A Bloody Reunion

Cera cries out in pain as the steak knife stabs her hand and through the walkie-talkie, destroying it. She pulls her hand back on reflex, sending the knife, the destroyed device, and her attacker flying and landing near each other from across the room. Cera scoots against the wall behind her while holding her bleeding hand. The attacker grunts while trying to stand up after being thrown across the room, giving Cera a good look at him. He's a doll similar to 6, only this one is much more bulky and large, if not a few inches taller than 6. And on his left arm showed a number: 8.

Cera remembered 6 talking about him; the bodyguard to 1 and often a bully to the others.

She had only seen drawings of him and he certainly looks more like a walking sack of burlap than a actual doll. Said doll finally regaining his balance and starts to grab his now-bloodied knife. Realizing she's still in danger, Cera grabs her backpack with her good hand and struggles to stand up while her cut up back screams in agony. She looks at 8 again to see if he's about to strike her once more.....only to spot 6 holding him back by grabbing both of 8's arms. "Don't hurt her!" he shouts in desperation, "She's my friend!" 6 turns his head back to Cera and yells, "Go! Hide, please!", in time for 8 to break free from 6's grasp and hits him hard enough to be thrown a couple feet against the floor.

Unfortunately, 8 didn't seemed to be done with 6 yet. Living up to his status as the bully of the group, he puts away his giant knife and walks over to the striped doll "cracking" his fingers together, almost as if 8 wanted to beat 6 up with his bear hands.

Determined to uphold her promise, Cera stops 8 in his tracks by stomping her foot right in front of him and turns her head towards 6.

"6, you run! Go hide! I'll be fine!" She yells to him. 6 hesitates, than bolts out of the room by hiding in a crack in the wall. As Cera watches 6 make his escape, she suddenly feels another searing pain, this time from her leg. She looks down to see 8 had slice her lower leg with his other weapon: a scissor half.

Cera then kicks 8 away from her, hard enough to make some distance but not too hard to hurt him, and runs out as fast as her injured legs can carry her. She sprints into a different section of the Cathedral, a hallway filled with rooms and a confessional box. All Cera can do now is wait for her team to get here and fast.

*********

Odette and Malaika have never ran this fast in their lives.

Their doll friends in tow, hanging onto the packs for dear life.

The only thing in the girls' minds is getting to Cera in time.

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, where is it?" Malaika murmurs.

"It's the biggest building in the area!" Odette yells in frustration, "It can't be that hard to spot!" 5 then pipes in, "Wait! I think I see it. Over there!" Everyone turns to where 5 was pointing at. Sure enough, in the corner of their vision, was the Cathedral just a mile away.

The group dashes to the entrance of the massive sanctuary, souls filled with determination.

*********

It didn't take long for 6 to lose 8's tracks thanks to the walls being empty inside and filled with cracks and holes. Now he's hiding up in his usual spot up in the throne room, drawing away to distract himself from thinking the worse of what happened to his new friend.

6 hears the familiar sound of the bucket elevator reaching the peak, meaning that 1 and 8 must have returned. They seemed to be in a middle of a conversation. 6 leans towards the entrance of his room just a bit to hear what they're saying.

"-And 6 was there, talking to this thing the whole time!"

Oh no!

The striped stitchpunk quietly shifts back inside out of 1 and 8's view. Now that 8 knows, 1 knows too. And when 1 knows that I'm responsible, he'll hurt me big time!

8 keeps talking, "Not only that, but he had the nerve to defend it too!"

1 scoffs with disapproval, "Hmph. He must have befriended the stranger I saw in up in the watchtower. That fool will no doubt be punished for this, along with those other two that dare disobeyed the rules!"

6 suddenly regretted not staying by Cera's side right now. He could have been comforting her and helping her wounds while she looks after him for protection. But now, 6 is trembling with fear. Fear in that he has no idea what kind of punishment for possibly treason awaits for him.

"In fact...", 6 realizes that 1 is still talking, "8, find 6 and bring him to me so I can deal with him now while I wait for our troublemakers to return."

He then points to 6's corner. "Drag him out of that dark spot of his if you have to."

Oh no no no no no no!

6 didn't think it was possible, but he started to shiver and tremble harder than he ever did in the past. His corner may be dark and covered with ink and paper, but this time, there is nowhere for 6 to run. Nowhere to hide. Nothing to do but close his eyes and pray.

