"Gordon!" he shouted. "Gordon!!"
Gordon's disgruntled face peered out from behind the door. A surprised Henry also came out at the shouting. But when they saw the terrified Thomas, they dropped everything. Gordon rushed over to him and crouched down beside him to be at eye level.
"Thomas, what’s happened?"
"There... there..."
"What?"
Sobbing, Thomas told them about the strange man who had attacked Edward. Gordon, his 'older brother' in this large family, listened attentively to the whole story. Then he exchanged a meaningful glance with Henry. They nodded to each other.
"Let's go. Thomas, lead the way."
***
"Well, well, you've finally woken up. I was starting to think I overdid it."
Edward blinked. His whole body ached. His head was spinning terribly, and he had to close his eyes again, if only for a couple of moments, but he recognised the voice. The terrifying reality forced him to open them once more.
He looked around with difficulty and realised he was in some sort of abandoned workshop. Edward was sitting, leaning against a metal column, and right in front of him stood Diesel 10, towering over him with his immense height. Edward tried to stand up and discovered he was tied up. His hands were bound behind his back with stiff ropes, more were coiled around his chest, tied so tightly that breathing was difficult. He tried to move his arms and legs but quickly realised it was pointless. His captor leaned over him, grinning nastily.
"Well then, do you remember me, Edward?"
Of course Edward remembered. Many, many years ago, he had already met that monster. Back then, Diesel 10 was with both arms. Edward sighed and closed his eyes, fighting the pain in his ribs caused by even the slightest movement. His thoughts carried him far back in time.
He had not been born on Sodor. Far away, in another place, in a distant land; he had once prevented Diesel 10 from killing Lady, the deity of all machines. He had risked everything, snatched her from his grasp, and took her to safety as she lay dying. But this world was not entirely safe for her, and Lady, with a final act of will, transported both herself and Edward into her own isolated dimension. There she remained asleep upon the mountain, had showing him the way back as a final gesture. That was how he had ended up on Sodor.
It was the best place, Edward thought, a place where Diesel 10 would never look for him. But, as it turned out, that wasn't the case.
"Of course. You came because of Lady. Otherwise, what could have made you cross the ocean and end up here?"
Edward coughed. The words came with great difficulty, but he maintained his composure in the face of danger.
"It's been a long time, hasn't it?" he continued. "You nearly did something terrible. She... she was hurt. You put us all in danger, Diesel 10. Don't you remember..."
"I remember it perfectly well," Diesel 10 growled in his face. "She was in my hands. She was bleeding to death, I was a hair’s breadth away from wiping out your kind once and for all! But you intervened. You took her away. And now you will pay for it."
Without further ado, Diesel 10 struck him. Edward couldn't help crying out. Diesel 10 landed several more blows, knowing exactly where to strike to cause the most pain. Finally, he flung him aside.
"Right, I'm not here to beat all the nonsense out of your old body. I need an answer to a question."
Edward clenched his teeth. Diesel 10 frowned, the sinister smile fading from his face.
"I know there's a portal on this damned island that will take me to her home. And you know about it too. You’ve been there, haven't you? In her dimension. I know she's there, still sleeping beneath the mountain, waiting for the wounds I inflicted to heal. Sleeping - and helpless. So you," he grabbed Edward by the collar, "will tell me where that place is."
"No. I want a future. For everyone, and for Thomas. Besides, you're mistaken - Lady's death will affect you too. You’re a child of the Machine God, just like the rest of us. Don’t make a mistake, Diesel 10-"
A sharp blow to the stomach cut him off. Edward gasped for air, but another blow followed, a heavy strike to the ribs, so hard that he heard a bone crack. He wheezed in pain, but Diesel 10 gave him no respite. He grabbed Edward by the hair and yanked him up to eye level.
"I never make mistakes, you pathetic scrap. Tell me where the portal is."
"No."
"Tell me!"
"No..."
Diesel 10 hurled Edward to the ground. Edward looked up, and that was when he truly began to feel afraid - Diesel 10’s expression had changed even more. One of the sunbeams filtering into this prison through a crack in the ceiling and glinted off his mechanical clawed hand. Diesel 10 stretched his lips into a repulsive grin, baring his teeth.
"I see. So, we'll do this another way. Meet Pin-"
He was cut off by a loud clang, the crash of doors swinging open. Diesel 10 spun around and barely managed to dodge Gordon’s fist flying toward his face. Leaping to the side, he let Gordon pass, but was immediately swept aside as Henry burst into the workshop behind him. He lunged at Diesel 10, landing another blow to the solar plexus, one meant to knock anyone down, but Diesel 10 stayed on his feet. Behind him, Gordon got back up.
