"Hello?" Sky's voice echoed alone in the clearing the next morning. "I'm back like I promised. Are you there?"

His words met the stillness in the air as he stood on the shore by the lake, staring all around him, hoping to spot the Sonic Echo Ranger.

I'm an idiot. He chuckled and bit his lower lip. It's not here. Why would it stay anyway? It's probably flown away. It's free from its master. When I hit it with my sonic gun and destroyed its behaviour-monitoring component, I set it free, but it doesn't owe me anything. Not sure I could make it pay me back anyway. It's a beast, not a rational being, although it seemed willing to trust me enough to stay near it and touch it.

The early morning mist was slowly dissipating when the first rays of the sun hit the treetops, leaving only some stranded drops of fresh water on the leaves.

Sky kicked a black pebble. It reached the water and sank while he stared at it.

I was hoping to see it again. He sighed with a bittersweet kind of anger. That was why I rushed back home to get my toolkit and a first aid kit. But it didn't wait for me to come back.

Then, he heard a swooshing sound cutting the air high above his head. He raised his gaze and saw how, out of the blue, the Sonic Echo Ranger swooped down on him, reaping a sharp intake of air from him in surprise.

The majestic beast could not fly in a straight line, but it could still fly at least. Its chaotic moves made flying dangerous.

Damn, he needs a good fix. As I imagined, it had some time to recover during the night, but it's not in pristine condition. It needs help. The messy state of the chips near its right ear, where the balancing chip is, is to blame—I'm to blame for that.

The Sonic Echo Ranger landed awkwardly in front of him. Its talons hit the pebbled ground with a loud clatter and stumbled. When it stopped in front of Sky, it whined and balanced its head from left to right as if something bothered him in its head but couldn't do anything to shake it off.

"Don't worry, big fella," Sky told it with a smile. "This is my job. Brought some tools from home to fix you," he added as he took some needle-nosed pliers and forceps from his backpack. Then, he let his open backpack fall on the ground beside him.

The Sonic Echo Ranger lay down and let Sky approach it with his tools. He knelt by its side.

I'll handle the robotic parts first, just to make sure he's stable and remains friendly. I hope its 'owner', whoever they are, can't claim it back remotely. If it becomes its old self, I'm totally screwed.

"Let's examine your head." He narrowed his eyes on the phoenix's open wound and put his hands on its neck and beak. His long fringe got in the way of his eyes, but it didn't bother him.

After diving into work on the exposed motherboard and a long sigh, he whispered, "I was hoping to see you here, big fella. Am I just lucky that you haven't flown away, or were you keen to see me again too?"

It made a joyful, high-pitched, long piping sound.

"I'll take that as a yes." He smiled.

He then grabbed his tweezers from his backpack and focused on the motherboard and the charred chips again.

His hearing isn't impaired. Those circuits look in pristine condition. I'll fix its navigation and balance components and disable the behaviour monitoring chip for good.

A good ten minutes later, Sky was done fixing the robotic part of the cybernetic eagle's brain.

Let me check my smartphone. The Bluetooth signal should be strong and request no more fixing or attempting any communications with whoever controlled it. He squatted down and rummaged in his backpack for his phone.

"Great! Everything looks fab," he said with satisfaction once he checked it. "Even the cut communications. You're totally free now."

Sky smiled at the beast, which emitted a high-pitched whistle of contentment.

"It's time to have a look at your other wounds, big fella." He stood up again and turned to the rest of its body.

Damn, the awkwardly-bent tail looks painful, but the rest of its body has healed pretty well during the night—mostly because those were superficial wounds. Only scratches. The dried blood gives the impression it's in a worse condition than the one it is really in, but it's just dirty. The tail is the only thing that won't heal well on its own. It's the cause behind that erratic way of flying. I hope I can fix this despite having no healthcare training. He grimaced with displeasure.

"Let me get a look at your tail," he whispered as he knelt closer to it.

He put a hand on that part of the Sonic Echo Ranger's body. As soon as the tips of his fingers brushed the feathers, it rapidly withdrew its tail far from his hands.

"I'm sorry, but I have to touch it to help you. I promise I'll be careful," he whispered. "That haywire kind of flight won't go away with just rest, you know."

They stared at each other for some long seconds. The silence that ensued wasn't as uncomfortable as Sky had expected, though.

"Am I..." He chuckled. "Am I being an idiot for talking to you as if you can understand me? A moment ago it looked like you did, just like last night."

When it attacked the Hovering Hive, it used to behave with stubbornness and a clear aim in mind too, as if it was intelligent. Was that its personality and its own mental skills, or was it the behaviour monitoring chip, and therefore, its masters' doing?

The beast stared at him with renewed enthusiasm while leaning its head to one side. Then, it opened its beak to emit a thrilled, melodious cry, and next, it started panting like a dog.

Sky chuckled. "You look like you do understand what I say. Cool."

