Leland and Rod sat in silence with Holly and Siddley in the hospital hallway. They were all waiting to hear the news. Holly kept glancing from the floor to the clock.
"It's taking so long Sidd…" Holly whispered. "What if…?"
Siddley put a hand on her shoulder. "Operations like these can take awhile Holly… Panicking won't help… Just be still… But just so you know, I am worried too… I want him to make it out alive."
Holly looked at the ground again. "Oh Sidd… Just… the condition he was in at that last mission… I'm surprised he was able to even get to us."
"A miracle I suppose… but either way… there are some good doctors operating on him… That, and Finn is a strong soul… He'll pull through. I know he will."
He better… Leland thought, gripping his right cufflink a little. Or I'll give him the hardest time ever in the afterlife… A good shake and maybe a toss.
Rod nudged Leland a little.
"You can go in that OR and see what's happening you know… No one can stop you." he suggested.
"I don't know if I WANT to Rod." Leland sighed. "Not sure I want to see my best friend being cut wide open and having who knows what being done to him."
"I can understand… But seriously, if you're this worried about him… I would go in there… maybe do something if you need to… You're his protector after all."
Leland milled over the thought for a moment before getting up, sighing a little.
"Keep Holly calm… I'll be back."
Rod gave a small salute. "Will do."
Leland headed for the OR doors, closing his eyes for a moment as he passed through them. Soon as he was on the other side he could hear all the chatter that was going on between the doctors and nurses.
"Stabilizer, we're losing him!" a doctor shouted.
Leland's eyes went wide.
No…
He hurried over to the operating table, keeping his eyes averted from the operation.
I don't want to see ANYTHING.
He kept his eyes locked on the patient's face… Finn's face. There was no expression but what terrified Leland was how pale he was.
Don't give up now Finn...You got so much time left in this world…
Leland walked over to him, placing his hand on Finn's forehead. He closed his eyes, syncing his thoughts with Finn's. In an instant, he found himself in a place that was completely black. No light at all.
Can't see a thing in here…
He drew out his Anchor Gear, focusing.
Please work… I know I just learned how but please work.
He felt the change come over him again as he shifted from mechanid to car.
"Phew… alright, let's put this form to use."
He flipped on his headlights. As they illuminated the area he found the place he was in was all stone. There were tons of cracks… and he could see oil and blood stains on the ground.
"What in Machina…?"
He drove around searching, shining his headlights in various places, only finding more cracks and stains as he went on.
"Finn!" he called out, hearing his voice echo off the walls. "Finn! Where are you?!"
"L-Leland?" Finn's voice called from the darkness. The spy looked around trying to spot Leland. "Wh-Where are you?"
"I'm coming, just stay where you are I'll find you!"
Leland drove towards where he heard Finn's voice, shining his headlights in Finn's direction. Soon enough, he found his friend.
"There you are…"
"Yeah…" Finn looked him over. "That's still going to be hard to get used to…" He looked to something he was holding. "It's so dark in here… I didn't think anyone would spot me…"
"Well.. having headlights helps… But my Anchor Gear will work too." Leland shifted back to his mechanid form, pulling out his Anchor Gear to provide light before kneeling down in front of Finn looking him over. He noticed he was dressed… rather similar to how he was before he became a Remembered… and he still had a gunshot wound on his chest with a blood stain on his shirt to match.
Leland cringed a little. "Please tell me you're not in pain."
"It's on and off…" He sighed. "I'm fine for the most part… It's just unsettling." He explained getting up cringing. "Just sore…"
Leland helped him steady a bit. "Easy…" He noticed Finn had something clenched in his left hand. "What have you got there?"
"You'll recognize it." Finn said as he showed him… A glowing gear that resembled an Anchor Gear. "I woke up with it here…"
Leland's eyes went wide. "An Anchor Gear…?" He was baffled. "But… you don't have a contract… why do you…?"
"I wish I could answer that question… It was here with me, that's all I can really explain… It's been lighting my way." He sighed looking around. "I just wish I knew how to get out of here… I blacked out after Holly got me into the plane... What happened?"
