6 - Hostage

Flying Scotsman awoke almost instantly the second he felt himself hit the ground in his memory.

His whole gave a violent jolt and he opened his eyes, staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling. He tore his eyes away as he coughed, trying to regain his composure.

Great Northern hadn't been scrapped? He was still alive?

Of all their siblings, it had to be the one who loathed Gordon and himself.

He'd always hoped that another A3 had been stored away and saved or slipped through the cracks. But just not him, the engine who had done nothing but belittle and criticise him and make rude comments about Gordon.

Great Northern wasn't even an A3 anymore. He was that hideous hybrid of a Thompson that none of their siblings even considered one of their own anymore.

Scotsman flinched as he felt someone touch him and he became aware of his surroundings.

"It's okay, you're safe," a kind voice said. He recognised it as Olivia Spence.

He calmed. He hadn't seen or spoken to her in this new form, the last time he'd seen her was when they had placed his engine in the well of Gold Dust and he vaguely remembered her comforting him before he passed out.

Sir Robert had said she'd gone into labour with her son directly after making contact with the Gold Dust which had been very worrying. Thankfully she'd had her baby without complications and both mother and son were healthy and strong. They still didn't know how Gold Dust affected humans however although Olivia seemed to be fine.

He hadn't realised how much he missed Ms Olivia in the past month. As much as he liked Stainer, there was something about having a member of his designer's family as one of his directors that he found comfort in.

He looked over and saw Olivia sitting beside his bed, gently rubbing his arm and gazing at him concerned.

"Ms Olivia," he smiled at her, elated to see a familiar and comforting face. "I missed you."

Olivia gave a soft chuckle.

"I missed you too, Scotsman," she said kindly. She looked tired but well. "You're safe here, you gave us a bit of a scare."

"Godred… he, I don't know what happened-," Scotsman mumbled. He suddenly winced as a bolt of pain lanced through his stomach and Olivia immediately stood and came to his side as he curled in on himself in reaction.

"Easy," she said soothingly. "You're still recovering from a relapse of Cold Iron."

Scotsman lay still for a long while, trembling as the pain took a hold of him. Olivia patiently hovered over him, attending to him carefully. After what felt like an age, the pain seemed to settle and he relaxed.

"Where am I?" He asked. He wasn't in his room at the castle, the room he was currently in was smaller and felt cosy and warm, unlike the huge master bedroom that felt constantly cold and unfeeling.

He noticed the hesitation in Olivia's voice as she spoke.

"You're at my house," she said. "You're in my spare room Oscar and I set up for you. We had to separate you and Godred."

There was more she hadn't told him but he didn't push. He wondered if he should tell her about Sir Gresley and Great Northern.

Maybe it had been a fever dream instead, brought on by his relapse but he somehow didn't believe that.

"I like this better," he murmured sleepily. "This feels nicer. Kinder somehow. The castle always felt cold, friendless."

Olivia chuckled. "Well then, I'm glad. I just hope that baby Scott doesn't wake you up in the middle of the night."

"Little Scotsman," the Scotsman said with a warm feeling growing in his chest. "Can I meet him?"

Olivia gave a tired soft chuckle. "I just spent an hour trying to get him to sleep before coming to check on you, so another time."

Scotsman's face saddened a little but he understood. Humans were such delicate things, especially when they were small. He nodded at her understanding.

"Something else is troubling you," Olivia remarked as she watched over him. "Would you like to share?"

He did, but he wasn't sure. She might think him crazy or insane. He looked away from Olivia.

"Godred was nasty about how Tornado doesn't accept me," he admitted.

"We know, we saw on the security cameras," Olivia assured him. "He has been severely reprimanded for his actions. Tornado and I spoke a few days ago. She said she didn't mean to upset you, she's just struggling to deal with what's happening. She does want to accept you but, I don't think she can right now."

"I know," Scotsman said with a tired tone in his voice. "I'm struggling to make sense of this myself. I've spent a century as an engine, to become human is… overwhelming."

The Scotsman looked exhausted and ill. The past month he had struggled, it had been so hard, and all of his senses were still overwhelming to some degree.

"Ms Olivia… you…" Scotsman started but then stopped. He wasn't sure if he could talk about her grandfather. But being head of the NRM, she would have access to information most wouldn't.

"Yes, Scotsman? Go on."

Flying Scotsman sighed and then gazed at the woman watching over him patiently.

"What do you know about Great Northern?"

"Gordon?" Henry came up beside his old friend as the big blue engine sat in a siding. "Are you alright? You've been avoiding everyone."

