Secrets And A Different Kind Of Fight

"6!"

"Cera!"

Upon seeing 6 and the others coming out of the cathedral, Cera scoops him up into her arms and hugs him close. "Thank goodness you're okay! I was getting worried!" 6 hugs her back, "I'm glad you're okay too. You got hurt a lot, so I'm happy that the other two had healed you." Cera chuckles, and sets him back on the ground with 3 and 4 where 7, 5, and 9 catch up to them.

Cera is about to greet them, but she notices that 9 has 7 leaning towards him like she's injured. Sure enough, there was a long, gaping hole on her leg. "7....what happened to your leg?" The twins also look at her with concern.

7 doesn't answer. She just looks to the ground in shame. The fact that she got beaten by this one beast even after defeating a similar beast and a dozen humans thirty times her size was humiliating enough. "She...was attacked." 5 responds for 7 sheepishly. "I see..." Cera decided not to ask any further questions about it, she didn't want to make 7 too uncomfortable.

"Hold on, were these Neo guards always there?"

"Yuck, it reeks of blood everywhere!"

Cera looks up to see her team members observing the corpses of 7's victims. Walking pass them are 1, 8 and 2, the former waving at Cera with glee.

She waves back. "Yeah, all of that was 7's doing.", She says casually as she hops over to her friends. They pull back and look at Cera with awe at her piece of trivia. The girls seem to be doing that a lot. "7 did all this?", Odette asks gesturing towards the dead bodies. "

Yeah, it's quite amazing really...."

2 chuckles to himself as he watches the three girls rave over 7. "So 7," he asks with a hint of tease, "How does it feel to have other women gush all over you?"

1 butts in, "Hmp! If you ask me, she doesn't need anymore of an ego boost!"

"Oh, hush 1. At least the girls actually like her!"

Despite 2's playful teasing, there was some truth to it. Being the only female in her clan, it WAS pretty refreshing to have other ladies around, even if they are very different from her.

"7's leg held all of THAT!?"

"I know right?"

"Man, she's stronger than I thought!"

"Haha!"

**********

....That moment of victory, peace, and happiness wasn't that long ago, but to Odette, it felt like days had passed since then. By the time everyone reached the gate entrance of the library, the Cathedral was already engulfed in flames. The ashes of 6's drawings were coating the entire area, making it impossible to avoid them.

The human trio can only stare at the flaming building in despair, the depressed stitchpunks dare not to look back at their former sanctuary. Odette turns her head to catch a glimpse of 1 mourning the loss of the one place that kept his clan safe while 8 comforts him.

This is certainly new for her, as this is the first time she's seen them in a caring light.

Although this does make sense. Odette thought to herself, 1 and 8 may be jerks, but even they don't deserve to have their home destroyed. Odette grabs her teammates' attention, "Hey guys? We should probably head inside now."

"A-ah, right. Cera, give me your arm."

"I know, I know. Odette, you got my bag?"

"Duh."

Odette enters the building first. Malaika pursues with Cera in tow, but notices that something had caught Cera's eye.

"Awww..."

"What is it?" She asks.

"Him."

Cera points to 6 trying to catch the ashes of his drawings like snowflakes only for it to crumble in his hands.

"I honestly can't tell if he's doing it to catch the last of his drawings, or because he thinks the ashes are snow." Cera says with concern.

Malaika didn't know what to say except for: "That's....depressingly cute."

Eventually, 6 gave up and goes back to the group. The human duo follow him, but not before eavesdropping on Odette giving 1 a apology near the door.

"We're so sorry about your home," They hear her say with remorse, "I wish there was more we've could have done to save it."

1 merely shakes his head and holds his hand up, "There's no need for that. There was nothing you three could do."

Hearing this, Cera and Malaika smile to themselves. Perhaps they might be able to befriend 1 after all.

*********

9 stares at the full moon in deep thought.

Despite the darkness and silence in the library, there was still a lot going on.

Odette and Malaika were busy replacing Cera's bloodied bandages-

("Next time, YOU'RE carrying the bags, Mala!")

("Fair enough, Odette.")

-While 5 is stitching up 7's leg. And 6 is still drawing on a piece of paper he found.

"There will be more, won't there?" 9 asks worried.

Odette, having finished rewrapping Cera's hand and leg, wanted to tell him no. But after today, even she's not sure anymore.

1 scoffs, "It's not safe here." He gestures to 8, "Stand lookout."

8 heads back to the entrance, but not before stepping on 6's art. Cera growls under her breath as she watched the scene.

"Now, now Cera." Malaika warns her friend, "You can hit him upside the head later."

Cera only grunts in response.

1 shoots a threatening glare towards 9. "I'll search out a more safer retreat."

