Authors Notes: This is the first chapter out of nine in which we get a breif understanding of every day life in 9's troop. Also we are intoduced to the first machine-Stitchpunk, -1 - the other eight will be introduced in the next part.
I try to give each character, canon and fan, a role in the story. Before I started I had trouble with what I was going to do with 5. Frankly, I found 5 quite boreing in the flim. After reveiwing his sences a few times I've noticed his rebellion against athority (namely, 1) close to the end. I took that and made him a point of conflict in 1's rule. His arguements against 1 (i.e. Murder of 2, Running and hiding, Monarchial status) are a parody of the fan's complants aganst the character.
I am a devoted fan of 1 (and willing to defend this anti-hero) and during this chapter I show how 7 (a more popular character) is actually quite similar to him. I still adore 7, don't get me wrong. 9's unhealthy connection to his dead friends clouds his judgment later. In later chapters the twins and 6 will have major conflicts. And near the end 8 and 2 come into play, the machines too. See as a try to satify all the fans.
However, the main two characters are 9 and 1, as well as their "negative" counterparts.
Part I: Return of the Machines
The evening came to the sky over the dead Human-City in the form of a soothing pink and orange shade. Slow drifting pink clouds stretched across the sunless sky as far as the eye could see. The soft clouds reflected their calming light upon the remains of the human civilization. The city was once a home to giant flesh-and-blood creatures, but they no longer share the Earth with us. However, these remains need not be called "dead" any longer as the new rains had brought about form of life peculiar to the land's current residents. While it might not be able to talk and move or even think, these new plants are a wondrous new addition to the landscape – and much welcomed by the Stitchpunk!
Perhaps the most fascinated by the fresh life were the two twin beings, 3 and 4. The twins, along with the other two surviving of their kin, lived in a large human facility that was once a museum. The Museum was full of wonders to discover, analyze and catalog and 3 and 4 were always more than happy to help themselves to explore - so long as they did their daily chores. Their chores mostly just included tending the plant life and preserving the human ruins, 7 made sure they don't try to fudge their duties (this happens occasionally) and was always nearby. The twins have gathered some water to give to a small tree growing just outside the entrance of their home.
Just as 3 and 4 were about to dump their water at the trunk they are startled by a sudden clang from behind them. The twins hid behind the skinny-trunked tree and peered out to see an old can had been knocked over behind them. An eerie green glow faintly pulsed from behind the can, almost welcoming them into to have a look. Curious, but cautious these twins are. 4, more cautious than curious, tailed 3 as they shuffled toward the gleaming glow. Perhaps it's another form of life!
Well, in that case they would be right, but this wasn't a welcomed creature. The container clashed to the side revealing a small but forbidding Beast. 3 and 4 were not able to get a good look at the sleek machine (nor did they even want to, as they just wanted to escape) before the golden talisman attached to his skull lit up. Briefly three shining green beams came from the talisman but quickly turned into red beams. A blast of red light exploded from the twins and was consumed by the Beast with a talisman on his head. The sucking stopped suddenly and 3 and 4 dropped abruptly to the ground.
The new small Beast, known as a Skout, swiftly took a few steps back on its two-jointed steel-and-bone hind legs. He shook is rat skull head and whip lash tail and cried out a quick cackle of satisfaction. With a click of his long skinny fingers and crack of his jaw, the raptor-like Beast sprinted off at blinding pace.
3 and 4 lying lifelessly on the ground were discovered by 7 who heard the noises. The twins rose and pushed themselves to their feet to 7's relief. 7 has not witnessed the strange encounter with the Skout, if she had she'd be chasing the tiny Beast by now.
"3, 4, what was the noise?" She asked sternly, "You better not have been fooling around."
The twins quickly shook their heads.
"Well, what was the noise? What happened?" She asked a bit more softly
The two searched their memories that were mostly full of all the information they've gathered at the library and of the recent event of defeating the Fabrication machine, but could find nothing on what had happened only seconds ago. After flashing their eyes to each other, desperately looking for the answer, they both drew blanks. In defeat, they shrugged with disappointed frowns.
7 wasn't happy that she didn't have an answer but, having a sensitivity for the kids, accepted their loss and put her hands over their hoods.
"That old can must have bonked you on the heads real good" Usually 7 wouldn't let anything go without investigating but after the death of the Fabricator even she was convinced there was nothing to fear, 7 went on playfully, "You weren't just trying to make an excuse to stay in the Museum all day, where you?"
Soon the situation turned into a frisky wrestling match between 7 and the twins. This lighthearted moment was soon interrupted by the last of the surviving ragdoll beings, 9. He entered over a tall hill of human junk, holding a reconstructed light bulb staff. His smooth figure darkened by the fading pink clouds that are now a more quiet purple and red. 7 nudged 3 off her and stood up, greeting the youngest Stitchpunk with a;
"Where have you been all day?"
9 reached the pale white doll, dipping his head in greeting.
"I was mostly out looking for new things" 9 said
"Mostly?" 7 raised a stitched eyebrow
"Oh, the rest of the day I was at the Memorial" 9 admitted quietly
"You've been spending a lot of time there recently, is something wrong?" Asked a concerned 7
If it had been any other time between then and the Fabricator's defeat, 9 would have told her "yes". Being the lastborn, 9 hadn't had much time to become acquainted with the other five ragdolls who where then dead. Almost every day he would visit the Memorial and talk to the deceased doll's graves. Every time he went he believed more and more they where there with him, but he was always let down realizing they're gone. But not anymore, 9 seemed strangely happy after visiting the grave.
"No, no! There's not something wrong, there's something right!" 9 said
Something right? 7 couldn't understand what he meant; he'd just gotten back from the burial ground of his best friend, what could be right about that? Before she could speak 9 answered.
"I was talking to 5 and I felt something. I know I could feel it, he spoke back to me, 7!"
"What?" 7 didn't believe this, she glanced at the twins who had their heads turned to the side puzzled, and she looked back to him, "What'd he say?"