"I'm fine," the big engine grumbled.

"Look I know you're upset about your brother but-"

"That's not!" Gordon suddenly blurted out then sighed and quietened down. "Did you have a fun time with your sister?" He asked.

"I guess, she's a bit pushy but otherwise Hillsy's nice," Henry said with a smile. "I like her a lot."

He looked genuinely happy at having a sister.

Gordon smiled. He had issues with his sister but he didn't want to bring them up to Henry. He didn't want to upset his friend.

"I'm happy for you," Gordon said with a smile.

"Thanks, Gordon," Henry grinned back at him. "But I'm worried about you, maybe you could hang out with us, you know big engines together-"

"No!" Gordon said abruptly. "I'd rather not- I don't want to intrude on you and your family."

"Oh, well that's very considerate of you Gordon," Henry said. "But you're my friend and something's upset you. Was it Green Arrow again?"

Gordon sighed. When Henry was worried, he became a bit of an annoyance. He knew Henry meant well but, he didn't want to upset his friend.

He would think he was just being nasty or rude if he told him about Biggin Hill's insults towards him.

"No Henry, it wasn't Green Arrow. Can you please just drop it?" Gordon said grumpily and Henry looked hurt.

"I'm sorry Gordon, I was just… worried about you," he said. "I thought we were close friends and could share anything?"

"We are Henry just, there are things I just can't-" Gordon said bitterly. "Now can you please stop, I'm uncomfortable."

"Alright, I'm sorry Gordon," Henry admitted quietly. He looked hurt but chose to respect his friend. "I hope whatever it is gets better."

Gordon didn't say anything. He just gave Henry a sad look and a weak smile before he pulled out of the siding and puffed away without so much as an acknowledgement.

Henry stared after him, greatly concerned. He went on his way, pulling his goods trucks until he saw Thomas sitting at a water tank, refilling his boiler.

"Hey Henry," Thomas smiled at him but then saw the worried look on his face. "What's wrong?"

"I'm worried about Gordon," Henry said. "He's not telling me what's bothering him. I think he's avoiding me."

"Well, he's not allowed to talk about his brother," Thomas said Henry sighed.

"I know, but I don't think that's what was worrying him," the big green engine said. "He's going out of his way to avoid me but especially when my sister is around."

"Maybe she upset him somehow?" Thomas suggested.

"Upset him?"

"He's been avoiding your sister at every chance he can get," Thomas said. "I thought it was because he wanted to give you and your family space but when I asked Green Arrow he said that it was because Biggin Hill hates LNER engines."

"Green Arrow is a known liar," Henry huffed.

"That might be true but I saw Hillsy straight-up insult Tornado when she saw her," Thomas admitted. "That and she's been passive-aggressive towards Gordon when you're not around. She insinuates that Gordon is useless and part of a dead class. I tried to stop her but she doesn't listen to little engines."

"But then why…" Henry looked at his buffers. "Why wouldn't Gordon tell me?"

"Considering Gordon's track record of being rude to new engines, he probably didn't want to start a fight," Thomas said. "Or more likely he didn't want you to be upset at your sister when you'd just met."

Henry looked up at Thomas. He seemed thoughtful.

"Green Arrow knows most of the mainland engines doesn't he?"

Thomas looked at him curiously.

"Yes he does, why?"

"How reliable do you think a testimony of someone from him would be?"

Thomas looked thoughtful.

"In the past maybe not but he seems to be trying to change himself," Thomas truthfully. "I want to believe he would tell the truth but I'm not sure "

Henry gave a soft hum.

"I'll see for myself then."

Green Arrow jolted awake as Duck's loud whistle suddenly erupted right next to his smokebox. He gave an undignified shriek and mumbled a large amount of swearing before glaring at Duck who just sat there laughing at him.

"What was that for!?" Arrow snapped, still startled.

"Payback for the other day, at Brendam Docks," Duck laughed. "It's not very like you to be asleep on the job LNER boy."

Green Arrow just huffed at him annoyed.

"I didn't get any sleep last night," he huffed angrily, clearly agitated and grumpy. "That little diesel wouldn't shut up all night!"

"Little diesel?" Duck was puzzled. "You mean Phillip?"

"Yes, the little boxcab," Arrow huffed. "He wouldn't keep quiet and even when he slept he snored!"

Duck was confused.

"Why are you sleeping at Wellsworth? I thought you slept at Ulfstead Castle."

"I did but then," Green Arrow paused. "I saw something I shouldn't have. So I guess they moved me elsewhere."

