Title: His mission
After The BRAIN is destroyed, the world begins to settle once more, everything heals and life begins to grow. One of the fallen gets a second chance to revive what was lost in battle. But can he succeed?
I Still Own Nothing!
_-_-_Part 10: Bridge_-_-_
It was early in the morning, 5 was standing in his container space putting away any supplies that he might have forgotten. He moved outside of the lid and looked up to the window where 1 was sleeping; he saw the first few rays of sunlight, faded through dirty windows, he used that to watch the time. He knew they had to leave before it got to bright out, otherwise they may be out at night again depending on how long it took for them to walk to their next destination.
Moving to the junk pile on the left side of his little compartment he took a few needles and a few small balls of thread, carefully placing them inside of the cylinder which already held spare material and parts. He hoped he would have enough, 8 would possibly need the biggest repairs of all.
Closing up the cylinder he pulled the straps tight and lifted it up to sling it onto his back, careful not to shake it up as he didn't want the supplies to get messed up. He was about to exit his space when he looked back to the junk pile. He had put 2's blueprints there, and he made it a habit to look at them before setting off.
He moved to the paper and unrolled it. Smiling gently he looked over the gentle ink strokes that composed the design of his former mentor. Moving a metal hand he traced a few of the ink lines and closed his eyes, making a silent promise to the other, even though he couldn't hear it.
The sound of light tapping at the entrance of his container brought him out of his thoughts and he turned to see 3 and 4 peeking in, their hands holding the door like lid. They both seemed to have egger expressions on their faces as they waited for 5.
Laughing softly 5 rolled up the blueprint and set it down before moving to the entrance and pushing it open all the way. The twins moved a bit and seemed to go ahead as 5 closed the lid. He watched them run off to the door and followed them, though much slower. It usually took him a little longer than the others to get down the stairs with the cylinder on his back, so he took his time, not wanting to break it if he fell.
When he finished climbing down the stairs he looked around. It was early, and the only light came from the faint glow of the oncoming sunrise. He listened for a moment; He wasn't used to the quiet world, but seemed to enjoy it. Though the fear of the nothingness still made it hard for him to really feel comfortable around it, he figured he may never feel at ease but at least it was better than being hunted by those machines.
A sound caught his attention and he turned to look down the road where 3 and 4 were waving for him to follow. Smiling he moved over the crumbled rocks and rubble and moved to them. As soon as he was closer the twins took off down the road, still stopping every few yards to wait for 5, who couldn't run easily because of the large metal cylinder.
As they walked along the broken roads of the old world; 5 looked around at the buildings. Broken windows filled with sun light, the dust from inside the rooms lit up as they flew down from ceilings and broken wooden beams. Every few seconds a soft gust of wind would blow from an empty alleyway causing 5 to shiver even though he could hardly feel the cold through his heavy burlap skin.
It was times like this that he realized just how dead the world was. He knew in his soul somewhere that it wasn't dead and it was in fact coming back, but it seemed so hopeless that it made him somewhat sad. He could see the remains of the dead; some were piled on top of each other others by themselves. He tried to think of what those people might have been like before they were forced from their lives.
He saw books of families, friends, teachers, leaders, protectors and possibly every type of person available, and it always seemed like such a big deal in the books. But now it just seemed like it was nothing, like a leaf blowing in the wind, destined to never be seen again. Any rank of human didn't matter, they were gone. He always wondered why having a rank mattered. After all, it didn't spare them their fate.
He thought back to the cathedral when they were under 1. They had roles there too, which could also be determined as rank. 1 was the leader and 8 his protector, 7 was also a protector so to speak, 3 and 4 were like the teachers and 5 and 2 were the healer and the inventor. He didn't know where 1 would have placed 6 in rank. No one believed what he said half the time, no one listened. Because of that, the majority of them had the same fate as the humans.
5 continued his thoughts on the matter as he walked through the desolate streets with the twins. At least it gave him something to think about as they continued their journey.
_-_
The three companions walked for hours, checking the meter for the remaining souls. They knew that the closest body would be 8's, as 6 and 2's were still missing in action, and would probably be the hardest to find out of the rest of them.
5 decided that they would have to check the old factory for 8 as it would be easier for them to go for the one whose location they knew about. The only problem would be that of the bridge.
