I never really thought
They pulled into the repair shed in record speed. Sludge and his assistant Screech were working on Golden eagle, while Wrench set herself up in a corner to patch up Joule. As Greaseball and Rusty were about to take their leave Greaseball heard Wrench call out to her. “Hey uhh Greaseball? Would you mind giving me a hand again?”
“Sure I guess, but I don’t really know anything about electrics.” Greaseball admitted, she had done some engine maintenance on herself before but never really worked on anyone else.
“That’s fine, I mostly just need your steady hands to hold things.” Wrench responded, seeming much calmer than she had been. Greaseball simply nodded and took a spot by Wrench. Doing whatever the electric asked her to. It didn’t take too long for Electra and the others to get to the repair shed.
”Joule? Is she?…” Electra called out, their voice much softer than Greaseball had ever heard before.
”Well, she’s going to be sore for a while, but she’ll pull through.” Wrench responded in her usual robotic manner, though a small waver in her voice gave away her true feelings. “You should actually thank Greaseball over here. Repairs wouldn’t have gone nearly as smoothly without her.” She said curtly.
“Uh nah, I just did what she asked me to do.” Greaseball quickly interjected.
”What I said still applies.” Wrench responded. Electra cleared their throat and looked over at Greaseball.
”Thank you, I suppose.” Electra said quietly “thank for helping Joule, I couldn’t bare loosing one of my partners.” Greaseball was surprised by the sudden vulnerability the engine showed. “We’ll talk later.” They finished before turning back to Joule and Wrench.
”I’m basically done for the night, thank you though Greaseball.” Wrench backed away and began putting away her tools while Electra knelt down and took Joule’s hand.
“Uh yeah sure.” Greaseball said as she awkwardly backed away. Peeking over she saw that Dinah, Pearl, and Rusty were all watching Golden eagle, who from the sound of it was wide awake. “How ya feeling Goldie?”
“Not great.” Golden eagle answered “Oh hey doc! Tell em what they found in my exhaust pipe!” Greaseball turned to Sludge with a raise eyebrow.
”Uh yeah… we found a rock jammed in his exhaust pipe, built up too much pressure in his internals.” Sludge answered as he went to leave.
”Before you say anything yes we tried to talk to the marshals about it!” Pearl shouted.
”They said that while yes Sargent could have put that Rock in Goldie, but it also could have been debris from the track.” Dinah sighed in defeat, Greaseball couldn’t help but cringe. Ever since her stunt last year, blaming Rusty for a wreck that she caused. The marshals took any accusations of cheating with a lot more scrutiny. Which yeah is a good thing, rivals shouldn’t just be able throw accusations around. Though it really would have been nice in this particular instance.
“So we’re no closer to getting Sargent banned.” Rusty said sounding pretty frustrated.
”Well at least the fucker won’t be racing again until the final heat.” Greaseball tried to reassure them. “At least he won’t have a reason to hurt anyone else until the race.”
”How’s the electric going?” Golden eagle asked “That poor component looked pretty rough.”
”Last I saw she was alright, just sleeping.” Greaseball answered.
“Oh that’s good to hear.” He said with a small smile “it’s a real shame they always get hurt whenever they come here.” Suddenly they heard a ruckus outside, Greaseball and Rusty went outside to check it out. Speak of the diesel and he will appear, Greaseball always felt a little offended when Mama would say that. Even if it was kinda true.
Screech was trying to shoo Sargent away, but for some reason he seemed really intent on visiting the electrics. Greaseball rolled her eyes and put on her best snarl, skating right up to him. “Oh here to check out your handy work Sarg!”
”Wow, that’s a bold accusation Greaseball.” Sargent sneered rolling right past screech. “Got any proof to back it up?”
”Hey, hey guys, let’s not start something here!” Rusty interjected rolling up and standing between them. “Especially with the marshals and Mama are in ear shot!” Rusty emphasized that last point, and that seemed to catch Sargent’s attention.