Leland narrowed his eyes. "You were taken to a clinic to be operated on… That's what's going on right now."
Finn cringed. "Wonderful…. I'll be out of work for awhile then…"
Leland whacked him upside the head. "I know you love your work, and so did I, but good grief Finn you just got shot in the bloody heart! I think a vacation is in order for you!"
"Ouch!" Finn cringed rubbing his head. "Alright, you win, you're right… That was foolish…"
"Just… loosen up a little…" Leland shuddered. "Ugh… Rod has been rubbing off on me too much…"
Finn couldn't help but smirk a little. "I've noticed. Not in a bad way though."
Leland chuckled a little. "I suppose…" His eyes landed on the gear in Finn's hand. Something is bugging me about that… Why does he have one? "But enough of that… maybe we should try finding our way out of here?"
"Right." Finn narrowed his eyes. "Let's do it… I think if I see another blood covered wall I'm going to start kicking things in…" I don't know why I'm dressed like this… Or why I have a gear like his… Something doesn't feel right here…
"Come on then…"
Leland lead him along, looking around.
It just goes on and on…
"Things that training could never prepare us for…" Leland commented as he looked around. "I don't think dealing with never ending spaces was in there."
"I concur, they prepared us for being shot at, for high speed chases, how to shoot… But navigating this?" Finn chuckled a bit. "We would've flunked it."
"Who was it of us who had the worse sense of direction? I forgot."
"He who denied it, was it." Finn smirked. "You needed a GPS for the longest time.'
Leland gave a sheepish look. "It was either that or clinging to you 24/7."
"Good point.. At least you got it eventually. Though you were always the better shooter."
"Everyone has their strengths… Ah… now I'm thinking of our days back at the academy."
"Oh those were the days…" Finn sighed in nostalgia. "We were so young and I'll admit it… There was an ego for a time…"
He glanced to the side and stopped short… Playing on the wall was one of said memories of the academy, showing a young Finn and Leland working through an obstacle course at the academy.
Leland followed his gaze, his eyes going wide.
"That's… That's us!"
"From a long time ago…" Finn murmured. "... Long before the mustaches too…"
The memory faded as another appeared. Finn cringed looking away quickly…
The image was back on the oil rig when Leland's body had been thrown before Professor Zundapp.
That memory… Even now haunts me…
Leland felt a chill go through him.
So that's what happened to my body after I was shot…
He looked at the memory seeing Finn's horrified expression as his eyes beheld Leland dead before Zundapp who had a foot on his head.
"Finn…"
"I…" Finn looked down. "That was the worst moment of my life… It was horrible…"
Leland gave him tight side hug.
"Didn't think Zundapp put you through that… I didn't… think you saw me after what they did to me."
Finn returned the gesture sighing. "I didn't have much time… After that, a flare caught my shadow and they discovered me… Had to fake my own death to get them off of me."
"Some things never change…" Leland sighed as well. "I was out for awhile…" He held his Anchor Gear out, opening a window, showing the area he had awakened in. "I woke up again on that same platform after who knows how long… It was still during the mission…"
"Goodness…" Finn frowned. "I'm… I'm sorry… I wish I could've done something…"
"Wasn't your fault… I got caught… Simple as that… I just hoped you hadn't wound up dead when you got to the platform since I had already met that fate."
"Well I'm not dead yet…" Finn cringed bringing a hand to his chest. "Ngh…!"
"Finn?" Leland stopped walking, turning his full attention to Finn, kneeling down with him. "Is the wound hurting again? What's wrong?"
"I…"
There was voice's echoing around them.
"Charge the AED! Hurry it up!"
"Of all the times for this to happen he picks NOW!?"
Finn cried out. "MAKE IT STOP!"
Leland's eyes widened in horror. Oh no…
He gripped Finn's hands tightly.
"Hang in there mate… I'm gonna help you…"
Whatever powers I have… help him…
Leland's gear glowed brightly before some of the golden energy transferred over to Finn, encircling him, bringing relief with it.
