A/N: In this version 6 and 5 did not died but 1,2,and 8 still did. Maybe...5X7, 7X9

Disclaimer: I Own nothing! 9 is property of Focus Film.

Chapter 1

"Stupid rain." 10 thought grumbly to herself. It had been raining for hours. She and 0 we absolutely soaked through. She pulled her rag cloak closer to herself in an attempt to warm up.

"We really need to find some shelter soon!" 10 called to the large patched up stitchpunk ahead of herself. He turned and nodded back towards her. Lifting his large arm, he pointed towards the remains of a relatively small building, the roof looking mainly intact and most of the walls still standing. Hurrying towards the structer 10 and 0 quickly entered through a broken door.

"Oh thank goodness!" 10 took off her soak cloak and set her bag of supplies down. Wringing the water out of her cloak she had not noticed 0 moving away. "We should probably try to get a fire going huh 0? ...0?" Turning 10 did not see him but saw a faint glow of light nearby. Grabbing her belongings 10 hurried towards the apparent firelight and found 0...

And another stitchpunk ...In battle.

0 had pulled out his folding knife and was blocking the moves of this strange ghostly pale stitchpunk with a bird skull covering the face. Although 0 was much larger then this warrior, they seemed equally matched.

10 knew enough to stay back. She wasn't a fighter, never had been. She would have been killed by the Cat Beasts long ago if it hadn't been for 0.

They struck and dodged and blocked and struck again. For a moment 0 faulted giving the warrior stitckpunk the upperhand but he quickly dodged the blow.

"0!" 10 yelled as another stanger entered into the scene. This one carried a staff with a light on the end, for a moment it blinded 0 and the pale stitckpunk triped him. She stood over 0 with the blade towards his throut.

"Leave him alone!" 10 screamed throwing one of her only two weapons. Bolas made from 2 gears and some string. The warrior looked up as she shouted but a moment to late to avoid the weapon. It wrapped around the skull caped warrior binding her and she fell, mumbling curses, tied and helpless, to the ground.

"7!" The light welding stitchpunk yelled. Dropping the light, he took a small knife cutting the warrior free. As 0 began to get to his feet 10 ran towards him. "Let's get out of here! Please 0!"

He shook his head. "No, we run too much." His voice, even and slow. Calm despite the fighting. The other stitchpunk was almost free. Gently pushing 10 away from himself, he took a defensive stance. "Go and hide, 10."

Just as 10 turned to run, a third voice called out. "Stop right there." Turning 10 saw a one eyed stitchpunk with a cross bow raised at her. She raised her arms showing she ment no harm, clicking her optics shut awaiting the pain of the shot, when the voice called again. "10? Is that really you?"

She knew that voice! "...5?" She opened her optics and found herself almost immediatly imbraced in a tight hug. "Oh It is you! I can't believe it!" 5's reation to the newcomer immediatly stopped the fight between 7 and 0. He had loosed his hold but had yet to let go of her hands. 10 pulled one of her hands free. "...5, what happened?" Her eyes glazed with concern as she stroked his leather patch covering where his optic used to be. "Walkers..." Was his only reply.

"5!" 0 called happily lumbaring over. The most graceful of stitchpunk he was not. He picked up 5 in a huge embrace as well.

"A..little too tight...0" "Sorry 5." 0 smiled as he placed 5 back on terra firma.

9 and 7 now approched. Albeit a bit confused. 5 just couldn't stop smiling even with the looks of confusion on the faces of 9 and 7. "Who are you?" 9 asked. "Oh I'm sorry, 9 and 7 I would like you to meet 10 and 0." 5 answered. 10 smiled and 0 gave a nod.

"Where did they come from?" 9 asked. "Our creator, had an assistant and she created them." 5 answered before 10 took over for him. "0 was created shortly after 1 but before 2, I was created after 2 about the same time as 3 and 4."

"Only 2 of you?" 7 asked. They nodded "Our creator got very sick after we were made. We stayed with your creator till just after 6 was created."

"That's why we don't know you then!" 9 exclaimed.

"Why didn't you every talk about them 5?" 7 wondered. 5 hung his head sadly. "You remember 1's rule about bring the past into the santcuary? He didn't like us to speak of it either." 5 rubbed his arm dullfully remembering the few times 1 and been angry with him for doing so and the punishment he recieved at 8's cruel hands.

He soon shook the thought off. "I recall how you and 3, 4 would read the day away or play hide and seek with 6." 5's smile faded when he looked into the optics of 10, an unasked questions danced across her face. "But the twins and 6 we should tell them your here! They'll be so happy to see you!" 10 smiled so bright "There okay then? The whole family is here?"

