I don't own Shane Acker's 9 characters or the songs in the sound track. Thank you so much for your support E.A.T. Heres the next chapter, hope you like it.
Star got to stay with grandpa for about a week or two before having her soul transfered. During her stay with grandpa she got a chance to read the files on the anatomy of the stitchpunks and realized they can reproduce. The anatomy of their reproduction was similar to that of humans but also different in some ways. The main contributor to their reproduction was soul bonding but they also had rods and cylinders. (I'll let you use your imagination. ;)) 4 and 7 were the only females thats she would know of in the group, but what surprised her the most was the fact that two of the so called 'males' of the group could also carry babies but under special conditions.
Star also got to see some of the stitchpunks come to life and lets just say she was more then amazed at the process one had to go through to have it work. Star got to interact with them somewhat, she didn't want her self or them to become to attached before they had to be released.
She will brake her little rule though with so of the little stitchpunks. Star would also ask her grandpa that once she was in her new body that if he could get one of the rebels to take her and her stuff to a secret room she had found in the library before the war started. But lets tell you in order and detail of these events shall we.
The day after her introduction to The Scientist AKA grandpa, Star was reading the anatomy files and was engrossed in them. The Scientist was putting the finishing touches to his first creation 1. The Scientist finished and with carful care her set him up for the transfer. Star saw the movement from the corner of her eye and grew curious so she got up and made her way over to her grandpa.
"Whats this ones name Grandpa?" Star asks as she took a good look at the stitchpunk and saw the number 1 written in ink on it's back.
"His name is 1." he said as he finished setting everything up for the transfer.
"Now I want you to stand back a few feet so you don't get hurt and no matter what happens you won't inter fear okay little Star."
"Alright grandpa." Star said as she did as she was told. Without another word exchanged between them The Scientist took his seat at the old desk and put his face in front of the mask as talisman activated. The whole transfer both scared and fascinated Star 'I wonder how much it hurts?' As the talisman closed back up her grandpa had a almost winded look on his face as he detached 1 from the device. Star approached her grandpa for a better look at the doll. The stitchpunk started to wake and when it did he seemed to just jump right out of her grandpa's hand. She stared into the stitchpunks eyes and saw how prideful 1 was, how he had a strong sense of power and control. Star knew what his purpose was 'to protect us'. But if he was going to be a protector of sorts it was going to be a little hard for her to take 1 seriously with that pony tail like cloth tied together on his head and the fact that he kind looked like an old man didn't help ether. Star didn't mean any disrespect by it, she just thought it was rather cute in a way imagining him bark orders at people with his 'pony tail' bouncing on his head at the same time. Star almost couldn't turn away but a tired grown caused her to turn away and look at her grandpa who was resting his head in his hands. Star put a hand on his shoulder and looked him over 'he looks little tired.'
"Grandpa you should take a quick rest before continuing your work." Star said concerned. The scientist looked at Star and offered a smile.
"There's no need to worry little Star I'll be fine." Star wasn't convince but she just let it drop as he got right back to work on making the next stitchpunk she guested was 2. Instead she looked to were 1 was and he wasn't there. Star started to look around the room for him. 'The doors closed so he can't be outside of the room.' So she decided to sit back on the cot and continue reading the files she had out, she was now entering the reproduction section of the files. As her mind wandered she started to subconsciously hum a lovely tune that one would find enchanting and even possibly cry to. (The song Star is humming is the score from the movie 9 'Release'. The lyrics EAT made and is letting me barrow are not present in this chapter just so you all know.) Star didn't have words to the song yet but she kept on humming the song her soul was singing. Star was so into what she was doing she didn't know that her grandpa was listening to her humming smiling slightly and looking slightly at peace. Little did she know that her grandpa was listening to her humming and that he wasn't the only one listening to her humming. Hiding under the cot was 1, he didn't know why but he was completely taken in by the song. He had only woke a few minutes ago but he knew enough that this was a song that he will most likely never forget any time soon, so he decided to sit down and enjoy this lovely tune. So as the rest of the day followed all to soon it was the next day and 1 had to be released, but he was no were to be seen. So both Star and her grandpa started to look for the little doll. It seemed like hours before Star finally found him hiding under the cot. It took a lot of convincing but they managed to get him out from under the bed long enough to explain that he had to leave to find someplace safer then here or he could be killed here. That seemed to convince 1 enough, Star offered to take 1 down the stairs and release him there.
"I not so sure little Star, I don't want you to get hurt." The Scientist said shaking his head slightly and looking a little uneasy.
"Please grandpa I'll be careful and I won't be leaving the house."
