\u201cI\u2026er\u2026\u201d Katie was struggling to find the words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMs. Barker, we\u2019re waiting,\u201d warned the Fat Controller. Katie sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I lied so Edward would be sent away,\u201d she finally revealed. Vulgar noises from the engines and their crews greeted this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSILENCE!\u201d boomed the Fat Controller. \u201cMs. Barker, I demand an explanation! Why would you have me send away one of my engines?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause the railways on this island are operated by dated forms of locomotive power! Sodor Electric doesn\u2019t use coal to fuel its plant! The average person\u2019s car is tilting towards electric power! Why do you still have coal-burning and diesel-powered engines?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause 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\u2019re too obsessed with what\u2019s new!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd YOU\u2019RE too obsessed with the past! We can\u2019t crowd the rails with dated machinery!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMs. Barker, you have caused considerable confusion! We\u2019re lucky this incident hasn\u2019t 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!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re seriously firing me over this?\u201d asked Katie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right. I\u2019m seriously firing you over this. Now collect your things and leave my railway at once!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll leave the railway, but Auriella and I will be back! So, sleep lightly, Sir Stephen Topham Hatt!\u201d She stormed off and left the railway. The Fat Controller then turned to Edward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEdward, I owe you an apology for this mess,\u201d he said. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you, Sir!\u201d beamed Edward. \u201cIt will be lovely to stretch my wheels tomorrow and look my best!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJames, you and your team have done splendidly today! You shall return to passenger duties when the weather gets better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, Sir!\u201d cheered James.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPercy, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, Sir!\u201d replied Percy and Boco happily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs for you, Mr. Saunders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, Sir?\u201d asked Richard. The Fat Controller was beaming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Sir, we won\u2019t let her get anywhere near the railways on this island. I\u2019m glad we were able to prove ourselves to you. Now, we better drop Boco and Percy off at the Works. Crovan\u2019s Gate, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s correct.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHold on, Sir,\u201d interjected James. \u201cAmy and Teletraan are my crew, so who\u2019s going to be at my controls when they\u2019re taking a holiday?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour old crew\u2019s coming back,\u201d replied the Fat Controller. \u201cThey 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\u2019s paychecks on their behalf?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPaychecks?\u201d asked Teletraan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHold on, we\u2019re getting paid?\u201d quizzed Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, you DID work for me, yes?\u201d replied the Fat Controller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Okay, fair enough. In the meantime, Kaitlyn, Percy, time to go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou too, Boco,\u201d said Azuliterii as she climbed into Boco\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026What?\u201d asked James.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think I\u2019ve figured out why you didn\u2019t parade around about being the greatest detective on Sodor,\u201d replied Edward. \u201cYou wanted your passenger duties back and figured that your boasting would land you into trouble, and to be fair, you would have been right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI admit nothing!\u201d hissed James. His scowl then vanished as he got his usual smug look. \u201cStill, it WAS rather dashing of me to clear your name, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Need I remind you of the incident that took your passenger duties in the first place?\u201d James scowled again, but said nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the way to Crovan\u2019s Gate, Richard tried to puzzle James\u2019 unusually quiet behavior. \u201c\u2026Percy,\u201d he called, \u201ccould you help me solve a mystery?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s on your mind?\u201d asked Percy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about James. He wasn\u2019t parading around when we were clearing Edward\u2019s name.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, I know why he was quiet,\u201d chuckled Percy. \u201cHave you heard about the Bootlace Incident?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPractically every fan of your island heard about that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, 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\u2019t a shunter at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe didn\u2019t!\u201d said Kaitlyn<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnother 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.\u201d Richard and Kaitlyn howled with laughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While she was getting Boco to the Works, Azuliterii pondered about what was said at the sheds. \u201c\u2026Did she say\u2026but she didn\u2019t\u2026did she?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSomething on your mind?