Hurricane Takes Charge
Frankie and Hurricane were making their way back from Bridlington Goods Yard.
"Nearly...there, Frankie," Hurricane panted, as their wheels pounded the rails.
Frankie smiled.
"It's always nice to have a good run to Bridlington to ease our axles after working in the SteelWorks for all hours. Isn't it, Hurricane?"
"Much obliged," the tank engine replied, as they approached their destination up ahead.
The two friends made their way through the gates, and stopped to look at the industry standing before them.
"Phew!" sighed Hurricane. "Home at last!"
"Come on, Hurricane," Frankie suggested, making her way towards the entrance with Hurricane in pursuit. "Let's check in and see how our recruits are doing."
They made their way slowly inside the SteelWorks to see that work was progressing rather well, as the workmen were busy all around.
"Nothing like it! Eh, Frankie?" Hurricane remarked.
Just then, a quick figure whooshed past them and rang it's bell loudly.
"Helloooo there!"
"Huh?" Hurricane thought.
Frankie rolled her eyes and sighed.
"It's just that Cab-Forward engine, Lexi. Trying out another one of her silly voices."
"Oh," Hurricane realized, slightly chuckling.
The two of them rolled as Lexi rolled up alongside and stopped.
"Welcome back!" she greeted. "How did it work this time? Was I convincing enough?"
Hurricane beamed at her as he and Frankie moved onward through the SteelWorks.
Theo the Traction Engine was hard at work, attempting to pull slag from one of the ladle slag.
Theo panted and groaned as he struggled to pull the ladle slag back, his wheels gripping and rolling, as Frankie and Hurricane came into sight.
"Look sharp, traction engine!" Frankie remarked as they passed him. "Hurricane and I expect have an important order of steel needed to go to Bridlington later this evening, so we expect it to be ready." She sang out the last word, as Hurricane looked over at Theo and smiled.
"Keep it up, Theo!" he encouraged, as he and Frankie made their way out the other side of the SteelWorks. Then he looked over at Frankie and beamed. "Not to worry, Frankie. Surely these engines are capable of having the delivery ready for later tonight."
"Invisibility...ON!"
The two engines were startled by a cloud of white steam dispersing, as a line of trucks stopped beside them. Out of the smoke from behind the trucks appeared Merlin, who opened one eye to look at them.
"Oh," he wondered. "Could you...see me?"
"Yes, Merlin," Frankie sighed. "We did." Then she said calmly, "please, get back to work."
Merlin sighed.
"I'm sure it'll work someday," he assured himself, as he pushed the trucks further on inside the SteelWorks.
Frankie sighed with exasperation. Hurricane looked over at her.
"Everything alright, Frankie?" he asked.
"I have to hand it to you, Hurricane," Frankie admitted. "Ever since those three arrived, they've been hard to keep under control."
"Yeah, I guess they are a bit of work," Hurricane added. "You can't deny though, they are quite fun to be around."
Just then, the foremen walked up.
"Ah! Frankie, Hurricane, you're both back splendid." He had his pen and clipboard in hand. "I, eh, just got a call from Brendam Docks over on Sodor, and it seems as if help is needed for an important job there." The two engines looked at him, slightly confused. "I told them we could spare you, Frankie, for the job."
"M-m-me, sir?" Frankie admitted. "Go to Sodor?"
"Yes, Frankie. Do you think you can do it?"
"Eh, well, I suppose…"
"Great!" the stationmaster exclaimed. "Then I'll make the arrangements straight away."
And with that, he walked away.
Hurricane could see that Frankie looked nervous.
"Don't worry, Frankie," he assured her. "I'm sure Sodor is a fine place and maybe you'll get to see our old friend Thomas again."
"It's not that, Hurricane," Frankie admitted. "I always love a good journey to have a break from the SteelWorks after all hours. It's just that…" She thought hard. "...how will you...get on with the SteelWorks when I'm gone? It's like we agreed, the experimental engines are hard to keep under control…"
Hurricane chuckled, as he cut her off.
"Oh, don't worry about a thing, Frankie. I'm sure the lads and I will manage just fine."
"B-b-but…" Frankie stammered.
"I'll keep them well looked after. No problemo."
And he whistled as he set off to fetch some trucks, Frankie sighing as she watched after him with concern.
A little while later, Hurricane watched as Frankie set off on her journey.
"Bye, Frankie!" he called. "Good luck!"
