Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The morning chill blew across the national park. It was normal for this time of year..

However, something really bad happened.. A world wide event that destroyed everything.. A virus infected 70% of the world’s population. No one was safe from it. Cars, forklifts, boats, planes, were infected. It made every single one of them..

Into monsters..

No one knew how it started, more less where it came from.. But one thing was known.. One bite, and it’s over for you.. Slowly the virus destroys the victim’s mechanical innards, replacing them with something.. Organic… The virus has four stages. Each one is worse than the last. It just doesn’t destroy the metal components of the victim.. The virus makes them into a brainless puppet..

…….

Dusty woke up early, the crop duster looked at the clock hanging on the wall.

4:30 AM.

He sighed as he looked down, wishing he wouldn’t wake up the next time. These past few months have messed up the young plane for the worse. His bright blue eyes were now dull and gray, scars covered his body and wings from previous attacks from the infected. The hanger was cold, the heating generator was broken for a few weeks now, due to Maru not having a lot of materials and supplies to fix things around the base. It had gotten so bad that the mechanic had to get out the tarps and blankets. Which were a bit old and had a few holes.

No point in staying in rest now, Dusty had work to do. He rolled forward, his wheel pressed on the petal on the ground, causing the hanger door to open.

He looked around the base, noticing two of the hangers' inhabitants were up and moving around.

Maru and Blade.

The augustawestland looked at the crop duster, he waved Maru off and made his way to Dusty.

Morning mud dropper, you're up early, he spoke in a gruff tone. There was a hint of exhaustion in his voice.

"I just didn't want to sleep anymore." Dusty looked around the base, noticing two aircrafts missing.

"Where's Bravo and Echo?"

"Out on patrol. We heard there were more infected in the park, so they're scoping it out."

“Gotcha.. What's the schedule for today?”

“Cabbie is gonna be dropping off the Smokejumpers at the fuselodge, Dipper is gonna stock up on water for our tanks, Dottie and Chug are gonna try and convert fuel for us.”

“And I assume we're on patrol duty again?”

The augustawestland nodded. Looking at the watchtower. Patch wasn’t there. The forklift had been missing for three days now. Blade had hoped that she didn’t get infected, or else they’d be in trouble, and they would be down one more friend. The fire chief didn’t want to put down another friend.. Eversince what happened to Windlifter…

Dusty noticed Blade looking at the tower. “Are we gonna try and search for her again?”

“We’ll try.. But I doubt she’s-”

“-not infected?”

“Yeah.. Better get a move on before the sun comes up.”

….

The crop duster and agustawestland flew over Canopy dome, their eyes glued to the ground, looking for any infected or survivors. Blade and Dusty had they’re lights on. Squinting as they looked at the tree lines.

“See anything Muddropper?”

“Nothing on this side, Blade.. Should we scout Rail Ridge?”

“Yeah, let’s do that.. After we get done scouting we’ll head-”

Suddenly a screech was heard, it sounded like a wild animal.. Then another screech was heard. Both the cropduster and agustawestland listened in closely. Wait.. Is that-? Dusty started.

“Patch!”

The augustawestland dipped down, flying into the forest below at a breakneck paste. “Blade wait-!” Dusty took a nose dive as he followed him. He opened his landing gear before hitting the ground with the wheels. Easing to a stop, looking up to see Blade gazing around the trees. Blade! Could you let me know when you land? He spoke with concern.

“SHH! Quiet..” The fire chief spoke in a hushed tone, as he continued to look around. Looking for anything red. “She could be anywhere.. We don’t want any infected to hear us.”

“RRRAUGH-” A gurgling sound was heard. As if whoever was is struggling to breathe.

Hello? Dusty called out quietly.

Again, that sound was heard again. But it sounded closer.. Too close..

Suddenly out of a bush, a creature limped out. Blade turned up the brightness of his lights, hoping to get a better look. He squinted before he felt his core drop.

“P-Patch?”

Once the light was enhanced more, it confirmed his fear.

It was her.. But her form was grotesque. As fleshy tendrils were wrapped around her body, her eyes were black with oil. She was drooling with a dark red fluid, as she was struggling to breath. The tendrils wrapped around her forks, trying to manipulate the metal, forming them into..

