Ghost Train (OPEN!!! GO GO GO!!!!)

[High's .Valentine.]

“Drive?” Jeannie gasped. Already, she was reaching for a random button. Grabbing the lever Benson was offering her, she pushed it forward, a look of glee on her youthful face. The train sped forward in respond to the lever. Jeannie flew to the back of the compartment, her glee replaced with horror, and slammed her head on the metal wall before another lurch sent her to the front. The train had came to a complete stop thanks to her tight grip on the lever, which was jerked back when the girl was thrown to the back of the conductor’s room.

This time, she rammed into the wind shield. This has got to be the most unnerving visit to a foreign world she’s ever had. Slammed and smashed around, the Panda Girl rolled off the control panel, clicking a button on accident as her furry suit rolled over the complicated contraptions.

Above them, something whistled, and the whole compartment began to beep as a red light blinked.

“Oooh noooo!” Jeannie mumbled, now choosing to huddle in a corner of the conductor’s room where she had been so unceremoniously dumped by the jerking train. “I don’t want to drive anymore!” She whimpered.

[aleX]

He heard the whispers coming from some of the front compartments. Someone even had the courtesy of shouting, "Hey, is everything alright up there?" And it was completely understandable too. After all, this was the -second- time this had happened to the passengers on this train. But Benson knew enough about the train to get it going again.

He flipped the lever next to the flashing light. It didn't stop, but another light began to flash - this one green. A few twists of some dials, checking of gauges and a nudge of a lever, and the monstrosity was moving again. The green light flashed one last time, and Benson flicked the lever the other way. Then he flicked a switch on the ceiling and the train began to move backwards. After making sure that the train would move, but at a steady, safe pace, Benson left the control panel and walked over to the girl.

He knelt down and put a hand on her back.

"I'm sorry. I should have told you a bit about how the controls worked first. Are you alright?"

A man came in the room, dressed in the blue suit of the train officers, and his eyes flicked around the cabin, taking in the man asleep in the corner, the un-manned control panel, and the two kids in the corner. He cleared his throat, assuming that Benson knew what was going on. At least he was correct.

"Sir, what are we doing?"

"We've gone off course. We're returning to the platform."

[High's .Valentine.]

[Muse starting to suffer. DX]

“I wanna go hooome…” Jeannie mumbled to the male’s question. “Mister, today hasn’t been very kind to me…” The train rumbled under her paws, but the Panda Girl had the feeling of being swallowed by the machine. It had been a big mistake on her part to enter the train. Oooh, her head is still sting from the slamming and hitting, and tossing. It was horrible, simply horrible.

“We’re returning to the platform?” Jeannie perked up from her sulking, though it was apparent that she was still quite upset from the downturn of the day. “Does that mean I can get off? I get to leave this thing? It won’t devour me?” A grin appeared on her face, but then she stopped herself before she can go any further. She didn’t want to be disappointed like she had been when she first found out how fast the train runs, or when she had wanted to try driving the thing herself.

“Oooh, I hope nothing bad happens before we get to the platform,” the girl moaned, shivering and hugging herself. She didn’t really need any more trouble for the day. For the month, no the year! Yes, Jeannie had quite enough of the train and its dangerous antics.

[aleX]

Benson held the door open for the girl to walk through. Then, he said, "There you go. Keep yourself safe."

And he left the train, walking to his boss's office. When he stepped in, he was watching the other man filling out some paperwork. The man grunted.

"I found your ghost train, sir. Apparently, the driver had fallen asleep. I recommend he be replaced."

"You do, huh?"

He didn't look up, but kept writing.

"Yessir."

"Alright, I'll look into it. Good work kid. There'll be a bonus in next week's pay."

"Thank you, sir!"

The man grunted again and Benson turned around and ran out of the office, feeling a great sense of accomplishment from a job well done. He pumped his fist in the air and shouted with glee.

--End of Thread--