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 15: Talk_-_-_

When 5 awoke from his sleep cycle his container was still dark. He could see a soft light coming from the half closed lid but didn't really pay much attention to it. Putting a hand against his head he moved to sit up as he tried to think of what happened and why he was back in the stitchpunk's home and not still looking for 8.

With the small amount of light he was able to see the cylinder that had been placed in the farthest corner of his living space. It was a dark corner and 5 had to squint before he saw the large claw marks embedded in the metal. He gasped and pushed backwards; trying to get as far from the claw marks as he could. He felt like the closer he was to the marks the closer he was to the beast that put them in the object.

He felt a wave of dizziness flow through him as he sat on his bed. He remembered the beast, he knew what it looked like and he could no longer feel safe. He closed his optic in hopes of shutting the thoughts out, but it wouldn't help. He could still see the piercing red eye; it seemed to pulse right through him with every turn of his internal gears.

The first thing to pull him out of the trance was the sound of a groan beside the bed. 5 made a small grunting noise as he pushed himself closer to the wall that his bed was located on. He knew it shouldn't have been feared; whatever was on the floor, but 5 was still in a fog from the previous night.

9 sat up from the spot where he had spent the night. Groaning he rubbed the back of his head and pulled out a large bolt from underneath him, identifying it as the cause of his discomfort. Looking up to the one-eyed stitchpunk 9 forced out a smile as he rubbed his lower back.

"Ah, you're awake." He said as he moved to stand up, stretching out his arms before taking a spot beside 5 on his bed. "How are you feeling?"

"No better then I usually am…" 5 smiled as he shook his head. "I honestly can't complain. This was nothing compared to what I've been through before."

Letting out a sigh the fifth stitchpunk turned to the cylinder and gestured to it. 9 looked where the other was suggesting and put a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"It's ok." He smiled and got up. "Nothing inside was damaged, I checked it this morning with 7 before she left."

5 looked at the other questionably before he put a hand on the bed to support himself. "Last night…everything past the dust storm is such a big blur…" He stopped a bit and when over the information that he was given. "Where did 7 go?"

"7 went to go scout around locally." 9 could see 5's face fall solemnly as he thought of the beast from the previous night and the fear written in the his single optic. "Don't worry…she's staying out of the emptiness, she's just scouting around some of these buildings, thought I wouldn't be surprised if she went there anyway…"

"I wouldn't either, I just hope she stays safe…" 5 sighed and rubbed his right shoulder, it was turning into a nervous habit. Thinking for a moment 5 moved to get up. "Maybe…I should go look for her."

9 smiled and pushed the other back onto the bed. 5 stared at the younger stitchpunk as he held his hand up. "Oh no you don't…I'm under orders from 7. You're on rest duty today; take it easy for a change. I know you hardly let yourself rest anymore."

5 knew the other was right, but he couldn't stand by and wait for the worst to happen. He also knew that 9 wouldn't let him go no matter how long he spent trying to convince him otherwise.

"You win." 5 laughed dryly. 9 could still see the worry and fear that was starting to make its self apparent on the older stitchpunk's face.

The two sat in silence for a short moment. The only sounds came from 6's soul who was on the scientist's desk as he always was, humming the day away tracing pictures. Both knew that as soon as the pinstriped stitchpunk had his body back they would probably see more vision drawings and sketches. 5 was curious about what was going on in 6's head and eagerly awaited the discovery of his body so that way he could have some hope of finding out what he meant.

After a moment 5 looked at 9, seeing that the younger was staring off into space, almost as if he were daydreaming. He looked to the ground of the small container and blinked when his gaze fell over the side of 9's right leg.

"What happened?"

9 shook his head as his optics tried to focus, looking at where 5's gaze fell. He saw the tear that made its way from his knee to his ankle. Rubbing his head he tried to think of how to explain his injury without reminding 5 of the night before. Putting a metal hand over the tear he shrugged.

"Just a small tear…I'll get it fixed later." He said and 5 put a hand on the others shoulder. He gave the other a caring look as his voice carried the sound of concern and disagreement.

"I'll fix it for you now…no sense in putting it off, it's not like you're going to let me out anytime soon. At least I can be productive while I'm here."

"It's alright, really." 9 replied and looked away, knowing if he saw the look 5 was giving him he would only feel guilty about not getting it fixed. It wouldn't work for long as 5 grabbed his shoulder and made the younger focus his optics on him.

They both looked at each other as if having a stare off to see who was right in the little argument and eventually 9 would sigh in defeat before moving to the scrap pile and pulling out a needle and a small ball of thread.

