No Comeback

For a moment, they'd all genuinely feared for their master's life. Crashes don't happen with electric trains, their high-tech navigation systems are designed to avoid such disasters and leave them in the past where they rightfully belong. Which makes them all the more fatal when they do happen. A crash usually ended fiery, so every single component breathes a sigh of relief when Electra emerges from the tunnel. Battered, bruised and spewing voltage, but alive. 

The electric superstar does not take note of their entourage, too busy trying to detach themselves from their racing partner. Killerwatt never trusted the Red Caboose, that dirty little brake wagon who thinks of nothing but mischief. In fact, he'd done his best to advise his master against racing with someone so unreliable, but when Electra wants something they must have it no watter what, be it a shiny new coach to race with or the title of national champion. Momentarily teaming up with someone far below their status seemed like a small price to pay for having the competition wiped out clean.

Even now, his shiny red hat ripped into pieces, the Caboose is looking for trouble, eyeing up Greaseball and the rest of the flock. Killerwatt wants to stuff the parts he's loosing back into that freight's mouth and make him choke on it. He's not jealous or upset Electra didn't listen to him, no, Electra is perfect and their decisions utterly flawless. Their word is law to the components. Specifically, the security truck is furious about the damage done to his master, more or less on behalf of him.

Electra must've noticed their own missing parts and the wires which threaten to electrocute the entire yard, for they let out a shrill whirr that sends Caboose fleeing. They don't call for the components though, neither through their audio box nor by signal. This is… not good. Next to him, Killerwatt can feel Wrench tense up.   "Crap." She fumbles with the repair tools she always keeps on her, in case Electra needs any quick maintenance. "The crash must've fried their circuits. If they can’t even enter the data stream." "You're right." Volta chimes in. "It's so quiet without them."

Not entirely quiet, because their master's whirrs get increasingly more high-pitched and frantic. Killerwatt is the first to be beside them, then Wrench and Volta and Joule, who makes a face at the ripped wires dragging on the ground. "That's gonna be a whole month of repairs…" Joule complains, dodging a sudden jolt of electricity. "Shut it." Killerwatt is being as nice as possible, trying to assess the amount of damage to the electric engine, despite him not being a repair truck.  Joule is most likely right, their master will have to spend the rest of the month in their shed, hooked up to cables while Wrench fixes them up. The last time this happened, it was only for regular maintenance and only a week too, but Electra was still furious by the end of it. They didn't like being forced to halt.

"It's fine, sir." Killerwatt signs, aware that security trucks like him aren't programmed for emotional support or showing emotions in general. Still, he is worried, something he very quickly blames on seeing his boss in shambles. "Just a few scratches, Wrench will fix you up in no time." In their sorry state, Electra apparently continues to understand sign language and gives Killerwatt a look which sends shivers through his system. They're fucking pissed. The engine makes an attempt to get back to their feet, shrieking and whirring like their circuits are about to go up in flames. They stagger a bit, before they collapse right into their security truck's arms. Killerwatt isn't going to let them sustain any more damage. For a moment, once Electra stops trying to electrocute the entire yard, the way they glance at Killerwatt is almost helpless. 

"There's really no need to worry, boss." Wrench signs, then bows before her master and goes to assist Killerwatt with carrying them. Not before her clever fingers find their way into the metal plating on Electra's back, activating their kill switch in one swift motion. Wrench does it with such precision, knowing that later their master won't remember it being pressed. In all the years as the superstar's repair truck, she's figured that out over time. Electra never remembers the time they've been out. Good for the components, because if they knew they had a damn kill switch on their back, they'd become even more insufferable than they already are. If one were to believe Joule's speculations.

"… Was that really necessary?" Killerwatt asks, still holding Electra. Volta and Joule are helping him carry their boss back into their shed, out of the public's view. "They needed to be put to sleep for the repairs. It's better if they don't remember them." "You think the boss will be fine? After all of this is over? Stupid diesel, the guy barely has a scratch on him." Joule chimes, Volta by her side. "Hm. Of course, the boss will be as good as new! Wrench is amazing. As for the diesel, we can get revenge on him once the boss has recovered." Volta nods. "The boss will have your heads for abandoning them while they recover, you know that, right?" If one were to ask him, Killerwatt would say he's only laying out the facts.

"Relax, KW! You're always such a killjoy with your gay undying loyalty to the boss." Joule teases. "Of course we would never ever abandon our electrifying master, you know that! That's why I said we'll get revenge after they're back on the track! You gotta pay better attention!" Killerwatt nods in silence, hands gripping tightly onto Electra. 

He wouldn't even dare to think of failing them.

In the end, it takes Wrench about three weeks to fix up Electra's systems until she's confident they can run flawlessly again, not to speak of the damaged wires. Luckily, the electric engine is rich as can be, so at least they don't have any trouble financing all the costly repairs. While Wrench is working tirelessly, replacing cracked screens and metal plating and recalibrating the new wires, Killerwatt refuses not to stand guard over Electra.

Honestly, he fears one of Greaseball's mindless goons will finish the job for their idol. Or perhaps the Red Caboose would like to cause a final bang? From what Wrench has gathered, no one has seen the brake wagon since the crash, for which everyone in the yard is blaming him, and Greaseball has been rotating between being fussed over by that dining car and being assigned "community services" by the old steamer who's running the entire yard now. Not one soul or train has asked for Electra, though Wrench is sure everyone knows where the engine is. All that makes someone just waltzing into their shed, slipping past all the components, and… deactivating Electra very unlikely.

