Mable: Chapter Two. Same as before. I don't own 9, Enjoy!

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Chapter Two: A risky plan

In the hours that followed the incident of Two almost getting killed, Nine awoke and actually seemed to be fine over then a small rip in his burlap. The Inventor noticed that Nine and Five were quickly becoming friends and it made a small smile form on his face. However, it faded away after a little bit. He knew that letting the creature get the talisman was the biggest mistake he had ever made, the worst thing he could ever let happen. With Six's cryptic words laced in his head he feared that others would be attacked. Not only that, but he feared for One, not sure exactly why though. One was fine, but they had been together the longest, sometimes he wondered if he'd be able to function without his leader. He shook his head to knock the thoughts away.

This was when Two decided to again confront One about going to retrieve the talisman. He left the workshop and headed into the throne room where the stitchpunk target was perched on his throne as usual. Eight was at his usual post beside him, looking a bit bored and probably tempted to go bully Six. Two hoped he wouldn't, Six had been holed up in his room ever since he found out that the talisman had been taken by the beast that assaulted them. One seemed a bit zoned out so it seemed like the best time to speak to him. "One, we need to talk." The leader's usual glare set in, "I know what you wish to talk about Two, and I'll tell you now that my mind hasn't changed. We will not go after it. It is not worth it."

"It is." Six's voice spoke up out of nowhere. Two looked back at the artist only to see a paper rolled up in his hand that was being crushed on accident, "Need it. Or we will have our sources taken away." At this he practically ran across the room to Eight, "Here." He practically shoved it into the larger's grasp. Eight took it with a bit of confusion, not willing to actually bully him right now when being watched by One and Two. He opened the paper up, "What is it?" Six spoke softly, "It's upside down." Eight fixed it and the image was a bit clearer. Some sort of machine with a long body, something unseeable connected to its tail, and the head of a baby doll for a head, "What's it supposed to be?"

"The one who'll take you. You're next." Silence. Then Eight ripped the picture up, "Not playing this game." He growled and dropped the shredded paper to the ground. This didn't affect Six much, "You're next." These words triggered Eight to step closer and mutter threateningly, "Stop saying that." Again Six spoke, "Saw it take your source." That was when Eight lashed out at Six, hitting him and knocking him to the ground. At this point Two came over to stop him from continuing, helping up the artist. One glared at Eight, "Six is the only reason Two is alive right now. I'd listen to what he has to say." The bodyguard started to pick up the shreds, "Did you see this thing that he said is comin' after me?"

"We don't know if it's coming or not, but since Six predicted the thing going after Two we should believe that he might be right about other things. Or at least prepare in case more occurs." One taking Six's side was a shock for everyone, especially One himself. This gave Six the courage to continue, "We need to get the source! It can't take ours without it! Please One I-"

"No!" One practically cried out, almost driven to the brink of insanity, "No going to that factory! All that will happen is we will all end up dead! Do you want that?" The artist fell almost silent, whispering out, "Factory?" The leader noticed his slip up but simply shook his head, "It doesn't make any difference. I'm not risking all I've worked for, for a Talisman that may or may not help us."


To say that Nine felt like this whole event was his own fault was an understatement. The way that Six said that the creature that attacked earlier, the Cat Beast as Five referred to it, would use the talisman to destroy the Stitchpunks only elevated this. He should have just kept it inside himself, but he didn't and now it was gone. Of course there was a temptation growing inside of him. He stopped watching the commotion in the throne room and headed up to the watchtower where Five was, probably watching out for if any of the machines were nearby. Once there he immediately jumped to the point, "I'm going to go get the Talisman." At first Five looked at him like he was insane.

"You don't even know where it was taken." The Apprentice was ready to convince his newest friend not to go. However Nine seemed bent on going, "One mentioned a factory." He took control of the telescope towards what he guessed was the factory, "I have to get it before anyone else gets hurt." Then he glanced back, "We need to go get it and bring it back."

"We?"

"It can't be that hard. We'll just have to be careful."