"Um, he really didn't say anything" 9 confessed, "But I could feel him, you know, like he wanted to say something back. Do you know what I mean?"
7 did not know what he meant. She knew he missed the friends dearly and was having a hard time letting them go. She was convinced he would accept it eventually but there was no reason to spoil his mood now.
"Yes 9, I understand" She said
"Great!" 9 said and smiled in thought, "7, I've got a big surprise for you tomorrow"
7 was taken by the change in subject. She liked surprises, good surprises – for her. 9 wasn't exactly the best at impressing the female ragdoll but she enjoys his goofy charm. It only made her wonder what could be tomorrow's big surprise.
"It's getting dark out" 9 said after a pause as he walked into the Museum that now had an orange glow from candlelight within, "We should go in"
While the Museum had an energy of calm, safety and unity the same could not be said for the massive looming building that was slowly growing back to its original form outside the destroyed walls of the Human-City. Where there once was a forest all that was left was a desert of fine brown sand, black dead trees and ghostly remains of the human resistance to the machines. In this dead wood were the tall remains of great steel pumps that gorged themselves on the oil that was once mined there. They all surrounded the enormous factory building like an army that slowly took over the forest.
The Factory was the caustic and imposing fortress of the great Fabrication machine created by three tall towers and a steep angular building. It was made of a dark and powerful metal. Always seeming to surround it was a toxic sky of green, red and black clouds.
The Skout made his way back to the base of his creator at blinding speed, hopping over ruins with ease and agility. The swift Beast made from a model bike and a rat skeleton dashed through the mine shaft leading into the Factory. He finally entered the massive chamber, lit by a furnace turning everything an unnatural red, where the Fabricator continued to work on his latest project. All around the repaired Fabricator where small machines he created to repair his Factory at work rebuilding the roof. The Fabricator noticed the Skout with the talisman on his head and pushed himself toward the Beast.
Finally, a soul has been captured and he would have enough power to last him into the future. The Skout bowed to his master, who eagerly awaited the energy, and pressed the talismans buttons in sequence. But nothing happened.
The Fabricator was not amused by this let down and commanded the Skout to give him the soul. The Skout pushed the buttons again and this time his creator noticed they were pushed in the wrong order. The massive machine shrieked a frustrated roar and took the talisman, and the Skouts head along with it. He took the Skout's skull off and pushed the buttons in the right order.
He held the small gold trinket in between two enormous claws and focused his bright red eye carefully on it. Inside he made out two red figures in the glowing sea of green. Perhaps this was not a total loss; perhaps this was even better than his previous plan! The pathetic Stitchpunk had thwarted his previous attempt to take them by force, why try that again? If these creatures where so affective in defeating a behemoth like him they should be able to destroy themselves! It was only logical.
The Fabricator swung out a long iron arm summoning another pack of Skouts. He placed the talisman upon the head of the largest Skout and pointed them in the direction of the Memorial.
It was early sunrise and everything blue and gray from the night was starting to sport a new orange sunlit glow. While one may be disturbed by the death and destruction that plagued the Human-City, that was not the case through the eyes of the Stitchpunk beings; the outcrops of fallen stone buildings, decaying cars and scattered human rubbish seemed artfully beautiful in the gold glow of the rising sun.
Out of a long black shadow of a half-buried hubcap scurried 9, he turned back at a call from 7;
"Can I take this off now?" She asked fallowing him out of the shadow poking at a black scrap of fabric tied around her optics
"Almost there, just fallow my voice" He answered stepping back into the clearing in the street, she walked to his side, "Now"
She untied the scrap and was greeted by the golden light of the rising sun in her face. After blinking off the bright light she saw an unsuspected and troubling sight. In front of her was the clearing in the street where five graves where set up, the Memorial. A sad dark cloud rolled over the sky.
"Why did you bring me here?" She asked trying to hide the sternness in her tone
She turned her head toward the youngest Stitchpunk; he didn't show any signs of being bothered by this, he was, in fact, almost smiling. 9 looked back at her with a look of optimism and replied;
"I must show you something" He took her hand and walked her to the grave labeled "5", he released her and whispered, "Talk to them"
7 quickly stared back at 9, her expression was questioning.
"9, I–" She was interrupted
"Just try" He urged
7 couldn't ignore his pleading eyes. He really believed he could talk to his diseased kin. 7 before had noticed he began to grow more distant to her and the twins and more attached – no, obsessed – with the Memorial. She didn't want to trouble him any further so she complied, thinking it was better if he was with her to find that the others were truly dead.
"5" She called half-heartedly
"Louder" 9 pressed
"5, are you there? It's me, 7" She raised her voice
There was silence. 7 was about to turn to tell 9 they're never coming back when the sad cloud was pushed away and the golden glow of sun-rise came back. The short grass ruffled and bushed against her feet, she was hit by a warm wind.
"7"
"9?" She answered softly turning toward him
"I didn't say anything" 9 told her as he approached
"5?" She asked herself quietly turning her head toward the warm orange sky
7's head was swimming with wonder. Maybe 9 wasn't going mad, maybe it was she who was wrong. How could she be so dense, there was a reason as to why he was always visiting this place!
"How?" 7 asked turning toward him
"I'm not sure exactly but I've been hearing voices since the grasses started growing here" 9 explained crouching to stroke the soft green grass, "I swear I could see it glow sometimes too. Maybe they're somehow alive in the plants, like-"
"Like their souls have moved there from the sky-water" 7 finished his thought
The pair of Stitchpunks jumped at a sudden snarl. It sounded too familiar, too familiar to be true – but it was true!
"Beasts!" 7 scowled
Over the tall towers of building bricks jumped many thin black figures. A huge dark red cloud swallowed the golden sun and the metal and bone bodies of the tiny Beasts where revealed. There were at least a dozen pairs of beady red eyes watching the pair from all sides. 9's head spun, staring at the pack of Skouts that surrounded them in disbelief.
