Luoc's new buffer was installed rather quickly. Even so, he couldn't help but wonder what he should say to Thomas when they next met: on one hand, he knew he owed Thomas a big apology. On the other hand, how could he explain what led him to change his mind? The Q Class knew there'd be no way to tell the E2 he'd been attacked by a creature, not without being dismissed as making things up.

When he arrived back at Wellsworth, Luoc immediately went back to work, not that there was much to do on the Wellsworth Line: Edward and Thomas were managing the line just fine without him, and Hurricane kept banking without problems. As for MacHarold, he had agreed to take over shunting at Norramby for Luoc. All Luoc could do was sit in the sheds, serving as a spare for when a breakdown occurred, pondering his future.

That afternoon, Rolf entered the sheds as well.

"Nice to see you back, Luoc," he said. "Shame you aren't in regular service today."

"Seems that's all I'm good for now," said Luoc sadly.

"Eh? What makes you say that?" asked Rolf.

"Well, think about it: Edward and Thomas are helping to run the line just fine without me, as are you," Luoc answered. "MacHarold, it seems, has found a new place to work on the Lasgair Line. So where does that leave me?"

Rolf wasn't sure how to respond: he had to admit, it was a good question. After thinking of an answer to give, but coming up with nothing, he eventually gave a sigh.

"I know what that sigh means," said Luoc, despondently.

"I'm sorry, Luoc," said Rolf sadly. "Maybe you should talk to the Fat Director: he cares for all of us, he might be able to find you a new home to work at. I'm surprised you don't want to help your brother at Norramby: surely vandals are nothing to stop you from working."

"It wasn't vandals," admitted Luoc. "It was…some kind of reptilian creature."

"A reptilian creature?! Surely, no reptiles on this planet can grow large enough to reach your buffers!"

"Not any we know of," replied Luoc. "I was told by a man named Jonathan Junes about this reptilian creature called the Longmair that's said to roam Lasgair at night, dismissed it as a legend until last night."

"Then…perhaps it is best you don't go back there," said Rolf.

"Listen, you can tell Edward, but please don't tell Thomas: he wouldn't believe it. Speaking of which, I've no idea how to apologise to him: he'll want to know what brought it on."

"Well, just apologise and hope he doesn't, that's all I can say," admitted Rolf. "As for any future opportunities for work, speak to the Fat Director: I'm sure he'll find something for you to do."

While the Fat Director was still in London, the stationmaster found there was indeed something. Luoc would get lucky and be assigned to building the Crewgir line. Straight away, he set to work, happy to have something to focus on. Even so, he still couldn't help but feel worried: this arrangement would be temporary after all, only lasting until the line was finished. What would happen to him then? Would he get to run it? Would he even have enough coal and water to do so? Maybe he'd be sent off for scrap…no, the Fat Director made it clear he didn't want to scrap any of his engines. Even so…he couldn't help but wonder if the Fat Director would have a say.

He was thinking about this one morning while getting ready for the day at Vicarstown when shouting was heard from the station. Curious, he steamed on over to find 98462 looking cross.

"What's got you upset?" he asked.

"My tender brakes!" snorted 98462. "They've slipped on, now I'm stuck! And I have a delivery to make to Killdane too!"

"I'm sorry to hear that," said Luoc. "May I ask what this delivery is?"

"Look behind my tender," said 98462. Luoc did so to find two odd looking green things.

He wasn't sure how to describe them.

"Those are some weird-looking trucks," he remarked.

"TRUCKS?! HOW DARE YOU! WE'RE NOT TRUCKS!"

It was then that Luoc noticed some sort of wire mesh formation on their roofs.

"What are those things on top of you?" he asked.

"These," said one of the objects, "are pantographs. They pick up electricity, something you steamers don't need."

"Oh, so these are the Peel Godred electrics," said Luoc dryly. "Uglier than I expected. Leave them to me, 98462: I don't think I can take them to Crovan's Gate, but I can at least get them onto a siding while you have your tender brakes tended to."

"Thank you, Luoc!" said 98462. "That will be lovely!"

Arrangements were made and Luoc ran to the rear. He then moved the two electrics onto a siding.

"So," said Luoc, "what are your names?"

"E1 and E2 of course. What is your letter and number, steamer?"

"Those aren't names, they're just a letter and a number put together," Luoc pointed out. "Allow me to give an example: my name is Luoc, first engine of the old Wellsworth and Suddery Railway."

"Yeah yeah, whatever," said E2. "Anyway, when will we get to work?"

