All she could see at first was the overwhelming brightness. Next, she made out brown and silver among the white, then she found two sad black eyes. Then they were hopeful. Chibi's eyes.
"She's awake!" Telly said enthusiastically.
"Oh...thank goodness..." EVE sighed in relief.
"I can't believe you left!" Rio exclaimed, "You scared us all sick!"
"Yeah! Are you kidding me!?" Aya added.
"You really are a moron!" Ruby said.
Rose hadn't said anything, but after that, she gripped Leah's head with her clammy fingers, "What is wrong with you!?"
Whoa. Rose had never yelled before.
"Why didn't you tell me you wanted to kill yourself!? Why didn't you come to me for help!? I thought we were friends! Remember!? Remember when you followed me to my rose garden and I told you you were my best friend!? Do you not trust me anymore!? Are you trying to get yourself killed!? Did you even think about what that would do to me!?"
"Rose...I-I'm sorry..." Leah tried to calm her, "I regret what I did...I wish I hadn't tried to drink water, it was stupid and selfish, and I admit that...I promise I won't leave you..."
Rose blinked, "Cross your heart?"
"Cross my heart..." Leah lay back again, "I'm glad I failed...I feel much better now..."
"Regardless, I'm not letting you leave the repair ward until you've completely recovered!" EVE proclaimed, "And don't even think about leaving this time! Or I'll stay here and keep you plugged in myself!"
Leah stared blankly, then she laughed.
"What's so funny!?" Rose exclaimed.
"You guys care..." she gasped, "You've always cared..."
"Of course we do!" Ruby scoffed, "You're so stupid! We love you!"
"We love you so much!" Aya chimed in.
"Don't you dare leave us!" Rio threatened, "I could never stand to lose a sister!"
Chibi added to the conversation with his translator, Neither could I. I only have one friend left from my old life, don't make me lose my new friends too.
"Took the words right out of my mouth, Chibi-Robo!" Telly approved.
Hey, listen, Leah. Chibi made eye contact with her, I've never been in love before, so please be patient with me.
"Oh, don't worry!" Leah reassured, "It's my first time, too!"
Good. That eases my nerves a bit. Chibi bounced on his feet nervously, Now then...Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator EVE Probe Four "Leah"... No backing out, Will you go on a date with me?
Leah smiled brightly, "Yes! I was afraid you'd never ask!"
Whew...
"Way to go, Chibi-Robo!" Telly exclaimed, "At this rate, you'll be back to number one in no time!"
Some things never change...
"You'll have to explain that to me..." Leah winked, "...on our date! Heehee!"
Chibi flushed, Right! Of course!
"Wow..." EVE shook her head, "I can't believe we both found our lovers in the garbage..."
"Hey! Chibi is a diamond in the rough!"
"So is Wall-E." EVE agreed, "On a more serious note though, Forthright has escaped again and it seems we'll never be rid of her..."
"Yeah...what are we going to do about that?" Rio said.
"Hmmm...sounds like a set-up for a sequel!" Aya crossed her arms, "Very clever, Author..."
Would you stop it with the fourth wall breaks!?
"Aya! This is serious!" Ruby yelled.
"Right. Sorry."
EVE huffed, "In any case, we'll need to take out the problem at its root, or else she'll just keep regenerating over and over again. Finding her isn't going to be easy, obviously, but we'll never be free from her until we destroy it and any copies she may have."
"How long will that take?" Rose asked.
"Hhh...I'll have to do some more research...can you guys tell Wall-E I won't be coming home tonight?"
"Again?" Aya frowned, "He was so disappointed last time!"
"It's not my fault..." EVE wrung her hands together, "It's my burden..."
"No." Leah declared, "Let me do the research this time."
"Leah..."
"I mean it! You always do it!"
"I think you should let her, Eve." Rio said, "She is good with computers."
"Yeah! In fact, we should take turns!" Aya placed a finger to her cheek, "I don't want anyone overexerting themselves!"
"That's a good idea." Rose agreed.
"Guys..." EVE protested.
I can keep her company! Chibi offered.
"Okay, Leah you have to stay here!" EVE argued.
"No, I don't. See?" she tapped the machine, and it read, CONDITION: STABILIZED, "And besides, it's not like the repair ward is far from the captain's cabin. If something happens to me, I'll show Chibi where the distress signal is."
EVE frowned, concerned, "Are you sure? I mean, it's no trouble..."
"I can tell, Eve." Leah carefully unplugged herself and didn't go light-headed this time, "Ack...you really want to go home to Wall-E. He must be worried sick. Please, Eve? Let me do this for you. Chibi praises me on my kindness, am I not allowed to demonstrate it anymore?"
EVE was quiet for a little while before she smiled. Then she laughed, "Thank you, Leah."
"Of course!" Leah wobbled a bit as she rose into the air, "Ah...I'm okay..."
Rose helped steady her, "Remember, if you have these thoughts again, please tell us!"
"I will! I promise I will!" Leah smiled, pushing away from her sister, "Okay. I'm good."
"I'm glad." EVE giggled excitedly, "I can't wait to see Wall-E!" then she flew off.
Leah took Chibi in her hands, "Well, we'd better get started. Telly, you coming?"
"Ummm..." Telly hovered closer and closer to Rose until he gently nudged her head, and she giggled sweetly.
"Okay!" Leah laughed, "I get it. Let's go, Chibi."