A couple of weeks had gone by since both incidents. Dusty would disappear for hours at a time to give Brody fuel and oil. As well as teach him.

Sarah, after finding out that her son had gotten into a fight with Ripslinger, made it clear that anyone who threatened her children were not welcomed.

Her father was more than happy to take him in. "I can't tell ya how hard it is to spread mulch and manure over the crops some days!" He had exclaimed.

Ripslinger had little say in this matter as he learned very quickly running his mouth got a gun trained on his head.

A farmer...They turned me into one of them!

As for Andy he had started to go off by himself as well but for other reasons. The idea that was stuck in his head had him going out to figure out hunting techniques...How to shoot a gun. He didn't need to ask for permission to use the guns. If his grandson wanted them his grandfather was happy to oblige.

My dad could get us all killed… He thought one of these afternoons taking aim at a makeshift target and pulled the trigger moving to the side to avoid a ricochet.

I mean...If Rip was even telling the truth… He snapped back the barrel of the gun to get rid of the empty shells before taking aim again.

He leaned into it trying to remember how his grandfather did it. Alright...Lean into the gun...Squeeze the trigger… He let out a low breath before doing so.

BANG!

Bulls eye.

If something happens I have to protect them...All of them. I..I can't let anyone else get hurt.

If something happened to mom or Olivia...To Maya...Dusty..Dottie...Grandma and grandpa...Everyone…I would never forgive myself…

He fired off another shot missing this time. He swore a little under his breath. "Stupid thing... Pulling to the right…"

But... Why would dad do it? He knows...Or I thought he knew the line… He felt wetness on his face. He ran his hand across his cheek and looked. No blood….

Andy growled a little and threw down the weapon. He couldn't believe it...He was so upset he was crying over it.

Great use of time Andy...Crying over something you might not even be able to stop! He leaned back against a tree sliding down to meet the dirt bringing his knee's up to his chest.

What am I gonna do…?

He heard a twig snap, his head came back up as he tried to grab the gun, but it just slipped from his fingers. He didn't realize he was shaking until he had tried a second time.

"Andy..?"

Huh? He looked up to find Dusty looking at him with concern. "Wh-what?" He asked quietly.

"Andy...What's wrong?" The cropduster made his way over to his friend kneeling to his level. "You hurt?"

"No…" He looked away rubbing at his eyes quickly. "I'm... I'm fine!"

Dusty sighed. Swore I would never use this on someone but… "Volo Pro Veritas.."

"Huh?"

"It means I Fly for Truth...You're lying to me Andy. I can see it and I know you well enough." He said, laying a hand on his shoulder.

Andy sighed, looking at him. Dusty winced a little, he looked exhausted. He had dark circles under his eyes and he looked as if he hadn't eaten that day either.

"Goodness… What have you been doing to yourself?"

"... You wouldn't understand..." He mumbled shrugging his hand off. "... You wouldn't…" His voice cracked.

"Andy... Calm down..."

They sat like this for awhile, Dusty gradually getting Andy calm enough so he could talk. What he heard worried him and disturbed him.

The teen was terrified his family would be killed if what Ripslinger claimed was true. As much as Dusty wanted to confirm it was, he also knew that right now Andy was close enough that, confirmation would likely send him over the edge. "It's not gonna happen… I promise…" He assured, him bringing an arm around his shoulders.

Andy went quiet curling up a little. "...Thanks Dusty… Sorry I kind of went postal on ya…"

"Don't be...We all have our days.." He gave him a small smile that Andy returned.

But it didn't last long as he sighed. "I don't know what I'm gonna do… I can't keep living like this… I mean… I'm the man of the house now… I used to think I was such a hot shot when Dad had to go do his work and left me in charge… But now… I… I don't know…" He ran a hand through his hair. "I want things to change…"

"Then be that person to change things then." He said helping the boy to his feet. "Tell me… What kind of world do you want to grow up in? What kind of world do you want Olivia to grow up in?" Dusty asked crossing his arms, giving him a challenging look.

Andy shoved his hands in his pockets as he mulled over the question before he began to speak.

"I want a world… Where this place." He waved a hand around gesturing to the townsend that was on the opposite end of the property. "Doesn't have to be our only option… I want to live in the towns...Or the cities… I want Olivia to have that choice. I want us to be able to live together… And work together." Andy explained, slowly voice growing confident the more he spoke.

"I want to live in a human territory free world!"

Dusty clapped him on the shoulder. "Then start the revolution!" He grinned.

Andy's eyes went a little wide. "You...Think I can?"
"Go by the name Hero Andy!" He nodded. "Take back control…"

The boy nodded and gave a determined look. "I gotta make a change."
"Straight to the top you're on your way!" Dusty picked him up flying upwards. "You were meant for so much more!"

Andy laughed hanging on, the first time he had laughed in awhile. "And I found a dream worth fighting for!"

"And nothing can stop you."

"Nothing can stop me now!"

The two friends broke off into laughter. "All I need is the horizon!"

"Courage to keep trying!"

"Awakened and I feel so alive!"

"Today you gotta make a change! Straight to the top you're on your way!"

"I was meant for so much more!"

"And you found a dream worth fighting for!" Dusty came in for a landing, as Andy sprung away climbing onto a large rock that gave him a better view of the area.

"And nothing can stop me… NOTHING CAN STOP ME NOW!"

The sound echoed across the property. Andy closed his eyes feeling the wind pick up and blow his hair around. "...Thanks Dusty… For everything." He smiled.