"An abandoned factory. I knew you'd come here."
Diesel 10 possessed terrifying strength, and his clawed prosthetic arm made him even more deadly, but Henry fought with such ferocity that he matched him blow for blow. Usually one of the quietest and most insecure member of the steam team, he was now a fearsome fighting machine, a force of raw power and rage.
"How dare you do this to Edward?!"
For the first time, Diesel 10 felt bewildered. Fighting the two strongest members of the steam team was difficult enough on its own, and the situation was beginning to slip out of his hands. His anger at the spectre of defeat blinded him, and he failed to dodge the final blow. Gordon's punch met the bridge of his nose, Diesel 10 was sent flying backwards, crashed into the wall, and lost consciousness.
Gordon spat and gave him a contemptuous look.
The bigger they are, the louder they fall, he thought.
Thomas, who had been hiding outside all this time, peeked cautiously through the door. Seeing the defeated beast, he let out a sigh of relief. And then he rushed forward.
"Edward!"
Through the haze of pain, Edward smiled. He turned his gaze toward Thomas, who had crouched down beside him and was now trying to free him, tugging at the ropes to no avail.
"Come on, Thomas, step aside for a moment."
Gordon took Thomas by the hand and led him away while Henry untied Edward. Then Henry gently lifted him into his arms, and they left the factory workshop. But they didn't get far.
"Bitches spawns," a voice rasped behind them.
They turned around. Diesel 10 was standing in the doorway. He was leaning heavily against the doorframe, but his eyes burned with such fury that, if a glance could kill, they would all be dead. Gordon and Henry returned the glare. Even little Thomas scowled and bared his teeth. This silent duel lasted for a moment, and in the end, Diesel 10 had to admit defeat.
"Someday I'll get you. I’'ll get all of you," he hissed, retreating into the shadows. He couldn't withstand another fight against those two, and the darkness of the workshop swallowed his suffocating rage.
Realising the danger had passed, Edward finally allowed himself to breathe out in exhaustion. His body went limp in Henry's arms. Edward lost consciousness.
***
He woke up to the soft glow of sunlight. A ray of light was shining directly into his eyes. Edward was lying half-reclined in bed in a ward at Victor's hospital, and just as he began to think about that - Victor himself walked in a minute later.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, checking the bandages. "Let me know if it's gotten any worse. I can tell you, you've been very lucky."
"Ah... thanks, Victor. I’ve... been through worse. What a difficult day yesterday was..."
"Unfortunately, it wasn't yesterday, Edward. You have been here for nearly a week."
Edward sighed heavily. Then again, he had been expecting something like that.
There was a commotion behind the door, followed by scraping and clattering sounds. Someone tugged at the handle. Edward looked questioningly at Victor.
"It's Thomas. He's been desperate to see you all week. I know what you're about to ask, but it's probably best not to, you're still too weak, and you need rest."
"Let him in anyway, please."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Edward!"
As soon as Victor turned the handle, Thomas squeezed through the half-open door and rushed toward Edward. He burst into the ward, climbed onto the bed, and threw his arms around Edward's neck. Edward gasped as his injured ribs protested. Victor reached out to pull Thomas away, but Edward shook his head to show he didn't want him to.
Thomas was crying, burying his face in Edward's chest. His sobs choked him. Between gasps, he tried to say something, but the tears got the better of him.
"Ed... Edward..."
"Shh, Thomas. It's okay."
Edward ran his hand through Thomas's hair and gently stroked it, soothing his fear. He thought about how terrible this week must have been for the poor boy: the uncertainty, the fear, and the incomprehensible fate of someone so dear to him.
"Edward..." Thomas muttered through his sobs. "I thought, thought, thought you was going to die..."
"Thomas, look at me."
He lifted his swollen, tear-stained eyes.
"Thomas," Edward said quietly but firmly, "I promised you everything would be all right, and it is. I'm alive. I'll never leave you."
Instead of answering, Thomas sniffed and tucked his head under Edward's chin. He wasn't crying anymore. Edward brushed a hand through Thomas's hair, noting to himself that it had grown quite long and that Thomas really ought to have a haircut. He raised his other arm, the movement sending a twinge of pain through his shoulder, and wrapped it around Thomas.
But the thought of what had happened prevented him from relaxing completely. Edward was deep in thought, and the expression on his face grew more and more troubled.
Diesel 10 was back. That meant the island's peaceful life was over. He would stop at nothing until he got what he wanted and Edward had to prevent that from happening. He knew that Thomas would now be in his sights as well. Edward had to find a way to protect them all. This time, he had been lucky - he had been saved, but it might not happen again.
Edward thought he would have to figure something out.
