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After the recent train robbery and burning of a house by a local street gang under the alleged orders of one of Lord Arcanon's Generals as revenge for agreeing to testify against a mob boss the Kalos Railways' fleet wasn't surprised to suspect that Lord Arcanon was stepping up his attacks.
The Southern Railway Engines which now included Thomas were holding a conference about what happened and this time they were joined by Gervase, Colby and three new engines. One was a BR Standard Class 4 Mogul, the second was a BR Standard Class 5 and the third was a BR Standard Class 2 Prairie tank. The BR Standard Class 5 was there as Noah had taken Lord Brenton to the shops to get a new whistle and to make sure the robbers didn't sabotage him in the process.
Colton: Before we begin I'd like to point out that this recent attack has made it clear that being passive is not an option. I for one and not gonna let Arcanon or any thugs rob my passengers if they attempt to shoot I'll hiss them.
Mordred: While I like your courage remember this Colton. A true warrior tempers courage with reason.
Colton: I know Mordred but we can't just sit there and get slapped in the face like this. We gotta fight back.
Caliburn: I second your motion Colton but does anyone else think it's odd that the robbers only took the money and left the jewelry. Usually they'd go for the valuables too.
Tabitha: Yeah now that you mention it that does seem odd they'd do that. If I were them I'd take anything I can easily pawn off.
Cody: Perhaps they were on some sort of time limit and had to bolt really fast?
Gervase: Perhaps you're right Cody. The one thing I do know is that we'll need to be ready for anything tomorrow. With Lord Brenton in the shops I may end up having to do his work as well as my own.
Daniel: No offense Gervase but your track record with coaches is sloppy. Something almost usually always goes wrong whenever you're the one assigned to pull passenger trains. Tabitha is probably the better choice given her background and experience.
Gervase: None taken Daniel. I'm actually hoping and praying that the Kalos Controller chooses Tabitha to do Lord Brenton's Work so I can focus more on freight trains. I actually prefer cars to coaches anyway.
Thomas: Just remember Gervase, you may have to be prepared to do the jobs that you're given and some of those include jobs you may not like and when that happens you'll just have to deal with it.
Dexter: Thomas you're beginning to sound like Taylor Belmonte.
Thomas: Who is Taylor Belmonte and why do you sound so worried? I can only guess that she's related to the Kalos Controller.
Cody: You're right Thomas. Taylor Belmonte is one of the Kalos Controller's kids and she prefers to compete in dance contests and she prefers to sing. She doesn't like doing any physical labor however but she has good experience when it comes to covering the paperwork and her motto Is deal with it.
Thomas: She sounds like Daisy when she first arrived on Sodor.
Colton: Yeah but she is currently handling the paperwork for a bike messenger company. They're good at what they do but they aren't good with the paperwork which is exactly what Taylor Belmonte specializes in. Still she could learn to be less harsh when she says deal with it.
Daniel: And about your comment on Daisy we know and between us Kalos railway Locomotives. The Fat Controller of the time got chewed out by Duchess Corrinne and all of house Brenton when he made stupid mistakes such as blaming you for running into the Stationmaster's house when it was the careless cleaner's fault and chewing Percy out during the fiasco with Toby's trucks.
Alolan Line: Needless to say the entire Hatt family is afraid of house Brenton and the engines named after people or places of house Brenton.
Tabitha: Tell me about it. That's the loudest house yet and if anybody is stupid enough to anger them then they and all of their relatives will suffer. I once heard that the current Lord Brenton's ancestor beat and entire family in a village because one of them ticked her off.
Zoey: I fear for my life and I fear what Duchess Corrinne would do if I ever pissed her off.
Thomas gravely understood and began to wonder if Duchess Corrinne's loud and fearsome personality came from her namesake and her namesake's ancestors but he had no time for that. The fleet had to snooze in anticipation for the next day's events and they had to work even harder to make up for the fact that Lord Brenton would most likely be in the shops for a while.
The next morning the fleet were getting ready for work when the Kalos Controller arrived to hand out the jobs for the day and bring news.
Kalos Controller: I bring you all good news. The Police are investigating the attack on Lord Brenton and they're bringing in some extra security.
Thomas: Well that answers one question. Now can you explain Lord Brenton's state? Is he gonna be okay? Was he badly damaged?
Kalos Controller: Lord Brenton wasn't too badly damaged but I've got him in the main workshops in Paris just to be on the safe side. However I will need another engine to do his work so the plan is that Tabitha will do Lord Brenton's work while Gervase does Tabitha's work.
Thomas: That's good to know but what about Hassan? How are his repairs coming along?
Kalos Controller: Hassan's repairs are coming along quicker than expected. Lots of people are eager to volunteer to help wherever they can on one of the only railways left in Europe that still uses Steam Engines in active service. With all the additional help Hassan should be ready to go by tomorrow evening. The boiler is already fitted and attached. We just need to finish up the rest of the repairs and get the inspection done and he'll be ready to go.
Thomas: I guess that means I'll be going by tomorrow evening then.
Kalos Controller: I wouldn't say that just yet Thomas. With Lord Arcanon returning it will be difficult to get you back to Sodor unscathed. However you are a North Western Engine so getting you home will be much easier tha getting Duchess Corrinne out of Barrow In Furness and to the United States.