Dusty ruffled his hair. "Anything for a friend…"

"Heh… Last one to the house has to switch shifts with Rip!"

"You're on!"

Both though they acted as if they had been kidding around knew that it wasn't them goofing around. Not just Dusty trying to cheer Andy up.

That had been a promise.

Andy made a choice that day.

He was going to make a change in the world. Even if it killed him.

I will...I have to-

At that moment he collided with someone as both let out yelps as they collided with the pavement. "Ooow!" The person he collided with, a girl yelped. "That hurt!"

"Sorry." Andy looked up before he fell silent this time turning a bright red.

I am SO stupid….

Maya West looked at him with annoyance before realizing who she rammed into.

"Andy!"

The boy quickly got up and helped her back up. "Oh my gosh it's so good to see you!" He smiled. "Ehehe… Sorry for ramming into you."

Maya giggled. "No worries… But I owe you one of these." She hugged him.

Andy hugged her back. Aww man... I like hugs as much as the next guy but I was hoping for a kiss on the cheek…

Maya was just happy to have run into the boy. She had been looking forward to seeing him in person and being around him for awhile. "How've you been? Oh gosh you look exhausted!" She pulled back cupping his cheek in one of her hands. "You feel warm too...Your face is all red." She noted a small frown on her face. "You sick?"

Andy shook his head quickly. "N-no! I'm fine! Just tired is all!" He said quickly.

He noticed a guy looking at them and he gave him a dirty look. "You need somethin'?"
"Not with that attitude." The young man replied.

"Andy! Be nice he's a friend!" Maya hissed.

"Wait…He's-" Andy started but didn't get to finish.

His sister finished for him as she glomped him around the legs. "LIGHTNING MCQUEEN!"

The racer grinned patting her head. "Aww… She's cute."

Dusty came in for a landing wondering what the commotion was. "Ah...They got you too huh?" He asked.

Lightning looked the other racer over. "... Lemme guess… Dusty Crophopper?"

"Yep…"

As for the humans they gave looks of confusion. "I was sure they would make a bigger deal out of meeting one another." Maya whispered to Andy.

"I thought Dusty would hate him." Andy whispered back.

"...Why?"

"We got his rival weeding our field, and they can't stand each other."

But "hate" wasn't what was going on. The two had started talking and seemed to be getting along.

"Come on… Let's head back to my place… I get the feeling this is gonna be a long night." Andy scratched his head as he lead the group back to the house. "Name's Andy Hayes that's Olivia."

"And I'm Maya…" Maya smiled.

Dusty grinned. "Nice to meet ya… Andy's told me a lot about you.." He felt a glare on his head from the teenager. "All good things."

Andy cleared his throat. "Ahem!"
Maya rolled her eyes. "Cute."

"C-cute?"

She grinned. "Cute."

-Andy-

Once we got to the house it was questions, answers and more questions.

Dusty seemed uncomfortable, but he put his two cents in, and kept Olivia busy since she really wasn't apart of this and she didn't need to be. She just curled up in his arms and fell asleep after awhile.

Lightning explained that they had been calling the Machines a mistake and that they were attempting to 'correct' it.

Dottie didn't want to talk about what had been done to her except mentioning what we knew...They seemed to delight in also seeing suffering and pain.

"They changed a lot of folks...To be honest we're lucky Doc didn't get snatched up. That change could kill him." Lightning sighed, crossing his arms.

I raised an eyebrow. 'Doc?"

Maya touched my arm. "The Hudson Hornet."

"..Oh…" I pretended to know who that was, I was NOT a racing fan, so I didn't know who that was. "Alright so…" I looked at the list on the kitchen table and sighed. "...This is a crap ton of people…And who the heck is Francesco Bernoulli?"

"Racing rival of mine, a competitor in the World Grand Prix, he also is EXTREMELY annoying." Lightning pinched the bridge of his nose, as if fighting off a headache. "Swear if he didn't shut up about his shorts…"

Someone choked on their water, I didn't look up to see who it was but it was a funny mental image. "He's human… And all he has to whine about is his PANTS!?"

"He's very vain." The red-clad racer shrugged. "There was an attempt on my friend Mater but his partner, Holly, intervened and shocked them… Just enough to knock them out…" He added quickly.

I sighed and added it to the list of incidents.

"I told Ishani to go back to India last time I spoke to her." Dusty spoke up. "I… I just don't want her to suffer. She's still her real self, but I haven't heard from her since hearing she landed in India."

There were three lists in total. The ones who had been changed, the ones who had almost been taken but found a way to fight back and the possible targets who had yet to be accounted for.

"...They had a stockade of Machines…" Dottie murmured. "... It was like we were being sent to the slaughter.."

Dusty squeezed her shoulder as she leaned into him a little. If I didn't know that they were more best friend/sibling, I would have teased him about having two girlfriends.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that.." I ran a hand through my hair. "So...We got all this info… I just… Don't know right now what the next move could be…" I sighed. "Sorry… For now we should get some rest… And sorry but not everyone can sleep in this house, we only got a few rooms and Dottie's already claimed the couch."

Agreeing to come up with a better plan tomorrow seemed better than standing around trying to think. This was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I sunk into the couch next to my friends and sibling curling up on the opposite end.

"Tired?" Dottie asked her voice concerned. I didn't have to look at her to know it.

"Exhausted…"

"Go get some sleep.." Dusty said softly, trying not to wake up Olivia. I sighed getting up and held my arms out.

Dusty handed her over carefully. "You two need it."

"Thanks..." I mumbled and as soon as Olivia hit the mattress… I wound up next to her passing right out.