Tag: thomas and friends

The Arlesdale Railway is a Miniature gauge railway that runs from Arlesburgh West along the old track bed of Duke’s old home, the Mid-Sodor Railway, and ends in Arlesdale, where it meets the North Western Railway at a transfer yard for ballast and wool. The railway is run by Mr. Fergus Duncan, affectionately called the Small Controller. The railway fleet consists of four steam engines and four diesels. Right now, one of the steam engines, a red one named Mike, was shouting like a distressed animal. “BLISTERS!” he shouted angrily, calling for the twin Diesels. “BLISTERS! WHERE’S MY ROOF?!” His cab roof was gone! His driver, Wilson, was trying to keep a lid on his temper.

“Can’t be helped, mate,” he grumbled. “We’ll have to go roof-less on the passenger run today.”

“Great! Stupid coaches without a roof! Can anything else go wrong today?!” Mike moved onto the turntable to get turned around for the morning passenger run. Wilson soon got out of Mike and moved the turntable, only to stop when they heard a crunch.

“What was tha…no, you’re joking!” wailed Wilson. Mike then got the same idea.

“No, they’re not THAT sick!” he protested.

“Morning,” came a voice. Frank, a gray diesel engine, rolled up to them.

“What?!” snapped Mike.

“Morning,” repeated Frank.

“Yeah, whatever.” Wilson got into the turntable well and pulled out a bent sheet of metal. He presented it to Mike. “NO!” wailed the red engine.

“Wait, why’s your cab roof down there?” asked Frank.

“The Blister Twins!” hissed Wilson as he got out of the turntable well. “They’re SICK!”

“Can’t exactly prove it was them. They were in their shed all night last night.”

“Come on, this is RIGHT up their alley!”

“We can have the security footage prove it. I mean, there ARE cameras near your sheds.”

“Let’s get Control to pull it up,” declared Wilson.

---

The Small Controller had arrived with the security guard to speak to Mike. Since this mystery needed to be solved, Sigrid of Arlesdale, the one female engine, would be taking Mike’s passenger run. The security guard pulled up the footage from the previous night. The security cameras showed nothing going on with Mike or the Blister Twins. “…That doesn’t make sense!” protested Mike. “How’d my cab roof get in the turntable well?!”

“We’ll find out,” said the security guard. “In the meantime, you better get a new roof.” He then got up and left the sheds.

“…Yeah, like I couldn’t figure that out myself!” snarled Mike.

“It can’t be helped now, Mike,” said the Small Controller. “I’ll tell the works to expect you. After which, I need you at the quarry for a ballast delivery.”

“Right,” sighed Mike. “…At least I’m working with sensible trucks.”

“Come on, Mike,” urged Wilson. “We gotta get a new roof for you.” He boarded Mike and the red engine set off.

---

Mike arrived at the works to see two identical diesels with a standing cab…and roof-less. Mike was surprised. “You too?!” he yelped.

“Wait, then this wasn’t you?” asked one of the twins, Blister I.

“Then who was it?” asked Blister II.

“Security footage revealed nothing!” grunted Mike. Hejema then approached the three.

“We got your roofs all set to go,” she said. “This is gonna be just like making pets!”

“…MAKING pets?” asked Mike.

“…Was that out loud?” gulped Hejema.

---

Mike returned to work later in the afternoon. He was feeling a little better once he got underway with his goods work. “This is proper work,” he said. “No need to pull light coaches every day. Just a day of proving you can pull the heaviest loads.”

“Sounds to me like you’ve got a complex,” scoffed Wilson.

“EVERYONE has something to prove. You said you’re a sculptor, yes?”

“I’m not looking to prove that my artwork’s the best. I simply want to create. Nothing more.”

“Sounds pretty dull to me.”

“I’d say that living with the attitude that you’re always being tested is dull.”

“We ARE always being tested! We have to prove your worth somehow!”

“Mike, you’re a miniature gauge engine that lives on an island that never considers scrapping its vehicles unless they die somehow! I’m part of an organization that doesn’t care if you’re a fighter or not! Neither of us have ANYTHING to prove!” Mike stayed silent for the rest of the journey, unconvinced about Wilson’s words.

---

Once the day was done, Wilson made his way to the cottage he, Emma, Hejema, and Falnii stayed at. He was in a bit of a mood. “Stubborn old engine!” he grunted. “Why can’t Mike understand that he’s not being eternally tested?!”

“If I had to hazard a guess,” replied Falnii, “probably because he’s one of the last of a great era in rail traction.” Wilson arched an eyebrow. “Having to prove yourself is a symptom of someone who’s scared of the future. Who knows what will happen when the Small Controller retires?”

“Come on, Mr. Duncan wouldn’t pick someone who didn’t care about the engines as his successor,” remarked Wilson.

“But that person might prove to be a liar and a mere bean-counter.”

“…Queen Falnii,” remarked Hejema as she checked her face’s stitches, “it sounds like you experienced that.”

“No, but a few of my sisters do. Their Mechanica engines, living ones similar to those found on this island, used to have a kindly controller, but their successor was a tin-pincher. He was all too happy to scrap a few engines if it meant making a quick gold. He never really trusted them or put his faith in them. It took the engines delivering a deputation to the Board of Directors to put a stop to that before they lost any of their friends.”

“…Was the successor prejudiced against living machines?” asked Emma.

“No, just tunnel-visioned when it came to feelings outside his ledger. It was all he could focus on during the Final War. No one really learned why. My point is that it left the engines a little on-edge when it came to another new controller and they were left feeling like they had to prove themselves to her. They don’t, though. Especially when the controller’s a Mechanica like them. So, please, for my sake, be a little more understanding of Mike.” Falnii then left the cottage. Wilson sat on the couch, pondering what Falnii said and trying to figure out what made Mike the way he was.

---

Falnii stood outside the cottage and sighed. She then heard the rustling of the wind in the trees and a few animals making noises. She smiled as she shut her eyes. “…Speak, Sodor,” she said. “I’m listening.”

“I should hope so!” hissed a man’s voice. Falnii gasped as she saw a hooded figure standing on the other side of the fence. She then put her hand to her chest to calm her heartbeat.

“Sorry, Sir,” she stammered. “I didn’t see you there! I don’t think we’ve met. I’m-”

“We HAVE met, Falnii, False Queen of the Realms.” Falnii’s expression darkened.

“…You’re not a hanger-on of the Realm Trinity Empire, are you?” she hissed.

“You’ve forgotten me, haven’t you?!” snarled the man. It was then Falnii saw glowing blue veins under the hood. She goggled in horror and her breathing became more ragged.

“You’re here too?!” she gulped.

“Figured me out, did you?!” The man pulled his hood back to reveal it was Yulduk. “I still remember that day. You remember, right? The one where you and your lovers took away the godhood that was rightfully ours!! You then fired that Revenant-killing spell at me and sent me to unwarranted torment!!!” Falnii then shook her head and steeled herself.

“I did what was necessary to save the Realms!” she growled. “Your torment WAS warranted, your escape from that place WASN’T! If you didn’t have the same kind of immortal body Wilson and Emma have, I’d be firing Ensakunde again!”

“Well, know this,” warned the Elf Revenant, “I won’t be allowing you to interrupt my plans!” He snapped his fingers and vanished in a premade teleport circle.

“Falnii!” called Hejema as she dashed out to Falnii. “Your Majesty, we heard you talking to someone! Are you-?” She cut herself off when she saw Falnii shaking in fear and tears coming down her face. “Oh my word! Come on, let’s get inside!” She helped Falnii back into the cottage. Wilson and Emma saw this.

“Falnii!” called Wilson.

“Please, give her some space!” urged Hejema. “Someone decided it would be fun to frighten her! She needs rest!” Everyone backed off as Hejema brought Falnii to bed. As she was being tucked in, Falnii grabbed Hejema’s arm. Hejema then realized that whatever frightened her made her that scared of being left alone. She pulled up a chair and sat down. “Do you need anything?” asked Hejema.

“…No,” replied Falnii. “Just…just stay.”

“Will do.” That’s how Hejema spent her night. Outside, Yulduk looked at the cottage again.

The cavalcade arrived outside the Munitions Dump. Andrews held up his hand and the group halted. “So, what’s the plan?” whispered Skarloey.

“You engines hang back,” said Hanako as she and Flora left Rheneas’ cab. “Yamta and the Lords are ours to deal with.”

“Hold on, this is our railway!” snapped Duncan.

“Exactly. If any of you were to get harmed or worse…this place would shut down. Hang back and stay alive.”

“She’s right, my engines,” said Mr. Percival. He then removed his coat and hat, hanging them on Skarloey’s lamp irons. “I promise you; we WILL be back.”

“Move out!” Andrews called to his men. Everyone then left the bewildered engines behind.

“He…he IS coming back, right Granpuff?” Peter Sam asked Duke.

“…I certainly hope so, Stuart,” replied Duke as he used Peter Sam’s old name. “…I really do.”

---

Yamta and the Lords stood by. She had the detonator in her hand, ready to blow up the railway. A Lord then approached her. “Yes?” she asked.

“The enemy has been spotted coming here,” reported the Lord. Yamta then put her helmet on.

