailed off.

"It's okay," she soothed me. "I know things are really bad right now. But you shouldn't deny yourself of something that means a lot to you like this just because Nani's being mean and angry over her stress. Remember, it's her problem, not yours," she smiled at me. "You should do this for yourself, Stitch. Not for anybody else. Not even for me. Do it because you want to."

I stared at her at that, pulling back. Before I could stop myself I leaned over and gave her a small kiss, similar to how she'd done so to me in the cruiser. Her entire face went red.

"Alright. Lilo," I told her softly. "I'll go."

She beamed at me before throwing her arms around me. "You're wonderful, Stitch."

I stared down at the bed over her shoulder. Truthfully I was apprehensive about it, but I also know it would probably help me get my mind off what had happened with Mr Kuakini.

For a little while, at least.

I remained up in the dome with Lilo until we heard the door open again. Moments later, Nani stepped up into the room. She went quiet upon seeing me there this time. Since I'd been gone for the morning I don't think she had expected I would actually be in there.

I just looked at her out the corner of my peripheral vision – since I couldn't actually move my eyes.

"..."

She was quiet for a few moments. She seemed very tense with me there but eventually she spoke.

"Lilo... we are leaving in five minutes, come down."

"Stitch is coming."

"..." Nani went quiet again hearing that. I looked at her this time and we just stared at each other. I kept no expression on my face but I could see her's falter a little. I could tell she was still angry from me calling her an idiot.

"Fine," was all she responded, turning to walk back downstairs. "Put your shoes on."

Lilo looked at me at that. "Are you ready, Stitch?"

I nodded. She gripped my paw. "It will be okay."

Lilo pulled on her shoes and jacket, before leading me downstairs to the kitchen. As I approached with her, I could hear a lot of people out there. I paused at the entry to the living room, feeling anxious again, even though I had no idea why I was. I felt self-conscious.

Lilo leaned back and kissed me on the nose. "Come on..." she tugged on my paw gently.

I sighed. I let her lead me into the kitchen. Almost spontaneously, everybody shut up. They stared at me as I stood there beside Lilo. Nani was the only one looking away.

"Uh... hey everyone," Lilo said shyly. "This is... this is Stitch. He's part of our o'hana. And he's my best friend."

I looked at them as she introduced me.

"Whoa..."

The female I'd seen in our room just before was the first one to comment. "So that's Stitch?"

"Yeah..." Lilo smiled. "He's an alien."

"That's awesome. I can't believe he's actually blue! Is that a natural thing?"

Lilo nodded.

They gathered around me, introducing themselves. The two females and male I learned were Lilo's cousins. They were much older than her. Another man and woman in there were Lilo's other aunt and uncle and her grandparents were also there as well, sitting at the table. Another woman I didn't recognise was sitting beside Nani, drinking a cup of water. They went back to chatting before starting to get up to leave, giving me the occasional glimpse.

"Lilo, you and Stitch can come with us in our car."

I looked up to see Lilo's aunt speaking to us. "I'm Aunt Kehaulani," she said briefly to me. "That's my husband, Lilo's Uncle Joe."

I nodded.

"So can you talk?"

"He can," Lilo responded for me. "I think he's just a bit overwhelmed right now. This is really big for him."

"Meeting us?" Kehaulani asked, smiling at me.

"Yeah. Thing's have been really lo-lo lately..."

"I see. Well, go on then. We'll meet you at the car."

Lilo took my paw and led me out of there. "How was that?" she asked me as we walked down the driveway together.

"Okay I guess."

I glimpsed behind me, seeing the family starting to follow. Some of them kept looking at me. Pleakley wasn't there this time so I felt a bit awkward being the only non-human. I wondered where he was. Lilo seemed to pick the thought right out of my mind.

"Pleakley went with Jumba. They went to look for you, but Jumba also had to do something."

"Okeytaka."

"Don't worry... everything will be okay..." Lilo smiled at me, leading me over to a rental car. It looked much nicer than our buggy.

I hoped she was right.

I sat between the window and Lilo in the backseat. One of her cousins had come along with us. I soon learned he was called 'Kaiko'. They had interesting names.