"Alright but be quick so you don't get seen by any machines." Star nods her head to show she heard him and looked down at 1. She bent down and held out her hand for him to get on but 1 just looked at it then back at her .1 just humped as he straightened himself up and walked to the door. Star just sighed, shook her head looking back at her grandpa one more time and shrugged before opening the door for 1 and herself. 1 walked out with Star close behind, she closed the door and when they got to the stirs Star looked down at 1 as they reached the top of stairs.
"Are you sure you don't want that lift I offered 1?" Star asked 1. 1 just looked down the stairs which were a long and tiring ways down for a stitchpunk like him, looked back up at Stardust and not wanting to sound weak he said in a gruff voice
"Well if your going to keep offering I might as well." Star just smiled kindly as she lay her hand down for him to get on. 1 took a moment to look her hand over as if it were about to somehow bite him, before he slowly got on and sat in her hand. Star smiled again as she gently lifted him up into the air at chest hight. 1 gave a small quite gasp when he saw how high he was in her hand. As Star started to walk down the stairs 1 couldn't help but feel a small sense of power when he saw how high he was above everything else around him, he felt...somewhat safe and out of harms way. But all to soon that feeling was gone as Star got to the bottom of the stairs and lowered her hand to let 1 off.
"There you go 1." Star said as he jumped off. Star walk over to the front door, opened it slowly, slowly looking outside the door and looked around for any near by danger. When she was sure no machines were any were near the house she looked down at 1 who looked unsure of going outside in that war zone. Star felt a ping of sadness and regret for having to send 1 out into the war zone by himself but it was for humanity right. Crouching down so she was closer to 1's face she felt she had to say something to him but she didn't know what.
"I know it's scary out there but you won't be alone, there will be more of you soon enough." 1 looked up at Star looking a t her with intensity.
"What do you mean?" 1 asked impatiently.
"My grandpa, your creator is going to make more of your kind." Star replied.
"Just how dose he intend to pull this off, was it the was it the same way I was made?" 1 was cerous but covered it with gruffness and some sarcasm in his voice. Star could see through his attempt though his attempt and sighed after all it wouldn't be the first time she talked to some one like this.
"My grandpa is using dark science to bring you and others like you to life, but at a price. He will have to give up pieces of his soul in exchange of bring you to live and the process will kill him eventually." Star stated to 1 carefully.
"But that don't sound right, it sounds reckless if you ask me." 1 scoffed and turned his head away.
"Would you rather be all alone in this world when man finally dies away?" Star asked as she stood back up looking down at 1. 1 sighs softly shaking his head before looking back up at her.
"No, I would rather have some compony then none at all."
"Good. Now good luck 1 you might need it." Star said softly. Heading back up the stairs she tried so hard to ignore that detaching feeling, like she would never see him again. But as she got to the top of the stairs she new she would see him again someday. Star opened the door, walked in and once the door closed her grandfather looked to her as she sat on the cot.
"What took you so long little Star, I was worried something happened to you."
"I was just making sure that the machines weren't around the house when I was releasing 1 grandpa, I just wanted to be sure he would be alright for now." Star reassured him.
"Alright little Star as long as your alright, I'm going to start making 2 sometime tomorrow. I'm going to add and improve a few things in him." The Scientist told Star as he turned back to the blue prints he had in front of him. Star decided to have a look at the next stitchpunk in the making and got up from the cot to walk over to the desk to read the blue prints spread out on the desk.
"What kind of things will you be adding grandpa?" Star asked as she read the blue prints and saw some parts that looked like the ones in the female stitchpunk anatomy.
"As I'm sure you already know of the stitchpunks anatomy so it'll make explaining this a lot easier. I am going to put not only male reproductive parts but female ones as well. Though the chances are slimmer then an actual female but he will be able to carry children nonetheless." he answered Star without pausing in his work. Star found it rather entrusting that 2 was going to be able to have children. Star figured that it must be for diversity and uniqueness that grandpa was doing this. She would for the sake of future reference consider him a 'he' then a 'she'. Time seemed to just fly by as the Scientist built 2. By the time The Scientist brought 2 to life Star had finished making a makeshift back pack in that little time for her stitchpunk to carry her thread and needle or other supplies and small objects. Star sat on the cot this time and watched the process of 2 coming alive. Just like she had done with 1 she looked the stitchpunk over head to toe. Unlike one 2 had a metal plate on his head and his eyes were rather faded somewhat. She liked that he looked to be wearing a leather vest and was tied up with a shoe lace. Star quickly decided she liked 2 he seemed like a father/grandfather figure. After her careful look over she nodded to her self '2 to inspirer us.' Just like she had done when reading the files she started to hum as she took out a few parts and was making stitchpunk sized headphones for her mp3 player. 2 fancied the humming, he found it rather smashing to listen to while he worked. Soon he found himself humming along with Star as the day draw on. Soon night came and it was time for sleep.