5 never saw what became of the bridge that stretched across the dark chasm, and never planned that far ahead. When the trio reached the remains of the once strong bridge he pulled the map out from under one of the cylinder's straps and unrolled it, looking for another way across.
3 and 4 looked to each other, flashing and flickering a conversation to figure out how to get across. They knew that 9 and 7 moved 8's body from the factory after things had settled but they had forgotten to find out how they had gotten across.
Meanwhile, 5 was looking down the road and the edge of the cliff. It seemed like the constant rainfall eroded most of the dirt and rocks around large radio towers and a few seemed to be leaning against its poor support. Perhaps if they continued to walk they would be able to find something that had knocked over that could act as a bridge for them.
Gesturing for the conversing twins; 5 waved and closed the map, he shouldn't have expected a new bridge option of appear magically. 3 and 4 looked at him and tilted their heads as they waited for instructions on their next plan of action. After a few minutes 5 finally spoke.
"Neither of you know if there's another way, do you?"
Both of the twins looked at each other and began to go over their recorded memories. After a couple of seconds they both shook their heads. 5 sighed; he supposed it wouldn't be that easy.
"Alright then…were going to go down this way," he said pointing to the right. "I'm hoping maybe something large enough fell that could act as a bridge."
3 and 4 looked to one another and nodded, liking 5's plan. They actually wanted to walk for a bit; the sun was out and the air was warm. They didn't like the cold, so when it was hot they seemed to be more active.
5 smiled and began to walk in their newly set location, careful to always be on his guard for any machines. He was sure that the spider machine would not be the last that they would meet.
_-_
After another few hours of walking down a hot and dusty road, things finally began to look promising. They all knew they would have quite a long walk to the factory but at least they would be able to cross the large gap.
About half a mile away there was a small bridge. It seemed very old and looked as though it could collapse at any moment. 3 and 4 catalogued it and the surrounding areas as they continued to approach it, checking things like the foundation of the dirt in the surrounding areas to the materials of the bridge its self.
They soon arrived at the start of the bridge. It was wooden with steel reinforcement bar, thought it was made of metal it still seemed to creek under the burdening wind, which 5 had noticed had become stronger as they moved farther down from the original bridge.
Looking at the twins 5 smiled and put a hand on both of their shoulders.
"I'm going to go across first…I want you both to stay here in case something happens."
The twins looked at each other and then to 5, then back to themselves. 4 seemed to pout and 3 kicked some loose dirt before looking back to the younger stitchpunk. They soon nodded and 5 followed in suit.
"Thanks…" He said simply before turning to the old bridge. It was times like this that he was glad they were naturally so small. It would diffidently be convenient for their lack of weight. He began to walk onto the boards that made sounds under his feet as he walked along the wooden path.
5 walked step by step, slowly as he tried to inch across the whole thing. The sounds of creaking wood and the groaning sounds of the metal under the pressure of the wind filled the air. Every few steps he would look back to see if the twins were ok, and after confirming it, he would walk a few more.
A particularly strong gust of wind blew quickly from below and caused the bridge to shake. 5 stumbled and held onto a rusted metal bar to support himself. 3 and 4 looked at each other and shot off towards the other. 3 was holding 5's left arm and 4 was at his right, holding tightly to steady him. Shaking his head after he regained his balance he looked at them firmly.
"You were supposed to stay over there…we don't know if the bridge can support all three of us at the same time-"
He wouldn't have time to finish his sentence as the bridge began to shake under their feet. The twins looked panicked as the whole area jerked down violently. Looking around at the crumbling bridge they tried to tug 5 towards the other side as fast as they could.
5; who was now holding the twins equally as hard, began to run to the other side, dragging them as hard as he could to avoid the large mass from falling under them before they got across. By the time they reached it, half of the bars on the bridge had given out and fell into the watery river below.
5 collapsed with the twins who were still latched to his arms. Panting he felt like his gears were in overdrive, he could hear that it was the same for 3 and 4; who were shaking slightly against his chest as they held to the other.
Once he was able to free his hands from the others death grip, he wrapped them around their shoulders, holding them as he rubbed the backs of their heads in a comforting manor. Sighing he tried to calm himself before pulling the others away to make sure they weren't hurt.
