Steam engines, Skullgirls, and Universes

Chapter 3: Thomas & The Lab

"Well, I suppose staying with them sounds better than staying out here in the streets." said the driver.

"And if that doctor fellow saved your life, I suppose he couldn't do worse to our engine." the fireman said.

"Only problem is Thomas is still here and not on the rails." the driver pointed out. They had forgotten Thomas was far from the rails and couldn't move on ground.

"Leave it to me fellas. You just get back up there and I'll handle Thomas." Big Band said. The driver and fireman, not having many other options decided to just listen to him and began to walk back up to the rails. Big band got behind Thomas and readied himself. Two Giant brass arms shot our from under his coat and pressed these brass hands against Thomas' bunker. He began to slowly push Thomas up the hill. Thomas' wheels scrapped and torn the ground as Big Band pushed him, but with one more effort Thomas was at the top, back on the rails. Thomas cheered for Big Band, who felt a little worn out.

"Phew. For a little engine you sure are heavy." Big Band said. They all had a good laugh and crew got to work getting Thomas ready. It took some time to get Thomas back up to steam, but soon he was sizzling nicely.

"Thank you again for helping us." Thomas said to Big Band. Big Band smiled.

"Ain't no problem. If you guys are coming to the lab, I can show you the way by rail." he said. He jumped up in the air and his legs shot flames. He flew in the sky above the rails. Thomas was impressed, and he and his crew followed him. The crew made their way across New Meridian and made their way west. Thankfully it was around 2 in the morning so people were fast asleep. For what seemed liked a journey of constant running and fear, this was the most peaceful time they had. A large building loomed in the distance. The crew saw Big Bang fly over to it and land. The rails looked worse and worse the further they traveled along them, rusted and ruined. Soon they saw Big Band on the ground again looking at a giant steel gate.

"Um, why are you standing staring at a wall?" ask Thomas.

"This ain't no wall, it's the entrance to the labs. We used to get our supply by rail, but that lead to people trying to sabotage us, so it was canned." he explained. Thomas was about to ask another question when the doors slowly started to open themselves. Big Band gestured them to come in. The room looked dark, and unwelcoming, but it was either that or the streets. Thomas and his crew puffed inside with the door closing behind them. Before Thomas could puff another yard lights flashed on and pointed at them. Big Band slightly flinched at this while Thomas got frightened.

"Who or what are you?!" a voiced asked over the speakers.

"Easy there Leduc, this is that blue engine Valentine reported on." he says rather casually for what was happening. The spotlights went off. Then the house lights flickered on and Thomas could see the area better. The shed looked unkept, cobwebs filled the corners, stains on the walls, not even any buffers to stop the engines. A door swung open. A blonde boy, a shark with glasses and an old man walked in the room. They just stared at Thomas for a few moments, then one broke the silence.

" So tell me, what are you? A machine, a parasite perhaps?" he asked. Thomas was quite fed up at being called a parasite.

"I am not a parasite! I'm a E2 tank engine built by the LBSC in England!" he fumed. The three were taken aback. The Engine could feel emotions like a human could.

"Stanley." said the old man. "Please try to refrain from calling him a parasite in future, it's clear he doesn't like it." He walked towards Thomas.

"I am doctor Avian, it's a pleasure to meet you." he said.

"Thank you, I'm Thomas." he began to feel less tense. The good doctor laughed

"You hear that, he even has his own name. Truly fascinating."

" You're telling me. There's a lot to learn about this engine." put in Stanley.

"Perhaps it can wait til morning, I'm sure the crew and their engine are tired." said Leduc.

"mmmh. Very well, I suppose our trails can wait until the morning. Try to get a good night's sleep you three." said the doctor. He and the others left leaving only Thomas and his crew. His crew received some sheets from one of the lab's assistants and they tried to get comfortable in Thomas' cab.

"So, how do you think they're fairing on the North Western?" asked the fireman. Thomas had completely forgotten about stuff going on back on his railway. He was worried about poor Annie and Claribel, he wished they were at least with him to give him some comforting words.

"Oh dear, I do hope everyone is alright." Thomas said concerned.

"I'm sure they're just fine Thomas, it's not the first time they had to run the branch without you." his driver said trying to cheer him up. Thomas only sighed.

"I just hope this doesn't happen to them as well." he said. That was something they had never considered before, other engines phasing into different realities. The trio said no more that night, and they went to sleep.

North Western Railway: Knapford Junction 7 pm

Toby was making his evening passenger run. Since Thomas wasn't around it was up to Daisy and him to do Thomas' jobs. Toby usually does the evening run to let Daisy rest. He came up to the platform to find Henry, the big, green engine angrily waiting for him.

"Oh just wonderful. First Thomas went missing from the yard so us big engines had to shunt our own coaches, then a coupling snapped and I left my brake coach at Tidmouth, now I'm held up even later because of a match box tram." Henry huffed. Toby didn't pay attention to the insults or his grumblings, he was more concerned about the first thing he said.

"Thomas wasn't in the yard when you got back?" he asked.

"No he wasn't. He's probably hiding to avoid his work until that pilot engine comes back."

"That doesn't make any sense. Thomas may hate working in the yard, but he'd never go to such lengths to avoid working there."

"Toby, he's always been a cheeky prick. Why wouldn't he look for a way out of doing his job in the yard."

"Because he wouldn't. He wouldn't even do that in his younger years, especially not now."

Henry said no more. The guard's whistle blew and Henry went off, leaving Toby with a load on his mind. Toby didn't enjoy the rest of his journey, he was too lost in thought. He told the other engines at the Ffarquhar sheds later that night what Henry had told him.

"Well Honey that sounds very odd." said Daisy the diesel railcar.

"Yeah. He may be a jerk, but this is unlike him." added Percy. "I sure hope he hasn't been stolen." he quivered

"Whatever the case may be, we just have to keep an eye out and hope for the best." said Toby. He didn't want to lean into rumors or speculation, but all the same he couldn't help but feel Thomas was in trouble.