Uneasy alliance
“Are you sure?” Dinah asked following behind the bright yellow engine.
”Of course I’m sure!!!” Greaseball snapped, she backed away when she realized how harsh she sounded. She stopped for a minute and took a breath. “I couldn’t ever forget his face. I KNOW that’s him. Doesn’t help that one of the guys with him is from my old station.” Greaseball did her best to tune out all the noise around her “We have to warn Mama and the marshals, someone’s gonna get killed with those beasts on the track!”
”Wait, Greaseball we can’t just go around making accusations like that, not without any proof.” Dinah exclaimed. “Don’t get me wrong I believe you, but the others might not.”
”So what do we do?” Greaseball asked in a panic “I just don’t want what happened to him to happen to anyone else.”
”Hey you guys alright, you left so suddenly?” The giddy first class car called out. Still dragging her steam train behind her. Greaseball froze like a deer in headlights, truly not sure of what to say. Dinah gently grabbed her hand and looked into her eyes.
“Greaseball they can help, but you have to let them. You don’t have to tell them everything, but if this guy is as dangerous as you say he is they should know.” Dinah softly rubbed her thumbs on the back of Greaseball’s palm. “Would it help if we went somewhere quieter?” Greaseball mustered a nod.
“Uhhh seriously, are you okay!?” Rusty asked noticing how suddenly quiet and shy the diesel engine was.
“No, I’m not.” Greaseball choked out.
“You guys need to come with us for a sec, we need to talk.” Dinah finished trying to sound urgent. However luckily both of them realized how serious it must be for Greaseball to be acting so out of character. So they agreed and followed the couple back to Greaseball’s shed.
Greaseball’s house had gone through some major changes since last year. Dinah had officially moved in and brought her eye for design with her. The walls had been painted with white and pink stripes. There were pictures and mementos of the couple’s racing career all through out, and Greaseball suddenly became the owner of like… a million more blankets. Greaseball didn’t really mind though. It actually made her place feel like home. Their two guests had finally settled in Greaseball started trying to explain herself.
“Did you guys see that big green camo guy when all the racing trains got here?” She asked, both Rusty and Pearl looked a bit surprised.
”Oh yeah, he was HUUUGE.” Pearl joked “I think his arm weighs at much as my body!” Greaseball tightened her grip on Dinah’s hand, wishing Pearl would take things a bit more seriously.
”Yeah well I know him.” Greaseball said solemnly “He races dirty and dosen’t care about what happens to his opponents. He got someone I cared about killed in the most horrific crash I’ve ever seen.” She kept it vague, she didn’t really want to reopen that wound anymore than she had to.
“Uhh I’m sorry is this sounds… insensitive but aren’t crashes part of racing?” Rusty said softly. Greaseball vehemently shook her head.
”No this crash was different, I remember the explosion, but no sparks. I know he started the fire that killed my-“ Greaseball caught herself, and took a minute “Look I know we’ve had our… differences but, I’m scared someone’s going to get hurt.”
“Hey we’re all racers here, We need to look out for each other.” Dinah chimed in her eyes meeting Pearls.
”So right now what are we doing?” Rusty said.
”Yo-you’re actually going to help us?” Greaseball said a bit shocked.
“Well if this guy is actually as bad as you say he is, combined with all the big personalities on the track it’s a recipe for disaster. I don’t want another bad crash like last year.” Rusty was quick to explain himself. “You probably know him best out of all of us, so you take the lead here GB.”
”Right… well…” Greaseball thought for a minute “our best bet is getting him disqualified. But we can’t do that without proof…”
”So we egg him on. Set a trap!” Pearl exclaimed jumping up. The others nodded, though Greaseball was taken a bit aback by Pearls apparent lust for schemes. “But who’s gonna be the bait?”
“Me!” Greaseball said curtly “I can take whatever that pig can throw at me.” She clenched her fist.
”What about Dinah?” Rusty asked.
“Hey I can take it too!” Dinah said, sounding a little offended. “You’re forgetting for every single one of Greaseball’s worst crashes, I was right there on the track leaking oil with her! It’ll be a cold day in hell before I’d let her do something like this alone!”
“Sorry Dinah, I didn’t mean to upset you it’s just… well this guy is huge. I just think one of the freights might stand a better chance.” Rusty quickly argued, worry think in his voice “GB, you’re not gonna make her race are you?”
Greaseball felt her stomach clenching, she knew Dinah was strong. Stronger than most trains give her credit for, she’s taken just as many lumps as her throughout their racing career. Something about this felt different though, they were going up against someone who’s killed other trains. They were actually trying to get hit by him. The two halves of Greaseball were going to war, old Greaseball scared for the love of her life. Terrified of history repeating itself and that monster taking another person away from her. The new Greaseball trusted Dinah more than anyone else and knew how strong she was. Then another thought popped in her head, one that put both sides to rest, Greaseball jumped when she realized just how long she’d been sitting there quietly. “Rusty, I don’t make her do anything.” She met the steamer’s eyes, trying to put him at ease. “If Dinah wants to race, she’ll race. At least if I’m with her we can take the hits together.” She saw Dinah smile.
“That’s right, Rusty” Dinah cut in, “I appreciate your concern, but I can handle myself. I mean I single handily whipped this one into shape.” She said pointing to Greaseball.
“Honestly I fear anyone who can wrangle that dirty diesel more than any other engine.” Pearl chimed in.
“Are you serious!?” Rusty shouted “Guys it’s bad enough that Greaseball is setting herself up, do you really want to go straight into the line of fire Dinah?!.” Then he looked at Greaseball “Are you seriously okay with putting your partner’s life on the line like this? You’re on a path to disaster and you’re dragging her down with you!”
“No, I’m not.” Greaseball snapped back “I’m absolutely terrified.” She stood up and met his gaze, she saw him flinch under the intensity of her stare. “I’m scared of dying, I’m scared of Dinah dying, I’m scared that what happened to my brother could happen to you, or Pearl or anyone else in this yard! This is my home too and I want to keep it safe! The only way to do that is to get that monster off the track!” Greaseball squared up to Rusty daring him to challenge her as she continued. “If we don’t stop him here he’ll go somewhere else, hurt someone else. Leave another family in ruins and .another engine alone having to fend for herself!!!” Greaseball didn’t even notice she was crying until a stray tear fell in her mouth. The salt almost stinging her tongue. “W-we can’t just let him go. A lifetime ban is the only way to get him off the track and we can’t do that without proof that he’s a cheat and a killer.” The room went quiet once Greaseball finished her rant. No one really knew what to say. Like the space was frozen in time. The stillness and quiet only broken by Dinah reaching out and wrapping her arms around Greaseball. Who buried her face into the crook of Dinah’s neck and squeezed her tightly.
”So… we’ll uhhh… we’ll talk it over and meet you two later.” Pearl said, realizing they needed some time alone. She lightly slapped Rusty on the shoulder before taking his hand and quickly dragging him out. The slam of the door echoing through the shed.
The couple just plopped down on their couch, Dinah was gently rubbing Greaseballs back while she cried. Greaseball was holding Dinah as close to her body as she possibly could, if she held her tight enough nothing could take her away… right?