They let him look over them but they were drawn away from it as a large mechanical sound came from the cliff as the remaining metal bars and wires snapped, pulling about half of the remaining bridge down to join the rest of it.
5 could sense their worry and pulled them against him, holding their faces to him so they couldn't see or feel anything but him as he rubbed their backs gently. This didn't look like it was working as they started to shake more. 5 had no idea that this was the same position that 7 put them both in after his soul was captured by the fabrication machine and continued to hold them softly until he felt them relax a bit more.
_-_
It wouldn't be until later in the day that they were walking again, the shock from the bridge had worn out and they were soon on their way back to the factory. Unlike before though, the twins seemed to be more cautious, careful of everything as they made sure there was nothing that could potentially hurt them.
5 didn't like seeing them like that. They were always so carefree, and seeing them this shook up hurt. He wished he could have maintained his balance better, maybe then the bridge wouldn't have come down like that. Then again it might have fallen down just the same, in which case 3 and 4 both would have fallen. Whatever might have been didn't matter now, they were safe and that was all that 5 thought of.
Time began to move quickly after that, the hours flew by as they walked without breaking to the remains of the factory. It seemed to loom in the distance much as it did when it was whole. Towers, long mechanical legs, machine parts and embers of the burnt building covered the ground. The soot from the fire was still everywhere despite the rain fall and any other weather problems throughout the past year.
3 and 4 were off not to long after that, running and cataloguing much as they did before the accident. They seemed to pick up on little details that 5 knew he would never be able to see on his own, so he let them run ahead. He decided to move to the edge of the cliff, and look into the waters below.
5 was surprised at how the water seemed to be flowing in a steady, calm, stream. Unlike what he had assumed would be a raging river from all the rain. He sighed and shook his head. This was where 6 had fallen. He was sure he fell when there was no water, so there was no knowing where he might have been pushed to, or even if he was pushed away at all. The sediment could have built up around him and he could very well be buried at the bottom of the seemingly never ending river.
He knew he couldn't put too much thought into that just now. He was sure that 8 would be around here somewhere and he had to give that his attention now. Turning around he was about to set off for the twins when he was violently shoved in the center of his chest by an invisible force towards the edge of the cliff.
He coughed a bit as he held his chest where it was hit, looking up as he was shoved again, this time he felt the heel of his foot against the edge. He swallowed and looked back at the river below and then to the front of him. He couldn't see what was there so it could very well be anywhere. He was about to run to the left when he took a step and was grabbed forcefully by the burlap on his chest.
He made a sound as he felt himself lifted off the ground by brute force and carried over the edge of the cliff. He whimpered and held where he guessed the 'hands' of his invisible foe were. He looked down. He was over the edge. One wrong move and he would fall. He tried to make a sound, to yell for 3 and 4 but the closer he made to a sound the farther out the force would hold him over the edge.
He cried out as it held tighter, shaking him a bit. Slowly the figure began to appear, becoming more and more visible by the second until the pale green soul was apparent. He could make out the large, heavy body of the eighth stitchpunk, staring in disbelief at the others actions. He wasn't even aware that the souls could hold anything in their current state, but guessed it was because of the others size and stature that he could.
"8….8" he choked out as he watched 8's soul open his eyes. They were a deep red, glowing in an almost machine like tone, one that reminded him all too much of the machines.
5 gasped at the other and struggled against him, he had to know what was wrong with the other, but after a few seconds he might not have been able to get the chance. Almost as soon as this started, he felt 8 loosen his grip on him.
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Part 10 – CLIFFHANGER (Literally)
Sorry this part is a little late I've been busy laity and as much as I try write things, I can't do it all at one sitting. The next chapter should be interesting, especially leaving off with 8 about to drop 5 off of a cliff.
Thank you to all who have read and reviewed my story so far!!! I'm so thankful for all the wonderful people who enjoy it and leave me their thoughts on the chapters I do! Thank you so much! I really cant explain how happy reviews make me, and I'm so happy that I've been able to entertain the reader's of this story. The next part should be up in a few days so be sure to stop by if you have the chance to see what happened next ^^ Thank you so very much!