A/N: Well, here I am, back again with another chapter! And on Halloween too! I find it kind of appropriate because 1. You guys ought to get an update as a Halloween gift, and 2, This chapter does have some pretty creepy stuff in it! New characters, a little shipping perhaps (keep your eyes peeled in this chapter, 5x6 shippers! ), and quite a bit of creepiness - it's all in this chapter! Oh, and as for the big creature with the red eyes who's holding 1 at the moment (who it will now directly state in the fic who he is, though you have probably guessed), imagine him having the voice of the Jabberwock from "American McGee's Alice" (look it up on youtube if you want). Anyway, I will not keep you waiting anymore! On with the fic!

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1's inner circuits felt like they had stopped for the briefest moment. How could that creature know about all this? About their souls... and now the Source... but what did it want with the Source? 1 was scared out of his wits, but he wasn't going to admit that - especially not to this creature. He remembered how 6's visions of "the Source" had actually turned out to be true, and even after all that, 1 had doubted him. With the situation he was in, 1 felt a slight guilt about not believing 6 earlier - he wouldn't be in this mess if he had. But that guilt was replaced by the need to get out of there, and even though the creature, whatever it was, seemed to be threatening to crush him, 1 felt that he had to just deny any knowledge of the Source - if this creature got hold of the information he wanted, 1 knew that nothing good would come out of it. So he stalled for time, glaring at the creature slightly.

"Who are you?"

The creature chuckled slightly, emitting a sound that seemed to be a combination of a growl and a laugh. "You mean you don't know, Fragment?" A claw from his other hand scraped noisily against the wall, causing his captive to cringe from the sound. "I am the Jabberwock."

The moment those words were uttered, 1 felt that same petrified feeling again, but it lingered this time. "Y-Y-You are th-the Jabberwock?" he said in a choked whisper - partially from the Jabberwock's claws squeezing him and partially from fright.

"Indeed I am," the Jabberwock said, his red eyes seeming to search 1, "and if you know what's good for you, you'll tell me what I need to know: Where is the Source?"

"If I did know anything about this Source," 1 said, trying not to show his fear, let alone the fact that he knew anything, "why would I tell you?"

"That's for me to know, and for you to find out, Fragment."

"You're being rather vague with all your jibber-jabber," 1 scoffed defiantly, "and just because you have me captive here doesn't mean-" he gasped as the Jabberwock's claws dug into him, threatening to tear him apart.

Atruum laughed slightly. "'Jibber-jabber', that's a good one!" His speech was instantly muffled when the Jabberwock tilted and eye toward him.

"I will find it, one way or another," the Jabberwock hissed, "whether from your mouth or not. There are ways, there are ways..."

After what seemed like a moment of silence, the Jabberwock's red eyes suddenly narrowed. staring hard into 1's. The elder stitchpunk tried to resist, but the Jabberwock's pull was too strong. He felt - and could then see - a series of images rushing through his head - first awakening in the world, humans dying, the machines destroying everything, meeting the others, the Fabrication Machine, tearing up one of 6's drawings... And then suddenly, in a rush, it all stopped, the presence gone as he came back into the present moment. The Jabberwocvk growled slightly.

"Well what do you know," he snarled at 1, "you do know of the Source... but you don't know exactly where it is..." a smirk passed over his face, "You do know around where it is however... not an exact location, but so close - that's clear at any rate. That's good, that's good, it saves time." A low laugh escaped the Jabberwock. "You know what they say - a stitch in time saves nine. At least you know enough to be of some use to me. But how to use it... the Source.. the key to the portal... that, you do not know."

"What?" 1 questioned in a whisper. The Jabberwock was right in the fact that he did know of the Source, of course - they all did - but what else did his captor mean? "What do you-"

"SILENCE!" the Jabberwock roared, glaring hard at 1. "You will find out when the time comes." One claw threateningly dug harder into 1 before loosening. "But as I said, there are other ways to find out..."

The Jabberwock gazed around, staring off into the pathway that led to the cavern entrance. "You are bait for the others," he said, "and they will come for you." He stared hard at 1 again, his flaming red eyes leering. "I can see now that you do not know the information I want of the Source, so you cannot tell me..."

The Jabberwock's eyes turned back toward the cavern entrance, focusing.

"But there is one of your kind who can..."

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After stopping for a brief minute for 2 and 5 to repair the damage done to 7, 4, and 6, the group of stitchpunks exited the library, traveling back to the watchtower. Due to the urgency of their mission, it didn't take them as long to get back as it had been to get to the library. However, the closer they got to the watchtower, the more nervous 6 seemed to become.

"Are you okay, 6?" 5 asked, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. He hated seeing 6 upset.

The young seer turned slightly toward 5, looking serious as he spoke. "It's just... that presence..." he clutched his papers tightly, "it might - it will - come back."

5 frowned in sympathy. He couldn't stand to see 6 feeling so scared. 6 was normally one of the brave ones of the group - there had been several times before when 6 had saved his life, and not just through the inner knowledge in his visions - 6 had helped 5 to stand up for himself, and shown him how to be brave. To see 6 like this unnerved 5.

"It'll be okay, 6" 5 said with a small smile. 6 managed to smile back.

Just as they reached the watchtower (it was one of the few bits of the old cathedral that had survived the fire), 6 whirled around.

"What is it, 6?" 2 asked quietly.

"I hear something..." 6 whispered, before pointing out a pair of wide eyes staring at them in a darkened area. A second pair quickly arrived, glaring at the first.

"Nice going, Cevox," the second pair of eyes said to the first, "Now they know we're here!"

"It wasn't my fault Durus!" the first protested, "it's hard to see in these dark corners!"

7 brandished her spear threateningly. "Show yourself!"

The second pair of eyes narrowed at the first again, sighing. "Fine then."