"No. Impossible." He stammered as the rat-headed creatures briskly closed in on them
He suddenly saw something at first he could not believe. One of these unreal machines held a limp body in his skinny claws- it was the body of 5!
7 let out a fierce cry and knocked one small machine off his feet with a powerful blow. She was pushed into the hard ground by heavy steel claws. She swung her head up, the blur of black and grey stopping at the alpha Skout's large skull and on his forehead was the talisman. 7 struggled to get her arms out from under the Beast's feet as the talisman started to spark with red.
"7!" 9 cried but was knocked over by the whiplash tail of a Beast
The dark was lit up by a bright forbidding beam of red being sucked up from 7's eyes. 9 pushed the tiny Skout off him and ran toward her but she flopped over lifelessly. The pack of Skouts dashed back up the bricks.
9 dropped to the ground by her, convinced she was gone but her optics opened and she leaned up.
"What happened?" She asked him, "What about the grass?"
"What?" He said, "You where just attacked by a Beast, I thought you were killed"
"Beasts?" 7 asked
"They had the talisman, and they had 5. Quick, we have to catch them!" 9 sprung to his feet and sprinted off after the pack
"9, wait! What are you talking about!" 7 yelled after him and fallowed
Not too far ahead of him was the pack of evil machines, they moved at twice his speed, he was lucky he moved when he did or he never would have caught up. 9 quickly got tired just keeping pace with the bolting Beasts. Using his last scrap of energy, he leaped after the alpha Skout and grabbed hold of the talisman attached to his head.
The Skout flung his head around and bucked his legs into the air to try and dislodge the determined Stitchpunk.
"9!" 7 screamed jumping over the pile of human rubbish behind them
9 pushed his hand into the buttons of the talisman and it began to spark with red. 7 stopped dead as she watched a blast of red energy taken from 9. His body dropped to the ground and the pack dashed over a human car and away. 7 ran over to him and pushed his body face up. His optics blinked opened.
"What were you thinking?" 7 growled
"What'd I do?" 9 asked bewilderedly
"Go after that group of Beasts all alone, what where you trying to do?"
"The Beasts? I remember them but I can't-" He paused, "I don't know, I don't remember what I was doing. I'm sorry."
She helped him up and they looked around to the dark clouds that obliterated the happy orange glow. It was clear their time of peace was at an end.
"I can't believe there are still machines around, how could this have happened?" 9 asked himself
"Since there are Beasts running around now we have to find 3 and 4 and make sure they don't get hurt" 7 asked running in the direction of the Museum
"Right." 9 quickly agreed and fallowed her
The pair of rag dolls fled across the junkyard of demolished cars back to their home. Above the land there came a dark storm of shifting clouds and quickly covered all the above golden sunrise. Going across the ever-darkening clouds we find the source of the smog. Out of the three tall towers (one of which is still broken) poured morphing monsters of black smoke. The Factory vomited its gaseous waste high into the sky; the sun had been reduced to a red glow behind the storm of smoke.
On the ground a group of tiny steel feet tapped across a fallen turret. The group of Skouts hopped over the wide stream of shallow green water, runoff from a nearby contaminated river. As they walked out from behind the hunk of metal we could the Factory close by, now almost completely repaired; small orange dots flashed as builder machines continued to make final repairs, the high window glowed red from the burning furnace within. The pack ran in closer to their lair, one Skout held a thin pale tawny body made from canvas.
The alpha Skout and his large pack walked to a mound of sand just outside the Factory's entrance. As his pack bolted into the Factory the alpha Skout stayed. The small group that had recovered 1's body appeared and the alpha ordered the with flick of his head for the other smaller group to enter. All the groups had come back now and the alpha Skout ran in behind the other machines.
The small group entered the Fabricator's chamber and placed their prize in the pile with the other bodies. The pile now consisted of all five of the bodies of the dead Stitchpunks – strangely all appeared to have been halfheartedly repaired. The large group of Skouts tossed the body of 5 onto the pile.
The massive machine held an unusual creation, it was very small – smaller than even a Skout, and made from a white fabric. He paused from his work to watch a cat-skull beast approach him; she rolled a barrel of oil to him (quite easily because of her great strength). The Cat Beast walked out from behind her oil offering with her prize – a tattered note book held carefully in her jaws. The Fabricator took the book in a small-sized arm. The Cat Beast bowed her head and sat waiting for her next order.
The Fabricator machine swung his eye around and watched the alpha Skout taking up red energy from the individuals in the body pile. The Fabricator moved his body toward the alpha Skout who loyally accepted his fate and stood toward him. The Skouts skull was gone with the swipe of the machine's massive hand and his body clunked into the ground, the other Skouts scattered away screeching. The talisman was taken off the rat skull and held with care in the Fabricator's smallest claw. Out of the pile he plucked 1's lifeless body.
He observed with his great red eye the notes in the journal the Cat Beast had recovered, the dead Stitchpunk and finally the body of his own rag doll being. All seemed consistent, the puny creature was constructed correctly.
The Fabricator closed the scientist's journal, he stared for a while at it without realizing he was wasting time. The great machine had an unexplainable bonding to the item, he couldn't understand what his connection was to it. Could that have been emotion he felt? His huge red eye shifted from 1's body to the drawing in the journal and back. Could he have been feeling a connection to the puny doll creatures? He ran a claw along the canvas body, as if remembering his creator. Why must these creatures be destroyed? Could they be allies?
No. Not those who have caused him such difficulties. Never.
He threw the dead Stitchpunk to the ground, breaking off 1's already mangled hand as he slammed into the ground. The Fabricator swung and arm out to order the Cat Beast to dispose of the Stitchpunk bodies. But the great Fabricator was not ready to let go of the journal. He placed it upon a platform – the Winged Beast preached there fluttered away to another platform.
A bright red glow flashed for a few seconds. A red beam went into the eyes of the Fabricator's first rag doll. The doll's head drooped over after the red flash was gone. The Fabricator watched anxiously. Was it a success? He couldn't wait so he jolted his arm.
