Ghosts of Machina Chapter 10

After talking with Nick, Hailey told the firefighters about what happened during the night. Leaving out the part of talking to a spirit, but being able to describe what the cadillacs looked like.
Maru was silently glad he had camera’s around the base when he saw the attack on tape, jotting down the license plate numbers.

The others searched the area but found no sign of the cars, due to how big the forest was though, they didn’t think they would come back since it would mean they would have to get passed all of them.

“I don’t think we need to impose more restrictions on the kid, she knows she can’t leave base, so why make it worse? We never exactly told her don’t go out at night. And they might have waited until daylight anyways.” Olly said during a team meeting of whether or not to put more rules and such on mostly for the sake of the human firefighters. “Not to mention, the guys and I are full grown adults, whilst we love being part of the team… We don’t need to be babied and molly coddled.”

“The man has a point Blade.”

After a few more words it was decided there wouldn’t be any changes in how they carried themselves.

The human firefighters volunteered along with the boy Smokejumpers to do one last comb through of the surrounding area to make sure it was truly safe before they could relax.

As for Hailey… She now sat at the lunch table in the mess hall looking at a tray filled with several things that were green, possibly bitter tasting and looked like it might attack her.

Those things….Were vegetables of many kind.

“B-b-but I don’t like these.” She said pouting as she poked at them with her fork.

“Come on little Spitfire, the sooner you eat them, the sooner the guard forklift will let ya go.” Nick whispered being out of view, but keeping watch over the girl. She glanced over to see Maru at the doorway giving her a look as he made a gesture of: “Go on.” with one of his lifts.

Hailey took a deep breath before eating them. “Bleck! Do you even season this?”

“Seasoning? Why would we season those?”

This is a punishment. This is cruel and unusual punishment…. The girl thought, though she knew she was being a little dramatic, it was a bit of a punishment for wandering off.

Soon enough she dropped her fork back onto the tray and leaned back. “Done!”

“Atta girl...Was that so bad?” Maru said as he took it to get it disposed of.

“Yes, yes it was.” She said with a bit of a deadpan look.

“Well next time don’t sneak out...Or instead of brussel sprouts… It’ll be spinach!”

Hailey gave a little gasp before getting up and running. “NO!”

Maru chuckled. “Works every time.”

Nick went after the girl. “Was it really that bad kiddo?”

“No… But it didn’t TASTE good either.” She shrugged as she slowed to a walk.

“Well least it’s better then getting a wrench to the head right?”

“...True.” She nodded.

Nick chuckled giving the girl a nuzzle. “Atta girl.”

“Hee.”
----Propwash Junction---

Jake sighed as he sat on a barrel, looking over the fields. He was glad to be out of the hospital for even a short time, he was wearing a long sleeved jacket keeping it partially closed to hide what was missing.

He closed his eyes feeling the wind hit his face. Listening to the sounds of the town. They may not have caught those who were responsible for his current condition yet. But he was still alive. He was grateful for that at least.

Looking around quickly to ensure he was alone, he undid the button on his jacket lowering it partially looking at his stump with a glare. “... I can’t go through life like this…” He muttered. “I just… I can’t.”

“Then don’t.” Said someone from behind him. He jumped a bit and looked over his shoulder.

Andy stood there hands in his pockets, wearing his Team Machina jacket as he went over to him, his metallic leg in full view. “I was gonna lose my leg till they changed me… But… No one said they can’t figure something out for ya… Dottie and Sparky are smart...And my dad could help too..” He mused aloud looking ahead.

Jake scoffed a little. “Yeah what’ll they do? Build me a robotic arm then attach it?”

Andy looked him in the eyes and grinned. “What? Afraid of going back under the knife?”

Jake’s eyes widened a bit. “You’re serious!?”

Andy shrugged as he started to walk away, the brunette chuckling a bit. “If you can dream it, Dottie and them can probably build it. They’re resourceful and stubborn like that.”

“... No… I couldn’t. That’d be burdening them.” Jake whilst the idea was both exciting and scary at the same time. He couldn’t reason why he would use it.

“Unless you wanna be here listening to the birds and not getting revenge…”

Andy was walking away now as he called this over his shoulder. He knew Jake, the blonde when he had a purpose he would fight for it. It helped him this far.

“Wait…” Jake got up and caught up with Andy. “You think… They could really help me?”

“Jake my friend… I know so.” The brunette grinned. “C’mon…”

-----

Jake looked at the machines and one human mulling over designs and leaned over to Andy whispering. “I half expect one of them to say we can rebuild him, make him better.”

“Don’t tempt ‘em. They’ll do it.” Andy whispered back.

After what seemed like forever, they presented it. “Alright, this is just a rough sketch, it might not be the final design but it’s what’ll work.” Dottie said showing it.