"We?" The second time that Five asked Nine actually answered, "The thing almost took Two. If we don't stop it then it might come back." This didn't help, "B-But we'll be going to it." It took a few more minutes for Nine to finally convince Five on going, "We'll be quick. We can get it done for Two since One won't let him leave. If we don't everyone else could be at risk." The one eyed one let out a soft sigh, "…Okay…"


Two sorted out the objects in his workshop around to keep his mind off of the fear that somewhere lingered in the back of his mind. Move this, move that, drop something, pick it up, and repeat. He had also noticed that Five had seemed to vanish. He decided to check Five's 'room' only to find his apprentice not there either. Now he became concerned. It had only been earlier when he was attacked and he knew the Cat Beast could return. His side still ached a bit from the stitches, which would go away but was a reminder that even the littlest scratch could affect them horribly. Slow them down, break their concentration, or much worst. The Inventor started to check the other rooms.

The next place he checked was the crevice that used to be Seven's room. Seven, she had left with the young twins when One became too obsessed with Seven not leaving the cathedral. Now it was empty and Two was left to stare, hoping that wherever the three were, they were okay. Searching longer he realized that it was like Five had disappeared. Then he froze solid, "No…" Running as fast as he could with a stitched side and a limp he made his way back to the watchtower where he stared through the telescope searching, "No Five. No, no, no…" He then saw two figures far in the distance heading towards the factory. Towards the factory that was now looking more alive. "Five…"


The factory wasn't too hard to get into and once inside it was just climbing through what appeared to be trash. "Where do you think it is?" Nine asked as he searched through some pieces of metal. Five was a few feet away, moving much slower and more carefully, "Nine… I don't think we should just run in like this." A weird sound could be heard as something was moving nearby. "Get down." He whispered as he dropped behind a piece of metal. Nine actually went forward a bit and caught a glimpse of the Cat Beast from before. It was approaching something that looked like a piece of trash, or a pile, it didn't look important other than some sort of small place that looked like the talisman could be inserted into.

That was when he realized that was the plan. The Cat Beast put it in and the 'thing', which turned out to not be trash at, seemed to come to life. Nine's optics widened at the sight of the large machine with a bright red eye. He almost let out a cry of fear, because he felt something coming from it. Like he knew what it was and knew it would hurt them. Spinning around the stitchpunk started to run towards the exit, grabbing Five's hand to tug him up, "Run!" He whispered sharply before again running. Five hadn't seen much of the machine but knew to run behind his friend, actually quite glad to get away. They climbed out of the factory and started through the emptiness towards the cathedral.

Before they got more than two feet they were stopped. The Cat Beast had heard them, came after them, leapt over them, and was now before them. Nine lifted his Lightstaff, which he had made before they entered the factory, in defense as Five pulled a pair of sharp shears from his pack. The Beast was quick and went for Five, not seeming to like the bright light from the staff. It tried to crush Five who moved out of the way and impaled its leg with the shears. It made a weird noise before hitting Five and sending him skidding across the ground, losing his grasp on the shears that were now stuck into the beast's leg. Before it could go and finish the job Nine brought his Lightstaff closer in an attempt to drive it off. It certainly squealed like it was in pain.

It then knocked Nine back a bit before trying to dig its sharp teeth into his fabric. Five climbed back to his feet and ran over to yank the shears from its leg before turning them upwards to plunge them into the beast's neck. This finally caused it to stumble a bit before getting over him, teeth bared, ready to end his life. Nine wouldn't be able to make it over in time; he knew it and could only stare in shock as the next events took place. What appeared to be a stitchpunk in makeshift armor of avian bones jumped onto its back and sunk a spear behind its head right where the shears went through below. There was a snapping noise as it twisted the spear in a way that it broke the neck of the beast.

Then the stitchpunk jumped off, landing on the ground gracefully with spear still in hand. Behind her the Cat Beast's head suddenly seemed to lose the ability to stay up. Something important was hit, and with one last stab from the shears the head detached. Five had to quickly get away before the head smashed into the ground. There was a soft second as Five took in the sight of the one who saved them. He stared in shock before he ran forward and embraced her, "Seven!" The joy in his voice was the first thing that Nine could recognize. He realized that the two most know each other. "What are you doing here?" Seven asked quickly, after her own second of shock from being embraced, "It's dangerous to be here."

Five explained what was going on. All details from Six's vision, Two being saved, and finally coming to the factory, "-That's when we got attacked. Whatever was awoken is still in there." Seven let the information sink in, a bit taken aback by some parts of the story, then spoke, "Here. Come with me." She then started to walk away, the two males simply watching her before following as well. It wasn't like they could face anything worse then what was in the factory that had awoken. That almost saw them.

That knew they had been there.


Mable: Again, please don't flame, but please review. I hope you enjoyed!