Silted optics slowly clicked open for the first time. The little white leather head rose up, the silted eyes flickered a little before becoming pure red lights. The Fabricator put his creation onto a platform. The rag doll stumbled over and lie on the ground before being hastily pushed up by the machine's claw.
"Up. On your feet." Sounded the Fabricator's deep mechanical voice in the rag doll's ears
The thin white creature stumbled then stood up and moved his head around, taking in his environment. He turned behind him and looked into the face of another white creature. He jumped but soon approached it, tapping at the invisible shield separating them with his silver claw. The Fabricator watched impatiently as the ragdoll tapped the mirror. Soon he realized it was only his reflection and saw another like him in the form of a drawing in a book. He ran over, nearly tripping on his bone tail. The Fabricator watched, puzzled.
"Friend." The white doll whispered rubbing his head on the paper
Suddenly the book was slammed shut by a massive metal claw. The leather doll jumped and fell over his own tail. He cowered at the massive machine as he boomed;
"No! That is the enemy!" Bright sparks flashed from the Fabricator's eye
"Enemy." The white doll nodded, he pushed himself up on his two-jointed legs and looked at the Fabricator and reluctantly asked, "Who am I?"
"You are my creation and are to obey me and only me. Your life and energy revolves around my will and my will only." Said the mechanical voice, "You shall be known as -1. Now bow to your master."
"But I-"
The doll was forced onto his hands and knees by a stamp being pressed into his back. The Fabricator swung a massive arm across the doll. His silted eyes opened and he found he was not harmed. He saw in the mirror his back had been stamped with a red "1" and across the number was a dripping red slash. He looked back to his creator in fear, his scrawny body trembled.
"Notice your pitiful frame. I had not created you to be useful in battle. You are but a test for the others to come." The Fabricator explained
The words stung the leather doll. He looked at his body. He was made from white leather with two buckles across the torso that held shut his stitched up chest. His hands and feet where thin silver claws. His tail was made from a spine with a silver stinger at the end – his only defense. His face was long and thin. He had needle-sharp silver fangs. He accepted the Fabricator's words.
"I do have use for you, frail machine. Since I have granted you with my own knowledge regarding ruling over a group of machines and since you are the eldest – I choose you as the leader of your bothers to be born. I trust you to keep them in line in case their human souls get the best of them" Said the Fabricator, "Your single purpose is to destroy the tiny human creatures. Do you understand, -1?"
-1 fell to his knees and put his head into the ground. He loyally responded;
"Yes master."
The shadowy smog still hung low and dark in the morning sky the next day. The sun was able to penetrate the dark and shine through when it rose that morning. The sky became lit up with yellow in the places where the smog was thin. The bleak glow lit up the center of the Human-City. It was a large circular clearing that once had stone masonry on the ground surrounding a large fountain in the center. Now the war and many years had passed, there where large patches where the stone was gone and there grew small fields of tall grass. Lines of tall grass poked out of the thin spaces between the blocks of stone. In the center, the fountain was gone, crushed by a massive tree whose seed grew in the shallow waters of the fountain. The bleak yellow glow filtered in from the tree's leaves splotching the grass and stone below with swaying light.
The Cat Beast with her jaws full of limp bodies of fabric approached the Clearing. She threw her skull and released the bodies to tumble across the ground. She briefly disrespectfully scarped some dirt over the scattered bodies and bounded away back to the Factory.
A faint green pulse flashed in the enormous tree's leaves. Slowly the faint green pluses became more close together and less faint as they glided down the tree to its trunk. Across the high grass swept more green beats all heading toward the tree. At the tree's base the Stitchpunk's bodies absorbed the glowing pluses that came into them. Suddenly the green waves stopped.
A single optic opened up, behind his eye there was final green glow and then it vanished. 5 leaned his sore body up and sat upright and ran a hand along his aching spine.
"Ohh, why do I hurt so much?" He asked himself
Suddenly he jolted and looked at his copper hands. His eye ran down along his body that was now attached to him. His hands hastily prodded himself to make sure he was truly there. He didn't know what to think, the last thing he remembered clearly was his death and after that – his release from the talisman, was all a blur. But he remembered it nonetheless. 5 pushed himself to his feet. He finally focused on his surroundings and noticed his other kin where starting to come around.
When 2 awoke his legs where racked with pain but it was odd that he had legs at all, they had been lost when he was attached to the Seamstress. He quickly concluded he must have been repaired; it was barely a sufficient job as he couldn't stand with his new legs so weak.
Who would have repaired me but not taken the time to do it properly? He asked himself
Before he could answer the question he heard 5 stutter;
"I'm alive – I mean, I'm here, in my body. How?"
"I can't say for sure" 2 responded as he propped himself up using a forked branch nearby, "You might believe the theory that souls grow and regenerate over time."
2's branch slipped and he nearly fell over if he were not caught by 8. It was clear that 8's body should have been badly burnt as he was left in the Factory when it exploded years ago but that was not so. His skin appeared to have been replaced with a pale orange-tawny canvas (very similar to his pervious pelt) that was poorly sewn together. The new pelt further puzzled 2, 8 didn't seem to understand it either, although he didn't have any complaints.
6 woke up and seemed the most surprised. His head swung around looking at his body, the stains of ink on him where now all blurred as if they had been in water. 6 pushed himself up and mumbled to himself as he walked to 2 and 8, the words where untranslatable. It was clear something was wrong.
"But why now?" 5 asked handing 2 another forked branch, "If that's true wouldn't we have came back sooner?"
"Or at all." Scoffed 1 walking over to the group, his arm was pressed up against his body like a dog with a hurt paw, only his hand was gone
"You're limping." 2 told him, clearly concerned
"Your hand's off!" 5 blurted
"I'll cope, I'm sure I'm not the only one wounded." Although 1 was fighting the urge to wail in pain, he didn't want to look weak in front of them and he immediately took charge of the situation, "My problem is none of your concern, we must now focus at the task at hand."