"Thanks, Hurricane!" Frankie called back, as she made her way through the gates, which proceeded to close behind her.
Hurricane was taken aback by the loud sound of the gates closing.
"Phew!" he sighed, as he advanced slowly back into the SteelWorks.
All on his own, without Frankie there by his side, Hurricane watched as work around the SteelWorks was progressing well. Theo was still was still making an attempt to pull slag out from the ladle…
Theo pulled hard, grunting and groaning as he did so, and at last, the men managed to help him by pushing and pulling the ladle back, leaving the slag to pour steadily down over the ground.
"Phew," he panted, and backed up. "Now onto the next."
...and Lexi and Merlin were busy shunting trucks about.
Lexi hummed the melody to The Hottest Place In Town as she shunted trucks about, and Merlin just pushed his trucks steadily along, as Theo made his way to the next ladle slag.
Hurricane prepared himself, so as to gather the engines together for a meeting.
Hurricane took a deep breath and cleared his throat before muttering "alright, here goes." Then he called out loud, "eh, may I have everyone's attention please?"
Work all around suddenly came to a pause. Theo and the men all stopped to look at him. Lexi backed down from her trucks in confusion, and Merlin looked over in surprise.
"Um…I'd like to gather all the engines around here for a meeting." Then he whistled. "Come along now. Hurry, hurry."
In no time at all, Theo, Lexi and Merlin were all waiting around the entrance leading the other side around the SteelWorks, as Hurricane made his way around.
"What do you think is going on?" Lexi asked curiously.
"Shh!" Theo shushed. "I'm sure Frankie and Hurricane will tell us in a minute."
The three were rather surprised, however, to hear Hurricane clear his throat aloud as he backed down onto Merlin's line and moved slowly forward before stopping and looking all across at them.
"Ah," he wondered, slightly surprised yet speechless. "You're, eh, all here. Marvelous. Now…"
"Eh, 'scuse me," Lexi interrupted, then chuckled nervously. "Sorry. Uh, question."
Hurricane sighed heavily.
"Yes…, Lexi?" He forced a slight smile as he looked over at her.
"Eh…, where's Frankie?"
Hurricane sighed.
"Frankie has an important job to attend to on Sodor, and she has left me in charge till she gets back." Theo and Lexi looked at each other, rather confused, as Hurricane continued talking. "Anyway, the point I was getting at is that there's an important order of steel that needs to go out to Bridlington later this evening, so I need all three of you to work the fastest you can. If we get this job done on time, who knows? Maybe the engine who works the hardest will get to accompany me to Bridlington Goods Yard…"
"Bridlington Goods Yard?!" Lexi bursted out excitedly. "Oh, boyo. How great it'd be to go there!"
"Yes," sighed Hurricane. "It would be considering Frankie and I make deliveries there all the time…"
"Eh, excuse me, Mr. Hurricane?" Theo interrupted.
Hurricane sighed, slightly exasperated, as he looked over at the traction engine.
"Yes, Theo?"
"Eh, there seems to be one small problem with this little challenge of yours. We're only experimental engines after all. We can't really do much as far as quick work goes." There was slight tension in Theo's voice, as he continued speaking, rather quick. "I only cleared one ladle slag so far this morning and…"
Hurricane rolled his eyes as he cut him off.
"Well, I'm sure if you put your mind to it, Theo, than maybe you'll find that you can…"
He was cut off suddenly by the sound of Merlin's whistle.
"And if we try, then surely we can do ANYthing!" he bursted out excitedly, before reversing and letting off a cloud of steam.
Theo and Lexi looked at each other, rather surprised, before heading back to work. Hurricane sighed worriedly to himself before rolling slowly forward and parking himself in a siding, observing work progress from all around.
As everyone around the SteelWorks got back to work, Hurricane watched them all from a siding and was left to his own thoughts.
"Oh, boy," he sighed. "This surely is a challenge. I promised Frankie I could do this and I really don't want to disappoint her." He thought for a few seconds more, than took a deep breath and sighed. "Okay," he decided at last, and said to himself, "pull yourself together, big guy. You can do this." He closed his eyes briefly, took another deep breath, and opened them. "I can do this!" he assured. "I can do this!" And he whistled loudly before rolling steadily forward.
Hurricane had finally felt the courage he needed to manage being in charge of the SteelWorks in Frankie's place, as he went happily about his work.
Hurricane went around and collected a line of trucks from a siding just outside the SteelWorks, and brought them on inside through the entrance. Nearby, Lexi was struggling as she pulled the ladle slag slowly back, the men helping to push it over.