Finn relaxed, panting a little, closing his eyes. "Thank you…" He whispered.
Leland had Finn lean against him. "Anytime mate… You poor thing…"
"I don't know how much more of this I can take to be honest…" Finn said gripping the gear in his hand tighter. "I just… It's tempting to just let go…"
Leland felt another chill go through him.
"Please… don't… Finn… That… That would-"
CRACK!
Leland cringed. "Augh!"
Finn's head snapped up. "L-Leland!? What's wrong?" He asked looking him over.
Nothing seemed to be wrong… before he noticed something about Leland's Anchor Gear… There was crack in forming on the edges and on the symbol in the middle of it. Leland followed where Finn was looking.
"W-What the…?"
"Your gear... " Finn gasped. "It's… It's cracking…"
Leland trained his mind trying to figure out why it was doing that… then it dawned on him.
"My contract… Once it is fulfilled… and I feel I've done my purpose… it ends."
"But…. No!" Finn grabbed his shoulders. "I.. Please tell me there was someone else! I couldn't be the only person you were guarding!"
Leland gave a sad look.
"Finn… I didn't have anyone else… you were it."
Finn's eyes went wide in horror. "I… I can't lose you! Not again!" He looked at himself as his body went transparent for a moment. "No… I'm not ready! I can't die!"
Leland couldn't take it. He grabbed his friend, pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Losing you… my best friend… my only friend… would kill me… for good."
Finn hugged him back, tears coming to his eyes. "You're not just my best friend… You're my brother! I… I won't leave… I refuse to… I can't lose you again…"
"Heaven is something we all will go to eventually… but Finn… You still have so much time in this world… time I would've loved to have had… I don't want you losing it too…" Leland closed his eyes, tears streaking his face. "It would break Siddley and Holly's hearts if you left them now…"
"I wanted to see how they'd handle missions… How we'd keep working as a team… With you by my side…" Finn's voice cracked as he lowered his head. "Can't be the end…"
"Keep holding on then…" Leland held him close. There's gotta be a way to help him be stronger… his body is so weak right now…
"Leland."
Leland jumped a little at the sound of the voice… but relaxed as he recognized it.
"Who's there? Show yourself."
A young girl appeared before the two. She was dressed in a robe that consisted of various purples and had golden gear patterns on it She knelt before them.
"You remember me? Right?"
Leland nodded. "I recall your voice… you were the one who told me to take the form of my heritage… Who are you?
"I am Homura… the Law of Remembrance."
Leland's eyes went wide. "A-A goddess?!"
"Machina…" Finn whispered. "Remembrance… You're basically his boss?"
"Yes… It is my duty to be the past is not forgotten… the past of the mechanids… your ancestors."
Homura looked to Leland. She held out her hand, forming a small silhouette of his car from with golden energy.
"Remember?"
Leland nodded. "Yes…"
"You felt stronger right?"
"I did… and it felt natural… almost like I was supposed to be that way."
"Your ancestors would be happy to hear that… and it is normal you felt that way… it's a feeling that all mechanids have within them… it's where they came from."
"Our ancestors…"
"The living machines of legends…"
"Yes… The Remembereds, have the honor of being able to take this form to carry on the heritage. But it's only the rare few that are chosen that can do this. Those that are willing to risk everything to protect the ones they love… you proved that when you wanted to save your friend, Leland."
Leland looked to Finn. "I couldn't leave him there… I just couldn't…"
"He's always had my back." Finn smiled a little. "Like brothers."
Homura smiled. "A special bond… something I've seen a lot…"
There was a huge rumble that occurred, catching all three off guard.
Homura narrowed her eyes. "Never good…"
"CLEAR!" a voice called out.
Finn felt a jolt go through him as he cried out. "AUGH! N-Not again!"
Leland gripped his shoulders hard. "Homura… Please… do something!"
Homura shook her head. "It is not my place… but for you… you can do something… if you will allow me to grant you the ability."
"Please… I… I can't stand watching this!"
CRACK!
