"Deep breaths, don't panic, it won't help, keep your eyes on me."
Trying Skip… I'm trying… it hurts… it really hurts.
Dusty Crophopper gripped at his mentor's hand tightly as work was being done on his engine. Everything was just fine, it was a normal day of practice, he hadn't done anything different.
Why did this happen now? I've never had anything like this happen… I really hope Dottie can figure out what's wrong with me.
"I'm almost done. How's the pain?" said mechanic asked.
Dusty cringed a little but relaxed as he felt some relief come over.
"Less now… still hurts…"
"Scale of one to ten?"
"5."
"That's better… Just a few adjustments… There."
Dusty completely relaxed against the table he was on, panting a little.
"Dottie… you seriously have magic hands when it comes to fixing mechanids."
"Don't thank me yet, not finished seeing what is wrong with you." Dottie walked away from the exam table, carrying what looked like small metal samples.
Dusty sighed.
"I hope it's nothing too serious…"
Skipper squeezed his hand.
"Whatever it is I'm sure Dottie will find a way to fix it."
"I really hope so Skip… What if I can't-"
"Ah! Don't even think about going to worse case scenarios." Skipper gave a warning look. "You're going to be fine."
"O-Okay…"
Skipper's gaze softened. "I know you're scared… I know how it feels… but you gotta keep your head up."
Dusty nodded, looking towards the entrance of the Fill N Fly.
"That was terrifying out there… just… free falling… yeah I've done dives… but that feeling… of no control… knowing you can't pull up…"
Skipper squeezed his hand again. "I know how that feels too… I'm just glad I was able to catch you before any other damage could be done."
"Yeah… then I'd really be out of the racing circuit for awhile." Dusty sighed. "Though if anything, just glad to be alive."
Almost drowned once in the Pacific during the Wings Around the Globe… Don't want another near death experience like THAT.
Soon Dottie returned, a grim look in her eyes.
That's never a good look…
"W-Well…?"
"Major components all check out fine, minor misfire… but…" Dottie sighed. "Your gearbox is failing. I found small fragments of the gears in other parts of your engine, that's what caused you to stall in the air."
"Oh… well… can you fix it? Replace it?"
Dottie was silent as she shook her head.
"No, I haven't seen your kind of gearbox in a very long time… and building one by hand would be impossibly it's too complex, it has to be factory produced."
I don't like where this is going…
"So… what do we do from here then…?"
"You can still fly, but you have to pull back on power by 60%."
Dusty's eyes went wide. "60%?! But you got me at 180! I need that to race!"
"Dusty if you push it too far-"
"DOTTIE PLEASE I HAVE TO-"
"YOU'LL CRASH!" Dottie snapped.
Dusty went deadly quiet, caught off guard by the outburst. Dottie composed herself, a pained look in her eyes as she looked at Dusty.
"If you push it too far… you'll crash…" She held his other hand, giving it a squeeze. "I'm so sorry… but it's over Dusty…"
Dusty remained quiet, taking everything in.
I worked so hard… I got my dream… I got to race with my heroes… and now… I… I can't… I really am just a crop duster… I wasn't built to do more… it's simple as that…
Dusty lowered his head, trying to hide the pain. Skipper and Dottie kept close, not saying anything. There was nothing to be said. It was all perfectly clear to them what was going through their friend's head.
His whole dream of being a racer… everything he had ever worked for… had gone up in smoke.