Chapter 6: Gorgeous

A few days later, 9 found himself perched on top of an abandoned car, staring into the emptiness.

"Ah! Fellow tinkerer! Come join us, won't you?"

9 followed 2's voice to a little hollow carved in the side of a building. 2 and 5 had built themselves a makeshift laboratory in the hollow, where they had put together all of the old scraps they had found.

"What are you doing?" 9 asked.

"As I said: tinkering," 2 said cheerfully. "We thought you'd enjoy it in a situation that was not so… frantic."

"I think I would," 9 said.

"Maybe you could help us with the lighting," 5 said. "We can't find a power source that'll keep the place bright enough."

"I don't think we can," 9 said. "We'll have to make our own electricity. How would we go about that?"

"There's nothing available to us that'd be powerful enough," 5 said.

"Sure there is," 9 said. "All we have to do is find it!"

2 laughed. "You dream big, my young friend. It will be a long time, though, before we can generate our own power, if it ever happens at all."

9 shrugged.

"So, these days alone," 2 said conversationally, changing the subject. "You must have come to know 3, 4, and 7 quite well."

"Well, the twins keep to themselves," 9 said. "But, yes, 7 has been… the best of company, truly. Have either of you ever noticed that she's… well…"

The others turned to him when he didn't finish. "What?" 5 finally said.

"Did you ever notice that 7 is… very beautiful?"

5 looked confused, but 2 nodded. "Indeed. This man knew what he was doing."

2 tapped the photo of the Scientist that dominated the new lab's back wall. It was the only photo of him they could find in which he looked pleased, rather than depressed or frightened.

"Fine craftsmanship," 2 continued. "Almost as well-done as yourself."

"It's not just the crafting," 9 said, trying to force his burdensome thoughts into words. "There's something in the way she stands, and carries herself… how she always makes sure she's fresh and clean and white… and how she runs and jumps…"

2 nodded seriously, beginning to comprehend fully.

"She's beautiful all over," 9 said. "On the inside. Her mind, her nature, her soul… her one-ninth of a soul, if you will."

9 looked up at 2, now embarrassed at how much he had blurted out.

"You think you're the only one who's figured that out?" 5 said quietly.

9 turned. 5 had distanced himself from the conversation, sitting on a swivel chair that he had made out of a large screw and a pure gold medallion.

"7 is the only female of our race, for whatever that means," 5 said, crossing his legs comfortably and leaning back on a wooden plank that served as a desk. "And she thinks it means nothing. She made it clear years ago that she isn't interested in romance."

9 backed up a step. Had his fears of bringing 5 back been justified? Was his best friend also his rival?

"How so?" 9 finally said.

5 shrugged. "Well, you know. Some stitchpunks got all up in her face… and you know her, she doesn't accept that."

"Were you one of them?" 9 demanded.

"I was confused, pathetic," 5 said. "Every time I found something or built something, I'd give it to her. Nothing seemed to impress her. After a while, she put her foot down. Told me she didn't want anything to do with me anymore. There were some awkward moments… finally, I decided I wanted to be her friend. It's hard to stay anonymous when nobody ever leaves the sanctuary." 5 grinned.

"You had feelings for 7," 9 muttered.

"You know what I think?" 5 said suddenly. He pointed to the photo of the Scientist. "I think that this guy knew that 7 was his best work, and he wanted to create somebody worthy of her. And that was his aim with you."

"Worthy of her?" 9 repeated.

"Well, yeah. Who's your competition? 8 and 6?"

"8 and 6?" 9 said, his spirits falling even further.

"8's flirting consisted of pushing her off the edges of support beams," 5 said. "And 6… well, who knows what 6 is thinking at any point? 6 did nothing but stare at her."

"And you," 9 said bluntly.

5 dismissed that. "9, I'm over her."

"But if he wasn't," 2 said firmly, standing between them, "you should realize, 9, that this decision doesn't fall to you. The choice is 7's."

"Well, of course," 9 said. "I have too much respect for her to expect anything else."

All three of the "tinkerers" looked outside of their secret hollow. 7 was engaged in a friendly sparring match with 8, her agility a fit match for his brute strength.

"She is irresistible, though," 9 muttered.

"Gorgeous," 5 agreed quietly.

9 turned to his friend. "Do you… do you think she'll have me?"

"I think she will," 5 said.

"I hope so," 2 said. "But don't forget to remember what we're made of."

"What's that?" 9 wondered.

"Human soul," 2 replied, tapping his own chest. "Generally, a good thing—but wholly unpredictable. If 7 believes you aren't compatible with her, there's nothing you will ever do to change that."

9 nodded.

"Tell her," 5 said.

"Tell her what?"

"Do you love her?" 5 asked.

"Of course I do. I love everybody."

"But you really, really love 7," 5 pestered.

"Yes," he said. "Yes, I do."

"Tell her," 5 said simply.

9 looked into the town again. 7 had 8 pinned to the ground, a sharp stick poised against his throat. Her laughter echoed across the distance.

"I couldn't possibly," 9 said. "Not now."

"Take your time," 2 said. He hugged 9. "Best of luck to you, friend."