A sketch of an arm, made entirely of metal, some notes were made on how it would connect. Jake got up and held his remaining arm up to it comparing it. He was quiet before grabbing a marker. “One last note.”

He wrote: “Give me a freaking weapon, I’m comin’ for ‘em.” at the very bottom of the sketch before setting the marker down and going back over to Andy.

The other boy shook his head as the forklifts looked at it. “... What kind of weapon do you expect us to install? You’re not always going to be fighting.”

“... Make me a gauntlet then… A temp attachment to it… Cause I’m right handed.” Jake said lowering his head a little.

I want control back…

I’m gonna take it back…

Andy squeezed his arm gently. “Hey… Don’t give ‘em trouble..”

“Alright… Do whatever… I just… I just want my arm back…”

“And we can give it back.”

-----Maya----

I was running, as fast as I could, I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears.

“Come back… Come back…” I could hear a voice, his voice.

“ANDY!” I called looking around for him. I didn’t recognize where I was but I knew that voice anywhere. “Andy come out!”

He appeared but then disappeared again. Then appeared… Twice. Once being the Andy from prior to the Machina event. A farm boy with a soft smile, and always stumbled over his words was on my right, on the left was how he was now. His team Machina jacket, a serious gaze in his eyes, that never quite left them, even when he was laughing. A confident smirk on his face, this was Andy in his zone..In his best. His metallic leg appearing out of  a torn part of his pants.

“Maya…” The Farm boy Andy said reaching a hand out to me, looking almost childlike compared to how he was now. He really had started to grow up.

“My Maya..” The other one said, the Confident Leader version of him said, reaching both arms out to me.

I closed my eyes and stepped into the arms of the confident one.

He brought them around me, holding me.

“Let her go!”

“No.” The voice changed, I opened my eyes to see Andy’s confident grin replaced with a malicious look, panels of metal starting to appear on his face. He squeezed me tighter as I gasped.

“L-Leggo of me!”

“Oh no…” He brought me over to a cliffside that appeared. Down below I could see dozens of bodies, cars, planes, humans…

“Time to say goodbye.”

He shoved me hard as I flew over the edge screaming the entire way.

But the end never came…

I sat up in bed gasping for air as I put my hand over where my heart was feeling it race.

It was just a nightmare. A nightmare that happened in the middle of the day, but a nightmare nonetheless.

I was just napping in the barn, curled up where the sun hit me just right as I was able to sleep comfortable and warm.

But now I was freaked out. Andy… I knew would never hurt me. That he was still both the innocent farm boy, even if he didn’t admit it, but still the brave boy who had to step up and become the leader.

Still the boy I loved.

“Andy…” I murmured before climbing down hoping for the best.

Outside I heard the horses freaking out over something, I ran out and halted dead in my tracks.

There was cars I didn’t recognize in our pasture chasing our horses. Chasing Star and trying to hit her.

If it hits her…. felt a chill go down my spine as I broke into a run. She could die… And if she doesn’t… She may be too hurt to save…

I had seen enough horses get into accidents and a few we had to put down due to it, back in the territory.

But that was NOT Star’s fate! Not if I could help it. “LEAVE HER ALONE!” I screamed grabbing my hand pistol out of it’s holster.

When things started to get bad, my parents got me a permit to have it and I was ready to kill if I had to.

The cars turned to me and snickered. “Oh look the squishy wants to protect her herd.”
“Wild animal, guards it’s own.”

“Feh… She’s with HIM remember?”

Him?

I clicked the safety off and held it as steady as I could. This was the first time I’d be firing it outside of practice.

The cars, a convertible, a cadillac… And a… Hearse, moved towards me. Coming around on all sides surrounding me.

I changed target every second, before turning again and trying to get a good aim.

Pick your target and don’t lose sight of them!

One, the cadillac charged at me, I aimed pulling the trigger.

He yelled out as it hit his windshield, taking out an eye. I swallowed hard seeing as oil came out.

“THAT’S WHAT YOU GET!” I screamed. “GET OFF MY PROPERTY!” I added.

The other two growled as they charged at me.

I did the only sane thing I could think of doing… Sprinting off.

“STAR!” I yelled, whistling. She came trotting up to my side as I ran as hard as I could. I only had one chance to make it count. She only had her harness and a rope to act as a makeshift reign. I could make this. I had to.

Everything seemed to go in slow motion, the cars revved their engines as they began to catch up. I jumped throwing myself over Star’s back, quickly straightening myself and kicking her.

It all sped up as she took off, into a full on gallop now. I looked back as they kept in pursuit. I growled a little and took out my gun taking aim.

Screw the “Don’t kill a living machine” law! I swallowed hard as I realized they were outfitted too… And were ready to fire.

I didn’t know cars could carry guns.

But now I knew.