When morning came Star had asked grandpa to let her take 2 down to let him go like she had done with 1. Just like before he agreed only if she came back within less then five minutes.
"Okay grandpa I'll be right back." Star then offered her hand to 2 who unlike one willingly crawled right in her hand. With a smile on her face she walk out the door and down the stairs. Once she got to the door she set 2 down and carefully opened the door for 2. Without an explanation 2 seemed to under stand as she opened the door.
"Be careful out there 2." Star said as 2 was walking out the door. 2 looked back at her for a moment and smiled at her.
"Don't worry about me my dear, I'll be fine." 2 smiled one last time before walking away. Thats when Star felt it again that torn feeling. 'Relax Star you'll see him again and besides once your a stitchpunk you'll be able to build stuff with him instead of just watching' she reassured herself. Once Star walked in she looked over to her grandpa he seemed to be having trouble finding material for what looked think to be twins made from gloves of some sort. Star decided to bite the bullet and ask what was wrong.
"Grandpa what wrong are you trying to find something?" The Scientist was looking through everything trying to find something he needed for the next stitchpunks.
"Oh Star there you are I'm trying to find an old pair of gloves I've had lying around here somewhere but I can't seem to find them anywhere." The Scientist said as he kept on looking for the gloves he needed. Star looked over at the next blue prints and saw that her grandpa needed the gloves to make twin stitchpunks. 3 was design to be a boy while 4 was design to be a girl. Star then remembered she had a pair of light blue garden gloves that she always carries with her for when she goes gardening. Star grabbed her bag and pulled out the garden groves along with a bunch of other materials that she kept because she though they were rather nice like this white fabric, burlap of various browns or this nice stripped cloth she just found lying around and thought it was rather soft. Star gathered up the materials she had and put them on her grandpas desk. When she set the stuff down The Scientist turn and walk back over to the desk looking over all the materials on his desk, Star hands the garden gloves to him.
"Here you grandpa these will work right?" The Scientist took the garden gloves and looked them over deep in thought.
"Yes I think these will do just fine." he said to Star with a small smile.
"My little Star are you giving me all this material?" asking as he looking at his desk once more that had all this fabric.
"Of corse I am grandpa why not, you need them more then I do right now." Star stated with a soft smile.
"Well thank you Star. This means more to me then you know." The Scientist gathered up the materials that were on his desk and set them aside for now. He sat down and began working on the gloves he was given. In just a couple days the twins 3 and 4 were born. They were so energetic! Reading just about anything they could get their little hands on. Good thing Star had all her stuff hidden in her bag, after all she liked to have at lest some privacy when it came to what she knew. Star loved the twins, she thought they were so adorable the way they were so child like. 3 seemed to be more out going and adventurous. While 4 was a little more timid, liked to stay by her brothers side and not leave him for more then a few minutes. Star also loved how they had hoods made from the rims of the gloves. Her grandpa had said that they remind him of her, the way they just seemed to want to learn more from the past through books. Once Star had to release them she didn't have that strange feeling again but she did feel a bit sad that they had to go. '3 to define us'. '4 to teach us'.
"Good-bye 3 and 4 I hope I'll see you again." Star set them down on the ground and watched them run off but not before they flashed a quick good-bye as well. Once she got up the stairs again she was in the little room once more watching, waiting for her turn to transfer her soul. Star knew she had to wait but for how much longer was a mystery. Almost two days later 5 is now awake and is looking around at various objects The Scientist was showing him. Star looked on knowing just by looking in to his eyes that he was a trusting soul. 5 had two buttons to close up his front and was made from burlap. 5 would be a nice brother/uncle to have Star gave a happy smile. '5 to guide us'. The day went on into night and soon another day came. Which meant 5 had to go. As Star encouraged 5 to go out side Star felt the 'feeling' again, what if it meant something. Once 5 was out of sight she closed the door and went back up stairs. Grandpa was getting better and faster at making the stitchpunks because by the time night had fallen 6 was half done. By morning 6 was complete and awake drawing. 6 had mismatched eyes and a bit of yarn on top of his head for hair. 6 was made from the soft striped fabric she gave her grandpa. Star watched 6 draw his pictures with intrust. Star had decided to sit by him and draw to. Once again she hummed and 6 started humming with her as he drew. When she stopped humming 6 turned to her and slowly walked over to her.
"Sound?' 6 asked while looking up at Star. Star looked down at 6 and stroked his head with a soft smile.
"Did you like my humming?" Star asked 6. 6 nodded his head with a sheepish smile.