Thankfully they left me alone, mostly talking amongst themselves about the island. I just looked out of the window. Occasionally they asked Lilo a few questions about me, but she responded for me, knowing I wasn't up to talking just yet.

We went to a place similar to Macki McCaw's, except this place seemed much nicer. However once we stepped inside, the waitress eyed me.

"I'm sorry, but dogs aren't allowed in."

Everybody went quiet at that. Jumba wasn't here this time, so it was up to somebody else to tell them to let me in. Lilo looked at Nani. I did as well.

"That's fine, he can wait outside." She simply said. My eyes widened slightly. Lilo looked shocked before looking absolutely furious at her before looking up at the waitress.

"No. He's very smart – I promise he won't cause trouble. Please let him in?"

"Sorry love," the woman responded. "Service animals only."

Nani went to move forward. Lilo stood her ground though.

"Well then, if Stitch can't go in, I'm not going in either."

That prompted Joe to speak up. "Aw come on Lilo. We can't have that now, can't you let the pup in?"

"I'm sorry sir. Rules are rules."

"Well, what if we sat outside then? Bit chilly today, but I don't want my niece to not join us."

She seemed understanding and a thoughtful look crossed her face. "Hm. Let me talk to my boss."

She went back into the kitchen area, leaving us waiting. "Uncle Joe..." Nani started, but he held up his hand.

"No, not fair that he should be shut out while we are all in here, ey? I'm sure we can manage."

I felt a little better hearing that. At least they were being kind towards me and I think they sensed Nani had an issue with me even though she hadn't said anything.

The waitress returned after a few minutes. "Yes, boss said he would make an exception for that, so it's fine. He's just not allowed indoors.

"Thank you!" Lilo beamed, hugging me.

We were led to a long table outside and everybody took their seats. I sat beside Lilo and her cousins. The waitress stared at me for a while but I knew why. Not only was I wearing unusual looking clothes, I was sitting on a chair and not lying on the ground like a normal dog would.

It was a cooler day. Lilo had her jacket on and she shivered slightly, so I moved myself into her chair and wrapped my arms around her. A few of the family members stared at this, but they left us alone. When Nani noticed, she stared as well, but just looked away. Occasionally they would ask us questions. Since I avoided talking they didn't seem to think I could speak and because Lilo was answering for me, they didn't feel any reason to directly confront me. When the waitress finally came back to ask us what we wanted, everybody placed their orders.

"Stitch, what would you like?" Lilo asked me as it was her turn.

The waitress stared. "Oh, is he having something as well?"

Lilo nodded, but we looked up when Nani cleared her throat. "No."

I was perplexed. She really was trying to made me feel horrible. The waiter nodded but Lilo butt in.

"YES, he IS. What do you want, Stitch?"

Nani went quiet at that, but she looked annoyed. Joe was eyeing this with an odd expression. Some of the family had picked up on Nani's behaviour by now.

"It's fine, I'll pay. Lilo, your friend can order whatever he wants."

"Joe!" Nani hissed. "That's really not–"

He raised his hand to silence her. "Nani, it's fine."

The woman put her head to her hands. I noticed Lilo's cousins staring at her, before giving each other looks. Lilo picked out what I pointed to – a meal that was the same as hers.

The waitress eventually left. Joe looked at Nani.

"If money is the issue, it's no problem really..." he started to say, but she just put up a hand.

"Thank you. It's fine."

They knew something was up, but they didn't question it further. Judging by Joe questioning if money was an issue, they had no actual clue what was going on. Iwalani gave me a sad expression. She was the only one that actually knew what was going on between us.

The rest of the lunch was fairly boring. I kept to myself and only talked quietly to Lilo. I felt so out of place with how Nani had been acting towards me and it was embarrassing. I figured it was because I'd called her an idiot and this was her way of responding to it – by trying to make me feel like an idiot.

The meal was nice at least. Joe and Kehaulani smiled at me as I ate.

"I hope it's good," Lilo's uncle eventually spoke up. Lilo was busy talking beside me to her cousin, so she didn't notice them addressing me.

