Ms Olivia was furious when the specialists from Crewe had finished their thorough examination of The Flying Scotsman.
"The best way to describe it would be Heavy Metal Poisoning," the Chief Engineer, Markus explained. "Scotsman's rebuild was made up of metals that weren't purified and contaminated with soilants that affected his performance and health. The joints and welds in some places are poorly done. They cut a lot of corners with this rebuild, it's one of the worst I've seen. The only good parts in the system were the new repairs and they seemed to have aggravated the old sloppy ones."
"It is literally poisoning his entire system," Ms Olivia mused quietly. She kept her anger hidden but she desperately wanted to scream at someone.
Such a famous engine, treated like some cheap kit car or an amateur engineers' learning build.
It was disgraceful.
She glanced at the Flying Scotsman who sat quietly in the private berth of the Sodor Steamworks.
He was awake but he seemed very overwhelmed and exhausted. His face was a very sickly green and he was clearly very ill and in pain.
"Would you be able to rebuild him into his proper form and cure his illness?" She asked and Markus nodded.
"Definitely, however it may take a long time," he said. "It will take a huge team and I'm afraid millions of dollars."
Ms Olivia gave a sharp intake of breath. As did Jeremy.
Vincent looked on the verge of tears and Oscar looked ready to hurt someone or something.
It was money the museum did not have thanks to Cain and his cohorts.
The Scotsman himself had no reaction. He had seen this coming. Jeremy and his crew had complained about his poor rebuild for years and they had slowly tried to undo it by giving him newer higher quality parts.
It was like putting a small bandaid on an enormous flesh wound.
Olivia approached the Flying Scotsman who seemed to have a look of quiet acceptance. He was used to bad things befalling him it seemed.
"We'll get you that rebuild," she said with a gentle touch to his buffer.
The Scotsman only gazed at her contemplatively before shutting his eyes and resting. He didn't seem to want to dwell on his current situation and Olivia couldn't blame him.
"He'll still need to be maintained, even if he can't build up steam or be rebuilt," Markus said gazing up at the sick engine. "He is still intact and needs to be kept from deteriorating so the Rebuild will be easier on him and the crews when it comes time."
"He is welcome to stay on Sodor while you try to find a way to have him rebuilt," Victor said with a sad smile. "His brother is here and Sir Topham and the Earl have a deep affection for steam engines. We'll care for him as best we can."
Olivia gave a sad nod to the small engine but she looked distraught. She didn't like the thought of leaving Scotsman alone in a shed while he suffered from his illness for who knew how long.
"I just want to lay this out, loud and clear," she declared quietly but there was rage in her tone. "He will not be preserved. He will be rebuilt and he will be restored back to his former glory, no matter how long it takes."
The Flying Scotsman opened his eyes and gazed at the New Director. He could see that she was genuine and held true sympathy for him and his plight.
"Thank-you Lady Olivia," he said quietly and she smiled at him.
"My job is to protect you and I will," she declared with a kind smile. "You are my ward and hopefully one day, when you're rebuilt, you'll allow me to drive you?"
The Flying Scotsman smiled at her.
"Of course. I promise you that."
"Hello Big Young Green," Stephen greeted the Scotsman as he was returned to the private Ulfstead Castle sheds by Donald and Douglas.
The Flying Scotsman gave him a weary smile.
"Hello Stephen. Thank-you Donald and Douglas," he smiled at the two Scottish twins.
The two boisterous brothers had kept his spirits high on their little journey with their teasing and games. They had clearly taken a liking to the false Scotsman and wanted to cheer the ill engine up.
They gave a cheery good-bye to the express engine before thundering away together arguing who the Scotsman liked more.
Scotsman rolled his eyes knowing that he told them he liked them equally but knew it hadn't stopped them for long.
"Someone's come to see you Young Green," Stephen said happily with a cheeky smile. "He's blue!"
"Gordon?" Flying Scotsman guessed.
"No."
"Oh."
"It's me you big green dumbass," a deep pompous voice to his right chortled and the Flying Scotsman broke into a wide grin.
"Bittern," he grinned at him. "I missed you and your stupid face."
"Not as stupid looking as yours," Bittern shot back. "What were you thinking? Hiding in a cave for a year? What's wrong with you?"
The Flying Scotsman gave a deep sigh.
"Everything is wrong with me," he ground out exhausted.
"Oh I wouldn't say that, Cain's stupidity gave you a few valid excuses," Bittern said. "What's wrong with you now though, you look like shit."
"I need a rebuild," the Flying Scotsman admitted weakly.
"What, another one?"
"My last one was, cheap and it compromised me, I can barely build up steam anymore," Scotsman said wearily. "But, the Museum can't afford one right now so…"
The Scotsman paused.
"I've been sidelined until I can be rebuilt."
Silence hung over the two engines for a long moment.
"So no more racing?" Bittern broke the awkward silence to which the Scotsman burst out laughing.
"No more racing bluebird," Scotsman chuckled.
"I'll race you still," Stephen put in and the three engines laughed.
They were interrupted however when Vincent opened the doors to the private sheds.
"Sorry to interrupt but there's an engine here to see Scotsman," he said and Scotsman raised an eyebrow.
"My aren't I popular today?" He said and Bittern rolled his eyes.
"Hello Brother," Gordon said as he backed in beside Scotsman.
The Scotsman felt his anxiety increase dramatically. He hadn't been looking forward to confronting his brother as he knew that Gordon had been furious with him and avoided him because he hadn't wanted to confront him while he was recovering.
Seemed like that wasn't happening anytime soon what with his condition not likely to improve.
"Hello Gordon," Scotsman said quietly.
