Chapter Ninety-Eight: The Axiom

When Wall-E opened his eyes he saw he was in space as he looked back to see the Earth starting to grow smaller as he floated away from the ladder and grabbed a hold of it as he looked to a window to see Eve pod.

"Thanks Jason" Max said in Jason helmet of his armor.

"No problem let's hope this ship lands somewhere soon" Jason said.

"Eve!" Wall-E said knocking on the glass and pointing to the stars.

Soon after flying past the moon and getting a chance to recharge his solar energy when they flew by the sun and flying under one of Saturn's rings.

Soon the ship drew close to purple space clouds as he saw a ship emerge as they flew towards it.

"Hey that's the ship from the commercial!" Jason said.

The small ship then landed in the docking bay of the Axiom as the gravity turned off and Wall-E and Jason stood as they watched mechanical arms repair and refuel the ship as he heard a shuffle and saw all the Eve pods being move.

"Eve" Wall-E said reaching to try and pull her put but looked up to see a mechanical arm as he moved back and watched the pods be set on a light as cleaning units began to move up as he saw a small robot.

The M-O unit was followed by three other cleaners as he stopped them and waited as the light trail came on and he made a go gesture as they followed the light trail over to the Eve pods being place.

M-O then began to scan each Eve unit for their dirt level.

"dirt level at 16% foreign containment must be eliminated" M-O said as he began scrubbing the Eve pod.

M-O and the other cleaning units began to do their jobs as M-O waited for the next Eve pod.

"We need to get down there" Jason said still in his armor.

"How?" Max asked as they looked at the empty space where the two Eve pods were.

"Hmmmm" Wall-E said.

"Scanning" M-O said scanning the second Eve pod then began cleaning as Wall-E stood over the third Eve pod with Jason as the metal claw grabbed them and placed them down on the light board where the other two Eve pods were as M-O turned to them and scanned them.

" Foreign contaminant 100%!" M-O yelled as he glared at Wall-E and Jason as a flashing red light formed over his head as he began scrubbing Wall-E.

"Oh" Wall-E said moving around as M-O eyes widen at the dirt trail he made on the ground.

"AH!" M-O yelled scrubbing the floor as two security drone with an escort bot came from a wall with a red trail and came up towards the Eve pods.

"What the problem little guy it's just dirt?" Jason said as Wall-E made a dirt trail as Jason powered down and Max regrew to his size.

"AH!" M-O yelled scrubbing the footprint away, as he made a hold still gesture as Wall-E then touched M-O face with his and leaving a dirt hand print as M-O screamed and began scrubbing his own face.

Sirens then got their attention as the security drones stood at the side as the cleaning bots quickly went away from the Eve line as the escort bot began scanning each Eve pod.

"Negative" he said checking it off on a check board and moving to the next pod and scanned it, "negatvie" he said scanning over Wall-E Jason and Max and not paying attention, "unknown robot unit...!" he said looking back to see Wall-E Jason and Max gone "hmmm" he said moving to the next pod, "negative" he then moved to the green light flashing Eve and scanned her as he saw she was positive as the light trail turned green as the whole room did and a pick up unit moved towards the door as the security drone and the escort bot hopped onto the mobile unit.

Wall-E Jason and Max then watched as they heard something behind them and turned to see a metal claws pick Eve up and lift her over and place her on the mobile unit and strap her down.

"Eve!" Wall-E said chasing after them.

"Wall-E wait!" Jason yelled as he and Max ran after him.

M-O and the other cleaning units were about to return but M-O stopped when he saw a long dirt trail going over the green light and M-O then growled as he look to the green light he stood on and the ground he never stood off of not once as he took one step off and closed his eyes then opened them to see nothing happened.

M-O then smiled as he began cleaning the floor following the dirt trail Wall-E, Jason and Max left.

Wall-E, Jason and Max hid out of the security drone sights as they face the door in the elevator they stood in as Wall-E touched Eve pod.

"Eve" Wall-E said as the doors opened and he followed the mobile unit out but didn't follow when he saw all the busy robots of all types zooming by on light trails looking like a highway full of cars.

"Wow! That's a lot of traffic!" Jason said as Wall-E looked over then gasped as he looked ahead to see the mobile unit moving into the robot traffic.

"Eve!" Wall-E said as he looked to the robot traffic before carefully sticking his leg out as he caused robots to crash into each other.

"Sorry!" Max yelled as he Jason and Wall-E ran into traffic as they began make their way past the robots to catch up with Eve.

"Wall-E!" Jason said as they reach the center of the robot traffic where it splits in four directions.

"Where they go?" Max asked as Wall-E looked around frantically as he saw her unit being pushed up one of the halls as he took off down it as a large man in a red jump suite entered the road in a floating chair.