5 looked away as 10's smiled faded slowly. She looked towards 7 then 9. It was the latter who answered.

"We lost 1,2 and 8 destroying the B.R.A.I.N." "Oh..." a sadness filled the area until a lone voice called softly out of the shadows.

"Is..i-it safe?" 6 slowly stepped from the shadows at the edge of the room. 3 and 4 clinging tightly together behind him.

3 and 4 were the first to recognize 0 and 10 rushing out from behind 6 and hugging 10 who was closer with such strengh that they tumbled to the floor.

They immediatly began taking pictures of 10 on the floor and she smiled at them. "Look at you two! Still cataloging everything. Your both so cute." 10 grabbed them both in another hug before releasing them.

6 came over as well, knelling close to embrace 10. "10, I knew...you were...still there..." 3 and 4 suddenly dashed from her to 0 taking pictures of him too. He has had alot of patch work done since they had last seen him. They began to climb all over 0 clicking and blinking.

7 guard finally relaxed as she saw 3 and 4 all over this bigger stitchpunk. If the twins trusted you 7 did. Simple as that.

7's guard dropped seemingly to soon as distressed clicking and flashing drew her from her thoughts, she almost pulled her helmet back down till she heard 5 and 9 laughing.

Looking over what 7 saw warmed her gears. Laughter escaping from her as well. 0 had pinned the twins on there backs against the floor and was proceeding to tickle them. But since they couldn't talk their laughter was translated to clicks...flicker...click. 6 by now had let go of 10 and was heading to go greet 0 as well. "...0?" 6 started to speak.

5, still chuckling, called to 6 "I wouldn't get too close 6!" Too late, 6 felt himself being scooped up and added to the giggling mess that was the twins. "Hello 6." 0 greeted before 6's uneven laughter joined the twins flickering.

It only lasted a moment or too. 5 looking over noticed the small puddle forming under 10 and the way she started to shiver.

"10, I'm sorry...your soaked and shivering." She nodded getting a bit to cold to chat back.

"Let's go upstairs and get you and 0 some warm oil." 9 suggested. 10 nodded, as 0 came over trailed closely by 3,4 and 6.

Reaching for her bag 10 was suprised when a pale arm reached out to carry it for her. 7 placed 10's bag on her back and gave her a small smile. She smiled back.

5 took 10's hand and led her and the others to the bucket lift. It was 2 floors up to 5's they could dry out and get some oil. The traveling of the day,the cold of the rain and then the excitment of finding friends, no more like finding family was starting to lull 10 into a rest cycle. She sighed contently and leaned against 5.

"Don't fall asleep yet 10. Were almost there." She nodded. Leaving the lift and moving past the fabric curtain 5 sat 10 and 0 on his 2 work cots and moved to get some oil warmed up. 3,4 and 6 spent the time running between the two work benches chatting, flickering and basking in the love of their friends.

In the better light of the workshop 9 started to really examine their new friends. He was almost taken back how much 0 looked like 8. But much darker fabic with many, sometimes crude patches. 0 also looked more intellegent then 8 ever did. His eyes held a kindness and protectiveness that reminded 9 of 2. His number mark was etched across his front chest. On his back there was a red folded knife with a little white + sign on it.

9 turned his attention to 10. She was much smaller then he originally thought. Much smaller, he placed her a bit taller then 3 and 4 but definately a bit smaller then 6. Her mark was over her eyes. The 1 started at her forehead and crossed over her eye down to her cheek. While the 0 seemed like a black eye over her other eye. She had hair, like 6, only brown matching her fabric, and it seemed to be made of strange fibers, like the hair on old toy dolls he had seen before. But 9 couldn't ignore the look on her face. She looked so weak.

5 gave 0 and 10 some hot oil to drink as 9 came over. "10, are you feeling ok?" Concern filled his voice. She smiled up weakly. "Yeah, 9...I'm fine." He didn't believe her. 5 put his hand on 9 shoulder pulling him away to the other side of the workshop, he beckoned 7 to join them.

In a hushed voice he explained "10's always been weak. I can't believe she's still functional. I once heard our creator say it was because she had too much soul for her body." "Is she in danger?" 7 asked. Suprising 9, perhaps she too had noticed how weak 10 looked? How child like, so much like the twins and 6?

"I don't think so but to be safe I think I should give her and 0 a full check up after they rest." 5 whispered.

9 looked back and gasped, already 10 had fallen asleep. 3 and 4 covered her with a rag while 6 stroked her hair. Carefully removing the only half drunken oil in the small crudely made cup. They knew how weak she was. They remembered.

