Stitch's P.O.V
It's over...
After hearing what Chopsuey had been through on account of Demon 626 retelling it, there was no possible way in hell he would take my side now. There was too much damage. I truthfully had no idea of the extent 621 had suffered under the hands of my father, but knowing how he treated me, it would have been terrible if not just as bad. 621 had always hated me, right from when I was a baby—the moment I was born—just for being me. For being his successor and Jumba's biological child. He'd proven time and time again how much he despised my very existence, mocking me at every chance he could get. Belittling me and making me feel awful for the fact I had no say over my creation, as though it was my fault Jumba had brought me into the universe.
I hated him for that.
For not allowing me to even have a chance to prove that I was nothing like my father. He couldn't even look at me without scowling or finding some kind of insult to throw at me. I had no idea why I deserved to suffer his resentment. So I knew then, that as soon as his claws hit me, I was done. Demon 626 had control of me and I was paralysed. I would just have to sit there and watch as Chopsuey destroyed me. I would just have to take it and reconcile with the fact this was how everything would end, because once he did that, I knew Demon 626 would activate the programming and they would destroy the world together.
And so, after seeing that death glare from my cousin, I knew it was the end. There was so much hatred in his eyes. I just closed mine because the last thing I wanted to see in my mind was Lilo.
I couldn't see anything so I had no idea what was happening to me. Since I was paralysed I couldn't feel anything either... but then I realised I was still breathing. I was still aware and that hadn't just 'cut' out like it had before when my father had shot me. And when I opened my eyes? Chopsuey had indeed lunged at me, but it wasn't to kill me.
It took me a few moments to fully process that he was trying to slash away the restraints and not actually going for my neck. I was in pure disbelief.
He snarled savagely as he did so. I could see Demon 626 staring at him from behind with his jaw slack.
He was processing something too—Chopsuey hadn't joined him. I could tell he'd been expecting it so even as down as I was, I managed to slightly grin in victory. Demon 626 roared as he saw that. His eyes went a blazing red as he catapulted himself at my cousin. Chopsuey eyed me for a moment or so, before he suddenly vanished right in front of me and Demon 626 ended up slamming into me, both of us falling over with me still bound tightly to the chair.
"WHY YOU—!" the demon screamed, belting me across the face with the tip of his tail as he stood up and I saw pink trickle down across my face as my skin was sliced open... only this time, I could feel it. I could see out the corner of my eye that Chopsuey had successfully managed to destroy one of the restraints. I could move my right hand now. Maybe that was also why I'd been able to grin.
Demon 626 on the other hand was the most angry I'd ever seen him.
"YOU STUPID IDIOT! ALL YOU HAD TO DO TO SURVIVE WAS JOIN ME, BUT NO. YOU GO AND DO THE EXACT OPPOSITE AND TRY AND SAVE THAT BLOATED BLUE CLOWN INSTEAD."
He stepped onto my neck and I choked slightly. I saw him looking around, trying to figure out where my cousin was.
"But now that you've REALLY PISSED ME OFF the cell will not only JUST activate—YOU'LL be the one to do it!" he roared, his voice sounding demonic. "Your final minutes you will spend knowing that YOU were the one responsible for wiping out the Earth! EXCITED?"
"And just how exactly will I be the one to do it?" 621 asked him, sounding perplexed. "What are you going to do, drag me to it and throw a tantrum at me until you get your way? I thought only YOU could activate it dumbass, since you're just 'data'. Surely you're not that pathetic... but then again, perhaps you are."
Demon 626 just laughed at that before sneering. "Ha ha. I guess you're looking forward to an eternal damnation then 621 because where I'll be sending you there's absolutely no escape. You can writhe and burn while I tear you apart limb by limb and peel the flesh off your bones and I'll be able to do it as many times as I want. You'll be dead after all," he shrugged. "And believe me your death will be the most satisfying to watch. "
"Yeah, you really have this weird obsession with death and torture don't you." I heard my cousin respond and before I could register what had happened, Demon 626 was kicked off me and he slammed back against the side of the wall of my mindscape. He screamed in rage as 621 flickered back into visibility, standing right in front of him.
Chopsuey was very swift. I couldn't hear him when he moved about even with my good hearing.
"Maybe try getting a hobby or something. I don't know. This whole thing is kinda old. I know I wanted 626 dead as well but at least I don't make killing him and having him suffer the only reason to live for and a personality trait. You're completely obsessed."
The demon's eyes narrowed dangerously. Chopsuey took a few steps back though when his form began to change. I was mortified, but my cousin remained very stoic, watching as the beast mutated and towered well over him. The demon didn't answer him or speak again after that, but his body had distorted into too much of a monster that I don't think he needed to. His face leered right into 621's, razor sharp teeth jutting out from every angle as he drooled right in his face, though my cousin didn't seemed phased in the slightest by this.
Demon 626 punched him suddenly and he flew backwards. I let out a yelp as he slumped down against the wall. "Chops!"
"Yep, now you're ABSOUTLEY dead," my cousin snarled, wiping away some blood as it trickled down the side of his mouth as he stood up to face the creature head on. There was a ferocious scream from them both before they launched themselves at each other. I was still tightly bound to the chair on the ground so all I could do was watch them helplessly from an angle as I tried my hardest to break the other restraints around me with my free hand. They were made of thick rope. I had to saw away at them gradually with my claws to get any leeway.
