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 14: Searching_-_-_

It had been a week.

Only one week.

It felt like forever since the last time anyone had seen 8. For the past few days 5, 7 and 9 would take turns scouting out the emptiness for their missing companion, but they would hardly find even a clue as to where he was.

They usually scouted in pairs. One day 5 and 9 would go, others 7 and 9, and on days when the weather was hinting towards a storm either all three would go or they wouldn't leave the building where they stayed.

Occasionally though the weather would drastically change as they were out and they were forced to seek refuge where they were. Most days they would be under broken cars and deep holes in the walls of any surrounding buildings. One day they had to stay in an old tire ring as the rain had made it nearly imposable to move.

On the morning they stayed in the tire, the three stitchpunks emerged from their safe holding as the rain finally fell to barely a trickle to find that they couldn't move at all. 9 immediately began thinking of a way out.

"We could always just jump in and try to get across…" He said to the others as 5 reached for a long piece of metal lodged in the cylinder. Sticking it into the mud he pushed down until it went into the dirty ground. Shaking his head he watched as nearly all of it sunk down.

"It's too deep…we could get stuck, or worse it could get into our gears and smother us…water is one thing but dirt is completely different…" He said as he let go of the metal rod that was now lost to the mud.

7 began to look for alternate ways to get out that didn't involve getting in or waiting however long it took for the mud to dry. Looking up at the building closest to them she saw that it had almost fully collapsed, save for a few broken windows. Tilting her head to get a batter look she turned to 5.

"Do you still have something that can shoot a hook?" She said and 5 nodded before getting out his makeshift crossbow. Pointing up to the window she showed him the broken window sill. "If you can get a clear shot we may be able to climb up."

"All I need is something to use." He said as he got out a set of hooks that was tied together to form something that looked like a grappling hook. Looking at it he made sure it wouldn't fall apart before noticing a major flaw in his plan.

"I don't have anything to attach to it…" He said as he began to dig in his cylinder for something to use. He couldn't use sewing string, it was too weak to support the three even if they went one at a time, He looked to the others for some help in finding a sort of binding to use.

"I think I may have something…" 9 announced as he began to dig through the satchel that was tied around one of his shoulders. A few moments later he extracted a long bound up ball of a rope like substance. "Is this strong enough?"

5 took the rope from him and tugged on it a few times, it frayed and snapped. He looked at the broken material before his optic seemed to light up as he decided what to do. Doubling it he tied it around the hooks and tried to tug it again, this time it didn't fray. "Perfect."

Locking the hooks into place he pulled the springs back until it was taught. Lifting up his crossbow he held it and looked over to take aim. 7 smiled a bit as they waited for him to get the right angle.

"Need any help?" She said as 5 smiled, 9 laughed a bit too; all knowing what she was referring too.

Laughing a bit 5 shook his head as he held his aim. "No, unlike last time…" He fired as it shot up to the window, hooking on firmly to the window sill. "…I've gotten better with my aim."

"I wouldn't doubt it for a minute." She said as the fifth stitchpunk tugged the rope making sure it wouldn't come loose. "I'm just teasing you."

9 volunteered to go up on the rope first. He was about to start climbing when 5 held up his hand and stopped him from moving. Taking the rope he secured it around the tire and gave him the ok. 9 proceeded to climb up, careful as it twisted under his grasp as it nearly caused him to fall into the mud. 5 and 7 both held onto the rope at the base to try and keep it steady as 9 climbed up, it helped as he was able to get up to the window sill safely. 7 looked to 5 and told him to go next but he refused, saying she should go so he could support the binding. After a few moments of trying to intimidate him with a stare she gave in and climbed up the rope, it was simpler for her to go as she was used to climbing on thin wires.

After she had made it up 5 had to figure out a way that he could get up. It wouldn't be as easy as it had been for the others as he had to carry the cylinder on his back, and with all the repair parts and material he feared that the rope wouldn't be able to support the combined weight between him and the object.

"Hey! Up here!"

5 looked up at the sound of 7's voice and saw that she and 9 were throwing down a large piece of wire that seemed to be attached to the building. Grabbing hold as it came down he looked at it questionably and then looked back up to the others.

"Tie the cylinder to it! We'll pull it up for you while you're climbing!"

