Stepping Out Of The Shadows

It was summertime on the Island of Sodor. In the summer, the work crews cut the long grass along the tracks, raking it into heaps to dry in the sun. At this time of year, Percy and Rachel stop where they have been cutting. The men load up their empty wagons, and they pull them to the station. Toby then takes them away to the hills for the farmers to feed their stock. *teleports to Thomas* "Whew! It sure is hot today!" said Rachel one day. "If this keeps up, I might get a heat stroke." "Don't be ridiculous." replied Bardock, lifting up a crate full of treacle. "This shit happens all the time to me. So, why should you be complaining about the heat?" "I'm saying that it's a little hot, I'm not complaining at all." "Except me..." said Thomas. "What's up with you?" asked Bardock. "It's Percy! He's making me run late! He should've been here minutes ago." "Patience Thomas, I understanding you're a little behind schedule, but we have to for Percy's freight cars..." "Where is that green little shit anyway?" Bardock replied. "WHEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSHHHHHHHH..." Percy gave a ghostly whistle. "AH! What was that!?" cried Rachel, hiding behind Bardock and shaking. "I-It's not the... G-Ghost engine again, is it...?" "No Rachel, it wasn't a ghost... It was just Percy..." Bardock said as he pulled her from his back. "Don't be frightened, Thomas. It's only me." "I don't think that's funny!" she shouted. "Your ugly fizz is enough to frighten anyone!" said Thomas. "You're like-!" "Ugly indeed, I'm-!" "A green caterpillar with red stripes!" continued Thomas firmly. "You claw like one too..." I don't!" said Percy. "Thomas please." Rachel interrupted, but Thomas didn't listen to Rachel. "Who's been late every afternoon this week?" It's the hay!" replied Percy. "I can't help that!" said Thomas. "Time is time, and Sir Topham Hat relies on me to keep it. I can't, if you claw in the hay til all hours!" "Thomas..." "Aw, jeez..." Bardock put his hand over his head, wiping the sweat off of him. "Green caterpillar, indeed..." fumed Percy, as he set off to collect some hay and take to the harbor.

Rachel felt hurt. "Thomas, what you said to Percy was really mean and uncalled for." "You think I care?" answered Thomas to Rachel. "I mean look at him, if this keeps up, I'll be delayed anyhow." "Well maybe you should be more patient with him. He's just like you, he's young for God's sake. Why can't you see that?" "All I see is you trying hold me back too." I'm NOT holding you back! I'm trying to help you!" "Yeah, help me with the passengers who depend on me. I'm leaving!" "Thomas!" But it was too late, Thomas had already steamed away. Rachel sighed as she hung her head down, "I'm sorry..." she said to Bardock. "Never mind him, let's just head back home." "Okay..." So the two saiyans flew home, where Leyna was waiting with Maki. "You two are back home so early?" she replied. "Yeah, we got a little tired, so I thought we needed a rest." "Welcome back home." said Leyna. "Hey Leyna." said Rachel, and hugged her. "So, what's the news? Did she behave?" "Oh yeah, she behaved. But as I was with her, I got a call from a man I didn't even know calling about Rachel." "Rachel?" "What?" both replied. "Rachel, go play with Leyna." Bardock told Rachel. "Okay." both girls said at the same time.

"Anyway, this person was calling about your half-saiyan daughter, saying they want to talk with her... He even said that you weren't raising her properly..." "What!?" interrupted Bardock. "That's not true, I've been with her for 3 years now! What kind of asshole is saying I'm abusing her!? I would never treat her like that!" Bardock was furious. "I... I don't know..." answered Maki. "But, they said they were the CPS..." "CPS? Who the fuck is that?!" asked Bardock. "Child Protective Services..." said Maki. "I guess their people who respond to child abuse or neglect, and I think they're trying to frame you for it." "Are you kidding me?! That's the most STUPIDEST thing I have ever heard!"

Then came trouble, "Papa! Papa!" Leyna screamed running to Bardock. "Leyna?" "Papa, come quick! It's them... Please!" Bardock and Maki looked dead at each other... They knew it was the CPS. And so, they walked with Leyna up the hill, and saw Rachel talking to one of the men. "If you can't make the choice to stay with him or anybody else here, we will make the choice FOR YOU, got it?" Rachel didn't like that at all, she felt frightened and held against her own will. "I... Uh, *gulp* yes sir..." she said quietly. "Good, that's what I want to hear... Have a good day, Rachel..." said the CPS cop. "OH! before I forget, you know approximately 4 hours to make up your mind, or else, there will be consequences." he added and left. Rachel covered and started crying, she was very scared. "I can't stand it..." "oh my god..." said Maki. "Rachel, we're so sorry... Why are they targeting you?" "I don't know..." sniffed Rachel. "I... I don't wanna go! I don't wanna leave Bardock and Leyna. They're my life..."

"I know sweetie..." said Maki as she wrapped her arms around the young saiyan. "What do you do?" asked Bardock. "We can't just hand her over to them... I... I love Rachel too! And I DON'T want them to take her away from me either!" exclaimed Leyna. "Okay, everyone calm down." criticized Maki. "There's got to something that we can do to help her." "Like what?" "I don't know." "I can figure this out... Somehow..." said Rachel. "What?!" exclaimed Bardock, Maki and Leyna. "Don't worry, I'll try to pull myself out of this situation. I'm sure I can do it... Maybe..." thought Rachel. With that, Rachel ran off to about her conflict with someone she would know can help her. All Leyna, Bardock and Maki can do was watch Rachel fly away into the sky.