Gordon found it harder to resist the urge to go to Ulfstead Mines where his brother was as the days went on.
He wanted to comfort and be with him, who knew what months and months of being alone with his nightmares had done to him.
Maybe they'd pushed him over the edge and he'd gone insane. So insane that he couldn't be useful anymore. So insane that they'd have to-
He cut the thought off before he could finish it.
His brother was fine.
His brother was a stubborn and indomitable engine.
The Flying Scotsman was irreplaceable. No other engine had his history, his unique place in British Railways.
"Gordon?" He jumped startled and looked to see the Fat Controller standing on the Platform of Knapford Station staring up at him.
"Oh! I- Yes sir?"
"You've been taken off as a replacement for Flying Scotsman," he said. "Pendennis Castle will be taking over from now on."
"Oh," Gordon said. "I see."
"You'll be back to pulling the Wild Nor' Wester again," Sir Topham said.
Gordon didn't say anything, he only looked down at the tracks.
"Is something wrong Gordon?"
"I just want my brother back sir," he said with a defeated tone. "I miss him."
Sir Topham looked at Gordon with a sad and sympathetic gaze. It had been almost a year now and the Fat Controller hadn't missed the fact that Gordon had become subdued, quieter and less boisterous as the months wore on that his brother was missing.
"I know Gordon, I know," The Fat Controller said quietly. "We're doing our best but it's a struggle to get information these days."
The Fat Controller paused.
"Maybe in the near future we could have Tornado to visit and cheer you up, I know that she's having a hard time too," he offered but Gordon didn't take it.
"The mainland is struggling to find engines to run their services sir. There aren't enough steam engines big enough and the diesels are struggling with the increasing workload." he interjected. "I appreciate the offer but logically I don't see it happening. Tornado's one of their current flagship express engines."
"I see being on the mainland for so long has made you attuned to the inner workings of the railways," The Fat Controller smiled at him.
Gordon gave a great sigh.
"It's all they ever talk about on the mainland sir," he grumbled. "I'll be glad to go back to Sodor, I don't know how my brother deals with it!"
The Fat Controller gave a soft chuckle.
"Your brother's been working a long time on the mainland, I suspect he's used to it."
Gordon gave a soft hum as he realised the Fat Controller was correct.
"We'll find your brother Gordon," he reassured his big express engine with a warm smile. He gave him a comforting smile before turning heel and leaving the platform.
Gordon watched him leave apprehensively.
He knew where his brother was. He knew that he was so close to him and yet in a lot of danger from Spencer.
The other engines had been working well at distracting or keeping Spencer occupied however he knew it was only a matter of time before the charade cracked and someone accidentally let slip where the Flying Scotsman was.
Gordon slowly made his way back to the sheds. Once there he was met with a surprise. As his fireman and driver were leaving they were approached by Vincent who had journeyed to the sheds with Henry and his crew.
"Hello Gordon, I don't think I properly met you, I'm Vincent, Flying Scotsman's driver," He introduced himself to the engine.
"Is my brother okay?" Gordon asked desperately. "Have you seen him?!"
"Easy," Vincent said gently rubbing Gordon's buffer comfortingly. "I went to see him last weekend we needed to check after there were reports of a cave in at the mine, his physical condition is fine however he hasn't woken up still."
This made Gordon extremely worried.
Was Flying Scotsman in another coma?
What if he never woke up?
Was he… gone?
"Pendennis Castle is looking after Tornado, she seems to find a friend in him which is good," Vincent cut through Gordon's thoughts. "Castle's keeping an eye out for the Director but I doubt he'd be stupid enough to piss off the A1 trust and Didcot Railway."
Gordon only half heard Vincent.
He knew that some Engines fell into a death like sleep after being abandoned for a long time. It was a sleep that was often fatal and often resulted in the warm living soul of the engine leaving it and never returning.
It had been a month and a half since Percy and Stephen had found Scott.
He hadn't woken up since.
"Will he wake up?" Gordon asked Vincent frightened.
Vincent had been talking but Gordon hadn't heard.
The man hesitated, unsure what to say.
"He… his boiler is still warm," Vincent said. "It's strange, we've asked around but… no one's ever seen anything like this."
"You mean, there's a chance it's not the deadly Cold Iron Sleep?" Gordon asked hopefully and Vincent gazed at him.
"Yes," he sounded like he was trying to convince himself. "I really hope it's not."
A guilty look came over Vincent's face. He didn't want to be the one to have driven the Flying Scotsman to his death. He really didn't want to be responsible for that.
"I never wanted to endanger your brother," Vincent said sadly. "But the Director had been threatening to pull funding for his repairs and selling him for scrap for years now. We had to do something."
"I understand," Gordon said quietly. "Was he in on the plan you made?"
"Yes, we've been planning this for years now, ever since the Director started getting worse," Vincent gave a stern impression. "That man never had any respect for engines, steam or diesel. He only got the job because of his father and he's been running it into the ground ever since. All that niceness was a facade, repainting Scotsman was a plan for him to sell him off for scrap at a higher price.