He remembered seeing the Flying Scotsman's human form, the gold dust and his relapse of some illness. Possibly the cold iron sleep. He didn't know but there had to be some reason that they had kicked him out of the private berths at Ulfstead Castle. There was something more to this, something more going on, he knew it.

"Oh, I see," Duck said. "That's a shame. Is City of Truro still up there?"

"I think so," Arrow said. Duck didn't miss the worried look on his face.

"What's wrong?" He asked the big green engine.

"I don't know," Arrow said with a sigh. "I just, have a bad feeling about something "

"Maybe it's the lack of sleep?"

"Perhaps," Arrow mused but the look of concern did not go away. "But I just, I don't know, something doesn't feel right. This all seems, wrong, something is going on. I don't know what but…"

Arrow stopped and frowned before looking at Duck.

"Ignore me, it's probably nothing," he said looking away from the little Pannier.

"Is City of Truro alright though? Has something happened to him?" Duck sounded panicked and worried.

Green Arrow couldn't answer that.

"We should investigate," Duck urged and Green Arrow raised an eyebrow at him.

"And abandon our work? That's not very Great Western of you," Arrow sneered and Duck glared at him.

"Rich coming from you, Mr 'I poke my nose everywhere it doesn't go'," Duck retorted.

"I am a curious engine," Arrow puffed up proudly. "I've become an intelligent one because of my curiosity."

Green Arrow quickly dropped his pride and looked at Duck seriously.

"But are you serious though? You want to help me find out what's going on at Ulfstead Castle?" Arrow asked excitedly.

He'd never had another engine who shared the same interests in his curiosities before. Usually it was humans who humoured him or were happy to show him stuff.

"If only to make sure that Truro is okay, then yes, I will help you," Duck smiled.

Truth be told, he admired the green V2 engine. He was smart and clever and had the attitude of a Great Western went it came to work. He didn't mind at all to be working with the clever engine even if the Scottish Twins wouldn't approve.

"I'll accept whatever you're willing to do Duck," Green Arrow grinned his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

The both of them looked over and saw Henry approaching them. The big green engine looked pensive but when he saw the two engines looking at him, he gained a confident air about him and steamed towards Green Arrow.

"Hello Henry," Duck greeted him. "Don't usually see you around these parts."

"No, I came to see Green Arrow actually," Henry said not taking his eyes off of the LNER mixed traffic engine.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, Henry?" Green Arrow said with a half-amused smile. "You usually don't even care to greet me."

Henry looked away from the engine guiltily.

"Ah yes well, old habits die hard," He said awkwardly.

"No hard feelings Henry, it was just an observation," Arrow said with a smile. "What can I do for you?"

Henry was surprised at just how friendly Arrow was despite everything that had happened to him when he had been mute. He seemed to take everything in his stride and was keen to move on. He supposed that he could respect that. He felt the same way after his accident with the Flying Kipper, desperate to move on after such a traumatising event.

"Did you know any of the Stainer Black 5's when you were on the mainland?" Henry asked and Arrow raised an eyebrow at him.

"A few, I wasn't friends with any of them but they're all relatively respectful," Arrow answered but then he scowled. "Aside from a few."

"A few?" Henry asked. "What do you mean?"

"The engine visiting Sodor, Biggin Hill? She was known to be particularly nasty towards engines on other railways, especially the LNER. Same with Sovereign," Arrow explained. "Is this about Gordon?" Arrow mused and Henry's eyes widened.

"I'm not sure, Thomas said he saw Hill be passive-aggressive towards Gordon, Gordon's been refusing to talk to me and avoiding me," Henry said sadly. "Whenever I confront him he just shuts down."

"Maybe he doesn't want to start a fight between the three of you, so he's avoiding the conflict until Hill goes back to the mainland," Duck suggested.

"That doesn't sound like Gordon, he usually confronts someone if he feels challenged about his LNER heritage," Henry said but then Duck smiled at Henry.

"I think that's a testament to how much he values your friendship," Duck simply said. "His relationship with you is more important than his heritage which he holds so dearly."

Henry blushed and looked at Duck. "I guess, I guess it does."

He then looked at his buffers sadly.

"I don't want to confront my sister, I just met her but I know I should, Gordon's one of my oldest friends," He said quietly.

"If I may, the Black 5, 5025, is also coming to Sodor in the next couple of days yes?" Green Arrow put in. Henry looked up at him curiously.

"Yes, why?"