"Ih."

He looked startled, looking to his wife, before back at me. "Oh. Well... uh..."

I looked at them again. "I can talk. Thank you."

He looked amazed. They looked at each other before smiling. "You're welcome."

I liked Lilo's family. They seemed kind. I felt like Nani had been entirely wrong about them from how she'd tried to stop me talking to them before. I wondered if Lilo's mother had been as kind as them, and I had no doubts about it.

I noticed Nani stand up after a while, muttering about going to the bathroom. As she passed us she tapped Lilo on the shoulder. Lilo squeezed my paw before following her sister. Once they had left the area, the family looked at me.

I felt my face heat up.

David spoke up after a moment, rubbing the back of his head. "Ah yeah... Nani is under a lot of stress right now. Please pay no mind to things. I'm sorry."

"Nonsense. Nothing to be sorry about," Joe replied. "I know it's been hard for her. Actually, Kehaulani and I have a surprise for you two, but we'll discuss that later."

David looked surprised. Iwalani smiled, and I had a feeling she knew what it was about.

"Stitch?"

I looked up. "You're a sweet little thing, the way you were holding onto Lilo. I saw her shivering. You two are close, yes?"

I felt my face heat up again as Kehaulani addressed me. I looked back for a moment before looking at her.

"She was cold."

The others heard me speak for the first time, and they appeared shocked. David smiled slightly at their reactions.

"Wait, Iwalani mentioned you had a birthday yesterday, didn't you?" Lilo's cousin said to me. I nodded. "Why don't we sing for him then?"

My heart dropped at that. Before I could even say a word, my family started singing happy birthday to me. I'd only met them just today and they were singing to me. I went into slight shock. With everything that had happened recently, it really lifted my spirits.

These humans actually cared about me.

Nani and Lilo came back just as they were nearing the end of the song. I could hear them arguing but Lilo cut herself off when she realised what was happening. She rushed over to join in, and hugged me tightly while Nani stood there, observing what was taking place. I looked back at her slightly, unable to help feeling a little smug.

She noticed. She simply turned and went back out while the family continued celebrating for me.

My mood improved so much after that and I was glad I'd come with Lilo. Nani had returned a few moments later. I think it had got to her, so she'd gone out to compose herself. We remained there for a little while longer before deciding to head home. Lilo gripped my paw tightly as we left. However as we were about to follow Kehaulani and Joe back to the car, I felt my body lock up and blackness obstructed my vision. I tried to cry out to Lilo but my vocal cords had locked up.

Laughter echoed in my ears. It was all around me, from every direction. That black figure manifested itself in front of my eyes again. It's eyes were glowing a vivid green.

"Tonight's the night!"

As soon as it had appeared, it vanished and my vision returned. I quivered.

Lilo noticed I wasn't behind her. She rushed back to me. "Stitch? Are you okay?"

I looked at her. A tear leaked down my face before I could stop it. She saw it, and threw her arms around me tightly.

"It's okay... it's okay..." she repeated to me softly, over and over. "Everything will be okay."

I truly wished it would, because I knew after tonight, it wouldn't be.

I spent the rest of the day in the dome, holding my legs close to my body and curled up in the corner, quivering. Lilo knew something was really wrong, but she hadn't questioned me about it, instead just trying her best to console me and be there for me as much as she could. I was glad she hadn't asked because I still didn't know how to tell her the truth. That after tonight I was going to turn into a monster. And if not then, within the next few days at least. The signs were getting worse now. And what else could that voice have meant?

Jumba eventually returned. I heard the commotion below as he met the family. They had decided to stay for a while. Eventually he came up to me. Pleakley had returned as well, but he remained downstairs with the family.

"626..." he said softly when he saw me curled up. He walked over and picked me up, taking me into his arms.

"I'm s-scared," I said to him.

"I know..." he responded. "Come on."

Lilo followed us sadly. Jumba went to stop her, but I refused him. "Naga, I need her. Pleechi-ba..."

He just gave a nod.

He picked her up as well, and carried us back downstairs, the family watching as we passed by them quietly to head outside. My father carried us to the ship.

