-Andy-

One of my first first memories of playing sports was a game one of my friend's dad's had taught us. Given us a good warning that if we did anything stupid it was our own fault and that crying was for sissies.

The game, I couldn't remember the name of, but I remember getting tackled for the ball, and it wasn't football either.

Thinking back on it, I wish I could go back to the simple days. Where playing a game of ball and worrying about getting tackled to the ground was my only worry.

Not worrying about everything that's happened.

Not worrying if I bust my leg up and have to get it pretty much gutted to fix it.

Not possibly passing out in front of the world. I don't know why I agreed to it, but Dusty was able to pull some strings along with Lightning to have me presented to the entire world and try to show just.. what about us humans would make a difference.

Everyone had advice to give, everyone had tips on how to fight the nervous feeling. How to impress them.

"Show them the leg, show how your part machine now." Dottie had said, after tuning up my landing gear to keep it from falling apart when someone tried to take a screwdriver to it while I was asleep.

"Don't be afraid… Just go up, open your mouth and say-" Dusty didn't get to finish his advice because Ishani had cut him off with a "hello" and that was that.

Chug and Sparky got into a debate and gave me a bunch of tips that eventually just made me want to call it all off.

To be honest… Skipper had the best advice.

"Don't choke… and don't throw up over the stage."

That I would take to heart. I had filled my head up on history both human and machine, I had written my speech and practiced it so many times I could recite it in my sleep...To the dog, but it counted.

When the day came, I was escorted alone to the station where it would take place. I paced behind the curtain. It would start with interviewing several of those who had been captured by HEAMIC and changed. Luckily, these guys were on my side.

I caught a look at myself in a mirror two forklifts were carrying and sighed. I was wearing a navy blue suit with a black tie and slacks. My gear couldn't fit out from the fabric so I had it tucked in and was using a crutch… It made pacing harder and kind of loud but I didn't care.

I had on fingerless gloves because stupid me in a fit of nerves I had tried to write my speech down on my hand and because of how long it was it just smudged so gloves on… Blue to match the suit.

I need to stop letting mom pick out my formal stuff… and why the heck am I in this thing anyways? This wasn't what I was wearing during the raid, this wasn't how I dressed usually at all.

But it was to make an impression. What I looked like after no one would care. I hoped.

"And now for the first time on live television….The human that single handedly stopped a phenomenon! Andre' HALE!"

Andre… Hale? I gulped and stepped out. I was met with some cheers but mostly silence. The studio lights were bright and nearly blinded me. I leaned on my crutch and looked around. Lightning and Dusty were there and nodded to me. Go on… Their eyes seemed to say.

It was my show now.

"First off sir, my name is Andrew Hayes…" I started clearing my throat a little. "And second… Please, call me Andy..." I leaned on my crutch, wishing I could pop my landing gear out but I was warned that it would be best to save that for last.

As a bit of proof as it were. The interviewer seemed to not really hear me as he proceeded to grill me on things.

"Are you an only child?"

"No, I have a sister."

"Was Dusty Crophopper and his team your hostages?" I gave him a horrified look as I glanced back to my friends… If looks could kill, that car would be dead.

"Never! Dusty's… Dusty was and is like a brother to me and my sister. My mother treated him and Dottie like they were her own… Heck she cried when she realized she would only be setting four plates to the table again!" I explained, feeling more insulted than anything else.

"My apologies, no hard feelings meant here…" I swear I heard him mumble "savage" under his breath.

I took a deep breath to steady my nerves. "No harm done…" I said flatly.

This interview went on for awhile. I got pitying looks and disgusted looks when I had to explain I had never been to school in my life

I don't need their pity… I need them to listen to WHAT I say not what I am… Finally I cleared my throat. "Excuse me… But I have a message to the world… May I?" I asked, standing fully, leaving my crutch on the chair I had sat down in before. I could at least stand alright without it.

"Ah yes, of course."

I cleared my throat and looked right into the camera. I was nervous before… But now I was angry and wanting to prove just who I was.

"Machines of the world…" I began. "Open your minds… and your hearts to what I am about to say…"

It was now or never.

"My name is Andy Hayes and I'm sixteen years old… I'm a human yes but… I didn't get to grow up like other kids… I live in a human territory but lately… That territory had been changed. Growing up I didn't get along with machines period… Until I met one face to face." I glanced back at Dusty and grinned.

"He quickly became a big help to me and my town, dusting our crops, bringing us fresh foods so we wouldn't go hungry… I started to see how similar we really are…" Alright here we go…

"And then it happened… Not only was our crops destroyed for a race… But our friend had been changed into one of us as a means of revenge, not by the people of my territory but by a dangerous woman who had been taught nothing but fear."

I took a deep breath feeling some butterflies in my stomach. No one said anything, all eyes were on me.

"I was not taught to fear… I was taught to think it through...To stand up for what I believe in… But that was harder than I thought...Then… When it kept happening we finally… All of us human, machine and machines who had become human hatched a plan." Here it goes..

