Chapter IX: Mutiny

Light filtered into Ushio's eyes as the girl recovered from the fall. It seemed her efforts to stop them had slowed them down had helped cushion her fall, though she still felt a soreness radiating up and down her back. She looked around, finding piles and piles of trash high into the sky. Occasionally, a hole would open in the ceiling and drop more waste.

Getting to her feet, she started searching for the two robots that had been dumped along with her. Ushio ran a short distance before spotting EVE laying in another heap of trash. To Ushio, it appeared that she was in a state of awakening. However, before she could get any closer, familiar looking enemies appeared.

Ushio drew her Keyblade as a group of Magnum Loaders wheeled over to her. The problem seemed to not only be them as three Dusks joined in the fray. She knew her new companions were in no shape to fight with even WALL-E's location unknown to her. It was time for her to protect them. As she ran to confront the group of foes, a loud announcement sounded.

"Caution. Activating airlock disposal."

The Keyblade wielder knee that wasn't a good sign. She needed to hurry up here and find the others. Her blade collided with the nearest Magnum Loader as the fight began. The Heartless swiped away at her, but Ushio found herself able to avoid them easier. Their attacks patterns proved simple as she moved around the battlefield. However, large machines started to advance into their area. Scooping up large segments of trash, Ushio could hear EVE crying out. Yet, despite her wanting to help, more Heartless began to appear and blocked her path.

It seemed the Nobodies took advantage of this opportunity as the three Dusks swung forward at the girl. Unable to dodge, Ushio barely was able to block their attacks. As unfortunate as it was, she had to focus on the battle before she could help the others. After all, if she got taken out, she'd be of no help to anyone.

Leaping on piles of trash, Ushio found her way through the small swarm of enemies. With numerous swings of her Keyblade, the Heartless began to dwindle. The Dusks and remaining Magnum Loaders came after her, trying their best to strike her. Yet, Ushio proved adept at handling them. The lower enemies she's encountered before proved no problem for all the training she'd received.

As the horde of enemies dropped to one Dusk and three Magnum Loaders, Ushio was able to make out the blocks of debris the large machines had gathered. To her shock, she spotted both WALL-E and EVE encased in the large cubes. With the pair in definite danger, she started to hasten her fight against the remaining four.

Striking them down, she started sprinting towards the closing airlock. In front of her, she could see EVE blast free from her block of trash as she started attempting to free WALL-E. Running as fast as she could, Ushio spotted a small robots rushing towards the same destination ahead of her. The robot made it in time to prevent the airlock from closing all the way, getting stuck between the doors.

Ushio continued her run as she same within a few feet of them. Seeing EVE free WALL-E as the space door opened, she felt a strong pull towards the opening in the airlock. Plunging her Keyblade into a nearby pile, she braced herself as pull started to suck out anything nearby. One of the large machines noticed the pull of space as it pressed an emergency close button. Ushio found herself sliding down onto the ground.

Getting to her feet, the girl noted as the trio of robots reentered the garbage hold. Walking over, she saw EVE and the new robot looking over WALL-E form. The pink clad girl was able to tell he'd suffered damage from the entire ordeal. She knelt down besides them as he tried to call out to EVE.

"WALL-E." EVE said in a sad tone. Looking at his depleted charge, she opened him up to find a damaged circuit board. She looked towards Ushio, who simply nodded as she began to search for a replacement.

As the search went on, Ushio saw as the tiny robot finished seemingly clean WALL-E as it hunkered down on his other side. WALL-E, despite his injuries, offered the robot his hand.

"WALL-E." he uttered out.

"M-O." the tiny robot replied, shaking it to the best of his ability.

Hearing a slight noise, Ushio turned as EVE came back with the fruits of her search. Going through the circuit boards, none seemed to fit. As she tossed them aside, WALL-E opened his chest compartment and took out the plant.

"Directive." he weakly said.

Despite this, EVE nodded her head and tossed the plant over to Ushio. She took her hand and began to offer it to WALL-E.

"Directive." she stated.

WALL-E wobbled over to Ushio as he pointed at the plant she was now holding. Ushio was shocked that despite his injuries that he was focusing on the little green sprout. Handing it over to him, he held it over to EVE.

"Earth." he muttered.

"Earth." she replied back.

"Earth." he repeated.

"Earth? Earth!" EVE shouted after a moment of thought. She hugged WALL-E as she understood what he meant.

"Huh? What's that mean?" Ushio questioned.

"M-O. Ushi-o." WALL-E called out. He deployed a small handle on his back that M-O grabbed onto. Ushio stood in confusion as EVE deployed her laser and blasted an opening.

"You guys go on ahead. I'll meet up with you." Ushio called out. The trio of robots ascend through the hole as she watched on.

—

Using the large machines below, Ushio managed to get back up to a maintenance level. As she ran through the hallways to met back up with the three robots, a few Shadows popped up her and there. Having no time for them, the small fries were disposed of with little thought. Continuing on her path, she hear an announcement start.

"Testing, testing. Is this thing on?" the familiar voice of the captain said. Soon, screens displaying the man appeared as she ran. "This is the captain. I am locked in my room. EVE, WALL-E, bring the plant to the lido deck. I'll have activated the holo-detector. Now, hurry. Auto's probably going to cut me off-" With that, the message ended.

With things getting more serious, Ushio sped up as fast as she could. The long hallways stretched on as the occasional Heartless popped up. Given their numbers, it seemed they'd mostly occupied the lower levels of the ship. Knowing she couldn't leave them be, Ushio took care of them, but still continued her sprint. If there was one thing she was thankful for right now, it was that none of the more powerful Heartless were appearing.

Hopping onto a nearby shuttle, she took off towards the lido deck and bridge. Riding the craft, she resolved to help the other in any way she could.