Nine moved the queen up two spaces to capture BRAIN's knight.

~Check.~

BRAIN studied the board then moved a rook over to protect his king. ~Not check.~ He said playfully.

There was an almighty CRASH outside, and the sound of rain hitting the roof and the windows again filled the room. Nine looked over and sighed.

~There goes that hope.~ Nine muttered, but he wasn't really upset.

It had been two long weeks since he'd given the large machine a piece of his soul. While he was no longer weak and sick, he was stuck at the Factory. For three days he hadn't moved an inch on top of BRAIN. On the fourth, he'd stood and walked around for a while. By the fifth he was exploring the Factory. On the sixth he'd finally tried to go home. But there was a slight problem: the rain.

Each day, there were at least two downpours, making the dirt surrounding the factory muddier than the land around the creek where their maker grew up. Nine had taken three steps out and had been sucked in up to his middle. He'd had to call for BRAIN to help him. BRAIN had built a couple tiny robots to help pull him out then had helped him get the mud out of his gears by using a sink with clean, running water.

So he'd been stuck there for two weeks. But that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. He'd learned much about BRAIN. Hell, he'd nicknamed BRAIN. He smiled as he thought back, sharing the memory with his friend.

Nine shifted as he stared at the great red optic. ~So you know my name. What's yours?~

The machine tilted his casing. ~Maker called me Binary Reactive Artificially Intelligent Neurocircuit. Though, the Chancellor called me the Fabrication Machine.~

Nine made a face. ~I refuse to call you what that evil man called you. That is an insult to you and everything you are now.~ He paused. ~What you said is too long to be a name. Let me play with it awhile, see what I come up with.~

Nine wrote it out in front of him with his soul energy and rearranged the letters seventeen times before sending them back where they were originally. He traced them with his optics several times before stacking them in order. He nodded.

~My dear friend.~ Nine said, smiling. ~How would you like to be called BRAIN?~

The machine hummed. ~An acronym. I like it. Very well, Nine, my name is BRAIN.~

They came out of the memory and BRAIN purred, stroking Nine lightly.

~I am very glad you nicknamed me, Nine. I love you.~

~And I love you!~ Nine crowed over the bond.

The bond was also something unique. They could share thoughts and emotions over it, making it very convenient. Nine wondered if the same could be done with the Stitchpunks. BRAIN tapped him lightly on the head.

~It is your move, my friend.~

~Oh. Sorry, BRAIN.~ Nine said with a laugh.

Several moves later, Nine ended up winning, and BRAIN moved to reset the board, but his companion shook his head.

~No, BRAIN. Not again. Not now.~

BRAIN proceeded to put the game neatly away. He came back to rest just above the floor.

~Is something wrong, Nine?~

Nine looked up and shrugged. ~I don't know. Just a bit worried.~

~About?~

The Stitchpunk went silent. He'd been avoiding mentioning the others to BRAIN. All the great machine knew was that he wanted to go back to where he lived. He sighed. It was time to tell him.

~I'm worried about the others.~

~What about the others?~ BRAIN asked.

Nine was shocked. ~How did you know?~

A smile bloomed through the bond. ~My love, did you really think I would not guess?~

~But how?~ Nine repeated.

~Simple. You are number nine, yes? Well, there are numbers that proceed it.~

Nine nodded then paused suspiciously. ~Is that the only reason you know?~

Guilt flowed over the bond. ~You have caught me, Nine. While you sleep, I search your memories. Please do not be angry. I just wish to understand you and your experiences better.~

Nine thought about it. BRAIN was his best friend at this point. He'd spent more time consecutively with the machine than any of the Stitchpunks. They were just wrapped up in their own lives. They didn't seem to care about Nine and explaining things to him. Even the twins, whose combined knowledge was greater than a stack of encyclopedias, were so wrapped up in acquiring new knowledge that they didn't parcel out their old knowledge. Did he really mind BRAIN learning about him? His secret thoughts and feelings?

~As long as you don't repeat the things that should not be repeated, I don't mind, darling one.~ Nine finally said with a nod.

Pure relief. ~Thank you, love. I am glad you do not fear me as they do. They would not tell me their numbers, let alone their deepest thoughts and hidden feelings. I am very much pleased with you. You are welcome to do the same with me, of course. Fair is fair.~

Nine smiled, reaching up. BRAIN brought a hand down and Nine grabbed one of the fingers. BRAIN lifted his hand up and Nine swung there joyfully. They were just so comfortable with each other.

~Yet we shouldn't be.~ Nine replied softly.

~Should not be what?~ BRAIN asked.

~Comfortable with each other.~

~Why not?~ The machine asked in confusion.

~I am small. You are quite large. You are a machine. I am a Stitchpunk. Those things just don't go together.~

BRAIN frowned over the link. ~This displeases me, love. I feel we belong together very much.~

Nine dropped to the floor and shrugged. He flexed his fingers, and bright green soul energy dashed over BRAIN, looking at every inch of his physical body.

~Alright, lift me up to your upper right panel. I'm going to try to turn off the electricity again.~

BRAIN did so quickly, eager to have the unpleasant sensation never bother him again. Nine scanned the wires. He finally decided that that green one was the cause of the electricity. He pulled it out gently and the machine lowered him to the ground. BRAIN closed the panel then looked down at Nine.

~Ready, my love?~

~Give a try.~ Nine said hesitantly; he hadn't gotten it right yet, and he feared he'd gotten it wrong again.

