FanFic:Saving Sodor Part 12: Problems

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Previous Part: Part 11
Next Part: Part 13

Saving Sodor Part 12: Problems

Characters: (in order of appearance)

• Sir Topham Hatt
• Howard Andrews
• Lady Hatt
• Henry
• Rocky
• Gordon
• Edward
• Toby
• Duck
• Thomas
• Percy
• James

Chapter Twelve

Over in England, the sun was now starting to set. The sky was changing from being clear blue to a bright orange, as the sun began to slowly sink.

In a large office in King's Cross Station, the Fat Controller was sat at a table, feeling rather bored. His friend, Howard Andrews, was stood up, droning on and on about how he couldn't persuade his engines to do their work.

The Fat Controller wasn't really listening much, and just looking around the office, which had a desk with a few railway books and a telephone. The desk was in front of the far was, which displayed a map of the region. A window the on the wall on the right showed the bustling platforms of the station. Next to the door entering the office, a hat stand stood, holding the Fat Controller's top hat.

"I've already told you," sighed the Fat Controller, feeling annoyed. "You need to shut your steam engines in their shed."

"But, Sir Topham," Andrews whined. "My diesel engines keep breaking down." Andrews was in his forties, but all the stress he was currently going though was causing him to lose some of his short black hair.

"Well, then, you need to tell the steam engines that you need them."

"But they refuse. They won't do what I say."

"Well, I've tried explaining to you several times, but you won't take my advice," sighed the Fat Controller. "So I don't see the point in me trying to help you."

"No, Sir Topham!" Andrews cried. "I really need you. I can't work without you! Please!"

"Okay," replied the Fat Controller reluctantly. "But you really need to tell you're steam engines that you need them."

"But how can I?" Andrews complained impatiently. "They won't do what I say!"

"You're the controller of the railway. They should do what they're told."

"I keep telling them that! But they don't seem to care. They think-"

But before Andrews could continue, he was interrupted by the telephone which started ringing. He walked to his desk and picked up the receiver on the third ring, his hand trembling.

"Hello, King's Cross Station." Andrews paused for the response, then took the receiver from his ear and turned to the Fat Controller.

"It's your wife."

The Fat Controller stood up, walked over to Andrews, took the receiver and held to his ear, while Andrews sat at the table.

"Hello, dear, how are you?"

"I'm fine Topham, but there's something you should know," came Lady Hatt's worried voice. "It's an emergency."

"What is it?"

"Your friend, Gerald, was involved in a serious car accident. He's in hospital, unconscious."

"Never?! Is he okay," asked the Fat Controller, feeling worried.

"I've spoken to the people at the hospital. He has a nasty wound on his head, but he will live.

"There's something else too you should know," Lady Hatt went on. "I've received a lot of telephone calls from the people working on the railway. There's a lot of damage everywhere; destroyed sheds, walls, and even engines having lots of accidents."

"What's causing it all?"

"No one knows. But I think you'd better come back to Sodor," exclaimed Lady Hatt. "I've telephoned Dryaw airfield, and they are going to send Harold to collect you from London airport."

"Okay, dear, I'll be ready. See you later." And the Fat Controller put down the telephone. "Sorry, Howard, I've got to go."

"Go?! Where?!"

"Strange accidents are happening on my railway. I must investigate and stop it if I can."

"No!" Andrews cried. "What about the problems on my railway! I need-"

"Sorry, Howard," apologised the Fat Controller. "You have your own problems on your railway – but I have mine too, which is a lot more serious than your's. I must go. Goodbye." And the Fat Controller disappeared out of the door to the office, but not before seizing his top hat off the hat stand and putting it on his head as he left.

Back on Sodor, some of the steam engines were gathered at Croven's Gate. The signalman who had diverted Edward and Gordon into the siding had telephoned for help. Henry had brought Rocky to lift Edward, Gordon and Toby back onto the rails, and taken them to Croven's Gate for repairs. Now, Edward, Gordon and Toby were parked outside the work sheds, with Duck still on his flatbed where Edward had parked him, and Henry parked alongside them. They were also joined by Thomas, Percy and James.

"So, as we all know by now; Diesel 10 is back on Sodor," exclaimed Edward.

"Yes, but what does he want?" retorted James.

"Isn't it obvious?" grumbled Gordon. "He's trying to destroy us, James! Though looking at the state some of us are in now, he needn't have bothered trying."

"We need to stop him, but how?" asked Toby.

"Thomas, couldn't you remind him about how steam engines and diesels working together is important," asked Percy. "Like you did when we all built the airport, and needed his help."

"Whatever it was that made Diesel 10 nice then," sighed Thomas. "It's obviously not there now. We know by now he isn't nice. I don't know what we can do to stop-"

Then, all of a sudden, an idea flew into Thomas' funnel. He gasped in amazement.

"What's wrong Thomas?" Percy asked, puzzled.

"Hang on! I do know how to stop Diesel 10!" cried Thomas, beaming. "But first, I must go to the mountains."

"The mountains!" All the engines cried in unison.

"What can help us is in the mountains," Thomas exclaimed. "I must go there."

"Let me come with you, Thomas," said Percy. "If something happens to you, I'll be able to help you."

"Well, if you two are going to the mountains," said Edward. "You'll need a big engine to help you. Although," he went on, looking at Toby, Gordon and Duck. "I won't be able two, and neither will these three."

"I'd go," put in Henry. "But I'm sure now that it was Diesel 10 who tried to crush me with the shed. I'm scared to go out there, in case he will succeed in destroying me this time," he whimpered.

"Ha!" snorted James. "How typical of a big engine to be scared of some smelly old diesel."

"Alright then, James," said Duck. "You go then!"

"Me?!" gasped James. "But…but…I'm not a big engine!"

"Well, you always boasted to us that you were," smirked Thomas cheekily.

"And besides," added Percy, grinning. "I'm sure if there's one thing that a splendid red engine like you like you can do, its help two small tank engines who can't do what you can."

At these words, James gave up. "Alright, but I hope you two appreciate me sticking out my funnel to protect you two."

"Thanks, James, we do appreciate it," smiled Thomas.

"You won't regret it," Percy smiled too.

"Really? Well I already am!" sulked James.

Thomas, Percy and James were all on the same line. So James buffered up behind Percy. Then they both puffed forward and buffed up behind Thomas.

"The rest of you stay here," Thomas told them. "Just in case Diesel 10 is wandering around."

"Okay. Good luck!" called Edward.

"And be careful!" warned Toby.

"Don't we'll be fine," smiled Percy.

"We had better be," muttered James.

"We'll be back and stop Diesel 10!" Thomas called. "See you all later.

"With that, Thomas, Percy and James each gave two blasts on their whistles and puffed away.

"Good luck!" The other engines called; as they watched their friends disappear around the corner, as they began their journey to the mountains.