Chapter Sixteen: Saving Sky

Blade found he couldn't sleep at all for the rest of the night, and as the sky grew brighter he heard the familiar sound of powerful rotors and the calls from two of his Smokejumpers. "Here! We're over here!"

Windlifter finally arrived with the rescue harness, Pinecone and Drip hurriedly approaching. They looked horrified to see the state of their friends, but Windlifter barked a few orders and they got to work. Pinecone began strapping Dusty into the harness and Drip gingerly lifted Sky into his claw. He carefully placed her in Blade's hoist hatch, swallowing the lump in his throat. Once the two injured were loaded up, Blade and Windlifter took off into the skies and Pinecone and Drip sped back to base. Blade and Windlifter moved as fast as they could, careful to keep their cargo steady. They looked out across the park to find the brief storm truly extinguished the flames from the inferno. It was a comforting sight; one less thing to worry about. Blade and Windlifter beat Pinecone and Drip back to base, Windlifter going first to gently lower Dusty onto the runway. The rest of the Air Attack team gathered to watch, staring in shock and concern at the state of their SEAT. Maru hurriedly transported him to the garage, checking Dusty's vitals and pushing an oxygen tube into the plane's windpipe.

"Where's our little Raven?" Maru demanded, hurrying out as Blade landed.

"Here." Blade opened his hoist hatch, allowing Maru to retrieve the limp form of Sky and bring her into the garage. Maru had set up a work bench and laid a few blankets down on top of it to create a makeshift cot, and he gently placed Sky on top of it. He muttered to himself as he checked her over, and he growled in frustration.

"Blade!" Maru barked. "Get in here!"

Blade didn't hesitate to obey, everyone else staying outside and giving Maru the room he needed. "What's wrong?"

"When Dusty's gearbox failed, Sky's heart seized and now she's in a coma." Maru said. "She's slipping fast."

Blade froze, staring at Sky. "Maru, you've got to save her, please."

"At the rate we're losing her now, I can't to do anything to save her." Maru said, looking to Blade. "But you can."

"What?" Blade blinked.

"You two can Soul Connect." Maru said. "I know because I saw it when Sky got hurt healing you. That connection you two share should be strong enough to pull her back and I can stabilize her."

"Maru, connections like that are controlled by the psyche human, not the vehicle." Blade protested. "I wouldn't know what to do!" He cringed a bit at his words.

"She's dying, Blade." Maru said, staring the fire chief in the eyes. "She might already be dead. You're her last hope, even if the odds of this working are against us."

Blade looked to Sky, then nodded. What have we got to lose by trying? Maru nodded in satisfaction, moving to Sky's side. Blade rolled up alongside the makeshift cot, staring at Sky's unmoving face. Maru lifted the raven-haired girl's arm, placing her hand on Blade's nose. Blade didn't feel their connection activate for a few seconds. Please…please just let this work….. Blade focused on the connection, wondering how on earth Sky even learned how to do it.

Then, he felt a pull in his engine, and his icy blue eyes took on a snow-white tinge.

Blade wasn't sure where he was, but it certainly wasn't Maru's garage. In fact, it looked like a small, cozy kitchen in a house. A table rested in the middle of the room, the cabinets were made from an acorn-colored wood, and a floral wallpaper surrounded him. What is this? Where am I? Is it a dream or a memory?

"You really shouldn't have hit him, chica. There are other ways to react to teasing."

Blade jumped and turned, noticing two figures in the room he swore weren't there before. Both were humans, one of them a Hispanic woman wearing a red dress and an apron. She wiped dirt from the face of a young girl sitting on the counter, the child looking no older than eight. The young child wore overalls a couple sizes too big for her, the pant cuffs rolled up, and a Kelly green T-shirt. The girl had blue-green eyes, pale skin, and jet-black hair.

Sky.

"It wasn't just that he was teasing me." Eight-year-old Sky huffed, a fierce glare in her eyes. "He was making fun of my birthmark."

"I didn't know you had a birthmark." The Hispanic woman said, trying to keep the conversation light.

"All psych-mans have birthmarks, Rosa." Sky droned. "It's like a black-colored tattoo. It is said our birthmarks lead us to our Soul Connect partners by giving hints to who or what they are."

"Amazing." Rosa breathed, looking genuinely interested. "Could I see yours?"