Gordon was horrified. The Director had wanted to restore Scotsman to sell at a higher price as scrap. He was repulsed and utterly disgusted.
He'd heard the rumblings before now of how poorly things were being handled. It was clear now however from his time on the mainland that the railways were suffering now more than ever.
"He was only ever in it for the money," Gordon's fireman, Jesse, cut in. "Upper class twit that Cain is."
"His father was good though, adored all kinds of engines," Vincent said with a smile.
He looked back up at Gordon who was watching them mournfully.
"We're close Gordon, but I needed to warn you, Cain's back on Sodor," Vincent said nervously. "He can't know. I know the engine's have be distracting the Mainland engines well but we need to be extra vigilant."
Gordon felt fear run through his boiler.
"He's here?" Gordon stammered shocked.
"I need you to warn the other engines, I'll do everything I can but we can't slip, not now."
"I'll do everything I can," Vincent promised. "But please don't go near your brother, I know it's hard but-"
"I understand," Gordon said sadly. He wanted more than anything to go to his brother and protect him but the risk was too great.
Gordon resigned himself to waiting for the best but expecting the worse.
Spencer panicked when he saw The Director on Green Arrow. He had been hiding on a siding when Spencer had pulled in and had been startled and alarmed by Spencer's arrival.
The little green sneak had used the Sudrian Engines' paranoia of him to infiltrate the Island under the cover of darkness and had rudely confronted Spencer at Maron in a siding.
He'd even managed to direct more suspicion onto Spencer by asking questions of Thomas at Vicarstown.
Oh how he did hate that manipulative green engine.
"Hello Silver Link," Cain greeted the famous engine.
"What are you doing here?" Spencer thundered angrily. "And it's Spencer now."
Oh how Spencer did hate it when people used his old name to mock him. He was proud of it yes but people took liberties when it came to it.
Such as Flying Scotsman now calling him 'Link of the Lagoon'. He scowled at the green engine in front of him.
Arrow seemed to cower under his gaze but the Former Director did no such thing.
"I'm looking for a certain trouble making engine," He said with a devious smile. "Haven't seen him around have you? Word is he's here and you've found him."
Spencer frowned deeper at the former director.
There was no love between Spencer and Flying Scotsman, that was obvious. But the Director was a known thief and his plans to find, scrap and sell Scotsman's parts to souvenir hunters and escape overseas were something that Spencer had issues with despite his attitude to scrapping.
Spencer did not want that to happen.
It was most undignified for any engine and not only that, it looked as if he was trying to get the blame pinned on Spencer.
"Why would I say anything to a criminal like you?" Spencer snarled at him.
Cain looked indignant.
"And here was me thinking you reviled the Flying Scotsman," he snapped angrily.
"I do," Spencer said. "He's an obnoxious and reckless engine and I can't stand him. But he still has my respect for his achievements."
He saw Cain's face twist into one of fury.
"Ridiculous," he spat angrily and disappeared inside Green Arrow's cab.
Spencer looked down at Arrow with resentment.
"You're a filthy scummy peasant for going along with his plans, you know that?" He told Arrow who glared at him.
"Flying Scotsman is a menace, you more than anyone should know that," Green Arrow spat back. "And you're one to talk, trying to get engines scrapped here and there."
Spencer gave a hiss of excess steam in anger.
"The consequences will be severe if Flying Scotsman's scrapping was found to be caused by you," Spencer said sternly. "Did you ever think there was a reason for that? Why the Director put on a facade for so long?"
Green Arrow said nothing, only glared at Spencer.
"It would have been hard to hide the Flying Scotsman without help from those in power don't you think?" Spencer pointed out. "A world famous engine that people break the law to even get a glimpse of. Did you really think that two people could have pulled that off without someone noticing?"
Green Arrow suddenly began to look worried realising what Spencer was implying. He pulled a face before steaming off in a huff.
Spencer watched him go with a furious ire. He frowned before reversing down the track and making his way to Knapford.
"Green Arrow slipped through your fingers while you were all out antagonising me," Spencer boomed to Gordon, Henry and Thomas.
He had found the three engines at the station all on a break between shifts at the station.
They eyed him suspiciously.
"Green Arrow?" Thomas asked. "I met him once and pulled a train with him on the mainland. He seemed nice."
"He's a cowardly little sneak who likes to spread rumours about people and gossip," Gordon sniffed. "Most of the Mainland engines dislike him."
"He's a bit of a doormat," Spencer added. "Probably why the Director chose him to be his snivelling little servant."
"What?!" Gordon thundered angrily.
"I just saw him, he was boasting about selling Flying Scotsman's parts," Spencer said looking at Gordon. "He tried to confront me to give up the Scotsman's location but unfortunately for him, I don't know where he is."
"Scotsman's in danger!" Thomas cried out and Gordon looked ready to destroy anything in his way. Possibly Spencer seeing as the Silver engine was in front of him.
"Where was he?" Gordon said with a cold deadly calm. "Let me deal with the little green menace."