"What on earth?!" Jason said as Wall-E looked under the seat to see it was indeed floating as the man talked to another fat man on a screen in front of him Wall-E then looked over to see the man he was talking to.

"These people they're huge! The people of this world really REALLY! Let themselves go!" Max said as Wall-E stopped when they saw hundreds of fat people on floating chairs talking to people on screen or drink from cups.

"Welcome to Economy" a female voice said as they moved down the road.

"Why are these people so fat?!" Max said.

They then entered what looked to be a giant shopping center as they saw hologram billboard and advertisements.

"Hey service unit take my cup will you" a blonde man said to Wall-E.

"Huh?" Wall-E said.

"Come on just take it!" the man said trying to hand Wall-E the empty jump but fell out of his seat.

"Opps" Wall-E said taking the cup as the people on hover chairs were directed with another light trail to go around the fallen man.

"Remain calm help will be with you shortly" a security drones said as they both stood on both sides on the man.

"Calm on give me a hand will you?" the man said trying to get back into his chair.

"Wall-E help him" Jason said as Wall-E set the cup down and went over to the man and helped him up, "there you go" Max said making sure the man was back in his seat right.

"Uh thanks uh?" the man's said.

"Wall-E" Wall-E asked.

"Jason."

"Max."

"Uh John" the man said as Wall-E spotted Eve mobile unit.

" Eve!" Wall-E said taking off down the human traffic with Jason and Max.

"Uh bye Wall-E" John said.

Wall-E, Jason and Max then quickly hopped onto a fast moving transit as the barrier closed and a large woman blocked Wall-E path to Eve.

"Mmm mmm time for lunch! In a cup!" a female voice said as Wall-E stared at all the people drinking foods from cups.

"Ew! That does not sound good!" Jason said.

"How lazy are these people?" Max said.

"Attention Axiom shoppers try blue it the new red!" the woman said as a screen showed red jumpsuits turning from red to blue.

"Oh!" the fat people on the transit said as they pressed buttons on their chairs and their jumpsuits turned blue within seconds.

"Um?" Wall-E said trying to get the red hair woman talking to some other woman on the screen as he tried to get her attention.

"Um?" Wall-E said messing with the speaker on the chair and turned something off when her jumpsuit turned red and her screen turned off.

"What the!" the woman said as her eyes widen at her surroundings.

"Odd it's like these people were in a trans" Jason said.

"Um excuse me?" Max said.

"Huh?" the woman said looking towards Wall-E, Max and Jason

"Wall-E" he said.

"Jason."

"Max."

"Uh Mary" she said.

"Eve" Wall-E said pointing to Eve.

"Huh? Oh yeah sure go ahead" she said moving her seat back.

"Thank you" Jason said as Wall-E moved to look down at Eve sleeping head behind the pod glass.

When the transit stopped Wall-E, Jason and Max followed Eve mobile unit into a room where they saw a typing robot hanging from the roof as he typed at a keyboard and didn't look up as the escort robot.

"Ahem?" he said as the robot stopped typing and glanced at them then pressed one button as the doors opened and the unit began moving as the robot noticed Wall-E as Wall-E waved to him as they went into an elevator and the robot waved back as the elevators doors closed as the robot went back to typing but tired out his newly acquired gesture.

The elevator then stopped as they entered a large room and saw a white steering wheel as it turned to face them with it's glowing red eye.

Auto then moved over to Eve as his one eyen scanned over her with a red scanner as he chuckled not noticing Wall-E, Jason and Max hiding but fell into a hole as Auto moved over to that hole and began lower down.

"Captain it's time to get" Auto said as he moved back up to the main room.

"Ow" Jason groaned with Max and Wall-E on him as they noticed the lights coming on in the room as they noticed all the previous captain pictures as they saw how fat the captains got over the years and how much closer Auto was in each one.

"There is something I do not like about that helm" Jason said.

"Ugh five more minutes" the captain groan as pamper robots entered the room to fix the captain up.

"Just a trim? You look gorgeous" a pink robot said shaving the captain morning stubbles while another robots massaged his face.

"Uh" Wall-E said as he began rubbing the captain feet as the man laughed.

"Oh I know honey" the pink robot said brushing his teeth.

The captain chair then spun around and slammed into Wall-E, Jason and Max and dragged them to an elevator back to the top floor where the captain clapped his hands and the lights came on.

"Captain?" Auto said.

"In a minute Auto I need my coffee" The captain said as Wall-E, Jason and Max quickly hid under the controls while the captain tried to reach for his coffee and began using his chair to lift him up.

"These people need to get on the treadmill, bad!" Jason said.

"Sir the annual-" Auto begins but the captain raise his hand to stop him.

