Race Against Time (A Shed 17 Fanfic)

Arrival

Losing a child is a parents' worst nightmare.

Grief alone just cannot describe just how bad this situation was. The pain that shed, on the day of the incident, ended up breaking a poor professor in such ways that no words can describe. Everyone just knew how devastated the Götze family would be, at a time like this.

The news spread around Sodor like a wild bushfire, not long after the incident happened. A young boy, loved by many of Sodor's residents, was involved in a freak train accident. Now, the kid was fighting for his life, just barely hanging on.

However, instead of taking him to a nearby hospital - his father, Prof Hans Götze, took him into the labs at the Research Complex. As soon as the doors shut, no one has heard from him ever since.

Until now...

Professor Wilhelm Götze was travelling down to Arlesburgh, to head straight to the complex. He hadn't heard from his son ever since the accident — not a phone call or letter, and he was worried about what was keeping his son consistently isolating himself.

If Hans could be anywhere, it's there.

Soon, he had arrived at the complex, passing through security checkpoints, and began using his current title - Prof Wilhelm. What researchers and scientists, that happened to be present when he arrived, let him go find Hans. Wilhelm was one of the more respected professors, along with Hans and many others. Receiving the directions needed, he soon rushed down towards one of the side sectors of the site, before coming to a stop at two ash grey double doors that had information written on the two displayed signs.

Room Vacancy : Occupied
Date Established : May 9, 1978
Organiser : Prof. H Götze, T Götze (patient)

Restricted Area | Authorised Personnel Only

Wilhelm recognised the handwriting to be his son's, but it was written more rushed than he had ever seen. He just stared at the double doors, as silent as the surrounding environment could be, as he could just hear the echoes of endless mumbling heard on the opposite side of those doors.

Without a doubt, he knocked and awaited for a response, but no one answered. He didn't think to try and knock again, as he grabbed hold of the door handle and slowly, and quietly, pushed the door open.

As the door creaked open, Wilhelm couldn't help but gasp in surprise, so much so that his glasses almost fell off.

The whole room was in shambles, if were close to. Hans was never the type who would leave a workplace inside out. Most of the lights were all knocked out except for the operating table light, shining almost as bright as a star. There laid the body of a young boy - his clothes were awfully similar to what his grandson would usually wear, except for his jacket and shirt being absent.

What shocked the professor the most, was that one of the boy's arms was missing, replaced with a series of thick bandages and fabric padding.

Wilhelm froze, feeling his stomach in a knot, as he had never seen such a horrific sight in years, ever since he was a scientist back in Germany. He couldn't find the words to describe the scene, even in his native tongue.

He slowly walked closer to the operating table, inspecting the victim involved. One footstep click and clack whenever he moved. Soon, he found himself standing next to the operating table. His eyes widened to see that the victim was his grandson, Thomas.

The poor kid was completely knocked out. His eyes were shut, and his entire left arm was missing just past his shoulder - like it was cut clean off. Bruises were scattered all across his exposed skin, from his face down to his torso. His legs were covered, but he couldn't imagine how bad the condition of his legs were. Many wires were attached along his existing arm - one small plastic clip attached onto his fore finger, while a needle was injected into the vein in his lower arm.