Please, someone, anyone, help me! Cera, 5, 7, 2...please...I need you...

Then, like a answer from a entity above, a loud sound echoes across the sanctuary:

*Creeek.....BOOM*

Startled, both 8 and 1 look at where the sound came from. "What in the world was that?" 1 asked with a hint of fear in his voice. 8 replies, "Sounds like the main entrance door just opened." 1 of course, scoffs at the idea, "The main door? Who would even be able to open those heavy doors?"

And again, as if to answer his question, another loud is heard. This time, more desperate....and human:

"CERA!!!"

*********

Odette bursts the doors open with all her strength. Malaika following close behind her. Once they reached inside the girls set the dolls down on the floor and waited for them to walk around so they can continue the search.

Odette sprints towards the end of the hallway and yells at the top of her lungs:

"CERA!!!"

Malaika joins in:

"CERA, WHERE ARE YOU?!"

The dolls watch with concern as the humans frantically run all over the place, searching for any sign of their friend in trouble. They run down a hallway, quickly peeking at any opened door and opening every closed one.

*Psst*

"Malaika, Odette, over here!"

The aforementioned girls gasped and turned their heads to a confessional box behind them, and peaking behind it is-

"Cera!"

"You're ok!"

"Hey girls..."

Ecstatic to see their team member again, Odette rushes over to hug her friend.

"Oh man, I can't believe you're still-Cera is that blood on you?"

With the brunette out of the box, the two girls finally see Cera's state.

Malaika gasps at her friend practically covered in blood. "Ya Allah, you're hurt!"

"Is that Cera?"

"That's Cera?"

"Oh my, is she bleeding?"

"Did something attacked her?"

The reunited trio look down to see the six dolls gazing at Cera with curiosity and concern.

The bespectacled girl stares at them back with surprise.

So they have already met the rest. Good thing 6 saved me the trouble earlier.

"Let's see...2,3,4,5,7 and....you must be 9, correct?"

Now, it was the stitchpunks' turn to be surprised.

"You know who we are?" 5 asked.

"Yeah," Cera says, "6 told me all about you-argh!" The woman squeezes her eyes shut, a sharp pain flows through her body, reminding her and her team that she's still injured.

Malaika takes action, holding onto her friend and looks down at 2 with a seriousness in her eyes, "2, is there a room somewhere with a bed here? We need to patch her up pronto."

2 nods, "Absolutely, follow me."

He takes the group to a long hallway filled with different types of rooms. "Now, one of these places contains my workshop," the elder doll explains, "But there is a untouched room at the end of the hallway that you can use to heal Cera."

Malaika and Cera give 2 a nod of thanks as they hurry down to the aforementioned room. Odette stops and bends down to the dolls' eye level. "Thanks for the help," She says, "But right now the three of us will need privacy so you guys will need to stay out of the room."

"Aww, you sure?" 2 sounded disappointed, "We can always help."

Odette only sighs, "Thanks for the offer, but Malaika and I need to be alone to focus on operating Cera's wounds. Besides, didn't 9 said he wanted to see your studies?"

"Ah!" Both 9 and 2 shout at the same time, as if they remembered why they came here.

"Odette's right," 5 adds, "We should let the humans do their thing. In the meantime, I'll take you guys to the workshop-"

"On one condition." 7 interrupts. "Yes?" Odette says cautiously

"The twins and I stay with you."

"What!?" 5, 2, and 9 yell in unison.

"7, I just said-"

"I know, but hear me out: I can't let 1 and 8 go near them, and you'll need someone to look after your injured friend should you need to leave her alone."

"Oi, Odette! You comin' to help or what?" Malaika hollers from the room.

Odette thinks for moment...and gives in. "Fine, you three can come," She extends her hand, "But we better hurry."

9 watches as 7 and the twins hop on the human's hand and disappear into the empty room. Was 7 so desperately willing to not see 1 that she would rather stay with these strangers? 9's thoughts were interrupted when 2 clapped his hands. "Well then! I say it's time we get a move on, yes? Onward to the workshop!"