Sure enough, electricity zapped across the surface again and BRAIN squealed in pain. Nine cringed and lowered his head as the electrical waves stopped. His friend was disappointed.

~I'm sorry.~ The Stitchpunk sighed.

~Oh, Nine.~ BRAIN cooed. ~Do not be. You are trying, and that is all I can ask.~

Nine smiled. ~You always know just what to say.~ He paused. ~I need to get home. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love spending time with you, but…One is probably panicking.~

BRAIN looked thoughtful. ~Why not use that green energy to get back to the streets? I am sure you could do that. You told me that you can do pretty much anything with it.~

Nine lit up. ~Oh BRAIN! That's brilliant!~

BRAIN was pleased. ~Thank you. Now…you will visit again, right?~

~Of course, my darling.~ Nine reassured him. ~As soon as possible.~

BRAIN nodded and picked his little Stitchpunk up, drawing him close to his 'face'. Nine reached out and the machine drew him closer. Nine ran his hands along the top edge of the casing before leaning down and kissing the top part of the glass that covered BRAIN's optic. A purring sound came from the mechanisms inside of the purely mechanical being.

~I love you, BRAIN.~

~And I love you, Nine.~

BRAIN set him down and patted Nine's head as he headed for the door.

~See ya soon!~ Nine said, turning to wave.

He got to the edge of the mud and concentrated on his soul energy. Minutes later he was gliding toward the streets. The cool rain felt nice when it splashed next to him, though it was a little harsh when it hit him directly. He hit the streets and landed easily then strolled back to the church. Seven was standing just inside, and she dashed out to embrace him, ignoring the rain.

"Oh, Nine!" she gasped. "We've been so worried about you! Oh, I never understood why One panicked when I disappeared for long stretches. I'll never do it again! I swear!"

"I'm fine, Seven," Nine laughed. "And I have some good news for everybody. Come, let's go and see them."

They got up to find that everybody was thrilled to see him. One embraced him, actually kissing his mouth almost desperately. He pulled back and smiled then gave him a death glare.

"Where in the hell have you been?!" he demanded.

"The Factory. I got caught there when it rained and—"

"You went to the Factory?!" One gasped. "Oh, Nine! We told you not to go there! That's where Maker said all the machines come from! I thought we made it clear you weren't supposed to go there!"

"But all is well now, One!" Nine exclaimed. "The machine in there is—"

"There was a machine in there with you?!" One looked angry and scared at the same time.

"Yes, but—"

"One, the machine isn't, er, 'alive' as it were," Seven said.

"You…you've gone there, too?" One asked faintly.

"Three times. There's nothing of interest in there. The machine is dead and nothing this side of Hades could wake it up."

"It's awake," Nine argued.

"What?" Seven asked. "What woke it up?"

"I did." Dead silence. "I used the Talisman."

"Nine," One said in a deadly voice. "You are to never, ever go near that building again. You are to never go on the plain before the building. You are to never go near the edge of the city that goes to that building. You are to never look at that building."

Nine was confused. "What? Why?"

"You woke that machine. Now we don't just have the Cat Beast and the Winged Beast to worry about," Two said blankly.

"But you're not listening to me! BRAIN is—"

"No! You didn't listen to us!" One spat. "Now, as punishment for going out without permission, and for waking up a machine, you are to be locked in the watchtower for two weeks. Just as long as you stayed out. Eight, take him to his punishment."

Nine was led to the Watchtower and he was locked in. He stared at the lift blankly for five minutes then went to sit on the cot. He was wet and cold now, and the rain still hadn't let up. The cot was dry, thanks to being so far under the overhang, but it grew damp with Nine's wet body resting on it.

The youngest Stitchpunk just sat there, head buried in his arms. He was wounded. They hadn't listened. They didn't want to listen. Nine cried there, feeling alone. He wanted desperately to be with BRIAN. His body suddenly tingled fiercely and he smelled the familiar scent of machine oil. There was a squeal of surprise.

~Nine! My dearest darling! Where did you come from?~

Nine looked up in shock and glanced at his surroundings. He was indeed back in the Factory. His soul screeched in pain and BRAIN screamed, gears shrieking against each other. Nine was scooped up and held close. It wasn't enough. Nine was crying, his soul moaning his pain. Instinct prompted BRAIN to tenderly unzip Nine and pull out his soul. BRAIN then placed a hand against his own casing and drew out his own soul. The two baubles just floated there, and both creatures stared at them hesitantly as they drew closer together. This was foreign territory for both of them.

The souls melted into one and BRAIN dropped to the floor as Nine went limp. Oh…this was heaven. Nine's soul had stopped screaming and was now relaxing in a pool of pleasure. BRAIN's soul was just as sated, yet still hungry for more of this new contact.

~What happened?~ BRAIN asked an hour later.

~They wouldn't let me explain about you.~ Nine said miserably. ~They sent me to the Watchtower as punishment. I just want them to understand. But…I don't think I'm going to try again.~

~Why not?~

~I don't want to be rejected again.~

BRAIN hummed. ~I can understand that.~

Nine nodded. ~I'm tired and cold and wet.~

BRAIN nodded. ~Come up to my casing, my love. I shall warm you while you sleep.~

Nine smiled as he was deposited on the warm casing. He was handed his blanket that they had cut out of a red flag that had hung on the wall. It was pure red and ever so warm. Nine was stroked lovingly as he fell asleep again. His soul was still combined with BRAIN's, warming his spirit as well. He relaxed further and descended into unconsciousness.