"Sound." Star smiled even more at 6, she was becoming so attached to 6, even if they knew each other for only one day. 6 walked over to his paper, picked it up and walked over to Star and sat right beside her.
"Friends?" 6 looking up with his sheepish smile still on his face.
"Friends." Star stated softly to 6. Star then thought of something, getting up slowly she walked over to her backpack, looking through it and pulled out an old key. This key went to a special box she had for the future. She walked back over to 6 with the key in hand. 6 was watching her with intrust has she brought the key over to were he was. Getting on her knees she held the key out to 6.
"Here 6 I want to give you this to look after and keep." 6 looked at the key and slowly he grabbed and picked it up in his hands.
"What is it?" he asked looking the key over.
"It's a key, a key to a box I have that is important for the future. I want you to have it 6." 6 looked up at Star with wide and curious eyes.
"But why?"
"So you have something to remember me by and I see you as a brother 6." 6 didn't know what to say, he was so happy to receive such a token of friendship.
" Here let me help you put it on." Star reached down and put the key around his neck like a necklace. 6 smiled as he gripped the key in his hands. Star placed her hand down for him to get on, lifting him to her neck she press him to her neck giving him the best hug she was able to give him.
"No matter what happens 6 just remember as long as you carry that key I'm always with you. Also I think I should give you a nick name of some sort."
"Whats a nick name?" 6 asked curiously.
"A nick name is a name you use to call some one that is a close friend or family member, like Bobby or JJ. Also only I or some one else close to you can call you by your nick name, every one else will call you 6 okay." Star tried explaining.
"Okay, so whats my nick name?" 6 looked up at Star as best as he could. Star looked at 6 and thought for a moment before answering.
"I think I'll go with Stripes, if you don't mind that is." 6 though over, also thinking of a name to call Star after all it was only fair.
"O-okay but can I call you by a nick name to?" 6 asked timidly.
"Of corse you can 6." Star said with a smile. 6 looked up at Star and saw how her shinny her glasses were and how they seemed to have a twinkle of light that shined in them. He knew what to call her now.
"Can I call you Shiny Eyes?" Star smiled
"Yes 6, yes you can." 6 was happy to her that she excepted the name her thought of and smiled with such happiness. The rest of the night was peaceful until morning came then Star had to release 6. Walking down the stairs that horrible feeling came back 10 fold and Star was worried, what if it really meant something, that something horrible would happen to those stickpunks that cause the feeling. They reached the bottom of the stairs and once the door was open Star slowly set 6 down for him to go. 6 looked up sadly at Star.
"D-do I have to go Shinny Eyes?" Stars heart broke at that.
"I'm so sorry 6 but yes you do." 6's eyes widened
"N-no I don't want to leave you!" 6 reached out and clung to her leg sad and scared.
"I know I don't want you to leave ether but you have to, you must I promise we will meet again Stripes." Star tried to comfort 6
"Y-you promise?" 6 sniffed.
"I promise. Now go on Stripes and remember I'm always with you." Star reminded 6 as he started to slowly walk out the door.
"Bye Shinny Eyes." With that he was gone and Star knew she had to talk with grandpa about her transfer tonight. As Star entered the room she walked up to her grandpa.
"Grandpa about my soul transfer, it has to be tonight." Star said to The Scientist as her turned to look at her with astonishment.
"Tonight Star? Why?"
"I just think that its time for me to do it is all." The Scientist looked unsure.
"I don't know little Star its dangerous."
"I know but I have to please grandpa." The scientist thought it over long and hard.
"Alright we'll do it tonight."
"Thank you grandpa and if it not to much trouble could you possibly after my transfer be able to get one of the rebels to take me and my things to a secret room in the library? I have a map that shows were it is. Please grandpa?" Star pleaded with him. The Scientist looked astonished by the request but he couldn't deny her it.
"I suppose I could work something out with an old friend of mine here in town but I can't promise anything."
"Thank you grandpa." Star smiled and hugged him.
"Alright lets get started then." Star grabbed her stitchpunk and set it up to the device. She then took her grandpas seat at the desk and put her face in front of the mask.
"It's going to hurt isn't it." Star asked nervously. The Scientist wasn't going to lie to Star.
"Yes it will hurt, how must I don't know since your transferring your whole soul instead of parts. Now are you ready?" Star took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"Yeah I'm ready grandpa." He nodded as he put the talisman in place. This was it. The talisman glowed and spring open. Next thing she knew there was pain and a lot of it, this was worse then anything she could have ever imagined. It pulled at her soul and she new she had to let it go, so she did. 'Good bye grandpa' then nothing.
Dang that was a long chapter to write. I hope it was worth it. Can you make any predictions. Please review everyone!! Thank you!! ;)
