Chapter VIII: Directive A113

Ushio backtracked, once again standing in the central plaza. The circular room was devoid of most people as the lights seemed to indicate that night had set in for the passengers. Walking through the large room, she spotted a doorway sliding open as two familiar robots came out. She noticed as they hid behind a towel cart and went to meet up with them again.

As Ushio grew closer, she began to hear music. Rounding the carts and crouching down, she saw as the two robots interacting. The music cut off as she greeted the pair.

"Hey."

The two spun around to face her. WALL-E recognized her from before as he let out a slight noise of acknowledgement.

"So, I take it this is who you were looking for." Ushio said. "Nice to meet you, my name's Ushio."

The white robot looked at the girl for a few seconds before uttering her own response.

"EVE."

"So, what's the plan?" Ushio asked.

EVE motioned for both WALL-E and Ushio to stay put as she placed a couple folded towels on WALL-E to help him blend in. Placing emphasis on the glowing green light that showed a plant on her chest, she uttered a single "Directive" before flying off.

Being as quick as she could, EVE avoided the detection of the monitoring robots as she shot up a trash chute towards the bridge.

—

The captain of The Axiom hear a rumbling coming from his trash chute. Looking over, EVE burst through as she opened her chest compartment to reveal the plant.

"How?" he asked, shocked. "How did you find it? Floating over to her, she levitated the plant into his hands. "We can go back home! For the first time! What's it like now? No, no, no. Don't tell me. I want to see for myself." Producing a projector stick, he placed it on EVE's head as it began to show images.

The projection started as it showed the ship that had placed EVE on Earth blasting off into space. Yet, something seemed off to the captain.

"Wait. That doesn't look like Earth."

Images of a brown, desolate wasteland continued as EVE's memories played out. Cities appeared in ruin as trash and debris littered everywhere.

"Where's the blue sky?" the captain continued to ask. "Where's the grass?" As he pondered, a song began to play as EVE's memories continued. "I know that song. They're, um, dancing. Yes, dancing. You made it somehow, huh, little guy? You didn't give up, did you?"

As he continued to watch the plant, a single leaf fell, scaring him.

"Wait a minute."

With the captain heading across the room, EVE continued to watch as her memories played out. After acquiring the plant, she'd shut down as she awaited to be retrieved. Yet, her security camera continued. As such, the memories that played out before her were entirely new. She saw as no matter the situation, WALL-E was there beside her, watching over her.

"WALL-E." she said as she glanced down thinking about the robot.

—

Ushio watched as WALL-E practiced off to the side. From what she could tell, it appeared that the little robot seemed to be offering his hand out to EVE. Yet, despite his attempts, he ultimately pushed the notion out as he couldn't think of the best way to do so. Glancing towards the trash chute, he began to roll over to it.

"Hey, wait up!" Ushio shouted as quietly as she could.

Making her way across the floor, she caught up to her robotic companion just as he reached the chute. Seeing him begin to climb up, she sighed as she knew what was next. Opening the flap, she noted the cramped interior. Trying her best, Ushio found her footing as she began to shimmy up the long chute.

—

"There you go, little guy." the captain said as he gave the plant some water. "You came a long way for a drink of water. Just needed someone to look after you, that's…" Realizing his words, he paused as a revelation hit him. "We have to go back. Auto, come down here."

"Aye, aye, sir."

The wheel descended from the ceiling as it scanned the surrounding area. As it spotted the plant in the captain's hands, 'A113' appeared on its screen.

"Auto, EVE found the plant. Fire up the holo-detector."

"Not necessarily, Captain. You may give it to me." Auto spoke.

"You know what? I should do it myself." the captain proclaimed.

"Captain. Sir, I insist you give me the plant."

"Auto, get out of my way."

"We cannot go home."

"What are you talking about? Why not?"

"That is classified, Captain. Give me the plant."

"What do you mean, 'classified'? You don't keep a secret from the captain."

"Give me the plant."

"Tell me what's classified."

"The plant."

"Tell me, Auto! That's an order."

"Aye, aye, sir."

Moving over to the monitor, Auto queued up an old message. The message spoke of how the cleanup operation failed and how everyone was to remain in space. It mentioned how Directive A113 was in place, giving autopilot full control and the command to not return to Earth.

"Now, the plant." Auto held out his hand.

"No. Wait a minute. Computer, when was that message sent out to The Axiom?"

"Message received in the year 2110."

"That's…that's nearly 700 years ago! Auto, things have changed! We've got to go back."

"Sir, orders are 'do not return to Earth'."

"But life is sustainable now. Look at this plant. Green and growing. It's living proof he was wrong."

"Irrelevant, captain."

"What? It's completely relevant! Out there is our home. Home, Auto. And it's in trouble. I can't just sit here and do nothing. That's all I've ever done. That's all anyone on this blasted ship has ever done. Nothing!"

"On The Axiom you will survive."

"I don't want to survive. I want to live!"

"Must follow my directive."

The captain sighed in frustration. Turning around, he had another realization as he steeled his resolve.

"I'm the captain of The Axiom. We are going home today."

An alarm went off as a small robot appeared and took the plant.

"This is mutiny! EVE, arrest him." the captain ordered.

EVE formed a blaster and pointed it at the other robot. Opening her chest compartment, she ushered for it to place the plant back in it.

"EVE, you are to put this plant straight in the holo-detector."

As he said that, the little robot chucked the plant into the garbage chute. The act caused the captain and EVE to slightly panic. However, plant came back up as a familiar voice called out.

"EVE?"

"WALL-E!" both the captain and EVE exclaimed.

WALL-E crawled out of the chute as Ushio soon followed suit. The two found themselves thrown into a tense situation as all eyes fell on them.

"You two, the plant!" the captain shouted out. "Over here. Throw it."

"WALL-E!" EVE called out as she floated over to the pair only to be stopped.

"EVE!" WALL-E cried out.

"Wait, what's going on!" Ushio added.

"Give me the plant." Auto said as he began to corner Ushio and WALL-E.

WALL-E hid the plant inside his chest. With the plant hidden away, Auto deployed a taser as he shocked WALL-E. Seeing her buddy shocked and injured, Ushio went to grab him. However, the energy from WALL-E caused him to bump into her and the pair to fall down the chute they'd just ascended.

As the girl and robot continued to fall, another thing came into view from above. Ushio tried her best to stop the fall, only resulting in reducing their speed. Down the trio went as Ushio found her fading into the darkness of the trash chute.