Claws?

Dusty and Blade looked upon the forklift in fear and pity.

She looked at both of them. Taking in they’re scents. They smelt..

Disgusting..

Patch was so hungry. Her claws opened. Letting out an oil curdling scream before springing at them. The fire chief put himself before Dusty, acting as a shield.

Blade! Dusty yelled, as Patch attacked the chopper’s side. The augustawestland sneered as the forklift charged at his side. Her forks trying to stab themselves into Blade’s side, trying to draw oil. Patch was foaming at the mouth, her eyes were filled with hunger as she tried to pry Blade. The chopper sneered, his eyes shot open. Feeling something sharp pierce his wheel well. His side door opened, instead of getting out his hoist, he got out a flamethrower. Eversince the virus broke out, Blade had Maru install a weapon in his interior, just in case they came across infected.

The flamethrower filled up with lighter fluid, before igniting. Blade turned rapidly, facing Patch. The weaponed turned on, setting Patch on fire. The forklift let out a painful screech, the flesh tendrils tried to separate from her body, but it was no use. Patch’s eyes rolled upward as she threw up oil before falling to the ground.

Blade continued to burn her body, gritting as he continued. Dusty looked upon the two of them in horror.

“Blade! Blade stop! She’s already dead!”

The fire chief stopped, turning off his flamethrower.

Blade huffed, looking at Patch’s corpse, the flesh bits on her body were cooked to a crisp. Some oil left her lips as she laid on the ground, succumbing to the burns caused by the flamethrower. The crop duster wheeled forward, looking at her body. His eyes were wide, before he looked at Blade.

“Are you okay?”

The agustawestland nodded, closing his side door.

At least now we know what happened to her.. I’ll tell the others.. Blade replied in a remorseful tone. “Let's get out of here before more infected come..”

Dusty looked at him. Still trying to process what happened. “Yeah.. Let’s go..”

That sting on Blade’s side was still there..

It’s just a scratch, he thought to himself. Turning on his engine, as his rotors started up. Lifting off the ground and flying up into the air.
…

They got back to base in about twenty minutes, making a cautioned landing before going to Maru’s hanger. The door opened as Maru rolled forward. You guys are back already? You're usually gone for longer, he spoke as he looked at the both of them. The plane and helicopter and the helicopter looked at eachother, conflicting expressions adorn their faces. Before Blade looked at the mechanic.

“We found Patch.. But, she was infected..”

Maru’s eyes widened, his face filled with concern.

“What stage of infection was she?”

“Either stage three or four.. But it was clear she didn’t remember us..”

Maru sighed, knowing what the fire chief had done.

“Was she.. In pain?”

Blade looked at the ground before he replied.

“.. I did what I had to do.. She was gonna attack Dusty.. We can’t risk any more of us getting infected..”

She was now the fourth member of the team to die. It felt like a losing battle, and they were losing more of them to keep up the safety of everyone at Piston peak. That also meant they were down a person in communications. Maru sighed, crossing his forks.

Were.. Any of you bitten? He asked. Blade shook his head.

“No, Dusty was behind me, Patch scratched me but that's it.”

“Better do a check up. We don't know if the infection spreads by scratches..”

“Alright..”

…

Maru installed two lifts under Blade, lifting him up off the ground slightly. The mechanic put on his magnifying lenses, grabbing the welding torch, sparking the flame, putting it on low heat.

“Kay, let's have a look.”

The mechanic started to weld up the scratches on Blade’s side. Two of them were quite big, while the rest were small. The augustawestland sneered as the flame touched his body.
“Ouch!”

“I know this ain’t pleasant.. Just a little more..”

The large scratches were closed up as the flame moved onto the other scrapes. Blade cringed as he felt Maru get close to his wheel well.

Hey Maru.. My wheel well burns, can you take a look..”

He looked up from his work. Hm? Oh yeah, He replied, turning off the welding torch. Maru turned to the wheel well.

“It’s probably just wheel-”

He froze.

Dropping his torch.

“Oh no..” He shook.