As he sat back on the bed 5 took the items and began to work. His metal fingers gliding across the needle as he guided the string through its eye. He gestured for 9 to pull his leg up so it could lay flat on the bed. When 9 moved and his leg rested firmly 5 held the others ankle as his left pushed the needle through.

9 jerked back, though was unable to move as 5 already had a firm hold on him. He knew enough to know when he had to hold on. 9 always seemed to thrash around when he had repairs done. 5 remembered fixing 9's shoulder the first time they met, even when he was in a state of unconsciousness 9 still moved in discomfort knowing that something was happening to him.

5 smiled as a bit of nostalgia come over him. He remembered that day clearly, it was almost scary how well he could.

"I guess I can easily say it…I've had more practice with repairs since the last time I had to work on you, but 2 could probably still do a better job."

At that moment 9 tensed up. 5 could feel the tension under his right hand that held 9's ankle but could also feel the atmosphere's near-drastic change. He turned away from the older stitchpunk and held tightly to 5's burlap blanket.

"Is something bothering you?" the fifth stitchpunk asked with concern.

Shaking his head 9 sighed. "Nothing more than usual 5…"

5 knew what this was about; putting down the needle for a moment he proceeded to punch 9 in the shoulder, not hard, but enough to get his point across. "I don't know how many times I'm going to have to tell you before you can get it into your head. It is not your fault…I'm sure 2 would have done the same thing you did back there…he was always curious about everything…"

9 was silent for a moment as 5 continued to sew him up. When the fifth was done he grabbed a rusted pair of scissors that he had propped against the wall next to his bed. Cutting the excess string he placed both the needle and the scissors down. 9 pulled his leg off the bed as he got up to see how it was. The material was slightly tight but didn't cause any discomfort. 5 sat back and allowed himself a bit of rest, closing his single optic as he sat there.

"What was he like…2, I mean…" 5 felt the bed sink under the new weight of 9 sitting close to the edge. He sighed and opened his eye to look at him. "I never got to know him…but he helped me right off the bat of our first meeting and I can tell you spent a lot of time with him. He's kind, isn't he?"

"He was…Is" he corrected, "He was the kind of person you could trust with your life. He was always there when you needed him. No matter what happened to any of us, he was there with his needles and thread waiting to help in any way that he could. He was the one who helped me when I lost my eye…him and 7 both."

5 was about to start ranting when he stopped, he couldn't bore 9 with the stories of the past. He was about to tell the other something when he saw the look of interest on the others face. 9 was waiting for him to continue. He wanted to know more.

"2 and I were always together…There was something about him that just made me feel safe. Originally 7 was the first to find us… 3 and 4 and I. She brought us back to the others, everyone looked tired and upset. I wouldn't blame them. That day I had only just discovered the battle field for the first time. I was scared out of my mind."

"I don't think you would ever meet anyone who wouldn't be afraid of something like that…it must have been horrible."

"It was worse than horrible…" 5 shook as he remembered the way it was back then. "It was horrifying…humans running, trying to escape…but they couldn't, and they never even stood a chance against those monsters. After they shot those missiles containing that gas…it was all over. That stuff was so strong…Even with my eyes fogged I could see the plants instantly dying all around. If it weren't for those missiles…I might still have had my other eye…"

5 felt 9 put a hand over the hand that he had resting on the covers as 5 failed to see how his own hands were shaking from the memory and welcomed the comfort that 9 offered.

"2 was the one who came for me, he came back and risked his own life just to save mine…I knew that I would always be with 2 after that…and it's the truth. We were inseparable."

9 still listened to the story as his hands held 5's. He was rubbing the back of the others hand with his thumb as the other spoke.

"2 and I would go everywhere, nowhere was too high or too low…and if it was then 2 only welcomed the challenge for reaching the new place. There was one time that we actually fell off a pile of stone that must have been at least seven feet above the ground…2 laughed it off, but from that day on he had to use that screw for a walking stick…" He laughed at the memory. "I always felt like it was my fault we both fell, but he told me if I continued to think so then he wouldn't let me work on our telescope for a week."

He got up a bit and sat on the part of the bed against the corner of his container. "2 was a wonderful person, even though we aren't human…and we're hardly related past a few pieces of shared material. 2 was like a father to me. He kept me safe, helped me when I was hurt, just…everything that you could ever want. He knew what to stand up for while still being open enough to accept another's opinions, while still being firm in what he believed in…He taught me everything I know and it's because of him that I'm able to help everyone else now."

The younger stitchpunk could feel the guilt building inside of him. 9 saw how 5 looked as he talked about his friend. The same friend that 9's curiosity ripped from the one stitchpunk he was the closest to.