Looking at the wire he nodded and took off the cylinder. Holding the wire to one side he began to bind the cylinder, moving around it to make sure that there were no gaps that would cause it to slip from its holding while being transported. After making sure it was strong he gave his companions the thumbs up to go. 7 resumed holding the material so 5 could climb up while 9 began to pull the large metal object up to the window.

5 was holding on tightly as he climbed, every inch off the ground terrified him. He never liked heights. 2 however naturally did. He supposed that it may have reminded the elder of flight. Things like engineering and anything mechanical 2 had an undying love for. He thought about 2 and hoped maybe he could just forget about this problem. Unfortunately his mind always went back to the same place that it always did. Though he didn't know how accurate his thoughts were. Maybe it was just the wind that seemed to carry 2's voice. After all, it had been week's time and 2's soul was still on the meter where it had always been and it showed no sign of fading away.

After 5 was able to get up all the way he took the cylinder from 9 who just finished untying the wire from it. Pulling it onto his back he fastened it and looked down at the muddy roads. It seemed as though the mud was only of concern when it was located off the sides of the roads, which meant that they would still be able to travel so long as they stayed towards the middle. The problem is they would be in the open space and could be spotted by any rouge machines.

5 didn't like the idea of staying in the open space, 7 seemed equally cautious on the matter. 9 however saw no problem with it. 5 laughed, 9 never changed. He was still an adventure on the inside. He knew 9 to be careful though, more than he had been the previous year. He didn't rush into things head long unless he had to, which wasn't very often. He had strategy to his movements and 5 was proud to see the one he considered to be his younger brother mature, even if it was just a little bit.

Now all they needed was a strategy on how to find 8. But first, they needed to find a way back to the road below

_-_-_-_

Hours had passed since the last snag on their search for 8. Since then they hadn't encountered any more trouble with the muddy streets or seen any beasts. The only problem with this was that they didn't find 8 either.

5 continued to run into trouble with the cylinder, and soon he started to wonder why he had brought it along. After all, they weren't searching for souls, but a stitchpunk who was currently alive.

Eventually the sky would start to cloud over and a cold wind blew from the emptiness down the long corridor of darkness, the sun was setting, leaving the stitchpunks in darkness save for the light emitting from 9's staff. Now the trio had to stay concealed, or risk being discovered. That was the last thing they needed.

They would try to continue on their way but soon the wind would pick up, and the three had to hide behind sand bags that were left from the war to prevent being blown away.

"What do we do now?!" 5 could hear 9 yell over the loud sounds around them. They could see the wind picking up to a dangerous speed. All around dust, sand and smaller objects were now in flight.

7 shook her head and held onto her bird-skull helmet. "We should try to go back! It may be windy here but it's nothing compared to what a running into a beast would be!"

5 agreed with this. He had his fair share of machine encounters to last the rest of his life. Looking to 7 he was about to speak as a large sound came from somewhere around the sand bags that were yards away. Putting up an arm 5 went to give the other a signal telling them to be quiet.

5 took looked through the dust and sand and saw something large crawling over the sand bags in the distance. All he could make out was an eye. A big menacing red eye like all the machines had. This one he was sure had a great many more eyes then he could see at the moment. When the beast turned to where the stitchpunks were hiding 5 saw he was proven wrong, this beast only had one eye. One piercing red eye that shown through the dust storm. It couldn't have been much bigger than the other beasts but it looked just as bad. Gasping 5 grabbed at his chest and his optic filled with fear.

It took a few moments for him to notice 7 and 9 were looking at him. As he looked to the others he saw the concerned expression on their faces. 5 couldn't understand why they were looking at him like that, but ever step that the mechanical monster took made the answer painfully clear.

There was only one machine that 5 encountered that only had one eye. He heard the metal gears screeching under the stress of heavy metal. The fifth gasped and held his chest harder, he was shaking as 9 moved and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

5 cried out and jerked away from the hand, his mechanics were going into overdrive, working harder to try and keep its owner calm, even though it would have no such luck.

As the light moved closer 5 would find himself scrambling backwards, tripping as he tried to move away from the beast's fiery red glare. He continued to move backwards until he felt that he hit a wooden post that was stuck in the ground. Even though he was at a standstill he still pushed against it, never breaking the connection between the machine and himself.