Then, he caressed the feathers on its wings, carefully and slowly while he checked on its reaction. Maybe if I touch it first where it doesn't hurt, it'll let me move onto its tail.

Since it made no sign of discomfort—quite the contrary, it started whistling of pleasure at a low frequency while its eyelids carefully hooded its eyes—, Sky smiled broadly.

"I promise to visit you often—if you want to hang around, that is. And pet you like this, if that's what you like. May I examine your tail now?"

The beast put its tail back in its original position on the pebbled ground and let Sky touch it.

"You know what?" he asked the cybernetic eagle in a merry whisper as he softly put his hands on its bent tail. He felt the hardness of the metal blades it had for feathers with his hands. "You're friendlier than my... than the people I used to call friends. Or my mom."

His smile faded from his lips.

"They're humans, like me. You're a phoenix. You kill humans. But they hate me—and you don't." He chuckled with bittersweetness as his gaze dropped to the ground. "Isn't that weird?"

Then, the beast seemed to take pity on him by the soft way his beak caressed his arm up and down. It whined almost noiselessly.

Tears threatened to form in his eyes, but he closed them harshly and shook his head.

"I'm sorry. I just–" He looked straight into its eyes and forced a smile. Focus on the task at hand, Sky.

He rummaged in his backpack and took out a small piece of wood and some tape. He created a splint to keep the tail straight. Carefully placing the splint along the length of that splendid half-robot, half-animal tail, he made sure the beast didn't pull it away. It only made a low grunt of displeasure, but it bore the pain for a moment. He secured it with the tape as strongly as he could.

"Good boy. Now, we leave the splint in place for a few hours or until the tail straightens out," he whispered with satisfaction. "If you were my pet, I would take you to the vet, but since you're considered a killing machine among us, then–" He sighed and scratched his forehead. "I think it's out of the question."

The beast stared at him, and then it slowly leaned its head towards his. A gentle purring-like growl came from the depths of its throat.

The cold metal plate on the beast's forehead cooled his. Seconds came and went as if time didn't mean anything.

Sky's eyes shone, and then he whispered with amazement, "Is this some sort of way of saying 'thank you'?"

Then, the beast turned its head, displaying its neck. The metal feathers moved up one by one, revealing the skin beneath—red, swollen, and bloody skin.

"Oh, dear! What the hell?!" Sky's hands rushed to either side of its neck. "You're hurt, but these wounds aren't from the crashlanding. Wait! This a... a prong training collar?!"

The beast whined in pain.

"Don't worry. I can take it out," he said in a hurry.

A few seconds later, the metal pieces which made up the prong collar fell on the pebbled shore with a series of dull metallic clangs.

A sigh of relief left the beast's beak, making Sky smile in return.

"Better now, big fella?"

It replied with a series of short and fast shrill whistles. Out of nowhere, it turned to Sky and licked his face from the jaw to the hair.

"Woah, there!" Sky yelled, and then he giggled. "What was that about?!"

Oh, my! Phoenix saliva all over my face and hair! Yuck. Sky passed a hand on his cheek and examined the saliva. It had a semisolid texture, gooey but completely transparent. He smelt his fingers. At least it doesn't stink.

"That was an exaggerated display of affection but... okay." It's one of the few tokens of love I've received in a long time—except for Aunt Naomi's hugs.

The beast gurgled and stared at Sky with a foolish expression on its face. Its tongue hang in its open mouth as if it waited for him to do or say something.

"You know what?" Sky said with satisfaction and a smirk. "Fuck it. I like you too. I like you so much I want to be best friends, no matter what you are. Would you like that?"

The beast sang with a joyful chirp as a reply.

Now I just need to keep this friendship a secret, because if anybody from the Hovering Hive knows about us, especially my mother... Crap.

"I'm Sky, by the way. And you are...?"

The cybernetic bird made a haywire swaying movement with its head similar to its clumsy flight before.

"What?" he asked, frowning a bit. "Haywire?"

Does it want a name that fits its current condition? No, the consequence of what set it free?

The beast chirped joyfully.

Sky's heart flooded with warmth and nodded. "Haywire it is."

"Sky! Where have you been?!" Naomi exclaimed as he came into his room through the round window.

"You're in my room?!" Sky exclaimed with bafflement. "What are you doing here?"

"I've got great news for you!" A hug from hers surrounded him tightly as they stood there. "I came to deliver them to you personally, but you were... gone. Despite being grounded."

He replied with a telltale, ops-I-got-busted kind of face.

"Yeah, sorry. I–" He couldn't find the right words. "What is this bit of news?" he asked as he let his backpack slide down his right shoulder and arm.

The hug ended abruptly, but she still grabbed him by his arms. "I called some old friends in high places, pulled some strings, and–" She couldn't contain her joy.

"And what?" he asked, frowning with uncertainty.

"I got you into the Elite Academy! You've been accepted as a student!" Her shrill, jovial voice filled the room. "Congrats!"

