"2!!! 2, where are you?!" I shouted, running through the halls of the cathedral. 2 wasn't in his workshop. He was never in his workshop when I needed him. I couldn't find 5, either. I slipped on the glossy floor and fell. 7 appeared out of nowhere, concerned.

"Are you okay?" she asked me. I muttered to myself as I got up again. She looked at me, obviously wary of the way I was twitching. I had news for 2. I had to get to 2. Where was 2???

"I'm fine. Where's 2?" I asked her, hoping for an answer. She shrugged, and I groaned, running off again. Narrowly avoiding a punch to the arm, I sprinted further down the hallway, nearly crashing into a wall when I had to turn right. He was most likely outside... most likely with 5, looking for bits and pieces to tinker with... or maybe spare bits if somebody got hurt again.

I ignored the stabbing sensation to my side, breathing hard. Not looking where I was going, I tripped and barrel-rolled down a small mound. I was quite tempted to try it again for the exhilaration and happiness that welled up inside me- a fun game to try another time. Another time. Not right then. Another time, have to try another time. I couldn't get distracted. Finally, I was right-side-up, and able to look for 2 once more.

"2? 2... 2!" I called out. He didn't reply, but I heard a conversation on the other side of the plastic scrap heap I had landed next to. I ran around it, sending up small clouds of dust as I went. There he was! Finally! 2 and 5... 2 and 5 were looking at something- it looked like a pen or something, or maybe a screwdriver... But I couldn't get distracted. Couldn't get distracted. I had to concentrate.

"2! I have something to tell you! 2!" I was shouting again, though their hand gestures clearly told me to be quiet. I ignored them, still sprinting towards them. I tripped again, landing flat on the ground at 2's feet. 2 bent down, though there was a quiet yet ominous crack that sounded from his metallic spine. He smiled at me kindly, as he always did. He believed in me. He was nice to everybody.

"What brings you out here at such a hurry, 6?"

"I had another vision... I know how to bring us back. You need to bring us back... back from the dead; you can invent something... 2 will invent something, and then 9 can fix us..." I trailed off, muttering to myself. Couldn't get distracted. I looked up again, undoing the Velcro on my chest and withdrawing the crumpled piece of paper inside. I noticed 5 again- he looked lost.

"9? What do you mean?" 5 asked me suspiciously. He didn't really believe me, but he tried to. I knew he did. 5 was nice to me... he fixes me whenever I get hurt. 5 is nice. But I couldn't get distracted. I gave the paper to 2, and let 5 look over his shoulder at it. It was very messy, because the vision was really blurred, but I had seen 9. We would be joined by 9, and he would bring us all back. Back from the dead... but we needed to tell him what to do. We needed to find the Professor's lab...

"Interesting... very interesting. That's quite a design you have there, 6. But I don't know how it would work or what to do..." 2 looked back at 5, who shrugged. They gave me an apologetic look.

"No! Nonononono! It works, I saw it! You can make it, 2! You must make it! 5 can help! We have one half of the talisman, you can make it work! Please! Please, make it work!!" I had collapsed onto my knees and begged. 2 looked back up at 5, clearly exchanging a conversation that only those with a special bond can exchange. 2 and 5 have it, and so do 3 and 4. But I could think about that another time. Not then, another time. Think about them another time. My optics refocused on 2.

"Well... we can try. No promises, though." 2 told me, sending wave of relief through me. I jumped up and embraced him, careful not to scratch him with my nib fingers.

***

Perhaps a month had passed by. 9 hadn't come yet. But he was coming soon... coming soon. I knew what he looked like. He was coming soon. As friendly as he seemed, I wanted him to stay alone forever. Or at least, until we were done. 9's arrival brought 2's death. 2 would die. I didn't want 2 to die. He was nice to me. Nice to everybody. 5 would be upset. 5 was my friend... didn't want 5 to suffer. 3 and 4 sat on either side of me, watching 2 and 5 work. This was their forte. They were happy, and I was happy, and so were 3 and 4. 3 and 4 were just happy to be together. I smiled as the invention was brought together- it looked almost finished. I had half of the talisman in my hands.

"That will be enough for today, 5. I'm very tired right now." 2 finally said. I frowned a little- it was only halfway through the day. 2 was tired... 2 was getting weaker, and he was younger than 1. I didn't like 1 much, he didn't like me. He thought I was useless. He thought what I saw was a coincidence. But I couldn't get distracted... I could help 5, I could help finish it. We were so close...

Quite suddenly, I went rigid. The colours came back- red and beige and green and the colours of evil and death. There was 2, looking so frail. I screamed as I saw him die again, possibly for the hundredth time. There was 9 again, and then there was 5, and 7... Everybody. I watched us die, one by one. 9 didn't die, though. 9 would save us. I saw him with the talisman, attaching our machine to the life bringer that the Professor made.

The flash of bright green ended my vision. I slammed my fist on the ground in frustration. He was going to do what we told him... but I couldn't be sure that it would be successful. Couldn't let myself down. Can't let 2 down, don't let him down. He was still here, he would finish it. It was almost done.

"2, we're almost done, according to 6's designs. I can finish it." 5 called out to 2 as he walked towards me. I lay down again in relief, feeling as tired as 2 looked. So this was what it was like to be old... but I couldn't get distracted. I let my optics slide closed. I was on the cool floor beside the two piles of rags that served for bedding. It was nice.

3 stroked my carpet hair- I knew it was 3 because she wasn't afraid of me. 4 didn't like it when I had visions. She didn't want me to get hurt. She never touched me, she was afraid she would hurt me if she did. I lost consciousness as I fell into sleep. I dreamt that 5 would have finished when I woke up. Surely he would. 5 was good with these things. He fixed things. He fixed me. So he could finish. He would finish it.