-Brody-

There wasn't much two sore people could do, be it a machine-to-human who couldn't walk, but could whine like there was no tomorrow and a plane who couldn't fly.

They left the loud mouth somewhere… Likely near the territory I was from as there was talk of breaking his spirit and ego.

For me...They siphoned out whatever fuel I had leaving me just enough to stay awake but exhausted… And just left me there.

"Rust over… Become a statue."

Becoming a statue could very well be true. I was exhausted, and everything hurt.

This is how Dusty felt… How Dottie felt… Lightning… All of them…

This is what I did to them…

I sighed looking around I was pretty much stuck. I couldn't figure out for the life of me how to move… and I was really tired, my fuel intake was low… It was tiring.

I didn't know that it could mean this form of exhaustion.

"I guess here's better than no where…" I muttered closing my eyes. Maybe rest would help...It had to…

I hoped…

-Andy-

It had been awhile since I was able to ride my bike. I finally got it back after loaning it to someone who had to do his paper route.

I preferred riding my horse, or just plain walking, but there was something to be said about going as fast as my legs could manage and just gliding along the road.

I sighed in content looking around, it was a quiet day for once. And since the race had been canceled we had started digging up the soil to start planting again.

I road by where it was happening, ducking narrowly getting hit with a piece of asphalt. "HEY WATCH IT!"

"Oh go to heck!"

Of course… Not everyone was too happy about getting to work. I shook my head and kept riding, deciding to go around to Grandpa's property.

It was quiet around there...Until I heard my dog barking. I sighed getting off my bike. "Theo, what's the matter?" I asked kneeling next to him, following his gaze.

He was growling at someone or something in the rows, hunched forward snarling up a storm.

I gulped and picked up a stick silently wishing I had a gun right now as I crept in.

There was someone lying on their side in the field, wearing green and black clothes with flames on it.

"Uh...You okay-"

Whoever it was grabbed one of my ankles and pulled hard. "WAH!"

THUD!
SMACK!
"Augh!" The guy held his head after I cracked him over it with the stick.

"You're nuts!" I yelled, backing up. He growled glaring at me.

"You stupid human!"

Wait… "...Don't tell me…"

SMACK!

"OW!" Now it was my own turn to hold my own head. Whoever he was, he was strong enough to make me reel back a little.

The guy growled.

I stood up… As he attempted to, falling back on his behind.

I sighed rubbing my head. "Play nice or I won't help you walk. What kind of Machine were ya?" I asked, keeping a slight distance.

Honestly, I wouldn't put it past this guy to try biting.

"You… Honestly don't recognize the paint job?" He asked sounding insulted.

"I don't watch races, that's my sister's job not mine. I'd guess you were a green fire truck." I smirked.

He growled. "I'm RIPSLINGER, the three time Wings Around the Globe champion! Only reason I'm not a FOURTH time champ is because of...Of an idiot!"

Oh… I knew him now.

I knew the story.

We weren't stupid, Dusty told us about him. I gave him a look, shoving my hands in my pockets.

I'm not helping him… He tried to kill my friend…

I can only forgive so much…

"Don't give me that look!"

"Look… I'll help ya back to my house… But try anything funny and Theo gets to bite you."

To say I was happy to help Ripslinger of all people would be a lie. But I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't at least attempt to.

I couldn't shake the weird feeling I got though every time he looked at me.

Like he knew me from somewhere.

Maybe it was just his hatred for humans since it seems he was disgusted to even be seen with me.

-N/A-

Dusty was by himself practicing, trying to re-master some of his technique's.

Getting a little sloppy...Skip would KILL me.. He thought as he performed a barrel roll. He had gotten a little out of practice and he figured it was high time to re-learn some thing's.

If Skipper found out he knew he was in for it.

Alright barrel roll is at least back to normal… Now… G-vertical turn.. He quickly weaved through the tree's performing the turn with ease.

Only to halt as he saw something on the ground below.

What in the world…?

Flying in for a closer look he stopped short. There in the middle of the woods was a cropduster, with a blue and white paintjob resting.

"Another cropduster?" He landed and approached the plane with caution.

The plane opened his eyes and tried to back away but not getting far. "S-stay back..."

"Easy now…" Dusty held up his hands. "I'm not gonna hurt ya..."

You would if you knew who I really was…

"...Just stay back… Please.."

"Let me help you..." Dusty said making his way over. "What happened?"

"...Low on fuel...Very low.." The plane murmured glancing away.

"Well let me get you some then… I'll be right back." He smiled before turning to take off.

