Why? Why did I do that? Why did I leave so carelessly? Why does everything hurt so much!?
Am I dying!? No! I don't want to die!
"Eve?"
"Ah!" EVE's eyes snapped open, drowsily blinking in the harsh white light, "Ow..."
"Are you okay?" it was Rose, "Your circuits are fried."
"I...I have...a headache..." EVE complained.
"Evah..."
"Wall-E?" she reached out to him and relaxed as he grasped it, "Hmmm..."
"Here, I'll bump up your numbing solution." Rose touched a button on the machine and it whirred while it adjusted.
What's going on? Giga-Robo asked, Can we help?
"Just watch them and keep them here. If any of the machines flash red, call my name!" Rose went to check up on her other sisters.
Do you know what's happening? Giga asked Chibi.
It's hard to say. I've lived with them for all these years, and I still can't wrap my head around them.
I see... Giga became sad again as he watched the girls, I watched humanity plunder before they left, and I've been all over this wasteland since...
What!? Chibi stared at him, astounded, You didn't go dormant in the attack!?
Heheh...no, I didn't, though I came close. It's interesting how time flies when you're all alone.
Wait what happened!? You have to tell me!
Tell you? Giga looked away briefly, Well, it's quite a long story...and I still don't remember everything very clearly...
I don't care! Tell me everything! Don't leave out a single detail!
Giga-Robo smiled in his own way, his eyelids curving upwards, Fine. I'll start from the beginning...
"Ugh...where is it!?" Leah typed furiously, smoke rising from the keys, "I don't understand! Why can't I find it!?"
Finally, she slumped forward, smashing the keyboard with both fists, "Why isn't it working!?"
"Leah! Calm down!" the captain of another starliner was talking into her communicator, "Did you remember to file an index?"
She stopped to widen her eyes, "No."
"Well do that before you get frustrated!"
Ugh. This was crazy. She'd been at this for so long that she was forgetting basic programming rules. If you don't file an index first, then the command has no reference, which means it gets confused and doesn't go through. Her head was just so jumbled that it was hard to concentrate on anything without it turning into a colored blur before her eyes.
"Probe Four?" the captain said, "Do you need to take a break?"
Leah massaged her visor, "Yes. Keep track of the code while I'm gone." she ended the link and passed the data encryption, starting towards the elevator.
Something just wasn't adding up.
She had calculated thousands of scenarios both in her head and on the computer console, which ran through the rest of the computer systems on the Axiom. Even though most everything checked out, one last little thing was bothering her, and she couldn't even tell what it was.
Ugh. I need a nap.
Giga drew shapes in the dirt with a stick, trying to distract from the numbing sensation in his limbs. It had been so long since he had interacted with anyone besides the toys that used to be there that he had all but forgotten what a human even looked like. Everything blurred together. Had it been days? Years? Centuries? The only time indicator he had were the scars and rust gathering on his metal body. It was becoming increasingly hard to keep his thoughts together. He was too consumed with his own mind to understand where his legs were taking him.
How long did it take you to gain awareness again? Chibi inquired sadly.
I don't know. What year is it now?
It's 2816...
Oh... Giga frowned, That's longer than I thought...
Chibi clanked his rusty knees together as the silence thickened, So...only Jenny survived?
Yeah. I remember...the...Mom and Dad's bodies... he shuttered, Nevermind...forget I said anything...
Chibi let his gaze wander for a second, I'm so sorry you had to go through that...
Giga was thinking about the past, now that he had been snapped back to the present. It shocked him. He vividly remembered Jenny holding him while she cried, the smoke licking the sky, Mom and Dad's corpses being pulled from the fire...
They were horribly mutilated...
I never want that to happen again...you have no idea how happy I am to see you alive and well...
Chibi nudged himself against Giga's limp hand, I won't leave you again. I promise.
Do you now? Giga gently nudged him back, Because we all know you keep your promises...
Wha-! Shut up! That was one time! Jenny took my spoon and I wanted it back!
So you ratted out my favorite hiding spot...
You never play with us anyway! It was totally fair!
Giga laughed, Ah...I missed this...
Me too... Chibi said, But hey. This time, I won't break any promises.
Giga leaned back to look at the ceiling, You're my best friend, you know that?
I know. Chibi responded, I've been your best friend since I found you in the basement. I didn't mean to download your memories, but I'm glad I did. It cost me a lot of time and 10,000 Moolah, but I never regret bringing you back.
Is that so? Giga scooted closer to the wall behind him, I don't regret it either.
So, after all that time, he hadn't changed. He was still the kind and gentle robot he had been 800 years ago. The world had drastically changed around him and humanity slowly destroyed the planet and left it to wither away without them. He was covered in more scars than a training dummy, and more rust than WALL-E.
And yet...
I still have your tamagotchi...
Chibi sat bolt-upright, What!?
Giga chuckled at his enthusiasm, When the fire started and everyone who had survived was out, I couldn't help but grab it for you. Everything else was destroyed.
Chibi jumped up and down excitedly, Can I have him!? Can I have him!? Can I have him!?
Of course. Giga sifted through the small bag he had carried with him, Here.
Chibi's black button eyes sparkled when the blue device was handed to him. The screen was off, but he knew it could be easily turned on. He hugged it close to himself.
I couldn't leave it behind. Giga explained, I had to keep it so I could give it back when we reunited.
Chibi couldn't believe how amazing it was, Thank you so much! You're the best, Giga-Robo!
Giga smiled, You're welcome.