Author's Note: So you can totally blame a review AmbulanceRobots left for the story 14 Moons for this little gem. And because this plot bunny involved both Cabbie and Avalanche it, of course, made it to the top of my slush pile. I hope that it brings you giggles!

Onboarding

Dynamite had broken her axil trying to navigate a section rotten snow on her first full day back on base, which of course thrown a wrench into the normal operation of the Piston Peak Air Attack Team. This was especially true because the base had an open slot on the smokejumper team that needed to be filled and three potential candidates heading to base to interview for the spot. (All of whom looked equally dismal on paper, but Piston Peak was the bottom of the barrel so they couldn't be too picky). With only a few days to find a workaround, Blade had made a call to Avalanche's parent/winter employer and got the dozer a ticket on the next train out of Montana.

With all of the travel transfers, Avalanche hadn't actually had a chance to talk to the Air Attack Chief but from what mine's office manager (otherwise known as Mom) had Dynamite was going to take care of all of the classroom and technical assessment. All Avalanche was going to be required to do was put potential recruits through their paces doing the back breaking work on the mountain and then spend a week helping the selected recruit get in good enough shape that they could keep up with the rest of the team…which was going to be absolute blade full of fun.

Avalanche adjusted his pack, as he got off the Gold Line Train and grinned at the Mather Airport sign. He was about an hour and a half early for his pick up so he had plenty of time to grab a cup of coffee in the FBO and see if he could track down recruits before Cabbie arrived to give them a ride back to base. In many ways, the dozer knew that this was part of the test on whether a recruit had what it would take to become a Piston Peak Smokejumper. If a potential smokejumper couldn't behave themselves in a general aviation airport, or they bawled at flying with Cabbie they failed the recruitment test right off the bat.

From the look the young lady running the FBO's front desk gave him, it was clear to Avalanche that he wasn't the first smokejumper to arrive. The glace held a mix of annoyance and concern, with just a touch of fear that let the dozer know that whoever had come before him had not made a good impression. Avalanche knew that this wouldn't do, Mather Airport was an important landing location for the team and the airport always waved the landing and tarmac fees for first responders.

"HELLO." Avalanche greeted sedan with his best 'working with visitors' smile, but the car still winced at his presence. "I AM HERE FOR THE PISTON PEAK AIR ATTACK PICK UP AT 13 HUNDRED HOURS. CAN PURCHASE A CUP OF COFFEE FOR WHILE I WAIT?"

The car actually rolled her eyes and motioned a tire at a sign listing the FBO amenities. "Coffee is complementary."

"YES, I KNOW THAT THE COFFEE IS FREE…BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT THE MATHER AIRPORT DOES A LOT TO HELP US FIGHT WILDFIRES. THE LEAST I CAN DO IS PUT A COUPLE DOLLARS IN THE POT TO PURCHASE THE NEXT BAG OF BEANS." Avalanche shrugged. "AND IF THE FBO DOESN'T WANT TO PUT IT TOWARDS THAT, THEY ARE WELCOME TO PUT THE DONATION TOWARDS THE YOUNG EAGLES PROGRAM."

The car's expression softened when Avalanche brought up the Young Eagles, it was a program designed to teach young vehicles about aviation and give those without wings an opportunity to go on a general aviation flight. Most vehicles that worked as part of an airport's ground crew had first introduced to their current careers through the Young Eagles.

"I think that can be arranged." The sedan finally gave him a smile back as she slid the $10 dollars that he had placed on the counter into the donation container.

"MY NAME IS AVALANCE BY THE WAY, OUR SMOKEJUMPER CAPTAIN WAS INJURED RECENTLY SO I GET TO PUT THE NEW SMOKEJUMPER CANDIDATES THROUGH THERE PACES THIS YEAR."

"Susan." She chuckled, then she nodded towards the back. "And you better to keep an eye on your recruits. Donation or no, if they break something someone is going to replace it."

"WILCO." Avalanche didn't have to be told twice. The Base's budget was tight enough without recruits adding to the expense.

The FBO was built for a sophisticated cliental. Many of the vehicles who utilized the ground side of the facilities were rich enough to be able to afford private jet and helicopter transport. The floors were polished and waxed to a high shine while the walls sported expensive looking abstract art. The facilities were meticulously kept up to the point that there wasn't even a water spot on the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the tarmac.