“Take up your positions,” she ordered through her helmet’s voice synthesizer. The Lords scrambled around the Munitions’ Dump and hid behind various objects as Hanako led everyone into the area. She looked around with a grim look on her face.

“…We know you’re here, Yamta,” she called. “There’s no point in hiding from us.”

“Not one step further, Hanako,” warned Yamta as she made her altered voice bounce off every object, confusing the Kitsune. “Things won’t end for the Skarloey Railway unless you agree to let us leave with Bounty.” Hanako smirked

“Your bombs have been disabled thanks to Boulton telling us once he learned the truth. Go ahead and press the button. The railway will still be safe.”

“Idle bluffs are dangerous. Just know this; the railway’s demise is on your head.” Yamta pressed the button on the detonator. The Lord next to her widened his eye in surprise.

“They…they didn’t go off!” he reported.

“An idle bluff, was it?” taunted Hanako.

“THAT’S IT!” shouted a female Lord. She fired at Hanako’s group, prompting the rest of the Lords to open fire.

“TAKE COVER!” shouted Andrews. Everyone was quick to obey that order.

“STOP SHOOTING! STOP!” Yamta shouted to the Lords. She then grabbed the one near her and got into his face. “I gave you an order to cease fire!” The Lord quickly sent that order through the Collective. “The risks at an ammo dump are clear! One shot could have blown us sky-high! Who fired the first shot?!”

“…Lieutenant Sophia Nevel, Four of Twenty.”

“She’s demoted to Sergeant. The plan’s a failure. All forces, return to base. The Skarloey Narrow Gauge Railway’s too strong for us. I’ll draw their attention away from you.” The Lord nodded and sent the order through the Collective. Yamta then charged at the heroes as the Lords abandoned the Munitions’ Dump. The soldiers were knocked down like bowling pins while Hanako and her friends were more steadfast. Eventually, Yamta plowed through them and made her way to the engines. “…Time for some boilers to explode!” she hissed. That scared the engines. Someone then swung a large branch onto her head from behind her. She had to take her helmet off to massage the area and looked behind to see Mr. Percival looking very angry.

“NOT MY FAMILY!” he shouted as he swung the club again. Yamta then vanished in a pillar of light, then it died to reveal that she was gone. Mr. Percival adjusted his tie, then simply retrieved his coat and hat from Skarloey’s lamp irons as everyone else returned.

“The Dump’s been cleared of the enemy,” said Andrews.

“Then we’ve beaten her back sufficiently,” replied Hanako. “But I know her. She’ll be back in some capacity.”

“When she does, I’m sure you will be ready for her,” remarked Mr. Percival. “…In the meantime, we must go home.”

---

Everyone made it back to Crovan’s Gate and just sat there, processing what just happened on the railway. “…At least she wasn’t willing to sacrifice her troops,” muttered Duke.

“She never did like using her troops like pawns,” replied Hanako.

“Like I don’t like doing so with my engines,” mumbled Mr. Percival.

“…I know I complain a lot,” remarked Duncan, “but I never felt like a pawn. Ever. Still don’t.”

“None of us do, Sir,” said Skarloey.

“Even those who just started working for you,” chuckled Flora. Mr. Percival smiled.

“That’s very reassuring to hear, everyone,” he said. He then stood up. “Hanako, you and your friends have proven yourselves to this railway a hundred-fold these past three days. Please, enjoy a week-long break. Catch up with your friends.”

“Will do, Sir!” Hanako and her friends then gathered, and Flora called up Richard.

“Richard, we have the SKR’s trust. We’re returning to the ships for a week-long break.”

“Good to hear, Flora,” replied Richard. “We’re halfway there to gaining the island’s trust. We’ll see you later.” The call then ended.

“Time to go,” said Flora. Hanako then made a teleport circle under everyone, and they all vanished.

“…I’m never gonna understand them,” muttered Duncan. “…Still, at least Swalmu had taste in comedians.”

“That was a near victory for us,” remarked Duke.

“I’d like to think of it as a near defeat.” The engines and Mr. Percival stared at Duncan in confusion.

“…Beg pardon?” asked Rusty.

“Well, a near victory implies that a person almost won, but didn’t. We almost lost, but we didn’t, so it’s a near defeat.”

“…Have you been listening to George Carlin again?” asked Mr. Percival.

“Aye, I have.”

---

Everyone returned to the ships and met with Richard. “So, how was SKR life?” asked Richard.

“Quite…thrilling,” sighed Hanako.

“Well, we’ve got id on Yamta,” said Richard. “Thundercracker’s doing an air patrol for her right now.”

“How’s Boulton holding up?” Richard sighed.

“Riddled with regret. He’s not happy that he’s been duped.”

“Have you seen him?”

“Yeah, I have. I just got out of the brig when Flora called. He’s holding up, but the experience isn’t something he can easily wish away.”

“I know the feeling.”

“Sounds like Yamta’s a nasty piece of work.”

“You mean she’s a pig-headed idiot,” corrected Swalmu. “She’s a woman, not a machine. A nasty piece of work could mean anything.”

“…That sounded like a comedian my dad and I like.”

“Yeah, my husband, for reasons that elude me completely, is a fan of George Carlin!” hissed Flora.

“Well, why not?! The guy told it like it was!” protested Swalmu.

“I’d say he’d be happy to know that we talked about him while on Sodor,” chuckled Richard. Swalmu arched an eyebrow.

“Did he perform here? I don’t think his material would have been appropriate.”

“Nah, it’s something else. Follow me.” Richard led Swalmu to the Ark’s bridge. “Tell me, have you heard about a t.v. show centered around Sodor?” Richard asked while they walked through the corridors.

“You mean the one with the models of the engines? Yeah,” replied Swalmu. “I never really cared for it myself. I don’t know why they kept Donald and Douglas in their black paintjob or why they named the whole thing after Thomas. You’d think he was the sole engine of Sodor!”

“Well, I liked the series when I was a little boy.”

“I don’t see why. I mean, it sounded like the narrator was an Elf high on something.”

“Oh, I didn’t grow up with Ringo Starr as the narrator.” They arrived on the bridge. “Teletraan, mind playing Donald and Douglas’ debut episode in Thomas and Friends? US narration, please.”

“Sure thing,” replied Teletraan. He pulled up the video and the narrator began the story.

“Donald and Douglas are twins and had arrived from Scotland to help Sir Topham Hatt, but only one engine had been expected.”

“THAT’S HIM!” gasped Swalmu. “THAT’S GEORGE CARLIN!”

“He narrated the first four seasons of the show for American audiences, so little boys from my home country could grow up with Sodor on their minds. Thank goodness too. I don’t think I’d be as interested in Thomas if I heard Ringo Starr. The few times I DID hear his narration, I nearly fell asleep.”

“Well, I’ve got some catching up to do! Teletraan, pull up the entire George Carlin library! I’m spending my break watching them!”

“Got it!” chuckled Teletraan.

---

Over with Igura, I’m sorry to say that she wasn’t happy with Yamta’s report. “WHY WERE MY ORDERS DISOBEYED?!” she shouted at Yamta.

“A traitor within the Lords,” replied Yamta, “revealed the bombs’ locations to the enemy and someone opened fire within the ammo dump, causing my unit to forget the risks. We had to abandon the base.”

“Where’s the traitor?!”

“With the enemy.”

“And where’s the Lord who fired that shot?!”

“Currently serving KP and demoted.”

“Give me their name!”

“They’ve been punished accordingly.”

“Their name!”

“I’ve already demoted them and put them on KP!”

“GIVE ME THEIR NAME!” An ashen gray hand with blue veins then grabbed her and whirled her around to face an Elf of the same skin tone and eyes glowing blue like the veins. He sported flaming red hair and looked angry.

“The soldier has already been disciplined accordingly!” he hissed. “There is no need for further punishment. You’ve clearly never learned how to command a unit properly. Yamta and I did during the Final War. We sowed fear and discord among the Realmfleeters with our command styles. I’ll prove it to you with the Arlesdale Railway.” He then made his way to the door.

“Yulduk,” Yamta called after the Elf. Yulduk then turned to her. “Good hunting.” Yulduk smiled.

“Always,” he said as he left.

Rusty the Maintenance Diesel was the only diesel engine on the SKR. Initially, the other Narrow-Gauge engines were wary of diesel’s after Diesel’s first visit to the NWR. That feeling soon vanished when the rails were improved thanks to his efforts, and he became a good friend to the engines. After the rain from the previous day, Rusty and his driver, Daniel, were busy inspecting the line for rain damage. They stopped by a tree that had fallen onto the track. It was a small one, thankfully, so no one could think of any lasting damage. Still, it didn’t hurt to check. The maintenance crew got to work cutting the tree up and inspecting the rails. Daniel decided to take a look and saw a piece of rail bent upwards. “…That tree was way too small to make that kind of impact on the tracks,” he remarked.

“Looks like a pretty clean cut too,” replied Rusty. “Given what Hanako said about her conversation with Yamta last night…”

“It would stand to reason this is her work.” Daniel then switched a radio on in Rusty’s cab. “Control, be advised. We have evidence of sabotage near Lakeside. A rail was cut and ripped up, then a tree was used to cover up the crime to make it look like it fell onto the tracks during the rain last night.”

“Understood. We’ll have Lakeside closed until repairs are completed,” replied Control. The call ended.

