-Augerin Canyon-

One moment Blade was watching Dusty circle him, filled with pride at the young SEAT; and the next he was watching with panic as black smoke erupted from his cowling. 'His gearbox!' Blade realized with horror, panic, and deja vu filling him, as he watched the plane begin pinwheeling towards the ponderosa pines below. 'Oh no... Not again... Not when I've just accepted him!'

"DUSTY!" The AugustaWestland screamed helplessly as the unmistakable sound of metal being shredded against wood sounded out in the canyon.

"Patch... Come in! Patch! Do you read me?!" Blade shouted into his radio, fully aware he was on the verge of a panic attack.

"::Blade? I read you. What's going on? What's happened?::" She asked.

"Cropho- Dusty..." Blade tried to get his words out as flashes of Nick's crash went through his head. "He's... He's... Gone down! Gearbox went out on him! I... I need Windlifter!" Multiple gasps came from the channel and a single curse came from the Skycrane.

"::OK... Blade... Take some deep breaths... You're no help to him in this condition. Windlifter is occupied at the moment, but as soon as possible, I'll have him over there.::" Patch said. "::Try to find him and see just how bad it is. Are the RVs alright?::"

"Yes." Blade responded, slightly calmer. "Kid scooped water off the falls. If he makes it out of this alive, he's earned his certification."

"::Blade. You said his gearbox failed?::" He heard Maru ask disbelievingly. "::That doesn't just happen on a whim. Was he carrying that disability for the past few weeks?::"

"Yes. He... He knew the risks. His busted gearbox was the reason he's been pulling power. Finally told me back in the mine." Blade answered, already scouring the trees for the crashed trainee.

"::I'll get my shop ready for him after I'm done cleaning out the others' intake filters.::" Maru responded.


-Piston Peak Entrance/Exit Road-

Harvie and Winnie were rushing along the road, still panting from their near-death experience on the bridge. They were streaked with soot, had a few dings, and were a bit shaken up, but other than that, they were fine.

"Hey. Woah, woah, calm down you two, you're okay now." An elderly car with a ranger's hat on said to them.

"We wouldn't be if it wasn't for young Dusty." Winnie said in a trembling voice. Just then a shriek came from the small, yellow ATV supervising her team of skid-steers.

"Dusty crashed!?" She exclaimed, and everyone around her froze.

"W... What?!" Harvey exclaimed. "But he... He was fine a few minutes ago!"

"His gearbox? How bad is it!?" She asked. "You don't know his condition? Blade's awake!?" Small looks of relief crossed the team's expression. "Thanks, Patch, we're almost done here, then we'll be back on our way home." Winnie looked down with guilt.

"It's our fault... If we hadn't been trapped on that bridge..." She whispered.

"Miss... no, it wasn't... It's all part of our job... Don't go blaming yourself... I'm Dynamite, by the way." The ATV said, approaching them.

"Sir, is there a way we could stay? We feel partially responsible for this and we want to have the chance to thank him for saving us." Harvey asked.

"Of course. I'm the Secretary of the Interior. I'll see what I can do."


-Propwash Junction-

"We've just received some breaking news. Piston Peak National Park in central California is currently engulfed in flames. Firefighters from across the county are flocking to the park, and we'll..." Dottie froze for a moment, staring at the TV, before dashing outside in a panic.

"Piston Peak is on fire!" She shouted and Mayday stopped mid-sentence.

"That's not good... They only ever show the big fires... Blade better be taking care of his team and Dusty..." He said grimly.