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Play Doodles
Jkofan and I wrote this back in July 2003 after seeing Starlight Express. This is from after the Rap up until after the first final, and some other things that happen between Rusty and the Red Caboose. It's inspired by the cast that we saw.
Rusty paced around the empty trainyard, blinking rapidly and trying to keep his emotions in control, really wanting to be alone right now, but half-wanting to talk to somebody, although there wouldn't be anyone he could talk to about this.
Caboose had come upon the engine and watched him silently for a moment, but the steamer didn't seem to see him.
"Hiya Rusty!" Caboose finlly spoke up. Because the steam engine delt so much with the Freight Caboose didn't feel like he had to be as formal when speaking to Rusty like he did with the other engines.
Rusty looked up, "Oh. Hey Caboose..."
"Ya look like somethin's on your mind," he observed.
"You think?" Rusty said, perhaps a bit harsher then he intended to.
That made the caboose back up some. "Whoa rusty, turn your fire down."
"Sorry," Rusty said, "I shouldn't take it out on you..."
He the rolled closer to the steamer. "What's on your mind buddy?"
"I just... I don't know..."
"what d'ya mean by that?"
"It's just... after everything that's happened..."
"But ya *are* gonna race, aren't ya?" the caboose asked. After all, he had been there when Rusty had made that choice.
He nodded slowly
"You can do it Rusty! Don't let Greaseball or that electric tell ya otherwise!"
"Thanks..."
"it's true! you can beat both of 'em!"
"What makes you say that?"
"When has Poppa ever been wrong or lied to ya?" Caboose asked.
"Never," Rusty admitted.
"Would he ever lie?" he asked again though it was obviously a rhetorical question.
"No he wouldn't," Rusty said, rolling forward a bit, "but it's just..." he trailed off
"Just what Rusty?"
"I used to think I'd be able to do it..."
"And you are!" Caboose didn't move from his spot but followed the steamer with his eyes.
"When I was going to race with... with Pearl."
"Rusty, If it's another partner ya need.." Caboose rolled over to meet the steamer.
He blinked, "Starlight, I hadn't even thought of that."
"That's the rules after all," Caboose reminded him.
"You're right..." Rusty said, "I wasn't even thinking about that."
"Think about a partner and win the Race first," Caboose advised. "Then Pearl'll come back *to* you."
Rusty blinked, "You think?"
He nodded. "yeah! Once ya win, she'll come back just like that!" He gave a snap of his fingers.
"Yeah..." Rusty said slowly, "I mean, I'll have won, beaten that electric..."
Caboose nodded. "Yeah! She'd see he's all posin' and nothin' else."
Rusty nodded, a smile slowly spreading across his face
"You'll see Rusty!" Caboose said with a grin.
"You're right Caboose," Rusty said, "I thought I could do it before - and nothing really has changed about me."
"No, nothin' has," he responded.
"I mean, I'm strong and fast..."
"Ya've got what what it takes to be a winner."
Rusty nodded
"So who ya gonna race with?" the caboose asked.
"I don't know," Rusty said, "I doubt one of the coaches would go with me..."
He moved up right behind the steamer. "Most likely not..."
"I don't suppose..." Rusty started uncertainly.
"Yeah?" Caboose encouraged Rusty to go on.
"would you?" Rusty asked hopefully.
"Course Rusty!" Caboose replied with a grin, "Yeah know if I can be of help at all."
Rusty grinned "Thanks Caboose."
He gave a salute. "That's what I'm here for Rusty."
The steamer looked considerably cheered up. "Thanks Caboose," he said again, "We'll show them!"
Suddenly a thought-no, an idea-snapped into the caboose's mind. He had always hated being stuck in the back, being looked down upon because he was 'freight'. Well being the steamer's racing partner gave him the perfect chance to prove to everyone that *he* had something to prove.
"You've got that right Rusty...." Caboose replied as he brought is hands up and folded them, tapping his fingers together as he plotted. "Ya got that right......." There was a different look in his eyes now, though not noticable unles one actually looked right at him.
Rusty smiled and backed up a bit so the caboose could hitch on
Caboose grabbed hold, his expression changing as quickly as it hand the first time. "Let's go Rusty!"
Rusty rolled forward, whistling cheerfully as he rolled down the tracks.
