Heat 3
The rolling stock mystery gang decided it would be best if they hand another sleepover. Safety in numbers was their best bet since Sargent wouldn’t want any witnesses. Greaseball was still deeply rattled by what happened to Blue. Inwardly she was cursing at herself for letting her rage possess her like again. She’d been doing good at keeping a lid on her anger for the past year and felt kinda disappointed that she let it slip. The awkward silence that filled Rusty’s shed was broken by a crackle in Pearls radio.
”Pearl? This is Electra, coming in!” Both Pearl and Rusty jumped hearing the electric engine’s voice. The four exchanged a surprised glance before Pearl rushed to respond.
“Uuuhh yes Electra?” She desperately looked up at the others for advice on what to say. Rusty reached over and Presses Pearl’s talk button.
”Um Electra how did you get on Pearl’s private channel?” He asked confused.
”Let’s just say your communication system isn’t half as secure as you’d hoped it was.” They respond very matter-o-factly. “Besides the point. Please come visit our shed, we should talk.” There was a short pause “and bring that steamer and the diesel with you.” Greaseball rolled her eyes and grabbed Pearls radio.
”Oui the steamer and the diesel have names!” She shouted “ya damn toaster!” She grumbled.
”Yes I know, Greaseball.” Pearl could practically hear the eye roll in Electra’s voice. “Behave you gas guzzler.” Dinah heard Greaseball snicker quietly to herself. Dinah knew Greaseball liked having people around who can snap back at her. Makes her feel like she doesn’t have to hold back as much.
”okay Electra, we’ll be there in a moment… how’s Joule?” Pearl asked tentatively. There was another quiet moment before Electra responded.
“Well it’ll be awhile before they’re back on their feet but… she should make a full recovery.” Electra’s voice sounded somewhat solemn. It was pretty clear he cared quite a bit for his components.
”That’s good to hear” Greaseball cut in, sounding relieved.
“Yes thank you.” Was the last thing Electra said before he left the channel.
”Well I guess we’re visiting the toasters.” Greaseball said standing up and stretching out. “Man couldn’t they have reached out earlier? It’s dark out!”
“They were probably in the mechanic shed with Joule all day.” Dinah spoke up “from what I hear the only time the other Electrics leave her alone is at night, and that even still one is always with her.”
“Makes sense, when you’re laid up in the shop it takes nothing short of a natural disaster to keep me away.” Greaseball smiled, gently taking Dinah’s hand.
”Welp we’d better get going before it gets too late!” Rusty said jumping up and taking Pearls hand “the two of us got a race to win tomorrow.”
”Hehe and I gotta be ready to scrap your ass off the pavement.” Greaseball said with a cheeky laugh.
“Oh shut it GB!” Rusty jeered, lightly punching Greaseball on the shoulder. Dinah laughed, Rusty was getting a little better at giving Greaseball back what she gives.
Pearl delicately knocked on Electra’s door and was greeted by Killerwatt. Who didn’t really say anything but he did give a kinda friendly nod and let them pass. Electra was plugged into a charging port, no doubt drained from watching over Joule. They assumed Volta was with her since he wasn’t anywhere in their shed. “Ah there you are.” They smiled “A little late but that’s what I’d expect.”
”Hey! Are you forgetting who beat you last year!” Rusty stepped up “fyi I crossed the finish line before you crashed, so I would have beaten you even if you hadn’t wrecked!”
“Down boy, down!” Pearl scolded lightly slapping Rusty’s shoulder. “They’re trying to help us.”
”Right… sorry.” Rusty said a little sheepishly. Electra gave a soft laugh.
”Oh not to worry, it was simply friendly racing banter.” Their gaze turned to Greaseball “Honestly I was thinking it would be the diesel to snap back.” Greaseball shrugged.
”I’ve been working on my bullying issues.” She glanced at Dinah “gotta keep my tongue on a leash” Electra flushed, looking embarrassed.
”Hey whatever you two get up to in the bedroom is none of my business” they suddenly looked very interested in the ground.
”Oh not like that! You weird perverted toaster!” Greaseball snapped rolling her eyes.
“ANYWAY! You said you wanted us here for something” Dinah said loudly, shaking her head.
”Ah yes, to be honest I want as little to do with whatever it is you’re planning as possible.” Their eyes narrowing, Greaseball really didn’t blame them for it. Anyone would be scheme weary after what happened last year. “But no one hurts my components and gets away with it!” Their voice got lower, there was an undertone of fury in their voice. “I won’t get physically involved, but me and Killerwatt have some toys you lot could make good use of.” The group spent a good amount of time hashing out details and fine tuning the plan.
The next day in order to wake Rusty it took a blaring alarm and more caffeine than he’s willing to admit. Rusty hates staying up late, it makes him all groggy in the morning. He and Pearl were panicking a little bit because they couldn’t possibly win the race feeling this drowsy. Luckily for them (or unluckily depending on who you ask) Greaseball had a plan. Dinah kept the two distracted with some gossip from the yard while Greaseball crept up behind them. While their backs were turned and they were sitting at the kitchen table Greaseball dumped a buckets worth of ice water on em.
Pearl jumped high enough Dinah swore she hit the roof, and Rusty lets out a whistle that made Greaseball deaf for a couple seconds. Dinah couldn’t help but start laughing.
”WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!!!” Pearl screamed, her voice so high Greaseball thought her ears popped. “I’d expect this from Greaseball, but you Dinah? A prank right before our race?”
”Actually it wasn’t a prank.” Dinah said jumping up and gently grabbing Pearls shoulder “it’s actually what we do when one of us is having trouble waking up on race day.”
”Are you two insane?” Rusty asked “who would volunteer for that!?” Greaseball just shrugged.
”Hey you’re awake now ain’t ya” she said with a smirk while crossing her arms. Pearl made a face like she was about to say something and the paused.
”Yeah… well… yeah it worked.” She said with a sigh.
”But that will not happen again!” Rusty said with a glare. Dinah and Greaseball snickered.
”Well next time make sure you go to bed on time.” Dinah said with a cheeky grin.
The final qualification race was between Espresso, Silver bullet, Orange flash, and Rusty. For once a race actually went perfectly smoothly with no crashes. There was a little bit of a scuffle between Esspresso and Silver but they managed to part ways without killing each other. Also at one point Orange took a turn too sharp and flew off the track, but she got right back up and kept on trucking. In the end Rusty and Pearl just managed to eke out a victory with Silver right on their asses. Greaseball and Dinah smiled like proud parents, convinced they wouldn’t have won without their secret technique. They took a moment to smile and laugh, this would be the last fun race of the tournament. Greaseball had a horrible feeling that things would get a lot rougher from here on out.