The workshop itself was dark, but that didn't stop 2 and 5 from navigating the place by heart. 9 follows 2 to a workbench where he starts rumbling through it for 6's drawing. "Let's see...where did I put them?" 2 murmurs under his breath. 5 meanwhile, was starting to get a sneaking suspicion that someone is watching them.

Finally, 2 finds the drawings, each one marked with 2's notes. 9 turns on his light staff to get a better look.....only for the trio to be picked up by a stalking 8 right behind them.

*********

"AARRGHH! THAT STINGS, DARN IT!!"

"It's supposed to sting, Cera."

"Also, I know you're in pain, but watch the language. This is a church."

"WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M TRYING TO DO?!"

7 was starting to slightly regret not going with the boys. Not that she and the twins didn't mind being here. After all, 3 and 4 managed to distracted Cera for a while by cataloging her and 7 herself would even help pass down the strange medical instruments for Malaika and Odette to use.

The problem was Cera is yelling in pain just a bit too much for her liking. Reminded her too much of the war. It didn't help that Malaika has to constantly pour this "disinfecting alcohol" on her wounds, hence the screaming.

"Considering that the weapons used against her were rusty, I have no choice BUT to keep pouring the alcohol on her so she won't be infected." Malaika had explained.

"Isn't alcohol something that humans drink?" 7 had asked.

Odette answered that for her, "Well, there's two types: the type for drinking and the type for medical reasons."

"I see...."

7 looks at Cera once again, who is barely keeping it together from the pain. The warrior's expression changed from annoyance to sympathy, and jumped from her spot on the desk to Cera's good arm on the bed.

"7?"

"If you don't mind...can you tell us more about what you did with 6?"

"....Of course."

Cera than proceeds to talk about how she befriended 6 and how he told her everything about the stitchpunks. In turn, her team members talked about how they met the rest of the doll group and what they told the girls.

Eventually, they were able to bandaged and clean the injuries on the hand and leg. The Muslim is still working on the back and shoulder. But Cera, for some reason, has a pretty somber expression on her face.

"What's with the sad look?" Odette asked with concern.

The brunette sighs, "Nothing, it's just...I just hope 6 is okay."

"I'm sure he'll be fine. 3 and 4 told me he has a knack for hiding in dark places." Malaika reassures her. The twins nod in agreement.

But Cera only shook her head, "It's not just that! Even if he is good at hiding, I still left him at the mercy of those two big bullies!" The bespectacled girl's eyes begin to water. "I promised 6 that I won't let 8 and 1 hurt him and I can't even do that!"

7 wasn't sure why, but something about what this woman said had struck a cord with her. Was it because she understood how she felt? Is it because she admires the devotion the human has toward 6? Or is it because she knew exactly what it's like to want to protect the weak victims of 1's abuse but never could. Either way, 7 couldn't help but feel impressed. She places her hand on Cera's good one and pats it.

"If it helps you at all Cera..." 7 says, "6 is lucky to have a friend like you."

"R-really?"

"Yes. If anything, I'm sure that he will be so relieved to see you alive."

Not expecting such kind words, Cera gives 7 a weak but sincere smile, her eyes bright with hope again. And return, 7 gives her a small but genuine smile.

"YOU. FOUND. WHAT!?"

The entire room becomes startled at the sudden new voice echoing across the Cathedral. "Who on Earth was that?" Malaika asks clutching her chest out of fear once again.

"YOU. FOOLS!"

"1." 7 growls. "He must have found the rest of the group."

Odette's face becomes serious. She grabs her pack and turns to her medical friend, "You stay here with the others and heal Cera while I go find our friends before they get hurt." Malaika gives her a solid nod and continues her work.

"You'll find them up in the Throne Room on the top floor." 7 advices, "Be careful getting up there." "You got it!" And with that, Odette leaves the room.

*********

5 has never felt so defeated in his life.

Here he was, getting the lecture of the lifetime by 1, and being chewed out for disobeying the rules, and all 5 wanted to do was to crawl in a hole and die.

9 and 2 at least stood their ground, which by the way, 1 didn't even THANK them for rescuing 2 in the first place!

The aforementioned inventor tried to reason with him, telling the leader about the possibility of human survivors, but to no avail. 1 even had the nerve to say that the trio have put everyone in 'unimaginable peril'.