5 saw 9's face as his expression changed. Sighing he shoved 9 straight off the bed. 9 made a half startled yell as he fell. Grabbing the blanket on the bed he tried to hold on but only succeeded in pulling 5 down along with him.

Both stitchpunks toppled over as they fell over the edge of the bed and onto the floor. 5 fell over 9 as the ninth crashed into the side of 5's junk pile. Not even a moment later the sound of metal was heard as the side of the pile loosened and collapsed. Soon 9 and 5 were both covered in spare papers, material and metal.

They both stayed still for a few moments to assure that nothing else would fall. After they were sure that nothing else would happen they began to push the junk off of each other. 9 was the first up, after he had gotten up he reached for 5 who took the offered hand to get up. Once they stood over the fallen junk 5 looked around and chuckled.

"Maybe I should get rid of some of this stuff…" He thought and picked up a small scrap of paper barely an inch long. "I think I know what we can do today…if you're up for a little cleaning action?"

Smiling 9 nodded in agreement.

"I think that would be good…it was getting a bit to big…I was afraid that soon you would be living under all that stuff."

5 laughed and shoved the other playfully, giving him an apologetic look as 9 almost fell again. The younger of the two only chuckled and shoved back just as playful as the other did, before the two of them set to work.

_-_-_-_

Hours would pass and 5 and 9's cleaning adventures continued, and in the time that the spent organizing and cleaning they were able to reduce the pile to hardly anything. 5 was impressed at how open the already small space seemed after they took out much of the unusable scraps. He could actually walk from one side of the container to the other without tripping over loose screws and bolts.

9 would be sweeping out some dirt using a small makeshift broom made of rolled up paper when he suggested they build 5 another bed as the one he made for himself was starting to fall apart. 5 wanted to agree but remembered 2's promise to him. He looked saddened as he told 9 that they couldn't and that he was alright with what he had. 9 wanted to find a way to distract 5 from the depression that was slowly starting to work away at the one-eyed stitchpunk.

9 thought for a moment before he had another idea. He suggested that they could make 2 a bed. 5 thought about the offered project. He knew that it was only a matter of time before 2 came back and he would need a place to sleep. Smiling at his brother he nodded, taking the offered idea.

They spent the next hour or so collecting materials and wood to make a spot for 2 to sleep.

5 thought it was nice, just working on a simple project. He didn't have to worry about being exact with anything in particular beside using needles and thread through the thin wood they were able to salvage from around the building. It wouldn't take long to build, but 5 spent more time on it then needed. He wanted to make sure it was perfect.

After it was finished they pushed it to the corner farthest from 5's bed and continued to make the cushion that would serve as a pillow. That 5 would stitch up from cloth that would have most likely served as a curtain of some sort. He even let 9 try his hand at stitching the material together.

That in itself was an experience. 5 was able to rid himself of the nagging pains in his mind and laughed with a full heart as he watched 9 as he struggled with the needle and thread and offered his help as they worked on the project. It felt familiar; it was a sense of safety, 5 felt happy and safe.

They finished and 5 moved to put the cushion on the bed. 9 rolled onto his back from his position on the floor and 5 chuckled. The ninth wasn't used to doing work that required you to sit up and concentrate on something so small and delicate like sewing.

Both were in high spirits as they looked at the clean container and their new creation before 5 pat 9 on the shoulder. They both looked at each other as they felt no need to exchange words. Even though the silence was nice they both welcomed the sounds that came from the doorway to their home.

9 was the first to pick up the faint sounds while they were still outside the doorway and potentially still on the spiral stairs that led up to them. 5 saw the other was listening and soon did the same focusing on the sounds that appeared clearer with every second. They were the sounds of footsteps.

5 and 9 left the container and looked as they saw the figures as they walked in. 7 was helping an injured and waterlogged 8. From the doorway of the container they could see how he was limping. The large stitchpunk's stitching around his legs appeared broken and a few of the seams had come completely loose.

5 watched as the two walked in but froze as he counted. Not two, three. He didn't know how he could have possibly missed the small object in 8's arms.

8 was holding 6's limp, torn and equally waterlogged body.

Part 15 done!

Its fun to write about 5 shoving 9 off the bed, and it is probably the funniest thing to think of while picturing them.

Thank you for reading and reviewing! It's safe to say that there are only 5 chapters left to this story! Thanks for all of your reviews, comments, and everything! I never thought this story would get above a few comments but there are almost 70! Thank you so much! I hope you come back to read the next part, because things are going to start to change now that 6 has been found. Thank you ^^