"Just as soon as 98462's tender brakes are fixed," said Luoc. "What work have you done?"

"We just left Thomson-Houston two months ago," said E1. "We can't exactly move without electricity, so we…needed to be brought here."

"Well, you'll find the Peel Godred is a wonderplace to work," said Luoc. "I heard there's a mountain railway that runs nearby, the engines there will make good company."

Luoc tried to talk further with them, but didn't get anywhere: E1 and E2 didn't seem to be interested in anything.

"Jesus, would it hurt to talk more? You two are like worms!" he eventually snapped. "In fact, I'm willing to bet you wouldn't even mind if somebody cut you in two."

"Maybe they need electricity to talk?" mocked his driver.

"We have been talking to them, you know," Luoc pointed out.

Eventually, 98462's tender brakes were fixed. He coupled back up to the electrics and continued on his way to Killdane. Luoc wasn't sure what to make of it. They hadn't come off as threatening, but he wondered how they would react to learn steam engines would also run that line.

Elsewhere, Emily had arrived at Wellsworth. She was fuming.

"Where is Conan?" she demanded. "I need to have a word with him."

"Hey, you better watch it Emily," snarled Thomas from the station platform. "It's not his fault you're going through this."

"Oh yes it is!" snapped Emily. "He impregnated Jewelie. Now I have to go through everything she goes through all throughout her pregnancy!"

"You saying you want a baby too?" asked Thomas cheekily.

"Knock it off, asshole!" Emily snapped.

At that moment, Conan and Jewelie, the latter sporting a small but noticeable baby bump, reported for work. It was agreed to allow them to take later shifts to accommodate the pregnancy.

"Hi Emily. Have you heard the news?!" asked Jewelie, excited.

"Yes, I have, and I'm not happy," Emily answered. "Ever since you got pregnant, I've been vomiting randomly without warning!"

"Is that possible? How biological are sentients…wait, that's right: we're bonded, aren't we?"

"Yes, and thanks to our bond, I've been puking coal every time you get morning sickness," said Emily.

"Look, Emily, I'm sorry," said Jewelie. "I can't help it though."

"You could've been more careful," snorted Emily.

"YOU CALLING ME A KLUTZ?!" Jewelie shouted.

"DON'T CALL ME A KLUTZ!" Emily snapped.

Before long, both had gotten into an argument. Conan couldn't help but facepalm.

"YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN PREGNANT!"

"YOU'RE NOT MY MOTHER OR MY FATHER, YOU DON'T CONTROL WHAT I DO!"

"AND WHAT ASSURES YOU HE CAN PROVIDE FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILD?!"

"HOW DARE YOU INSULT MY HUSBAND, FAT WHEELS!"

"ENOUGH!" Conan shouted, running in between the two. "Come on, a station's no place to have such an argument. Just take a deep breath and calm down."

"This is your fault!"

"Hey, don't blame my partner, jerkass!" snapped Thomas.

"HE couldn't keep it on his pants. Why shouldn't I blame him?!" Emily snapped back.

"Emily, you have no right to speak on our private life. Jewelie is happy to be a mother, and I can and will provide for our child."

Emily wasn't convinced.

"Personally, Connie, I want a son," said Jewelie, mostly to change the subject.

"I'm sure you do," said Conan. "Let's see what comes."

Emily tried to say something else, but Thomas wasn't having it.

"Put a cork in it Emily! Shove off and leave them alone!"

At that moment, her guard blew his whistle. Emily snorted off, still furious.

"I'm telling you, I think she should lose the blue and change to a different colour," said Thomas.

"Green?" suggested a milk van.

"Why green?" asked Conan.

"It's that the colour of her old railway was green," the van replied. "Same with Olive's. Also, I think it would show how jealous she is."

Meanwhile, Emily was ranting to her driver.

"It's like nobody cares about my own feelings on the matter," she said.

"And how are you supposed to influence Jewelie and Conan? Can't you be happy for them?" her driver asked. "You always say you're a mother, means you should be happy."

"I am happy for them. I just…hate having to go through what Jewelie's going through!"

"Sure. You knew this could happen?"

"Of course not!" Emily snorted.

"In any case, you were overblown back there. There was no need to say half of what you said. I think you need to cool down and apologise when you next see them."

"Pfft."

Her driver shook his head, wishing for this whole ordeal to be over soon. Dealing with his own wife when she had been pregnant was one thing. Dealing with a locomotive with all the related mood shifts was something he wasn't paid enough to do.