Another crack formed on his Anchor Gear.
"It's hurting me… just as much as it's hurting him…"
Homura closed her eyes, forming another silhouette of a car model, placing it in Leland's gear.
"Tap into the power you used earlier to take your machine form and focus it into Finn… It'll help him… It's going to hurt a little, but it'll stop not too long after… and it will save him… it all lies in your hands Leland."
Leland trembled a little. "B-But what if I…?"
Homura placed a hand on his shoulder. "Leland Turbo… have faith in yourself… I know you can do this…"
Leland was silent, completely still before nodding.
"O-Okay…"
Homura smiled, before disappearing.
"You'll know what to do."
Leland looked back to Finn before looking at the silhouette that was currently resting within his Anchor Gear.
"It's not my model… I know that…" It clicked in Leland's mind. Mine gave me strength… of course!
He gripped Finn's hands tightly, making sure he had his hand on Finn's gear.
"Finn… I'm gonna make it stop."
"I trust you… Do whatever it takes…" Finn cringed feeling another jolt. "Augh! Please!"
Leland closed his eyes, focusing… he felt some knowledge come to him as his Anchor Gear lit up brightly again… Finn's floating out of theirs hand, and taking a position alongside it.
"Finn… your body right now… the body of your soul is too weak right now to take on the pain you're going through… Homura… has allowed me to be able to save you by allowing you to change your form here into the form of your ancestors…" He looked Finn in the eyes. "You're of the Fautless GT lineage… their strength flows in you."
The silhouette that was in Leland's Anchor Gear moved away from it, going into Finn's gear, causing it to light up like Leland's.
"It's your choice if you wish to take their form…"
Finn narrowed his eyes in determination. "I know my choice…" He grasped the gear as light surrounded him.
"I CHOOSE TO LIVE!"
Leland closed his eyes as he was consumed in the light as well. He shifted back to his car form, waiting as Finn went through his change. Finn could still feel pain as the change took place but it slowly began to fade. When the bright lights finally disappeared, so did the pain.
"Finn?" Leland asked.
Where Finn once was, was a light blue Fautless GT. He opened his eyes, looking into Leland's. "I'm here… It doesn't hurt anymore… I feel stronger."
"Good… Homura's gift worked…" Leland drove around him, looking him over. "Quite the look too."
Finn looked down at himself, moving around. "It feels natural… Like how it should've been... Not bad either." He grinned. "Still could speed up."
"Yeah, I hear that… though honestly I still jump at my reflection."
A reflective wall appeared before the two. Leland looked at himself in the mirror, backing away a bit.
"Yep… still weird."
Finn drove closer to it, getting a better look at himself. "I rather like it." He chuckled. "Suits me."
Leland chuckled. "It does… and you resemble your mechanid self… you still kind have a mustache now that I look at you."
"So do you!" He laughed a bit. "The grill plates!"
Leland laughed as well. "Well that's just perfect!"
"Indeed." He grinned revving his engine a little. "Oh that's perfect…" He turned to the darkness ahead of them. "What's say we see who can get out of here first?"
Leland smirked, turning on his headlights. "You're on mate."
"Last one out is a trainee." Finn said before speeding off turning his headlights on.
Leland followed after him, going full power on his engine. He took a glance at the reflective walls to see his Anchor Gear on his side door. The cracks had healed up. He sighed in relief.
It's working…
He looked to Finn… seeing there was no sign of pain at all.
I was able to save him…
Thank you… Homura…
"Ms. Shiftwell?"
Holly looked up to see the head surgeon standing before her. She and Siddley had fallen asleep and had been using each other as means of a cushion for their heads.
"H-How is he…?"
The doctor gave a look of relief. "He pulled through. He's going to be alright."
Holly sighed in relief. "Thank goodness… Thank you… Sidd." She shook the pilot a little. "Wake up! Finn's alright!"
Siddley's eyes snapped open. "Oh thank Machina!" He looked to the doctor. "Can we see him?"
The doctor nodded. "Right this way."
