The ship was Grey and white, the letters on the side standing out starkly like a drop of blood in the snow. The Index. It was a different shape from the rest, but still had that distinct Buy n Large style to it. It had many scars across its surface, and space debris caked it from top to bottom. It also looked to be heavily guarded.
And where did they find it?
"Who knew it was here all along?" Ruby remarked.
"Yeah..." EVE touched the dirty sign, "Yonkers..."
"Alright, let's not waste any time!" Rio said, "Let's go in!"
They had left everyone on heavy guard at the Axiom, still locked inside. They weren't making the same mistake twice, everyone was definitely safe. Giga and Chibi were with them this time, so the 8 of them treaded carefully into the ship, all the EVEs with weapons drawn (except for Leah).
"It's creepy in here..." Aya said softly.
"No kidding..." EVE agreed, "It's like a horror movie set..."
WALL-E was shaking nervously, boxed up completely besides his head. His treads made a soft sound on the metal floor, and Giga's feet clunked loudly in the quiet corridor. He was doing his best to stay silent, though.
"It's oddly quiet..." Rose said.
"Hush. I think I heard something." EVE cocked her ion cannon before proceeding forward.
"How quaint..." a voice was saying, "This one bleeds!"
"This one has many boards! I am fascinated..."
Rose spoke so soft the others had to strain to hear her, "These guys are maniacs!"
EVE protectively put her arm to the side, "Stick close..."
A robotic scream tore through the corridor. It sounded chillingly familiar.
"Stop!" EVE turned the corner and pointed her weapon at the scientists.
They had glowing white lights for eyes, "KILL US."
EVE was greatly taken aback, "What?"
"They want to die?" Leah asked, "But they're the ones who created the technology..."
"WE CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. WE'VE WATCHED OUR LOVED ONES GROW OLD AND DIE. WE'VE SEEN THE RISE AND FALL AND REDEMPTION OF HUMANITY. WE'VE LIVED LONG AND WISH TO REST." they explained, "WE CAN ONLY FIND PURPOSE IN THESE HORRIBLE EXPERIMENTS. WE JUST WANT TO MOVE ON."
"Eve, I think we should do it." Rose said, "They look miserable!"
"Well...um..." EVE's mind-gears were turning, "I was going to anyway, but if they want it, I guess it won't be so bad for them."
"YOU REALLY WILL?" one roboticist smiled creepily, "THANK YOU SO MUCH!"
"TAKE THIS SHIP. WE LOST OUR SANITY CENTURIES AGO." another said, "WE CANNOT BEAR THIS AGONY ANY MORE."
"Uh...okay...?" EVE sheathed her weapon, "Show us where the computer is."
"WE CANNOT." another voice lamented, "WE PERFORM MAINTENANCE ON IT BUT DO NOT KNOW ITS LOCATION."
"That's okay!" Leah said, "I can figure that out! Where do you perform maintenance?"
"HERE." one pointed to a nearby computer, "THIS IS WHERE WE ARE ALL DAY."
"Okay!" Leah flexed her fingers before beginning to type, "This should only take but a moment!"
"No one says that anymore..." Aya muttered.
"Oh wow...this thing is locked up pretty tight..." Leah commented, "Let's see here...EVE? Left or wrong?"
"0010001110110100101110." (There's no English translation for this).
"Thank you..." she finished her hacking with finesse, "Got it! Fourth floor."
"WE CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH."
"Wait." EVE said, "Give me my friend back."
"WHAT? BUT WE CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT OUR SICK KICKS."
"Give me the robot, or I'll take him forcefully and leave you alive."
"ACK! MIKE, GIVE HER THE ROBOT!"
"WILL DO!" the one apparently called "Mike" unstrapped their unfortunate victim and handed him to EVE. It was a very trembly cleaning bot.
M-O.
EVE cradled him comfortingly, speaking in Binary, How long have you been in here?
M-O answered jitteringly and fearfully, I don't know...a few months?
EVE sighed, "Leah, patch up this wound. We're leaving now."
"Oh! You poor thing!" Leah set Chibi down so she could scoop him up, mopping up the yellow acid with a soft cloth.
They all kept going, Rose holding Chibi until Leah was done patching up M-O. She finished cleaning up the wound in his side and then wrapped it tightly. That should hold until they got to the repair ward. She then shifted M-O to one arm and took Chibi back.
You okay, M-O? Chibi asked.
Ugh...Not really... M-O beeped in reply, It really hurts...
I'm sorry, M-O. EVE said sadly, I should have noticed your absence.
It's not your fault, EVE.
"Yeah. We all should have been more attentive to that." Aya said.
"Hm. Maybe." EVE pressed her hand to the elevator, "Oh. It requires a password to get to the fourth floor."
"I'll handle this..." Leah typed well with just one hand, "Eve?"
"Um...it looks like 011001010111010001."
"Thank you very much! I need to brush up on my Binary..." Leah finished up and they all loaded onto the elevator, "Here we go!"
It ascended faster than they were expecting, but they reached the fourth floor in no time at all.
As they trekked down the hall, Giga beeped, M-O? I'm sorry...
"Huh?"
"He said he's sorry." Leah translated, "Sorry for what?"
I escaped from this place, so they had to get a new toy to play with. I'm so sorry.
"Giga! You can't blame yourself for that!" Rose proclaimed.
"Yeah! Seriously!" Leah added.
"Be quiet!" EVE hissed, "I get the feeling we're not the only ones here. Stay on high alert."
Everyone listened intently.
"Okay..." EVE cocked her weapon again, agitated, "Here goes nothing..."