Blade raised a brow. Looking to the mechanic. Everything okay Maru? He asked.

Silence rang out.

“Maru?”

“No no no.. This.. This can’t be happening!”

Blade never heard that tone of voice from his friend before.. It scared him. So he took himself off the lifts, looking at the forklift before him.

Maru, what’s wrong? He asked, his voice filled with worry.

The mechanic’s eyes were wide, his body shaking. His green eyes stared at the ground, before confronting the chopper’s ice blue orbs.

“You're.. You're bi-..”

Maru tried to steady his words. Trying to break it gently. The best way he could..

“You’ve.. Been bitten, Blade.. Patch.. Bit you on your wheel well..”

..

“You’re infected..”

Chapter Text

Blade felt his core drop as he heard Maru’s words. He felt a burning feeling in his eyes.

“What? No no no.. This is a joke.. T-That’s not funny Maru..”

The mechanic shook his head. Grabbing a mirror from his tool box. Blade, just look.. Maru replied in a defeated tone. He moved to the side of the chief’s face, allowing him a better look at the wheel well. Blade took a look. His eyes widen as he saw the bite mark.

It was small, oil was still coming out of the punctures. There were no doubts he was infected.

“I think you have a week Blade.”

Maru sighed.

“We need to figure out who will take up your place once your gone..”

Blade was silent for a moment, before he spoke.

“No..”

The mechanic turned to him, confused.

“I'm gonna lead this team till my dying breath.”

“Do you realize how stupid you are?! It takes only a week for the virus to change you! It will destroy your brain function! And you'll become a monster!”

“You don't think I know that!? Who the fuck else is gonna watch over all of you!? Cabbie!? Dipper!?-”

There was a brief moment of silence.

“-Windlifter?..”

Maru crossed his forks, looking down at the ground. It pained his core hearing the skycrane's name once again.. It felt wrong to hear it. Seeing how..

Windlifter was the first to be infected.. And had to be put down, in order for him not to hurt the others.. The mechanic avoided his gaze from the fire chief.

“-I.. I don't know..”

Blade looked down, not knowing how to respond.

…

“I'll lead as long as I can.. When I.. Start to go.. Do what you have to.. Okay?”

Maru looked up at Blade. He sighed, getting some disinfectant and bandages from his tool box. Rolling over to the agustawestland, he sprayed the fluid on the bite mark, cleaning it off.

Alright.. I accept those terms.. Maru replied.

Once the bite was taken care of, Maru started to put his supplies away.

“You should be good to go Blade, take the rest of the day off.”

Blade nodded, before heading out. He looked down at his bandaged wheel well. He was now a ticking time bomb. He looked up, seeing Dusty talking to Bravo and Echo. Why did he save him? It was by impulse.. But if he didn’t, Dusty would have gotten bitten.. Which would have made things worse. Thoughts clouded Blade's mind, before a voice brought him back to reality.

“Blade!”

The fire chief looked forward, seeing the crop duster drive over to him.

“Are you okay? What did Maru say?”

A strange feeling came over Blade, he felt a strange sense of calm wash over him when his gaze met Dusty’s. A small smile crept upon his lips.

“I’m okay, my wheel well’s just banged up.. He said I should take it easy for the rest of the day.”

“Alright. We got a call from the fusellodge, they have fuel for us. Is it alright if Bravo, Echo and I head down and grab it?”

The augustawestland nodded. “Yes. Just make sure you and the jets stay close to eachother.. Don't stray.”

Copy that Blade, hope you get better, Dusty replied. Before driving away, meeting up with Bravo and Echo before leaving.

Blade felt a stir in his core. Maybe the virus was making it's way through his body. Then why did he feel flustered when he was talking to Dusty? The helicopter shook his head before driving over to his cabin.

As soon as he entered he quickly shut the door. His wheel well was growing sore. He sighed as he sat himself down on his resting mat, Blade hissed in pain as the infected area touched it.

The agustawestland wondered how long he would have. How long for the disease to take him. It was only one bite, so it would take awhile for it to take over his body. He looked up at a photo on the wall.

“I guess I'll meet you soon, huh Nick?"