"We have to find 9 and the others." 5 said
"No, not yet" 1 attempted to hold back the annoyance is his words, "It's obvious all of us are in pain, some needing immediate treatment" He eyed 2 as he held himself up with his two twig-crutches, "We must find shelter and repair ourselves first."
"But you just said we're all hurt" 5 reluctantly spoke up again, "Wouldn't walking make it worse. We have to treat ourselves now."
"No, we must find shelter" 1 insisted
"W-Who says we have to do what you say, you're not the boss of us anymore" 5 tried to sound brave as he spoke the words
"No 5, he's right" 2 said, "We can't be out here in the open, who knows how long we've been gone. It could be dangerous and we aren't in any shape to be dealing with danger if something happens."
"Do you remember how bad he was before? Think for yourself." 5 knew the eldest Stitchpunk was trying to work his way back into his old position as patriarch
"I am, I think he's right, 5." 2 responded
"A group must have a leader." 1 added
5 shot 1 a glare, 1 quickly backed away from his statement as 5 angrily growled;
"9 was a greater leader than you'll ever be."
"But he isn't here now and if anyone else feels fit for the position . . ." His narrow eyes scanned the other four in his group, he knew none of them would take his offer
Understand, reader, that 1 was not intent on regaining his monarchial high-status lifestyle he had (and very much enjoyed) before. He knew he'd done wrong and wanted to redeem himself by becoming a better, more fair, leader.
"Very well. We shall briefly split up and scout for a home sufficient enough and report back at this clearing at sunset or sooner" 1 articulated holding his head high, it felt good to be in charge again, but he mustn't lose control of himself this time he remembered, "You my choose your groups."
Obviously 1 and 8 went together on their marry way heading west. When 2 asked 5 if he would come with him to look south, 5 declined:
"5, let's see if we can't find anything over there" 2 said pointing a claw toward the demolished slums of the Human-City
"No, um, I think I'll go on my own." 5 responded blankly looking an area of human homes to the east
"I'll come with you."
"No, I'll be fine. Um, you can go with 6, I don't think 6 is okay alone" 5's voice shook and he tilted his head toward 6 who was still mumbling to himself
"Well, okay 5, if that's what you want." 2 gave him a worried look the turned and limped to 6, "Come here 6, we're going this way."
And the crippled inventor and troubled artist left the Clearing. 5 looked around to make sure no one was still there. 5 ran toward the massive tree. As he scrambled up the remains of the fountain at its roots he spoke to himself;
"I can't let 1 get into power again, I don't care what he says – he hasn't changed at all." 5 crawled up the thick grey-brown bark of the tree, "I need to find 9, he'll know what to do."
5 grunted at his pulled himself atop of massive branch sticking out of the tree's trunk. He ran out to the end of the branch where twigs full of long feathered green leaves hung down almost to the ground. 5 searched the shambles below.
"Where is it? Where is it?" 5 breathed looking for the landmark that would tell him where the Memorial was
5 wasn't quite sure why he was looking for the Memorial but for some reason he knew his friend came there. His eye focused on a tall apartment building whose bottom was almost completely blown away, nothing but a wood skeleton.
"The Workshop, that means the Memorial's close by." He looked at the orange shimmer poking out of the grey red-pink clouds and said, "That's east. I'm coming 9."
5 crouched and grabbed one of the massive tree's long leaves. He jumped and slid down to the ground and ran toward the direction of the Workshop.
Meanwhile in the slums of the Human-City 2 and 6 slowly made their way across the demolished stone and wood ruins. This area was perhaps the least cheery in the Human-City; all the poorly built houses where knocked down, only four or five still stood on creaking foundations. There was no street to speak of, it was all shattered glass, wood splinters and chunks of brick walls – however it was all well trampled so it wasn't much of an obstacle for 2 who walked on crutches. Hallow corpses of both human and machine littered this area. Because of the ground covered so thickly in debris, little plants where allowed to grow, some tufts of grass and the occasional blue flower. While most of the sky was red-orange, smog from the Factory close by blew there putting the whole area in a dark blue shadow.
"There must have been heavy fighting here" 2 said as he limped across a slab of bricks, "I can only imagine what these people must have felt, hiding in such flimsy houses."
"No, no, it's not right. We shouldn't be here, we can't, no." 6 muttered clutching the key around his neck and staring foreword wide-eyed
"Hm? 6, what's wrong?" 2 asked turning toward him
6 froze and continued to handle his key.
"We're trapped, we're trapped. Something went wrong. We shouldn't be here. It's wrong, it's wrong" He panted
2 heard something metal clang on the ground behind him. He turned his head around and jumped at the sight he beheld. A long-legged, spine-backed, cat-skulled monster stood atop an ex-chimney digging in the shattered stone. She clearly hasn't spotted them but it would be long before she started to head that way. 2 wasted no time and shoved 6 with his body.
"Quickly, hide. This way, go." He hissed pushing 6 toward a small cave made from two large stones and a window with a striped wool sweater atop
The Cat Beast rose her head and looked in their direction and began stalking toward them, 2 wasn't sure if she was aware of them yet. 2 was forced to use one of his legs, he let go of a crutch to grab 6's hand as 6 refused to move. Limping on one twig he dragged 6 into the cave. 2 pushed himself and 6 against a brick on one side of the hole.
"No, no. This wasn't supposed to happen. We're trapped now, it's wrong." 6 continued to mumble, the screeching of the Beast's joints came closer, her curious growls sounded behind them, "We're stuck in our bodies, it's wrong"
"Shhh." 2 breathed covering 6's mouth but he continued to mumble softly then was silent
It was quiet. Where'd she go? Did the Beast leave? There was tapping of metal on the window glass above. The Cat Beast's purrs rumbled from above. Suddenly it was bright in the cave. Above them they saw the underside of the machine, the blue and black-striped sweater that concealed them clutched in her jaws.
2 and 6 stared up, trying to push themselves into the tiny shadow under the stone and looking at the Beast wide-eyed. The purrs stopped at the Beast looked down into the cave. Her red eye twitched as she looked down. Into the cave reached the dark grey metal claw. A claw grazed 2's leg and growling shook the cave from above. She finally got hold of her target. The Cat Beast pulled a paint brush head out from under the cave and jumped off of the glass.
