Luke woke up to see a strange red car on rails making its way along the line. It was unfamiliar, and he was frightened.

"Rheneas," He whispered softly, but the older engine didn't budge or speak- he just snored in reply, making Luke freak out even more.

"Rheneas, please wake up! There's something here!" He hissed as loudly as he dared, finally managing to get his friend's attention.

"What is it..." he yawned, blinking blearily at his surroundings, before his fog addled mind realised that the two engines weren't alone.

An unfamiliar noise judded and bumped in the dark, and poor Luke was trembling from buffer to coupling rod.

"Shh, Luke, it will okay- it'll leave." He whispered consolingly, but he resented himself for saying what could potentially be impossible- or at least for the moment.

...

"Are you sure about this, Peregrine?"

"Where else would this engine be, Sir Topham? I'm going to bed with migraines just trying to find out what's happened to this engine and if he's been here all this time..."

"I apologise for the objection, sir, but why would your engines have any reason to hide a new one here?"

"Winston is right- there's no motive behind it." The Fat Controller agreed. "Perhaps Mr Pound is trying to wind you up into great scandal- I am aware he is not fond of your railway."

"He hates steam in general, Topham, and if I don't find that engine, I will never be able to find another engine anywhere thanks to the wretched media."

The Fat Controller paused thoughtfully.

"Yes, indeed. This is a problem. Though if you do require an engine, I know my friend Sir Robert is returning to the Island soon, and he has an engine you might be able to borrow should you require her." He suggested.

"But that's no use, Topham! That engine must be found and dealt with, immediately!"

Poor Luke could barely stifle a squeak of fright, but he was oh so glad that his dear friend Rheneas was here- otherwise he would have given the game up long ago. As for his companion, Rheneas was angry that they would dare speak of Luke like a...like a rat loose in a kitchen that needed to be dealt with!

"What do we do, Rheneas?" Luke asked, timidly.

"We'll think of something yet, so don't lose faith, Luke." Rheneas replied, but his heart sank when he saw the track car's headlights glaring at the rails, the two controllers holding on for dear life as they scrutinised every nook and cranny they could think of, narrowing the hunt down, down...

Until only the tunnels were left.

They looked, to a young engine alone and out at night, something that could swallow you into a realm of nightmares and the unknown.

Poor Rheneas knew they didn't have that bliss...of being swallowed before they were found. What else could they do?

He could feel Luke trembling like a leaf behind him, and his own heart quivered.

"...Luke?"

But Luke wasn't listening to Rheneas- he was too busy focusing on something else, of which the older engine was ignorant.

He gasped as he saw a pair of headlights park itself outside the tunnel mouth, causing the brave old engine to stiffen with fright. He didn't even know why he was afraid- Luke was the one who would be shipped off Sodor permanently if the narrow gauge engines let their guard down. He would just get into a lot of trouble for hiding an engine in the quarry, and lying- the same as Skarloey and the others.

Suddenly, his thoughts were cut off when something small and dark flew past him, causing him to jump out of his boiler in shock.

The shape sailed out of the tunnel, squeaking and screeching loudly at the red car, the Fat Controller and the Thin Controller.

"Um, on second thoughts, I think we better call the search off for now, Topham, and deal with...another issue here, first."

"Good idea, Peregrine- come along, Winston!"

"Coming sir!" Answered the red car faithfully.

"Go raibh míle maith Spéartha!" Luke whispered in heartfelt relief as he and Rheneas watched the two men drive in the car- Winston. "We're safe!"

"And to think- it one lone bat that saved us!" Chuckled Rheneas heartily. "Is he a friend?"

"Yes, he is." Luke admitted shyly. "He doesn't do much in here in the day, and nor do I, so we're quite compactible."

The old engine laughed again. Luke was a queer fellow, but he was very charming, too. He seemed to have a knack for animals- he remembered the incident with the Irish setter spaniel long before.

"Go raibh maith agat, Peter!" Luke called to the bat, who screeched in response.

"Goodness, you certainly have a loud guest!"

"Hm," Agreed Luke thoughtfully, staring up to where his friend was flying round his funnel. "Well, I did think Banshee was a better name, but that's too morbid..."

"How so?"

Luke explained that the banshee was a female spirit that was an omen of death where he came from, which unsettled his companion.

"So why the name?"

Luke blushed again- wondering if he had it in him to explain.

"Well, do you remember when I mentioned I had a brother but I never knew him? I was hoping...maybe I could meet him one day. Skarloey told me you and he both have twin brothers in Wales that you sometimes see." He voice dropped. "But I doubt he'll want to meet me..."

"Luke, if there's one thing I've learned with family, especially being Skarloey's brother, it's that family isn't about being perfect- what's important is learning from mistakes and continuing to love and support each other through the bad times as well as share the good times."

Luke didn't say anything more, but he was very thankful that Rheneas had been there.

"Thank...yawn...you for...helping me, Rheneas..." He yawned sleepily, surprised to find how tired he was once the excitement from before had worn off.

"You're welcome, Luke. Good night."

"Good night...and good night, Patrick."