“Right,” Rusty called to the team, “let’s get that rail replaced.” The team then cut the damaged rail and removed it, then cut a length of rail to the proper size, put it into the slot, welded it and smoothed it out, then were about to drive the nails in to hold it in place on the sleepers when they heard a cracking noise. One of the workmen then called out in alarm as a tree near Rusty fell towards him!

“LOOK OUT!” he shouted. Everyone dove out of the way as the tree landed on Rusty.

“OW!” cried the little diesel. Daniel and the team got up, checked themselves, and managed to get the tree off of Rusty. “Thank you,” he panted.

“Look!” called a workman. He pointed out a Lord that was using a claw to hack at another tree near the line!

“Oh no, you don’t!” called Daniel. He leapt to the tree and kicked it hard enough to send it tumbling to the Lord. The Lord tried to get away, but Daniel yanked a cable out of his opponent’s head. The Lord tried to put it back but was quickly overpowered by the rest of the team. He was pinned and Daniel called up his fellows.

“Everyone, we have a Lord prisoner! Have everyone meet Andrews at Crovan’s Gate!”

---

“Well done, Sir!” Andrews praised Daniel once everyone made it back to the SKR sheds at Crovan’s Gate. “You just handed us an opportunity to get some intel!”

“If he’s cooperative,” remarked Duncan, “which I doubt.”

“I can handle the interrogation,” offered Hanako. “Kitsunes have incredible mental powers. With enough training, we can read minds. I happen to have that training.”

“…You realize I’ll have to call that a polygraph in my report,” said Andrews. “That’s not admissible in court.”

“If he’s a native to Sodor, then he will be subjected to its laws,” assured Hanako. “Until then, this is a matter concerning me and my team.”

“…Very well. The prisoner is yours.” Hanako then approached the restrained Lord. The Lord glared at her in defiance.

“So, are you going to cooperate or will this interrogation hurt?” asked Hanako. The Lord spat at her. “…Very well.” Hanako then placed her hands on each side of his head. “Resist and you will feel pain,” she warned. The Lord smirked. “…Boulton. Former United States Marine. Native to Richard Saunders’ old universe. The same Richard Saunders who’s working on the NWR.”

“What?” asked the Lord, Boulton. “That’s impossible! He and his family are dead!”

“Hold up, he’s just made it easier for me.” Hanako read more into his mind. “…Oh dear, that’s why.”

“What is it?” asked Mr. Percival. Hanako then ended the treatment.

“Mr. Boulton, Khan lied to you. Yes, you were taken from your old universe, but Richard’s alive. He’s in Beyond City. You can see him again, but we need to know what Yamta’s planning for this railway.”

“How do I know this ain’t your voodoo talking?!” snarled Boulton. “For all I know, you’re using his name to get me to bend to your will!”

“Mr. Boulton-”

“SERGEANT Boulton!”

“…Sergeant Boulton, I’m allowing you access to my mind and allowing you to measure my heartbeat. You’ll see that I’m telling the truth.” Hanako then fiddled with his prosthesis and then placed her hands on his head again. They sat there in that manner for a good minute before a tear ran down Boulton’s eye.

“Well, I’ll be,” he chuckled. “He married that Megumi girl, and they have twin daughters. …So, he’s that karate bug-dude called Guard. …Good God, what have I done?!” He started crying.

“If you want to atone, tell us what Yamta’s planning,” urged Hanako.

“…That explosion at the Munitions’ Dump was just a test. We were trying to make a high-yield explosive according to Igura’s design, but we can’t make heads or tails of her notes. Igura’s the main boss on the island.”

“Adachi Igura?!” asked Flora.

“The same. She’s assigned Yulduk to the Arlesdale Railway and a lady named Auriella to Culdee Fell. She hasn’t given us much to go on with those two.”

“So, the Father of Revenants is here too,” hissed Hanako. “What’s the specific plan for the Skarloey Railway?”

“To have it shut down permanently. That’s the reason behind the bombs. We’re hiding munitions and fuel trucks at strategic points. One explosion will set them off and destroy the track beds. With the number of bombs set up, it would take every engine to repair the tracks and the railway would have lost a lot of money by then, enough money to close.”

“Fuel and munitions always result in an explosion.”

“And targeting the railway’s wallet is a rather ingenious plan,” mused Daniel. “Where are the bombs?”

“They’re hidden at each station, set to go off tomorrow.”

“Not if I have anything to say about that!” declared Mr. Percival. “Lieutenant Andrews, I believe this matter should be dealt with at once!”

“Tell your boys to cut the green wire when they pull the timers off the bombs!” urged Boulton. “That will make sure there’s no boom!”

“Understood,” replied Andrews as he made the call on his radio.

“…Now, as for you,” Hanako remarked to Boulton, “you need to be taken to base camp. You ARE still our prisoner.”

“Let me do it,” offered Swalmu. “I have a teleport spell for something like this.”

“Let me tell Richard first,” said Flora. She then pulled out her phone and dialed Richard.

“Hey, Flora,” greeted Richard once he picked up.

“Richard, be advised, we have a Lord prisoner who came from your universe. Swalmu’s teleporting him to the ships now.”

“Understood. Would this person be anyone I knew?”

“…Sergeant Boulton.”

“…That’s not funny!”

“I wasn’t joking.”

“Are you telling me that Sergeant Boulton, a US Marine that’s a family friend, is a Lord?!”

“He’s been duped and he helped us figure out who’s really in charge of our enemies. It’s Igura.”

“Great, first Megumi fights her old man, now we’ve gotta take care of his crazy wife. …As for Boulton, is he all right?”

“No. The regret of what he’s done is tearing him apart.”

“…I hate to say it, but he needs to be in the Glanthelantir’sbrig until this mess is over.”

“Understood. See you later.” Flora hung up, then told her husband where Boulton was to go. Swalmu then summoned a teleport circle under Boulton, and he vanished.

“In the meantime,” said Mr. Percival, “Sir Handel, Rheneas, Rusty, it’s time you, your crews, and I settle this at the Munitions’ Dump!”

“You’re not coming, Mr. Percival,” replied Daniel.

“I’ve gotten express permission from Andrews to enter the Dump. I’m coming!”

“Yamta’s too dangerous!” urged Hanako.

“With all due respect, that’s not your decision to make. My railway is being threatened and I won’t stand for it!”

“…You sound like me,” chuckled Duncan. “Not that I wouldn’t do what you’re doing right now.”

“We’re all coming, Sir,” declared Skarloey. “There’s strength in numbers.”

“Aye, it’s our home too!” agreed Duncan. Mr. Percival saw the determined faces of his engines.

“…Right then. Take a load of trucks each and follow Skarloey once the bombs on the line have been disarmed.”

“Yes, Sir!” called the engines. Their crews got them moving and they each collected a train of four trucks. Andrews and his men then boarded the trucks. He and Mr. Percival stood on Skarloey’s footplate. Andrews then got a call on his radio.

“…Understood, Sergeant. We’re on our way. Over and out.” He ended the call. “The bombs have been disarmed and are being transported away.”

“Then off we go!” called Mr. Percival. The engines gave a shout of determination as they set off.

Rheneas, Hanako, and Flora were doing some shunting in the yards nearby. There had been no word about any Lords running around the railway. Rain had come to Sodor at that time and, like any engine, Rheneas hated it. “You know,” he grunted to his crew, “when I was first built, I didn’t have a cab. I only got mine after Skarloey got his. I enjoyed not coming out for wet days.”

“I can’t say that I enjoy them,” grumbled Hanako as she shoveled some coal into Rheneas’ firebox.

“Why?” asked Flora. “Isn’t it nice to hear the rain falling?”

“Not when you’re in an engine’s cab with permanently open windows so the cold could get in.”

“Or when you’re the engine itself!” supplied Rheneas.

“I don’t know, I always enjoyed rainy weather,” sighed Flora happily. “It’s always nice to take a walk in the rain. Granted, I don’t go out in any extreme rain, but it’s nice to feel it fall on you. This, however, is the perfect kind of rain.”

“I beg to differ,” grunted Rheneas. “There’s no such thing as perfect rain.”

“Please yourself.” Flora’s attention was then caught by someone in the yard. “Hey, who’s that?” she asked.

“Who’s who?” asked Rheneas.

“Over by Siding 2.” Rheneas looked over to see a figure cloaked and wearing a full helmet that obscured their features.

“Excuse me!” he called. “I don’t recall seeing you among the staff! Who are you and what are you doing here?” The figure turned to him quickly, then ran off. “You’re getting reported still!” Rheneas called after it.

“Well, that was interesting,” remarked Flora. Hanako stayed unusually quiet. “…Hanako?”

“Mrs. Royana, are you all right?” asked Rheneas. Hanako then pulled out a communicator.

“All teammates, be advised! A villain from my world has been spotted at the shunting yards!”

“Hold on, what?!” asked Rheneas.

---

“Her name is Yamta Velonar,” explained Hanako to the railway’s staff, engines, and Andrews once the day was done. “She’s an assassin and saboteur who worked for the Realm Trinity Empire until her death.”

“Then she’s a ghost?” asked Rusty.

“Anything but,” replied Hanako, “she’s come back to life, thanks to Khan. We’re dealing with someone who’s out for revenge against anyone from the Realms.”

