Disclaimer: I don't own anything that appears in this fanfic, I just wrote it. 9, all characters, places, and things that are connected to it are property of Shane Acker, Tim Burton, and Timur Bekmambetov.

Note: Alright, so did anyone else see the movie and go, "Wait, so how did 3, 4, and 7 end up separated from the others, presumed dead?" Okay, so knowing 7's character it's pretty obvious. But what about 3 and 4? According to everything given about them, they were naturally too shy and pretty easily startled to just up and leave the safety of their hideout when there's danger out there. That idea kinda expanded for me to a general fanfic of how they all functioned as a team before 9 came around. It will deal with that initial issue, though, of course. Wow, that rant ended up longer than I intended it, lol.

Note 2: Since this fanfic was originally a one-shot that got expanded, it now has chapters. This one is very short, but I'm hoping the others will turn out a lot longer. Please bare with me, as this is my first 9 fanfic.

Note 3: If you're reading this in lieu of all of my Transformers fanfics I'm supposed to be working on… I'm sooooo sorry! But 9 kinda took over my life after I saw it, and I was having major writers block with those! I promise, I'll try to do some more Transformers stuff when I get a chance!

Note 4: Cause I can. 6 needs love! Okay, I'll shut up and get to the fanfic now.

Chapter 1

"3! 4!"

Two sets of glass eyes peeked out from behind the book its owners cowered behind.

"I know you're back here, boys!"

As the figure approached they quickly retreated, trying to sneak off before he could identify them. As they turned, though, they hit something quite large.

"Hello, boys," 8 sneered down at the twins. He grabbed for them, but the smaller dolls turned and dashed. Their way was cut off by the eldest of them, however.

"3 and 4," 1 pursed his mouth, narrowing the shutters of his eyes and knitting the stitches above them together. He shook his head. "What am I going to do with you two? 7 just returned from her patrol with this." He held up a clipping from an old newspaper. It was dated during the war.

The twins' eyes clicked excitedly, reaching out for the large scrap of paper.

1, however, pulled it away. "You boys know the rules. We do not bring the past into our sanctuary. 7 will be duly punished for trying to sneak this to you. As for you two. Well…" he passed the article to 8.

"Let me know if this hurts," 8 mocked, ripping the flimsy paper into small pieces. The twins watched helplessly. 4 reached out for it, but 3 grabbed his arm, flickering a warning to him.

"Now, boys, I am going to say this one last time," 1 warned. "Leave the past out there. It isn't welcome here." He then turned with a huff, 8 snarling at they left.

3 and 4 waited until they were gone before dropping down next to the tiny pieces of newspaper. 3 put an arm around his brother's shoulders. Their eyes communicated for a moment before 3 smiled. 4 brightened as well.

A sound behind them caused them to jump, dashing back behind the nearest book. 7 chuckled. "It's okay, boys. It's me."

The twins peeked out from behind their book, running over to her excitedly. They clicked and zipped around her, searching everywhere.

"Whoa, whoa!" she laughed, lifting her arms so she wouldn't accidentally hit one. "Not so fast, I don't have anything!" They immediately stopped, looking at each other then at the ground. "I'm sorry, boys. I did have something, but 1 confiscated it."

They looked at each other again, scurrying to the pile of paper. Their eyes flickered, assumably to tell what happened. And though she couldn't understand them, it was quite plain to see. "Oh, guys, I'm so sorry…" she said softly. "I know how much those mean to you." 3 patted her shoulder, shaking his head. He then turned to one of the books, his eyes projecting the article as 1 had held it. 7 laughed. "Oh, you little geniuses!" she smirked, ruffling his hood. She then looked thoughtful for a moment. "You know, there is one thing, but…" she looked unsure. "We'll have to break 1's rules."

The twins looked at each other, flickering rapidly. They then shook their heads, retreating back into their books. They didn't dare defy 1's laws again. They feared already too much for the precious history they collected.

7 sighed. "It's alright, I understand. But I promise I'll take you to it someday. And then… then you won't have to be afraid anymore."

(1) - (2) - (3) - (4) - (5) - (6) - (7) - (8) - (9)

1 paced under the stained glass of the top floor of their hiding place. "Those twins are too curious. 2 is always asking questions. 7 is too bold. And 5 follows 2 like a… like a twisted puppy!" he snapped at no one in particular. 8 just nodded and 6 cowered in his corner, inked fingers raking across the paper before him. "You two are the only ones among us I can really trust. The others will be the end of us!"

"No, no, it's not the end…" 6 muttered, continuing his drawings. They all seemed to be of the same number, scattered with an odd symbol. "There's still one more… we must find the last one…" He held up the paper he'd been working at.

"I told you to stop blathering about that!" 1 snapped, marching over and taking the paper from the striped doll. "There is no other! If there ever was, he's dead!"

"B-b-but-!"

"No, I am the leader, and I say there is no other!" 1 yelled, ripping the paper in half and throwing it to the side. "Find another vision to obsess over!"

6 whimpered, retreating to his corner and another paper. He took a deep breath, emptying his mind of the fear. Of everything he could. And he began his new drawing with a circle.

(1) - (2) - (3) - (4) - (5) - (6) - (7) - (8) - (9)

7 sighed as she entered into 2 and 5's workshop, shaking her head miserably. "7, my dear. What is the matter?" the kind old inventor asked, approaching. He had been bent over an object he and his apprentice had found in the emptiness. He always had time to sooth a wary soul, though.

"1 is on another power trip. He destroyed a clipping I brought back for the boys," the warrior grumbled, lifting herself to sit on a makeshift table.

"Oh, that's too bad," 2 shook his head sadly. "They do so love those little pieces of history you find. But you must remember, what he does he does for the good of us all."

"Ha! He doesn't care about anything but his own authority!" 7 scoffed. "If he cared about us he'd understand that none of us can help how we are. I can no sooner stop exploring the Emptiness than you can stop inventing, or 3 and 4 can stop researching."

"I know, dear, I know," 2 patted her leg in understanding. "5 is as restless as you are, even if not as bold. But you both have to understand that as long as the danger is out there we need 1 to guide us. He understands that danger better than anyone."

7 shook her head. "How can you believe that? He hasn't been out there anywhere near as much as us! He leads by nothing but his own fear!" She seethed and huffed a moment before turning to him again. "What about you?" You're the smartest of us, and you're much braver than him! Why don't you lead us?"

2 chuckled lightly. "7, I am not brave. I am simply old and foolish." He held up a hand before she could argue. "I am also not a leader. While I appreciate your confidence in me, you must think carefully. I do not have power like 1, nor authority. No one would follow me."

"I would."

7 and 2 turned to the cloth-covered entrance where 5 stood. 2 smiled gently, shaking his head. "My boy, I never doubted you would for a moment. However…"

"I'd follow you too," 7 interrupted. "And I know the twins would."

5 walked over, putting a hand on 2's shoulder. "And I know if I talked to 6..." he began.

The elder put a metal hand on his to quiet him, though. "Please. I have no desire to lead, and even if I did I could never lead as 1 does."

7 snorted. "That's why you'd be a better one than him."

"7, you should have confidence in 1. I do."

There was silence as the female doll mulled this over. She then pushed herself off of the table. "Well, if you trust 1 then I guess you were right. You are just old and foolish."

"7-!"

2 put a hand on 5's arm as she left. "No, 5. Let her go. It's quite alright, I assure you. You are both simply young and impatient." He hobbled back to the trinket he'd been looking over. 5 quickly joined him. "The time will come when you will know who to follow. It may not be 1, may not even be me. But the important thing is that you will decide who it is on your own."