"626, I need you prep you for minor surgery," he spoke, once inside and the door had shut behind us. My eyes widened.

"G-gaba?!"

He put his hands on my shoulders. "Listen, so far, everything has been negative. The only shot I have left now is internal examination. And I am running out of time. If I do not do this now, then... there is no telling what will happen."

I sighed. Lilo looked mortified and had started crying. "Uncle Jumba? What's going on, why does he need surgery?" she asked softly.

My father sighed, putting a hand on her head. "I'll explain shortly, Lilo. Please sit here and wait patiently."

Lilo looked at me sadly, before hugging me tightly. I didn't want to let her go, so Jumba ended up gently pulling us apart.

"I love you...!" I called to her as the door shut and the last I saw was her hand reaching out for me, tears streaming down her face.

Shortly after, I was prepped for the surgery. My father gazed down at me sadly, before holding a gas mask to my face.

"626, if this is inconclusive... then there is nothing more I can do. I'm sorry."

"Naga..." I told him, before I felt my eyes start to close on me. "Not your fault..."

"It is..." I heard him respond, before I couldn't stay awake any longer and blacked out.

The next thing I knew, I was surrounded by mist. As the mist before me cleared, I realised I was standing in a wheat field again, only this time, the wheat was black. I reached out to grasp some but it disintegrated in my paws, leaving black ash over them instead. I flinched, shaking my paw to get rid of it.

Where was I?

Buildings loomed in the distance, but as I focused on them I realised it was a wasteland. I followed the wheat field until I came to the end of it and stepped out onto a road filled with broken down hover-cars. There were no signs anywhere so I couldn't tell where I was exactly, but the place looked a lot like Kweltikwan.

I shivered. The air felt icy. My fur stood on end when I heard a soft laugh behind me and whirled around.

There was nothing there.

"Gaba leeba..." I muttered to myself, walking along the road. Concrete started to crumble beneath me and I looked down in horror as the road started to break away into a black void. I ran, trying to get away but it was getting closer and closer. Just as I was about to be sucked into a black hell, a hand reached out and grabbed my wrist, yanking me upwards and pulling me back up onto a flat plain filled with black grass. I looked down. The buildings and cars disappeared.

Turning, I looked to see who had pulled me up. A shadowed outline stood before me.

"Who are you?" I asked.

There was no response. I walked forward, trying to make out who the figure was. I could tell they were human. Lilo?

No. Lilo wasn't that tall. As I walked closer to them, they drifted further back into the distance.

"No! Wait!"

I ran, trying to catch them. The surface I was running on gave out beneath me, and I screamed as I toppled downwards. The next thing I knew I had landed on a small hill and I grunted as my body hit the surface with a loud 'WHACK'. Rubbing my eyes, my vision took a moment to clear. I hadn't landed on hill at all – I'd landed on a pile of dead bodies. I screamed, flinching backwards and falling down the pile, skulls and other assorted body parts landing around me.

It was the same pile I'd seen before, in that hallucination I'd had. I hit the ground hard and looked up.

"..."

No... No.

"Ha ha ha ha ha!"

Laughter again. I looked up in the direction it was coming from. The figure was standing atop another pile to my left, and I could see glowing green eyes glaring down at me.

I stood up shakily as it jumped down and started to approach me.

"Who are you..." I sneered, holding onto my arm. I felt blood pool beneath my claws.

The figure laughed again, a much deeper voice sounding this time. It seemed to echo when it spoke, as though overlayed with another higher-pitched voice over the top. I backed away shakily as it got closer before it vanished and I screamed as it suddenly launched itself into my face. I fell backwards.

"Still haven't figured it out yet, have you?"

I looked around. The green glow disappeared before a blinding light hit my vision and I had to shield my eyes. As my vision readjusted I realised I was underneath a spotlight. It was making it hard to see anything else around me.

The outline stood before me, before it came forth into the light. My eyes widened in disbelief.

"M-Mitch?"

He looked at me, looking terrified. Suddenly his body locked into place as if he was being crucified, and a silent scream passed his lips as his face contorted in pain. I backed away, my jaw dropping in sheer horror at what I was seeing.

