On The Empty Tracks Of Sodor (GOTP AU)

19. It Worked Before...

Blades had never expected to be so grateful to hear the rescue alarm ping through the following morning. He was up and out of his room in a flash, smiling as he saw Boulder and Heatwave exiting theirs. Primus, he was glad to see that red plating up and moving.

"What's the situation?" Heatwave asked as he tapped his comms.

Structure Fire at the Docks. Priscilla answered, Wind's picking up too. Team A, you're up!

"Got it."

"You sure you're up for a rescue so soon, Heatwave?" Boulder asked.

Heatwave nodded, "Systems are saying I'm back to seventy-eight percent functionality. Not fully healed, but enough to do my job... I've missed out on enough rescues. Until we can find Cody and Chase, it's business as usual."

"Alright then."

"What is that noise...!?"
They turned to see the Sodorians stirring from the floor. Though the alarm didn't blare as loudly down in the bunker, it was still quite audible through the ceiling. Gordon had already grabbing a cushion from the couch and was trying to cover his ears with them.

"Emergency alarm." Boulder informed, "We have a job to do."

"Is there a way we can help?" Percy offered.

"Best stay here, kiddo." Heatwave announced, "But you all could watch from the Command Center up there." He pointed to the open door on the second level, "There are screens up there you can watch us from."

"Okay!"
Thomas and Percy were headed for the command center before Sigma Seventeen had even turned back to continue their way to the elevator.

The trio went to the elevator and headed upstairs, and Heatwave grinned. "Those two littles are adorable, wanting to help out. You know that, right?"

Blades and Boulder nodded, "Being useful is in their programming."

The Burnses slid down the fire pole from above, running to their respective partners as they transformed into vehicle mode, with Chief Burns climbing into Heatwave's passenger seat. 

Kade seemed to settle into the seat a bit more, giving a grin as he patted the steering wheel. "It's good to have you back, partner."

"Same. Alright Burns Family-"

"Roll to the Rescue!" The rest of the team announced.

"Hey, that's my line."

"And we missed you saying it." Chief Burns replied with a smile.

Guys! Priscilla announced, Fire! Docks! Emergency! I thought the key was to be out in ten seconds or less-

"Alright, alright." Heatwave's engine roared, "Roll to the Rescue!"

________________________________________________________

Thomas and Percy led the way up into the Command Center, with Edward, James, and Emily all following while the rest just tried to go back to sleep now that the alarm was no longer blaring. "Incredible!" Thomas announced as they entered the room, "Look at all of this...!"

In front of them was a massive console of some sort, adorned with dozens, if not hundreds, of buttons, levers, and switches. Above it was a large screen that showed multiple images that appeared to be moving somehow, showing cars driving, trees bending in the wind, and- most importantly- the image of smoke and flames rising from the Docks.

"Even with knowledge of the technology in this time period," Emily overlooked the console, "How do you know what is what with all of these...?"