"Well, 5025 is a sort of Patriarchal figure to the other Black 5's, if you tell him then he'll deal with Hillsy," Arrow explained. "He's had to deal with her being nasty to other engines before, her behaviour is not new."

Henry looked thoughtful for a moment before looking back at Arrow.

"But I only have other people's words for what she's doing to Gordon, what if they're wrong and Hillsy was only trying to strike up a conversation?" He said concerned.

"Well then, I guess you'd have to catch her in the act to be sure, but aside from that, that's all the advice I can give you Henry," Arrow said.

Henry looked at the V2 after a moment of deep thought and smiled at him.

"Thank-you for your help, I was worried you were going to not even bother to help me," he said with gratitude in his voice.

Green Arrow just smiled.

"Honestly, I'm just trying to do better," he said and Henry gave him a warm smile.

"I understand that feeling all too well," the Big Green Engine said.

Gordon slowly made his way to Ulfstead Castle after his last train that night. It wasn't uncommon for him to do so to check on his brother after a long week.

To his surprise, he found the gates to the castle locked and the draw bridge to the castle up.

"What's going on? Why is the Castle closed?" He demanded angrily. His driver carefully parked him in the station outside the Earl's estate and he and his fireman went in to investigate.

He wanted to see his brother. He didn't want to deal with any more irritating things today. Henry's sister had been particularly nasty to him as he sat on a siding during his break, calling him a galloping sausage and no better than that stupid Hush Hush experiment.

He had been so angry that he'd bumped his coaches to which the Fat Controller had scolded him and threatened to take the express away.

He could use a friend right now.

He waited, the cold night was brisk but there were no clouds in the sky. He sat, content to watch the moon as he waited.

Things had been going so well, his brother had finally gotten the rebuild he so desperately needed. The Island was the busiest it had been in a long time, he'd found a friend in Rebecca and the new Diesel Bear was a sweet and kind engine who looked up to Steam Engines and admired them greatly.

Bear had almost burst a gasket when he'd been told he would be banking Gordon up his hill once. It had been sweet, something that was usually embarrassing for Gordon had turned into a huge ego boost as the diesel had sung his praises.

Gordon sighed to himself and stared down at his buffers sadly.

Now everything was going wrong, everything was strange and unfamiliar.

His brother was now stuck in a body he hated and that hurt him, Henry's sister didn't give him a minute of peace and now it always felt like he was constantly in trouble with his superiors. He didn't even see Tornado or Henry as much anymore because the Island had gotten so busy and the towns and cities were growing.

Maybe he could speak to Truro, he realised.

Truro was his brother's closest confident an of what he knew they were extremely close, partners. They trusted each other and Scotsman had admitted to telling Truro, Gordon's secrets. However, considering Truro's loyal nature there was no risk of his secrets being ever divulged.

If his brother could trust Truro then it meant that he could as well.

Gordon stirred from his thoughts as he heard footsteps crunching on gravel as his crew returned. He looked over and saw Jesse, his fireman and his driver Mitch coming back with a person he recognised as Scotsman's driver, Vincent.

"What's going on?"

"We have a situation," Vincent said looking very tense and pale. "But Scotsman is safe, he's in a place I can't disclose due to security issues. But I can confirm that he's 100% safe."

Gordon was relieved but it wasn't much considering everything else.

"I just want answers," he snapped angrily. "I'm fed up, I've been insulted by that Hill engine all day, my controller threatened to take my express and now I can't see my brother! I'm tired of this charade!"

Vincent looked up at him sympathetically.

"I know, I know Gordon," he said sounding just as frustrated. "I'm just as pissed off as you. But there's a dangerous engine that arrived last night. One that puts a lot of people at risk."

"Then send him back to where he came from!" Gordon snapped angrily. "You humans manage us engines correct?"

"Not this one," Vincent said with a frightened look on his face. "This engine is the one who pulled the strings behind Cain and got it into his head to have him scrap Flying Scotsman and stole Green Arrow's voicebox from him. We don't know who's working for him, so we don't know how far his influence reaches."

Gordon's eyes widened in fear.

"You mean-"

"Mallard is here and if he is then it means he's managed to worm his way into the board of the museum again. Even Stainer or Olivia wouldn't be able to send him back," Vincent said coldly. "The railways on Sodor have been put on high alert and your brother and his engine have been put on tight lockdown. Green Arrow's also been put on a tighter lease to keep him away."

Gordon just stared at Vincent petrified.

"What about City of Truro?" He asked hesitantly. "Isn't he still up at the castle?"