Their fight was brutal and savage. I wondered if this was how it had looked when I'd fought against him. Demon 626 had razor sharp teeth and could weaponise his body at will, so he was obviously more than a match for my cousin. I wondered how my cousin would even stand a chance against him, but to my surprise he held up well. When the monster went to slam his head into the ground, he ducked and then flipped himself into a handstand, launching a kick into Demon 626's jaw and I heard a loud CRACK that made me flinch.
The monster howled. He grabbed Chopsuey's foot and slammed him against the ground like a rag doll repeatedly as I watched helplessly. There was nothing I could do other than scream and beg the monster to stop but I knew it was a fruitless effort—Demon 626 was devoid of all emotion.
Chopsuey somehow managed to get his hands under him, and on the fourth slam he pushed back into the ground. Demon 626 was startled for a moment and 621 used his momentary distraction to flip himself around again and land an upper-cut against the demon's jaw. The demon roared as his head snapped back and went to slam his fist into him but Chopsuey turned around and let his spines penetrate him, causing a blood-curling scream from the beast. 621 reared back and punched him in the jaw again as hard as he could. From what I gathered he was trying to break the monster's neck.
Demon 626's head snapped back again and then he kicked out at 621, his foot making direct contact with his stomach, winding him and slamming him hard against the ground.
Chopsuey was just so strong... I couldn't believe what I was seeing. But then I realised he was panting loudly when he pushed himself up. I could see beads of sweat trickling down his face. He had his back to me for a moment and I could see a crack in the container of nanites and I felt myself begin to perspire, remembering what Jumba had told me about becoming paralysed if they got me. Chopsuey disappeared again for a moment before flickering back. I knew then that he was exhausted. I wondered if he'd still be able to hold his invisibility with his strength depleting.
I hoped so.
He grit his teeth slightly before he looked across to me briefly, that stoic expression remaining on his face as he stared at me crying for him. But then he was punched back into the wall again, Demon 626 pressing his claws deeply against his neck and I heard my cousin sputter.
"NO!" I screamed. "621!"
Demon 626's lower jaw extended outwards, like it had unhinged and it was utterly horrific to look at, causing me to almost gag. He bent himself down and his mouth went over 621's head to rip it off, just as he'd tried to do to me. I could only watch in complete horror as my cousin was about to be decapitated, those horrible teeth starting to press into his neck...
Blood started to pool.
I squeezed my eyes shut tight. My heart was racing the hardest I'd ever felt it inside of me and I was having a little trouble breathing. I tried desperately to catch my breath. It felt like an eternity...
And then Demon 626 screamed out loudly.
Terrified, I cracked open an eyelid and peeked over. Chopsuey had vanished and I could see a huge blood splatter against the ground and wall. I choked and tears flooded my eyes as my vision blackened around the edges. I couldn't even focus on the demon at that moment. I felt like I was about to collapse. My world was rushing around me.
No... it couldn't be...
Chopsuey was gone...
...he couldn't be dead...
HE COULDN'T BE DEAD!
Had Demon 626 eaten him?! Oh my God...
Blind rage completely consumed me. I was going to rip that scumbag of a demon limb from limb. I wanted to crush his skull in my teeth. I wanted to slaughter him and break him apart, rip his skin off and rip out his eyes with my claws. Pull his guts out and shove them down his throat! Dismember him beyond recognition. That... that monster...
That god-forsaken heartless monster had killed my cousin and he was going to pay for it. I didn't care if I died trying, I just wanted to slain him more than ever at that point. I struggled against the restraints and kicked my legs. I thrashed about, trying to throw myself upwards repeatedly. I was still mostly paralysed though I could move and even feel a little again.
But no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't break free. I kept trying though, until my muscles ached and burned from the exertion. I cried. And cried. I couldn't stop crying as I forced myself to keep going.
The demon turned to face me. I saw him start to approach me slowly and I stopped moving, going dead still in horror. He was snarling and I had a feeling he was going to eat me too. I took note of his movements the closer he came towards me—they seemed slow and sluggish. In the dark, his body suddenly morphed again. I saw his form take on something that was a strong resemblance to the form I was in when I'd started to change. The one that Nani had seen me in numerous times. The only difference was that his teeth were still sticking out of his mouth in all directions.
The demon stood before me. I saw his lips curl up into a sadistic smile as blue blood saturated his teeth and mouth. His eyes were green again as opposed to red. I squeezed my eyes shut tightly as he raised his arm up high with his claws fully unsheathed, and then brought his arm down across my face in one swift motion.
Goodbye Lilo. My angel.
…
…
No pain?
I was confused. I was supposed to be dead by now but apparently somehow I'd avoided it again.
I cracked open my eyes again and looked up. Demon 626's arm had started to literally disappear so he hadn't been able to make contact with me due to that. A small lifesaver...
Thank God...
He looked at this, and then at me and I heard him growl deeply before he laughed, although it sounded very blunt. I could only watch as his arm basically withered away before me in a mixture of morbid fascination and disgust—the skin slowly disintegrating to expose fatty layers, muscle and tissues, and then finally bone.
Like it was being eaten away, almost...
My ears shot up in realisation. THE NANITES!
Demon 626 just sat down on the ground before me. Had Chopsuey managed to release the nanites before his death?
It was over. It was FINALLY over... I let out a shaky breath. Demon 626 laughed again. I had no idea if he was in pain or not because he certainly wasn't showing it if he was.
"I never thought this would happen to be honest with you 626."
I scowled. "It was inevitable... and you more than deserve it. Rot away."
He just shook his head, looking out into the black around us. "That idiot may have defeated me but as I told you, I always get my way in the end, 626." He looked at me so callously that I flinched back slightly. "My departure is no exception to this rule."
"WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!" I screamed furiously. "YOU'RE DEAD! YOU'VE ALREADY TAKEN SO MUCH FROM ME AND KILLED MY COUSIN, AND NOW YOU'RE PAYING FOR IT SO JUST KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT AND DEAL WITH IT!"
He just laughed. "I'm just data, 626. Even if these things destroy me from the inside out, I was never truly alive to begin with. I am just an imitation of who you should have been therefore I cannot 'die'. I am immortal and I'll ensure this is your eternal punishment."
I grit my teeth shakily. "..."
"It's a shame..." he continued, and I saw the nanites start to eat away at his face. "Both of you had so much potential but you blew it to become complete emotional failures. You let your feelings consume you. And you 626... YOU fell in LOVE—the most disgusting thing of all and that was your biggest downfall. Letting a weak, foolish child CONTROL you."
I snarled savagely at him but he was unfazed, despite the gruesome sight of his face being eaten away.
"You were never supposed to love or feel. So you are truly pathetic, 626. And had you not turned out so pathetic, we could have done wonders, both you and I. Truly. But... I have no doubt now that you still will be wonderful..."
He smiled, but I could see pure evil right through it. What the hell was that supposed to mean?! I reached across to swipe at him to quicken his demise but my paw just went straight through him.
"DIE!" I screeched. "JUST FREAKING DIE!"
He smirked at me again before his face fully disintegrated. While he still had the ability to speak he told me one last thing.
"You will make Jumba proud."
And that was he last I heard from him. The nanites fully consumed him as his eyes were dissolved away exposing the two hollow eye sockets of my skull. His corpse fell over, and I saw the last of his skeleton vanish into thin air as the nanites fully executed him and also perished as their task was complete.
I could not imagine a more horrible death... but if anybody deserved a death like that it was him. I just hope he suffered...
My chest heaved. It was finally over. But even so, I felt myself break. I cried heavily as reality set in. Chopsuey was gone.
He'd died trying to save me.
I pulled against the restraints, but they wouldn't budge. I stared in confusion and anger. Demon 626 was DEAD! I should be free now! So why was this...? I tried again. And again. It was no use. I snapped, and then I screamed.
And screamed.
In frustration, anger and deep sadness. It was over... It was OVER GOD DAMN IT!
"LET ME GO!"
…And then I stopped mid shout. I had felt a hand on top of my head. My body locked up in fear. Demon 626? No... no it couldn't be him, he'd literally just— I cracked open an eye and looked upwards. My eyes widened and my jaw dropped as the air leaked out of my lungs.
It was Chopsuey. HE WAS STILL ALIVE.
My cousin was standing over me and in the dark I could make out him holding onto his shoulder tightly. I let out an exhausted sob. "YOU'RE ALIVE...! Y-you're alive... thank goodness... I-I... I—"
He put a claw to my mouth to silence me.
I quivered in disbelief. He walked around and picked up the chair, and I felt myself being hoisted back upright. But when he stepped in front of me my heart almost dropped out of my chest. He was holding his shoulder because his left arm was completely gone.
My ears fell.
"..."
I raised my free paw up to him but he just pushed it back.
"But... w-what..."
He was quiet. And then I saw him spit out something. It looked like the capsule the nanites had been in, except far smaller. I watched it as it hit the ground before staring at him.
"When he had his jaw over me like that I actually had the nanites in my mouth," he muttered. "Extra ones. In that smaller container, of course... 'cuz I'd be dead otherwise and not here talking to you right now. Hid them in 'ere..."
He pointed to a pocket on his leg. I just stared at it as he continued to cut me free from the chair, though I wasn't really paying much attention in general—I could only focus on the blue blood as it dripped down his torso.
His arm was gone...
"I bit into the container right as I reached up to pull myself away from his mouth," he told me. "The nanites got my arm first so I had to force myself back and rip it off"—I cringed hard at that—"as they would have eaten me alive otherwise... but he let go of my neck at least. I had to stop them from getting into your circuits as well. That's why you can still move. Not fun... though my arm came in handy for that 626 since it wasn't y'know... attached to me."
He rubbed at his head. I swallowed, feeling sick at the thought. I hadn't seen this take place—I'd just assumed he was dead after seeing that huge blood spatter. But he was actually sacrificing his own arm to protect me...
"When they went into his mouth I jumped on him and injected the rest into him," Chopsuey told me. "Some came after me and I tripped. Nearly got me but there was some kind of air patch I guess. Or vacuum or something. Sucked them back in his direction. You have one weird-ass body 626 I tell ya," he rubbed at his eye. "But thanks to that I was able to cheat death. Then I blacked out for a bit..." He looked around. "Better my arm than you destroying the planet."
I looked down.
"So I guess he's dead? Can't see him." He picked up the container and stared at it before putting it back into his pocket and facing me again. "Is he?"
I nodded. "He came for me," I told him. "Went to kill me, but I saw his arm start to vanish. He was eaten alive."
My cousin coughed. "Good. That stupid fucker... but Rofplar you look gross inside 626."
"What do you mean?"
"Had to dodge landing on veins multiple times. Huge ones... throbbing and all. Revolting. Not as much as you look on the outside, of course, but still pretty bad."
I just sighed heavily. "I don't see anything."
"You're not the one in your own body, idiot."
I went to punch him in retaliation, but paused, thinking about what he'd just done. He stared at my fist close to his face quietly for a moment or so. "You owe me big time, 626 so you can start by thanking me, not knocking my lights out."