Her screeching joints and purrs quickly faded away into nothing. 2 and 6 cautiously emerged from their hiding spot. The Cat Beast was long gone but there was no way to tell which direction she went.
"We have to tell the others, let's go 6" 2 whispered nudging the striped doll
2 limped back, holding himself on one twig. 6 stared into the Emptiness and quietly said;
"We'll fight ourselves now." And 6 turned and blindly fallowed 2 back to the Clearing.
During this 1 and 8 made their way across a much less damaged area in the Human-City. It was sun-high and the sky was covered with orange and black clouds and still they continued to search of a decent home. 8 pointed out many mostly undamaged human buildings but 1 didn't dub any of them as fit, 8 didn't object to the eldest Stitchpunk's stubbornness and continued to fallow him as he walked through the Emptiness.
Suddenly 1 halted, something had caught his eye. It wasn't shelter but it was something familiar to him. Out upon the end of large splinter of pale wood was his old hat he'd worn was a sign of authority when he was still the monarch of the Sanctuary. He couldn't help himself but to walk to it. How could it have gotten there? Perhaps it was a sign that he should reclaim his former position, although 1 wasn't one to believe in signs. He came to the end of the beam and slid it off the end and stared at the white object.
"8, was I really as bad as 5 said I was?" 1 asked blankly staring at his single claw
8 didn't have the slightest clue as to what he should say, he didn't believe he was mistreated but wasn't sure what the others felt.
A creek sounded from the splinter of wood. 1 jolted and noticed it was starting to break. He looked down and saw below him was the slanted face of a stone building diving down into darkness below. He yelped and started to run back but the wood cracked in half with a snap and he tumbled down the stone building.
1 was slammed with great bricks as he slid down. His only hand caught a glass ink bottle lodged in-between two bricks. Below him he watched his hat roll down into the abyss. He looked up and saw 8 watching helplessly from the ledge above.
"8! Help me!" He cried
8 didn't know what to do. The ledge was too steep to climb down. He spotted a beam of wood that lead to the bottom of the drop. The bricks that held the ink bottle in place came off in a puff of dust. 1's shriek echoed through the Emptiness as he and the ink bottle continued the slip down into the darkness.
1 impacted the hard stone below, there was the shattering of glass and white ash flew up from the fallen rag doll. After a moment of still 1 leaned up with a moan, and noticed he'd landed right on the glass ink bottle. He got to his feet and looked into a nearby shard of orange glass to make sure he wasn't hurt. He hadn't been cut by the shattered ink bottle thanks to his thick canvas skin but there was a strange stain of his back now. Right beside his number was a circular stain, "0".
He hoped it would wash off when his eyes wondered about the dark area. He spotted his hat had landed on a pure white shred of silk. He retrieved it, he also took the white silk. Out of an old habit he put it over himself. He was surprised to find it fit him perfectly, it ran over his body stopping just at his feet, scraps that dangled from the side covered his arms like sleeves. . Not only did it fit him, he looked good he noted as he admired himself in the glass shard. 1 put his hat atop his head, took one last glance at his refection and turned to find a way out.
"Where am I?" He asked himself straying out from behind the steel wall he'd landed by
1 could not believe the sight he beheld. In front of him lied a massive human building. In its main chamber was a huge human air vehicle that had fallen in during a blaze. At the end of the chamber was a circular stain glass design most of which had been blown out to due to the fire's heat. Because of the hole in the roof he stared up at the bell tower of the cathedral. It was almost totally untouched by the flame due to its being made from mostly stone. The Sanctuary was covered in a ghostly white ash.
"I can't believe it . . . my Sanctuary." He whispered taking steps closer to the tower
His feet brushed against something. 1's eyes shifted down and found another ghost from the past – it was his old staff made from a needle, clock gear and bell (although the bell was gone now). He held it in his claw. 1 was startled by a noise from behind.
8 had finally made his way down the leaning wall of the cathedral.
"8, come here! You must see!" 1 called
8 emerged from behind the airplane's bent wing and gasped in awe. The Sanctuary was almost all still standing, only the hole in the roof was much bigger as the plane fell in. Most of the wood was charred white but all the stone was left standing. The cathedral was still an imposing fortress.
"This is it, we shall come back here. There still is no better safe area. See, my tower's still intact!" 1 said, "We just have to find a new way up. Come, we must tell the others!"
So he and 8 hurried out of the tall human door at the back of the Sanctuary to tell the others of their miraculous find.
5 finally made it to the Memorial. He pulled himself over the hill of human rubbish unaware there was a cleared path just a few inches away.
"9! 9! We're back! 9!" He shouted
But no one answered. 5's pride was shot when he looked down into the Memorial to find nothing but his own grave. 9 wasn't here but he must be somewhere. He has to find 9 before 1 becomes too controlling. 5 looked ahead of him and saw the shadows of the graves growing, the bleak orange sun was sinking in the grey clouds.
"Sunset already?" 5 blurted, "I'll have to come back later. I sure hope my bad feeling about 1 is wrong."
The sun was already behind the horizon by the time 5 made it back to the Clearing. He came into the meeting where everyone was gathered gasping for breath.
"I'm here." He panted
"Good." Said 1
5 put his head up and saw 1's new attire, clad in his old hat and staff wearing a white cloak. It was too familiar of a costume. It certainly didn't help ease 5's suspicions.
"Now report – have any of you find any proper housing?" 1 asked
"No." 5 answered
"Well you were out so long, I'm surprised you didn't find anything useful. Where have you been that took you so long to come back from?"
"Um, I just headed east as far as I could. I guess I just lost track of time." 5 decided it was best not to tell 1 he was looking for 9 rather than fallowing what he told him to do
"Well be more careful next time." 1's gaze moved to 2 and 6, "And what of you?"