"1 please, think about this!" 2 begs, "Those three ladies we found, they came from the other side of the world! They could lead us to a peaceful land of other friendly humans-"

"Which is exactly why trusting any humans is the last thing we need!" 1 interrupts. "They are the cause of their own demise, so why should these three humans be any different!?" He slams his staff, alerting 8 to his side.

"I knew you three couldn't be trusted," he says while glaring at 9, "Especially you. I won't let you endanger us any further. Subjugate them!"

8 only got confused. "Sub-what?"

"You illiterate cretin. Take their belongings!"

"Not on my watch your not!"

Before any of the stitchpunks can react, a human foot comes between 8, 1 and the others.

8 just got even more confused at where this came from.

1 is of course, scared out of his wits at this sudden intrusion. "Wha-what the-?"

The trio recognize the human right away.

"Odette!"

"Odette my girl, you've made it!"

"Oh, thank Creator you're here!"

Dumbfounded, 1 can only stare at the one thing he thought went extinct, and the three stitchpunks who somehow befriended it. For 8, he was thinking the same thing, but there was another thing that didn't add up:

"How'd you get up here, anyway?" He asks the strange lady.

Said lady turns around to look down at the bodyguard and replied, "I took the stairs."

For a 7-inch doll, climbing a destroyed set of stairs filled with huge debris and several missing steps would be impossible, but for a normal-sized human? A breeze.

"Now then, you two must be 1 and 8. My team and I heard a lot about you."

1 stares in shock before actively collecting himself back to being stern. "Hmph! Don't think that because you're all friendly with my kind, that I'm going to allow you to stay. Not with whatever useless rubbish you're feeding into their heads!"

Odette doesn't even flinch. "We would like to leave, but thanks to your bodyguard here, our teammate has been rendered immobile for the time being. So you're stuck here with us."

9, 2, and 5 were surprised at the new tone Odette was using. Whenever she would talk to them, she would treat them like equals, as if they're no different from her and with a hint of acting like a older sister. Here? With 1? Complete opposite. She went from older sister to protective older sister. Her tone towards 1 was sassy, passive-aggressive almost. Talking to him like a threat, a challenger even, silently daring him.

1 remains undeterred, "Well, your friend shouldn't have trespassed here in the first place!"

"And you are right, we're sorry. But in her defense, we were unaware that someone was still living here."

9 butts in, "All the humans want is information. They mean us no harm."

Odette agrees, "Oh yes, the other dolls have been amazing at helping my team find the info we need. And something tells me that you have some too, 1."

1 only shakes his head and slams his staff once again, "And why should I tell you anything for whatever scheme you're planning to do!"

"Nothing malicious if that's what you're thinking."

"Malaika?" Everyone turns to see the second team member standing on the top of stairs and walking to Odette. She in turn, notices the annoyed look of 1 and the baffled look of 8.

"So that's 1 and 8 huh?" Malaika whispers.

"Yep, every bit of a jerk that they made them out to be." Odette whispers back.

"Malaika dear, how's Cera?" 2 asks.

"Just finished tending her wounds. She's resting now. And just to be clear..." She glares at 8. "If it weren't for the fact that all three of us are nice ladies, I would have crushed you like a cam." For once, 8 actually looked scared.

1 however, started to look smug. "And may I remind you who was able to take down that human?"

Malaika retorts, "In her defense, 8 caught her off-guard!"

"Here....all here..."

While the two groups of duos were busy arguing, they didn't notice 6 coming out of his room drawing in hands to speak to his returned companions.

2 is ecstatic, "6, my boy! Good to see you again!"

9 gasps at the accuracy of the drawing that 6 gave him. These are the same symbols on the device! "That drawing...that's it! It's a match! What do you know about this?"

5 focused on what the artist had just said earlier, "6, what do you mean by, 'all here'?"

6 answers him shyly but clearly, "The three tall strangers...they're all here....here to help us.."

"Three tall...oh!" 2 immediately knew who 6 was talking about.

"You mean the three nice ladies that we met?"

And speaking of...

"Well, well, what do we have here?" Odette was secretly glad she saw the new doll in the corner of her eye, she was getting real tired of arguing with the stubborn elder. Malaika also notices 6, but only because she saw that Odette had stopped talking and squatted down to his level. Ignoring 1 entirely much to his chagrin, Malaika also bends down to get a better look at the strange designed doll. "You must be 6." Good gods, he's like a combination of Edward Scissorhands and a zebra! "Cera told us all about you."