"Keep it up there, Lexi!" Hurricane cheered, as he passed her.
"Nearly...there!" she groaned, pulling backward, as the men tipped the ladle over and slag poured out all over the ground in a line, Hurricane smiling as he glanced at it, and pulled the trucks sternly out the other side of the SteelWorks.
Theo was pushing heavy trucks of slag nearby, as Hurricane came into view.
"Everything alright, Theo?" he asked.
"Just...about…" Theo panted, pushing the trucks slowly forward, then stopped to take a breather.
"You're doing great!" Hurricane responded encouragingly. "I assure."
"I can't do it," he told Hurricane, looking sadly down at his buffers. "The trucks are just too heavy for me to pull all on my own."
"There, there, now," Hurricane sympathized. "It'll be alright. I'm sure you could just use with a bit of some help." Then he had a thought. "Hey, where's that stealth engine, Mer-"
The two were suddenly startled by a disperse of white steam and a familiar "invisibility on!"
"Oh, boy," sighed Theo. "Here we go again!"
Hurricane looked confused, than had an idea.
"Hey, Merlin!" he called.
Merlin stopped and backed down to look at him.
"Yes, Mr. Hurricane?"
"Do me a favor and give Theo a hand with these trucks, will you?"
"Sure thing!" Merlin responded, and backed slowly down the trucks before being coupled up. "Come on, Theo!" he burst out, pulling the trucks forward, startling Theo as they made it on their way, Hurricane watching after him.
"Ah," he sighed. "Nothing to it."
Merlin and Theo pulled the trucks into the SteelWorks where Lexi was pulling another ladle slag nearby. Merlin let off a cloud of steam, as Theo sighed to himself from the back.
"Eh, th-thanks, mm, Merlin…" he said slowly, as he was uncoupled from the train.
"Any time, Theo," Merlin responded, as he was uncoupled from the front.
There was an awkward silence, Theo not sure of what else to say, as he rolled up alongside Merlin, who thought for a moment.
"Tell me, though. You have to admit. I did get us here pretty fast. Didn't I?"
"Mm, I guess so," Theo responded meekly, than thought for a moment. "Though, um...no quicker than me or Lexi could've hauled it."
"Oh, really?" Merlin chuckled, smiling over at him. "Is that right?"
"Eh, Merlin…" Theo forced a slight smile as he tried to speak to him.
"I do believe I got us here pretty much on schedule," Merlin admitted, feeling rather proud.
Theo took a deep breath and decided to reason with Merlin.
"Merlin, I do appreciate you helping me," Theo admitted. "But I don't think we would have gotten here any slower if I had gone at the front, and you had pushed from behind."
"Hmm," Merlin thought, smirking down at his old friend. "Alright then, how about you and I have a little friendly challenge then?"
"Ch-ch-challenge?" Theo stuttered, taken rather by surprise.
"Why, yes, to be precise." Merlin let out a slight chuckle as he attempted to explain. "Here's the catch, you see. Any one of us could end up taking that train to Bridlington tonight."
"Eh, well, not me, you see..." Theo chuckled nervously.
"So," Merlin cut off, "I'm sure whoever gets the most work done in the fastest amount of time will show Mr. Hurricane who is worthy of taking that train. What do you say, eh?"
"Eh, Merlin. I don't think I have the confidence to oblige…"
"Of course you do, Theo!" Merlin encouraged. "If any of the three of us can work here and prove ourselves useful, than surely we can do anything! Can't we?"
"Erm…" Theo thought, rather unsure.
"Great!" Merlin burst out. "So it's a challenge then. We'll see who can get the most work done in the fastest amount of time."
And he whistled loudly as he raced away back to work, leaving Theo all alone and nervous.
"Oh, dear," he sighed. "What have I gotten myself into?"
Theo wasn't quite sure he could rise up to Merlin's challenge, as he went back about his work.
Theo grunted and groaned as he pulled a ladle slag back and forth, the men attempting to pour it over the ground.
"Easy does it, men," one said.
"Steady now!" called out another.
Theo watched Merlin humming as he passed with some trucks, than gave it another go at the ladle slag.
