"Thanks for letting me come along with you", Emmet packed the last of his things, "I haven't been to Heartlake City in a while."
Lucy smiled at her boyfriend, "No prob. Sorry I've been so busy, lately. This new stunt coordinator job for Andrea's concerts has been eating up all my free time."
"It's no big deal", the construction worker shrugged, "I'm happy for you! You're making a bunch of new friends!"
"I know", the not-DJ sighed, "I just...I don't want you to think I'm bailing on you and the rest of the gang."
By "the gang", the action girl meant, of course, her and Emmet's close circle of master builder comrades. It had been weeks since the couple had last spent any time with their friends...or with each other. And as nice as it was to make new acquaintances, Lucy didn't want to neglect her old pals either. Hence why she invited her boyfriend along to her job in the neighboring town. It was about time he got to see what she was up to when he wasn't around.
Naturally, Emmet was pretty excited, but noticing his girlfriend's worried expression, he took her hand in his and spoke reassuringly, "Hey, it's okay. I don't think you're bailing on us...or me. Take it from someone who was alone for a long time. There is NOTHING wrong with making more friends."
Lucy blushed at his kind words. How someone so nice could go unnoticed for years was beyond her, "...you know I would never forget about you and the others...right?"
"R-right..." the Special could feel his cheeks burning and his heart pounding, as Lucy drew closer to him...her eyes slowly closing...her lips puckering up...nearly ready to meet his...and then...
RIIIINNG!
The loud blare of the phone in the kitchen made the couple freeze (and Lucy let out a soft groan at the interruption). Knowing that the ringing wasn't going to stop, Emmet nervously chuckled, "Uh...I...better go get that."
True to his word, the construction worker hurried to the kitchen; torn between being annoyed and relieved that their moment was cut short. He answered the phone with a hesitant, "Hello...?"
The not-DJ watched in curious silence as her boyfriend suddenly tensed up. She couldn't hear the other half of the conversation, but judging by his clipped remarks and nervous tone, it was something important, "What...? How did you...? ...yes...okay...but I...really? Right now? Are you sure about...oh...okay...alright...we'll be there...see ya'."
The second he hung up, the action girl raised a brow, "What was that all about? Who was that?"
But the second the Special turned to face her, she knew something was wrong. It was disconcerting to see him with such a serious expression, to which she asked, "Babe...what's wrong? What happened?"
Emmet couldn't quite believe it himself. None the less, he faced his girlfriend and took a deep breath-knowing the news wasn't going to be pleasant, "...that was President Business...and he wants all of us to meet him at his office...pronto."
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.
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It was easy enough for the construction worker to dial up all his friends...another challenge entirely to convince them to visit the offices of the ex-villain who once hunted them down and locked them up. But not wanting Emmet to enter the lion's den alone, one by one, they each agreed to meet up with him and Lucy. Within a few hours, the Special, his girlfriend, Benny, Unikitty, and Metalbeard all found themselves making their way towards Octan Tower-the building looking no less intimidating than the last time they were there.
The spaceman finally broke the awkward silence as he glanced around, "Anyone see Batman?"
"He couldn't make it", Emmet didn't turn as he led the group down the street, "He said something about the Joker putting smiles on all the fish in Gotham harbor..."
"A pity", the cyborg pirate shook his head. He would've felt a bit more comfortable having the superhero around, "Considerin' this whole enterprise be a bit 'fishy' as well."
"No kidding", the not-DJ turned to her boyfriend, "You know this just screams 'bad idea', right? Why would Business ever want OUR help with anything?"
"Beats me", the Special shrugged-remembering the President's worried tone over the phone. He knew his friends were NOT excited about this whole ordeal, but he also wanted to remain optimistic for the world leader's sake. This was the first time Business had initiated any sort of contact with him or the other master builders since TAKOS Tuesday, and he only hoped it was a good sign. He swiveled to address the group, "Look, he must really be in a pickle if he's calling us for help. Can we at least TRY to give him a chance?" He then turned to Lucy, "Besides, you said the same thing when we had to find Good Cop/Bad Cop, and look how that turned out."
It was hard to argue that logic. The astronaut scratched his head, "Speaking of the Cops, where are they?"
The others had been quietly wondering the same thing, considering that the policemen used to work for the President. Only Unikitty understood the reason for their absence, to which she softly whispered, "Um...they didn't really wanna' come."
"Why not?" Benny asked.
The Princess turned away; her eyes sorrowful, "...they don't really like to talk about it."
Both Metalbeard and the spaceman could only raise a curious eyebrow, while Emmet and Lucy exchanged knowing glances. But before they could explain any more, the gang, at long last, arrived at the Octan Headquarters-the monolith casting its ever present shadow upon them. For a tense moment, the builders drew a breath as bad memories sprang to the surface; making them hardly believe they were not only returning to this office of horrors, but were now about to walk right through the front door.
Only a sharp eyed Emmet immediately noticed a few striking changes since the last time he had come there with Pa Cop. For one thing, all the dumpsters overflowing with dismantled robots were gone (thank the Man Upstairs for that). And for another, as the master builders cautiously stepped inside, they were greeted not with the sight of a dozen soulless machines, but rather, an average group of very human office workers...one of which came right up to greet them in the lobby. Her short red hair stood out against her stark white suit, and she smiled at the visitors as they entered, "Hello there. Welcome to Octan. You must be here to see the President, correct?"