"We found no shelter but we did find – something else." 2 reported
"What then?"
"I hope I don't frighten any of you but its better you know: while scouting, 6 and I stumbled upon the Cat Beast."
"The what?" 1 barked
"Where you hurt?" 5 asked
"Impossible! Cat Beast was killed, the machine and its minions where killed. You must be losing your mind!" Snarled 1 pounding his staff on the ground
"I can't deny what I saw."
"If Cat Beast is around then there is only all the more urgency to find a safe shelter. I have discovered the Sanctuary and the tower is still intact, we will go there, it is nearby." 1 swiped his staff as he swing around to start the trek
"No, we aren't going to just say and hide again. You remember what good that did us last time!" 5 suddenly felt a pang of courage as 1 halted and swung his head toward him
"I know very well of my prior mistakes! There is no need to add salt to my wounds!" 1 snapped, "If you want to pursue the Beast and discover answers then I won't stop you. Now, come along."
With that 1 spoke no more. The group of five Stitchpunks left the Clearing, 1 leading the group and 2 and 5 lagging at the end. 6 was also quiet but his eyes said he was still troubled. The Sanctuary was on the horizon.
"5, you shouldn't be too hard on him" 2 said to his apprentice
"Why, he deserves it." 5 said coldly
"That might be but that's no reason to take is dignity. 1 needs to feel like he's needed, so do you and so do I. He only wants to help."
"Okay, but I'm keeping an eye on him."
2 smiled and added, "We're going to be kept busy tonight, I think I'm going to need completely new legs."
It was early the next day and the sun had not yet risen. The Memorial was still in the dark blue color of night, as was 9 who had been standing in front of 5's grave for quite a while. The white glow of daybreak loomed on the horizon behind 5's grave. There was no noise, the wind was dead.
"5, I'm confused. I don't know what's happening; I saw machines yesterday when I was here. That's all I remember, but I know something else was wrong." 9 said to the grave, "5, please, I need you to guide me."
But he was greeted with no answer, only the still frigid sunrise. Shadows appeared but all else was still. 9 grew anxious.
"5, I need you." 9 took a step closer to the grave, "Please. 5. 5!"
But his cries remained unanswered. No warm wind, no faint voice to guide him. It was like their spirits had all vanished from that place.
"Answer me!" He hollered but only his own echo answered him, vibrating through the entire Human City
Distraught, he turned and began to exit the Memorial just as the sun turned everything the orange morning color.
"9, there you are!" 7 called as she and the twins sprinted toward him, "You weren't in the Museum, I thought you might have been taken. What are you doing here?" 7's tone wasn't angry but concerned and fearful
9's head rose as he walked toward her. He glanced back at the cold gravesite.
"They didn't answer me, 7." 9 looked back to the white Stitchpunk, "They're gone."
7 had just begun to believe her friends could be contacted and now she was told they weren't answering anymore. 3 and 4 could sense her sadness and held her closer to try and cheer her up.
"We have to head back home, we're in danger if we're out here without anything to defend ourselves with" 7 said after a sigh, "We'll investigate tomorrow after we've made weapons"
As the group of four moved across the Emptiness back to their home looming high in the distance was the Sanctuary. The cathedral stood steady still, well build from stone. Although the subsections have collapsed after the fire, the main chamber and the clock tower where still there. After the plane fell down the hole it made was covered in an outcrop of bricks from the roof, it would take any machine while to climb over and as for a Stitchpunk – the climb was out of the question.
The orange morning didn't last as the sun was blocked by a huge black beast of a cloud. The darkness in the Sanctuary was lit by a struck match. 5 lit a half-melted candle with his match and shook the fire out. He went back to his work – rebuilding the pulley-powered elevator.
Not far off was 1, sitting on a soot covered wood beam holding a silver coin he'd found. He now had both hands – his right hand was much better built, made from a molded brass bullet casing. His new gold hand was stronger, more opposable and sported some fairly nasty looking claws. 1 was fascinated by the new coin; he appeared to like it very much. On its front was a risen "10" in shining silver. He remembered the zero-shaped stain on his back.
"10." He whispered in himself, "10 is perfection."
It was then when 2 walked over. He had new legs build for him by 5, they couldn't be seen because he had already been stitched up. 2's new legs worked just as well as anyone else's, although he was a little unsteady on them still.
"How is that new hand working?" 2 asked
1 glanced up and flexed his right hand.
"It will do, I suppose." He answered dryly, "Are your legs repaired now?"
"I'm still getting use to them, but it's certainly better than using sticks for legs."
"Indeed." 1 removed his hat from his head and held it in his new gold claw
"Is something bothering you?" 2 asked
"Let's not fool ourselves, 2; I do no good for us anymore, look at me." 1 moaned as he stood on his feet, "I think it's best if I just leave and find a nice place to curl up and just pass away. 5 certainly wouldn't have any objections to that."
"Stop that. We need you here." 2 said firmly
"For what? I'm no use for physical labor, nor do I know anything of the sort of healing."
2 put his claws on 1's shoulders and answered;
"A group must have a leader."
1's eyes widened, he glanced at 5 who was giving him a nasty look; obviously he'd been listening to their conversation. He turned his head back to 2. 1 was sure 2 would take his place, he knew everyone else would have enjoyed working under 2.
"But 2,you know I-"
"You deserve a second chance."
1 dipped his head, "Very well." He answered and put the silver coin onto his hat and placed it back on his head
The eldest rag doll walked toward the center of the chamber.
"Everyone, if I could have your attention for a moment, I have an announcement to make!" 1 spoke
5 turned his head toward the pale doll as 6 and 8 started to walked toward him. 5 fallowed shyly taking his place by 2. 5 knew what 1 had to say and he didn't like it.
"Yesterday it was debated on if I should reclaim my position as your leader" His narrow eyes wondered to 5 who was eying him suspiciously, "Some believed because of my past actions I am undeserving of the privilege."
5 could sense a twinge of anger in that statement.
