The Great Train Robbery Chapter 1
This is a request for DJ Scales. I hope you enjoy reading!
BTW this is based on the 1963 event. The money stolen in this is £49 million, which is equivalent to the £2.6 million stolen in real life. I also made up the character's names for those that are mentioned, as it isn't the actual event. The ones actually involved were these men; Bruce Reynolds, Gordon Goody, Buster Edwards, Charlie Wilson, Jimmy Hussey, Ronnie Biggs, Tommy Wisbey, John Wheater, Jimmy White and Brian Field, as well as a couple of others who were involved with the scheme but not so much the actual robbery.
Disclaimer: I only own the made up gang members. Everything belongs either Awdry or Brenner.
...
Early one summer's night on Sodor, Percy was preparing to take the mail train as usual. His fireman stoked up his fire until it was burning fiercely and soon had plenty of steam, and his driver checked his engine's steam pressure, coal bunker and water tanks to sure they were in perfect balance and ready for another run with the mail train.
"Remember what the Fat Controller told you Percy." His driver said as he returned from checking Percy's water tank. "You've got very valuable goods to pick up from Vicarstown."
"Yes, so we need to be careful." Percy finished, mimicking the Fat Controller's words from that morning. "I know Driver! What can go wrong on a night like this? I've never had a problem with the mail and tonight will be no different." He boasted confidently.
"Famous last words." The driver muttered. "Look, I know we've never had trouble with the mail, but tonight's different. We're talking about nearly £50 million stored away in your train to go to Tidmouth, which is on the other side of the Island from Vicarstown. Percy, there are people greedy and reckless enough to try and steal that kind of money. We do have a huge responsibility."
This made the green tank engine think.
"Alright driver, I'll be careful." He promised.
"Good engine." His driver said. "Are you ready yet?" He asked the fireman.
"Yes, we've got a good amount of steam going." The fireman replied. "How's the coal and water?"
"We'll need to take on water at Vicarstown. Coal should be fine, though we'll top there just in case."
The fireman nodded.
"Right, let's get the mail delivered!" He said, and he and the driver soon set off on Percy.
...
"Are you all aware of the plan?" A voice hissed vehemently.
"Yeah, yeah! Just one question."
"What might that be, Volt?"
"What kind o' engine are we lookin' for?"
A small, white hand emerged from the shadows and grabbed the black sweatshirt of the taller man so tightly that he felt as though the shirt might rip off his back.
"I have told you nitwits what we're looking for! It's a green saddle tank engine! I know, because I've been watching him pull the mail nearly every night. He's a sitting duck, particulary with our...improvements." He cackled as loudly as a raven.
"Hey, Smith, Hustle! You ready with that signal yet?" He yelled loudly.
"Sure, boss! We've just got to plug this in, and voila!" A female voice shouted.
And at once, the signal changed from green to red.
"Good job, Hustle! Smith! Any sign of our own yet?"
A tall burly man on the signal with a small scrawny woman looked towards the signal box. The lights were switched off, and the door was wide open.
Presently, he saw one single flash emitted from a torch through the windows. He turned to the man in charge of the evil deed.
"Tha's ol' Tom with the signal! What now boss?"
"Perfect. The telephone is out of service, the signal is at red and no other trains are due tonight." He smiled a cold fishy smile. "Tonight, my dear Volt, we are to become the richest men who existed."
"Excuse me! I didn't take physics for four years to be classed as a man, Crystal!" Wendy Hustle yelled in response.
"Fine! We'll be the richest men and woman who existed. Now into your places, everyone! That stupid little tank engine is due in in less than 20 minutes!"
...
Percy enjoyed the night air. He saw a red fox on the hunt and he greeted it as he passed by. He also felt a light breeze on his face as he rushed towards his destination. He had already been to Knapford, Wellsworth and Ulfstead Castle. Stephen had heard about Percy's valuable cargo, and warned his friend to be extra careful. Percy promised he will, but he still felt that nothing could go wrong. However, on his way to Tidmouth, it began to rain. And it was a downpour, so poor Percy was drenched in seconds. His driver, keen to avoid an accident, looked out of Percy's cab windows, and he saw a red light ahead of them.
"Whoa, Percy we need to stop! There's a red signal ahead!" His driver called, and he gently applied the brakes. Percy ground to a halt just short of the signal. He was confused.
"What's happened?" The little green engine asked.
"I don't know, Percy." His driver replied. "We were told the line would be clear."
"I'll go and phone for help. You wait with Percy and the train." The fireman decided.
...
The rain poured down on him, making it hard for him to see anything clearly. He walked along the ballast towards the track side telephone, and he tried to phone the Fat Controller to clear up the problem, but there was no answer.
"Hm, I wonder what-" He suddenly cursed as he dropped the phone. It landed on the ground beside the track, making the fireman's heart stop in sheer terror.
The phone wire was cut.
Someone was out to cut them off! But who?
"We need to get out of here, Wendell! He attempted to call to Percy's driver. "Someone's trying to-"
He was cut off by someone grabbing his neck from behind.
"You ain't goin' nowhere!" A gruff masculine voice threatened. It sounded like a bear with a scratchy throat.
"Let go!" The fireman threatened bravely, but he was no match for his attacker. He felt a sharp blow to the side of his face.
...
"One down. I'm impressed, Volt. You may not be smart, but you are quick." Crystal observed.
"You have ta be if ya're a professional wrestler." The taller man boasted, and he kicked the unconscious fireman in the ribs.
"That'll do, Volt, that'll do." Crystal replied in a soothing voice. His bald head was shining and smooth like a stray duck egg sitting in the moonlight.
"Let's wait for the rest to take out the driver."
...
"I'm scared, driver." Percy told his driver as the two waited for the fireman to return.
Charles nodded. "Yes, that Andrew's been gone a while."
Suddenly, he noticed a beefy looking man jump on board the cab.
"Get out of here!" He demanded. "You're not meant to be in here!"
But the man charged at him instead. Percy's driver held his ground and pushed the bulky man back as far as the footplate.
"You keep away from my engine, you no good hooligan!" He roared furiously, shoving the intruder off onto the ground. But just as he was dusting his hands off, he felt something whack him on the back of the head and knock him out cold.
"Cor, thanks mate. Thought I had it that time."
"Why are you thankin' me? We're in on the same money theft I'm just workin' for my slice."
This made Percy realise that they were train robbers. His crew and Stephen had been right to warn him, and now he had no one to help him.
His driver was out cold, and his fireman had disappeared. The little engine's last hope was that the signalman would come and end all this.
But on hearing the exclamation; "We've obtained the locomotive gentlemen! Soon, all the money will be ours!" put a dampener on his hopes.
And that made Percy feel alone and unable to do anything to stop them.