Steam engines, Skullgirls, and Universes

Chapter 14: Reconstruction

The next day the manager came down to the sheds where the North Western engines reside. The Skullgirl's attack on New Meridian left the place in a sorry state. The manager walked in through the side door. 

"Alright crew, listen up." he started. "The city needs lots of work done to it to recover from the Skullgirl's attack on it yesterday. Thus some of our usual services will be halted to put focus on getting it fixed. You three will be vital in the construction. Gordon you will go to depots and fetch the goods needed, as for Toby and Thomas, you two will go along the tramway to bring them to the workmen." 

"Yes sir." the three engines said. The manager turned away and left the shed. Filia and Squigly hid as they were certain the manager didn't take the homeless sleeping in his engine shed kindly. 

"Thomas, the four of us will be off. The skullgirl is still out there and we need to find her." Squigly said. She wore a hoodie and gloves to hide the fact she was one of the undead brought back from the Skullgirl. If the public, and worse Parasoul found out it were for sure cause trouble.

"Alright, good luck with your hunt and stay safe." Thomas told them. The four thanked them all for letting them stay and went away. 

Gordon was the first to be steamed up. He made stops to the depots to gather the goods. The train contained wood, steel girders, stone, and vans filled with other materials. Gordon had no trouble with these trucks. Their brakes didn't switch on, nor did they force him down the hill. Gordon didn't rush the train, he knew it would only make the other heavy trips later on much more difficult for him. He left the train in the yard and went away for the next. Thomas and Toby would split the train between them and deliver them to various locations in New Meridian. Thomas would handle the more build up areas, while Toby would handle Little Innsmouth.  

Toby made his way through the city to Innsmouth. They needed a large supply of wood to repair the various bridges and even Yu-Wan's restaurant. When he got there he was disheartened. Many of the wooden bridges had little boards left, balconies were ripped from their frames, and Yu's restaurant was in a poor state. Seeing this upset Toby, but now he could at least help with building it back to its former glory. 

Workmen unloaded his wagons and vans. They carried tools, and even brought construction vehicles like front loaders, dump trucks, and excavators. Toby watched as they went to work straight away, cutting the wood to the proper lengths, inspecting foundations, and many other things. Once his trucks were empty, he was ordered to go back for more. Toby did so quickly, and hurried back to the yard. 

Thomas meanwhile puffed down the tramway. He looked around the streets. There were craters in the street with smoldering ash from the fire balls, broken windows, and demolished buildings. It all looked so sorry. A church was near the tramway, it looked as if it was spared. He got to a sign saying

'Construction trains must stop here!' Thomas' crew gently put on the brakes and Thomas stopped. Workmen unloaded his train and started the building process. 

"Um excuse me?" Thomas spoke up. "But if I may ask, how bad is the damage?" One gruff looking workmen turned to him. 

"It's bad. The Skullgirl always brings destruction, this is just something we have to do every seven years." he said in a monotoned voice. Thomas and his crew were shocked by this. Every seven years! How long had this Skullgirl been causing problems for this world? Thomas fell silent, and remained that way until they emptied the trucks. Then he puffed back to the yard, with much to think about. 

Thomas waited at the points to the yard for Toby to pass by with his goods train. He was thinking what the workmen had told them . 

"Every seven years? How long was the Skullgirl around, since the beginning of time?" Thomas thought to himself. He was so distracted he didn't notice Toby go by and him ringing his bell hello.