\u201d asked Boco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust thinking about a name Katie mentioned. Nothing you need concern yourself with\u2026I hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The NWR Team returned to the Ark<\/em> and Glanthelantir<\/em> once Percy and Boco were at the Works. Azuliterii still looked lost in thought when she arrived. \u201c\u2026Something up?\u201d asked Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRichard, did Katie mention an \u2018Auriella\u2019?\u201d quizzed Azuliterii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026I think so. Why, does that name mean anything to you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s the name of an Adrexian that\u2019s not the most\u2026Adrexian in terms of attitude.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI see.\u201d Richard then got a call from Thundercracker. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d he asked once he answered his phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI did a little aerial patrol,\u201d explained Thundercracker. \u201cI found two people lying on the island\u2019s southern shores. They\u2019re Lords, one elderly male, one female with pointy ears, they\u2019re badly hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Were you spotted?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen bring them here. We\u2019ll fix them up in the Glanthelantir<\/em>\u2019s medical ward near its brig.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnderstood.\u201d He ended the call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBring who here?\u201d asked Kaitlyn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have a pair of Lord prisoners that need medical attention.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDaddy, are you sure that\u2019s a good idea?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey might be friends that were kidnapped,\u201d remarked Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s a pretty big unknown!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBatman said that other friends were assimilated,\u201d replied Richard. \u201cWe need to take that chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Katie stormed into a house in a foul mood. \u201cOh dear,\u201d sighed a woman\u2019s voice, \u201csomeone\u2019s not happy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFat Hat just fired me!\u201d snarled Katie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat?!\u201d A tall woman in a green dress then came up to her. \u201cWhy would he do that?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy cousin, Richard, turned him against me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, poor baby!\u201d The woman brought Katie\u2019s head to her chest and cradled her. \u201cMy poor, upset, glamourous girl!\u201d Katie wrapped her arms around the woman and sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m not in the best of moods,\u201d admitted Katie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, I know what can help cheer you up. Shall we get some new outfits?\u201d Katie smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Yeah, I could do with some new dresses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s my darling!\u201d The woman bent down and kissed Katie on the lips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAuriella, what would I do without you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cProbably spin your wheels,\u201d said the woman, Auriella.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKatie, you will go nowhere,\u201d called a third woman\u2019s 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. \u201cRemain here for further orders. Auriella, you are to go to Culdee Fell\u2019s summit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHold on, who died and left you in charge?!\u201d demanded Auriella.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKhan made me team leader, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou forget your place, Igura!\u201d snarled Auriella. She grabbed the woman\u2019s left arm. \u201cDon\u2019t forget that Adrexians have powers beyond your imagination!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026You grabbed the wrong arm!\u201d The woman, Adachi Igura, then grabbed Auriella\u2019s face as her right hand glowed bright. That glow was accompanied by burning flesh. Auriella screamed in pain as she was shoved into Katie. \u201cDon\u2019t forget that your organization was built on the foundations of Shocker Rift! Also, I have Vortech\u2019s powers. He made your universe bow to him for a while, did he not?\u201d She left the room as Katie used her new powers to help Auriella heal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe\u2019s a dead woman when this is over!\u201d she hissed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn time,\u201d said Auriella as the handprint slowly vanished. \u201cFor now, we need to suffer her. Besides, Khan can discipline her when he gets wind of this.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cI\u2026er\u2026\u201d Katie was struggling to find the words. \u201cMs. Barker, we\u2019re waiting,\u201d warned the Fat Controller. Katie sighed. \u201c\u2026I lied so Edward would be sent away,\u201d she finally revealed. Vulgar noises from the engines and their crews greeted this. \u201cSILENCE!\u201d boomed the Fat Controller. \u201cMs. Barker, I demand an explanation! Why would you have me […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5119,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[754,880],"tags":[482,9,146,597,337],"class_list":["post-6410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-journey-through-wonder","category-story-journey-through-wonder","tag-fantasy","tag-kamen-rider","tag-sonic","tag-thomas-and-friends","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6410"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6410\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6411,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6410\/revisions\/6411"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5119"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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