"Protocol, Auto. First things first" Captain said as his chair goes down a line of screens of the ship status, "Unchanged...unchanged...Mechanical systems?...Reactor unchanged...unchanged...core temperature?...Passengers count? unchanged...unchanged...Regenerative food buffet? unchanged...Jacuzzi Ph balance... Atmospheric conditions...laundry service volume unchanged" The captain said taking another sip of coffee.

"Eve" Wall-E said watching Eve but Auto blocked their way of getting to her.

"Okay Auto" the Captain said.

"Sir, the annual reconnaissance has-" Auto begins but cut off when the Captain sees the time.

"12:30! Auto, why didn't you wake me for the morning announcements?" The captain said as he moved his chair to the other side of the room as Wall-E noticed Auto shake his body lie he would his body.

"Honestly, it's the one thing I get to do on this ship!" the captain said turning the time dial as the outside screen sun sifts to an early morning and the food goes to breakfast choices as the Captain appears on a screen.

"Well, good morning everybody, and welcome today 255,642 aboard the Axiom. As always, weather's a balmy 72 degrees and sunny, and - Oh, hey, I see the ship's log is showing that today is our 700th anniversary of our five year cruise. Well, I'm sure our forefathers would be proud to know that 700 years later we'd be...doing the exact same thing...they were doing... SO! Be sure next mealtime to ask for your free...septuacentennial cupcake in a cup! Also today we have, uh...uh...Hey, Auto, what's that flashing button?" The Captain asked noticing the green light.

Auto let a sigh and approached the captain and shut off the morning announcement.

"Captain?" Auto said as the Captain turns to him as Auto hits the release button on the straps holding the Eve pod on the hover vehicle as the pod floats off it.

"Probe One has returned positive sir" Auto said.

"Positive?" the Captain said as Auto tapes some buttons on the Eve pod as it disappeared and Eve awaked and stood like a soldier would do in line as she saluted him.

"Eve!" Wall-E said quietly as he slowly began to come out of his hiding spot.

"Wall-E no!" Max whispered as they tried to pull him back.

"But...no probe's ever come back positive...before" The Captain said looking at the green flashing light on Eve chest.

'I'm aware of that you fat moron!' Auto thought as the Captain hit the green flashing button on the controls as the lights in the room began to turn off and all the shades closed as Wall-E hid back under the counsel.

A B-N-L screen then emerged as all eyes were on it as the CEO appears on it.

"Greetings and congratulations, Captain! If you're seeing this, that means your Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator, or 'EVE' probe, has returned from Earth with a confirmed specimen of ongoing photosynthesis!" the man said as the Captain stares slack-jawed at the screen.

"Oh! If that was the case Max you and I should have died over from lack of air" Jason said.

"Good to know we picked a safe world" Max said sarcastically as they gasped and saw Wall-E sneaking from under the console and slowly towards Eve.

"That's right, it means it's time to go back home!" the CEO said.

"Home? W-w-we're going back?" the Captain asked nervously.

"Now that Earth has been restored to a life-sustaining status, by golly, we can begin 'Operation Recolonize'!" The CEO said.

A section of the console illuminates. An ancient, dusty MANUAL slides out into Wall-E hands.

"Uh!" Wall-E said turning into a cube and holding out the book as the Captain floats over ad took the book as Wall-E quickly hid from sight as the Captain blew the dust off the manual.

"Simply follow this manual's instructions to place the plant in your ship's holo-detector, and the Axiom will immediately navigate your return to Earth! It's that easy!" The CEO said as the screen show a demonstration of what to do with the plant as he spoke.

"Huh?" The Captain, Jason, Max and Wall-E said.

Wall-E then notices he has a chance to get to Eve and moves to her.

"Now, due to the effects of micro-gravity, you and your passengers may have suffered some slight bone loss. But I'm sure a few laps around your ship's jogging track will get you back in shape in no time!" the CEO said as below him showed what happened over the years to their bones as the Captain looks at his cubby feet.

"They need more than that" Jason said.

"We have a jogging track?" The Captain asked.

"If you have any further questions just consult your operation manual. See you back home real soon!" The CEO said as the screen turned off.

The Captain examines the manual and holds it out in front of him.

"Operate Manuel!" he said as nothing happened "Manuel, relay instructions. Manuel?" he said putting it to his ear then shaking it as Auto opened the cover for the Captain.

"Wow... Will you look at that?" The Captain said staring with fascination.

Wall-E then taps on Eve shoulder as she looks over to see Wall-E smiling at her she then made a 'Not now Wall-E' gesture before looking back to the Captain as he eyes widen, "Wall-E!" she said as she turned to see him indeed there then saw Jason and Max under the controls.

"Eve" Wall-E said waving to her.