"Not on your own, you're not." Malaika shuts him down without looking up from her work.

"Don't think that I'm taking any orders from you just because you're nice!" 1 snaps back.

Malaika continues, "We never said that, but we ARE saying that it's not wise to go off on your own." "Especially with the possibility of more Neos coming." Odette adds.

"And who, pray tell, was responsible for this new danger?" 1 asks, as if he's challenging the humans to make a wrong move.

Odette certainly came close. "Oh, for the love of-" She pinches the bridge of her nose in frustration. So much for befriending him! "I TOLD you, we had no idea that the enemies would find us here! Heck, our own commander mentioned specifically that we wouldn't have any enemy trouble here!"

"And look how well that turned out!" 1 snarls back.

"Guys, can we not fight?" Cera pleads. She just got out of one different fight, she did not want to be involve with another one.

*click click*

Just then, like a prayer answered, 3 and 4 step out to grab everyone's attention with their clicks and bright eyes.

"What is it, you two?" Malaika asks the twins. They ignore her to have 4 show 9 a picture of the strange symbols that were on the talisman. The dolls (And Cera) recognize it as the same symbols on 6's art. The twins beckon the group to follow them into the globe.

Odette watches as 6 and 9 pursue 3 and 4. At the same time, 5 had just finished sewing up 7's leg and they too catch up to the group. Even 1 slowly tags along.

"And you're done!"

"Finally..."

Malaika announces, putting the last finishing wrappings on Cera's back. Cera zips her jumpsuit back on, her teammates pull her slowly up so she can stand up again.

"Now that we've got that small setback out of the way," Cera says impatiently, "What do you think the twins wanted to show the dolls?"

Malaika thought about that for a second or so, "My guess would be they wanted to show them the other copy of "'Annuls Of Paracelsus'".

That only made Cera and Odette confused.

"The Annuls of what?"

"What other copy?"

Malaika explained how when she first saw the book inside the twins' globe, she asked them to bring it out for her. Instead, they lead her to a different section of the library where several other copies of the book were held. "Probably didn't want to go through the trouble of getting their own copy out." The medic concludes.

Cera pumps her fist in the air, "Well, that settles it! I want to see what else is inside that globe." "Allow me to lead you there, then." Odette offers.

Malaika beams, "You two go on ahead. I still have to put away my medical stuff."

The two nod to her and make their way to the globe. Malaika turns around to begin her clean up....only to notice a very odd sight.

For some reason, 2 did not join his fellow clan. He was just standing there, staring at the path that 8 took. Did something cross his mind?

2 was no oracle like 6.

Nor could he have the visions that 6 possessed.

And yet, ever since 8 left, 2 felt a strong feeling from the bottom gut of his soul.

8 will be in mortal danger. It wasn't a guess or a prediction. It was as if he knew that something horrible will happen to 8 if nothing is done. The sudden urge to go find him was stronger than anything he's felt before, like a voice carrying a tone of caution.

"2..?"

A soft voice jolts 2 out of his trance. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Malaika giving him a look of concern. He soon realized that they are the only two left in the area.

"Are you okay?" Malaika asks, "You're not going to join the others?"

2 turns his head back at the entrance path and sighs, and before he knew it, he was spilling out the thoughts that had plagued his mind.

"I'd love to be with my family right now, but...I...can't help but feel incredibly worried over 8. I mean, I know 8 can take care of himself fine, but I've been having this terrible feeling that something bad will happen..."

Now that he thought about it, if 2 went out to check on 8, he would no doubt get a beating from the guard for even daring to question his safety. Unless....

As if reading his mind, Malaika gives him the answer he needed. "Let me guess, you want to check on 8 and need me to come with you so he doesn't try anything."

2's optic eyes practically shined with glee at Malaika's offer. "Really? You mean it?"

"Well, yeah. Anything to help a friend." Oh boy, what am I getting myself into? 2 breaks into a big infectious smile. "Oh, how wonderful! Thank you so much for agreeing to help me!" "...Not at all.." "Well then, we'd better get moving!" And with that, 2 sprints toward the path leading to outside, leaving Malaika in the dust.

The medic merely shakes her head at 2's hastiness to get to 8.

She begins to follow him-

Only to have something else catch her attention.

Is that fighting I hear? Is someone having a argument? Malaika goes to the source of the fighting: Inside the globe.

Cera and Odette are still there, watching from the globe's broken holes. Not out of wonder, this time, but of uneasiness and concern.

*********

Earlier....

9 enters the hideout, where 3 and 4 lead him to a strange book. He quickly catches the title, "The Annuls of Paracelsus", before the twins open the book. They turn to a page that showed a man bringing a stitchpunk to life with a ancient tool with symbols. The page next to it showed the exact same symbols on 6's art. 6 also notices this, and puts up his drawing of the source against the picture on the page. A perfect match.