“And you think she’s the Lords’ boss?” asked Duncan.

“She’d have to be.”

“What next?” grunted Andrews. “Daleks?”

“Hopefully not,” shuddered Flora. “That’s the last thing this island needs.”

“…I was being sarcastic.”

“I wasn’t. We’ve fought Daleks before. Had the Doctor on our side.”

“No kidding?”

“She looks like Donna Noble now.”

“…Okay, we’re getting off topic here.” Andrews cleared his throat. “Everyone, thanks to Hanako, we have an id on who the commanding officer is. However, I doubt this…Yamta will be so eager to show her face around here, especially since there’s someone who knows her on this railway.”

“Did she even get a good look at you?” asked Sir Handel.

“I don’t know,” replied Hanako. “Frankly, I don’t care. She’s too dangerous to allow to run loose. Next time I see her, her legs WILL be broken!”

“…A little extreme,” muttered Flora.

“You don’t know the kind of cruelty she’s capable of.”

---

“You were seen?” Igura asked the figure as she took off her helmet to reveal a blond woman with a determined expression on her face.

“By Rheneas and his crew,” replied Yamta. “Arsha’s mother was among them and-” Igura then jabbed an electric rod into Yamta’s gut and shocked her for three seconds. Yamta then drew her knife and stabbed her starry arm, causing her to bleed. “…Just so we understand each other!” hissed Yamta. “I didn’t let Dr. Borg or Oyed punish me like that! What makes you think YOU have a chance?!”

“If you were mortal,” grunted Igura as she took the knife out of her arm and the wound healed, “you would have been executed for not taking your due punishment!”

“Due punishment?! This is excessive! Dr. Borg doesn’t go this far unless she has to!”

“I had to in that instance! I gave you an order and your childish incompetence-!” Yamta then punched Igura in the throat. Igura fell to the ground, coughing.

“Childish?! You think everyone under your command a child?! Team leaders aren’t gods! I briefly had godhood and I know what it’s like! Even gods don’t decide who lives and who dies!”

“Then the gods are fools! The decision IS the leader’s! The decision is MINE! It became mine when the Daleks gunned me down!”

“I heard about what the Daleks did during the Convergence.”

“And you judge me?!”

“Mightily.”

“…After I’ve properly disciplined you, I’ll show you all how to carry out a successful operation! When Dr. Borg sees the results, she’ll-!”

“She’ll be enraged at what you’ve done to one of her fellows!”

“SHE’D KNOW HOW TO WIN AT ANY COST! SHE’D KNOW TO KILL THOSE WHO WOULD TAKE FUTURES AWAY FROM HER!”

“What the Daleks did doesn’t justify-!”

“THEY STOLE MY FUTURE FROM ME!”

“And you’re stealing any chances of victory with your untempered wrath! It’s time to put a leash on it!” Yamta then teleported away.

“…Order me around, will you?!” snarled Igura.

---

Yamta reappeared back at the shunting yards during the night. She put her helmet back on and looked around. “Might as well take that off,” called Hanako’s voice. “I already told everyone what you looked like under that thing.” Yamta sighed and turned to face her, taking the helmet off again.

“Been a long time, Your Majesty.”

“These days, the proper way to address me is ‘My Lady’. My daughter’s the one you should call ‘Your Majesty’.”

“To be perfectly frank, I was hoping for Lardeth since he ran me through the heart!”

“Well, too bad. You have me. What are you doing here? These people have done nothing to incur your wrath.”

“They’re your friends, are they not? You Royanas place a lot of value in your friends.”

“You need to leave. Now!”

“Not until you know what real pain is! I’ve already had to deal with a spoiled brat for a team leader, I don’t need Royana preaching!”

“And yet, that ‘preaching’ has kept the Realms together ever since Arsha’s first ancestor took the Mid-realm throne. Besides, it’s been working so far, given that the Realms are still standing 15,000 years after your death.”

“…15,000 years? It’s been that long?”

“Yep.”

“…I see. So I’m nothing more than a monster to frighten the children of the winners into behaving.”

“Not yet. You’re still all too real. You and every single aspect of the Realm Trinity Empire. It’s gonna take at least 10 generations after our death before you become that.”

“Well, given that I stand here before you, I don’t think that’s gonna happen. I may not have the powers of the Divine Ones and Oyed, but I can still cause enough havoc to the Realms until they bow to me and my friends!”

“Not happening.”

“It WILL happen, one way or another. Now, I’d suggest you get back to choking on coal in that useless little box on wheels you call a Mechanica engine. He can’t even move himself without someone at his controls.” Yamta then vanished.

“…Call Rheneas useless, will you?” hissed Hanako.

“I…er…” Katie was struggling to find the words.

“Ms. Barker, we’re waiting,” warned the Fat Controller. Katie sighed.

“…I lied so Edward would be sent away,” she finally revealed. Vulgar noises from the engines and their crews greeted this.

“SILENCE!” boomed the Fat Controller. “Ms. Barker, I demand an explanation! Why would you have me send away one of my engines?!”

“Because the railways on this island are operated by dated forms of locomotive power! Sodor Electric doesn’t use coal to fuel its plant! The average person’s car is tilting towards electric power! Why do you still have coal-burning and diesel-powered engines?!”

“Because the railways here are the most active and productive heritage railways in the whole of the entire United Kingdom, if not the world! I thought working here would help you understand that! You’re too obsessed with what’s new!”

“And YOU’RE too obsessed with the past! We can’t crowd the rails with dated machinery!”

“Ms. Barker, you have caused considerable confusion! We’re lucky this incident hasn’t caused any delays! You have clearly proven that you care only for mere aesthetics instead of the emotions that come with the past, present, and future! Your employment is hereby terminated!”

“You’re seriously firing me over this?” asked Katie.

“That’s right. I’m seriously firing you over this. Now collect your things and leave my railway at once!”

“I’ll leave the railway, but Auriella and I will be back! So, sleep lightly, Sir Stephen Topham Hatt!” She stormed off and left the railway. The Fat Controller then turned to Edward.

“Edward, I owe you an apology for this mess,” he said. “I should have done more to investigate this. When the fog clears tomorrow, you will return to your branch line to resume your duties. Until then, the painters will give you a fresh coat of paint.”

“Thank you, Sir!” beamed Edward. “It will be lovely to stretch my wheels tomorrow and look my best!”

“James, you and your team have done splendidly today! You shall return to passenger duties when the weather gets better.”

“Yes, Sir!” cheered James.

“Percy, Boco, I know you were eager for some minor maintenance. I believe a full overhaul is needed. Report to the Works at your earliest convenience today.”

“Yes, Sir!” replied Percy and Boco happily.

“As for you, Mr. Saunders.”

“Yes, Sir?” asked Richard. The Fat Controller was beaming.

“I’m not sure I can fully forget the party in my office, but I CAN forgive it! You and your team proved to be a credit to my railway! Once Percy and Boco are dropped off at the Works, you all can take the week off to assist your Transformer friends in keeping a lookout for your enemies. Perhaps you should add Ms. Barker to your list.”

“Don’t worry, Sir, we won’t let her get anywhere near the railways on this island. I’m glad we were able to prove ourselves to you. Now, we better drop Boco and Percy off at the Works. Crovan’s Gate, yes?”

“That’s correct.”

“Hold on, Sir,” interjected James. “Amy and Teletraan are my crew, so who’s going to be at my controls when they’re taking a holiday?”

“Your old crew’s coming back,” replied the Fat Controller. “They had taken their much-needed paid holiday while Amy and Teletraan were your crew. Speaking of which, Amy, Teletraan, do you mind collecting you and your team’s paychecks on their behalf?”

“Paychecks?” asked Teletraan.

“Hold on, we’re getting paid?” quizzed Richard.

“Well, you DID work for me, yes?” replied the Fat Controller.

“…Okay, fair enough. In the meantime, Kaitlyn, Percy, time to go.”

“You too, Boco,” said Azuliterii as she climbed into Boco’s cab. The Fat Controller invited Amy and Teletraan into his car and the three groups headed off to their respective destinations. Edward then grinned at James.

“…What?” asked James.

“I think I’ve figured out why you didn’t parade around about being the greatest detective on Sodor,” replied Edward. “You wanted your passenger duties back and figured that your boasting would land you into trouble, and to be fair, you would have been right.”

“I admit nothing!” hissed James. His scowl then vanished as he got his usual smug look. “Still, it WAS rather dashing of me to clear your name, wasn’t it?”

“…Need I remind you of the incident that took your passenger duties in the first place?” James scowled again, but said nothing.

---

On the way to Crovan’s Gate, Richard tried to puzzle James’ unusually quiet behavior. “…Percy,” he called, “could you help me solve a mystery?”

“What’s on your mind?” asked Percy.

“It’s about James. He wasn’t parading around when we were clearing Edward’s name.”

“Oh, I know why he was quiet,” chuckled Percy. “Have you heard about the Bootlace Incident?”

“Practically every fan of your island heard about that.”

“Well, it happened to him again! He woke up in a foul mood one morning and banged the coaches about when he was getting ready for his morning passenger run. You see, there wasn’t a shunter at the time.”

