Project 01

by Supergeek-110

Engineer L.B. Brudlington has developed a very new design for an experimental engine, but there are problems that he and his team simply can't handle all on their own. But perhaps the students of a nearby Engineering University will be able to bring a fresh set of hands and eyes to the secretive project.

PROLOGUE

PROJECT 01

L. B. Brudlington had always strived for new advancements no matter how small they could have been. Mr. Brudlington was currently in his private locomotive works, the sun having set long before as he strolled through the dimly lit building. His shoes clicked with every step and his hands were held behind his back as he stood straighter than a fence post. He swiveled his cigar in his lips and slicked down his dark hair. He took his cigar from his mouth and gave a slow puff of smoke as he walked into the main workshop. A few workmen were scattered around still steadily working on their project.

The night shift workers sat under swinging orange lamps, wrenches and tools and spare parts scattering the floor and glinting in the lights. One workman glanced up and stood at once.

"Mr. Brudlington," He said, tugging one of his gloves off and reaching his hand out to shake. "What brings you here at this time of night."

"Suppose you could say business never sleeps, Mr. Welmor. I simply kept tossing about and all I wanted to see was how the project is coming along."

Mr. Welmor glanced around and whispered.

"Project 01?"

"The very one."

"Very well, Sir!" He said, giving a small, unnecessary salute. "Right this way,"

Mr. Welmor quickly led Mr. Brudlington across the workshop where a small mint colored engine sat with a small tarp strewn over the top of it. Mr. Brudlington leaned forwards, gently tapping his finger on the engine's wheel base.
"Can he move?" Mr. Brudlington asked, not looking away from his engine's side.

"Pardon, Sir?"
"The Engine, can he move yet?"

"Not yet, Sir, still have to work out some kinks and ensure we have no leakage of steam first," Mr. Welmor said. "It sure was a revolutionary idea to make an engine without steam cylinders your cylinder free piston technology really is something the way that it-"

"Oh please Mr. Welmore don't flatter me with your blabbering I hear it plenty, I'm just an engineer is all. Sometimes you get a good idea and most of the time you're sat at a workbench scribbling nonsense onto blueprints so there's at least something on the page."

"Er-right sir-of course sir, makes sense, Sir." Mr. Welmore cleared his throat. "Well we were just getting ready to call it a night-"

Mr. Brudlington glanced up as he heard a slight whimper. He quickly walked his way round the front to see his engine looking very distressed. As he glanced over his engine's face he took a split second to notice that he'd been given the appropriate 'patent tattoos' for eyebrows. He quickly took notice that-likely in their rushing of this private project-the engine had mismatched eyes, one brown as a river stone and one blue as a creek. The little engine's mismatched eyes were glossy and large with tears, and he stared at Mr. Brudlington with such a pitiful look that he instantly wished to quell his distress.

"Welmor, why is he still awake-"

"We're...not so sure about that, Sir. We can't seem to ever get him to go to sleep."
"Well he needs to go to sleep. He has the cognitive needs and abilities of a one year old child, he needs rest."

"That's the issue, Sir, have you ever tried putting a one year old child to bed?"

Mr. Brudlington took a breath as he thought, placing a hand on his lightly bearded chin. He shifted and placed his hand now onto Project 01's buffer.

"Darling child, why are you still awake?" He asked quietly. "Candlelight is dying and the night is quickly growing."

Project 01 had not yet developed the ability to speak but Mr. Brudlington hoped he'd gain some knowledge by asking anyway. Project 01 simply whimpered once more and leaned slightly into Mr. Brudlington's touch.

"Sir, pardon my interruption but I think I know what might be wrong."

Mr. Brudlington turned to look.

"Yes Mr. Mough?"

Mr. Mough fiddled with the work gloves on his hands. "You see Sir, he always gets very upset whenever he even gets the impression one of us is leaving-and well-there's not any other engines or workmen to talk to once we've all left for the night. I think he stays awake so we won't go and leave him alone."

"So what you're saying is that-"

"He's lonely, Mr. Brudlington."

Mr. Brudlington gave a single hum of acknowledgement. "I suppose that would make sense, children are in need of parents to give them company. But how do we fix this-we don't have enough workers to have a day and night shift." Mr. Brudlington paused, glancing behind him at the door he'd come in from. "Mr. Mough where is that engineering school that you came from when you first graduated-"

"Sodor's University of Technology and Engineering?" Mr. Mough asked. "Just due east of here, just twenty minutes out of Mea-Na-Runiom, over in Na-Drull"

"Only twenty minutes out of town?"

"Yessir,"

"Mr. Mough, would you be so kind as to find me a number for this university, I have some phone calls that I'd like to make."

"Yessir, I'll fetch it for you."

Mr. Brudlington nodded in approval as Mr. Mough hurried off at once to find a listing for the university's telephone number, and slowly turned back to his project.

"I have to make some calls and the others will be back in the morning to come work on you some more, please don't feel alone, I am always with you." He said, placing a reaffirming hand on the engine's cheek. "Please get some sleep, it's what's good for you." and with that, Mr. Brudlington slowly slipped away and headed back to his office.