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 13: Stars_-_-_

The remainder of the night was quiet. 5 finally found sleep after a few hours of staying up and by the time he did he had worn himself out to the point of sleeping long past morning. From outside his container the sounds of the twins running around and even the new sounds of 8's footfalls across the floor rang out.

Though he would have stayed in his container, 5 had actually woken up mid morning. Even though he was up, his body ached from the day before and it made it difficult to get up. He laid there; his optic closed as he listened to the others outside his space. Even though 8 had returned it was still quiet outside and guessed it would be even after everyone was back.

He opened his optic and turned to the pile of things he had and was surprised to see 6's soul curled up against some papers that he had piled up. He sat up with a groan and swung his legs over the side of his makeshift bed, rubbing his head with a metal hand as he tried to get the container to stop spinning as a result of his sudden dizziness. He tried to shake it off as he got up and moved to 6, placing a hand on his semi-transparent body. The soul stirred a bit and looked up to him.

5 could see how 6 was looking at him; it was a face that was all too familiar to him. It was the one that knew something was about to happen. It was the face that screamed for help as it was slowly overcome by madness. 5 tried to calm the other now before he began to see things, he sat by him and put a hand on his back and waited for 6 to once again go into a sleep cycle. After he was sure that 6 was asleep again, he moved to the opening of his container he looked out. No one was on the floor so he moved out so he could get a better look at the room.

He looked up to the book shelves and saw that 3 and 4 had 'kidnapped' 8 into helping them reach higher books that they couldn't reach on their own. The bigger stitchpunk didn't seem to mind as he lifted them up and helped move the books they handed him down. 5 smiled and leaned against the entrance to his container and looked to the dented cylinder at the back of his space. Looking down he turned and went back in, opening it up he began to restock. 3 and 4 weren't going to like what he was going to do next, but they looked so happy and content how they were now that he didn't want to disturbed them.

Loading up on new supplies he pulled the cylinder onto his back. Looking once more around the small space he turned and was about to walk out when he was shocked to see 6's soul floating near the entrance. He nearly jumped back as he saw the other; 6 was staring out into nothing, looking endlessly before his optics closed and he fell to the ground, shaking. 5 moved to him and put a hand on his back.

"6?" He asked, hoping to bring the other out of the trance he seemed to be in.

'Lost…time… Lost time can never be recovered…It's lost as we were, it's searching and failing' he shook, his voice cracking softly as he looked up to 5. 'It didn't leave…but its running…catch it…otherwise it will be lost…its already slipping, but there's still time…watch out…there may be some time left, but don't take any for granted…'

As soon as he finished talking his soul faded and when it appeared again it was curled up in the spot it had been before, though now he was shivering slightly. He looked at the younger one and turned away. Glancing to where the twins were he left the container and closed the lid so 6 wouldn't be disturbed. He knew better now than to ignore the others words and this message seemed pretty straight forward.

Waiting for the right moment he snuck past where 3, 4 and 8 were. He ran down the stairs as he held the straps on the container to prevent it from shaking around as he ran. He tried to be as quiet as he could as he sprinted down the road; the sounds of the wind rushed past him as he did, he felt the cool air pass through the burlap and he shivered. It wasn't a bad feeling, 5 actually liked it. It reminded him of the last feelings he had before he was freed after the battle with the machine. It was a feeling that flowed right through him, chilling all of his gears, but he didn't care.

He knew that the twins would be saddened when they figure out that he left them behind to go off on his own, but knew that this time he couldn't have the twins there. He originally wanted to look for 2 after what his soul said to him the other day, but after running for what he felt were miles and miles he only ended up at the cathedral. When he got there he nearly collapsed from his tired joints and overworked gears.

Looking up at the building he rubbed his right arm. He didn't know why he brought himself here. Perhaps he needed to get away to somewhere he knew there would be no beasts. After he got his mechanics to slow down a bit he began to walk inside the building, looking all around at everything. This day was different then last time. The sky was mostly clear and as the sunlight entered the building it illuminated dust and loose soot, looking like a million stars floating all around.

5 smiled as he wandered. He supposed he was hoping to see 2 around here, something in his mind told him that he could find him here; though he wouldn't. He moved to the floor where he rebuilt 1 and looked around. The watchtower collapsed nearby and there were the remains of this and that scattered around. 5 didn't get a good chance to see it last time he was here but noticed it now. He gasped and rushed over to a pile of broken wood and as something shiny caught his attention. He pulled some of the scraps of wood away as he dug the object out.

When he was finally able to pull out a large lens that was at the bottom of a circle of metal, he easily recognized it as a part of the telescope that he and 2 constructed upon making the watchtower. He looked at it and moved to touch the lens and it crumble as it fell apart in his hands.

He had a knack for destroying things that 2 worked on, first his candle hat and now this. He sighed and put the cylinder down before picking up the lens and the metal; putting it into the cylinder. He began to look around the wreckage for more, hoping to find anything else from the past.

_-_-_-_

He had been at it for hours. Using the area with the cylinder as a base he began to pick up things here and there that he thought would be of use to him. Among those things were blades from knives, plates of metal and even some wood if it was dense enough.