Better safe than sorry, though. 

Wrench has been communicating with her colleagues through the data stream, effectively assigning everyone mundane tasks to keep them occupied. It's weird how they all can't seem to function without their boss. Especially Killerwatt. He doesn't even leave Electra's side once, much to the annoyance of Wrench. Sometimes, though they're all in one big polycule, the components do get tired of one another. How strange. 

Of course, it's Killerwatt who's there when Electra wakes up, not Wrench who's been working tirelessly and would like to take credit for that. It's nighttime when the megawatt's systems have finally been charged up enough for them to awaken - and by that time, Wrench has retired to her own charging station. Even a repair truck needs a bit of energy once in a while. Earlier that day, she'd hooked up Electra to large cables which would supply them with all the electricity they needed to restart their systems, but she hadn't expected them to wake up before morning. 

Lucky Killerwatt. 

"… Boss?" The security truck hears something snap and crackle, then sees bright bolts of electricity surge through the wires. Electra lights up for a moment, like the true superstar they are, and stirs in the web of cables Wrench put them in. At last, they open their perfect eyes, undoubtedly beautiful and flawless. "What- what the-"

"Boss! You're awake! Finally!" Killerwatt interrupts their attempts to speak, keeping a professional distance between himself and his boss. "You've been… sorry for the expression, out like a light since-" 

"You mean to tell me that this dirty little steamer and the rest of that idiotic pack wiped me out? Just like that? Me?" Electra hisses. At least they sound like themselves again. "No. Boss." Over time, Killerwatt has become an expert at dealing with his master's mood swings. Sometimes, he finds them cute. "Then what happened? I don't remember a thing!" 

For a moment, Killerwatt debates between lying and telling them the truth, then he decides to be truthful. The thought of lying to them feels odd. Like betrayal. "Boss, you got injured in the final race."

"Yes, I do remember that, you oaf!"

How appreciative, Electra. "Wrench had to do some fixes, nothing serious! Now you're all shiny and new." Killerwatt says. "I better be! Or else I'll fire her." Electra grumbles, wires crackling. By now, they've noticed the cables they're hooked onto... and aren't pleased at all by the fact. "What is the meaning of this?" 

"Wrench says, you'll still have to charge up. And wait a while until your systems have fully rebooted." The security guard is eager to explain.

"Aha." At least Electra accepts the fact without much fuss. "And you?"

"Me?" "You've been here the entire time?" With the electricity surging through their body, the superstar calms down a little. "Watching over me like some sort of guardian angel?" They sneer, though it doesn't sound mocking. Killerwatt knows how their mocking voice sounds like, so this question must be genuine. 

"It's my job, boss. I am your security truck." He explains. It had seemed like complete abandonment of his purpose, the mere thought of leaving Electra if only for a second. Joule had made fun of him, insinuating that Killerwatt had a crush on his master and merely didn't want to leave their side because he was so in love with them. Which was one hundred percent fabricated and a horrible lie.

Everyone loves Electra. They're a goddamn superstar, they're made to be adored and cheered on. Killerwatt only shows them the respect and adoration which they deserve, and by the way, Joule's been the one who's always fooling around with Wrench instead of doing things as a polycule. 

"What a boring answer." Electra rolls their eyes, and for a moment Killerwatt swears he can see disappointment in them. A miscalculation, nothing more. They're only disappointed because taken literally, he failed at his task.

"I'm sorry, boss." He apologizes and Electra looks confused. They mask it by letting the displays on their shoulder come to life with reddish light. "I disappointed you. First, I failed to convince your racing partners to stay with you, then I let that Caboose crash you. I am unworthy-"

"Would you shut up please?" A little jolt into the data stream, right into Killerwatt's system gets his master's point across. "The crash is the fault of those two support acts who wouldn't let me get the win I deserve, not yours. And besides, you've done a decent job as my security truck until now. Better than Krupp or Purse." Electra rambles on, their weird little way of showing support. Little do they know how much their component loves that kind of praise.

"If anything, you're only raising the standards for those that come after you, once your system's outdated. But worry not, I am not mad at you for failing to secure Pearl or Dinah as my racing partners. You shall be given ample opportunities to make up for it." 

Killerwatt is taken aback, then nods.

At times, Electra wishes he wouldn’t wear those sunglasses all the time. They make it difficult to figure out what he's thinking, but they do get the point across, so they have to stay.

"Thank you, boss." Wrong answer, because Electra whirrs like something annoys them. Their component doesn't get the chance to answer though, because Wrench rolls in. Shit. 

"Boss!" Wrench appears to be a bit groggy from being unplugged so suddenly. "I heard you were awake. I hope Killerwatt didn't bore you." She winks.

Oh, she knows what she is doing.

"So far, Killerwatt has been excellent company." Electra replies, and Killerwatt isn't able to tell whether they're sarcastic or genuine.

"Wonderful!" Wrench slaps her hands together. "Are you feeling better, boss?" She immediately moves to check on their master, sending her colleague a few steps away, before he excuses himself altogether.

Awkwardness isn't a feeling which has been programmed into his system, or at least it shouldn't be on the spectrum of things he can feel, so the security truck just bows to Electra and then leaves into the night. 

Better luck next time.