Back To The Present

"...Until today!" Cera finishes. "Well, technically a few months ago."

"What happened in those last months?" 9 asked, metallic eyes shine with curiosity and wonder.

"That was when the President of the US-that's our leader-had revealed to the press that his top scientists have found unusually high numbers in this, radar from the sky I guess, that could detect even the smallest movement on the dead continents. Looks like it found you guys."

"Or the Beast." Added 6.

"That too." Cera agrees, "And the news of this discovery inspired the President to conduct a plan that he calls, 'Operation: Hidden Garden'". The stitchpunks tilt their heads in confusion.

Cera simply shrugs, "Yeah, I have no clue on why he called it that either."

"And this operation is basically what you three have already told us, yes?" 5 asked.

Cera suddenly looks away sheepishly, putting her hand behind her head. "Well....that was half the plan..."

"Huh?" 9, 6, and 5 all asked simultaneously. 3 and 4 were equally just as surprised, Malaika and Odette haven't told them about this before...

"The truth is...part of the reason the Pres was able to get the plan off the ground was his little...proposal, so to speak.

Said proposal managed to convince most of the remaining world (America especially) that Operation: Hidden Garden will include the descendants of everyone involved with the Machine War as a way for them to help atone for past sins."

"Now why would he say that?" 6 wondered out loud.

Cera scoffs, "Heck if I know. He's just lucky that every descendant he got involved just happened to have a very useful talent and skill."

"A-and all three of you are descendants?" 9 asks brimming with interest, "What kind of people were you related to?"

Before Cera could answer, she lets out a big yawn. And a small cough.

"Ugh, I'd love to answer more of your questions guys, but it's pretty late and I got to get some sleep." She says all tired out, "Maybe some other time, okay?"

The stitchpunks murmur in agreement, but something doesn't sit with 6.

"What about the others?" The artist asks.

Cera stops her eye-rubbing and looks down at her striped friend. "What do you mean?"

"Th-the others, they're not back yet.."

Oh. Right.

"Now that you've mention it..." It also slowly dawns on 5 that it is way less crowded than he remembered. 9 tries to recall where everyone else is, "I know that 8 is on lookout, 1 and 7 left and ran off, but as for the humans and 2...I haven't seen them at all!"

Cera, on the other hand, casually lays on the floor next to the globe while resting her head on her backpack. "If Odette and Malaika are out there, then your friends should be fine."

5 is taken aback by her seemingly lack of concern, "You say that so nonchalantly!"

"That's because I have complete trust in them." Cera counters back coolly, "Faith and trust are very important things to have when working on a team, and I have faith in that my team won't let anything happen to your family."

She slowly turns over, trying carefully not reopen her injuries. "As long as we stay here, everyone else will come back eventually."

3 and 4 nod towards each other and run back in the globe. 6 stares at the globe, then at 9 and 5, then at the resting human. He decides to hop onto Cera's arm and hug it.

5 lets out a small smile at the cute scene, it was nice to see him grow attached to his new human friend. But it doesn't last long as 5 shifts his focus back to 9, and his face falls with concern. 9 is staring out towards the vast library and its many rooms and halls, hand gripping hard onto the light staff that they built together. The guide could tell that his new friend is conflicted.

9 doesn't realized how long he's been standing and staring until he feels 5's hand on his shoulder. "Hey, it's going to be alright," the one-eye healer reassures, "They'll be back soon enough, we just have to wait. Searching for them now while we're already separated won't do us any good."

9 finally turns his head to look at his brotherly figure, who shoots him a comforting smile. In return, 9 pats his friend's hand in thanks and sighs, "Yeah, you're right. We do need to rest, I'm just worried about them that's all."

"Now you know how I feel all the time."

*********

"....And that's pretty much everything." Odette concludes with a sigh. 1 and 7 haven't moved an inch since she first started the story.

"Are....you guys okay?" The pilot asks with concern.

"Y-yes..." 1 finally answers, shaking his head as if breaking out of a trance, "It's just...it's a lot to take in, that's all."

"The whole thing feels pretty overwhelming, honestly..." 7 adds while rubbing her tired head.