After searching he had found other bits and pieces of the inventions he and 2 made. They made him smile sadly as he looked at them. All the pieces made him remember and to him it felt like he was like picking up hid memory. He was able to look at every broken object and remember what it had been like on the day it was constructed, how he felt, what he and 2 talked about.

After a bit he found himself sitting next to the cylinder holding the lens again, smiling as he traced the glass. It was surprisingly smooth, there were scrapes and other nicks on one side while the other seemed as it did before. He sighed and put it down again while he got up. Looking around at the things he collected he began to put them away.

He looked up when he thought he heard a noise, it was at that moment that he also felt like there was presence of something else. He originally assumed it was because he was here alone and the silence was getting to him, but now he felt like he wasn't alone any longer.

Moving to the cylinder he pulled out a large metal object and quickly moved to hide behind a pile of stone bricks. Listening he shut his optic and allowed his hearing to take over. He heard the steps getting closer, and the sound of metal followed. He saw there was light, almost like a spot light moving over the floor. As the sounds got closer he prepared to attack it, gaining the courage not to just run.

When he felt like it was right behind where he was his brows knitted together as he yelled and turned from behind it, lifting the metal above his head as he got ready to attack. Swinging hard at the 'machine' he heard it yell out in surprise before suddenly his attack was blocked with a long metallic object, causing both weapons to fall to the floor with a heavy sound.

5 gasped and moved to run, but a hand grabbed his arm before he could move and he found himself staring into familiar optics.

"9?! What are you doing here?!" He exclaimed as he looked at the other in shock. He was sure that 9 would be off with 7 or scouting the areas around their home. He didn't expect to see him here of all places.

"I saw you leave…" He said as his voice shook ever so slightly, showing that he was startled by the attack. "You left 3 and 4 behind…So I wanted to make sure you were going to be…well, ok"

The fifth stitchpunk looked to him and sighed, reaching down to grab the metal he held moments before. "I'm fine…" he said and moved to put it back into the cylinder. 9 bent down to pick up his light staff before moving to the other and looking over everything that he had collected. He turned it back on and its warm light spread over everything. 5 looked at the others staff and observed what it looked like and its design. This one was different from the other; it had a piece of metal stretching to the top where it had a lens like object attached.

"You built another? It looks better than the old one." He said before continuing to pack.

"Well I had to…it's the most useful thing for me...I go scouting early in the morning when it's still dark out." Looking down to the pile he saw the telescope lens before bending down to pick it up. He leaned his staff against his body as he tilted the glass. "You said this was the first thing you built with him…"

5 froze for a second before looking away. "Yeah…I'm surprised you were able to recognize it". His voice was colder then he wanted to make it, he sounded like he was mad at 9. The ninth caught this and put it into the cylinder and looking down, like a scolded child.

Looking to the younger stitchpunk he shook his head. "Whatever your thinking…stop it, ok?" he said, familiar of how 9 became when 2 or anything that had to do with 2 was mentioned. "Its fine… 2 and I will build more things when he's back". He told himself to believe in 2, and to ignore the wind like farewell that he had heard the other day.

As he remembered 2's words and his frame chilled and he put a hand over his right shoulder.

'Goodbye 5…'

'5'

"5?" he heard 9 ask as he turned to look at the other. 9 was looking at him, his optics full of concern.

"It's nothing." he said and moved to close the cylinder. He knew that 9 was probably looking at him strangely, He knew the look. It was the one that he gave 1 when he hid things from him, the look that said 'I know you're hiding something and whether you like it or not I'm going to find out.'

Sighing he looked down and then turned to 9. "It's nothing I really want to talk about right now…I came out to find 6 and 2, I just figured that they might not be the easiest to find and I didn't want to put 3 and 4 in harm's way again." He said as he finished putting away the items he collected. "They've nearly gotten killed more times then I want to admit, their too innocent to be put through this."

"And you're not?" 9 asked as 5 put his hand against his head again. "I'm not saying that its right that I followed you, but…you shouldn't have to do this alone…You were willing to follow me into the factory that last time, and now you usually leave before I can follow you."

5 looked to 9, the other was still so innocent, not to mention stubborn. Smiling he touched his patch, it was his war scar. "You're the innocent one; you haven't seen or felt what I have in the past, you came into our lives practically at the easy part. You never had to avoid humans and bombs; you never lost a huge part of you."

"How do you think I felt when I lost you?" 5 shut his eye and sighed. He looked to the youngest as he started to talk again. "You were the only one to support me, you fixed me. You're like a brother to me. When I lost you…I…"

5 put his hand up to stop 9 from talking; it was the same as when he lost 2. He understood how the other felt completely. He knew how it felt to lose someone who you considered family. He didn't have to hear anymore, he couldn't handle it on top of everything else that was confusing him today.

"I think we should be getting back. It's starting to get late, and I don't want to run into any machines in the dark." 5 was jut noticing how dark the sky was becoming through the cracks and holes in the ceiling. 9 seemed to agree but still seemed eager to talk. Walking to the other he placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile. "I promise we'll talk later."

