Note: The last scene was inspired by a WALL-E fan fic I found on the Internet. I'm afraid I can't recall its title or its author.
CHAPTER TEN
--One week later--
Blue optical sensors observed the scenery of Earth. Although it was still a far cry away from how it looked prior to the excessive pollution, the humans were clearly working hard to restore that beauty. They had to at least be given credit for that.
It had taken some time, but Skids had explained to the leader of the human colony on what was going on, giving him a full detail of the events concerning the Axiom and the Decepticons, as well as a brief recap of Cybertronian history (or at least what was relevant to present time). In the end, the Autobot was thanked for his help, especially for bringing the last passengers of the other starliners back to Earth.
Of course, Skids knew that he couldn't have done any of it without the help of WALL-E and EVE. But seeing as they had already saved the world once, they were more than comfortable with letting him get most of the praise. Between this show of generosity and their overall caring personalities, Skids almost regretted having to leave.
Turning away from the view, the Autobot agent saw WALL-E and EVE themselves moving up to him, holding each other's hand as usual. Smiling, Skids got down on his knee to greet them.
"I can't thank you two enough for helping me out. If it weren't for you, Fearstorm would have done me in, Viral would have succeeded, and Windtrail... well, he'd probably still be dead, but that's besides the point. I'm in your guys' debt."
WALL-E looked down at his treads as he shifted them in a modest gesture. EVE, meanwhile, looked up at the Autobot with a smile in her optics. She extended her free flipper arm at him.
"Friends?" she hummed.
"Heck yeah," Skids said as he took the arm between two fingers and shook it. "We're buddies until the end."
WALL-E warbled happily as he offered his own hand, which Skids shook as well. The Autobot then straightened up and looked off towards the setting sun.
"I guess this is where we part ways," he said ruefully. "I've cobbled together a ship from the Axiom's escape pods and Transwarp drive, so I'm all set to go."
WALL-E's optics hung down sadly. "See you... again?"
Skids shrugged. "I can't say when we'll meet again, but I promise you that we will at some point."
"Promise."
Skids grinned. "Cross my spark."
With a happy cry, WALL-E rolled up to Skids and hugged his legs. The Autobot chuckled at the gesture as he bent down to pat the smaller robot's head.
"You're all right, little guy. You would make a good Autobot."
He then stepped away from the two robots before raising his hand and splitting his middle two fingers apart, making a V-shape.
"Live long and prosper."
"Huh?" WALL-E said.
"Never mind." Skids simply gave them a normal wave instead. "Farewell. Be good. Don't be a stranger. Always hold hands-- then again, you've already got that down pat."
EVE giggled as she squeezed WALL-E's hand. The two robots then watched their Autobot friend transform and drive off towards the sunset, waving after him.
--AD 2014--
"So the mission was a success?"
"Yes, sir," Skids replied over Prowl's communicator. "Windtrail's scheme has been put to a stop... though it wasn't really his scheme in the end."
"Is that right?" Prowl said. "Where is Windtrail now?"
"Dead. At the hands of one of his cronies, no less."
"And what about them?"
"Fearstorm's dead, and Viral tumbled out into space. I was able to retrieve him, though it appears he's gone into permanent stasis lock."
"I don't care if he's morphed into a petro-rabbit, as long as he's out of the way." Prowl paused for a moment before saying. "After you've taken him to Garrus-16, I have another mission for you."
"Sheesh, when do I get a break?"
"It's urgent, and it's needed in the present day."
"What is it?" Skids asked.
"Kill Rollbar."
All was silent for a moment. When Skids spoke again, his voice was quieter than a whisper. "Understood."
Satisfied with the answer, Prowl ended the call, returning his attention to the stream of data on his screen.
--AD 2805--
"WALL-E...." There was concern in EVE's voice as she followed WALL-E through the corridors of the Axiom. He paid no heed to her; he knew what he was doing.
They eventually reached the Axiom's bridge and entered the darkened room. The green ray shield was still in place, giving them a clear view of the ground below. But WALL-E was not here for sight-seeing; he was here to help a friend.
Upon noticing the two robots' arrival, AUTO swiveled around to face them. EVE instinctively tensed but WALL-E calmed her by taking her hand in his. He then rolled up to the autopilot, bravely staring into his single red optic.
"AUTO," the trash bot squeaked. "Thank... you."
AUTO blinked. "Why are you thanking me?"
"You... helped... us. You... did good. Thank you."
AUTO regarded him carefully. "I tried to kill you. I nearly succeeded. Why...."
WALL-E tilted his head when the autopilot paused. "Hmm?"
"Why are you being nice to me?" AUTO's monotonic voice had lowered to a near whisper. "How... how can you forgive me?"
"Directivvve," WALL-E replied, still struggling to pronounce the word. "Had... no choice. But now... new directive."
After saying that, he opened up his chest compartment and brought out a wide, flat box with wheels. Pressing a button on it caused a metal pole to shoot up. EVE then flew up and removed AUTO's control base from the ceiling before attaching it to the pole. Ignoring the autopilot's protests, WALL-E then began to wheel him up to the turbolift and headed down with EVE to the ship's exit.
AUTO was silent along the way. It wasn't until they were at the threshold of the boarding ramp that he spoke again. "What if the humans do not forgive me? I tried to prevent them from returning to Earth."
"But you help... rest return," EVE said. Although she was not ready to fully trust AUTO, she understood the reasoning behind WALL-E's forgiving the autopilot. "You did good."
AUTO fell silent again, watching the humans and robots work together. Then, in a quiet tone, he said, "Must follow... my directive."
WALL-E chirped approvingly before rolling AUTO out into the sunlight, into the new world they were building.
To think, all it had taken was a new directive to abide, a new number to flash on his screen, to make him a different person. But AUTO knew it would be fore the better. He would keep to his word.
Directive A332: Preserve Earth.
THE END
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