The Skarloey Railway is a railway run by engines that run on narrower tracks than the North Western Engines. Its main industries are passenger work (both locals and tourists) and slate. It once used a slate quarry near the end of the line, but the UK\u2019s Ministry of Defense bought it to be used as an ammunition dump in 1960. To this day, the SKR get their slate from the Sodor Slate Quarry at the bottom of Shane Dooiney (Sudric for The Old Man), one of Sodor\u2019s mountains. It was during one of these runs that Sir Handel, a blue saddle tank engine and the SKR\u2019s number 3 engine, was grumbling as usual. His crew consisted of Brittney and Swalmu. \u201cRotten trucks!\u201d he grumbled. \u201cWhy can\u2019t they just come along quietly!?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey don\u2019t exactly have bogies, for a start,\u201d remarked Swalmu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo we look like stuffy old coaches to you?!\u201d snapped the lead truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, shut up, you lot!\u201d snarled Sir Handel as he bumped them to keep them quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you really need to do that?\u201d asked Brittney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBumping them is the only way they\u2019ll behave,\u201d replied Sir Handel. \u201cI, for one-!\u201d That was when they heard a loud boom!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPlease tell me that wasn\u2019t an explosion!\u201d yelped Brittney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt came from the old Slate Quarry!\u201d replied Sir Handel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe gotta check it out!\u201d urged Swalmu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t go there anymore! The M.O.D\u2019s got guards around it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have to make sure they\u2019re all right!\u201d Swalmu unhooked a radio from Sir Handel\u2019s cab and called Mr. Percival. \u201cSir, we just heard an explosion at the-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt the munitions dump,\u201d finished an upper-class voice. \u201cI just got off the radio with Rheneas and his crew. Medical teams are already there. Continue with your delivery, then return to the sheds at Crovan\u2019s Gate. I have a feeling the Dump\u2019s Commanding Officer will want to investigate us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cInvestigate, Sir?\u201d asked Brittney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone had gathered at the sheds near the transfer yards at Crovan\u2019s Gate. The Dump\u2019s Commanding Officer arrived with Mr. Percival. \u201cEveryone, I believe most of you know Lieutenant Andrews,\u201d introduced Mr. Percival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood afternoon,\u201d rumbled Andrews. \u201cNow, as you all have heard, there was an explosion at the Munitions\u2019 Dump. What many of you don\u2019t know, but from what Duncan told Mr. Percival, was that there is an id on the person who set off the explosion. Although Duncan was hesitant, and frankly, both he and I had a hard time believing it ourselves, even when security footage revealed he was telling the truth, he told me what the person looked like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe only reason I had to tell him was because my crew confirmed seeing what I saw,\u201d said Duncan, a yellow narrow gauge tank engine and the SKR\u2019s number 6. \u201cI still can\u2019t believe it was real.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, don\u2019t leave us in suspense!\u201d said a red saddle tank engine, the SKR\u2019s number 1, Skarloey. \u201cWho was it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFirst off, any Star Trek<\/em> fans here?\u201d asked Duncan. A few crew members raised their hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI watched a few episodes with my driver,\u201d offered Skarloey\u2019s best friend, Rheneas, the railway\u2019s number 2 engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, this character looked like a member of the Borg,\u201d explained Duncan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGive over!\u201d protested the railway\u2019s number 4, Peter Sam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe\u2019s being serious,\u201d replied Andrews. \u201cAs I said, security footage confirmed Duncan\u2019s words. Mr. Percival, I understand you have members of your staff that aren\u2019t exactly native to this island.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat would be us,\u201d said Flora as she, Brittney, Hanako, Swalmu, and Daniel stepped forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo you know anything about these\u2026Borgs?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat rather depends on whether or not they\u2019re standard Borg Drones,\u201d replied Flora. \u201cDuncan, did this Borg Drone act monolithic? Did it hide any emotion?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Now that I think about it,\u201d remarked Duncan. \u201cThis Borg was looking around as if it knew it wasn\u2019t supposed to be there in normal circumstances. I had to tell the Dump\u2019s guards about that. I thought it was a guy in a Borg costume.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, telling the Dump about a trespasser minimized casualties to only injuries,\u201d reported Andrews. \u201cThank you for telling us.\u201d Duncan stayed quiet. He figured Andrews would trounce him when it came to being plain and blunt. Andrews returned his attention to Flora. \u201cSo, these aren\u2019t the usual Borgs?