Thomas: I know what you mean. Henry, Gordon, and James were beyond outraged at what Shauntal Payne did to her but Edward was also outraged at how much Corrinne had to suffer. He says that he's never seen such abuse in all his years and that's after having to do her jobs for a day after we got her to the Steamworks in Crovan's Gate for some much needed repairs.
Tabitha: Well it's a good thing she's jointly owned by the North Western and the Kalos Railway or it would've been much harder for her to escape.
Alolan Line: And to think he along with my sister Clan Line, King Elgar's brother King Edward I, Greg, Blaine and Sophia's sister Sherwood Forester, and Silver's sister Union of South Africa already overruled Duchess Corrinne when it came time for Coi's Parole hearing and on keeping Coi in jail or executing her for terrorizing all of Great Britain for over 20 years. Still those five do make the right choices and they tend to support Duchess Corrinne most of the time.
Caliburn: I get that Alolan Line and so does Thomas but I think it might better if Duchess Corrinne and those five told it.
Kalos Controller: Okay that's enough chatting you lot have trains to pull and I have paperwork to handle in the office.
So the Kalos Controller gave out the jobs and the fleet went to take care of business but today Tabitha was at the station doing Lord Brenton's work which meant Gervase had to do Tabitha's work. Fortunately he was usually stationed with the LMS Locomotives or LNER Locomotives and while both had plenty of mixed traffic locomotives the LNER had Colby stationed there while the LMS had Coley, Jake, and Michael which left him free to be stationed with the Southern Railway Locomotives.
Gervase didn't mind though since it gave him a chance to socialize with all kinds of locomotives and he and the BR standard Classes could be moved around where they were needed.
Over with Tabitha she was pulling one of Lord Brenton's local passenger services and she was currently enjoying the trip.
Tabitha: Now this is the life. Puling coaches and traveling at speed. Life couldn't get any better than this. It's like nothing can stop us now.
Tabitha's Driver: Careful Tabitha. It's foolish to say things like that this early in the trip. Remember what happened to Lord Brenton? We need to be careful.
Tabitha: You have a point. Still we are on an express service so we have to keep the time and not cause any delays.
Tabitha's Fireman: Tabitha's right though technically we are on a stopping passenger service which means we can stop and smell the roses while we can.
Tabitha and her Driver agreed as they continued their trip on the mainline picking up and dropping off passengers and as they traveled Tabitha marveled at the scenery around her taking in the views but she made sure to keep her eyes and mind focused on the task at hand.
Later on Tabitha arrived at the top station and found a turntable while a Tank engine painted in Brunswick Green came to take her coaches away.
Tabitha: Well that was a fun trip. I really prefer working with coaches rather than cars.
Tabitha's Driver: Well if I were you I'd enjoy it while we can. Cause as soon as Lord Brenton's back then we're going back to goods work. At least that's what the Kalos Controller would probably do.
Tabitha: Well at least I can say it was fun while it lasted.
Tabitha's Fireman: Yep it was. But for now let's just enjoy the moment.
Tabitha: You're right.
Tabitha collected her water and coupled up to her coaches before completing her return trip.
That evening at the sheds Gervase and the Southern Railway Locomotives were talking.
Gervase: So Tabitha how did you enjoy Lord Brenton's work?
Tabitha: It was wonderful. I actually enjoyed seeing the sights and the trip along the mainline with coaches behind me. It's been a long time.
Caliburn: I hope you didn't go too fast or bump the coaches.
Tabitha: Heavens no Caliburn. You and Mordred have both seen how I did well back on the Southern Railway.
Mordred: We have Tabitha and the coaches have said that you've done a lot better than most of the King Arthur Class locomotives. I recall a time where you even filled in for a Lord Nelson class locomotive and did very well. It proves you're stronger than people think.
Caliburn: Then again you were built for goods trains Tabitha. Still you've been lucky enough to end up getting trains like cotton and wool or even trains bound for clothing stores.
Tabitha: Yep and I'm proud of it. The only thing I don't like is getting fish.
Thomas: I don't blame you. I've had a terrible experience with fish.
Colton: We all read the books Thomas so we know what you mean. I still don't know what your driver of the time was thinking.
Daniel: It was either that or piss off the passengers by waiting for the water tower to be fixed and waiting was not an option.
Cody: The bright side is they had some fish and potatoes from the experience. I'm just sorry it had to come at the expense of fish in Thomas' boiler.
Thomas: Don't remind me. I still get uncomfortable around fish.
Zoey: That makes two of us. I don't know how the LMS locomotives like working with fish. Well the Stanier Mixed Traffic or Goods engines anyway.
Thomas: Arthur also likes fish and he hails from the LMS.
Rufus: You know Malcolm's brother?
Thomas: I do. He's on Sodor working the Norramby branch line.
Rufus: Well Mary will be happy to hear that. Either way let's just enjoy the sunset. I remember in 1967 when the sun set on our time on the British railways but when we all came to the Kalos Railway it was like the sun was rising not just for a new day but also for a new start for our future here on the Kalos Railway.
Gervase: Those are wise words Rufus. I can see why you are the wisest among the E Series Tank engines.
Rufus: I'm just saying what needs to be said.
Craig: Either way let's get some sleep. Thomas it's been an honor to meet you.
Daniel: And it's also been good to know that you're doing well on Sodor. I wish I could come see the island for myself someday.
Thomas: If you play your cards right you will join me as a visitor one day but for now it's time for sleep.
The other engines all agreed to that as they went to get some sleep knowing full well that while things were bleak they'd get better as long as they focused.