6 gasps at the mention of his human friend. "Cera...is she okay?"

"She is alive and fine, 6." Odette reassures him, "She just needs to heal from her injuries first."

1 has had enough, "Grrrr...HAS EVERYONE HERE LOST THEIR MINDS!?", and startles the clan plus guests with his outburst. "What ever do you mean, 1?" 2 asks innocently.

"What I mean is how can you all be so willing to trust the very thing that has cause their own destruction!?"

Now Odette and Malaika, like many others their age, do not tolerate being compared to mistakes of the past. Naturally they switch to defense.

"Now listen here!" Odette snaps, "We are nothing like them!"

"Yeah!" Malaika joins in, "We are a completely different generation. The only reason we are here is to find information to prevent disasters like this happening again."

1 is having none of it, "And you expect me to trust you?"

Odette raises an eyebrow, "Do you expect us to trust you?"

For once 1 was completely off-guard.

Malaika sighs in defeat, "Well, we getting nowhere with this guy..."

Odette has no choice but to agree, "Yeah, we better go check on Cera." She turns to the dolls, "You're all free to visit her if you like." None of the dolls move an inch as the two humans slowly make their way to the stairs.

9 watches as 1 also makes his way to his throne, a fury growing inside of him. Something needed to be said and done.

"You're nothing but a coward."

The duo whip their heads back in astonishment, barely catching what 9 had just said.

*whisper* "Did-did he just told 1 off?" *whisper*

*whisper* "New guy has some guts." *whisper*

The two quietly peek out behind the wall to watch the aftermath in case they need to step in. 2, 5 and 6 watch helplessly as 8 walks over to 9, cracking his knuckles again to prepare him for a beating. 9 shows no fear towards 8 and readies his light staff for protection, but 1 went in front of 8 and slammed his staff over 9's. "How dare you challenge me?," he scolds, "I, who kept everyone safe? Ever since you got here, things have been unraveling! You're a curse! A fool, guided by pointless queries!"

"And you are a blind man, guided by fear."

Odette gasps under her breath.

*whisper* "Oh, snap! It's about to go down!" *whisper*

Malaika had to stifle a snicker.

*whisper* "He just got burned! You sure 9 is only a day old? Cause he sure knows what he's talking about." *whisper*

The girls continue to watch the fight. This is going to get good.

*********

Meanwhile....

Cera is still laying on her bed with 7 and the twins next to her. So far the pain isn't hurting as much anymore thanks to Malaika's skilled talent, but she still has to be bedridden for a while. So to pass the time, 7 and her decide to share stories about each other until the rest of the team comes back. The twins themselves also pass the time by searching through Cera's backpack (that was also on the bed) with her permission.

Man, it's actually pretty nice to be able to talk to other women, Thought 7. But their conversation is interrupted by the twins' frantic blinking.

"Hm? 3, 4? What's wrong?" 7 asks.

3 and 4 drag up a small tablet that was attached to the side of the pack. It is the size of Cera's hand, and it is glowing very brightly.

"Oh, that must be my detector." Cera explains, "Wonder why it's glowing like that?" Taking the detector from the twins, Cera studies the tablet.....

and her face turns deathly pale with horror.

"No....that's impossible...."

"What is?"

*********

All of a sudden, a dozen shadows fly across the stain glass windows of the Cathedral.

"Ah!"

"Wha-?"

"Huh?"

Every stitchpunks either flinches or gets on their guard, not knowing who or what was able to find them up so high. Malaika and Odette were just as defensive.

"What was that?"

"I don't know..be on the lookout..."

So much so that they don't notice the same two detectors attached to their packs glowing bright.

*********

"This says that we are surrounded, but there shouldn't be anyone else here!"

"I don't understand, I'm afraid."

"My team of three are the only ones assigned to this area, and no one else besides our Commander knows our location! On top of that, this entire city is so destroyed and remote, that no one would be able find us!"

"Then how did you get found?"

Cera's eyes shrink with terror, but her voice is dead serious with a hint of absolute fear.

"There can only be one reason....."

*********

1 looks around cautiously for the shadows, barely able to respond to 9.

"Sometimes, fear....is the appropriate response."

*********

"We're under attack."

*********

*CRASH*