"... You honestly don't recognize anything?"

"Huh?" Dusty turned around. He felt a little confused. "What do you mean by that?" The voice though...That does sound familiar…

The plane cringed, a look of shame crossing his features.

Wait a second… He knew that look… And knew two people who pulled it off quite easily when caught doing something by Sarah Hayes.

No way… Dusty's eyes went wide as it clicked. "B-Brody…?!" He took a step back. He couldn't believe it.

But now that he made the connection he could see the similarities between the researcher and the plane before him.

The blue paint was the same color as the shirts he wore. The paint on his propeller the same color as his and Sarah's wedding rings. And the eyes were biggest dead ringer.

But….Why him?

But that look he's giving me…

Dusty shook his head. "Brody… What… did they do to you?" He asked running a hand through his hair.

"...The opposite of what was done to you..." He murmured.

Dusty swallowed hard. "Then… You…."

"... Yes… I was with them…"

"...Do you think I'm a monster too?" The racer looked at him trying his best to keep calm. "Do you think I should be dead..?"

"No! I…" Brody sighed. "I was a fool… I thought… No… I guess I don't have the excuse of thought since I wasn't thinking. I just… wanted what I thought was best." He tried to explain.

It sounded as bad out in the air as it did in his head. He regretted what he had done. "I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry Dusty.."

Well...It's no use being mad at him...He's already been punished for what he did to me… Dusty thought running a hand through his hair letting out a long sigh. "You… didn't realize how bad it actually was huh?"

"I… I have no excuses…You can leave me here if you want… I understand." Brody sighed closing his eyes, feeling ashamed of everything he had done. He wished he had never come across HEAMIC in the first place.

"Now don't assume that!" Dusty snapped. "What you did was awful, but I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy! And it… It wouldn't be right to leave you here. I'm a Jolly Wrench for goodness sake… I don't do that..." He broke off into a sigh. "I'll get you fuel and some oil. Then we'll think of where to go from there… Alright?"

"... Alright...Thank you."

Dusty nodded and took off.

An hour or so later they came to an agreement. Dusty would show Brody how to control his plane form and show him how to fly. And Brody would remain hidden.

"I just can't face them...My kids probably hate me anyway… and Sarah… Goodness, I can't even imagine."

You have no idea how hard this secret is gonna be… Dusty thought after it was agreed upon but he would at least give the man his privacy. He didn't like it but he would live.

This..Is probably gonna take awhile…

-Human territory-

Andy decided he didn't like Ripslinger when he had heard about him during one of the breaks Dusty had before all of this had gone to heck. He didn't like the attitude he heard of and he didn't like what he had done.

Now that he was face to face with the former champion, he decided he REALLY didn't like him.

He was rude, kept giving him dirty looks and seemed to have nothing to provide but complaints. Even when he was able to walk unaided he still acted this way.

I swear he is lucky grandpa didn't find him first… Andy thought biting back a growl. "Do you...Ever stop whining?" He asked gritting his teeth.

Rip gave him another dirty look. "I'm not whining...I'm complaining Farm Boy."

Oh that is it… "Okay listen here!" Andy came to a stop and lunged forward grabbing the front of Rip's jacket yanking him a little closer. "You have ten seconds to shut up before I make ya! You've been whining, giving me dirty looks and acting like a pest since I found ya! WHAT DID I DO!?"

Rip growled and shoved him back. "Get your hands off of me! Your kind did this to me!"

"Oh don't lump me in with those jerks!"

"Oh yeah!? ONE LOOKED JUST LIKE YOU!"

Andy went silent hearing that. "...What?" He asked after a moment.

"One...Looked...Just...Like...You." The former champion glared. "Same eyes...Same hair...Same skin.."

...No...There's...No… "Liar…" He muttered. "Your a liar…"

"Oh am I!?"

"JUST SHUT UP!" Andy shoved Rip back into the building they were next to. "You walk in here like you own the freakin' world! YOU KNOW NOTHING!" He yelled. "You don't know me...You don't know my dad!"

Rip growled headbutting him as the boy yelped. "Oh I think I know enough. You're just like him!"

SMACK!

His head snapped to the side before he snarled. "Did you just…"
Andy smirked taking a step back. "Slapped you? Yep.."

Ripslinger started moving towards him. "You are gonna pay for that."

The teenager took off running as he gave chase. "You're slow!"
"SHUT UP!"

No... He's a liar... My dad may have turned into a jerk... But... He's harmless…

He has to be…

He knows that line. He knows how dangerous that could be… How dangerous it could be for us all…