“He didn’t!” said Kaitlyn

“Another broken brake-pipe that had to be patched up with newspapers and bootlaces! The woman who surrendered them was a lot more pleasant to deal with than Jeremiah Jobling was. But the Fat Controller still had a few words for James and had him do goods work only until he could be trusted.” Richard and Kaitlyn howled with laughter.

---

While she was getting Boco to the Works, Azuliterii pondered about what was said at the sheds. “…Did she say…but she didn’t…did she?”

“Something on your mind?” asked Boco.

“Just thinking about a name Katie mentioned. Nothing you need concern yourself with…I hope.”

---

The NWR Team returned to the Ark and Glanthelantir once Percy and Boco were at the Works. Azuliterii still looked lost in thought when she arrived. “…Something up?” asked Richard.

“Richard, did Katie mention an ‘Auriella’?” quizzed Azuliterii.

“…I think so. Why, does that name mean anything to you?”

“That’s the name of an Adrexian that’s not the most…Adrexian in terms of attitude.”

“I see.” Richard then got a call from Thundercracker. “What is it?” he asked once he answered his phone.

“I did a little aerial patrol,” explained Thundercracker. “I found two people lying on the island’s southern shores. They’re Lords, one elderly male, one female with pointy ears, they’re badly hurt.”

“…Were you spotted?”

“No.”

“Then bring them here. We’ll fix them up in the Glanthelantir’s medical ward near its brig.”

“Understood.” He ended the call.

“Bring who here?” asked Kaitlyn.

“We have a pair of Lord prisoners that need medical attention.”

“Daddy, are you sure that’s a good idea?!”

“They might be friends that were kidnapped,” remarked Amy.

“That’s a pretty big unknown!”

“Batman said that other friends were assimilated,” replied Richard. “We need to take that chance.

---

Katie stormed into a house in a foul mood. “Oh dear,” sighed a woman’s voice, “someone’s not happy.”

“Fat Hat just fired me!” snarled Katie.

“What?!” A tall woman in a green dress then came up to her. “Why would he do that?!”

“My cousin, Richard, turned him against me!”

“Oh, poor baby!” The woman brought Katie’s head to her chest and cradled her. “My poor, upset, glamourous girl!” Katie wrapped her arms around the woman and sighed.

“I’m not in the best of moods,” admitted Katie.

“Well, I know what can help cheer you up. Shall we get some new outfits?” Katie smiled.

“…Yeah, I could do with some new dresses.”

“There’s my darling!” The woman bent down and kissed Katie on the lips.

“Auriella, what would I do without you?”

“Probably spin your wheels,” said the woman, Auriella.

“Katie, you will go nowhere,” called a third woman’s voice. The woman stepped into the room to reveal that she was of Japanese origin, had one brown eye and one black one, and had a right arm made of solid space. “Remain here for further orders. Auriella, you are to go to Culdee Fell’s summit.”

“Hold on, who died and left you in charge?!” demanded Auriella.

“Khan made me team leader, remember?”

“You forget your place, Igura!” snarled Auriella. She grabbed the woman’s left arm. “Don’t forget that Adrexians have powers beyond your imagination!”

“…You grabbed the wrong arm!” The woman, Adachi Igura, then grabbed Auriella’s face as her right hand glowed bright. That glow was accompanied by burning flesh. Auriella screamed in pain as she was shoved into Katie. “Don’t forget that your organization was built on the foundations of Shocker Rift! Also, I have Vortech’s powers. He made your universe bow to him for a while, did he not?” She left the room as Katie used her new powers to help Auriella heal.

“She’s a dead woman when this is over!” she hissed.

“In time,” said Auriella as the handprint slowly vanished. “For now, we need to suffer her. Besides, Khan can discipline her when he gets wind of this.”

Diesel was a black BR Class 08 Diesel Shunter, the Diesel Engine equivalent to a Tank Engine. He sat in the shunting yards alone, enjoying some rest after arranging the few trains for the day. “A pity this day is so foggy,” he muttered to himself. “Otherwise, it would be perfect to bask in the sun and-” his thoughts were interrupted by James’ whistle. He then heard Percy’s whistle and Boco’s horn. “…That’s funny,” he remarked. “They’re not scheduled to come here today.” The three engines then bustled into the yard and parked themselves on the points which would have given Diesel a way out. “Wh-What is this?!” spluttered Diesel.

“All right, Diesel, you’re sprung!” replied James.

“Pardon me?”

“We know what you did! Don’t even try to deny it!”

“And what deed of mine are you talking about? I’ve caused quite a few stirs here and there.”

“Teletraan, the sugar! Right in his fuel tank!”

“Right!” replied Teletraan as he pulled out a bag of sugar and looked to either side of Diesel.

“S-S-Sugar?!” gulped Diesel. “You don’t have the gall!”

“You think I’m bluffing?!” snarled Teletraan as Amy held him back.

“I can’t hold him back for much longer,” she warned. “You’re gonna have to tell us something.” Diesel looked at the a.i. Lynx, then at the bag of sugar, then he growled.

“Fine! You got me! I was the one who told Emily that the tree was keeping all of Sodor’s plant life alive! I was the one who sent Donald and Douglas on a wild goose chase when they were looking for their trucks! I was the one who told Spencer that Boco was getting too weak to pull trains!”

“That was you?!” yelped Boco.

“Diesel, hold on!” called Percy. “We’re trying to figure out if you were behind the Special Coach’s vanishing act!”

“Oh, that?” asked Diesel, calming down quickly. “That, I wasn’t responsible for. Though, believe me, I WAS tempted to, after what Spencer said. He made his usual ‘unimportant shunter’ comment to Edward and named me as someone lower than him. I wanted to get back at him that day, but I had too much work. I was called away to collect some trucks from Knapford so Duck could take them. Ever since Rosie and Stanley were reassigned to their pilot duties, we’ve been overworked and understaffed here!”

“So, Duck came here?” asked Richard.

“Was he pulling anything unusual?” asked James. Diesel then got a faraway look.

“Now that you mention it,” he said, “he DID have what looked like an extra-long van with him. He coupled his train behind it to take back to the Little Western. I thought his dome finally cracked if he was carrying something like that with him.”

“You’re sure it wasn’t a coach?” asked Percy.

“It was too foggy that day to see clearly.”

“It WAS really foggy,” recalled James. “We’ll ask him, then.”

“Hey, don’t tell the Fat Controller about what I said earlier!” barked Diesel. “I don’t need to get in any hot water with him!”

“Oh, he won’t know,” promised Boco, “but you WILL be punished for that.”

“Oh, really? And how?” Richard then whispered something to Boco, then went back into Percy’s cab. Boco giggled, then looked to the trucks.

“Boys,” he said, “I believe there’s a song you all made about Diesel. May we hear it?” Diesel goggled in horror!

“You wouldn’t!” he spluttered.

“One! Two!” counted one of the trucks to his friends. “One, two, three, four!” They then launched into a song Diesel hated!

“Trucks are waiting in the yard, tackling them with ease’ll!

‘Show the world what I can do!’ gaily boasts the Diesel!

In and out he creeps about, like a big black weasel!

When he pulls the wrong trucks out, POP goes the Diesel!”

“GRRRRRR!” growled Diesel as the three engines and their crews left the yards. “I’LL GET YOU FOR THIS, BOCO! YOU MARK MY WORDS!”

---

The three detective engines arrived at Arlesdale to speak with Duck, a green GWR 5700 Class Pannier Tank Engine with wide side tanks. They were led to the ballast chute the Arlesdale Miniature Railway ran. Duck had put the ballast hoppers under the chute and waited for the ballast to be dropped into them. He was surprised to see James, Percy, and Boco arrive. “What’s this then?” he asked. “A deputation?”

“Hello, Duck,” greeted James. “Gray day, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I suppose it is. Beg pardon, James, but what are you all doing here?”

“We’re doing some investigating,” explained James.

“Diesel said,” recalled Richard, “that you had an extra-long van when you picked up a train from the shunting yards last Friday. He also admitted that it was foggy that day, so he could have been mistaken.”

“He was,” replied Duck. “That wasn’t a van. That was one of my new coaches. I picked it up from Knapford Station that day.”

“You did?” asked Amy. “What siding?”

“…Siding 3, where the Stationmaster told me it would be. Why, is that important?”

“Duck, it sounds like you were unwittingly used in theft,” explained Boco. “That wasn’t a new coach for you. That was the new Special Coach.

“You mean the new one for Thomas’ branch line?! But the Stationmaster said-!”

“Either the Stationmaster is absentminded,” remarked James, “or-”

“Or, more likely, she did this on purpose!” interrupted Richard. “She’s obsessed with the newer things and probably thinks you guys are out-of-date, even the Diesels that work here!”

“In any event, we figured out where the Special Coach went,” said James.

“I suppose you’ll be wanting it back,” sighed Duck.

“We’ll get your new coaches once this mess is sorted,” promised Boco. “I know the Fat Controller doesn’t want the Little Western to fall.”

“It’s over in the carriage shed on the other end of the line,” explained Duck. The ballast train then shook as the chute loaded Duck’s hoppers. “I can point it out to you when I get this train going.”

“That would be nice,” replied Azuliterii. Once the ballast hoppers were full, Duck led everyone to the carriage shed.

“There it is,” announced Duck as his driver pointed to the coach.

“I’ll take it,” offered Percy. He buffered up to the coach and was coupled on. “Nicely done, Richard,” he praised.

