Chapter 4 — Repercussions

Electra coasted along the track on his way to the training arena, the day following their narrow escape from trouble with the Marshals. On the way he passed Dinah, who was hurrying in the opposite direction. She spotted him as he passed.

"What's going on?" she asked before he could duck out of sight. "Pearl said you were going to be suspended for sabotage!"

"No," Electra said coolly. "Didn't you hear? CB sabotaged the race, not me."

"CB?" Dinah repeated, shocked. "Why would he do such a thing?"

"Why wouldn't he?" Electra said. "He's a treacherous rat. He's suspended from racing and from his duties."

Dinah's eyes were wide with surprise. "I can hardly believe it," she said, sitting down. "That doesn't sound at all like CB!"

"Come on," Electra said casually. "CB doesn't have a clue where his loyalties lie. That's why he turned back on Rusty."

Dinah's eyes suddenly narrowed. "So you had nothing to do with it?"

Electra quickly arranged his face to look shocked at the very suggestion. "What makes you think that?"

"It just seems a bit suspicious," she said slowly, "that you're in competition with Rusty, and CB just happens to want to take him out. He's never had reason to dislike Rusty before. They were always good friends."

"Oh, please," Electra said casually. "I don't have time for this, Dinah. I have training to do. Maybe Rusty'll have better luck now that treacherous brake vehicle is out of the way. If he can find another partner, that is."

With a none-to-friendly smile, Electra turned his back and continued on his way. As she watched him leave, Dinah couldn't help still feeling suspicious.

The metal supporting beams of the training track rattled loudly as Greaseball shot across them, rounding the corner so fast even he thought he might derail himself. He ducked beneath the overhanging branches of the trees growing nearby and leapt from the track, landing smoothly on the ground beside Pearl, who had been watching him.

"So?" she said expectantly. Greaseball turned away, coasting leisurely away; Pearl followed. "So?" she repeated.

"So what?" Greaseball replied.

"Have they disqualified you?" she asked coldly. "For what you did to Rusty?"

Greaseball laughed. "Don't be stupid, Pearl. Why would they disqualify me for something CB did?"

Pearl gasped. "You didn't—!" she cried. "You didn't tell them it was CB's idea, did you?"

"It was!" Greaseball insisted.

"You were with him!" Pearl exclaimed. "You were just as much to blame as he was. And you just walked away and let him take your punishment!"

"It was his punishment," Greaseball growled, speeding up.

"How could you, Greaseball!" Pearl insisted, picking up speed alongside him. "CB's your friend!"

"Stay out of this, Pearl," Greaseball barked. "If CB was stupid enough to get caught, that's his problem." He tried to make an escape, but Pearl skidded around in front of him, blocking his way.

"You're low, Greaseball," she said fiercely. "You were just as much to blame as he was. You were caught, too, and you were just too much of a coward to take it like a man, so you ditched it onto CB instead! I can't believe you. It's bad enough that you'd cheat to get out of having to face Rusty like a real competitor, but then ducking out of the consequences like a coward—!"

"Shut up, Pearl!" shouted Greaseball, and without thinking his hand shot out and he struck the observation car hard around the face. Caught off guard, Pearl was spun off her wheels and cast to the ground. Greaseball was far too fired up to realise that he'd made a mistake; he skated back over to her to stand over her. "CB got what was coming to him," he yelled, "and if you ever dare call me a coward again they'll be worse to come, hear me?"

Pearl was shaking too hard to think to answer him, one hand held over her face, partly for fear of being struck again, partly to shield the tears streaming from her eyes. Greaseball spun on his wheels and stormed away back towards the training track.

Once she was sure he'd gone, Pearl slowly sat up again, one hand over her throbbing cheek, wiping tears from her swollen eyes. She hardly knew what to think. Eventually she picked herself up and shakily made her way across to where she hoped she would find Buffy and Ashley, though what she would say when they saw her in such a state, she didn't know.