I looked down. "I know..." I clenched my fist for a moment before putting it over his paw. "Thank you Chops."
My cousin just stared at me, that same stoic look back on his face. I realised the intercom was gone so we had no way to communicate with Jumba. Demon 626 must have eaten it.
"So... so now what?" I asked quietly, easing myself out of the chair.
"Well, for one I need to get back to that fat idiot before I die from blood loss. I know you can't control your emotions very well 626, but think you can save the lovey-dovey blitzkorp for another time?"
I gave a nod, feeling my face heat up.
621 pulled out a small device and pressed a button. He looked away from me and for a moment or so I saw a weird and almost horrified look cross his face, but he vanished because I could question it.
I frowned, but was too tired to think on it. I looked across to where he was looking but saw nothing but black, and then remembered that where he was in my body was in an entirely different area to me, despite I could see him through my mind's eye.
I closed my eyes as the mindscape around me vanished. I sincerely hoped that this would be the last I would ever see of this horrible place as well as that god-forsaken chair, which seemed to vanish away too.
Even though it was slower than everything else.
As my hearing came back to me, I could make out Lilo's heavy sobs. I sat up and rubbed my eyes for a few moments as my vision adjusted. Chopsuey was beside her and she was hugging him tightly, not seeming to care that she was getting covered in his blood.
"I'm okay hatchling!" he was saying. "I've dealt with far worse! But for Rofplar's sake, at least let me get to back to Jumba before I die!"
I bolted upright from the bed and went over to him. He just looked at me but I could see him getting a little pale with my eyes despite he also had fur. Without a word I turned and ran through the house to Mr Kuakini's bedroom. I knew it was very early at that point, probably around two in the morning, but I didn't care.
I banged on the bedroom door frantically and heard a slight scream inside from Alanna. This couldn't wait, so I just opted to barge inside. Mr Kuakini was rubbing his eyes. I'd woken him out of a deep sleep so he seemed disorientated.
"Mitch?"
I panted. "Need to get Chops back to Jumba..."
"What? Why, what hap—"
"No time!" I roared. "Arm amputated. He'll die!"
"WHAT?!" Mr and Mrs Kuakini leaped out of the bed at that.
"Mom? Dad?" Kalia appeared behind me in the doorway. "What's going on?"
They quickly followed me back to Mitch's bedroom to see Chopsuey for themselves. He was leaning against the bed, his breathing a little shallow while both he and Lilo waited for me. Lilo was holding his right upper paw tightly with both of her hands. I didn't know if Alanna and Kalia were aware of him or who he was at that point, but I had no time to worry about that now or explain to them what had been happening inside of me all night.
Without a word, Kalia dashed off and returned with a towel, going over to my cousin. I could sense she was afraid but she pushed the towel into where he was holding. "Keep this on here tightly."
Chopsuey gave a small grunt.
"Come on, quick! Get to the car!" Mr Kuakini said.
Lilo and I helped Chopsuey up. He went to protest this almost instantly as I knew his pride wouldn't allow him to have help from me but I just growled loudly at him to suck it up and deal with it.
"Zh'jsk abis jialk'hal!"
And that was the first time I'd ever heard him truly listen to me. He did growl back but he accepted my help as I put my arm around his lower back.
"Kexdis slisdet..."
We helped him quickly through the house, a few drops of blood getting onto the floor below. He stumbled at one point but Mr Kuakini also helped, picking him up to carry him the rest of the way to the car. Thankfully he didn't protest that but I did see him stare up at the man as his eyes were closing.
"..."
He put him into the car as I opened up the door. Alanna and Kalia came with us, sitting in the backseat with him while Lilo sat right beside him and kept her arms around him. I jumped in as well.
"Please don't die..." I heard my angel cry brokenly into him. I was sitting beside Mr Kuakini in the front as he screeched out of the driveway and drove back to our home. I couldn't face them at hearing that because my throat had tightened and I was on the verge of breaking down myself. I knew Mitch was in deep turmoil inside of me as well with everything that had transpired. Chopsuey had closed his eyes now and I was worried.
It was quiet for the trip, save for Chops's laboured breathing. I looked down at the scar on my own arm, where it had been almost ripped off entirely. By him.
It felt a little like a parallel.
"..."
I sincerely hoped that my father could repair him...
Jumba was outside to us instantly when Mr Kuakini pulled into the driveway.
"Lost communication! What happened 626?!"
Before I could answer him, I saw his eyes widen as Mr Kuakini pulled my cousin out of the car. My father made a choking sound, reaching over instantly to take him into his own arms.
Despite they'd never had a good relationship, I could see nothing but sheer pain and horror in his eyes. Chopsuey was still his creation and clearly it hurt him to see him this way.
I knew then he did care about him.
"His... his arm is gone? C-completely gone?!" he cried out in shock. He was very upset and shaky.
I gave a sad nod. "Please papa... save him," I rasped as Lilo clutched onto my side. "Please!"
Jumba said nothing more, tossing me his communicator before turning and running back up to the ship with him. The others went to follow but I put my paw out to stop them.
"Mitch?"
"Let him concentrate..." I said numbly, knowing how my father was. "He works best alone. Will contact me when has news."
Mr Kuakini nodded in understanding. Alanna looked after him with no expression while Kalia just stared at me before pulling me into a hug, which I gladly accepted. She stroked my ear gently.
"Well... what should we do?" my other father asked. "Wait here? Or go back?"
I sighed. I was extremely tired after that whole ordeal. "Go back. Get some sleep."