“Thank you!” replied Richard. The three engines then headed back to Knapford.

---

The engines gathered at the sheds and were parked near Edward. “How did it go?” he asked.

“We figured out who really took the coach,” replied Boco. “It’s back in Siding 3.”

“You found it?!” asked Edward. “Who took it?!”

“It was Duck,” explained Percy. “And it sounds like he was a victim of some form of miscommunication.”

“Whether or not it was deliberate is still a mystery,” finished James. “The Fat Controller and Katie Barker should be coming any minute now.” A blue car then approached the sheds. The Fat Controller stepped out of the right-hand side (where the steering wheel would be since Sodor’s a UK country) and Katie stepping out of the left. She wore a dress and had her hair adorned with a floral arrangement this time.

“So, the mystery of the missing Special Coach is solved, is it?” asked the Fat Controller.

“That’s right, Sir,” replied Richard. “It turns out Duck was the one who took it. He was led to believe it was an extra coach for his branch line’s passenger service.”

“I can see where he would make that mistake.”

“But there’s something that’s not meshing well,” continued Amy. “Duck told us that Ms. Barker over there told him to collect that coach.”

“And, this morning, she told us,” continued Kaitlyn, “that the coach never got there.”

“Hold on,” said Edward, “when she accused me of stealing, she said that the coach was there, then it wasn’t!” The Fat Controller turned to Katie with a frown on his face.

“Ms. Barker, would you care to explain what’s going on?” he asked. Katie felt very scared indeed.

The morning arrived and it was as foggy as predicted. Richard and his team prepared their engines as he, Kaitlyn, Teletraan, and Amy cleaned Percy and James before lighting their fires while Azuliterii looked over Boco. The three engines stirred as their crews finished their work. “Good morning,” greeted Boco.

“Morning,” replied everyone. James then recalled what the day was going to consist of.

“And there’s the falsely accused suspect,” mused James as he looked over to Edward, still stuck in his berth.

“Right, how do we begin?” asked Boco. Percy dreaded what James’ potential answer would be.

“Well, isn’t it obvious?” asked James. “We have to get the suspect’s side of the story.”

“I suppose you want me to ask the questions?” muttered Percy.

“No, you and Boco just make sure you get Edward’s story memorized in case I somehow forget. I’ll do the asking.” Teletraan and Amy then entered James’ caba and he puffed onto the turntable. Once he was turned around, he rolled into the berth next to Edward’s. The old engine was confused.

“James?” he asked. “Are you here to keep me company?”

“For the moment, yes,” replied James. “But I need to leave to start my investigation of the Missing Special Coach.”

“Investigation? You mean you’re-?”

“Going to clear your name. Edward, I know we have our differences, but I know you. You’re not a thief.”

“Tell that to the Stationmaster at Knapford.” By then, Boco and Percy had backed into the berths near James and Edward.

“I assure you, we will,” promised Boco.

“We’ll solve this case!” assured Percy.

“Right!” declared James. Richard then pulled out his phone and began recording. “So, Mr…the Blue Engine, what can you tell us about the night of the Coach’s disappearance.

“…Mr. the Blue Engine?” Kaitlyn asked Richard and Percy.

“Just go with it,” advised Percy. Edward then began his story.

“It was Nine O’clock in the morning last Friday,” he said. “Spencer had just arrived carrying the Special Coach at the request of his owners, the Duke and Duchess of Boxford. They were downsizing the amount of coaches Spencer needed since they only sat in one while he always pulled two. He told me to shunt the Special Coach away. I told him I was too busy to shunt it away, but he snapped at me, then left the coach at the platform. I needed that platform to arrange an empty train meant for the Anopha Quarry, so I put the Special Coach in a siding out of the way. Siding 3, I believe. I then went on with my shunting duties. Once I had finished, the Fat Controller and new Stationmaster asked where the Coach was. I found it odd at the time, so I told them which siding it was in. But it wasn’t there. I swore up and down that I put it there, but the Stationmaster said that I stole it. That was when the Fat Controller said that, until the case was solved, I was to remain here at Tidmouth Sheds.”

“Was there anyone else at the station?” asked James. “Anyone that came later?”

“Let’s see, after I shunted the coach away, there was Diesel, then there was Thomas with his afternoon passenger run, then Gordon returned after his return express, and then there was Duck looking for some form of new rolling stock on the Little Western.”

“That’s four suspects,” remarked Percy.

“Six, actually,” corrected James. “Spencer and the new Stationmaster could have hidden it away to embarrass Edward.”

“Perhaps we should start with the Stationmaster,” suggested Boco. “Is she in today?”

“Let’s find out,” replied James.

“Thank you so much,” said Edward. “I’d love to get back to work and be Really Useful again.”

“You will, Edward,” promised James, “This, Sherlock James, promises! Come along, you two! The game is afoot!” He then puffed onto the turntable and was turned onto the line for Knapford Station.

“…Sherlock James?” asked Azuliterii.

“This is going to be one of those days, isn’t it?” sighed Percy as he puffed onto the turntable.

---

The three engines and their crews made it to Knapford Station and asked to speak with the Stationmaster. The porter they asked then dashed to the Stationmaster’s office. “What’s the new Stationmaster like?” Richard asked Percy.

“A little…unusual.”

“Why is it that they want to talk to me?” called a woman’s voice. “I’m a very busy lady and…Rickie?!”

“Wait a minute,” gulped Richard. “Rickie?! I haven’t heard that since…!” He stuck his head out of the cab and saw a brunette woman with her hair in a bun and wearing lipstick. She smiled wide when she saw him. Richard, on the other hand, groaned. “Oh no,” he said as he put his head against the interior wall of the cab. “Katie Barker! Percy, you were right, it IS going to be one of those days!”

“Rickie Boy!” cheered the woman, Katie.

“You know the new Stationmaster, Richard?” asked Boco.

“She’s my cousin on my mom’s side,” explained Richard. He then stepped out of Percy’s cab with Kaitlyn in tow. “Katie, how did you even get here?! Did something happen?!”

“Yes, the best thing happened!” cheered Katie. “I’m married to an Adrexian!”

“Did I hear that right?” asked Azuliterii as she stepped out of Boco. “You’re an Adrexian’s wife?”

“Azuliterii, yes?” quizzed Katie. “Not only an Adrexian’s wife, she turned me into one! I was feeling low and jaded, then the most glamorous woman descended from the heavens and showed me the multiverse! She then cured me of aging and death and now, here I am, living the life I deserve and working on this little railroad!”

“It’s ‘railway’ here,” grunted Richard. “So, you’re the Stationmaster here?”

“Katie Barker, Stationmaster of Knapford, at your service!”

“Well, my engine and his friends want to ask you some questions.”

“Oh, you’re working here too?! Awesome! And who’s the girl?”

“My daughter and current Firewoman. I didn’t think to tell you, but Megumi and I married and are blessed with twin girls.”

“I’m Kaitlyn,” greeted Kaitlyn.

“Lovely to see you! Now, what’s this about your engine’s questions?” Richard led Katie to the ramp where she faced James, Percy, and Boco.

“Stationmaster, was there a coach in siding 3 last Friday?” asked James.

“I didn’t see any there. I see, this is about Edward’s theft of the Special Coach.”

“Edward is no thief!” hissed Percy.

“Percy, please,” urged James. He then resumed his questioning. “Did you see Spencer, Diesel, Thomas, Gordon, or Duck with a coach at all?”

“I only saw Spencer that day, as he was leaving after his argument with Edward. The other guys you mentioned, I didn’t see them at all.”

“Rather odd for a Stationmaster not to see them,” remarked Richard.

“Rickie, I promise you, I got word that they picked up their respective trains. A Stationmaster can’t spend all day on the platform. Sometimes they need to go over paperwork in their office.”

“Maybe Edward misremembered where the Coach was,” mused Boco.

“I DID account for that and had the other sidings searched, but there was no Special Coach in them, and no one picked it up by accident. The only logical conclusion for me is that Edward stole it. …Or, if we can be fair for a minute, may have absentmindedly left it somewhere else on the island.”

“That’s not likely, given that he was shunting here all day on Friday,” remarked James. “Right, we’ll be in touch. Do you happen to know if the Fat Controller’s in his office?”

“As a matter of fact, I was talking to him before the Porter called me up here.”

“Perfect, he should have a better lead on where the other engines are. Thank you for your time, Ma’am.”

“My pleasure. I’ll get Sir Topham Hatt here so you can talk to him. Oh, Rickie, when you finish up here, we’ve got a lot of catching up to do! And your daughter’s so CUTE!” Katie then pinched Kaitlyn’s cheek before setting off to get the Fat Controller.

“…Maybe she should help us,” mused Teletraan.

“She’s doing enough as is!” hissed Richard. “I want as much distance as possible between us and her!”

“Daddy, why are you so uptight about your own cousin?” asked Kaitlyn.

“Because I’ve known her longer than anyone here! Katie Barker is the typical Barker woman, a gold-digging opportunist! I doubt there’s an honest bone in her entire body! …Come to think of it, I think my mom’s the only Barker woman with at least one honest bone. Heck, she’s got a whole honest skeleton.”

“Well, she IS a policewoman people look up to,” mused Kaitlyn. Just then, the Fat Controller arrived.