"I think It's about time we all got some rest." Spoke 7 putting one hand each of the twins. 9 sighed contently , 7 was so protective of them, of all of them.

7 led 3 and 4 out and she called back for 6 to follow. The twins and 6 now shared a room and it worked well. He drew and they cataloged every drawing. Plus when 6 awoke from a nightmare the sight of the twins nearby almost always calmed him. He hated to be alone. 1 and 8 always made him sleep in the cold, dark throne room corner alone at night. In the rare moments 6 found the courage, he had begged 1 to let him sleep somewhere else. The older stitckpunk always refused. Although 2 and 5 had made him a nice bed to keep him warm, he often had to seek out 5, 2 or on the rare occation 7 when he became to frightened to sleep.

"Where would you like me to move her too?" 0 asked moving to pick up 10. "Just let her be," said 5 "She's no trouble here tonight."

9 instead suggested 0 share his room tonight since he had no doubt 7 would return to night watch as soon as she had the twins and 6 in bed. The bedroom was on the same floor as the workshop for saftey reasons. Going in the in main way, found a slightly larger bed surrounded by pages from books next to a smaller bed covered in inky drawings. To the right was another cut out in the wall covered with thick fabric much like the door to the workshop. This led to 9's room. To the left was another cut out, but this had a small wood plank on a hinge covering it. 7 prefered a bit more privacy and reminding 6 and the twins to knock was a saftey thing since 7 was never what one could call vunerable. Although there was enough room for 5 to share a room with 9, he still enjoyed sleeping in the bed he and 2 had made for him in the workshop.

After they left, 5 doused the light and moved to his bed on the other side of the room. Taking one last glimpes at 10's sleeping form, 5 shut his optics hoping for a peaceful night's rest.

About 2 hours later a cold wind blew through the workshop rousing 5. Funny, he could have swore he closed the thick cloth door, that usually kept even the coldest drafts out. Looking out he noticed half of the door was pulled back and opened. He glanced for 10 and seeing the work cot empty jumped to his feet.

Fear filled his thoughts. "Where could she have gone?" Grabbing his pack. He hurried out the door only to skid to a halt in his tracks.

There was 10 leaning against the wood railing right outside the door. At first 5 thought she was looking at the stars through a gap in the roof, the rain having stopped and the moonlight shimmering down on her. But the small whimper of pain that passed her lips shook that idea violently from his mind.

10 was clutching her chest tightly. "10? What wrong?" Wild, pain brimmed, optics greeted his. "It...hurts...hurts...5." The uneven clicking of gears out of place suddenly seemed deafing, mentally, 5 abused himself "How could he have missed that sound?" 2 always taught him to listen to gears as much as how the stitchpunk said they felt!

10 raspy voice brought him back "Where's....0? I need...0." Her optics shuttered and 5 barely got his arms around her before she collaped.

Scooping her up he carried her back to the workshop, laying her back on the work cot, he switched his lights on. Gently and with expert fingers he undid the 3 frog claps across her chest. Her optics fluttered half open and she tried with all her remaining strengh to push 5 hands away, mumbling fear filled words that he didn't understand. "Easy 10, its me. I'm going to help take the pain away." 5 reassured stroking her forehead. Seeming to understand 10 collasped back.

As gently as he could 5 pulled back her fabic. She hissed slightly in pain. His fears were confimed as he saw one of her gear was missing 3 teeth and kept jumping place. This caused shaking and pain to her small frame. He also noticed she seemed to have a bit of rust forming on her gears. Proof she had a hard life in the wasteland, that cold emptiness. 1 had alway demanded they find shelter to keep this very thing from happening.

5 sighed he could replace the gear with minimal pain but the rust would have to buffed off. And that was a slow, painful process. Looking up towards her face, he thanked the creator that 10 appeared to have passed out from the pain. If he worked fast he could have the gear replaced before she awoke.

Rummaging through the scrap pile in the shop he almost yelped for joy when he found an perfect match. 5 made it a habit of keeping gears and wires that he found that might be useful and since 10 was about the twins size he had something handy.

The process was quick thanks to the journeyman's skill. As 5 was about to close her up his gaze dropped to something that should not be there. In her upper chest and slightly to the left of her voice box was a clear bead. Much like the one 1 had worn on his cape. It seemed to be pulsing. Curiously, 5 reached out touch it. A bright green light pulsed around him and engulfed him in a warm feeling. He never felt so warm, so loved, so at peace. It was like floating.

As quickly as it appeared it vanished, even the slight glow from the bead was gone.

"You shouldn't have touched that." 5 jumped, spinning around to lock optics with a very angry looking 0.