I figured it was best not to tell the rest of the family at that point, not at least until in the morning. They would panic, especially Pleakley, who—knowing him—would race up to the ship and that might lead to a disastrous outcome as my father was trying to save my cousin. It was better to be safe than sorry.
Right now though I just wanted to rest. I felt like I was going to collapse—and unfortunately I did. They cried out and Mr Kuakini ran forth to stop my fall, picking me up into his arms. I could hardly keep my eyes open as tears blurred my vision again.
I was utterly terrified Chopsuey wouldn't make it.
Mr Kuakini just gave a sigh and headed back to the car, but I fell asleep before I could process anything else. When I woke up again I was being placed into Mitch's bed, Lilo snuggling in beside me.
"Gaba eiek..."
Mr Kuakini put his hand on top of my head. "I'm not sure what happened to you tonight Mitch, but we will talk about everything in the morning. If there is any news from Jumba, let us know. I don't care if you wake us up again."
I gave a slight nod. I could see Alanna and Kalia watching us from the doorway, before my other father turned off the light and closed the door.
I started to cry again. Lilo began to cry again as well when she heard me and we held each other close as we both drifted off into a very troubled sleep.
…
…
More darkness...
Where was I?
My vision was blurry but when it came into focus I found that I was standing in the middle of an open, empty street. Everything around me seemed to be completely in greyscale, but when I looked down at my arm I found it to be blue.
This was neither limbo nor was it my mindscape, so where the hell was I now? Turo?
No... it wasn't Turo. It looked more like Kokaua Town this time. Kaona Road to be specific—I squinted as I recognised a few buildings ahead of me and that lone giant tree that stood in the middle, the roads paved around it.
As I walked, a cold gentle breeze blew past but there wasn't another soul in sight.
By now I'd slowly started to learn that my dreams were trying to tell me something. The last one with Mitch I'd been surrounded by a blood red moon and sky. And now in this one everything was grey and eerie—almost like the constant presence of death was lingering in the air.
I shuddered. Mitch was scared too as I was shaking more than normal. And not just that, this place seemed to be ice cold.
As I proceeded forward I realised that the local bookshop was missing. I did a double take, squinting, but then noticed there were more buildings missing as well. Even the dry-cleaners where Mertle had thrown bleach at me had vanished.
"...?!"
I began to run. Eventually the streets became devoid of any buildings at all and just flat and empty dirt patches were all that remained of what used to be half the town. I was mortified but I kept pushing on and finally I came to a building—though this one looked very different to the other ones and didn't fit in at all. I realised it was a temporary building after a few moments, which could be deconstructed. I'd seen one of these somewhere before and a word popped up in my mind.
Shelter. That was it. It was a shelter.
Some kind of refuge, maybe? I'd seen ones that looked like this in some of the apocalyptic movies we'd watched. It was blocked off by a wired fence but there was an opening and I crawled underneath it, slowly walking towards the entrance to peer inside. It was eerily quiet in there and extremely dark... but then then I heard something that made my fur stand on end.
Hundreds of moans had started up all around me in the darkness. One by one, white glowing eyes appeared but I couldn't see anybody in there, only black silhouetted figures. Hundreds of them... all moaning out at me in a drab yet painfully depressing tone.
And HOLY crap it was the single most terrifying thing I'd ever seen.
I fell backwards roughly before I picked myself up screaming to the high heavens and got out of there as fast as I could. I only stopped to catch my breath when I was far away from that horrible building.
What the HELL was that?! I hoped those horrible things weren't following me.
I eventually drew some courage back and took a quick peek behind me, heart racing. There was nothing there. Those... ghosts? Or maybe even spirits...? They hadn't followed me.
Thank God.
Relieved, I sat down. And then I spotted something new in the distance. Once I'd caught my breath I ventured towards it to see what it was. It was a huge wall, covered in lists of what I gathered to be names, some with small pictures beside them. Names of humans. Adults and children both male and female. Pets...
I was so confused. What was this...? A memorial of some kind?
I flinched backwards at that revelation. Oh God... No... no no no...!
NO!
Was this the aftermath of Kokaua Town after I'd destroyed it? But that couldn't be! Demon 626 was dead and I'd watched him die with my own two eyes! But then my heart stopped for a moment or so as I recalled my father's words—about how Demon 626 could have activated the cell before Chopsuey was successful in defeating him. Erasing one problem but not erasing the other...
What if that had happened? Because if that was the case, then this was the end for real. Chopsuey's efforts would be in vain and account for basically nothing. He'd lost his arm for the sake of it... we were all still going to die.
As grateful as I was for his help I truly hoped that wasn't the case... but I had no way of knowing. Not until Chopsuey was awake at least. That was, if he survived of course. I'd pondered on that strange look I'd seen him give as he teleported himself outside of my body just before. Something had really bothered him... but what?
Around me the buildings began to dissipate and fade away into white. But then a figure appeared before me. At first I thought it was Chopsuey as the being was just about the same height, but as it came into focus I realised what it was.
It was me. In that altered form. The one Nani had seen.
My heart dropped. I turned and ran but the small monster version of myself kept chasing me. And then finally I tripped. I turned around, screaming and putting my arms across my face as this 'Stitch' lunged for me, claws fully unsheathed. But instead of being attacked I felt a wave of icy air as the entity passed through me.
And then I woke up.
I panted. I had to catch my breath after that dream.
I looked down at my paws in the dark. They were still small and stubby, as was the rest of my body when I checked myself over. I reached behind me and felt my tail before feeling the top of my head.