I looked up before kneeling down getting ready to reveal IT.

"A plan to stop HEAMIC… and to give a better world for my sister to grow up in… I got THIS as a reward when I saved someone… A machine." I yanked up the material folding it into place.

There was gasps as I stood up fully the landing gear popping out and hitting the ground with a soft "thud".

I could see in monitors around the place that the camera's had zoned in on my leg before trailing up back to my face. I could see my own determined look staring me in the eyes.

"Plane and human runs through me now. I now instead of seeing just a doctor for a checkup to make sure I'm healthy I also gotta see a mechanic for regular tune ups… I have to plan for when I grow to make sure that this grows with me… But...There's something more important than that.." I sighed and closed my eyes, not wanting to see what the next set of looks might be.

"A hundred years ago, the machines came to life and the humans fled… No one on either side tried to start a war to take back the Earth to the humans and animals. We fled because we believed we were beat… I don't think we were beaten at all… I believe we were both too darn stubborn and too scared to death with it… So this is how we've had to live."

There was some small gasps and I opened my eyes glancing up. The screen above us had a picture of all of us together after that fateful night. Olivia was perched on Dusty's wing beaming at the camera as my parents held each other… Maya and I were front and center an arm around each other. Even Lightning and Doc were in the picture. Everyone from that fateful night was there.

Just like I had planned.

"If even the Hudson Hornet can stand to be around humans and appreciate one nearly giving their life to help him...Then maybe the rest of the world can figure out a way to get along...That's all." I said giving a bow.

There was a pause in sound, whispering, quiet talking...

I didn't know what else to do so I merely hurried back behind the curtain the two machines I had come to call friends followed.

"Andy that was great!" Dusty cheered quietly. "You really told 'em!"

"Not bad kid...Could've had more pop but it was the truth." Lightning nudged me, carefully enough to mess with me a little but not hurt me.

I shrugged. "I dunno… I don't know how good it was… I had to beg them to let that picture get put up before all this… and… ugh…" I rubbed my neck. "I at least followed Dottie and Skipper's advice… Show off the leg… and don't puke…" Though at this point not knowing what would happen next I felt more like throwing up.

They didn't ask us to come back on as it turned out the broadcast had been cut after I had finished my speech. We left and things returned to a gradual normal.

The only thing that really changed was how much time I was spending in Propwash. I was there almost more then I was at home and of course...Parents worried a bit but after all that we had been through they let me have my space.

I still had Theo, still had my machine friends. My human friends didn't think much of me these days. It was basically this:

I was back with their shield or on it. And for them… I was on their shield.

Not to mention Maya had stayed around so I at least had her. As the time had gone on me and her had finally gotten to go on proper dates. Picnics, moonlight walks, listening to music together. Things like that.

And then… something changed.

It started on a blustery autumn day, I was ducked inside the Fill N Fly since it was the only closest place to duck into that was warm. No one else was there though. There was a note saying something about an important project and not even Chug or Sparky could be seen moving around.

I was by myself for once.

"This is Dusty Crophopper to the Fill N Fly over." said Dusty's voice over the radio. I blinked going over and spoke into the microphone.

"Dusty, this is Andy, over… Where the heck is everyone?"

"Andy! Perfect timing… Hey, could you come down by the field? There's something we need some help with." He asked sounding excited about something. I heard the others voices in the background.

Well that was weird.

"Sure…" I murmured. "Be right over." I didn't know exactly what I was expecting so I just made my way over shoving my hands in my pockets.

What could it be…? I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I saw them all… Even my family in front of a large hangar that had a picket fence around it.

What…? "Guys…?" I asked.

"Congratulations!" Everyone yelled. Maya ran up to me throwing her arms around me. I hugged her spinning her around.

"W-what are you guys talking about? What is this?" I asked laughing a little.

Dad grinned. "You haven't been watching the TV have you? Or listening to the radio?"

I shook my head giving a sheepish look. "Afraid not…"
"Well...They've been calling you the Revolutionary on all the channels!" Dusty said giving a big grin. "They're changing things! There's talk of humans being allowed to work and live in the cities!"

I swore my eyes must've nearly popped out of my head. I was stunned. All that… Already?

"S-seriously?" I didn't realize how choked up my voice sounded. "So...This hanger..?"

"It's yours." Dottie confirmed. "The new residence for the Hayes Family. 221B Propwash Junction."

I laughed and hugged my girl tighter before heading into the open doorway. "...Thank you so much… All this for us?" I asked looking around. It looked a lot like our house on the inside but so much bigger. And I could guess why too.

Mom leaned into Dad as they both smiled. "All of it for us… We've been in on it too."

Olivia jumped down from where she was perched on Dusty's wing and ran over hugging me around the legs. "I was in on it too but it was hard!"

"Do you like it?"

I looked around one more time and sighed in content picking up my sister. "... Like it? I love it..." I turned to the people who had changed nearly everything.

"I'm home."