“I understand you have suspects outside of Edward?” he asked.

“Yes, Sir,” confirmed James. “We need to talk to Spencer, Diesel, Thomas, Gordon, and Duck.”

“Spencer is at the Works, going through routine maintenance. Diesel’s at the shunting yards here. Thomas is in the sheds on his branch line due to there not being enough passengers for both him and Daisy. Gordon is due to arrive in Vicarstown for a rest. Duck is at Arlesdale to help Oliver arrange the ballast trains.”

“Great!” cheered James. “We’ll start with Diesel!” The engines and their crews then left for the shunting yards nearby.

After everyone was given their jobs and praised for their punctuality that day, they got their uniforms and set to work at once. Richard and Kaitlyn were Percy’s Driver and Firewoman, Amy and Teletraan were James’ Driver and Fireman, and Azuliterii was Boco’s Driver. Percy was a green Avonside Saddle Tank Engine with four wheels and a number 6 on his bunker. James was a red L&YR Class 28 Tender engine with two small wheels just under his buffers and six driving wheels behind them and sported the number 5 on his tender. Boco was a BR Class 28 Diesel Electric locomotive in green and sported the number D5702. One morning, Percy and his new crew had to arrange the trains at Knapford Station. With Percy’s guidance, Richard learned which coaches were what and went where and how many of each truck type was needed. The freight train they arranged was for James. “Nicely done,” Percy said to Richard and Kaitlyn. “Although, I must admit, you’re a little…heavy-handed with the brakes.”

“Sorry,” replied Richard.

“It’s all right. Every driver has to go through that at some point.” Just then, they heard James’ whistle. “Three, two, one.”

“Dirty trucks from dirty sidings!” grumbled James as he backed down onto his train. “Arranged by small engines!”

“I’m doing fine, James,” snarked Percy. “Thanks for asking.”

“I wasn’t!” snapped James. “For heaven’s sake, why not Edward?! At least he’d be useful and you’d be on Thomas’ branch line, out of the way of important engines like me!” The workmen were still loading the trucks with the various goods needed.

“You know he’s stuck in the shed!”

“When’s he supposed to get out anyway?! At least HE can-!”

“I actually spoke with Edward when Teletraan and I were getting you ready,” interrupted Amy.

“You have?” asked James, puzzled at this bit of news.

“You had already started grumbling about this train, so you didn’t overhear anything we said. Edward took the Special Coach to put it for later use on the Express, to see if it was up to snuff. It never arrived and Edward’s the prime suspect for stealing it.”

“Stealing?!” scoffed James. “Edward may be an old fusspot, but he’s not a thief!”

“And, if he DID steal it, I would congratulate him,” boomed a voice. A blue GNR Class A1 Pacific Tender Engine with the number 4 on his tender then rolled up to the platform with the express coaches. This was Gordon the Big Engine, the main Express Engine for the North Western Railway. “If you want my opinion,” continued Gordon, “that coach stuck out like a sore thumb and rattled too much, spoiling the sound of the wind rushing past me. The Wild Nor’ Wester is better off without it.”

“But the summer holiday season is coming up,” reminded Percy. “Wouldn’t the extra coach help?”

“If it blended in with the other coaches, I would say yes,” huffed Gordon. “Besides, it proved to be too much trouble for both myself AND Thomas.” Speaking of which, Thomas’ whistle announced his approach.

“What’s all this then?” he asked.

“We’re talking about your Special Coach,” explained Richard.

“Ah, that old thing. It’s one of those things Gordon and I can agree was too much trouble. I’m surprised they’re bringing it back for the summer holiday season.”

“You liked it well enough to fuss at Douglas about it,” reminded Kaitlyn.

“That debacle proved that we didn’t need it.” Gordon’s Guard then blew his whistle and waved his flag.

“Sorry, must dash!” called Gordon. “We’ll talk about it later!” He blew his whistle twice and left the station, picking up speed as he went further down the line. “Hurry, hurry, hurry!”

“…If only we can help Edward,” sighed Teletraan. “But none of us are Sherlock Holmes.”

“Yeah, he’d be able to solve that case in a flash,” replied Percy. James got quiet all of a sudden.

“…Sherlock Holmes,” he mused. His face then formed a grin. “That settles it! Detective James is on the case!”

“James, we’ve got a train to pull!” reminded Amy.

“But we won’t have so much work tomorrow. We can definitely solve the case of the missing coach then! It should be easy! With Percy and his crew at our side-!”

“Oh no, you don’t!” snapped Percy. “I am NOT getting involved in that!”

“Oh, come on, Percy! You won’t have so much work tomorrow either!”

“Look, I want Edward’s named cleared as much as any other engine, but any adventure with you is nothing more than disaster!”

“When have I ever caused disaster?!”

“Do you want the list alphabetically or in descending order of damage done?!”

“Percy, I think we’ve got other goods trains to arrange,” called Kaitlyn.

“You’re right, we do,” replied Percy. “Come on!” Percy set off to continue his shunting.

“But Percy-!”

“No, James!” Once Percy was in a siding, James’ guard blew his whistle.

“Oh, for pity’s sake!” sighed James. “I can’t be Sherlock without a Watson!”

“There’s nothing for it,” soothed Amy. “We’ll just have to find someone else.”

---

Everyone finished with their work and settled into their sheds. The Fat Controller spoke with everyone before they went to sleep. “As you all know, there won’t be as much work on the railway tomorrow, due to the incoming fog. We’re keeping all trains to essential traffic only, meaning fewer trains. We still don’t know where the Special Coach is and we’re going to need it when the fog clears up. Until then, Boco is staying here until work resumes on the Brendam branch line.” Edward, a blue FR21/K2 Class Tender Engine with four small wheels at the front and four drive wheels and the number 2 on his tender, sighed sadly. “I know it’s been a while, but until your name is cleared, you need to stay here,” said the Fat Controller.

“Yes, Sir,” sighed Edward. Richard, Kaitlyn, and Percy looked at the poor engine.

“…Maybe we SHOULD help,” remarked Richard.

“It might prove we can be trusted,” mused Kaitlyn.

“But it’s James’ idea,” whispered Percy.

“Does it really matter?” asked Richard. Just then, Boco rolled into the sheds.

“What’s all this?” he asked Percy.

“Edward’s still stuck in the shed,” explained Percy as Richard and Kaitlyn filled Azuliterii in on what was going on with the Special Coach.

“Well, if he needs help, I’ll solve this case!” declared Boco.

“I think James already decided he would take the case.”

“What’s this now?” asked the Fat Controller. The two engines and their crews jumped.

“How do you do that?!” asked Richard.

“Do what?”

“Pop up whenever people least expect it?!”

“It’s a Hatt trick.”

“…Cute pun.”

“In any event, what are you all talking about?”

“Sir, James wants to clear Edward’s name,” explained Azuliterii, “and he’s asked Percy and his crew to help.”

“Boco’s willing to take my place,” continued Percy. “I’m not so sure my place is solving mysteries with James.” The Fat Controller pondered.

“…Two heads ARE better than one,” he said, “…so imagine what three will do. Percy, you are to assist James and Boco in clearing Edward’s name in the morning.”

“ME?!” squeaked Percy. “I can’t!”

“Rubbish, Percy!” replied Richard. “It’s easy!”

“That’s settled, then,” declared the Fat Controller. Poor Percy wished it wasn’t. The Fat Controller approached James and told him and his crew the news. “I trust you’ll clear his name, James?” he asked once he finished. James was beaming from buffer to buffer.

“You can count on me, Sir!” he said confidently.

“Very good! Good luck tomorrow!” The Fat Controller returned to his car as James looked smugly at Percy.

“Well, Little Percy,” he said, “it looks like you and I will be working together after all!”

“If you call me Watson,” hissed Percy, “I’m leaving. I don’t care what the Fat Controller would have in store for me.”

“Cranky, are we? Well, a little rest shouldn’t hurt. Great Detectives, such as I, need their beauty sleep, as do their sidekicks. Good night.” James went happily to sleep.

“I think James has the right idea,” remarked Teletraan. “We all need to hit the sack. Night.”

“Good night,” bid Amy.

“Pleasant dreams,” wished Azuliterii.

“Night night,” said Kaitlyn.

“Sleep well,” bid Richard. The crews then headed off.

“Night,” mumbled Percy.

“Good night,” called Boco. He then went to sleep. Percy looked at James first, then at Boco, then he glanced upwards.

“This will all end in tears, I just know it,” he muttered to himself before he went to sleep.

The day before his team’s departure, Richard decided to speak with Thundercracker. He arrived at his Transformer-sized house and pressed the doorbell. The door opened and Thundercracker looked down to see Richard. “…Mr. Saunders,” he greeted.

“Thundercracker, we need to get some things clear,” said Richard. “I know Optimus and the other Autobots vouch for you and your colleagues, but your old boss used my wife as a bargaining chip and there are too many universes where the Decepticons are a treacherous bunch. I want to be proven wrong about your colleagues.”

“Then you will be. I trust you will make no decisions based on the generalizations of Decepticons?”

“I will at least try not to.”

“…I suppose I can’t ask for more than that. In that case, I will see you tomorrow.”

“See you then.” Thundercracker closed the door and Richard left.

