Chapter II

It was now 7:02 when the distant sound of a high pitched single chime whistle filled the air as a lone station master took out his watch.

"three hours early you never cease to impress Steel." he said to him self and sure enough a familiar 4-6-0 came shooting over the horizon on it final approach to Nome and with in minutes the express train pulled into the front street station in a cloud of smoke and steam and Once Steel made sure the brakes were set he blow one long blast on the whistle before dismounting the locomotive.

Once on the ground he was meet by the station master.

"A head of schedule as usual Steel you never cease amaze.

"All in a days work." he said looking back at the line of cars to see Jenna and her family getting off the train. "All in a days work." he said to him self

"Well then i guess you should get ol25 here serviced."

"Gladly." Steel said as he and the rest of his crew headed back to 25.

Just before Steel mounted the cab the station master said.

"alright then just get on down to pit number two and they'll get you set."

Steel then got a devious grin a on his face at the mention of that particular pit he then turned to the station master and said. "with pleasure sir." he said mounting the cab wunce in he turned to his three crew members.

"well boy's looks like we can have a little fun after that run."

"and what would that be boss?" the Brakeman Chow Chow asked.

"we get to drop in on are 'friends' at pit no 2."

"oh right." the firemen said.

and with that the three along with 25 headed off the pit 2.

Balto and Boris just finished servicing no 66 when an all to familiar single chime broke the silence of there side of the yard and sure enough a certain 4-6-0 pulled up that Balto wished hadn't.

from the cab Steel called out.

"what's the mater still not on the locomotive team yet ay Bingo!" Steel taunted

"don't listen to him don't even look at him live a long life." Boris whispered to Balto

"my name's Balto." Balto said in a low annoyed voice.

"but you can call him idiot." Boris muttered to him self.

"what ever." steel said as he and his crony's climbed out of 25's cab

He then walked up to Balto looked him in the eye and said.

"look here wolfy we just got back from an all-nighter and i need ol25 here cleaned and serviced before i get back. now get to it! he said as he head off for town.

Balto just sighed and said.

"well Boris lets get to it." he said moving to wards the locomotive.

Steel stopped and looked back over his shoulder then told his friends.

"keep an eye on thus two."

"sure thing boss." the Brakeman said.

and with at Steel headed towards the station.

Meanwhile at the station Jenna was standing on the platform watching the sun rise when how should walk up to her but Steel.

"hay Jenna enjoy the run?

"ye almost as much as you did." she said a little uneasily.

"thanks." Steel said.

Jenna could since Steel was trying to hit on her again she need to think fast.

"Hay Steel why don't we step inside it's a little chilly out here."

"but of course Jenna." He said opening the station door as Jenna made her way inside it was still early enough to where weren't many people there the only things in there besides them was the station master who was in the back and a potbelly stove.

"now you wanted to say something Steel?"

"hmm ah yes like i was going to say Jenna i think you and me should go out for a night on the town later tonight."

"rely?" she asked playing along she then got an idea.

"yes i could take you to diner then maybe a walk along the shour afterwards."

"i must say Steel that offer is very tempting." she said slowly backing him in the direction of the stove.

"it is." he said tacking a step back.

"well i should let you know that i might 'heat things up'." she said and no sooner did she say that last line she had backed into the door of the stove and he let out a howl of pain as he felt his buns go up in smoke all the commotion then brought out the station master.

"what the heck's going on here!"

Jenna used the confusion to her advantage and left the station unknown to her she was head right the locomotive servicing track.

Meanwhile back at pit 2 Balto and Boris had just finished cleaning out 25's ash pan and were just about to start polishing but unknown to them the firemen and brakemen were stand on the other side of the locomotive holding two buckets of ice cold water.

"alright in three two one now!" the firemen yell's as he and the brakemen run around the other side of the locomotive and dump there load on an unsuspecting Balto and Boris.

When the water hit them they booth jump at lest an inch off the ground.

"cold enough for yu's?" the Brakeman laughed

Balto just sighed and started to shack to water off him self then set about get Boris back on his feet.

"why don't you three just screw off!" Balto said after getting the old Russian back on his feet.

"ooo I'm so scared." the firemen laughed.

"ye what you's going to do howl us to death?"

at that last bit the three railroaders broke into laughter.

Meanwhile Jenna had been running for about 2 minit's now she had only stopped running to make sure Steel wasn't fallowing her.

it was then she realized she didn't know where she was all she knew was after she got out of the station she ran in the direction of the train yard but where she was in that yard she didn't know.

Just then Jenna heard what sounded like laughter she moved towards the source of the laughter she fallowed it until she came to the side of a shed.

She poked her head around the side of the shed it was then she found the source laughter for on the other side of the shed were three anthro railroader's a Firemen a Brakeman and a familiar looking Conductor and the source of there amusement was an old Russian human and someone she seen a few other times before Nome's locale half wolf outcast Balto.

Not wanting to jump in the middle of what they were doing she decide to wait until the three railroad men left to see what was up.

"nice one Nikki!" the fireman sputtered inbetween laughter

"that one never gets old."

"thanks one of my favreat's."

"no problem, well it look's we've dune are job i say we head into town drinks are on me."

not needing to be asked twice the three started to walk away Balto sighed un relef that the torment would be over soon.

But unknown to him the fireman had stoped and picked a small lump of coal rolled it into a small snow ball and throuth it hiting Balto right in the back coseing him to fall face first into the ash pit.

"half wolf in the side pocket there." Nikki laughted.

"nice shot." Star added.

and with that the three walked off laughing like a bunch of hienus Jenna stuck her head back around the corner to find they were gone then saw the old Russian trying to get Balto back on his feet it was then she made her move.

She ran to where the old Russian saw trying to pull his firend up.

"need a hand?"

Boris was scepticle he knew she hung out with Steel but he allso knew he wouldnt be able to pull Balto up on his own.

"fine give me a hand."

and in a few secend they had dug him out.

Balto who had taken a full face of ashes had to wipe it from his face to see strate and when he did to his suprize he found he was standing mayby two or three feet from Jenna.

"oh..uh thanks Jenna." Balto said a little sheepishly.

"your welcome."she said a smile creeping onto her face.

Boris just shuke his head and went back to work.

"So what was that all about a minit ago?" Jenna asked

Balto just sighed.

"it's cuse of my 'tanted heritage' and if you havent note'sed it's been going on for a long time now ever since i showed up here as an orphan."

At the word of orphan Jenna wunted to know more but decied against it.

"What are you doing back here anywas?" Balto asked.

"Lets just say Steel wont be siting right for awhile."

"Realy? what did you do?"

"Steel tryed puting the move's me and back his caboose into the open door of a stove." She said cracking a confident smile.

"And let me geass you then made a run for?"

Jenna sighed in defet.

"Yes i did and now i can seme to find my way back to the station."

Balto then got an idea.

"i can get you back to the station if you'ed like."Balto asked hopefuly.

"lead the way." Jenna said

Balto then looked back towards Boris to ask if he need any help clening 25 Boris just looked at Balto and said.

"go on i'll finish up here."

and with that Balto took Jenna's hand.

"Falow me."

And then the two started off.