This does not surprise Odette at all, "Hmm, I don't blame you for that. Anyone would feel the same way."

"But still!" 7 remarks, "To think that humanity only survived because they took the cowardly route!" 1 says nothing, but he still shoots a warning glare at the warrior.

Odette once again goes for the defense, "Well, as....horrific...the entire thing is, at the time it was the best case scenario. If they haven't protected themselves, I don't think anyone would have survived the Machines."

"And in a way," 1 includes, "You could say that this entire operation is a apology to the War. As strange and odd as it sounds."

"Speaking of apologies..."

Odette's tone turns somber. "I should apologize as well."

"Huh?"

"What?"

1 and 7 turn their heads up toward the human in bewilderment. "Apologize for what exactly?" 7 asks perplexed.

"You know, for losing my temper! It was wrong to yell at you guys and I shouldn't have taken my anger out-"

1 steps up and interrupts her, "Odette-is it? You had every right to be mad."

"After everything you went through as a leader, it's only a matter of time before the stress and pressure gets to you."

Odette stammers, "B-but that st-still doesn't give me the right to-to act like that! And I never behave like that, normally at least.."

7 all but shook her head as she gave the human's leg a reassuring squeeze. "Oh no, really, there's no need to apologize. But....apology accepted." The warrior winks at her playfully, Odette realizing the callback to their earlier visit to the library. She lets out a small chuckle, "Hehe. Ok, ok, you got to me."

After gently setting the dolls back on the ground, Odette gets back on her knees to life herself up again.

"Well guys, as much as I would like to stay and chat," She says while stretching her body, "But I think we should start getting back to the others. They must be worried sick about us."

"Worried sick about you."

"1.."

"Us returning will only make things more awkward..."

7 too!? "Geez...!"

Putting a pause on her stretches, Odette places her hands on her hips and puts on the best Big Sister voice she could muster:

"While your actions and confessions earlier are a cause for concern, it doesn't change the fact that you both are a very vital part of your gang."

She leans down a little closer.

"1, despite everything you've done, it still doesn't give anybody the right to impose harm to you." The human gives the leader a small, gentle pat on the shoulder with her index finger. "So if anyone tries to inflict any sort of violence on you, just come to me or the girls for protection, especially if 8's not with you."

"Do-do you mean it?" 1 asked hopefully, almost not believing what he's hearing, "Do you promise to keep your word?"

"Absolutely!" Odette responds with pride, "Us leaders got to give each other support and aid, you know?"

She then turns to 7, and repeats the same notion with the warrior's shoulder.

"7, I know you're nervous, but if it helps you at all....I think everyone is lucky to have a friend like you."

"R-really?" Why do those words sound familiar? 7 thought.

"Yes. If anything, I'm sure they'll be so relieved to see you return." Odette completes it with her own wink, and 7 realizes that she's repeating the words she said to Cera.

Amused by the callback, 7 smirks, "Well played." She glances over to a very confused 1, "In that case...." and smacks him on the back before making a dash to the globe.

"Last one there is beast bait!"

"Don't jinx us you fool!"

Laughter is the response he gets from the pale doll, who continues to sprint towards the twins' hideout, leaving a very bemused Odette and a very dazed 1.

"Hehe. Man, what a woman..." Odette sighs out loud. "Alright 1, we better go follow her. Do you want a ride or would you rather walk-"

The pilot freezes up mid-sentence the second she notices 1's behavior.

He was no longer dazed, (thank goodness) but he looked a lot more skittish, glancing and gazing around frantically.

"1? Is something wrong?"

"....Do you hear that?"

"Hear wha-?"

Hiss...Hiss....

Odette freezes. And listens some more.

Hisssss.....Hissss....

*********

Earlier....

"So, uh, wait. Let me see if I got this whole thing straight."

8's head was starting to hurt from all this new information, he wanted to make sure he didn't miss anything important.

"Okay," Malaika sits patiently.

"To recap: You guys are still alive because a bunch of countries protected themselves and stayed out of the War,"

"Yep."

"Then years later, your country's leader wanted to re....deem...is that the word?...past mistakes, and sent your team out here to do exactly that,"

"That's right. And yes, redeem is the word you're looking for."