He lead the two spies down a hallway to one of the rooms. In there, Finn was resting on a bed. He wasn't as pale as he was earlier and he didn't appear to have any sign of pain.
"Miracle he pulled through." The doctor started. "He was in and out of cardiac arrest but… he made it. Must have some angel looking after him or something."
Holly went over to his side taking his hand. "Just glad he made it through… Thank you doctor…"
The doctor nodded. "Anytime… Not sure when he'll wake up… just give him time."
The doctor left without another word.
Siddley joined Holly's side. "Either way… just glad he's alive… Nearly gave me a heart attack but hey, that's Finn for you."
"You never feel more alive than when you're almost dead." Holly giggled a bit quoting Finn's infamous phrase. "Just wish he wouldn't take that literally… He's going to hear it about scaring us when he wakes up."
"After he's able to get out of here I'm booking us a vacation. Don't care what he says, we freaking NEED one."
Finn stirred a little, squeezing Holly's hand a little. "Mgh…"
"Finn? You with us?" She asked, squeezing back gently. "Can you hear me?"
Finn slowly opened his eyes. His vision was blurry but it cleared within a moment or so.
"Holly…?"
"Right here Finn… Sidd's here too. How do you feel?" She asked smiling in relief. He's awake… He's alive… Thank Machina...
"Little tired… and like someone ran me over a few times… but… I'm okay…" he brought his free hand up to his heart, feeling the beat. "Still working…"
"Thank goodness for that… Give us a heart attack why don't you?" Holly shook her head. "You need to stop scaring us…"
Knowing Leland he's gonna give him heck for this one. Rod thought watching from the doorway.
"No promises…" Finn chuckled.
Leland appeared on the other side of Finn's bed, only visible to Rod. He stumbled on over to where he was, looking exhausted.
"I know you…" Holly smiled shaking her head.
Rod frowned, helping him keep steady. "You look like roadkill… What the heck happened in there?"
"A lot of things… but kind of saw Finn's life flash before his eyes… Oh yeah and saw my Anchor Gear crack a few times." Leland explained, slumping against Rod a little.
"WHAT!?" Rod helped him stand up, wide eyed. "Then he almost… He almost bit the big one!"
"Yeah… but we got help… I met our boss Rod… a GODDESS. She's a full blown GODDESS!"
Rod nearly dropped Leland. "A GODDESS!?" He yelled. "... Man… We really better not screw up then… A freaking GODDESS!?"
"Yep… She came in… She changed things… though not by her hands… She gave me the ability to change things. Where we were was inside Finn's mind… subconscious if you will… It was his soul I was interacting with… in there… he was able to do what I was able to do… he turned into a car Rod."
"That… Is amazing…" Rod breathed looking over to where Finn was. "Seriously…"
"I need to remember to teach you how to do it at some point… it's rather handy…"
"Please do so oh master of the machine arts." He smirked a bit. "Can't let you have all the fun now."
Leland rolled his eyes chuckling. "You'll like it… has a good feeling to it… Finn could tell you that…" He looked to his friend. He rather enjoyed it at that…
"Alright no arguments Finn, we're taking a vacation after you get checked out." Siddley said, crossing his arms. "We've been working non stop, I think we've earned one after this scare."
"Sidd's right! After the near heart attack you gave us, you owe us!" Holly agreed giving him a look.
"Alright, alright." Finn held up his hands in surrender. "You both win! We'll take a vacation! No work, just rest!"
"Excellent and I know just the place!" Siddley grinned. "Might be the winter season right now up there but the air there is good and it has a comfy place for us to stay in."
"Where?" Holly asked smiling. "Is it close by?"
"It'll take a flight to get there, but it's definitely not too long with me doing the flying… But our next destination is Piston Peak National Park."
"Hear that Rod? We're getting a vacation at one of the biggest national parks in the US." Leland said, grinning a little. "I hear it's quite the scenery."
Rod laughed. "With this lot a vacation will be interesting."
Just what the doctor ordered.
"Indeed… Another mission over… next stop… Piston Peak."