"What? What is it?" 9 asked, wondering why 6 is desperately holding his drawing up like a magnet.

"The source." 6 simply says.

9 presses on, "The thing that's connected to the machine!-"

"G-go back, go back."

"Back to where?" If anyone could know more about this source and its connection with the machine and the writings on the book, it would be 6. And 9 was determined to get answers.

"Dark science."

Before he could though, 1 comes in to interrupt.

"What good does this useless rubbish do us? Forget it!"

"You know something." 9 slowly realizes, "What do you know?"

1 proceeds in his high and mighty tone, "I know enough to leave their ancient evils to molder. Look what they've left us with. Leave it be, I say! But you, always asking questions. So many pointless questions. Probing! Pushing! Like 2!" In a fit of rage, 1 tears off a page from the book, earning a audible gasp from the human girls. "He always had to know too much!"

That all but confirmed 9's suspensions. "I was right, you did send him out to die!"

"He was old! He was weak!"

5 gasps in horror.

7 fumes with pure anger.

The human trio don't say a word but their faces showed nothing but shock and disgust. Even their minds seem to share the same thought:

THAT.

ABSOLUTE.

BASTARD!

Malaika runs off back to 2, not wanting to hear another word.

1 continues, "Sometimes one must be sacrificed for the good of many."

"...YOU COWARD!" Like a predator leaping towards its prey, 7 lunges at 1 with her blade at his throat.

"7!" 9 scolds.

No one moves or speaks.

Silence surrounds the room save for 7's heavy breathing.

Tension fills the uneasy atmosphere.

1's look of fear shifts into a smirk of content once he takes note of 7's hesitation to kill him.

Finally, 7 lifts her spear away from 1, her once enraged expression melted into one of utter disgrace and shame. She gives a quick glance at the others, and bolts out of the globe.

1 straightens up his appearance, unfazed. "Your path takes us to catastrophe." He tells 9 before leaving the hideout as well.

This time, no one stops him. Cera!"

"Hold on, were these Neo guards always there?"

"Yuck, it reeks of blood everywhere!"

Cera looks up to see her team members observing the corpses of 7's victims. Walking pass them are 1, 8 and 2, the former waving at Cera with glee.

Yeah, it's quite amazing really...."

2 chuckles to himself as he watches the three girls rave over 7. "So 7," he asks with a hint of tease, "How does it feel to have other women gush all over you?"

1 butts in, "Hmp! If you ask me, she doesn't need anymore of an ego boost!"

"Oh, hush 1. At least the girls actually like her!"

Despite 2's playful teasing, there was some truth to it. Being the only female in her clan, it WAS pretty refreshing to have other ladies around, even if they are very different from her.

"7's leg held all of THAT!?"

"I know right?"

"Man, she's stronger than I thought!"

"Haha!"

**********

This is certainly new for her, as this is the first time she's seen them in a caring light.

"A-ah, right. Cera, give me your arm."

"I know, I know. Odette, you got my bag?"

"Duh."

Odette enters the building first. Malaika pursues with Cera in tow, but notices that something had caught Cera's eye.

"Awww..."

"What is it?" She asks.

"Him."

Cera points to 6 trying to catch the ashes of his drawings like snowflakes only for it to crumble in his hands.

"I honestly can't tell if he's doing it to catch the last of his drawings, or because he thinks the ashes are snow." Cera says with concern.

Malaika didn't know what to say except for: "That's....depressingly cute."

Eventually, 6 gave up and goes back to the group. The human duo follow him, but not before eavesdropping on Odette giving 1 a apology near the door.

"We're so sorry about your home," They hear her say with remorse, "I wish there was more we've could have done to save it."

1 merely shakes his head and holds his hand up, "There's no need for that. There was nothing you three could do."

Hearing this, Cera and Malaika smile to themselves. Perhaps they might be able to befriend 1 after all.

*********

9 stares at the full moon in deep thought.

Despite the darkness and silence in the library, there was still a lot going on.

Odette and Malaika were busy replacing Cera's bloodied bandages-

("Next time, YOU'RE carrying the bags, Mala!")

("Fair enough, Odette.")

-While 5 is stitching up 7's leg. And 6 is still drawing on a piece of paper he found.

"There will be more, won't there?" 9 asks worried.

Odette, having finished rewrapping Cera's hand and leg, wanted to tell him no. But after today, even she's not sure anymore.

1 scoffs, "It's not safe here." He gestures to 8, "Stand lookout."

8 heads back to the entrance, but not before stepping on 6's art. Cera growls under her breath as she watched the scene.

"Now, now Cera." Malaika warns her friend, "You can hit him upside the head later."