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn all likelihood,\u201d replied Flora, \u201cthey\u2019re agents of our enemies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI expect every scrap of intelligence you can reveal about them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019ll have it once this meeting is over. I can tell you this, though; they have shields that are only set for energy-based weapons, not ballistic rounds. Aim for the exposed skin if you\u2019re ever in combat with them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you for that, Ma\u2019am. I just pray no one ever has to fight them. Everyone, confer with your new friends on how to spot them. I will be returning to the Dump. The mess will be too much for our one engine to clear up, so the M.O.D\u2019s authorized us to give you all permission to help.\u201d Andrews returned to his jeep and sped off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEveryone, we\u2019re in a critical stage here,\u201d warned Mr. Percival. \u201cSkarloey, Duke, I want you two to help with the cleanup. Other engines will help when they\u2019re available.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou can count on us, Sir,\u201d assured Skarloey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ll clear the Dump AND catch the saboteur,\u201d promised the single tender engine of the SKR, Duke. \u201cLetting this villain run wild would never-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSuit his Grace,\u201d interrupted Sir Handel and Peter Sam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Well, it wouldn\u2019t,\u201d muttered Duke. \u201cImpudent scallywags.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn the meantime, we have duties to perform,\u201d finished Mr. Percival. \u201cBack to work, everyone.\u201d Brittney and Swalmu returned to Sir Handel\u2019s cab as Flora and Hanako boarded Rheneas and Daniel entered Rusty\u2019s cab. They resumed work soon enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sir Handel was lost in thought as he pulled his passenger train the next day. He had heard about what the Fat Controller\u2019s engines went through and wondered if Edward\u2019s false accusation and the current incident were connected. \u201cSwalmu,\u201d he asked during his run, \u201care we free after this run?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are, so we\u2019re going to be heading to the Dump,\u201d replied Swalmu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPerhaps we can spot one of the Lords there,\u201d mused Brittney. \u201cIf we do, then we can-\u201d She then groaned and put her hand to her head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBrittney?!\u201d asked Swalmu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDizzy\u2026\u201d Brittney then shook her head. \u201cThere we go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDid you drink enough?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs it a heat stroke?\u201d asked Sir Handel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOkay, you saw my fangs, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Those are fake, yes?\u201d gulped the saddle-tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, they\u2019re not. I really am a Vampire, and I can\u2019t get a decent drink here. Your butchers don\u2019t sell animal blood and I can\u2019t just drain a cow or a sheep. The farmers here would get suspicious.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWait, you prefer animal blood?\u201d asked Sir Handel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s more nutritious for Vampires like me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaybe I should call a relief,\u201d suggested Swalmu. \u201cYou can head back to the ships when you get a chance. At least the Glanthelantir<\/em>\u2019s sure to have some blood on board.\u201d Brittney\u2019s eyes then went wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat ship\u2019s got Vampire crewmembers! I can just ask them to send me what I need! Man, I\u2019m so dumb!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, no, you\u2019re not,\u201d assured Swalmu. \u201cYou just didn\u2019t think clearly. We\u2019ll call the Glanthelantir<\/em> at the next station.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHere it comes!\u201d called Sir Handel. Swalmu pulled on the whistle cord and announced the train\u2019s arrival at Cros Ny Cuirn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When night fell, a Lord dashed across the Munitions\u2019 Dump. He looked around nervously before bumping into a figure with a cloak drawn around its arms. It wore a helmet and stared at the Lord. \u201cYou\u2019re creepy when you do that!\u201d he hissed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s the point,\u201d replied the figure through the voice modulator in its helmet. \u201cSo, you were sure you were spotted?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy else would the engines here be on the lookout?! I\u2019m sure that yellow complainer spotted me! It must be why no one died in the explosion!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt would have sweetened the deal. No matter. We\u2019ve sown the seeds of fear on this railway. There will be no going back to normal from this.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Skarloey Railway is a railway run by engines that run on narrower tracks than the North Western Engines. Its main industries are passenger work (both locals and tourists) and slate. It once used a slate quarry near the end of the line, but the UK\u2019s Ministry of Defense bought it to be used as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"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-6414","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","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\/6414","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=6414"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6414\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6415,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6414\/revisions\/6415"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6414"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6414"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6414"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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