"Must...keep...trying," Theo panted heavily, then shut his eyes and gripped his wheels as he tugged harder and harder till…
"Woah," he wailed, as he went suddenly backwards, Hurricane rolling in around the corner. "Can't stop! Can't stop!" he panicked. His driver braked hard, and he stopped on the points just before a very surprised Hurricane. "Whoops!" he gulped. "S-s-sorry, Hurricane." And he rolled quickly back forward.
"Theo!" Hurricane called out, raising an eyebrow at him, as he followed him slowly forward.
"Stop, Theo! Stop!" the men called, raising their hands up, but Theo went bumping into the ladle slag, as it almost tipped over the tracks, but the men managed to stop it as Theo was chained up again.
Theo let out a deep breath or relief, as Hurricane rolled up alongside.
"You have to be careful with ladle slags, Theo," he warned him, looking rather serious. "If that stuff gets on the tracks, it count melt your wheels off. I should know." And he looked down at his recently new set of wheels.
"I'm s-s-sorry, Mr. Hurricane," Theo replied meekly. "I'll, erm, be careful. I promise."
"Good," Hurricane responded, smiling at him. "Back to work then."
And he whistled as he rolled away, Theo sighing as he watched after him.
At long last, the men were able to empty the ladle slag, and Theo was ready to move on to the next one. But he was feeling very unhappy with himself.
Lexi noticed Theo looking glum, as he pushed some trucks into a siding.
"Oh dear, Theo," she wondered, rolling up beside him. "Whatever's the matter?"
Theo sighed and decided to tell her all about it.
"I don't know what's gotten into me today, Lexi," he explained. "First, I have trouble moving one line of trucks so Hurricane asks Merlin to help me. And I find myself having to challenge Merlin because I assured him he was no faster than either of us."
"Challenge?" Lexi wondered, somewhat excited as she managed to smirk to the idea. "What kind of challenge?"
"To see who can get the most work done in the fastest amount of time and take that train to Bridlington tonight," Theo explained, than bluntly admitted, "but I don't think I can fulfill it."
"Ooh, it does sound like fun," Lexi marveled, than had an idea. "Maybe there's a way I can be of assistance, Theo."
"You w-w-want to help me, Lexi?" Theo was rather surprised.
"Why, yes! Maybe I could rise to the challenge as well!"
"Y-y-you?" Theo gasped, eyes wide open.
"Yes!" Lexi replied excitedly. "After all, I am kinda wanting to take that train."
"Oh, well, erm, thanks, eh, Lexi," Theo chuckled slightly, feeling a bit better."
"Oh, any time, boyo!" Lexi responded, then gave him a sharp look. "But only under one condition though."
"What?"
"You have to give a try as well."
"I-I-I d-d-do?" Theo stuttered.
"Come on, Theo!" Lexi encouraged. "Please?!" She gave him a smile of encouragement.
"Oh, alright," Theo decided.
"Alrighty! Whoopee!" Lexi burst out excitedly. "I'll show that Merlin who can get the most work done."
And she raced away, leaving Theo in surprise.
Since Lexi had agreed to rise to the challenge, what none of the experimental engines realized was that their friendly competition was bound to get out of hand.
"Ai! Merlin!"
Merlin was rather startled as he stopped in his tracks, and Lexi rolled up beside him.
"So I hear you and Theo are having yaselves a little challenge, eh?"
"Well, um, yes, but…"
"Oh, boy. Oh, boy. I do like the sound of it," Lexi admitted. "Seeing who can get the most work done in time for that train."
"Well, yes," Merlin smiled.
"Perhaps I could rise to the challenge as well," Lexi suggested.
"Well, erm, I suppose…" Merlin thought, slightly confused.
"Great!" Lexi burst out, then thought for a moment, Merlin looking at her puzzled as she looked back at him, a smirk on her face. "Last one there blows hot air!" she teased, then raced away.
"Hmm," Merlin thought, smiling after her. "Alright then!" He dispersed white steam and raced after her, rolling up alongside her as she looked back over at him.
"Ah! Managed to catch up. Eh, Merlin?"
"Woo-hoo!" Merlin cheered.
"Wheeee!" Lexi wailed, as they both made their way up the slope, where Hurricane was shunting heavy slag trucks nearby.
"Merlin! Lexi!" he called out, his eyes wide open. "Stop!"
Both engines braked to a halt as the big tank engine backed down and looked at them sternly.
"Whatever are you two playing at?" he demanded, "racing 'round the SteelWorks at such dangerous speeds. You could seriously cause an accident."
"Sorry, Hurricane. We were only engaging in a challenge," Lexi suggested.