9 nodded and they both left the cathedral together. Night fell soon after when they were walking over the hills of debris. They climbed in silence and 5 felt an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. He looked to 9 who seemed to be doing a small scouting session of his own, looking over the place for anything they could use. It was like time never moved forward and they were still together as new friends, searching for 2.

The thought of 2 caused him to look down sadly. He couldn't believe that the other said goodbye, it was too final for his liking. Besides, 2's soul was still recorded on the meter; showing no sign of fading. He was thinking deeper and deeper into it that he didn't see when 9 stopped in front of him and he bumped into him, nearly losing his balance as he tried to keep himself from falling backwards.

Looking at 9 he went to question him when the look in 9's optics told him more than the other could say. 9 pointed up to the sky which was bluish pink, fading with sunset. Through the sky long streams of light flashed as they flew through the sky. 5 stared and let a small smile out as they watched the streams of light.

"What do you think it is?" 9 asked him, looking to the fifth stitchpunk.

"I don't know…but now I wish 3 and 4 were here, I'm sure they would love to see this." He smiled and looked up.

"Maybe it will happen again soon, and then everyone can watch. Including 2 and 6."

Looking to the sky he cringed at the others words, but actually thought about it for a moment. He was treating 2 as if he was already gone, but he was still in the world. It wasn't fair to his mentor to give up on him before all hope was actually lost. "Your right, we'll be able to see this with everyone…together."

9 smiled at the others answer and moved to grab the others arm, dragging him into the open so they could watch the sky over a larger space. Both stitchpunk's watched the cosmic show that was put out for them, watching in wonder as the stars seemed to fall from the sky.

_-_-_-_

They both stayed out longer then they should have, by the time they reached their home it was well after midnight. 7 was waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs, her bird skull helmet down. She blended in well with the surrounding stone, which was why she was still, she was hiding as she sat there. She had been waiting for them since night fall and when she saw them she got up and ran to them.

"Where on earth have you two been?" She asked as she stuck her spear into the ground so it would stay up.

"I went out to search for the others…9 sort of met up with me." 5 explained as he saw the look on 7's face that said she understood, but there was something else there.

"Did something happen while we were away?" 9 turned to her and she nodded.

"While you were gone 6 had a vision to 8…we haven't seen him since…I don't know what 6 said to him but he's been gone since this afternoon. I tried to go searching for him, but I couldn't leave 3, 4 and 6 behind for too long."

"6 is having visions again…" the ninth rubbed the back of his head. Since 6's soul came back it hadn't had any visions and things had gone smoothly for them, but now that he was seeing things again, well he didn't know what it would mean.

"I'll go after him." 5 started and looked as though he was ready to leave again. 7 reached out a hand and stopped him. "I saw a few machines out there from the high windows…we can split up in the morning and take turns scouting for him. It's too dangerous to look for him now."

9 seemed to agree with 7, and 5 had no choice but to agree as well. He didn't mind waiting until morning, but somehow felt like this was his fault. Turning to 7 he looked at her questioning.

"Did you hear what 6's vision was about?"

"I think he said something about time running out," She said as she looked to him. "Why? Did he have a vision to you?"

Nodding he looked to the dense canyon of buildings and focused on the wires hanging and stretching across. "He said that time was running out but it was still here…"

The three of them looked to each other before flashing from the above window caught their attention. 3 and 4 were tapping on the window and flashing their eyes to call out for the others. They were waving to 5 and he waved to them slightly.

His mind was returning to 8 as 7 and 9 began to move to the stairs to go back inside; he was concerned about the other. He knew that 8 had a gift for weapons and he knew how to defend him but the monsters came in all sizes, there was bound to be one that the other couldn't fight. It also worried him that 8 was just recently resurrected, and he was concerned that the other wasn't yet used to his new joints and frame, or the work that was done to the preexisting one.

7 looked back to 5 when she noticed he wasn't walking near them. Going to him she put a hand on his shoulder. Looking back to her she gave him a worried look before he smiled and brushed it off. Moving to catch up with 9 they all walked up the stairs in silence. All the while 5 was wondering just where in the emptiness 8 could possibly be.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

Part 13 done.

Late post! I was so busy over the week and had trouble writing this with everything else I had to do, and even worse, the time till the end of this story are numbered. It's either going to start coming together or falling apart from this point, there are still two lost, and things might not be able to get together in time. I don't even know how it's going to turn out right now depends on how the story turns.

Notes-

9's new staff: The remake of 9's light staff is based off the staff 9 used from the original short that the movie was based on.

5's Innocence: I always noticed when I watched 9 in theaters how wide 5's eye is, it makes him look like a curious kid even though his curiosity was probably stunted by 1. It was said by the scientist that he was his purest creation, and that's how I saw 5.

Thank you to all who have read and reviewed the story! Thanks so much for sticking to the story and coming back to read it. As it's starting to come to the end the chapters are going to be posted with a good amount of time between them as I'm going to put as much as I can into it to make it enjoyable. Thank you!