---

The day finally came. Amy, Azuliterii, Blackarachnia, Brittney, Daniel, Emma, Endram, Falnii, Flora, Glanthel, Goldbug, Hanako, Hejema, Irina, Kaitlyn, Kong, Richard, Sira, Swalmu, Teletraan, Thundercracker, Wilson, and Yufantel at After Academy’s main square and were given their goodbyes. Their friends and families had gathered to wish them well. “Come back safe!” called Megumi.

“And keep out of trouble!” called Kaede to Kaitlyn. “We don’t need a repeat of the Els Weir incident

“Don’t remind me!” grunted Kaitlyn.

“Teletraan, Glanthel, do you two have a means of concealing your ship forms?” Richard asked the two. “The people there aren’t used to talking machines your size.”

“I’ve got a body I can pilot,” replied Teletraan over the comms as the Ark and Glanthelantir hovered overhead. “Its maximum range is 124 miles. I should be good.”

“And I don’t need to stay near the ship for it to function,” assured Glanthel.

“Then I have one more question for everyone,” said Richard as he turned to his team. “What’s blue, green, red, and goes ‘Peep Peep!’?”

“A parrot,” replied Amy. “And you mean ‘Chirp Chirp’.”

“No, I don’t,” corrected Richard. “Let’s board our ships and you’ll see what I mean.” Everyone was beamed into the two ships and a ship-sized rift opened. The ships then flew into the rift, and it shut behind them.

---

The ships arrived over a landmass. Teletraan got Glanthel on the line. “Current geographic markers indicate we’re somewhere in the Irish sea between the Isle of Man and the English Mainland’s southern shores,” he said.

“I’m not exactly familiar with those land markers,” replied Glanthel.

“…Ah, here we are. Basically, the people in these parts sound like Elves from your world.”

“What’s the landmass below us?” Teletraan’s eyes widened.

“…A landmass that hosts many a railfan’s childhood hero! We better find a good, camouflaged spot to land!” The two ships then found an area on the landmass’s northeastern part.

---

A tank engine was completing his morning passenger run at the station of Ffarquhar at the end of his line. and was ready to turn around for the return journey. He was painted blue, had a number one on his side tanks, had six small wheels, a short stumpy boiler, a short stumpy funnel, and a short stumpy dome. There was also something he had, something most vehicles on his island had, a face on the front. Right now, his face was one of contentment. “Another successful run, in my opinion,” he said to his two coaches.

“You’re quite sure?” asked the coach directly behind him. She had her name, Annie, painted near her wheels.

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic!” said her sister coach, her name reading Clarabel. “It was the usual passenger run for Thomas. No accidents and no races with Bertie.”

“A pity,” mused the tank engine, the famous Thomas the Tank Engine, “I would have enjoyed a race with him.”

“You know what the Fat Controller’s grandfather said about going at high speeds like that,” remarked Annie. “I’m quite sure the current one will say the same thing.”

“She’s quite right, Thomas,” boomed a voice. A stout, well-dressed gentleman in a top hat then approached the platform. This was the manager of Thomas’ railway, Sir Stephen Topham Hatt, the third Fat Controller. “Still, it’s nice to know that your run was uneventful. Heaven knows we could do with uneventfulness these days.”

“You’re not wrong there, Sir,” agreed Thomas. “The trucks have been acting up more than usual, tools and baggage have gone missing, trains have been delayed on all the island’s railways. If I might be a bit paranoid, I’d call it sabotage.”

“Unfortunately, the other Controllers think so too. Has anything happened to you specifically?”

“No, Sir, but I’m waiting for the firebars to drop.”

“As are the others, I’m afraid. Well, keep a lookout for any unusual activity.”

“Excuse me!” Clarabel called to a group of people approaching her. “You’re not allowed on railway property!”

“And there it is,” groaned Thomas.

“I’ll handle this,” assured the Fat Controller. He got off the platform and onto the tracks behind the train. “And what, pray tell, is your…oh no.” He saw that the group consisted of Richard, Irina, Amy, Azuliterii, Hanako, Thundercracker’s holo-form, and Hejema. He recognized Richard right off the bat.

“Sir Topham Hatt!” cheered Richard. “I’m glad we caught you! How’s the railway?”

“We’re doing well,” replied the Fat Controller in a short manner. “Might I ask what you think you’re doing here?”

“Sir, you can’t be holding a grudge, can you?”

“Your American style of partying resulted in my office being destroyed!”

“We had a good laugh about it, didn’t we?”

“I recall that you were the only one laughing in your drunken stupor, Mr. Saunders. Your wife looked horribly embarrassed, and rightfully so. I trust the F.N.S’ absence from this island has made you see sense?”

“Don’t worry, Sir,” assured Azuliterii, “there won’t be any incidents like that again.”

“Ah, Lady Azuliterii! Good to see you!” The Fat Controller’s demeanor was more friendly. “I must admit, after Edward won the Light of Zalmath, I didn’t think we’d see a Chizaran again.”

“How is the Light, if I might ask?”

“It’s currently under Lady Bounty’s care.”

“So, you DO know where she is?” asked Richard.

“…I see, your business lies with her,” realized the Fat Controller.

“There’s an enemy of ours that’s making a grab for Bounty and her sisters, specifically, their Sources. We need Bounty to come with us.”

“And how would that protect her from this enemy?”

“She’d have friends that knows how her potential kidnapper thinks.”

“I see. Well, there IS a slight problem with her ability to come.”

“What’s that?”

“She has become a valuable member of my staff.”

“…Ah.”

“If you want to know the specifics of where she lives and what job she has, you and your friends will have to prove yourselves.”

“How’s that?”

“By working for the various railways on this island. There are plenty of job openings.”

“That might be an issue with members of my team like Thundercracker over there.” Richard gestured to the Decepticon.

“Why, pray tell?” asked the Fat Controller.

“…I’d rather demonstrate why without prying eyes,” replied Richard. “Would you come with us to our landing site?”

“…Very well. In the meantime, Thomas, did I miss hearing your-?” The Guard’s whistle then blew as Thomas and his coaches were turned around for the return journey.

“No, Sir, you didn’t,” replied as he whistled his intentions to get underway. “Must be off, Sir! Bye!”

“Good running, Thomas!” wished the Fat Controller. He then turned to Richard and his group. “Now, shall we?”

“This way, Sir,” directed Richard as he led the way.

---

They all arrived in a clearing where the Ark and Glanthelantir were resting. Everyone else had already disembarked. “Sir Topham Hatt, meet my team,” introduced Richard.

“…There is a giant gorilla among this lot,” remarked the Fat Controller.

“And he talks,” replied Richard.

“…Does he?” The Fat Controller was questioning Richard’s sanity.

“I do, Sir,” replied Kong. Now the Fat Controller was questioning his own sanity.

“You’re all right, I promise,” assured Richard. “Now, Blackarachnia, Goldbug, Kong Primal, and Thundercracker, transform, please.”

“Blackarachnia, TRANSFORM!”

“Goldbug Magnus, TRANSFORM!”

“Kong Primal, MAXIMIZE!”

“Thundercracker, TRANSFORM!” The four bots then changed into robot mode, startling the Fat Controller.

“That’s the issue I was talking about,” explained Richard. “I don’t think there’s any employment options for them and their vehicle modes aren’t exactly ones that would fit in with modern Sudrian vehicles. Glanthel and Teletraan can certainly work for the island, but-”

“Then your robotic friends can stay near the ships,” replied the Fat Controller once he recovered. “The rest of you will meet myself and the other Railway Controllers for your duties. I expect you at Knapford at 7AM SHARP. We all need workers who are punctual. Good day, ladies and gentlemen.” The Fat Controller turned and walked back to Ffarquhar, where his car was parked.

“…Richard, what was that about?” asked Flora.

“Bounty’s working for Sir Topham Hatt’s railway,” explained Richard. “If we want her to come with us, we need to prove we’re…Really Useful, as many a Controller on this island would say. To do that, we have to work for the railways. Now, there aren’t any job openings for the Transformers, so they need to stay by the ships and be on the lookout for enemy activity. The rest of us will divide into teams and keep watch while we work on the railways. Teletraan, do you have the telemetry data on the island?”

“Got the geography and the railways marked up,” replied Teletraan as a holographic map appeared. Four sets of lines appeared, outlining the railways’ locations.

“All right, we’ll divide into five teams. Team Watchdog will consist of Thundercracker, Kong, Blackarachnia, and Goldbug. As mentioned, they’ll be on monitor duty in the ships. Goldbug, you’re in charge. Team NWR will consist of Amy, Azuliterii, Kaitlyn, myself, and Teletraan. We’ll be working under Sir Topham Hatt, the Fat Controller. Brittney, Daniel, Flora, Hanako, and Swalmu will be Team SKR and will work on the Skarloey Narrow Gauge Railway under Mr. Percival, the Thin Controller. Emma, Falnii, Hejema, and Wilson will be the members of Team AMR. They’ll work on the Arlesdale Railway under the management of Mr. Fergus Duncan, the Small Controller. That leaves Endram, Glanthel, Irina, Sira, and Yufantel as Team CFR. You five will be working on the Culdee Fell Railway under Mr. Walter Richards, the Manager. Be on the lookout for any suspicious characters. We can’t afford to screw this up. We NEED to be Really Useful.”