The humans had been planning this for a while, saying it was a celebration of the company itself. Union Pacific. 150 years of service. It was a big deal, but the fact that one worker had been in service day in and day out with no breaks, no loss of dedication to his job, and no failing to show... for 50 of those years was also a big deal. They had told that worker, a centennial diesel locomotive named Golden Spike that it was a celebration of him as much as it was for the company. It was Golden Spike that had been running Bailey that whole time and for that, the humans even had a present for him, apparently.
Even though the party itself was big, most of the rolling stock were not allowed to go. Just a handful of the favorite coaches and Golden himself since he was the pride and joy of the yard. He'd even been cleaned up so he was shining like new.
Positioned and concealed behind a curtain, awaiting its reveal to the guests was a piece of rolling stock. Its systems were fully charged and ready to fulfill its duties. But as it sat on the floor motionless. It was powered off and unaware of its own existence. Yet some of the humans surrounding it knew its purpose and capabilities, having meticulously prepared for its debut.
The humans had their talks for what seemed like an eternity about not just the company's history, but the growth it had in the past few years, some board members talked about themselves. There was a section about the lead diesellok Golden Spike. His ability to be such a good lead meant that the operations went smoothly not only at Bailey but also at surrounding yards. The Bailey yard was like the heart of not only the company but the country. It kept the country alive. It kept humans and animals alive. Livestock. Medicines. Building materials. Everything that moved by rail in the United States would eventually be seen by this rail yard.
As Golden Spike stood before the crowd of humans, he looked down on them. His arms resting behind his back, feet placed apart at shoulder's width and standing at attention as they told what he had done in his service for the Union Pacific. Those fifty years had their challenges, but he believed that nothing could stop him once he was in motion. He kept his gaze on the group, seeing them snapping photos for the papers and waiting to ask questions about the gift he was about to be presented. Golden looked over at the cloth curtain, seeing what looked like a large lump being covered for him through the faint shadows that his cameras could detect. He didn't look amazed, but he kept his thoughts to himself.
The last few times they had done this, they had been coaches. He looked out of the corner of his eyes at the female rolling stock lined up next to him. They were pretty, but none of them were really someone he enjoyed spending too much time with. If the new one was a coach, it had better be the best coach he had ever seen. One that he would actually have the pleasure of working with.
Before they served the food and drink. One of the humans at the highest position pulled the attention of everyone in attendance. It was now time for them to reveal the present for the yardmaster engine, just as they had done every decade. They directed their attention to the curtain, before pulling it open. They waited for just a moment. It was more like a few seconds. The crowd cheered and suddenly there was a cascade of flashing cameras. It made Golden Spike and his coaches blink and quickly adjust their own camera eyes to not be too blinded by the flashes.
Golden watched as the new gift was revealed to him. He raised his eyebrow, skeptical at the sight. It was an engine, meant for assisting him while on the rails most likely. His arms stayed behind his back as he looked at the humans and coaches. This wasn't a small engine either. He had a suspicion but he wouldn't know until I powered on.
The humans were taking pictures of the new engine as soon as the curtains were pulled. There was a human that opened up the new diesel's chest panels to reach in and power on his black box with a switch that used a key. At the same time, the board member announced them, "To celebrate the 150th anniversary of our company. We are proud to announce that because Golden Spike's limited passenger service has been popular...we are reintroducing passenger service! We present to you...The Union Pacific Daylight!!" Though the new engine would not hear the speech about why they chose the name for him. It was something about the sun shining or a bright future for the company probably. It didn't matter. It was his name and he would know it without ever needing to hear it.
At the turn of the black box key, it felt like a hundred things were happening at once as several hundreds of files were being accessed for the first time by something both conscious and unconscious in me. Pacific Daylight was frozen in place but he was clearly on as a faint whirr came from within him. The sound of black box fans. The engine went down the first time boot up checklist. Learning the right way to wake up. Soon enough his programming told him to prime his motors. Then, they turned over to start with a powerful rev as he willed his motors alive.
Daylight opened up his eyes, and noticed that he was looking mostly at the floor. He could hear his own fans and his twin motors. The sound of another pair of motors catches his attention. He turned his eyes up to see a strikingly golden machine. Tall. Broad. Handsome. Right now Daylight didn't have any interest in the humans around himself. He felt the need to be around other rolling stock that would help teach him the things not listed in his files. He had not even receive and order to do this, but he began to try to get up on his legs like a newborn calf. He clearly was still trying to calibrate his balancing system to the size, weight, and power he had. Things that coaches never would have to struggle with. It was a unique experience that engines had to go through. The heavy weight in their chest that gave them strength. He would need to learn that balance before he was ready to pull anything.
Looking dazed, Daylight sat back down the way he had woken up. He was still downloading the database of AIs in the yard. It was... many. He kept his eyes on the golden engine who crossed his arms as the humans apologized on my behalf?
" We do apologize, The Pacific Daylight had not been booted up before today. But that means that was his first rev!"
The centennial rubbed his forehead and spoke up. "It is fine. It's a good gift," he gave them a frown. He didn't know what to think. I heard him whisper to his coaches, "An engine? As a gift?"