A saw had started to go through his legs, inch by inch. He was held frozen in place, unable to move. I leaped up and tried to stop it but each time I got closer, he went further back. One leg fell off in a pool of blood, before the other one started sharing a similar fate. I nearly threw up.

"NAGA! STOP IT! STOP IT!" I screamed, and Mitch suddenly disappeared. Everything did. I was standing in a wheat field again, except this time that chair was in front of me. The figure was sitting in it, legs crossed and it's head resting against it's chin. Everything else was light enough to make out, but the figure was still black.

"Demon!" I seethed, clenching my bloodied arm. "I've had enough of this! WHO ARE YOU!" I roared.

I could see a smirk, as a row of razor sharp teeth was revealed.

"Well, since you're too stupid to figure it out for yourself and you're just wasting my time with your sheer idiocy at this point, I may as well let you in..."

The figure clicked. It's form was revealed and I fell to my knees in complete disbelief.

I was staring at myself.

"626... wake up!"

I groaned. The image was sucked away from me in an instant as my vision adjusted and my senses kicked back in.

Jumba put his hand to my head. "Welcome back."

I groaned. I felt sick. He sat me up and offered me a bucket before seconds later I heaved into it.

"Is side effect of anaesthetic," he explained gently, before he sighed. "626... I could not find any reason for this to be happening. I'm... so sorry."

My heart sunk. I guessed that was it. I was done for. Quietly, I went over to Jumba and hugged him. He tried to remain strong but he started to sob and ended up collapsing against me, sounding breathless. "I've failed you."

"Naga!" I told him. "I don't hate you. Did everything you could."

"No... this is all my fault. I've failed at everything, 626. I should have been able to figure this out long ago... instead..."

I started to get seriously worried for him at that point and I could hear his breath falter. He looked like he was about to collapse and went pale. Seconds later, he did.

"PA!" I screamed, jumping down from the table and holding him up. I felt my stitches rip open but I didn't care. "Pa?! PA!"

No response. I started to panic. "Jumba... NAGA! JUMBA!"

I put my ear to his chest. His heart had stopped. Mine just about did as well. I jumped on top of him and attempted CPR. I wasn't a doctor, so I had no idea what to do, I just did what came to mind and that was what I'd seen humans doing on television in the past.

"Naga, wake up! WAKE UP!" I wailed, attempting to restart his heart. "Come on! Please!"

Finally he jerked and drew in a deep breath of air. I was frantic, and latched onto him tightly. "Don't leave papa!"

He lay for a few moments, regaining his breath before sitting up. He stared at me breaking down against him and picked me up, hugging me tightly before he realised I was bleeding.

"Oh geeze..."

He quickly pushed himself up and set to work patching me back up. I cried the entire time.

"Shh... I'm alright, 626."

"Naga..." I shook my head. "Heart stop!"

"Has happened before. Only seems to happen when highly, highly stressed."

That had happened before? I gripped onto him. "Why naga tell me?!"

"Because you have enough to deal with right now! We both do!"

"You're my FATHER!" I cried.

"..."

There was silence between us. Eventually I managed to calm myself down enough to stop crying. He put his finger underneath my chin.

"I'm alright. Is defect have had since I was born. Nothing can be done about it, 626. I just have to be more careful."

I growled at him. "WHY NOT TELL ME!"

"Because I didn't want to upset you! Look at state of you!"

I looked away from him.

"626... I am having problems. Health issues. But right now my issues are nothing compared to how much you take priority."

I couldn't accept that. "No. I need you."

"I have been making myself sick trying to fix this. Is why I collapsed. I'm overworking myself too much."

I didn't respond to that, I just hugged him tightly.

Jumba sighed. "I'm sorry for not telling you. But we need to deal with this now. There's nothing more I can do, 626. I've done everything. I don't know what I'm missing."

"So then. What are we going to do?" I simply asked.

He stared at me for a good while after that. "Tonight I was going to give larger girl money making machine. I think... perhaps is time to tell truth."