Eve then looks over her shoulder to make sure the Captain and Auto were still looking at the Manual as she shoves Wall-E back under the counsel and hush him.

"Wall-E, what are you doing here! You can't be here! You're going to get me in trouble!..." she said but Wall-E just had this love sick gaze and heard not a word she said.

"Eve" Wall-E said as Eve looks back at the Captain and Auto to see the Captain reading aloud.

"Well, let's open her up. Step One. Voice command, Confirm Acquisition" the Captain said.

"Confirm Acquisition" the computer said as green lights on the roof came on as a device came out of the room and began scanning the room and stopped at Eve as it turned green.

The scanner then rides along the ceiling rails then stations itself directly above Eve as arms unfold and position her.

Another arm then swings into the Captain's face with a mike.

"Voice authorization required" the computer said.

"Uh" the Captain said.

"Uh accepted" the computer said as the arm pulled back into the scanner as a button-pushing arm lowers to Eve and presses a sequence of buttons on Eve as her chest lights up as the Captain winces but looks again to see nothing is inside.

"Ah!" Eve said with eye wide to see it empty.

"Where's the thingy?" the Captain asked.

"Plant sir" he said.

"Plant. Right. Right. Where is it?" the Captain asked checking the manual. "Maybe we missed a step. Show me how you change the text again?" he said as they both turn around to read it.

Eve searches her chest cavity for the plant but her eyes widen when she remembers.

"Plant! Wall-E..." she said turning to him "Wall-E!" she said turning to him.

Wall-E flinches very surprised by her anger as Eve goes over to him and began searching him then Picks him up and scans the floor and finds nothing and began searching him again, then Jason and Max.

"Uh can I help you?" Jason said.

"Eve?" Wall-E asked.

"The Plant!" Eve said asking for them to help her find it.

"Oh!" Wall-E said as he began helping her find it while Eve scanned the floor.

"Why don't you scan her to be sure" the Captain said as Eve jumps back to attention as Auto approaches her towering over her as his one red eye scans her chest cavity.

"Contains no specimen the probe's memory is faulty" Auto said turning to the Captain.

"So, then...we're NOT going to Earth?" the Captain asked as Auto shakes his head.

"Negative" he said.

"So, uh, I guess things go back to normal, huh?" The Captain asked.

"You are correct, Captain" Auto said.

"Well, false alarm!" the Captain said.

"False alarm" the computer said as the plant retrieval device retracts back into the ceiling and the shades rise and the lights go back on.

"The probe must be defective. Gopher, send her to the Repair Ward" the Captain said.

"Ah?" Eve said as Gopher the Escort robot with a flashing red light on his head puts a red field around her as Eve has an annoyed expression.

"Have them run diagnostics on her" he said as Gopher moves her "make sure she's not malfunctioning...EEYAH!" he yelled pointing at Wall-E once Eve was moved and he saw Wall-E as Wall-E turns to them.

After a long awkward pause Wall-E innocently walks over to the Captain and shakes his hand.

"Wall-E" he said leaving a clump of dirt in his palm as the Captain stares at it then turns to Auto.

"Have 'Wall-E' cleaned" he said.

Later the elevator opens as Gopher's transport drives out with both Eve and Wall-E strapped on it with energy bands as Jason and Max peeked from the spot they snuck on.

The typing-cyborg has now mastered waving and waves an enthusiastic goodbye as Wall-E returns it.

"Eve?" Wall-E trying to get Eve's attention but gets the cold shoulder.

"She mad" Jason said.

Back up in the Captain's Quarters the Captain stood in front of a scanner.

"Analyze" he said putting the dirt into a beam of light as it is suspended in a beam of light and rotates as the screen shows the results.

"Analysis: foreign contaminant. Substance is a three phase system composed of various combinations of naturally derived solids. Subject is most commonly referred to as "soil", "dirt", or "earth" as some name it" the computer said.

"Earth?" the Captain said interested in the word.

"Define "Earth" " he said.

" 'Earth' - the surface of the world asdistinct from the sky or sea" the computer said as dozens of images of land pop up on screen as he is more fascinated.

"Wow... Define 'sea' " he said.

" 'Sea' " he said as the screen Filled with ocean images.

"An expanse of salt water that covers most of the Earth's surface and surrounds land masses..."

"Gr!" M-O growled continues to clean Wall-E filthy trail not oblivious to everything around him as he cuts through traffic and causes cyborgs to crash into each other in his wake.

M-O doesn't notice Eve and Wall-E transport drive past as they hover down a corridor, and enter the Repair Ward with Jason and Max hanging on the back.

"What the plan?" Jason asked.

"Well the planet obviously needs these people to rebuild it so we need to find the planet" Jason said.

"Easier said than done" Max said

A.N. Please Review