"Wh-What?" he said with bewilderment. "But I failed the admission test!"

"I got you a spot," she replied with satisfaction. "You said you had hit a Sonic Echo Ranger... and that must be true because the one which had been harassing the city last night didn't come back at all. That's what everyone says."

"Oh, well. I–"

I can't tell her the truth. It hurts me to hide this from her, but I can't let anyone know about Haywire. Phoenixes and humans are enemies. We aren't meant to be friends. If anyone knew... Damn. I wouldn't just be laughed at and punished. No, something worse would happen. They would hunt Haywire down and either kill it or use it against their makers. I won't let that happen.

"Classes started last month, but don't worry," she went on with joy while handing him a thick dossier. "Here. I got you all the notes from class. You're a good student, so I know you'll study hard. I can examine you in a few days about this. It'll be like a crash course. You'll be up to date in no time!"

"Wow, hold on a sec. I don't know what happened to that Sonic Echo Ranger. But I didn't hit it. Sorry," he whispered with regret and sadness.

"That's what I thought," Halle said as she came into the room. Her arms were crossed over her chest. Her lips were pressed together in a firm, thin line. Her frowning was as tough as ever.

"I'm sorry I've disappointed you, Aunt Naomi," Sky whispered in shame. "I understand if I can't attend the academy now."

"No, it's not a big deal." Naomi tried to comfort him, but disappointment was evident in the downcast look in her eyes. She left the dossier on his desk.

"It is. You don't need to play it down for me," he replied gently. "I'll stay working at the Forge. Don't worry about me."

"Don't give up, Sky," she insisted. "If this is your dream, you should–"

"Give it up," Halle said, interrupting their conversation with bitterness. "That's what he should do."

"Halle!" Naomi yelled.

"He didn't bring the Sonic Echo Ranger down!" Halle shouted back at her. "He doesn't deserve a spot in the academy."

"If he didn't bring it down, then where did it go, huh?" Naomi was too stubborn to let it go, but her tone was calmer and slier than Sky had imagined of her. A defiant smile played on her lips. "Can you explain why it didn't return to hit the Control Tower over and over, as usual?"

Halle made a low-pitched grunt but said nothing.

An awkward silence ensued.

"It will come back," Halle said with badly-repressed anger. "Mark my words. Our hardworking technicians in the Control Tower won't be able to have any spare time at all, promise."

Nope. Haywire is free now. Unless our enemies make a brand-new Sonic Echo Ranger and send it to us in the next attack, the Control Tower should be just fine.

"Not so sure about that, Halle," Naomi replied. "I checked the radar before pushing the board about accepting Sky into the academy. I showed that to them as proof he hit it."

"WHAT?!" Both Sky and Halle exclaimed with bewilderment.

"The radar shows the Sonic Echo Ranger's geolocalisation flying out of control over the city and crashlanding a few miles north, in the nearby woods beyond the wheat crops. Just like Sky told an Elite soldier who had been defending the tower," she explained.

I didn't know the Control Tower could do that. Sky's eyes opened wide.

"The guards in the tower have limited power to track the phoenixes. Apparently, they disappear from the radar when they are a few miles distance. A pity, but still useful." Then, Naomi turned to Sky. "Since you escaped from your room despite being grounded, mister, I assumed you had gone and tried to get some proof, right? You don't give up so easily. Didn't you go?"

"Well, no, I–" he lied. Sweat was coating his body all over due to stress and worry.

Halle chuckled with a dismissive attitude. "It fled away. It was tired. Whatever. So what? That doesn't mean he hit it and brought it down. It must've flown away by now."

"All units were busy fighting the phoenixes attacking the city last night," Naomi replied with cheek. "No one could be spared to go and look then. But the radar kept showing its movements. It still does right now. It didn't move far. I assume it's wounded. They might still find it."

"Find it?" Sky asked, his face paler than usual. A cold sweat ran down his spine. "You mean... Has anyone gone and checked?"

"Yes, an Elite unit is headed there right now. This is the only phoenix that has ever escaped from the city wounded but still alive. They hope to get more information about who's sending them and where their headquarters might be."

Crap! They're gonna find Haywire! Panic took over Sky's mind.

"Hmmm... I-I'll be off," he spoke fast as he clumsily grabbed his backpack again and put it on his back. "Got urgent stuff to do... at the Forge."

"But wait! Sky!" Naomi yelled, raising a hand to stop him but he didn't see or hear her.

A couple of strides later, he was out of the room. Halle narrowed her eyes at him as he crossed the threshold. His rushed footsteps down the stairs echoed throughout the entire house.

I need to get it—no, him—out of trouble! A strong flow of adrenaline filled Sky's brain. Now!

Hello, my sugar cubes!

How would you react if your only friend was in trouble?

Stay tuned!

XOXO

Mar

*NOTE: PLEASE, READ THE A/N AT THE END OF CH.1 if you feel the need to know about the differences between this story and HTTYD. Thank you.