"Is this the brother I keep hearing so much about?" Bittern asked cheerfully with a smile at the Sudrian No⁴.
"Yes, this is Gordon," Scotsman introduced him. "Gordon this is Bittern. He's my best friend."
"Oh I wouldn't say best friend," Bittern said snidely and Scotsman frowned.
"The Duchess of Hamilton is not your best friend," Scotsman chided him. "Just because you did her a favour once."
"She still talks to me," Bittern said with a proud puff. Scotsman just rolled his eyes. "And you don't do favours for me."
"I never had the time to! Not with that ba-" Scotsman cut him off before he started shouting. "Sorry I'm just-"
Bittern looked at him apologetically.
"Sorry. Touched a nerve there," he said and Scotsman gave a sigh.
"It's- it's okay," he said quietly. He looked at the Blue A4 and the little yellow rocket with tired eyes. "Could you give me and my brother some privacy please? I think we need to catch up on a few things."
Bittern and Stephen glanced at each other before moving out with a farewell to the two Pacific's.
Bittern could have felt the uncomfortable reunion of the two brothers from the mainland.
The little rocket didn't say anything either knowing that whatever was going down between the two brothers was incredibly personal.
Speaking of personal and uncomfortable, Bittern found himself staring at the Young Iron, Tornado, who was sitting just outside the private berths of the castle.
She had instantly started glaring at him the moment he had emerged.
"Hello Young Iron," Stephen said cheerfully ignoring the tension between the two big engines.
"Hi Little Rocket!" Tornado greeted him back with a kind smile. Stephen chuckled at her.
"Must not keep the Earl waiting Ms Tornado," he said before chuffing off.
'Big engines and their big egos,' he grumbled to himself as he left.
Bittern stared at Tornado who only gifted him with an angry scowl.
He'd been nothing but rude to her in the past and had always ignored her when she tried talking to him.
It had pissed off Flying Scotsman to no end, demanding that even if he didn't like her he could at least be courteous and civil.
Bittern had refused, not wanting to look a fool in front of the other engines for talking to the 'Usurper'.
Things were different now however, Flying Scotsman's disappearance had left a void and now that he was ill and no longer able to run, it was clear that Tornado would be taking over his position. Especially now Sir Nigel had vouched for her.
The other engines could no longer ignore the Young Iron, especially now that her Trust was close to completing her build brother, the Prince of Wales.
Her and her siblings would rise in the ranks and there was nothing they could do to stop them.
"Greetings, Young Iron," Bittern offered and Tornado looked annoyed.
"And suddenly all the 'real' engines want to talk to me," Tornado snapped angrily. "You've never talked to me before, now you're suddenly all wanting to be my friend! All because Sir Nigel threw me a bone huh?"
Bittern was surprised. Union had been right, the once meek and shy Tornado was now a snappy and feisty firecracker in the absence of her guardian Scotsman.
Sir Nigel's vouchment of her had probably also helped.
"I… you're right, Sir Nigel's vouchment for you has led to most of the big engines now respecting you but my own treatment of you put a rift between me and my friend Scott," Bittern admitted. "I fear I may have tarnished any positive relationship with you with my coldness towards you. But, I would like to make amends, not for any personal gain but for Scott. He's made it clear that he cares for you dearly. And despite our differences, I do care deeply for Flying Scotsman."
Tornado was surprised.
Most of the other engines weren't so forth coming and they didn't even try to hide the fact that their words were nothing more than hollow or forced.
Bittern and Flying Scotsman were very close friends from what she'd seen of their interactions.
Even if Bittern still didn't like her, he was at the very least doing it for his friend however late it had come.
There was some respect in that.
"Alright," she hesitantly said. "For Scott."
"I also want to apologise for my behaviour," he said quietly. "I was cold to you and immature. It wasn't dignified of me and it was because I was worried about my standing. Scott gave me more than an earful about it many times."
"Scotsman has a soft heart," Tornado said quietly. "And he saw me being built. Maybe you big engines could try and be nice for a change. Instead of being constantly obsessed with who or what is better."
Bittern hummed softly.
"Scott never cared about what other people thought of him, unlike Mallard," he commented and Tornado rolled his eyes. "He's only famous for his record and he thinks that instantly makes him better than everyone. But that record's been beaten many times over by other engines."
"Before I met Flying Scotsman I thought he would be like Mallard," Tornado admitted. "But he's a selfish prick and Scotsman was sweet if a little show offy.."
"Thank Gresley he's not like Mallard," Bittern exhaled with relief. "No one likes Mallard. Thinks he's all that but all he ever does is bitch and moan about everything."
Tornado smiled at Bittern.
He could see why he and Scotsman were friends.
Bittern didn't seem to hold back his thoughts and was blunt and was outspoken. Something which she noticed Scotsman valued in his friends.
"You know at first I thought you were Mallard," Tornado said as she eyed the berth he came out of. "I'm not making that mistake again."
"Oh I heard," Bittern teased. "Sir Nigel told me all about how he met you."
Tornado turned bright red and Bittern laughed at her.
"In time you'll laugh at it," He said warmly. "Just like when you met Scott for the first time and called him an over-hyped Green Galloping Sausage."
Tornado turned even redder.
"He told you about that?!" She squeaked embarrassed.
"Of course he did, it was hilarious! It's my favourite thing to call him to rile him up, it's great," Bittern laughed happily.
Bittern gazed at Tornado as she turned even brighter red.
"Oh don't be embarrassed, Young Iron," Bittern assured her. "It's one of the reasons Scott likes you, you're a sassy girl just like he is."
Tornado couldn't help but be bemused at that.
