#...and trauma

Prompt 1.Dissonace- @tigerhawk7109

Other Stories

Impulse

September 1967

'No No No No'

D9021 stared in horror at the sight before her.

'No No No'

"I'm sorry, Love, I'll be late for our date tonight." Impala tried to smile but failed, her eyes watering. The B1 stood in the out of use siding, her sister Nyala and brother Poku coupled behind her.

'No No No No No Please No'

Impala kept talking but all D9021 could hear was a roaring in her ears. 

'Not scrap anything but scrap' she thought desperately.

Impala's driver, Mr.Matthews, walked up and laid a hand on her buffers, unable to heet D9021's eyes "The attempt to buy her fell through. The railway wanted more than we could afford. We tried to ask for more time but....She'll be sent to Chesterfeilds in the morning." He looked down sadly, "I'm sorry 21. I really am." He took off his hat and glanced back towards his engine. 

Impala smiled sadly. "Goodbye Mr. Matthews. Thank you for trying" 

"Goodbye old girl, he said, "I'll miss you more than you'll ever know." He went to say something else but hesitated. He then shook his head and slowly walked away. As he put his hat back on 21 noticed a tear falling down his cheek.

21 opened her mouth but no words couldn't come out, Impala was supposed to make it. They had found a group to buy her. This couldn't be happening. 

Impala looked back over to her, "It'll be alright dear." She said, trying to put on a brave face. "You're a beautiful young engine, I'm sure everyone will be lining up to help you forget me."

"No." 21 finally forced out. "This wasn't supposed to happen." She felt like her motor was trying to tear itself apart, the ringing drove out any thought other than 'No.'

Impala looked sadder than ever at this. "We knew it was a long shot." She reminded 21 gently, "I'm just glad I got to meet you first."

21 was shaking.

D9010 rolled up alongside 21, "Sutherland what's wrong, you have a train in..."

She fell silent at the sight of Impala in the sidings. She stared for a long moment

"She was never just a fling, was she?" She asked.

"I...I can't," 21 pleaded.

D9010 was silent for a long moment before meeting 21's eyes

 "Then don't." She said simply. "Whatever you do, we're behind you."

21 hesitated less than a second before lunging forward into the siding, buffering up to Impala with a ringing clang. Mr. Matthews turned at the sudden noise, then broke into a sprint back towards them.

21's crew scrambled to hook her up to the three steam engines. In the distance a class 20 called out and moved toward them, only for D9010 to push a long line of trucks in his path. Mr. Matthews scrambled into Impala's cab and released her brakes.

"What! 21, you can't..."

"...leave you there." 21 finished firmly. The ringing in her head was gone. Her crew scrambled back into her cab and she roared backward onto the mainline, the three steamies in tow.

A clas 37 tried to pursue but D9003 blocked his path, blaring her horn. 21 shouted her thanks to her sisters and shot off down the line.

------

Hours later, D9021 was beginning to flag. The three engines were heavy, and she hadn't been able to refuel since their escape. The signalmen along the line had turned a blind eye and passed her through towards Barrow and the North Western region, so thankfully she hadn't had to stop. She knew if she did they would be caught. 

"You don't have enough fuel, do you?" Impala asked solemnly behind her.

"We'll make it." 21 tried to sound confident. 

Impala wasn't fooled. "You didn't have time to fuel up before you grabbed us. I know you must be running low." 2w grit her teeth.

"If you turn back, they might overlook..."

"I'm not leaving you!" 21 howled, "I'd rather go with you to Chesterfields than live with sending you for scrap to save my own frames!"

They fell silent for a long moment.

"How long has that been on your chest?" Impala asked quietly.

"Years." 22 admitted. "Ever since I realized what management's plan meant for you." She sighed, "But I'm running out of ideas...and fuel."

Impala chuckled wetly, "I did say your impulsiveness would get you into trouble one day."

"We're not done yet," 21 reassured her, "and even if we were...it was worth it."

Impala smiled, "I love you too." Bittersweet tears ran down both their faces. 

Peeeeeoooop!

Both engines jerked, startled at the sound of a whistle coming from behind.  

"What is it?" Impala asked, glancing back as far as she could.

21 glanced back past Impala and her siblings along the line. Her jaw dropped, 'It can't be!' She thought. 

But it was, racing up behind them a red 9f shot along the line, its long line of trucks cackling with glee at their speed.

21 grinned, "It's the North Western!"

The 9f caught up to them gently and 21 sighed with relief as the mighty freight engine took the weight of the train.

"And here I thought I would finally have a quiet run," the 9f called, her amusement clear despite her resigned tone.

The trucks behind her cheered and the large engine rolled her eyes, "well the heathens are happy to see you."

21 laughed, "not as happy as we are to see you. I was worried we weren't gonna make it before you arrived."

The 9f snorted, "I was wondering why I'd been switched onto this line. I'm Murdoch by the way, the rascals behind me only answer to truck, heathen, or demon."

The trucks giggled.

"Hi Murdoch! It's great to meet you." 21 beamed.

"I'm Impala, behind me are Nyala and Poku. Impulsive up front is D9021."

"Hey!"

Murdoch sighed. "Yeah, you lot will fit right in." She glanced back towards the trucks, "You lot promise to behave?"

"Yes Miss Murdoch!" "Please Miss Murdoch," the trucks called excitedly.