8 sighs in relief internally, "And on top of that, you also have to solve some kind of mystery about the beasts around here. Am I getting all this correctly?"

Malaika smiles, clearly impressed with the guard. "You've got it, 8! You're quite the fast learner."

If 8 could blush, he could.

He was often called a lot of things, but "fast learner"? That was a different one.

"And I mean it!" Malaika continues, "I may have heard many, uh, demeaning words about you from the others, but even I can tell that you are brilliant in your own way."

8 had never been called smart in any way before, but the fact that this strange human recognized and acknowledged his own type of intelligence gave him a new sense of pride.

2, meanwhile, was practically shaking where he sat. He felt like his entire body could burst from excitement! His own curiosity is in a frenzied state with his mind as it buzzes about creating new questions with each new piece of info it processes.

"Err, 2?"

"Are you alright?"

The worried calls of his name snaps 2 out of his zone, finally facing a concerned 8 and Malaika.

"O-oh, I'm sorry, I was deep in thought."

"Is shaking like a leaf considered deep in thought?" 8 murmurs sarcastically to himself.

"Deep in thought about what?" Malaika asks, ignoring 8's rude comment.

2 contemplates on what he's about to say....and slowly stands up, staring at the ground.

"For as long as I could remember, the mere idea that there could be human survivors was nothing more than a hopeless dream." The inventor pauses for a second before lifting his head to gaze out to the empty garden, "From the moment I felt the world go silent, I had begun to felt that we were truly alone.....and yet...."

2 turns his head to make eye contact with the young medic, his wrinkled face beaming with joy. ".....here you are."

Malaika gave in the urge to beam back.

2 found himself unable to stop talking, "A-and it's not just that, suddenly I'm finding out that there are countries out there! Actual surviving, breathing countries filled to the brim with countless numbers of different cultures and people! It feels like such a miracle that..."

The old stitchpunk pauses, the weight of his words dawns on him...

"That what?" Malaika echoes.

"....That it feels too good to be true." 2 finishes somberly, "I'm almost afraid that this entire day turns out to be a dream."

The human hums in understanding, 'I know exactly how that feels, 2. Bonding with your family, witnessing all these amazing inventions you all built, fighting against those machines, it almost feels too good to be real!"

"Speaking of family," 8 cuts in, "Does anyone else know you're both out here?"

2 gasps at the realization, his metallic eyes shrink with dread.

"Oh!.....Oh, dear goodness, you're right!" He swiftly scrambles off the steps, nearly tripping in the process. "5 and the others, they must be so distraught right now! I must get going back."

"Better get to it than." 8 says while giving him the shooing hand.

"You too, 8."

"Yeah, you heard-wait, what?"

8 turns toward the human in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"8, you go with 2 back to the globe while I stay here and take over lookout." She states matter-of-factly. But the guard is quick to protest, "Now, hold on. I can't just leave, 1 ordered me to-"

"I KNOW what 1 said, 8." Malaika cuts him off with a annoyed tone in her voice. She is still irritated over 1's antics and what he had done to 2. The so-called leader will have to do a lot to earn her trust in the future.

The human continues, "You and your friends already had a rough day, the least you all deserve is a good rest. Even you, 8. Guards need breaks too."

8 looks like he still wants to protest, so Malaika adds, "And if 1 ever gives you hell over leaving, you just tell him that he can yell at me instead. After all, I'm the one who told you to go in the first place."

8 felt conflicted. He would never disobey an order from 1, even when he did really wanted to rest. The only other person that would offer to stand guard was 7, and that was before she left the sanctuary. But on the other hand, this IS a human that gave the offer. A human that's over 20 time his size and could curb-stomp any intruder...

The guard ultimately makes his mind. "Alright, fine." He sighs, "I'll take your offer."

Malaika grins and gives him a thumbs up.

8 manages to catch up with 2, who was watching the whole discussion. "She's right, you know." The old inventor brings up as they walk their journey back, "You've done so much to protect us from all sorts of harm. A good rest is what you need."

8 doesn't say anything, but he grunts in agreement.

Hisss.....Hisssss....