No demon features.
I manged to calm myself down but it took a few minutes. I hadn't changed in any shape or form against my will.
What a relief... I ran my paw over my ear.
Lilo was snoring away gently beside me. Trying my best not to wake her, I climbed out of the bed sheets, before pushing open Mitch's window and heading outside to the back garden. I had felt quite soothed by this place the first time I'd stepped into it last night, so I went down to the area where Mitch's memorial was and sat down. The sky was still dark but I could hear early morning birds staring to chirp around me. The solar lights were still on.
I stared at the memorial. The little rock with the engravings on it. I realised a few moments later there was a picture beside it, of Mitch. It was in a clear transparent case and I figured it was to protect it from the rain and elements. I reached over and picked it up to stare at it.
As I gazed at myself in the photo, I could see some very minor resemblances. I knew my fur was already one of them with how it sat across my forehead, as well as the birthmark, but I noticed a few small other things as well. Mitch had a somewhat short stature. His nose pushed a little into his face, sort of similar to how mine did. His eyes were blue, but they were so dark in the photograph that they looked black.
And of course, I was getting the strong sense of déjà vu I had before.
I was still having a little trouble comprehending that I was formerly human. It was probably something I'd never fully get used to, and no matter how hard I tried it would always feel very odd to me. I knew Chopsuey would have heard everything that had happened between myself and my 'other' family when he was inside of me. I couldn't help but wonder what he thought about that. If he pulled through, I would have to ask him when he was better.
I really did like being reunited with my former mother and sister. I couldn't deny that. But I knew my one true home was with Lilo and Nani. With my father. And Pleakley and David. Not here... in this strange house that still felt so alien to me, even if it felt comfortable at the same time and I knew those items in Mitch's bedroom were all mine.
I liked being able to separate from Mitch and I hated that it only occurred in death. It was much easier to talk to myself and remember things about myself when there was another physical version of myself to do so with, but even just thinking about that made my head hurt.
Mitch was me. We were one. But I was ultimately Stitch and nothing would change that.
I'd certainly started viewing the world in a new way after learning who I really was. And a few times now, I found myself wondering that if I was a human, if I would literally be Mitch, just with black hair now instead of ginger. A carbon copy.
That would really creep out Mr Kuakini, I would imagine. He knew that Mitch was never coming back. I mean, he'd literally buried the child after all... and I'd confirmed it for myself seeing his skeleton down in the ground. He was long deceased. But then again, if I were a human, my skeleton and DNA would still be alien. I could never truly be a biological human in the same way Lilo or Mitch was. I'd just be a doppelganger of Mitch basically, like Demon 626 was a doppelganger of me, and even if his soul was mine, my existence as Stitch wasn't the same as his existence as Mitch—I had my own new life and path since coming back as an alien.
We were the same, but we also weren't the same.
But thinking on this, it did make me wonder if this was a way I could be with Lilo and not have to worry about that big fat line that divided us... even if my human self was alien and just a disguise. I was able to shape-shift thanks to Metamorphosis. Mitch's soul was inside of me, but was there any trace of human DNA in that mix?
If there was... it might be the reason why I had freckles. And hair. Even if that hair was from Jumba. I could potentially turn myself into Mitch. My father probably wouldn't approve of it, but... he'd always promised my happiness mattered above all. And the shift would only be temporary. I'd never want to permanently become human.
As for me becoming Mitch? I would literally have come back from the dead if I could do that. It made me shudder hard. It was just so creepy—creepy and weird to think about and I truthfully didn't like it that much... but I knew that I'd much rather be human than Lilo become an alien, like me. Besides, she'd made it very clear to me she accepted me for not only who I was, but what I was. I knew Lilo liked pretending to be other creatures, like werewolves. Especially so she could feel strong and intimidating. And I didn't doubt she'd take to the idea of becoming an experiment at all—she'd probably find it cool. But I just... hated the idea or even thinking about it.
I couldn't imagine the pain she'd endure from it. My body was designed to change in many different ways. Humans weren't as strong. It would be a hellish process for her, or potentially even kill her. And I didn't even know if the idea of me becoming a human was possible anyway—I just liked the idea that it would allow me to be together with Lilo without the stigma of the species difference out in public. I could take her on wonderful dinner dates and not be considered as a freak. I would be able to live a relatively normal life and provide for her, because I wouldn't be passed off as a 'dog' all the time. She wouldn't suffer the abuse of being in a taboo relationship with me and we might even have a chance at having our own family one day, even if that was minimal.
But overall, human or alien, Lilo kept me strong. I could ignore the hate and judgement for being an alien over being with her. And so far, Nani was accepting of us, as was my father. Their approval mattered the most to me, not the thoughts of random strangers. And of course, Mr Kuakini's approval mattered to me too because it did to Mitch, who ultimately loved Lilo being me.
As I thought about all of this, I laid back and stared up into the starry sky. The last of the night was disappearing slowly now as the sun began to rise, but as beautiful as this dawn was I couldn't appreciate it at that moment as much as I wanted to. Now that Demon 626 was gone for good I had a chance, but even so that strong worry of the cell still triggering was there in full force.
That it was already too late...
I closed my eyes.
I couldn't sleep after that. There was still no word from my father about Chopsuey's condition, and I was gravely worried about him.
I let Lilo sleep as I climbed out of the bed at ten the next morning. She had circles underneath her eyes from crying nearly all night. I kissed her on the forehead gently before making my way out to the kitchen. The family were all awake and sitting at the dining table but I could sense the tense mood between them the moment I appeared in the doorway.
