At Tidmouth Sheds, the engines waited for Sir Topham Hatt to arrive. He did, and climbed on the crate he used to get his voice to carry further. "Good morning!"

"Morning, sir!" Edward responded. "What's on the table today?"

"Something most peculiar, Edward. We're having an inspection."

"How would an inspection be peculiar?" Henry asked.

"I can think of a few ways," James smirked.

"Like using bootlaces to fix a brakepipe in one of your coaches?" Thomas suggested. James seethed while Percy and Rosie snickered.

"No. An American inspector named P. T. Boomer is bringing his own locomotives to test our rails and rolling stock."

"That is odd," Gordon murmured. "We've never had an inspector want to do that before."

"Yes, I admit, I was confused as well. But we must do what he says. And he wants us to put up overhead wires so his two electric engines can ride the rails."

"And you want us to help get the supplies for them?" Thomas concluded.

"Precisely. In three day's time, you will be going to the Peel Godred branchline to pick up some extra supplies and workmen who know how to put up the wires. Edward and Henry have both been there during my father's tenure as controller, so they shall guide you there."

Edward looked at Henry, who was thinking. "It'd be nice to see Lucy again," the green engine said to himself.

"But what about our jobs, sir?" Percy asked.

"Thankfully, we have more than enough engines to take your places. Billy and Timothy will take Thomas and Percy's places, respectively. Toby will not be assisting us because of his limited fuel capacity, unfortunately, but he'll be in charge until we return."

"I know Timothy's responsible, but...Billy?" Percy asked skeptically.

"Billy's changed a lot since he accidentally got you covered in coal," Thomas reminded him. "He's less excitable and pays better attention to instructions."

Hatt continued. "Edward, I found BoCo on the mainland recently, and he will be taking up your jobs while you're gone." Edward beamed at this, knowing his old friend was going to return. "Murdoch will cover for Henry, Molly for James, and Derek for Emily."

"What about Gordon?" James asked.

"Sorry I can't pull dirty trucks, I've got the express," Gordon boasted.

"Actually, your coaches have been talking, and I have been listening, and...Diesel Ten will pull the Nor'wester while you're gone."

"WHAT?!"

"I'm going to do what?!" Diesel Ten said in disbelief, his claw slack from the shock.

"Pull the Wild Nor'wester. Gordon's going to work on a construction project, and you're the only one with a comparable top speed. As a replicant of a class designed for passenger service, you should be fine."

"I haven't done a passenger run in a very long time," Diesel Ten reminded Mr. Renchmoore. "Will I really be alright?"

"You're the most intelligent engine on the railway. Figure it out." And the foreman left.

Diesel Ten growled, but then he noticed Paxton and Sidney shunting in the yard. Diesel was coming in with a train of fuel tankers, and the Iron twins were idling.

Diesel Ten got an idea.

Diesel Ten got a wonderful idea.

Diesel Ten got a wonderful, awful idea.

"I can't believe we're actually doing this," Bert muttered. All the Class 8s, plus Dennis, were coupled together into a train.

"Shove it!" Arry snapped. "We need to help the boss prove that diesels can be just as good as those steamie suck-ups!"

"Why am I here?" Dennis asked from the back, not really caring.

"We needed a brake coach but ran out of my class," Bert replied.

"Okay," Diesel Ten said, backing down on Paxton, who was at the front. "You will be dummy coaches so I have a little practice before Friday. I will pull you from here to Knapford, and don't forget to comment along the way, I need your input so my performance is as good as it can be. There are six of you, one for each coach. Any questions? No? Well then LET'S GO!"

Diesel Ten's engine roared to life, and left the Dieselworks with his very unusual train rattling behind him.

"He's gonna get himself killed," Dart said, shocked.

"Don't be so uncertain. The boss is tough," Den replied.

"Physically, yes. But he's still very mentally fragile. Not to mention short on sleep. Something scared him last night, but he won't tell us what."

"Do you think..." Norman began, "That he's starting to remember something from his past?"

"I don't know, but it'll be a while before we find out."