The caboose followed right behind. There was a different air about him, though he hid it so well no one seemed to notice.
"Hey Rusty," Caboose finally said speaking up.
"Yeah?"
"I jus' remembered somethin' I gotta do. But don't worry, I'll be back in time for the race."
"Alright," Rusty said.
CB gently put on his breaks and when they had slowed down enough, unhitched. "Promise." He wouldn't miss this chance for the world.
"I trust you Caboose," Rusty said with a smile.
He gave a salute and skated off. as soon as he was out of the steamer's sight, the caboose sped off to find Greaseball. This would be *too* easy.
*~*~*~*
Greaseball had left Pearl to do whatever it was that coaches needed to do to get ready for racing
"Greaseball..." Caboose called, coming into view after wittnessing the electric's money truck come and get Dinah.
Greaseball looked over his shades in acknowledgement of the caboose
"Mr. Greaseball," Caboose said again. "Excuse me a minute. Just a word?" There was a different look about him.
"Yeah, what is it?" Greaseball asked, he didn't have time to spend talking to the caboose
"I want you to know that I'm going to ensure you position as Champ is completely secure!" A wide grin crossed his face. The Caboose had to get the diesel to go along for his plan to work.
"I know I'm winnin' this race," he said, pulling off his glasses and inspecting them for smudges, "duh."
Surely the Caboose hadn't called him over just to say that. "Quit grinnin', cut to the chase," Greaseball ordered.
Caboose's eyes followed Greaseball closely. "Rusty's got some power, we just haven't seen it yet! That rusty lil' engine could turn out to be a threat!"
Rusty? That little steamer? "I'm listening," Greaseball said, "Keep talkin'."
Caboose had to hold back a laugh. He knew that would get the diesel interested. "If he can't start, then he can't win...Let's wipe him out when the race begins!"
"That's nasty," Greaseball said, thinking it over
As Greaseball thought it over, Caboose folded his hands and tapped his fingers together, waiting.
"I like it."
He allowed the laugh to escape then. "I *thought* you would!"
Greaseball nodded at the caboose and rolled away, it wouldn't do for him to be seen talking to Caboose, just in case something went wrong, but the Caboose hadn't ever let him down before
'No more Mister Goody-good!' he thought to himself with a smirk. 'Just cuz I smile all the time, don't mean I'm not into crime1 Under the smiles, under the fun? I'm Public Enemy Number One!" With a burst of laughter, Caboose sped off again.
*~*~*~*~*
Rusty was looking for Caboose nervously as it was nearly time to race
Caboose appeared just in time. "Here I am Rusty!"
Rusty looked relieved, "There you are."
"Said I wouldn't let ya down."
Rusty nodded, "I know."
"Ready Rusty?"
"You bet!"
He hitched back up to the steamer.
Rusty took a deep breath
"You can do it!" However, Caboose had a smirk when he said that.
He nodded
He held to Rusty's couplers tight as the three waited for Control's countdown.
Rusty took a deep breath as Control announced his name and he pulled forward to the starting line
Caboose was right behind him. He gave a grin and a salute.
The siren sounded and Rusty took off. He went faster, ignoring everything else and just concentrating on running
As soon as Rusty started pulling ahead, Caboose started hitting him, the same strange look in his eyes, hoping to slow the steamer down.
"Hey!" Rusty exclaimed, looking back
Caboose laughed. "c'mon Rusty!"
"What are you doing?"
He didn't answer but continued to laugh, hitting him.
"Stop it!"
"Hurry up Rusty!"
"Take the brakes off!"
He laughed again
Greaseball took hold of Caboose's couplings as a signal
The caboose took that signal, ready to let go when he needed to.
Greaseball gave the caboose's couplings a slight tug indicating he should unhitch, which he did.
"You piece of scrap!" Greaseball shouted, slamming into Rusty and sending the steam engine on a collision course with Electra.
He let out another burst of laughter and came to a hault to watch.
The steamer landed hard on the ground and was still for a minute before he stirred into motion, rubbing his head
the caboose pulled up next to him and smirked.
Rusty looked up at him in shock
He just looked down at him, an evil glint in his eye.
He continued to stare at the caboose in disbelief
The caboose managed to kick up some dust before speeding off.
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