Cera only grunts in response.

1 shoots a threatening glare towards 9. "I'll search out a more safer retreat."

"Not on your own, you're not." Malaika shuts him down without looking up from her work.

"Don't think that I'm taking any orders from you just because you're nice!" 1 snaps back.

Malaika continues, "We never said that, but we ARE saying that it's not wise to go off on your own." "Especially with the possibility of more Neos coming." Odette adds.

"And who, pray tell, was responsible for this new danger?" 1 asks, as if he's challenging the humans to make a wrong move.

"And look how well that turned out!" 1 snarls back.

"Guys, can we not fight?" Cera pleads. She just got out of one different fight, she did not want to be involve with another one.

*click click*

Just then, like a prayer answered, 3 and 4 step out to grab everyone's attention with their clicks and bright eyes.

Odette watches as 6 and 9 pursue 3 and 4. At the same time, 5 had just finished sewing up 7's leg and they too catch up to the group. Even 1 slowly tags along.

"And you're done!"

"Finally..."

Malaika announces, putting the last finishing wrappings on Cera's back. Cera zips her jumpsuit back on, her teammates pull her slowly up so she can stand up again.

"Now that we've got that small setback out of the way," Cera says impatiently, "What do you think the twins wanted to show the dolls?"

Malaika thought about that for a second or so, "My guess would be they wanted to show them the other copy of "'Annuls Of Paracelsus'".

That only made Cera and Odette confused.

"The Annuls of what?"

"What other copy?"

Cera pumps her fist in the air, "Well, that settles it! I want to see what else is inside that globe." "Allow me to lead you there, then." Odette offers.

Malaika beams, "You two go on ahead. I still have to put away my medical stuff."

The two nod to her and make their way to the globe. Malaika turns around to begin her clean up....only to notice a very odd sight.

For some reason, 2 did not join his fellow clan. He was just standing there, staring at the path that 8 took. Did something cross his mind?

2 was no oracle like 6.

Nor could he have the visions that 6 possessed.

And yet, ever since 8 left, 2 felt a strong feeling from the bottom gut of his soul.

"2..?"

A soft voice jolts 2 out of his trance. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Malaika giving him a look of concern. He soon realized that they are the only two left in the area.

"Are you okay?" Malaika asks, "You're not going to join the others?"

2 turns his head back at the entrance path and sighs, and before he knew it, he was spilling out the thoughts that had plagued his mind.

Now that he thought about it, if 2 went out to check on 8, he would no doubt get a beating from the guard for even daring to question his safety. Unless....

As if reading his mind, Malaika gives him the answer he needed. "Let me guess, you want to check on 8 and need me to come with you so he doesn't try anything."

2's optic eyes practically shined with glee at Malaika's offer. "Really? You mean it?"

The medic merely shakes her head at 2's hastiness to get to 8.

She begins to follow him-

Only to have something else catch her attention.

Is that fighting I hear? Is someone having a argument? Malaika goes to the source of the fighting: Inside the globe.

Cera and Odette are still there, watching from the globe's broken holes. Not out of wonder, this time, but of uneasiness and concern.

*********

Earlier....

"What? What is it?" 9 asked, wondering why 6 is desperately holding his drawing up like a magnet.

"The source." 6 simply says.

9 presses on, "The thing that's connected to the machine!-"

"G-go back, go back."

"Back to where?" If anyone could know more about this source and its connection with the machine and the writings on the book, it would be 6. And 9 was determined to get answers.

"Dark science."

Before he could though, 1 comes in to interrupt.

"What good does this useless rubbish do us? Forget it!"

"You know something." 9 slowly realizes, "What do you know?"

That all but confirmed 9's suspensions. "I was right, you did send him out to die!"

"He was old! He was weak!"

5 gasps in horror.

7 fumes with pure anger.

The human trio don't say a word but their faces showed nothing but shock and disgust. Even their minds seem to share the same thought:

THAT.

ABSOLUTE.

BASTARD!

Malaika runs off back to 2, not wanting to hear another word.

1 continues, "Sometimes one must be sacrificed for the good of many."

"...YOU COWARD!" Like a predator leaping towards its prey, 7 lunges at 1 with her blade at his throat.

"7!" 9 scolds.

No one moves or speaks.

Silence surrounds the room save for 7's heavy breathing.

Tension fills the uneasy atmosphere.

1's look of fear shifts into a smirk of content once he takes note of 7's hesitation to kill him.

Finally, 7 lifts her spear away from 1, her once enraged expression melted into one of utter disgrace and shame. She gives a quick glance at the others, and bolts out of the globe.

1 straightens up his appearance, unfazed. "Your path takes us to catastrophe." He tells 9 before leaving the hideout as well.

This time, no one stops him.

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