I looked away from him. "Are we all going to die?"

He shook his head. "I cannot answer that. If is repeat of Turo, then yes. Unless is way to stop it, or by some miracle, programming halts."

"Dehydrate me."

"No."

"DO IT!" I screeched, grabbing his coat and pulling him towards me. "DO IT! NOW!"

"NO!" he roared, pushing me off. "You need me, 626, but you fail to realise that I need you as well! Even if is the end, would much rather be with you all the way! I'm not letting you suffer in this alone!"

I went quiet at that. "..."

He looked away. "What kind of parent would I be if I just shut you away like that, and left you as prisoner for rest of your life? As I said, would not stop programming, only halt it. And if water hit pod and you were re-hydrated, programming would resume instantly! Am not doing it, 626! So don't even think about trying to bribe me into it!"

I clenched my fist. He scowled at me. I watched him as he promptly left the room. What was he...?

I followed him, running on four legs as I couldn't rip the stitches again. "Hey!"

Lilo was asleep. She'd been startled awake when we entered.

"Stitch! You're okay!" she started, but stopped when she noticed what Jumba was doing. I did too. He picked up the dehydrator from behind his desk and I went over and snatched it away from him, going to set foot into it before I felt him grab my arm.

"Go on then! Do it, 626! Right now, here in front of HER!" he pointed to Lilo. "But do not be expecting me to be the one to tell her that you won't be coming back! You can break her heart!"

That made me pause. I scowled and clenched my fist tightly before looking away.

Lilo looked mortified. "W-What's going on...?" she whimpered. "Stitch... what does...?"

Before I could even flinch, Jumba pushed me out of the dehydrator. He picked up a mallet from his work bench and smashed the machine to pieces. Lilo screamed, covering her eyes. I stared in disbelief.

"When I say no, I MEAN NO!" my father roared at me.

"..."

He panted slightly, kicking the remains of the dehydrator aside.

"S-Stitch?" Lilo asked softly. She had climbed down from where she was sitting and walked over to me. I fell into her arms.

"Leelo..."

Jumba stared at us. He stood up quietly, before leaving.

"I need to sit down and think. Because right now is LOT to think about."

I watched him as he left quietly, Lilo holding me close to her.

"Stitch?" she asked sadly. I looked into her eyes.

"I'm sorry Lilo," I told her, looking away. "Please... I just want to be with you."

She stared at me quietly, before nodding. "Okay..."

Putting her arms around me, she helped me back into our home. As we left, I could see Jumba looking out at us from the corridor, holding some books in his arms.

Evening drew in. I still hadn't said anything to Lilo. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't bring myself to. All I could think about was that figure. It had been me all along.

Was it the real me? Experiment 626?

Was that who I was supposed to be? Instead I'd somehow ended up with a human inside of me?

I shuddered. Jumba had said I was very different to how he'd intended me to be. Perhaps that really was supposed to be me after all. I was supposed to be that evil. The thought scared me more than anything.

When Lilo went downstairs for dinner, I went out of the dome window and headed for my father in the ship. I wasn't hungry. She was still grounded, so she spent nearly all day with me in the dome.

Jumba was in his bedroom when I arrived. The place was an absolute mess, and I slipped on some loose papers when I entered. I stared.

He grunted at me. "Looking back through your files. Maybe missed something there."

I picked up a piece of paper, covered in notes. I couldn't understand anything of what it said as it was too technical.

"Come on..." Jumba growled. "Give me something! Anything!"

I sat down and watched him for a little while before clearing my throat. He looked at me.

"Uh... I need to ask you something."

"What is it, 626?" he responded swiftly. I could tell he was agitated.

"Is possible for Stitch to get freckles?"

That stumped him enough to let go of what he was holding. He barely seemed to realise. "To get what now?" he asked, perplexed.

"Freckles. Like what humans have."

He looked confused. He pulled aside his laptop and I figured he was looking it up. It beeped at him a few moments later.

"Ah. Those. No, is not possible. You do not have melanocytes."

"I don't?" I asked. I had no idea what he meant by that but figured it was something that caused freckles.