Henry was making his way down the main line, testing his memory of where Peel Godred split off, when Diesel Ten's train roared past.

"SLOW DOWN!" he heard Diesel shriek.

"You're just not used to high speeds! This is only sixty miles per hour!" Diesel Ten was heard retorting. "Your top speed's only twenty!" And they were gone as fast as they'd come.

"...Huh?" Henry asked himself.

Diesel Ten pulled into a siding next to Knapford Station. He took a quick breath. "Alright! Anyone know my time?"

"'Bout an hour and four," Bert replied.

"So exciting," Dennis mumbled, though his face had more emotion than it normally did.

It was at that moment that Stanley pushed Gordon's coaches into position on another track.

"Hey there, Ten!" Carly, the coach at the front, called to the 42 1/2. "We'll see you in a few days!"

"DON'T remind me," Gordon grumbled.

"Hey, lighten up, big guy," the third coach in the train, Marli, said. "You get to triple-head for the first time in what, fifty years?"

"Well, there is that," Gordon admitted. His guard blew the whistle, and he left.

"Wait," Arry said. "Those coaches look bigger than us."

"They are," Diesel Ten realized. "Oh, bugger, I got confused. You guys are the same size as BRANCHLINE coaches, not express coaches. Dang, I just realized that. And there isn't anyone here close enough to the coaches in terms of size." He sighed.

"What about Daisy?" Diesel asked.

"You know," Diesel Ten said, quickly connecting the dots, "Diesel, you may just be useful for something for once."

"Thanks- wait, what?"

Lady shoved some trucks together. "And that's the last of you guys for the outbound waste train." She sighed. "Whew. I haven't had a day like this in years. Feels good to get work done that I actually like."

"AAAAAAAAAAAH THIS IS BAD FOR MY SWERVES!"

Lady stared, dumbfounded, as Diesel Ten rushed by, Daisy pulled along behind him and not liking the ride one bit.

"MADAM, I WILL ASK YOU THIS ONCE AND ONCE ONLY!" Diesel Ten replied. "WHAT. THE. BLOODY. WHAT. IS. A. SWERVE?!"

"...Okay, that happened," Lady said, although there was a hint of jealousy in her voice.

On the mainland, Samson was grumbling to himself as he pulled a stone train.

"Slow down, Samson! We mustn't be a meter above the speed limit!" Bradford barked from the back.

"Please! Those speed-seeing things can't discern that well." He sighed. "Shown up by that improper diesel indeed! He just got lucky, that's all."

"You abandoned your train and made us late," Bradford replied. "I had to go back to the yard with that back-talking Manning Wardle. Really, orange is NOT a proper color for an engine! Unless it's one of those big west American steamers, and there's only the one of them left!"

They were switched onto a track that went through a forest. "Samson...I think we should turn back," Bradford said, worried.

"Nonsense! We'll be heading back to Sodor in no time."

Suddenly, the air felt heavy, and then they fell asleep.

Another of Boomer's engines came and backed down onto Samson. This one was a steam locomotive, but like the diesel, it was silent, save for the eerie puffs of steam as Samson was dragged off, never to be seen again.

Diesel Ten arrived in the yard and parked himself underneath a fuel station to get his diesel supply replenished. "Hmph, this looks old. I don't know if it's safe to be under this thing. One false move, and I could be covered in oil."

"Uh, how long are you gonna be under that?"

"Oh, hi Lady. Lemme guess, you're an oil-burner?" Lady had parked in front of them.

"These days, what American steamer isn't?"

"I think Baldwin 60000 was reconverted to coal, but I've heard he's now stuck in a museum somewhere on the East Coast. Lucky dog." He looked at Lady, who was trying not to look at him. "Something the matter?"

"No, it's nothing, just...why were you pulling that railcar girl around?"

"Oh, Daisy? I needed practice for the express. She was the closest thing we had to an actual express coach."

"Oh." She paused. "Wait, the express?"

"Yep. Apparently there's some fuss about the Steam Team going to Peel Godred, and I've been asked to pull Gordon's express in the meantime." With his fuel tanks full, he disconnected and backed up to let Lady have her turn.