"Challenge?" Hurricane queered. "I say, what sort of…"
"To see who get the most work done!" Merlin chanted excitedly.
"In the fastest amount of time," Lexi added.
"B-b-but, I don't understand," Hurricane wondered. "Why would…?"
"Come on, Merlin!" Lexi called out. "Race ya back inside!"
"You're on!" the stealth engine agreed.
"Wait a minute!" Hurricane gasped.
"Woo-hee!" Lexi wailed, as she raced towards the SteelWorks, Merlin racing after her.
"Hold up, you two!" Hurricane called out, but they didn't hear him as they raced towards the entrance inside the SteelWorks. "Oh, dear," he sighed sadly, as he pushed his trucks further on down the slope.
Lexi and Merlin raced back inside the SteelWorks, where Theo was collecting some slag trucks nearby.
"Whoa!" he gasped, as they raced in beside him.
"Ha! Beat ya!" Lexi bragged, as Merlin rolled up beside her, rather disappointed at having lost. "Guess that makes me the fastest!"
"I guess," Merlin thought, before expressing a cheeky smile. "But only because I took less trucks."
"What?" Lexi wondered, confused.
"Invisibility ON!" Merlin bellowed, letting off steam as he raced away, chuckling. "You'll never see me now."
Lexi smiled smugly as she watched him leave, then looked over at Theo, who winced before moving quickly forward with his trucks outside the SteelWorks.
Theo somewhat felt the urgency to show his friends that he was just as capable as fulfilling the challenge as they were, no matter how little confidence he felt.
"Mustn't disappoint them! Mustn't disappoint them!" he panted to himself, as he made his way towards a siding, where Hurricane was shunting his own slag trucks nearby.
Hurricane watched in surprise, as Theo hurriedly bumped his trucks into a siding, the slag rolling around in it, and gulped as he rolled up beside the traction engine.
"Erm…, is everything alright, Theo?" he asked.
"Eh, yes, mmm, Mr. Hurricane," Theo frantically responded. "Just, mm, trying to get my work done quickly and efficiently. That's all." And he raced quickly away, leaving a startled Hurricane behind.
"Hmm…" thought Hurricane, as he made his way out of the siding and around the other side of the outside area. "These engines do seem to be acting rather peculiar today. I wonder if it has something to do with them being experimental." He chuckled at his own joke, before seeing Merlin up ahead racing into view.
"Here we go, Mr. Hurricane! Trucks of slag ready to be melted down into steel!"
Hurricane looked hard at the trucks Merlin was pulling.
"But, Merlin," he replied, "those trucks are empty!"
"Oh," Merlin gasped, having a sudden moment of realization. "Mm, sorry." And he raced quickly away in a cloud of white steam, leaving Hurricane coughing it up and groaning as he rolled slowly forward.
Merlin had focused so much on the challenge he had set that he even forgot to fill up his trucks with slag.
Merlin waited frantically as his trucks were filled up, and then raced quickly away.
All day long, the experimental engines were rushing about their work in an attempt to see who could get the most work done...
"Here you are, Mr. Hurricane!" Merlin burst out as he left his slag trucks in a siding. "Now onto the next load!" And he took off, Hurricane glaring slightly after him.
...and it came to be too much for Hurricane.
"Whee!" Lexi wailed, as she raced backwards quickly into a siding to drop off her slag. Hurricane winced as he watched them hit the buffers and slag rattled around dangerously in the trucks, before Lexi took off.
It seemed as though every line of trucks delivered into every siding, the three engines seemed to be in an awful hurry.
Theo panted frantically, as he quickly dropped off a line of slag trucks, before rolling off, Hurricane watching after him before hearing the whistle of another engine.
"More trucks, Mr. Hurricane!" Merlin chanted, as he quickly dropped off his trucks in a siding.
Hurricane shot him a funny look as he rolled forward again when…
"Look out!"
Lexi rang her bell as she approached and Hurricane shut his eyes as a startled Merlin stopped right on the points, Lexi braking and stopping just in time. Hurricane slowly opened his eyes and watched as the slag rattled around in her trucks.
"Em, sorry, Merlin," she chuckled nervously. "Almost hit you…"
"No need. No need," Merlin assured as he made his way out of the siding.
Hurricane watched as the two engines set off back to work, before being left to his own thoughts about all the commotion.
Later, the three engines were waiting as the foreman checked off all the jobs they completed.