I growled and forced Star into a turn behind a building as they pumped said building full of holes.

Gotta get help…

They were in pursuit of me, I couldn’t lose them that easily.

Getting them away from the ranch, I guided Star onto the concrete path of the town’s main road.

It didn’t take long for people to realize something was wrong. I heard a gunshot and braced myself.

Only it wasn’t me who cried out. “Really now… Going after a young lady, quite rude.” Said a british accented voice as an Aston Martin rolled up a gun drawn aimed at one of the machines who now had a flat tire. Another car, a purple sports car drove past me, releasing cables that shocked the hearse that tried to ram into her.

“Maya! Jump!” Lightning said as he drove up keeping in time.

“Are you nuts!? They tried to kill my horse I’m not-”

“She wouldn’t want this for you either.” He reminded. I sighed looking at my beloved mare and kissed her head before I braced myself and threw myself off.

I landed with a yelp across where Lightning’s trunk was, not falling off due to the groove in the back. Star I could see run into a building and cringed. Oh I would be paying for that one.

Lightning drove me away from the combat that was happening behind us, coming to a stop at the edge of town. I looked back and sighed.

“So they finally came for me…”

“Reason I pulled in a favor… Those two cars are old friend of Mater’s and I...They’ve saved me before, I wasn’t gonna let ya get hurt too.” The racecar said as he slowed to a stop letting me off for now. I leaned against him trying to catch my breath, I landed really hard and my front hurt like something awful.

“You okay?”

“Just bruised from landing on you… Nothing new.” I waved it off.

He sighed and nodded a little. “That was Finn and Holley… Holley is Mater’s girlfriend-”

“Wait hold up! THAT was the fiance he was talking about!?”

“Yeah, the real deal, not just teasing about courting Sally. They’re good with combat… They’re not afraid.” Lightning explained looking back. We could see faintly some of the combat. I swear I thought I saw someone bouncing on one of the cars. “... Is that Guido?” I asked raising an eyebrow.

“I can’t tell, but probably not. Luigi most likely.”

“Got it…” I sighed and sunk to the ground feeling antsy, and jumpy. Adrenaline was still running through me. Lightning nuzzled me a little.

“Easy now…”

I closed my eyes and leaned back against him. “I’m sorry...I’m just exhausted.”

“It’s okay… It’ll be okay…”

“NO IT’S NOT!” He drove back a bit surprised.

“Maya-”

“THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE! I THOUGHT THEY COULDN’T GET ME! If I’m not even safe here I might as well go to Propwash and help Andy! If he hasn’t been killed himself!” I screamed getting to my feet. I felt hot tears in my eyes and swiped at them with the back of my hand. “I-I-I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE!”

“MAYA CALM DOWN!”

I went quiet as Lightning came close to me. “You have to calm down...Panicking and freaking out isn’t helping now is it? You held your own and managed to get away before they could kill you… You’re stronger for just that alone.”

I sniffled a little. “I couldn’t let them hurt our horses...I couldn’t let them kill Star..” My voice cracked.

“I know...And that was brave. You were ready to whip out that gun weren’t ya?” Of course he knew, it was pretty obvious since I never left without my holster.

“I shot one in the windshield.” I admitted.

“See? Tough as nails.” He said trying to cheer me up. I smiled a little before sighing.

“... What’ll happen now?”

“Lightning!” Doc radioed as Lightning picked up.

“Doc, how’s it look on that end?”

“We got a nice spot in the impound lot for ‘em, until the Brits can get rid of ‘em.”

“Brits?” I mouthed.

“Finn.” He mouthed back. “Got it, thanks Doc...Safe for me to drive ‘er back?”

“Yes… And tell her that demon horse of hers is fine, but the owner of that shop it ran through sure ain’t happy.”

We chuckled a bit as I got back on my perch hanging on tightly.

“Ready?”

“BURN RUBBER!”

Lightning sped, not enough to throw me off but it was enough to get us back to town quickly.

After that, the day went on strangely. The two cars, Finn and Holley asked me questions, asked questions about Andy, among other things.

I answered them as best as I could, and showed them where they had been chasing after my horses.

“At this rate, might as well pack ‘em up and see if Andy and I’s friend Michelle can take the horses until this is over.” I sighed leaning back against Lightning as the two cars went off to discuss something. Mater had gone with them for once looking serious in all the time I’ve known him.

“Before you go asking me to haul the horse trailer, let’s not pack up yet.” Lightning reminded. “We got time...They can’t hurt ya.”
I sighed giving a nod before closing my eyes. “Gosh I’m wiped out…”

“Sleep then...I’ll keep an eye on ya..”

I smiled opening an eye before making myself comfortable on a lawn lounger, curling up a bit. “Thanks Lightning…”

“Anytime Maya…”

I soon drifted off.