"I overheard," Lady giggled. "You should've seen his face." Then her expression changed. "Uh, Nick? When was the last time you got a paintjob?"

"It's been a long time," Diesel Ten said. He thought for a moment. "I don't think I've gotten it redone since I came to Sodor, and that was twenty-five years ago."

"Well, you aren't pulling the express if your livery's in that state," Lady said decisively. "Engines have to be presentable for that kind of thing."

"It's not that big a deal."

A piece of paint peeled off his windshield at that very moment and landed on his nose. He sheepishly blew it off.

"You were saying?" Lady asked, eyebrow raised. Stone disconnected the oil feed pipe from her.

"Okay, but I really don't trust the Dieselworks. You haven't seen the inside, have you? Be glad. It's incredibly grimy."

"Then I'll take you to the Steamworks at Crovan's Gate to get you repainted there," Lady offered. "I need one of my pistons realigned anyway, so I might as well." She buffered up to him. The chain on the diesel's buffer came off and landed around the hook on hers, coupling them together. "Oh, sorry, it's just–"

"If you're so strong," Diesel Ten said, a cocky smirk on his face, "then prove it and push me there."

Lady grinned. "Challenge accepted."

As they passed through the countryside, Lady effortlessly pushing him along to the awe of every other engine nearby, Diesel Ten remembered something.

Light. Bright light.

His eyes were opening for the first time.

He saw a woman standing in front of him. She placed a hand on his buffer. "Hello," she said. His mind made a note to speak that way forever. "I'm your creator, Millicent Mitton. I designed you and had you built."

"What am I?" the young engine asked.

"An engine," Mitton replied. She placed a mirror in front of him. "This is what you look like."

He was a solid dull green at the time. His face was devoid of wrinkles, and had a newly-born air to it. Then he noticed an unpainted thing attached to his back, and resting gently above his cab. "What is that?"

"That's your hydraulic claw. The people who wanted me to build you said they wanted some extra help with clearing the lines. You are to use it only to help, never to hurt. Understand?"

"I promise," the young diesel said.

"You are an experimental prototype for the ultimate diesel locomotive," Mitton went on. "Tougher, stronger, faster, and more fuel efficient than your predecessors. You are the first of the EMD 42 1/2 'Battleship' class."

"He's impressive," a workman said. "But what are you going to name him?"

"I already know," Mitton replied. Turning to the young diesel, she said, "I want the world to know of your power. Your potential.

"I shall name you Dominic. Nick for short."

"I like it," Dominic said.

"And we're here," Lady said, stopping outside.

"Hello, my friends," Victor said, pulling up next to them. "Ah, Lady. Ready for your piston to be fixed?"

"Yep."

Victor eyed Diesel Ten warily. "He's not trying to take over the Steamworks again, is he?"

"What?"

"Long story," Diesel Ten said quickly.

"No, he's here to be repainted. Gordon's going away and Diesel Ten's taking the express during that time. I want his paintwork redone completely."

"Ah," Victor said. "I'll finally get to use up that bronze paint. Come in, please. But nothing shady."

"I promise, I feel no desire to do that," Diesel Ten assured him. "That was one time, and only to make a statement that the Dieselworks was in bad shape. Oh, and to chew out Thomas for driving me off a broken bridge."

"Huh," Lady said as she and Ten were uncoupled. "I thought nothing happened here. But it seems I've missed a lot."

"We'll fill you in on everything," Victor said. Crash! "Kevin! What did you drop this time?"

"Just some steel pipes, boss!" Kevin, Victor's assistant, called from somewhere.

Victor sighed. "You two'd better get started on your renovations."

"Alright," Ten said.

But as he and Lady parted, he got a slightly forlorn look, something that the older narrow gauge engine noticed.

It really is high time Diesel Ten got a repaint. He looks poor.

Will Diesel Ten get other ideas? Will other engines recognize that the "heartless monster" is falling for someone? And will we see Diesel Ten go to his old railway?

All this and more in the next chapter – Final Preparations!