"Hmm…" the foreman thought, as he checked off the list, thinking hard. "Theo, you emptied three slag ladles, shunted trucks into four sidings." Theo chuckled and smiled meekly, as the foreman continued. "Merlin, you have emptied four ladle slags and shunted trucks five sidings."
"Oh," Merlin thought, beaming proudly, as Lexi shot him somewhat of a smile.
"Lexi," the foreman finished, "you have emptied four ladle slags and shunted trucks into six sidings."
"Yipeee!" Lexi cheered, ringing her bell out loud as the foreman left, than looked over at Theo and Merlin. "Well, you two. I guess that means I win the challenge."
"Eh, I guess, em, Lexi," Theo admitted, giving her a smile of congratulation.
Lexi backed down towards a confused Merlin.
"So what do you think, Merlin?" she asked.
"I-I don't believe it," Merlin thought, rather stunned. "I th-thought…"
"What? That you were the fastest?" Lexi asked cheekily.
"Well, em, no," Merlin wondered. "I just didn't think I was going to lose my own challenge."
"You were the one who set the challenge in the first place, Merlin," Theo pointed out.
Merlin didn't know what to say. He thought for a moment and then groaned, than an idea flew into his funnel.
"Say," he thought, "how about we all settle this and show one another who really is the fastest by having a race around the SteelWorks?"
"Eh, no, thanks," Theo declined. "I already lost, you see, and I believe there's another ladle slag or two I need to finish up before that delivery goes out…"
"I'll race ya, Merlin!" Lexi burst out excitedly.
"Y-y-you will, Lexi?" the stealth engine stuttered, rather surprised.
"Why, yes," she replied. "After all, I love racing." Then she looked at Theo and winked, and he smiled nervously back at her.
"Very well then," Merlin decided. "The engine who makes it out and around the outside yard, and then back to the entrance is the winner."
"You're on!" Lexi agreed.
"On your marks…" Merlin jerked his wheels slowly forward as to prepare them, and let off steam.
"...get set…"
"...go!"
Merlin rocketed forward, as Lexi rang her bell and caught up at his speed.
"Ya can't catch me, Merlin!" she boasted, as she soar at past.
"Oh, yeah?!" Merlin called, as he raced slowly along up to Lexi's speed, and they smiled at each other as he caught up alongside her.
The race was on, as Merlin and Lexi attempted to show each other who really was the fastest.
Hurricane grunted as he pushed trucks slowly up the slope, and finally made it to the top.
"Woah!" he gasped, as the two engines raced on by him. "Oh, now what?" he groaned, before sighing and pushing the trucks towards the SteelWorks.
Merlin and Lexi raced on down below, as they approached a building up ahead.
"See you on the other side of this building, Merlin!" Lexi called, as she switched points to the next track and made her way around it.
"Hmm," Merlin thought, as he raced on along by the building and approached the end of it up ahead.
"Wheee!" Lexi wailed, as she overtook Merlin by the other side of the building.
"Not this time!" Merlin called, than closed his eyes and let off steam. "Invisibility on!" he shouted, as he raced quickly forward towards the entrance of the SteelWorks.
Lexi finally made it to the entrance and stopped.
"Ha! Beat ya, Merlin!" she shouted, and waited for her opponent to arrive.
"Whoosh!" Merlin called out, taking Lexi by surprise, as he raced into the SteelWorks, his eyes still closed, and Lexi followed him hurriedly in.
Hurricane pushed his trucks into a siding nearby a ladle slag, which Theo was attempting to empty. He tugged harder and harder with all his might when Merlin raced in up ahead.
"Look out!" Hurricane called, backing down from his trucks.
"Victory!" Merlin shouted out, as he came to a complete stop, startling Theo as he went bumping into the ladle slag, and men shouted and ran quickly away as slag poured the opposite way right all over the tracks.
"Woah," Hurricane shouted in surprise, as he backed quickly away from the siding out of the way just in time as the slag oozed over in his direction. "Well, I never!" he fumed, looking down at his wheels as Lexi rolled into view. "My new wheels could have been seriously damaged." He looked up and glared at the three engines, as the slag rolled on past.
"Uh oh," Theo gulped.
"I beat you that time, Lexi," Merlin proudly proclaimed.
"No, you didn't!" Lexi gasped. "I made it to the entrance of the SteelWorks first. That was the goal, remember?"
"Well, I made it through first with my...invisibility," he boasted, then he looked over at Theo and Hurricane. "Isn't that right, guys?"