Sky stared at her for a moment before raising a hand to her right shoulder sleeve. She lifted the sleeve to reveal what looked like a black-colored tattoo. It resembled a flame, with a pair of crossed wrenches underneath it. Blade knew at once the flame meant him.

"Sky…..how long have I kept you waiting for me?" he sighed.

The scene seemed to turn to smoke and disappeared, and Blade found himself watching several of Sky's fondest memories. Skipper adopting her; pretending to fly out on the runway; becoming friends with Dusty; winning the Wings Around the Globe Rally; discovering the Soul Connection; bonding with Blade. In every memory, Blade could see Sky smiling away or crying happy tears. He smiled softly, watching Sky talking happily with her Propwash Junction family. This was the Sky Blade knew; the girl who always kept her hopes up and never let anyone bring them down. Someone who could be brave or calm when the people around her weren't. What kind of fate determined Blade would find her, and actually connect with her? No, bond with her. She couldn't be like Nick, but she could be the kind of friend Blade needed to finally let go of the pain from his past.

Suddenly, Blade jumped as fire erupted around him. The memories faded into a wildfire setting, complete with burning trees as far as Blade could see. "Sky! Sky, where are you?" But he didn't see the raven-haired girl anywhere. It was only fire.

Then, a figure appeared out of nowhere, standing several feet in front of Blade. The helicopter stared at the human man before him, taking note of the human's muscly build, gray hair, wrinkled face, and dark green eyes. He wore jeans, hiking boots, and a black and red jacket with the Propwash Junction Fire Team logo on the front, over his heart.

"Max?" Blade murmured, amazed to see the late firefighting partner of Mayday's. Max said nothing, his form glowing in a soft blue aura. Blade stared at him. "Um, I'm looking for Sky. Is she here?"

Max still didn't say anything. He only smiled. Then he turned and began walking off deeper into the blaze. Determined he was here to help, Blade followed.

Sky never thought she'd be in so much pain when Dusty's gearbox seized. Dang, I guess Dottie was right. She thought, looking around the area she stood in. It felt like some of dream-like place, because while it looked like a forest area she could see visions in the bark of the trees. In these visions, Sky could see pieces of her past from when she was a very young girl to the nineteen-year-old she was today. Sky realized she seemed to be watching her life flash before her eyes. "Great, I knew it. I'm dead."

"Not yet, but good try, Cuervo."

Sky spun around to the source of the voice, finding a white and blue Hugh's 500D helicopter with bright amber eyes. "Nick? Nick Loopin' Lopez?"

Nick chuckled. "Haven't heard anyone call me 'Loopin'' in twenty-something years."

Sky blinked. She blinked again. "I knew it. I'm dead."

"Not this time." Nick assured. "You're just sort of caught in the middle. I decided you might need a little help holding on."

"So that was you before." Sky guessed. "You pulled me away from Blade so I wouldn't get hurt anymore."

"I've always been watching over Blade." Nick assured. "He always had my back when I was alive. Who am I to not return the favor?"

Sky smiled. "I was right. Blade was lucky to have a friend like you, and he still is."

Nick smiled back, gesturing for him to follow her. "Come on. Let's go for a walk."

Sky nodded, happily following the helicopter through the trees. Nick didn't hop but rather floated through the pines as Sky walked alongside him. "So Blade always had your back, huh? Seems kind of funny considering the pranks you played on him."

"Eh, we did that to each other all the time." Nick said. "You should've seen the stunts he pulled on me. You know, he once snuck into my hanger one night and I woke up with a bunch of streamers on my rotors."

Sky laughed. "That sure doesn't seem like Blade I know now. He seems so….serious."

Nick sighed. "Yeah. He's been to hell and back, and I played a part in that."

"Hey, you couldn't have known you would crash that day." Sky said comfortingly.

"But Blade blamed himself for so long." Nick said. "I'm sure he still blames himself."

"He shouldn't." Sky said. "I saw what happened; even if he had known what to do to help, it wouldn't have made a difference. You were just too damaged."

"I only wish I could've saved him the pain that followed." Nick said. "But I was happily surprised when you suddenly came along. And that's why you can't die yet."

"I'm not dying if there's a chance I can go back and live again." Sky said firmly. "I have too much to live for."

Nick smiled. "You got a family back home?"

"I was abandoned by my birth parents." Sky explained. "I was adopted by a Navy veteran named Skipper and his buddy Sparky. They were the ones who formally adopted me, but it felt like half the town of Propwash took me in."