"However, unless someone else is willing to step up, I accept 2's offer to become your leader again." 1 again waited for someone to step up to him and again nobody challenged him, he continued, "Let it be known that from this point on I shall be known and referred to as 10, your leader and elder. I, 10, promise I will try to fair to you and protect your interests."
10 paused, as if it hurt his pride to go further. He cleared his throat and ended his speech.
"If the occasion should come that an event occurs that proves me as unfit, then I grant you permission to put me on trail, my fate will be in the hands of your judgment. You will decide my penalty for any wrongdoing."
5 was surprised by this statement. He was satisfied by it also.
If 1 – er - 10, tries anything funny he can get was he deserves, 5 thought, that is if he agrees to go through with it - he'd better!
10 spoke up, "Now, we finishing repairing my Sanctuary."
Characters (In order of apperance/mentioning)
*~* Stitchpunks *~*
9 . . . To Save Us
Number Placement - Back
Allegiance - The Stitchpunk
Gender - Male
Anatomy - Made from burlap, hands and feet molded from copper. Body held shut by a brass zipper. Normal height. Most advanced and refined of the Stitchpunk beings.
Details - Perviously defeated the Machine, now lives in peace with the other three surviving of his family, 3, 4 and 7. Is unable to let go of his departed friends and visets the Memorial often seeking guidance.
10 . . . To Perfect Us
Number Placement - Back
Allegiance - The Stitchpunk
Gender - Male
Anatomy - Made from canvas, steel claws, poorly constructed. Held shut with two belt straps. Of average heigtht and skinny figure. The firstborn of the Stitchpunk beings.
Details - Once the protective self-proclaimed leader of the Stitchpunk, lost his influance quickly once 9 appeared. Upon realizing he was no longer a use to the group, killed himself to save 9. Changed his name to 10, a number recognized as a symbol of perfection, to mark his second term and Stitchpunk leader.
2 . . . To Inspire Us
Number Placement - Back
Allegiance - The Stitchpunk
Gender - Male
Anatomy - Made from a mix of burlap, canvas and leather put together in patches, bronze hands and worn wood feet. Held shut with a shoelace. Weakest and shortest of the Stitchpunk beings.
Details - An elder and kindy inventor and medic. Killed in part by 1's intention and a mistake of 9's.
5 . . . To Guide Us
Number Placement - Back
Allegiance - The Stitchpunk
Gender - Male
Anatomy - Made from pale burlap with a leather eyepatch, copper hands. Held shut with two bronze buttons. Smaller than average.
Details - Reluctant student of 2's and map-maker. Killed by the Fabrication Machine. Distrusts 10, knowing his intentions in 2's murder perviously.
8 . . . To Gaurd Us
Number Placement - Shoulder
Allegiance - The Stitchpunk
Gender - Male
Anatomy - New skin is a brownish-tawny fabric, steel-and-copper hands and feet. Large and bulky. Held together with two clips.
Details - A devoted fallower of 1. Killed by the Fabrication Machine.
7 . . . To Defend Us
Number Placement - Back
Allegiance - The Stitchpunk
Gender - Female
Anatomy - Bleached canvas-like fabric skin, copper hands and feet, held shut with a blue-green button. Smaller and more nimble than the majority of the others. Large scar on back from a battle with the Cat Beast many years ago.
Details - Perviously a loner and Beast-slayer, after the defeat of the Fabrication Machine now lives with 9, her apparent mate, and 3 and 4. Still retains her independant nature.
3 . . . To Teach Us
Number Placement - Chest
Allegiance - The Stitchpunk
Gender - Male
Anatomy - Made from blue, striped gardening gloves, hooded head with steel hands and wood feet. Small. Broader face, larger and hands and taller than 4.
Details - Child-like and twin of 4. More curious, outgoing and more easily hurt than his sister.
4 . . . To Define Us
Number Placement - Chest
Allegiance - The Stitchpunk
Gender - Female
Anatomy - Made from blue, striped gardening gloves, hooded head with steel hands and wood feet. Small. Smaller mouth, hands and slightly shorter than 3.
Details - Child-like and twin of 3. More cautious, rational and shy than her brother.
*~* The Machines *~*
Ant Driods
Allegiance - The Machines
Gender of Species - All Male
Anatomy - Several legs and many red eyes attatched to a single black section of its body. Slightly larger than a Stitchpunk.
Details - Created by the Machine, a quick-moving minor machine used primarily to stand look-out for the Machine or collect parts for him.
The Fabrication Machine
Allegiance - The Machines
Gender - Male
Anatomy - Massive machine with two body sections with many arms and tools attatched, one massive processor for a head with a red eye, apposable tail attached him to his Factory.
Details - His processor was built by the creator of the Stitchpunk and his massive body added on so her may create war-machines. The cause of the exermination of life. Killed by 9. Created Stitchpunk beings of his own to eliminate the original nine, however his main motivation is something unknown.
The Skouts
Allegiance - The Machines
Gender of Species - All Male
Anatomy - Rat skull head, raptor-like body with springs in legs. Long whiplash tail. Highly aposable fingers. Stitchpunk-sized. Fairly inteligent and programed with pack mentality. Shakes victems until dead.
Details - Created by the Machine. Fast, nimble but very fragile. Used to collect items and patrol boarders.
The Cat Beast
Allegiance - The Machines
Gender - Female
Anatomy - Long monkey-like legs, cat skull head with one lightbulb eye to see at night and spiked back. Two-and-a-half Stitchpunk heights.
Details - Created by the Machine. Nimble and powerful but uninteligent. Enjoys toying with her pray. Killed by 7 but salvaged by the Machine.
*~* Machine-Stitchpunk Hybrids *~*
-1 . . . The Innocent
Number Placement - Back
Allegiance - The Machine
Gender - Male
Anatomy - White leather skin, frail steel claws, bone tail with stinger, needle fangs. Held shut with two buckles in an "X" across the chest. Shorter and scrawnier than 1.
Details - Created by the Machine to be the leader of the others of his kin. Skittish and very weak but self-loving and irritable.