Looking at the vehicles that Avalanche was going to be working with for the next week, it was clear why Susan wasn't particularly pleased to have smokejumpers sitting in the waiting area. Due to its reputation, Piston Peak's smokejumper application pool was never going to be the cream of the crop. Honestly, if Maru and Cabbie hadn't saved his life, Avalanche doubted if he would have even considered working on the crew. That said, this year it seemed like the team was scrapping the bottom of the candidate pool. All three recruits this year were skid steers, but each one of them were wearing different colored paint which would make the process of keeping them straight easier.

The green was parked in the corner and scrolling through a phone. His posture screamed entitled kid who had been kicked out of the house, but at least the gear he was carrying seemed to be in good condition...and by good condition, Avalanche meant it looked like it had never been used. On second thought, perhaps the condition of the kid's pack was probably not a good sign.

In contrast, the second skid steer was wearing paint that had probably been white at some point. The rest of him was a rough as his paint. The bangs and scrapes spoke of a vehicle that had had a rough life and hadn't bothered taking care of him. He hadn't even bothered parking on a mat. Instead he parked himself just far enough to the side of the main lane of traffic to allow other vehicles past, but in a place where he still would inconvenience anyone who wanted to get past him. It was a selfish act and one that wouldn't fly well in a tight knit team of smokejumpers.

Avalanche allowed his eyes to slide to the yellow skid steer. He wasn't particularly well put together, but he was also wasn't as scruffy looking as the white vehicle either. The little vehicle also wasn't parked on a mat…which given the fact he was leaving a trail of drips behind him that was probably a blessing. The vehicle was staring out the floor to ceiling windows with a look of rapture and was nearly bouncing on his treads whenever an aircraft took off or came in for a landing. Over all, the yellow skid steer gave a good impression as far as attitude, but his leaks were a big red flag. The base simply didn't have the budget to take a lemon on the team.

Taking a deep breathe, Avalanche squared his blade and tried to channel his inner Dynamite. "ALRIGHT BOYS, I HOPE YOU ARE READY FORM SOME HARD WORK. OUR TRANSPORT IS ABOUT AN HOUR OUT AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE BRIEFED AND READY TO RIDE BEFORE HE ARRIVES."

The briefing went smoothly. All three vehicles had successfully passed smokejumper training, so they knew the rules of operation around aircraft. All Avalanche had to do was teach them the specific quirks of their jump plane and then make sure they didn't have any questions. Cabbie arrived, prompt as always. Even from a distance, the aircraft's twin tails were unmistakable and Avalanche couldn't help but smile as he saw them coming in on final. Clipping into his gear, he encouraged the recruits to do the same and then usurer the whole group onto the apron to meet their ride.

"Avalanche." The old plan said with a sigh once Avalanche finally paused for breath. "As much as I would like to sit on the tarmac and go through all of the formalities, there is a thunder squall developing over Merced, bearing east, northeast. If we are going to beat the storm to base we are going to move fairly quickly."

"UNDERSTOOD." Avalanche bobbed on his tread. Thunderstorms were no laughing matter, but the unstable air in front of them would be an excellent test for the new recruits. "BOYS THIS IS UNCLE CABBIE, OUR RIDE. LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE SOME WEATHER ON THE WAY SO LET'S GET LOADED UP."

The sour look that two of the vehicles gave him told Avalanche all he needed to know. While it wasn't unheard of ground pounders and aircraft to have relationships…it wasn't exactly something that a lot of people liked to admit existed. It was clear that their respect for both Avalanche and Cabbie had fallen significantly in their eyes…which once again indicated just how bottom of the barrel this particular batch of recruits was.

While Avalanche would have been incredibly proud to have Cabbie as relative bound by metal, he had learned long ago that it didn't matter that Piston Peak Air Attack Team were not family by make or model, they were a family still the same and anyone who couldn't understand that wasn't going to ever fit in. Still, Avalanche understood that sometimes it took recruits a couple of days to warm up to idea so the dozer let their discomfort slid…for now. That said, if any of them were actively rude to Cabbie, Avalanche wouldn't hesitate to toss the vehicle to the curb right now and the way the third recruit was staring at the big plane didn't bod well.

"Dude…" The yellow skid steer started and Avalanche worried that the little vehicle was about stick his tread in his mouth, but digger broke into an infectious smile. "Your family sounds totally awesome!"

That statement actually got the two other skid steers to loosen up for a moment and helped the dozer usher the group out onto the tarmac to their ride. After the C-119 gave the four vehicle a quick briefing, they loaded up. As Cabbie's beaver tail hatch swung closed Avalanche couldn't help but smile, because while he was going to keep an open mind about all three potential recruits he suspected that the one with all the leaks was going to be the one to join the team.

As the crew rumbled down the runway, the dozer was already pondering potential nicknames for the little vehicle. The team was after all, overdue for a little brother.