9 moved over to 5 to try to help him. 7 was next to the fifth incase he tried to take off without direction, not wanting to draw any more attention to the trio. 5 gasped and looked up at 9 like a small child, stricken with fear. He grabbed 9's arm tightly and shook him, his voice sounded cracked as he looked back to the machine.

"Don't! Don't let it come near me! Not again….it can't be…I-I have to warn the others…Can't stay still, need to move! Let me go! I can't! Not again!"

9 tried his hardest to calm 5, and soon it was too late. A sudden spotlight flowed over the three beside the red eyes glow. 7 gasped and grabbed 5, getting him up as 9 did too.

"We need to go now!" She yelled over the dust and mechanics.

9 nodded and grabbed hold of 5's free arm, dragging him away from the wooden post as the three stitchpunks took off, 5's gaze never breaking until he was pulled completely around. They climbed over the sandbags and went a dark route, hoping to elude the beast.

The spotlight soon found them again and the three scrambled for a safer road to travel. 9 was now holding onto 5's hand and helped to prevent the oldest from collapsing under the fear of the machine. He knew why the other was terrified, and he hated to see him like this. His optic was wide and he was shaking all over, staring into nothing as he continued to whimper out incoherent words.

7 nudged 9 and the youngest stitchpunk looked to where she was gesturing. He saw a narrow path that the machine wouldn't be able to reach into. He pulled 5 and had to tug hard before he got the other to budge.

The machine was now steaming behind them, pumps and other things sounded as it picked up its speed to catch the small figures. But they were too fast for it; they reached the path with a few yards to spare as 7 went in first followed by 9 who was still pulling 5.

9 suddenly jerked and fell over about a few feet into their escape route, He gasped when he heard the sound of 5 screaming. Turning around he saw that the middle of the cylinder was snagged. 5 was yelling and screaming as loud as the day his soul was captured by the fabrication machine.

This new machine had its claws in the cylinder. 7 moved over to where the machine held 5 as 9 held the fifth so he wouldn't be pulled out. With a sudden jerk both he and 5 were on the ground, the machine had pulled them backwards and the force had knocked them both over.

Using her spear 7 was able to stab it deeply into the machines arm. The sudden attack made the machine recoil in pain, steam coming from it as it let out a horrifyingly loud screech. 7 grabbed 5 and hoisted him up, 9 following suit as the three began to run once again from the now wounded machine.

They wouldn't stop running until they were back at their home. 5 was shaking and overheating from fear as 9 helped him climb the stairs.

When they came in through their entrance to the scientist's work space 5 was utterly exhausted, the look of fear still fresh in his optic. The twins were the ones to greet them and looked shocked at the state that 5 was in, and more so at the large claw marks that were deeply embedded in the cylinder.

They moved to 5 and started to examine him, their flashing eyes not stunning him as he stared out, his mind replaying the pictures of the eye in his head over and over again. 7 put up a hand to stop the twins and nudged them to blow out the candles that they set up late at night. They both reluctantly went off as 9 helped 5 back to his container.

He helped him unfasten the cylinder and he placed it on the farthest corner next to where 6's soul was, not noticing that he wasn't there. He was back at his normal sleeping space on the scientist's desk, curled up on his pile of scrap paper.

Once the cylinder was off 9 could see the full extent of the damage. None of the objects inside seemed damaged, but there were three sharp ridged claw marks. He knew why 5 was so terrified. To have those clamped so close to his body, 9 would have been out of his mind.

He saw that 5 was still holding his chest, shaking as he continued to look into nothing. 9 made a small sound and helped his brotherly figure into his bed, covering him with the material 5 used as a blanket.

9 wouldn't leave him, and instead would sit next to his bed. He watched 5 until he exhausted himself to the point of finally passing out. He still shuddered in his sleep, whimpering out words and noises until all went silent, and he was finally in a deep sleep cycle.

Part 14 – Done

Yay new chapter!

Not much to say about this one. I hate to say it but I enjoyed making 5 freak out…he was long overdue for a freak out ^^

Thank you to the people who read and reviewed the previous chapters, and I hope you enjoyed this one. Any comments on the story would be greatly appreciated so feel free to leave some feedback. Next chapter will be out next Tuesday so be sure and check back then. Thank you very much!