"That's what I like to hear." Nick nodded. "Who do you consider your family? Apart from this Skipper and Sparky."

"Well, there's Mayday the local fire engine. He used to have a partner named Max, but he died about four years ago." Sky said. "Then there's Dusty; we've been good friends since I was twelve. And Chug and Dottie are amazing. There's also Rosa; she's the head of the orphanage I stayed at when I was a kid. We still keep in touch with each other." She sighed, smiling warmly. "And now there's Blade, along with the rest of the Piston Peak team. I guess that's another thing keeping me going. I can't let them watch me die."

"I'm sure you won't." Nick said. "Your Soul Connection with Blade is awfully important."

"I know." Sky said. "Well, I kind of know. I'm still trying to figure out what all I can do with it."

"Soul Connects bind a psyche human and machine together with a bond that cannot be broken." Nick said. "It's almost like they were meant to have that connection. Blade needs you as much as you need him." He smiled warmly at Sky. "I can't tell you how happy I am that you and Blade found each other and that you have this bond. You're right; he's pretty serious about a lot of stuff. But you bring out the Blade I remember, and with Blade's help, you can understand the full capacity of your powers. You aren't like other psyche humans, Sky. You're capable of more than you know, and Blade can help you find that."

"I'm sure he will." Sky nodded. "Which means I have to get back to him." She paused, Nick turning to face her. Sky put her hands on her hips. "So, Nick Loopin' Lopez, how do I get back to him?"

"I think you'll figure that out soon enough, Cuervo." Nick assured with a wink. He glanced behind Sky, and the raven-haired girl turned around. In an instant, her surroundings changed and all the trees caught fire. In the midst of the smoke, ash, and blazing flames, Sky noticed a red and white paintjob and heard a familiar voice calling out to her. Sky turned back to Nick, but the helicopter seemed to have disappeared.

"Thank you." Sky whispered. She took off into the burning forest. "Blade! Blade!"

Blade froze. He had lost sight of Max just a few minutes ago, but he hardly thought about that as Sky's voice called out over the roaring fire. He looked through the flames to see Sky running towards him. "Sky! Raven, over here!"

Sky sprinted as fast as she could, but she suddenly skidded to a halt as a wall of flames erupted between her and Blade. She tried to remind herself this was only a dreamscape, but the heat from the fire certainly felt real enough. Blade suddenly shouted "Catch!" and Sky saw the hook from his hoist flying towards her. She quickly grabbed it, keeping a tight grip. She held on as she ran forward, leaping right through the flames. She hit the ground running, nearly slamming into Blade.

Their vision went black.

Blade opened his eyes to find himself back in Maru's garage. The tug stood nearby, waiting anxiously for a response. He long since hooked up an IV drip and removed Sky's jacket, patching up some of her wounds. Now, he just needed her to wake up. Blade looked to Sky's shoulder, where her psyche human birthmark rested. It seemed to….suit her somehow. Blade and Maru stared at Sky's still form, praying for a response.

Sky surprised them by gasping deeply, her eyes shooting open as she went into a coughing fit.

"Don't curl up like that!" Maru snapped, helping Sky stretch out again. "You'll only hurt yourself more. Easy there, kiddo. Easy."

Sky panted heavily for several seconds before she began to breathe easily. She stared at the ceiling before glancing over to Blade. She kept her hand on his nose, rubbing the metal with her thumb and looking almost thankful to see him there. "Hey Blade….." She breathed.

Blade smiled warmly, sighing in relief. "Hey Raven."

Sky blinked in remembrance. "Dusty?"

"About to work on him next." Maru assured. He drove to the entrance of the garage. "She's alive!" A resounding cheer from the Air Attack team rang out, and Sky giggled softly. Maru made his way over to Dusty. "Hey Dynamite! Call Jammer and have him send up the human doctor. I don't deal with humans, much less psyche humans."

"Whatever." Sky murmured, still staring at Blade. The helicopter gently nuzzled her, sighing in relief again. Sky could hardly move, but she couldn't stop smiling. "Nick says 'hi.'" She whispered. Blade's smile grew. He stayed right by her side, even when she gave in to her exhaustion and fell asleep.

Tell him I said 'hi' back.

A/N: Fun fact (because I love my fun facts): the scene where Sky is looking at her life through visions in the trees was inspired from an old scene in an anime called Digimon Frontier. Don't know if any of you would know that, but like I said, I love my fun facts.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!