The two creatures stepped out of the shadows, revealing themselves at last. They seemed to be a type of bird - almost looking like a live mop. They weren't quite as big as the bandersnatch, but enough to carry a few stitchpunks on their backs.

"If you must know," the taller one said with a slight roll of his eyes, "I am Durus, and my younger brother here is Cevox."

5 spoke up, a little nervous. "Are.. are you working for the... the..."

Durus grunted in disgust. "That bandersnatch? Ugh, no!" A slight shudder passed through him. "I'd rather die than follow him."

5 and the others let out a sigh of relief. 7 lowered her spear.

"The bandersnatch works for the Jabberwock," Cevox explained.

"You mean 1 was taken to the Jabberwock?!" 9 gasped.

"Afraid so," Cevox nodded.

The stitchpunks looked at each other. It seemed like they were going to have to - somehow - face the Jabberwock in order to get 1 back.

Suddenly Cevox's eyes focused on one of the stitchpunks in particular. "Of course..." he stepped a little closer to 6, "you're the seer!"

"If you even think about hurting my friend - " 5 started, moving closer to 6 and gripping his hand, before Durus raised a wing to stop him.

"We do not intend to hurt your friend in any way - or the rest of you," he added reassuringly. "It's just... all I know is that we need to be careful for that one."

The stitchpunks each got a nervous glance in their optics. "What do you mean?" 7 asked.

"I don't really know what it is," Cevox explained all I know is that we need to look out for him."

"You're borogoves, aren't you?" 6 suddenly asked, causing the others to turn to him.

Durus looked startled, but Cevox spoke up, smiling a little. "Yes, we're borogoves - I see you picked up on that."

6 smiled, looking at them for a moment. "Don't worry," he said to the others, "they're good. I can tell.

Everyone immediately relaxed. 6's ability to know these things never ceased to come in handy.

The two borogoves looked up at the watchtower briefly. After a moment, Durus spoke.

"If you want," he said slowly, "we can fly you up there."

"You can?" 2 asked, a little excitement in his voice. "Really?"

"Sure!" Cevox said, "climb up!"

After a slight hesitation, all of the stitchpunks managed to climb onto either Cevox or Durus. They made sure to hold onto the borogove's feathers as tightly as they could.

"Hold on!" Cevox announced just before they lifted off.

The liftoff was slightly startling, but after a moment, everyone settled. The twin's optics flashed in excitement, 8 spread his arms out wide like a bird, and 9 shouted. "Look at me, I'm flying!"

7 rolled her optics in exasperation at 9's remark, but couldn't help smiling.

In what seemed to be almost a few seconds, the stitchpunks and the two borogoves reached the top of the watchtower.

"You know," 2 said with a grin as the stitchpunks planted their feet on solid ground again, "I think I'm liking these two already!" This remark caused everyone to laugh slightly.

After this brief moment, 6 eyed the telescope and ran over to it quickly. "I think I can see where the bandersnatch might have taken 1 from there." He attempted to see through the proper height of the telescope, but he couldn't quite reach.

"Just tilt it upward," Cevox offered before getting slapped by his older brother.

"That just allows him to see the sky!" Durus snapped in exasperation.

"Don't worry 6, I'll help you!" 5 kindly offered, holding 6 up a little so he could see.

After a moment of searching, 6 called out. "It's in that direction. That's where we need to go!"

After putting 6 down, 5 glanced through the telescope. It showed a barren part of the Emptiness that they had never been to before.

"There?" 5 gulped, "That's never been explored before!"

"I know," 6 said quietly, "but it's where we need to go-" all of a sudden, he stopped talking, a dazed look in his optics. The young seer squeezed his eyes shut, though it seemed as if they wanted to open, despite 6's efforts.

"No... no..." 6 whispered, "Stop... get out.. get out!"

"6!" 5 cried out, becoming panicked. "6, what's wrong?!"

The others hesitantly started to approach 6, who was now hunched over on the ground, shaking and murmuring. Suddenly, everyone jumped back when 6 let out a cry.

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"

All at once, 6's eyes flashed open, but they were no longer the same color as normal. They were a terrifying fire-red color. And when 6 spoke. It was not just with his own voice, but overtaken by another voice. "Where is the Source"

"Holy stitchthreads, what is going on?!" 7 gasped.

"It's the Jabberwock!" Covox whispered in shock.

"Where is it?!" the voice coming from 6 demanded as 6 lunged at 5, his hands gripping 5's arms, almost clawing. "Where is the Source?!"

5 was just as terrified as everyone else - more so, in fact. 6 was his best friend - he had always been there for him, no matter what. He had to be brave and do the same.

"6!" 5 said desperately, looking into his optics.

For a moment, the red glow in 6's optics seemed to fade ever so slightly.

"Again," Cevox said, "call to him again, 5!"

"6!" 5 looked into 6's optics, pleading, "I know that the real you is in there somewhere! You've helped me to get through what I didn't think I could on my own, you were always there for me... now I need to help you do the same! I won't abandon you 6!" 5 gripped 6's hand, searching 6's optics desperately. "Please, 6..."

Slowly, the red glow in 6's eyes faded, and he fell, shaking and gripping 5 tightly.

"I'm sorry."

Relieved, 5 tightly hugged 6, shaking slightly as well. "What happened 6?"

6 was silent before looking directly into 5's one optic.

"The Jabberwock..." he swallowed before continuing. "It's trying to take me over."

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The Jabberwock looks for what 6 knows,

Searching over for the Source.

And as stitchpunks meet two borogoves,

6 is taken over by the Jabberwock's force.

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A/N: Well, there you go! Oh the suspense! New characters arrived, but 6 got possessed! Dun dun DUUNNNN!! Happy Halloween, you guys! Hope you liked it!