“Hehe I guess I would be a bad time to check up on sparky.” His shark toothed grin really not doing much to hide his annoyance. “Send them my regards eh?” He smirked as he turned to leave.
“That’s right shuffle away like a coward.” Greaseball muttered under her breath. “Nice, steamer. Almost got ugly there.” Greaseball smiled
”Would you stop calling me that!” Rusty said with a frustrated laugh.
”Hehe sorry old habits I guess.” Greaseball said a little awkwardly.
”Well I guess compared to all the other things you use to call me steamer isn’t too bad.” Rusty replied with a small laugh.
”In my defence it’s not really ment as an insult anymore.” Greaseball tentatively set her hand on Rusty’s shoulder “Steamers like you and Mama are some of the most resilient mother fuckers I’ve ever seen.” Rusty smiled, looking a little surprised by the compliment. “Even after all the shit I put you through, you just kept going.” While Greaseball would never admit it out loud, Rusty had reminded her of the kid she was back in her old yard. Everyone was always dog piling on her too, that’s probably why she’d been such a bitch to him.
“Hehe I mean I did almost give up, a couple times.” Rusty said with a shrug. “Like when Electra first showed up and was showing off for everyone. Or after you blamed me for that crash.”
”So… why didn’t you?” Greaseball asked, genuinely curious. “You didn’t really have much to lose. You still had Mama and the freights, and a stable home, good work. What made you want to race?”
”It’s just something I’d always wanted to do.” Rusty answered simply “Ever since I was a kid watching my Mama on the track. The thought of crossing that line, the wind in my face, the adrenaline pumping through my veins. Sure I could have had a fine life without it, but… I wouldn’t be truly living, you know?” Greaseball watch Rusty’s eyes light up as he talked about his dream. He almost looked like a little kid. “How about you Greaseball? Why do you race?”
“Oh uuhh… huh you know I never really thought about it.” Greaseball shrugged “It was always just… a thing I did, it’s what I do.” Greaseball had spent most of her life blindly charging forward, desperately trying to leave her past behind her. She’d never really took the time to consider why she did the things she did. “I guess on the track things made sense, I didn’t have to worry about relationships, or my own damage, just be in the moment ya know?”
“Is everything alright out here?” Dinah suddenly appeared out of nowhere, making Greaseball jump a little as she wrapped her arms around Greaseballs neck from behind.
”What on earth was all that about?” Pearl wasn’t too far behind, taking one of Rusty’s hands. After a couple seconds of quiet Pearl gasped “Oh shoot Dinah I think they were bonding!”
“Nah nahh… well maybe?” Greaseball shrugged “Rusty stopped me from getting in a fight with the camo shit stain.”
”Oh? What did he want?” Dinah asked curiously.
”He was trying to talk to Electra, not sure why.” Rusty answered. Greaseball scoffed.
”You shoulda seen it, Rusty threatened to tattle to Mama and the prick ran off with his tail between his legs.” She gave a satisfied chuckle.
“Well that’s suspicious.” Pearl pondered out loud “Though it’s nice to know he took Mama’s threat seriously. At least was can use that until the final race.”
”Well this whole thing stinks.” Dinah said with a pout “Sorry your first racing season had to be filled with so much bullshit Rusty.”
“Hey it’s not your fault! Is it always like this?” He asked curiously. Greaseball and Dinah responded with a shrug.
”eh kinda, though usually lives aren’t on the line.” Dinah answered. “But I think that’s enough playing detective, we’ve got a race to win tomorrow and my little engine gets cranky when she doesn’t sleep.”
”Wait I thought cranky was her default state?” Pearl asked, Greaseball laughed and rolled her eyes.
”Oohh no, you should see her when she gets a cold. She goes around like a rabbit stomping her feet everywhere.” Dinah said with a bright smile.
”Dinah! Stop it!” Greaseball shouted, using her hands to hide the embarrassed flush on her face. The others laughed.
”Well goodnight you two!” Rusty shouted as they turned to leave. “And good luck tomorrow!”
”Luck is for pussies!” Greaseball shouted back.