He shook his head. "Sunlight would not react to your skin."

"Are you sure?"

He looked at me weirdly. "Of course I'm sure, I made you!"

"Then how explain this?"

"Explain what?"

I grabbed his hand and pulled him off the bed, leading him to the lab. "Jumba have blacklight, ih?"

"Uh... somewhere in here. Why?"

"Well, can pa get it?"

He rolled his eyes. "Do not see point but if you insist."

He went over to a cabinet and searched through the shelves, tossing out a few things here and there. I heard him make a noise of success before he came over to me with a hand-held UV light.

"Here. What is it?"

I went over and turned off the light, before switching the UV light on and holding it up to my body. He looked confused for a moment before his eyes widened and he dropped down beside me, turning me around. He pulled off my bounty outfit.

"I DON'T believe it."

I felt him running his hands through my fur, similar to how I had when I'd tried to rub them off.

"They're all over you!" he yelped, examining my back. "How...? Is not possible! Your skin does not even contain cells capable of producing such a thing!" he trailed off. "I-I don't understand... birthmarks were created by me!"

I looked at my father. "Was I supposed to be evil?"

He stared at me at that. "What? What do you mean?"

"When you created me," I continued, pulling back on my shorts and tank-top. "Stitch nala et naga guda nada."

"Well, yes. You were supposed to be evil. But as I said, you weren't. You went against my orders. Because I gave you my DNA."

I shook my head. "Ih, neesa..."

"But what?"

"I know why I have these."

"Why then?"

"Retcha, gaba talk about? Reincarnation?"

"Yes?"

I sighed. I sat down and explained to my father about what had happened with Mr Kuakini – the journal, his reactions to seeing my birthmark and then showing me the pictures of Mitch this morning. Jumba was astounded.

"But as I was saying, only way to prove could be true is if you are having memories that are not your own."

"..."

"Have you?" Jumba asked me.

I looked up at him. "Ih," I admitted. "I have weird thoughts and dreams. Feel things I know I cannot. Anxitaba iba nordosa."

He picked up my arm and looked at it under the UV light again. "Well, I cannot be explaining this at all. You are saying boy had freckles like this, all over body, yes?"

"Yes."

"I'm renowned scientist and I am beyond confused by such thing. I think... you might be right, 626. Is possible for such thing to have happened. And would certainly explain why you love little girl. Your insubordination and refusal to follow programming before I forced you to. I always knew you were different, 626. And that wasn't just from being half me, because you do not share or display same traits as I do. Like protecting larger girl against me."

I nodded.

"That man was having son, though yes? Named Mitch?"

I nodded again. He put a finger to his chin.

"You truly think boy's soul ended up inside of you when I created you?"

I shrugged. "I think so."

"Only you can know so, 626."

He was right. I twisted my paws about in my lap. I'd run away from Mr Kuakini earlier because I'd been so afraid of what had happened. Reading that journal and learning about Mitch's wishes. And then having the same birthmark in the exact same place. That was no coincidence; there were too many signs that lined up for it to be a coincidence.

"Did you talk to man about this?" Jumba asked me. "I went looking for you this morning when you did not return home but could not find you."

I shook my head.

"Well. You are my son. If boy's soul is inside of you, you are realising that would be meaning that you were his son in the past yes?"

I stared up at my father in shock at hearing that. I'd never thought about it like that before.

He nodded. "I think is something you need to settle with man himself if you truly believe this is case. Imagine how he must feel about situation. However, past is past. No matter what. You are my child, 626. That life came and went, and this is your life now. I cannot see you as anybody other than 626, however if is the case then... do what you think is best for yourself. I cannot tell you what to be doing there, and I do believe you due to strange freckles all over your body. I have... nothing on that because I cannot explain it. It's not biologically possible, yet..."

He stroked his hand across my arm.

"Right now, my focus is on preparing for the worst. Should be your focus too."

I nodded. He was right.

Jumba picked up something underneath a blue sheet. I recognised the shape as the money making machine.

"It's time to settle this matter once and for all."

Jumba took my hand and I looked up at him before we headed back up to the house.