Bad Order

No Defects

"You have been working here for quite some time, Comet."

Comet looked up as Luno and Solano approached where he sat reading some old newspaper at the ticket counter.

"Well...you know. I like it so far. It's nice when I don't have a group of seven-dimensional beings my human brain can't comprehend standing in line."

"I'm surprised you haven't gone mad!" Solano exclaimed. "Most people do! The lucky ones just get put to sleep by Luno and they wake up later thinking it was a dream, but the ones that went over the deep end for sure get to be mercy killed by him! Isn't that interesting?"

Comet blinked. He wasn't sure how to answer that.

"Uh...sure."

"It is not something I enjoy doing." Luno said. Solano waved him off.

"Whatever. We just finished our last run for the evening, as I am sure you know, since you write the train schedule! If you did not know, I would question your ability to perform your duties as the stationmaster, but luckily, you are good at your job! And we appreciate you!"

Luno cleared his throat.

"Comet. You have continually impressed us, and your presence here at the Station is greatly welcome. That is why Solano and I have decided it would be prudent to teach you how to drive and fire locomotives. It is hard to be a railroader if one does not work on the railroad."

Comet gasped.

"You're...you guys are gonna teach me how to drive the train?" he asked. "Really?"

"Yes, really!" Solano answered. "We think you would be rather good at it! After hard work and effort, of course!"

"Am I gonna get to drive the Eclipse?!"

"No." the twins said in unison. Comet frowned.

"Then...what am I gonna do?"

"We have a second locomotive." Luno replied. "A small tank engine we use as a switcher in our yard. It would be impractical to use an engine as large as the Eclipse for moving things around."

"The Eclipse is not an easy engine to master! She takes far too much for a beginner to learn! But Caelestis, our switcher, is small and mighty! You will very much enjoy her!" Solano added. "Perhaps after you learn, you may be able to help us in the yard!"

Comet could hardly believe what he was hearing.

"Jeez, I...I don't even know what to say! I guess...thanks!"

"We are not to have any trains in or out tomorrow so we can properly introduce you to the locomotive and the yard. You have a lot to learn, Comet. It is important you do not get ahead of yourself." Luno said. "We will teach you everything you need in due time."

"Alright, alright. When do we start?"

"Tomorrow morning. Again, we do not have any trains planned for tomorrow."

"But sometimes things happen!" Solano cut in. "Peace isn't guaranteed!"

Comet sighed.

"I know."

Luno checked his watch and slipped it back into his coat pocket.

"I've maintenance to do on the Eclipse. If you'll excuse me." he said, then walked off.

Comet sighed and rested his chin on his hand.

"Working here's such a trip." he remarked. "Who would have thought I'd wind up tangled in a mess with magic trains holding the universe together?"

Solano laughed.

"I am sure Fate knew! She knows everything!"

Comet traced the edge of the counter with his thumb.

"How do you guys even do it all? I dunno how you find the time for anything. I'm still wondering how there are several trains at the same time on the schedule some days."

Solano leaned on the counter.

"It's simple, really! We don't call it the Station Between Time for nothing! Time is not passing here! Everywhere else in the universe appears frozen in place when we are here!" he replied. "And Luno and I can go anywhere and anywhen we want! It's amazing!"

"How do you even figure that out on a physics level?"

"You don't! It's just vibes!"

It made sense. More sense than the physics textbooks Comet tried to cram before he dropped out of college.

He looked over at where the Eclipse sat at her platform, the steam from her boiler beginning to thin as it cooled. Luno was preparing to do whatever work he had to do on her.

"I don't think he likes me very much." Comet said. Solano looked over at Luno, then back at Comet.

"He does!"

"He does?"

"Trust me! You would know if you drew his ire! He is simply too polite to hate anybody. I'm not! I love to hate! I'm a hater!"

"No you're not."

"You have not known me long!"

"Why's he always such a sourpuss?"

Solano raised an eyebrow.

"He isn't."

"Are you kidding? He always looks pissed off all the time and I can never tell what he's feeling. And he's always yelling."

"He is in a wonderful mood at the moment! Can you not tell? Why, we had a lovely day when we were running the passenger train earlier! Maybe you are simply not good at telling what anybody's feeling!"

Comet frowned.

"Does he ever laugh?"

"No! But I do not mind. He has other ways of expressing his amusement! You simply have to get to know the both of us more!"

"Easier said than done. He's a tough nut to crack."

"Have you tried?"

"...I guess not really."

"There you go! I have solved your problem. I am sure you two will have plenty of time to get used to each other when he teaches you about being a proper fireman! We've only had you step in in emergencies, and that's no way to be!"

"Didn't know there was a whole thing to it. I thought it was just shoveling coal."

"Don't say that to Luno! That really will upset him!" Solano said. "Well, I ought to go help him! The Eclipse is a 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement locomotive, and maintenance on her is a two man job!"

Comet watched Solano walk away and join Luno by the Eclipse. The two of them just got stranger and stranger.

But he'd be driving trains soon. And that was what he cared about.