"He was at Maron hiding in a siding when he confronted me," Spencer said. "By the way, word is that the Earl was in on the plan. I heard the Duke and Duchess discussing it. The Earl may have laid a trap to catch the former director."
Gordon frowned, he wouldn't put it past the Earl to do something like this. He was eccentric and had a knack for catching thieves who were after his treasures. It had taken years but nothing slipped by the Sir Robert these days.
If Scotsman's crew had gone to him then… suddenly a lot of things were making sense. Sir Robert had often voiced displeasure at Cain's treatment of engines.
But at what cost to the Flying Scotsman?
It was a risk that Gordon did not like.
"We need to move fast," Gordon declared. "Thomas, can you alert Sir Robert?"
"I'll be there as quick as I can," Thomas beamed. "Anything for our flying friend."
Gordon looked to Henry.
"Henry can you take the express for me? James can take your goods trains to Arlesdale," He asked.
"That I can Gordon," Henry said with a smile. "Go save your brother."
Gordon smiled gratefully at the Green Black 5 before storming off with Spencer at his tender.
"Where is everyone going?!" The Fat Controller cried out as he saw the engines steam off in a major hurry. "Thomas! Gordon! Henry what is going on!"
"It's a rescue mission sir," Henry explained as he switched tracks.
"A Rescue mission?! But-"
"It's Gordon's brother sir, there's someone after him trying to scrap him and he's here now," Henry said his voice with worry. "The Earl may have a plan to foil the Director from scrapping Flying Scotsman."
The Fat Controller stared at Henry extremely confused.
"What?"
Flying Scotsman felt a sensation on his running board. It felt like some sitting on him, leaning against his boiler.
It felt warm and pleasant and so he did not mind.
People liked having their photo taken with him and on rare occasions he would let them stand on him if it was safe and if he wasn't on a express run.
As much of an express engines as he was, he didn't mind going slow up the branchlines and visiting sweet little towns on rail tours.
They were a nice break, a change of pace from running back and forth between stations all day.
He was vaguely aware that he was dreaming.
Rather than wandering the countryside taking rail enthusiasts around he knew that he was trapped on a turntable in a forsaken mine under a mountain.
The second the thought appeared however a warm touch on his buffer distracted him and he felt this dreamlike state consume him more.
Sometimes he would hear Pegler's voice, calming him, speaking to him kindly.
He was convinced that this was his mind, protecting itself from the trauma and anxiety. That he'd finally cracked and restroted to living in this dreamlike state of his old happy memories.
A part of him wanted to believe that Pegler was still with him and this was his way of protecting his precious engine.
He refused to admit it but he had been feeling strange and different since the Farewell Tour of the Great Man.
He didn't believe in ghosts. They were things that were made up and used to scare silly little tank engines into behaving themselves.
He couldn't remember how much time had passed, but his memories were getting jumbled and his perception of time was starting to distort and get confused.
But at least the nightmares hadn't come back.
His happy memories were suddenly interrupted by an enormous bang as a shock suddenly ripped through his body making him aware that someone was in his presence and had shunted him so hard that his rear tender had just slammed into some buffers.
He hadn't felt himself derail but he could feel pain radiating throughout his body.
He heard muffled voices and people around him.
He felt a stab of fear as he recognised one of the voices.
It was the Director.
He'd found him, he realised with horror.
He tried to wake up. He tried to move but he found that he couldn't. His entire frame was paralysed.
He couldn't even frown or open his eyes, he was completely and utterly helpless.
Fear and panic hit him like a tsunami and he desperately tried to get out of this trance, this state of complete helplessness.
He wanted to scream and cry, to do something, anything.
'Please, please, please help me,' he found himself begging anyone and being. 'Great Gresley he's going to kill me. He's going to kill me!'
He felt something stir in his firebox as an explosion of pain suddenly came from his cab.
Someone was in his cab with a cutter, haphazardly hacking through his dials and instruments, pulling them off of him.
This didn't feel like his nightmares.
This was real.
He was awake now, frozen and paralysed as someone ripped him apart. He felt another engine in front of him and his entire being felt stiff and painful.
He felt tears burn down his face as someone near him screamed to stop.
He wanted to scream in pain.
But he couldn't.
'Mr Pegler please… please help me, you promised me,' he found himself begging.
He felt the temperature in his firebox rise dramatically as a blinding white light and a fierce heat suddenly rose in his boiler before he heard a loud piercing scream of fear.
He felt something, saw the vague shape of a figure on his running board rise and he suddenly felt his pistons pump as if there was steam in them.
He began to panic, completely confused.
He had no idea what was going on but he was moving. His driving wheels were moving without fire in his firebox and no steam.
'What's going on?' His thoughts and mind raced.
He heard yelling and the sound of more engines and people around him. People struggled in his cab as they tried to stop his unnatural movement.
'Leave it me old boy.' He heard a voice right by his smokebox and he felt a warm calm envelope him.
'WAIT SIR DON'T.' He cried out but he felt his consciousness slip and he fell into darkness with a terrified scream.