"S-she...she was in pain...I'm sorry..." For the first time 5 felt unsteady around his old friend, his gaze hit the floor much like it had when 1 yelled at him or 8 threatened him.

0 sighed, "Not your fault, she needed that gear fixed and I couldn't hope that someone skilled like you would miss such an obvious structure addition."

0 came over and put a friendly hand on 5 shoulder. He looked up. "What was that? It felt so strange and wonderful at the same time. So farmiliar."

"It was pure hope, pure happiness, pure love." 5 just looked at 0 "It was a complete soul."

It took a moment for 0's words and what he was saying to impact 5. He was well aware that himself and the others were splinters of there creator's soul. But as whole soul?

"How? Who?" 5 started. 0, looking back at 10 and seeing she was in a rest cycle began.

"She was the daughter of my creator. After I was created we became fast friends. I still can remember every detail of her human form and evey happy memory together. But..." 0 paused, then next part was hard, he had come to terms with it, but it still seemed wrong.

"But?" 5 prompted.

"It was right after the first walker attack, my creator forced her daughter's soul into 10. I still remember Tara Lynn,...10... screaming in pain. Begging her mother not to do this. When it was over Tara Lynn was gone and there was only 10."

5 was begining to get very angry, not a common emotion for him. "Before she awoke, my creator made me swear to protect her and I did but not for my creator's sake. For 10's. She didn't deserve that."

5 opened his mouth to voice his anger, right as 7 came bursting in. "Your darn right she didn't! Why didn't you stop your creator?!" 9 rushing in behind her.

"Ease dropping? 7?...9?" 5 started. 0 grunted, he hadn't ment for anyone else to learn the story. Just the healer.

"Well 0?" 7 demanded. 9 grabbed her arm. "7, it's not his fault? Could you have stopped our creator?" That seemed to strike a cord with 7 and she backed down. Going over to 10 she carefully sat on the bed and began to stroke her head. Despite 7 loud outburst, she has not stirred from her rest cycle.

7 ran her metal fingers through 10's neck length hair. 0 noticing, commented. "That's her...human hair." 7 hand stopped mid stroke. She paused, apparently thinking it over before she continued to comfort 10 in her rest cycle. "Her mother cut a small bit of it off her body an added it to 10."

"Does she remember being human?" 9 asked.

0 shook his head "No, I don't believe so. Sometimes when we would come across an object she and I have never seen before, she will just know it. What it was for, what it does....I don't think she's meant to remember." He said sadly, gazing at the sleeping 10.

5 shook his head, "So it was true, what our creator said about her having to much soul. No wonder she got so faint all the time."

"5?" 9 asked not understanding.

He sighed "We weren't created to handle that much...emotion. That's why 9 of us were born from just one human soul. No wonder her little frame felt like it was going to give out."

"And is she ever found out she was human to begin with?" 7 asked, almost a whisper.

"The stress could cause her to shut down...forever." 5 stated. "I'm sorry...this isn't something I can fix."

"Then let's never talk about it again. And not treat her like she's anthing but a stitckpunk, she's 10 now and part of our family." As 9 said this 0 smiled. "Thank you. I was worried when you found out you would make us leave."

"Do you think she'll wake back up tonight 5?" 7 asked. "I doubt it, that was an ordeal...speaking of ordeal....She has rust..." 5 let that statement hang in the air. The others there just looked at each other before looking back at 5.

"Rust? Is it bad?" Despite his size 0 seemed a bit shaken. They all knew how painful it was to remove rust.

"Not yet...but it should be removed as soon as possible." 5 sighed.

"Can you remove it now?" 0 asked suprising everyone. "After what she just went through?!" 7 leapted to her feet. 0 met her gaze just as strong. "If she won't wake up for awhile why not now?"

Breaking the tension 9 looked at 5 "5?" He sighed. "Yeah, I have almost everything I need. I could use some help though." "5, if your too tired..." 9 started before 5 interrupted "No, 0's right...with the pain this is going to cause...its best to do it now."

5 began again by opening 10 back up. She did not move. He took some steel wool and began to buff the rust off. The noise of metal scratching metal made 9 feel kinda woozy. He couldn't believe 5 was doing it with such concentration. It took about two hours before 5 put the steel wool down and taking a old rag gently dusted out the rust shavings from 10's senstive gears. He had just the strenght to give her one more check and close her tight before nearly passing out.

7 grabbed him and helped him back to his bed. "Is she?" 5 placed a hand on her shoulder. "She's going to very sore in the morning, but in a day or two she should be back to normal again.

The others departed for their rooms and finally for the second time that night 5, glancing back at 10, turned off the light.