Rusty the Maintenance Diesel was the only diesel engine on the SKR. Initially, the other Narrow-Gauge engines were wary of diesel\u2019s after Diesel\u2019s 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\u2019t 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. \u201c\u2026That tree was way too small to make that kind of impact on the tracks,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLooks like a pretty clean cut too,\u201d replied Rusty. \u201cGiven what Hanako said about her conversation with Yamta last night\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt would stand to reason this is her work.\u201d Daniel then switched a radio on in Rusty\u2019s cab. \u201cControl, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnderstood. We\u2019ll have Lakeside closed until repairs are completed,\u201d replied Control. The call ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRight,\u201d Rusty called to the team, \u201clet\u2019s get that rail replaced.\u201d 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLOOK OUT!\u201d he shouted. Everyone dove out of the way as the tree landed on Rusty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOW!\u201d cried the little diesel. Daniel and the team got up, checked themselves, and managed to get the tree off of Rusty. \u201cThank you,\u201d he panted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook!\u201d called a workman. He pointed out a Lord that was using a claw to hack at another tree near the line!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh no, you don\u2019t!\u201d 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEveryone, we have a Lord prisoner! Have everyone meet Andrews at Crovan\u2019s Gate!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell done, Sir!\u201d Andrews praised Daniel once everyone made it back to the SKR sheds at Crovan\u2019s Gate. \u201cYou just handed us an opportunity to get some intel!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf he\u2019s cooperative,\u201d remarked Duncan, \u201cwhich I doubt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can handle the interrogation,\u201d offered Hanako. \u201cKitsunes have incredible mental powers. With enough training, we can read minds. I happen to have that training.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026You realize I\u2019ll have to call that a polygraph in my report,\u201d said Andrews. \u201cThat\u2019s not admissible in court.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf he\u2019s a native to Sodor, then he will be subjected to its laws,\u201d assured Hanako. \u201cUntil then, this is a matter concerning me and my team.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Very well. The prisoner is yours.\u201d Hanako then approached the restrained Lord. The Lord glared at her in defiance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, are you going to cooperate or will this interrogation hurt?\u201d asked Hanako. The Lord spat at her. \u201c\u2026Very well.\u201d Hanako then placed her hands on each side of his head. \u201cResist and you will feel pain,\u201d she warned. The Lord smirked. \u201c\u2026Boulton. Former United States Marine. Native to Richard Saunders\u2019 old universe. The same Richard Saunders who\u2019s working on the NWR.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d asked the Lord, Boulton. \u201cThat\u2019s impossible! He and his family are dead!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHold up, he\u2019s just made it easier for me.\u201d Hanako read more into his mind. \u201c\u2026Oh dear, that\u2019s why.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat is it?\u201d asked Mr. Percival. Hanako then ended the treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMr. Boulton, Khan lied to you. Yes, you were taken from your old universe, but Richard\u2019s alive. He\u2019s in Beyond City. You can see him again, but we need to know what Yamta\u2019s planning for this railway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow do I know this ain\u2019t your voodoo talking?!\u201d snarled Boulton. \u201cFor all I know, you\u2019re using his name to get me to bend to your will!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMr. Boulton-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSERGEANT Boulton!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Sergeant Boulton, I\u2019m allowing you access to my mind and allowing you to measure my heartbeat. You\u2019ll see that I\u2019m telling the truth.\u201d 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\u2019s eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, I\u2019ll be,\u201d he chuckled. \u201cHe married that Megumi girl, and they have twin daughters. \u2026So, he\u2019s that karate bug-dude called Guard. \u2026Good God, what have I done?!\u201d He started crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you want to atone, tell us what Yamta\u2019s planning,\u201d urged Hanako.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026That explosion at the Munitions\u2019 Dump was just a test. We were trying to make a high-yield explosive according to Igura\u2019s design, but we can\u2019t make heads or tails of her notes. Igura\u2019s the main boss on the island.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAdachi Igura?!\u201d asked Flora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe same. She\u2019s assigned Yulduk to the Arlesdale Railway and a lady named Auriella to Culdee Fell. She hasn\u2019t given us much to go on with those two.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, the Father of Revenants is here too,\u201d hissed Hanako. \u201cWhat\u2019s the specific plan for the Skarloey Railway?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo have it shut down permanently. That\u2019s the reason behind the bombs. We\u2019re 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFuel and munitions always result in an explosion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd targeting the railway\u2019s wallet is a rather ingenious plan,\u201d mused Daniel. \u201cWhere are the bombs?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019re hidden at each station, set to go off tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot if I have anything to say about that!\u201d declared Mr. Percival. \u201cLieutenant Andrews, I believe this matter should be dealt with at once!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTell your boys to cut the green wire when they pull the timers off the bombs!\u201d urged Boulton. \u201cThat will make sure there\u2019s no boom!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnderstood,\u201d replied Andrews as he made the call on his radio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Now, as for you,\u201d Hanako remarked to Boulton, \u201cyou need to be taken to base camp. You ARE still our prisoner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet me do it,\u201d offered Swalmu. \u201cI have a teleport spell for something like this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet me tell Richard first,\u201d said Flora. She then pulled out her phone and dialed Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey, Flora,\u201d greeted Richard once he picked up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRichard, be advised, we have a Lord prisoner who came from your universe. Swalmu\u2019s teleporting him to the ships now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnderstood. Would this person be anyone I knew?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Sergeant Boulton.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026That\u2019s not funny!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t joking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you telling me that Sergeant Boulton, a US Marine that\u2019s a family friend, is a Lord?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been duped and he helped us figure out who\u2019s really in charge of our enemies. It\u2019s Igura.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGreat, first Megumi fights her old man, now we\u2019ve gotta take care of his crazy wife. \u2026As for Boulton, is he all right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo. The regret of what he\u2019s done is tearing him apart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I hate to say it, but he needs to be in the Glanthelantir<\/em>\u2019sbrig until this mess is over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnderstood. See you later.\u201d Flora hung up, then told her husband where Boulton was to go. Swalmu then summoned a teleport circle under Boulton, and he vanished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn the meantime,\u201d said Mr. Percival, \u201cSir Handel, Rheneas, Rusty, it\u2019s time you, your crews, and I settle this at the Munitions\u2019 Dump!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re not coming, Mr. Percival,\u201d replied Daniel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve gotten express permission from Andrews to enter the Dump. I\u2019m coming!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYamta\u2019s too dangerous!\u201d urged Hanako.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith all due respect, that\u2019s not your decision to make. My railway is being threatened and I won\u2019t stand for it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026You sound like me,\u201d chuckled Duncan. \u201cNot that I wouldn\u2019t do what you\u2019re doing right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re all coming, Sir,\u201d declared Skarloey. \u201cThere\u2019s strength in numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAye, it\u2019s our home too!\u201d agreed Duncan. Mr. Percival saw the determined faces of his engines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Right then. Take a load of trucks each and follow Skarloey once the bombs on the line have been disarmed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, Sir!\u201d 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\u2019s footplate. Andrews then got a call on his radio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Understood, Sergeant. We\u2019re on our way. Over and out.\u201d He ended the call. \u201cThe bombs have been disarmed and are being transported away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen off we go!\u201d called Mr. Percival. The engines gave a shout of determination as they set off.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Rusty the Maintenance Diesel was the only diesel engine on the SKR. Initially, the other Narrow-Gauge engines were wary of diesel\u2019s after Diesel\u2019s 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 […]<\/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-6421","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\/6421","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=6421"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6421\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6422,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6421\/revisions\/6422"}],"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=6421"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6421"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6421"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}