By now, everyone wanted to hear what BoCo had to say. After all, most of them had been waiting almost six hours, and understandably had grown impatient. Finally, BoCo spoke: "I'm not sure how much you all know, but I'd been locked in that shed because, well, I knew too much," he said.

At that, everyone was silent, listening intently. BoCo continued: "A while ago, I'm not even sure how long ago it was, I was sent to the Dieselworks for minor repairs. I saw the awful condition this place was in…and I met Diesel 10. At the time, I only knew what everyone else said about him. That he's a bad diesel and such. At first, it seemed that was true, he was going on about how he was going to get back at the steam engines. So, I asked him why he hated them…he didn't tell me much, except something about steam engines being generally horrid and prejudiced, both here and on the mainland."

BoCo cast a wary look at Diesel 10, yet to his surprise the warship seemed calm. Seeing that, he continued: "After a rather long, obscenity-laced tirade about steam engines, he started going on about how diesels were being treated as, well, second class. And I had to admit, he was right. I'd wondered why they didn't just tell the Fat Controller, after all, he used to say that all his engines were important. So naturally, I decided to talk to him." BoCo looked down. "I had no clue just what a bad idea that was. The Fat Controller brushed me off, and told me that matters like this were none of my concern. I made the mistake of telling him that Diesel 10 had made a good point about the island's diesels being neglected, and that maybe he'd behave better if they were all treated a little better…"

BoCo gave Diesel 10 an apologetic look. "Not long after that, I had to take some trucks to the Dieselworks, and I noticed…he wasn't doing very well. That evening, I went to Knapford…and saw that Topham was in his office, talking on the phone. He had left the window open, and I overheard everything."

BoCo paused, looking like he wanted to cry. "It was then…I'd never felt so betrayed…he was talking about scrapping some of his engines…and there was another man in the office with him. They started talking about how he was doing the steam engines a great service, about plans to have only steam on his railway. He was talking about how he couldn't keep the diesels silent for long, and that he feared a revolt, and how that would spell disaster for the railway. He was afraid that his image as a kind controller would be shattered…and decided to put a permanent end to any possibility of that happening. I was going to tell everyone, but he saw me, and told me that I'd done plenty of work that day, and to go take a rest. To be honest, I was rather tired, so I went into a shed to sleep. The next morning…I found out that the shed had been boarded up," he said.

Many of the other engines stared in shock. There they had it, the reason that the Fat Controller had turned his back on the diesels. It was no fault of BoCo's, and they all realized that. No, this was due to Sir Topham Hatt's own personal prejudice and fears.

The silence was broken by the sound of a horn, as two diesels pulled up. Daniella snarled viciously as the last person she wanted to see hopped down from the cab of the smaller one and stormed up to Lorelei.

"You!" Lorelei snarled as she rounded on him, balling her hands into fists.

"You sick, psychotic, evil fucking monster!" Daniella shouted as she took a swipe at him with her claw. Unfortunately, he was standing just out of reach.

"Keep that bitch on a leash, woman!" Tiberius said as he glared daggers at Lorelei and pointed an angry finger at Daniella. "Not that it matters," he added darkly. "I'm putting an end to that blasted rogue engine, and stopping this ridiculous rebellion in its tracks!"

"What the hell are you talking about?! There's no damn rebellion! And you need a straitjacket and a padded cell!" Aurora shouted from Daniella's cab.

"This, this!" Tiberius shouted as he gestured at the engines surrounding him. "You ruined my brother; you nearly put me out of business, all with your—your disgusting compassion for mere MACHINES!" Tiberius spat. At that, he pulled out from his jacket pocket a rather ominous looking remote. As he did so, a sinister, psychotic grin crept up his face. "Since you're all here, this will be easy. I've nothing left to lose, and I'm taking you all out with me!"

Lorelei's eyes widened as she lunged at Tiberius, grabbing his wrist. "EVERYONE GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!" She shouted at the top of her voice as the two fell to the ground in a desperate struggle. The engines and their drivers didn't need to be told twice. Everyone started moving as quickly as possible. However, it wasn't fast enough. Tiberius managed to break free of Lorelei's grasp and detonate the explosives that he had planted around the Dieselworks.

What happened next was pure chaos. Nothing could be heard over the sound of the explosions. Daniella closed her one remaining eye tightly as debris flew. She could hear screaming, so much screaming. After what seemed like an eternity, she opened her eye, and saw nothing but destruction.

In the midst of the chaos, no one saw Tiberius flee to safety with his two engines. However, that was the last thing on Daniella's mind. As her eye darted frantically from the remains of the buildings and the scattered debris, she could only think of her brothers, her driver, her owner. "LORELEI!" she shrieked.

"I'm alright! …I think," Lorelei's muffled voice came from behind the rubble at the entrance to the main shed, or rather what was left of it.

Without thinking, Daniella began to clear away the debris that was blocking her path. Finally, she saw the inside of the Dieselworks. The roof had partially collapsed, and to her horror, Daniel was in pieces. It was now perfectly clear why he had been delivered to her. Tiberius had planted a bomb on him. Looking to her left, she saw an even worse sight. Diesel 10 had been thrown off the rails and was lying on his side. Both Arry and Phoenix seemed alright, and most likely due to the fact that Diesel 10 had been between them and Daniel.

As Daniella reached out to touch her brother's claw, a hand popped out from inside, then another. Lorelei hoisted herself up through the opening in the side of his claw, shaken and out of breath, but not seriously injured. As she did this, Diesel 10 groaned. "Stop them," he said, wincing.

"I am not leavin' you! No way in hell!" said Daniella.

"He's right, Dani, we have to stop them," Phoenix said quietly.

Lady, who was one of the fortunate ones to escape with only some scratches, gulped as she reluctantly agreed. "We may have magic, but we may need your brute strength," she said.

"But-!" Daniella protested.

"Go, Dani, I'll be alright," said Diesel 10.

As Daniella looked at her brother, she did her best not to cry. However, she couldn't help it, especially after getting a good look at him. The side that was facing upwards looked as if it had been viciously ripped and torn. One look told her that he had most likely suffered severe damage internally. Amazingly, his chassis hadn't been mangled or bent, which if it had, would most likely be a death sentence for him.

"Don't cry, Dani…" Diesel 10 said softly, "I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

"You better not," Daniella said with a sniffle.

"C'mon, let's go put an end to that evil son of a bitch!" said Lorelei.

As Daniella, Lady, and Phoenix left, Lady cast a glance in Diesel 10's direction. "Goodbye," she whispered, "I only hope it's not the last."