"Eh, Merlin…" Theo warned.
"You did not!" Lexi denied.
"Oh, yes, I did," Merlin chuckled.
"Didn't!"
"Did!"
"Didn't!"
"Did!"
Theo watched as Hurricane experienced the banter back and forth with increasing irritation, then muttered, "eh, guys?"
"Didn't!"
"Did!"
"Didn't!"
"Did!"
"Guys?!"
At long last, Hurricane blew his whistle loudly to get their attention and shouted out "ENOUGH!"
The three engines were so startled that they all stopped to look at Hurricane, as he realized how much he had lost his temper.
Hurricane took a deep breath and sighed, finally able to regain his composure.
"I'm sorry I snapped," he admitted. "But you three have not really been yourselves since Frankie left. Your little race almost cost me my new wheels. You know that?"
Lexi was ashamed.
"We're...sorry, Hurricane."
"I-i-m-mensely," Theo stuttered.
"No!" Merlin burst out, the others looking over at him in surprise. "I'm sorry. I was the one who wanted to take that train to Bridlington and make an effort to prove myself. But I wanted to give Theo and Lexi a chance as well, and so I came up with the idea for a challenge.
Hurricane sighed.
"At least, you admitted, Merlin," he beamed. "And it takes a good friend and an excellent team player to do that." He watched as Theo and Lexi smiled over at their good friend as he smiled at them back, then made a decision. "I've heard a glowing report from the foreman that you've all worked exceptionally hard today in spite of all the rushing about, so I'll tell you what: the sooner we get all this work done, the sooner we can head over to Bridlington together."
"Together?!" Lexi gasped excitedly.
"T-t-together?" Theo wondered.
"Together!" Hurricane chuckled. "It's the best offer I can give to you guys if you promise to be more cautious."
"We won't disappoint you this time, Mr. Hurricane!" Merlin whistled excitedly. "Come on, fellas. Let's get back to the task at hand."
Hurricane smiled, as he watched the three engines set back to work, than sighed with relief as he set back to work himself.
As the men cleared away the slag that poured over the line, Theo and Lexi continued to pull slag out from the ladle slag…
"Nearly...there…, Theo," Lexi panted, as she watched her friend pull against the ladle slag across from her.
"Almost...got it," Theo panted, and finally managed to pull against the ladle, as the men pushed it over, Lexi doing so after him.
"Great work, you two!" Hurricane encouraged, as he passed by with a line of steel trucks.
...and Merlin took the slag trucks away so the slag could be melted down into steel.
"Thanks, Merlin!" Theo and Lexi called out, as Merlin pulled the current line of trucks away.
Hurricane left his steel trucks in a siding and watched proudly as work progressed well around the SteelWorks; Merlin had pulled the slag trucks out into the outside yard, and Theo and Lexi moved on to the next set of ladle slags.
By the end of the afternoon, the entire SteelWorks was back in order, and the important delivery of steel was ready to go out to Bridlington.
"Well done, you guys!" Hurricane congratulated, as he chuffed up by the long line of steel flatbeds. "We're just about ready to go!"
The three engines thought to themselves, before Lexi spoke up.
"But, uh, should it really take all four of us to pull one train at the back?" she wondered.
"Well, erm, I'd be the banker, see…" Theo assumed.
Hurricane chuckled, and had a thought of his own.
"Hmm…" he wondered, and then decided. "I'm sure that if I lead the way to Bridlington from upfront, then the rest of you can decide arrangements over who goes at the front and the back amongst yourselves."
"I'll take the lead up at the front!" Merlin suggested, then thought. "Unless you would like to do it, Lexi."
"Mmm," she thought, "perhaps you could take the lead, Merlin, while Theo and I push from behind. After all, you have got the fastest set of driving wheels out of anyone here." Theo smiles up at him in agreement, as Merlin thought harder.
"Hmm, well in that case…"
"Alright, then, it's settled!" Lexi decided, as she backed down towards the back of the train, Theo in tow.
Hurricane beamed at Merlin, as he whistled and made his way towards the front of the train.
In no time at all, the cavalcade set off for Bridlington with the important steel delivery, as Hurricane led the way.
"Keep up, you guys!" he called proudly. "Another clear mile and we shall be there in no time."
"We can do it, you two!" Merlin called back to the others. "We can do it!"
"We...can...do...anything," Lexi panted, as she pushed the train forward.
"If...we...try!" Theo panted from the very back.