"He's been ordered to stay at the castle as part of the NRM's Sodor Branch opening by the board," Vincent said his teeth gritted. "Mallard's effectively holding him hostage."

Gordon just stared horrified at the man before looking up at the castle his wheels trembling. If his brother knew that Truro was in trouble… Mallard could hold it over his head, he could manipulate him any way he wished. Scotsman was devoted to Truro if he knew… Mallard could just threaten Truro to get anything he wanted from his famous cousin.

Things had just become unbelievably worse.

Fear consumed Gordon's boiler and he felt more helpless than he ever had in his life.

The Flying Scotsman grew agitated as there was no sign of his coaches. He could see that the passengers and his guard were getting annoyed.

"Come on!" He snapped loudly. "I've been lenient with late station pilots, but this is ridiculous! 40 mins are unacceptable!"

"I apologise Flying Scotsman," the Stationmaster said with a slight bow to the famous engine. "Our Station Pilot has been having problems recently."

"Well maybe you should invest in a new one," the Flying Scotsman said and the Stationmaster sighed.

"We've been asking for a new one for ages, however, the railway only saw fit to give us a ghastly prototype rebuild," he answered. "It's been problematic since day one."

The Flying Scotsman huffed. "Regardless, my passengers will not be so forgiving."

There was a sudden blast of a whistle as finally the Flying Scotsman's extra coaches were coupled onto his train.

"You are aware that my train has a reputation to uphold, pilot?" Flying Scotsman scolded the engine. "You are doing your station a disservice! I doubt your controller will be pleased "

The engine did not respond to Scotsman's scolding, infuriating the engine.

"You have held my passengers up for almost an hour!" The Scotsman spat out angrily. "You could at least have the courtesy to respond when spoken to!"

The Stationmaster seemed to agree and crossed his arms.

"Great Northern! The Flying Scotsman has addressed you!" He snarled at the engine. "Apologise for holding up his train and the mainline!"

Outwardly the Scotsman showed no reaction but he was completely shocked at the identity of the station pilot.

His older brother, once the leader of the LNER's bigger engines, was now nothing more than a station pilot?

"I humbly apologise, 4472," came the deep voice of Great Northern. "I am still having teething troubles from my rebuild."

He sounded old, worn and weary. Nothing like the commanding older brother who pushed and pushed him until his wheels felt like falling off. The older brother demeaned him or insulted him every time he cried or was kind to the other smaller engines.

The years of hurt had not gone away and Scotsman felt a terrible streak of revenge glimmer in his smoke box.

"I don't want your excuses," Flying Scotsman snapped angrily. "I just want your apology, station pilot."

It felt good to twist the knife in, the Scotsman thought with a vicious grin. He wouldn't even dignify with addressing Great Northern by name.

"I want to apologise, 4472, for letting you down," Great Northern said quietly. His voice was full of regret and a sense of deep sadness that Flying Scotsman was too angry to acknowledge.

"My number is 60103 and you will refer to me as Flying Scotsman, station pilot," he snapped coldly.

If Great Northern responded, Scotsman did not hear it as the guard blew his whistle and his driver released his excess steam with an enormous wheesh and a loud blaring of his whistle.

Flying Scotsman moved off with powerful strokes of his value gear, leaving the older A1 to stare after him with a look of longing and regret.

On the platform, his future human self stood silently watching.

He remembered feeling vindictive and nasty. It had felt good, after all those years of North constantly pushing him and disrespecting his feelings on matters.

They all faded when he saw Great Northern simply sitting on the line, staring after him and his train as the Stationmaster yelled at him angrily.

His older brother looked distraught and he didn't know if it was because of the stationmaster yelling at him or if he was genuinely sorry for him.

He approached the platform edge, ignoring the memory of the Stationmaster who was still yelling.

He looked at his older brother, seeing him and his rebuild into a Thompson Design.

To say it was rough was putting it lightly.

Great Northern had had his smooth lines ruined, his beautiful Gresley design tarnished and warped by the design of another.

It was why the other Gresleys had rejected him.

It was why he had rejected him.

But it hadn't been Great Northern's fault, he knew that.

But still.

"Out of all my siblings, it had to be you," he snarled.

Scotsman waited for his memory to freeze, for something to happen as it did with Sir Gresley. He went over and even touched the surface of Great Northern, just hoping that his ghost would appear.

Nothing.

Scotsman frowned and glared at the engine.

Where ever he was, Great Northern had a lot to answer for in his eyes.

For updates, to ask questions or discuss the fic, you can find me on tumblr at tornadoyoungiron or on twitter as BakunawaArt.