Chapter 4: Trains, Cranes, & Stolen Machines

A.N. Well, here it is! Chapter 4 is here at last! And before you read it, there's something I might've forgotten to mention earlier:

Big Mickey and Puffa both have faces, and Puffa speaks with a Southern US accent, the former having a face because of the episode "New Crane On The Dock" in Season 21 of Thomas & Friends, which is TUGS' sister show, as Gil stated in Chapter 1, in which we finally see that Big Mickey has gained a face and finally speaks with an actual mouth rather than a megaphone.

Well, 'nuff said about that. Enjoy Chapter 4 and sorry this took so long!

Meanwhile, Ten Cents, the guppies, and Sunshine were on their way back to the dock when all of a sudden, they heard a train whistle. A gray DRG Class 80 steam locomotive with an oil-burning headlight, a diamond smokestack, and a cowcatcher as well as a face with a bushy gray mustache chuffed up next to them.

"Well, howdy, Ten Cents, Sunshine!" said the locomotive. "Who're your friends?"

"Hey, Puffa." said Ten Cents, who then introduced the guppies to his locomotive friend.

"It sure is nice of y'all to come to Bigg City Port for a visit." said Puffa.

"Yeah." said Oona.

"Well, we'd love to stay and chat, but we've gotta home." said Ten Cents.

"Alrighty then." said Puffa.

With that, the two tugs and their guests made their way back to the dock, but on the way, they saw a large hammerhead crane with bushy gray eyebrows.

"Hi there!" The crane boomed.

The Guppies were shocked, especially Gil and Goby.

"Big Mickey?!" They gasped.

"Yup, it's him." said Ten Cents. "You know, I myself was surprised by his face."

"But...but...but you haven't spoken in years!" said Gil.

"And you didn't have a face the last time I saw you!" said Goby.

"Well, this is what happens when a show progresses through the years." said Big Mickey. "I finally gained a face in Season 21 of my new show."

"You know, it kinda stinks that our show only lasted 13 episodes." said Ten Cents.

"Yeah." said Sunshine. "But, hey, at least people are continuing our legacy on the internet."

"Yeah." said Ten Cents. "Well, we'd love to stay the chat, Big Mickey, but we've gotta get home."

"Alright then." said Big Mickey. "Take care now!"

After saying their good-byes to Big Mickey, Ten Cents, the guppies, and Sunshine returned back to the dock, and the Guppies went back to Captain Star's home to supper, for which he had made fish sticks and french-fried potatoes, which, luckily for Deema, were both kosher. After supper, as a special treat, Captain Star lit the fire in his fireplace and got out marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers to make s'mores.

"Oh boy! S'mores!" said Molly.

"I love those things!" said Gil.

With that, they started making s'mores, all the while exchanging jokes.

"Hey, I got a joke!" said Gil.

"Let's hear it." said Captain Star.

"Okay." said Gil. "Why did the computer cross the road?"

"Well, I don't know." said Molly. "Why did the computer cross the road?"

"To get a byte to eat!" said Gil.

Everyone laughed.

"My turn!" said Goby. "Why did the turkey, chicken, and duck get thrown off the bus?"

"Why?" asked Captain Star.

"For using fowl language!" Goby said.

Everyone laughed again.

"I've got one, too." said Captain Star. "What animal should you never play cards with?"

"Wait, wait, don't tell us." said Nonny. "A cheetah!"

Captain Star was surprised.

"How did you know?" asked Captain Star.

"Lucky guess." said Nonny. "Besides, 'cheetah' sounds a lot like 'cheater'."

"That makes sense." said Captain Star.

Just then, Captain Star saw that it was 9:30.

"Well, I think you kids better get to bed." said Captain Star.

"Okay." said Molly. "Goodnight."

With that, the guppies went to bed. Elsewhere, Zug and Zip arrived at the place where the machine was being kept and found it by simply staring into the window.

"Do you see it?" asked Zug.

"Yup." said Zip.

"Good." said Zug. "Let's go in there and get the job done."

And that's exactly what they did. They managed to go inside, get the machine, and come back out without being caught by security.

"That was easy." said Zug.

They made it back to the Zero Fleet Dock, and reported their success to Zorran, who was indeed surprised.

"Wow. I'm impressed." said Zorran. "This is the first time you two pulled a heist without messing up."

"Well, there weren't a lot of security guards on duty, so that's how easy it was." said Zug.

"What're we gonna do with it now?" asked Zip.

"I called my associate, and she'll be here in the morning to buy it from us." said Zorran.

"Great!" said Zug.

"Shhhh!" hissed Zorran. "Keep your voice down! Someone's gonna hear!"

"Oh, sorry." said Zug.

"It's alright." said Zorran. "Now, we should all get some sleep so we can be ready for when she comes."

With that, the three Z-Stacks all joined the other two in Slumber Land.