The four friends shared a good laugh as they made it over the slope and onward towards Bridlington.
Soon enough, they made it to the Goods Yard all in good time, as the sun set over the bright yellow sky.
"Here we are, guys!" Hurricane proudly pronounced. "Bridlington Goods Yard!"
Theo and Lexi backed down from the train, and looked all around at the bustle of the junction, as diesels shunted trucks to and fro from siding to siding.
"It's...big," Theo admitted.
"Reminds of our old yard," Lexi put in, then remarked, "only busier, of course."
"But it was worth the trip," Merlin proudly admitted.
Hurricane backed down next to him, and beamed over at him in agreement. Just then, a red diesel with black and yellow stripes honked and pulled into view.
"Say, Hurricane," he wondered, "you're rather on time. But who are these engines?"
"These three, Ulli," Hurricane explained, "are Frankie and I's newest recruits, and they have worked rather hard today despite a few slip-ups. So I thought I'd show them the journey up here to Bridlington for a change. Very useful, eh?"
"Mmm, yes," thought Ulli. "Well, gotta carry on. Stuff to do and trains to unload. See ya round." And he honked and rolled out of sight, Lexi and Theo watching after him with surprise.
Later that night, the engines had just about finished up their days' work and were getting ready to settle down for the night in their shed, when Hurricane pulled into view.
"The foreman spoke with the Docks manager over on Sodor," he explained. "It seems as though Frankie will be working over there for a little while longer."
"H-h-how long do you predict?" Theo asked.
"Or for like a couple days, give or take," Hurricane estimated, then admitted, "but we can still manage fine here at the SteelWorks, I'm sure. I bet we'll have lots of fun as well."
"It should be fun!" Merlin beamed.
"Aye, boyo!" Lexi agreed, ringing her bell out loud.
Hurricane smiled, then took a deep breath.
"I just want to thank you all for your help today. I know it wasn't easy without Frankie, but I think you've all worked hard in spite of everything else."
"Oh, thanks, Merlin!" Lexi replied. "But we don't think we would have managed without a great leader like yourself!"
"Y-y-you really think so?" Hurricane stammered, rather surprised.
"Of course, we do!" Merlin beamed. "With your guidance, we can accomplish anything if we try."
Hurricane chuckled.
"Well, I guess I can help you three learn a thing or two then," he wondered.
"If we, eh, set our minds to it, maybe," Theo concluded.
The four friends shared a good laugh as the stars came out over the night sky.
"Well," Lexi yawned, "I guess we'd better get a good night's rest if we're to keep up the momentum tomorrow."
Theo yawned as well.
"Couldn't agree more, Lexi," he said quietly, as they both shut their eyes.
"Good night, you three," Merlin yawned, and fell asleep as well.
Hurricane watched as the three engines fell asleep and yawned himself as he headed off to his shed.
Hurricane decided it was time to get some sleep as well, looking forward to the day's work ahead of them.
Phew! Has been a while, hasn't it? I'll admit. These characters were a real challenge to pull off, but I'm rather satisfied with how this turned out. Having Hurricane being in charge in Frankie's absence was a nice way to explore his interactions with the experimental engines, and Lexi and Merlin upping their game with their competitiveness, with Theo reluctantly jumping in at points, was fun and suitable for their characters. That scene with Ulli near the end would give viewers, especially if this were televised, a sense of industrialization in the show. I hope you all enjoyed this JBS-esque outing. It was plenty of fun to write considering how these characters seem like somewhat of an afterthought after the movie in which they were introduced. The next one is an adaptation, so it should be coming at you rather quicker. Till then, stay tuned for...
The Way To Get Things Done (based on Delivery At The Docks from Really Useful Stories) - Frankie is excited about helping with an important job at Brendam Docks, however her tendency to get things done the way they are at the SteelWorks makes it hard for her to fit in!
Job-Swap Day - After Gordon and James have a fall-out, Nia devises a plan with the Fat Controller to get the two engines to become friends again by giving them a job-swap day.
Frank To The Rescue (based on We Need Another Engine by Christopher Awdry) - Frank the Diesel engine feels under appreciated at having been missed out of the Thin Clergyman's book and grumbles dreadfully about it, but feels more like a hero after coming to Rex's rescue.
Alfie's Secret - (based on canceled episode Alfie Has A Secret) - Alfie has a secret method to dig a trench for a hedgehog crossing, and Jack and Isobella are curious about what he's up to.