They stared at me. After a moment or so Mr Kuakini pulled out a seat for me and I quietly joined them. More silence. And then Alanna finally spoke. "Stitch. Who was that other alien we saw earlier this morning?"
I stared at her at that. I was glad she'd called me Stitch but I detected something else in her tone too. I saw Mr Kuakini look at her for a moment before facing me again.
I sighed, putting my head into my paw. "My cousin."
She looked bewildered. "Your cousin? There's more like you?"
I frowned at her a little at how she directed that question towards me. It was off-putting and Mitch was offended by it as well as I could feel that familiar nagging feeling from within. "Yes, there are 'more' like me. But 621 is the only one 'like' me."
She went quiet. I just looked away.
"Mom..." Kalia said quietly. "Remember who you're speaking to."
She just sighed. "Well, so far everything has been a shock. And just when I was finally reconciling with that fact that Stitch is my own son last night, another alien suddenly comes into the house with a massive injury without any warning whatsoever. I can't get those blue bloodstains out of the rug. It was traumatic to witness but I just want to know WHY he was there to begin with. Your... your 'cousin'."
I just looked down towards the table. I wondered at this point if she would ever accept me. She seemed to last night but now I wasn't too sure as I don't think she took too well to the idea that Mitch was an alien now either.
Mr Kuakini had accepted it. And so had Lilo and Kalia. Even Nani. But they were clearly different from everybody else.
Jumba had warned us not to say anything and I looked at Mr Kuakini. He sighed as well. "Mitch... go back to Lilo for a bit. I'll explain about Chopsuey."
"Chopsuey?" Alanna asked, and I eyed her again. "Yes, Chopsuey. That's his name."
"I see." She avoided eye contact.
I just climbed down from the chair and headed back to Lilo. I saw Kalia watching me a little sadly as I left.
Lilo was awake when I went back into her. She was still in the bed but she turned to look at me.
"Stitch..." she called for me softly and I darted across the room and straight into her arms. She wrapped hers around me tightly.
"Any word on your cousin?"
"Naga..." I muttered. "I'm scared."
She buried her head into my shoulder. "Me too..."
"I hope he's okay..."
She pulled back and put her hand to my cheek. "I hope so too."
It was quiet between us. I could hear Mr Kuakini explaining about the back-up and Demon 626, though he didn't mention anything about the Metamorphosis System and it's potential. The demon had put me on a countdown but now that he was well and truly dead, I had no idea if that countdown still applied, though I had a feeling I would find out soon.
I remained in the room with Lilo for a long while. Finally the communicator buzzed and I almost slammed my head into the headboard behind me while scrambling to answer it.
"Papa?"
My father appeared on the screen. Lilo held onto my paw tightly, head pushed against my shoulder as she watched too.
"626... Lilo..." he sounded very exhausted and he looked awful. "Well... I've done what I can. Relieved to inform you that 621 made it through night and is stable. As for his arm, I am working on regenerating a new one for him right now. Shouldn't take too long, maybe two more hours to complete. I have doubts he'll be able to use it to it's full extent, considering I don't have access to the technology I once had, but I can make do. I have enough equipment here to attach it to him so he can get back to some kind of normality at least, even if takes few months to fully register and heal. Will likely need rehab."
I let out a shaky sigh. Lilo wiped at her eyes. "So he'll have his arm back?"
"Yes he will Lilo but I had to use some of your DNA to help regenerate it 626, as yours is closest physical match. Cannot use my own for it since basis was never from myself and would not be compatible with him. Immune system would reject."
"How did you do that?"
"More fur than normal on bed sheets. You're starting to shed again 626."
"Oh..." I hadn't even noticed. "Gaba iba bojaba ta ikiba?"
"Means that 621 will have slightly discoloured arm to rest of body 626. Mixture of blue and green fur. Also means that there will be slight genetic bond between you two and will affirm is true 'cousin' so to speak."
My eyes widened. Lilo was beaming at hearing that. "So he is truly ohana now? He can stay with us?"
Jumba gave a nod. I saw him put a hand to the back of his head. "Hopefully can repair bond with him after this, depending on what happens of course..." he looked a little distant. "I have doubts but... seeing him last night almost truly destroyed me, 626. Made me realise how foolish and stupid I've been. I know I cannot make up for years worth of neglect. Hurt runs deep and 626 you are truthfully unaware of full extent of what happened between us. The horrible things I've said to him, but will save that for another time as makes me remorseful to think about right now." His eyes narrowed slightly, but then he faced me. "How are you feeling after ordeal 626? Are you okay?"
I told my father about what had happened last night. How Demon 626 had been eaten alive by the nanites, as well as everything else that had transpired. I told him how worried I was about that dream.
He was quiet. "Won't know outcome until 621 wakes up. Only he can tell us, really."
"He saw something in me that scared him..." I told Jumba. "Not sure what was."
"I see... Well, I must go back to work 626. 621 is stable, but I'm not going to guarantee anything at this point so keep fingers crossed."
My ears fell.
"Let us hope he pulls through, though I'm still concerned about operation ahead. He's fifty fifty right now. I do not advise you to see him yet, best to let him recover. I will inform you of outcome soon. Just be vigilant 626, okey-dokey? Let me know straight away if anything happens. Am worried now that you still will potentially hit what I call 'stage one'... and if that happens well..."
"Stage... stage one?" I asked slowly. Lilo looked at me.