The humans then gestured at the new engine, telling Golden to try to give him an order. He looked down at the shiny and pristine passenger engine, "Engine 8411, stand at attention," His voice was a deep baritone with a hint of gravelliness. It was an attractive and commanding voice. "We can't have you sleeping on your first day."
Daylight felt a little embarrassed. The gold locomotive that stood so..proudly seemed almost disappointed. The frown was what let him know it the most. He watched the way Golden looked at him and gave him that order. Daylight felt compelled to do what the centennial said. Not just because he said so but because the passenger diesel thought... he was attractive.
And so Daylight tried to gather his feet under himself and attempt to stand again. He wanted to reach out to the DDA40X to help steady himself. At once, he noticed that he was slightly smaller than the centennial and yet a lot bigger than the coaches. The database finally told him the name of the engine that had given the order.
UP#6900 Golden Spike.
Daylight found his voice and spoke, "I won't sleep, sir. I'm up and running. Pacific Daylight, at your service." He tried to stand 'at attention' to the best that he could with my newly booted up experience.
Golden's eyes were locked onto Daylight, looking over his details and nodding in approval. He still kept that stern frown, still standing his ground as he saw the passenger engine steady himself. "At ease," Golden he said in a much kinder tone. He looked over at the humans. "At least you gave him a decent voice. I won't mind him saying 'yes sir' to me." There was finally a little smirk on his face as he looked at Daylight once more.
Daylight smiled in turn, already feeling safe while next to the centennial.
That smirk quickly turned back into a frown as Golden Spike tried to hide the shimmer of his excitement.
One of the humans, who presented themself as an acoustic engineer, mentioned how they had decided to tune the Pacific Daylight's voice to the sensors that Golden had. They didn't know why they had overlooked it but it seemed like Golden's acoustic sensors were made to be more receptive to lower tones. Probably to better hear the rumbling of the tracks and other engines he would have to round up. Compared to the voices of the coaches which had been tuned to what the humans would like to hear. The human seemed quite proud. "If that locomotive's voice sounds good to you as he does to us, then my team has done their job perfectly."
"My company. My owners, you did do well," Golden placed his hand on Daylight's shoulder and then inspected his frame. Touching and feeling the different panels and details. He raised the passenger diesel's muscular arm, looking at the size of them, and then looked at his own.
Daylight allows Golden Spike's inspection. If he wanted to look, then he could. But he noticed a yellow glow appear on Golden's surface coming from...himself? This feeling...flustered. His motors were running a little faster. He liked how Golden Spike looked at his frame and touched it. His voice was quiet. "Are you impressed with me, sir?"
Golden Spike's hand moved to Daylight's jaw, holding it as he looked into his eyes. "You will do nicely," he said cooly, letting my face go.
"Mnnn...thank you." But to Daylight, it felt like he let go too soon. He fought to keep his hands to himself and held them together to stay professional. The golden metal the bigger engine was made of was too beautiful and alluring. The humans had made Daylight mostly silver whereas Golden Spike was, well, golden. In his mind, this clearly meant he was designed to be Goldne Spike's second in comman and as he ran it through his processes..it felt more and more correct. Then, he could clearly see Golden looking at more of his panels, inspecting around his legs and abdominals.
Golden looked over at the humans. "Is he equipped like me?" He wasn't very subtle. The humans that designed the AI powered trains nodded in agreement while the humans looking at the scene were a bit confused.
Daylight wasn't sure what he meant by those words of 'is he equipped like me'.
Golden then turned his back to the new engine and looked at the crowd. "Are you all impressed by my new gift? I think he will make a fine addition to my team," The centennial engine looks back at Daylight over his shoulder, a big smile on his face.
The humans in the crowd were watching all of these interactions. Some had attended previous celebrations and were confused about why a locomotive had been given instead of a coach. Either way, the crowd cheered again and clapped once the gift had been accepted by Golden Spike.
Golden Spike's full attention was then turned back to his gift, The Pacific Daylight. "Keep him in my shed. I'll be sure he knows exactly how an engine should act," Golden said as he placed both his hands on the passenger engine's shoulders.
A new notice appeared in Daylight's vision. His resting area had been reassigned to Golden Spike's shed the moment he had said it.
Golden's eyes glowed as he looked down at this precious gift. "You're going to be a good little engine for me, aren't you?"
Daylight easily noticed the glow and I had a sensation that he might be feeling the same thing I did... attraction. "I will, my lead..."
The humans then began to move and serve up plates of food. They would eat and continue the celebration as well as have some closing words. One of the humans came up to Golden Spike to tell him that his and his consist's attendance was no longer required. "We hope you train this locomotive well. He's built to be the ideal passenger engine."
"Noted. I appreciate the gift," Golden was frowning again, but it seemed that this wasn't a sign of aggravation or being upset. He seemed that the frown was just how his face would rest. Serious and focused. Golden looked back over his shoulder. "Couple up with me, Pacific Delight. The coaches will follow. Let us show the spectators what we do," He looked to his coaches and without a word, one coach quickly latched onto Daylight's couplers.
Daylight did the same and grabbed a hold of Golden Spike's couplers. The rest of the coaches lined up behind.
The humans cheered for Golden Spike as he revved his twin motors and moved forward effortlessly. The tug he gave Daylight's arms made him rev as well. The centennial let out three loud honks before leading the newly formed train out of the celebration hall and into the railyard...
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