Glitched

20 - Guilt and Promises

A/N - Sorry for the hiatus. I felt the need to write something lighter while I recovered, and now it's back to working on Glitched! Sorry for the cliffhanger!

...

The N00b Mobile's engine purred softly before breaking into another sputter attack. N00b scratched at his ear as he let out a groan, then hopped from the driver's seat to duck back beneath the bonnet, trying to pinpoint the source of the problem while desperately denying he needed a stronger engine.

"Still can't get it workin', hey?"

N00b pushed back his goggles and looked over his shoulder at the drilbur walking over to him, a sun hat hanging down over one eye, holding a plate in one paw and a steaming mug in the other. He set them down on the rickety table that currently held an open tool box and a scattering of loose screws and bolts.

"I brought ye out a wee snack," said the drilbur. "I thought ye could use a break now. You've been at that for over an hour."

"Thank's, Gadget." N00b straightened up and stretched, his back popping loud enough to make the drilbur flinch.

"That can't be good fer ye. Sit." Gadget pulled out a chair and pointed a long claw at the seat. "Have yer cuppa and cake or the missus will give me a good talkin' to if I let ye keep diggin' away at yer machine."

N00b laughed as he fell into the seat and picked up the hot mug in both paws. "I really do appreciate your help. If I hadn't landed in your field I don't know what I'd have done. Tell Mrs Gadget thank you, too."

"Ah. Don't mention it, kid." The drilbur blushed and scratched the back of his head. "It's nothin' really. I got all me tractors and such like I need to maintain. I don't mind helpin' out a nice pup like you get ye strange car back in the air."

N00b mumbled a 'huh' as he took a bite out of his cake which turned out to be pinap berry. It was very refreshing on a hot day like this.

"To be honest," he said, "I think I might have to stay on the ground. That engine just isn't holding up with increased air speed at all."

"Is that gonna be a problem for ye?"

"Well, the N00b Mobile does move a lot faster on the ground, but the roads can be tricky through cities. Plus I need to reach one of the drifting continents. It's kind of an emergency."

Gadget scratched his head thoughtfully. "Well I might have a spare engine I can give ye."

"Really?!" N00b's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. "I don't think I could take it, Gadget. That's much too generous!"

"Ah, pish posh." The drilbur waved a paw at him and chuckled. "It's sat in a dead tractor in me shed. Thing's not worked in months. I dunno how much use it'll be to ya but yer welcome to try it."

"Wow. A tractor engine, huh?" N00b scratched his chin with a claw as he stared at the open bonnet of his little car. "It's got to pull a lot of weight, so it'll be more powerful than the standard racing engine I've used. But would it be able to handle a lot of speed?"

Gadget shrugged. "I dunno. Tractors aint cut out for racin', but it's worth a try, eh?"

"Certainly!" N00b beamed from ear to ear. "If it fails, I might be able to harvest some parts to replace the weaker ones in my current engine."

"Like a gigantic, technical jigsaw." Gadget laughed heartily as he moved away. "I'll go get it fer ya. You enjoy yer cake. Missus will probably be out with another slice soon anyway. She thinks yer a bit on the skinny side."