Jumba gave a nod. "Metamorphosis requires code to activate but with corruption of cell, stage one is what takes place instead of that."
"Gaba isa?" I asked quietly.
Jumba remained quiet for a while before answering me. "...you know what it is, 626."
"..."
It was quiet between us until Jumba looked off to the side in alarm. "I need to go. Is urgent."
The screen turned off. Lilo just pushed her head against me and I put my paw against her hair, holding her close.
"Stage one...?" she asked me quietly. "What does that mean Stitch? Is it... really bad?"
I closed my eyes. I knew exactly what it was.
It was the form I'd seen myself change into. In front of Nani in the kitchen that day and also during the wedding. And it was the same thing that demon had morphed into before he perished. Stage one was essentially the first stage of Metamorphosis. I was more than familiar with it by this point.
I knew this whole time the cell had switched. But those times I'd changed before Demon 626 hadn't been at full power so the form hadn't maintained itself and I reverted back to normal. Though now if I changed, I realised that I wouldn't change back. There would be no going back.
And it would mean that 621 had failed. That Demon 626 somehow had already got to the cell.
As this hit me, the thought of that dream terrified me even more. That entity of myself in the dream had felt almost as though it had gone into me, similar to when Mitch's spirit had transformed and gone inside of me, but his spirit had been warm. This thing though... it had been ice cold. When I'd woke from that dream I'd been shivering despite the weather wasn't exactly cold.
I tried not to cry again. I needed to be strong. I still had no answer and that scared me the most because I had no idea that if by tonight, I'd be a full planet destroying monster. That the countdown was still taking place inside of me, I just didn't know. Only Chopsuey could give me a straight answer on that. On what had scared him as he'd exited my system.
I just hoped he would be okay and I was able to find out before it was too late.
Lilo and I went out to the others after another half hour or so. She held onto me tightly and refused to let go. The family stared at us quietly as we approached them together.
"..."
"Good morning Lilo..." Mr Kuakini looked at my angel before he gave me a soft smile. Kalia had gone to have a shower as I could hear it running in the distance.
Lilo gave a meek wave. Alanna turned around from the stove.
"Here sweetie, have a seat. I've made you both some breakfast."
Lilo looked at me before climbing up to the table. I sat beside her on the same seat I'd been on before.
"I explained things, Mitch..." Mr Kuakini told me. I just nodded. Alanna put a dish down in front of Lilo before giving one to me as well. It looked like breakfast was bacon and eggs.
As we ate, both Mr and Mrs Kuakini just sat down at the table and watched us. Alanna kept staring at me. Eventually I paused and looked at her.
"Do you accept me?"
I saw her falter. Mr Kuakini just remained quiet.
"You know I'm Mitch inside now," I told her quietly. "But as Stitch. Do you accept me?"
"..."
Lilo looked at me sadly. I felt her reach under the table and squeeze my paw gently. Alanna put her head to her hand.
"I know you're Mitch," she said. "But my son was a human that's been dead for the past three years. I buried him. And now suddenly I'm talking to him again. You said that poem to me and you knew it. But I'm still having trouble seeing you as him even if I can see you in there."
"..."
"Surely you can understand this is hard for me, Stitch. But as for accepting you... I guess that will take a lot more time. And I'll be honest about that I don't know if I can. It was obviously easier for John. I can tell... but... this still just doesn't feel right or real because there is just so much to process after all I saw Mitch suffer through for myself when he was alive..."
"Alanna..." Mr Kuakini said, but she just shook her head. He sighed and put his head to his hand.
I looked at Lilo at that. "She is my family now," I said bluntly. "Naanee, David... my father. And Pleakley. So even if you don't accept me it's okay... 'cuz I'm not yours anymore anyway."
That did it. Her eyes widened and she stood up and left the table swiftly. Mr Kuakini looked upset at hearing this as well, but I felt it needed to be said and Mitch didn't protest against it. Mr Kuakini went to say something, but instead followed his wife.
They had to accept that just because I was formerly their son, I had my own life to live because I wanted to move forth with my identity as Stitch. I'd given them their closure and now I wanted mine and I was annoyed I still hadn't got it.
I thought it would be easy to proceed forward after last night, but I also hated the idea that I couldn't come here now without there being tension in the air. That had been obvious to me before with how Alanna had spoken to me. I currently had MORE than enough to deal with and if I was going to become a monster later on tonight, I had to at least leave things on good terms with everybody close to me. I had to know they'd accepted that I'd moved on. And I knew that Mitch wanted that as well, even if he missed his mother. He was smart enough to know that he wasn't the same human anymore. He was me.
Lilo didn't know what to say for a few moments and she struggled to get something out. But then she looked at me. "Should I talk to them maybe?" she asked me quietly. "Tell them how I feel about things?"
"Might help," I muttered. "Lilo... lucha. I love them, ih? They are my family too. Mitch's parents. But they need to let me be me now. And I need to know that they accept that. 'Cuz I don't want to keep dealing with... with this! Tension! It's too much!"
She stared at me sadly. "..."
"I'm YOURS now Lilo. I know there is that contract, and I hate being 'owned' as you know... but you're my family now. I love you. And if Stitch still going to... to change... I need them to have let me move on. For my own closure. For Stitch..." I clenched my fist.
"I understand..." my angel told me quietly, leaning over to kiss my nose. "Stay here... I'll go and speak to them, okay? I'll help them understand how you feel. I promise."
I gave a nod. Lilo just stroked my cheek with her hand before leaving the room and going after them.
I just sighed, staring down at my plate and thinking about my cousin.