The Builders certainly weren't expecting such a warm welcome. But wanting to stay polite, Emmet smirked, "Uh...yes? Yes, we are."
A quick glance at the name tag revealed the woman's name to be Claire. She pointed down a hallway, "He's in his office, waiting for you. If you follow me to the elevator, he can see you now." But taking a pause to size up Metalbeard, she quickly changed course, "On second thought, maybe we should take the freight elevator."
The secretary then ushered the group through a series of offices-all of which were occupied with a human staff, and decorated in soft colors that were pleasing to the eye; a far cry from the plain, boring, and stale black and white aesthetic they once snuck around in to destroy the Kragle. At every turn, the builders expected to walk right into some unseen booby trap, or have a squad of the robotic secret police suddenly surround them...but save for the occasional security camera, nothing appeared out of the ordinary. Even Unikitty had to comment, "You guys really fixed the place up!"
"Thanks. It was my idea", Claire seemed proud of herself, "The President's really been trying to please the new staff he hired."
Although she was smirking, it was clear the secretary wasn't blind to Business' past misdeeds. And the rest of the office workers had to have been just as self aware. It was this thought that made Lucy finally dare to ask, "So...what made you want to work HERE?"
Claire let out a sigh as she rang for the elevator; no doubt she was asked this alot, "...let's just say there was an incident on Dino Island that left me out of a job. Everyone here needed a fresh start...so that's what we're trying to accomplish." She glanced down at her shoes, "...with a few hiccups along the way."
At that moment, the lift finally arrived, to which Claire motioned for the group to enter. They each thanked her as they passed, and she gave a friendly wave in return...but just as the doors were closing, she also mouthed a silent "good luck" to them all.
There was no doubt they'd need all the luck they could get, especially when they weren't expecting the elevator to empty out right into Business' office...or to see the President sitting at his desk; staring at the newcomers with a half surprised, half mortified expression. The two sides stared each other down for what seemed like forever-not knowing what to say. But strangely, they were all thinking the same thing...that elevator ride didn't last long enough.
But finally, Business broke the ice, "Oh...h-hey there. I didn't expect you all to actually show up."
Lucy folded her arms and let out a huff. It took everything in her will power to not let her anger loose at the man who took so much away from her and her friends. For Emmet's sake, she controlled herself, and instead spat, "Well, we're here. So whatever you have to say, it better be good."
"Would that be 'good', as in, 'good news', or 'good', as in, 'important'?" the world leader forced a smile.
No one was amused at his flimsy joke. The President groaned and rubbed his temples; realizing he was just delaying the bomb about to go off. So he decided to just light the fuse when he cleared his throat and replied, "Okay, okay...let's just say I was cleaning out some old filing cabinets when I came across a...skeleton in the closet..."
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.
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"What do ye' mean there be a SECOND Think Tank?!"
Metalbeard practically had the President cornered; his enormous frame enveloping the world leader and making him appear even smaller than he already was. Business silently wished he had his stilt boots on, if only to not have to stare down the barrels of the cannons attached to the pirate's arm. Between the gun in his face and the shark toothed snarl the captain was fixing him with, the President was fairly sure he wasn't about to come out of this meeting alive. Then again, it probably wasn't a wise idea to start the conversation with telling them that not all the master builders were set free...or that the place they were imprisoned wasn't the only one of its kind.
Maybe he should've offered them coffee first...
Regardless, the world leader straightened his tie and squared his shoulders as best he could; wanting to retain at least some of his dignity, "What? You thought I didn't keep backups of any of my work?
"Backups?!" Lucy's mouth hung open in shock, which dissolved into outrage, "This isn't like losing a file or a pair of socks! This is...I can't...a SECOND Think Tank?! Are you kidding me?!"
Business poked his head over the shark on Metalbeard's arm; his one eyebrow furrowed in frustration, "I know this looks bad, but if I didn't care, do you think I would've called you here?"
The not-DJ couldn't argue with that logic...but she COULD give him a swift punch in the face. Which is what she was gearing up to do, until the spaceman suddenly hovered in front of her-arms spread to stop her, "Hold it! Hold it! We came all this way, so we might as well hear him out first. Beating him up won't solve anything."
Lucy kicked at the ground, mumbling, "No...but it'll make me feel better..."
Business heaved a sigh of relief, "Thanks Denny."
"It's Benny..." the astronaut corrected him.
"Whatever..." the President rolled his eyes, before gently pushing the pirate out of his way; heading over to his desk and typing in a few passwords on his laptop at lightning speed. Within moments, a large screen monitor sprang to life behind him-displaying a wide assortment of maps, blueprints, and various other schematics. He waved a hand at his past mistakes as he explained, "Not long after master builders started being captured, I realized one think tank wouldn't be enough. So a second one was built on a secluded island out in the ocean...to be used to lock up either exceptionally powerful builders, or repeat offenders."
He regarded the screens for a long, uncomfortable pause, before continuing, "After TAKOS Tuesday and the Duplo invasion went down, all my robots, micromanagers, and the Think Tank here turned off. So I figured the prison on the island would've done the same. But I've since learned that's not the case."
He highlighted a blueprint of the enclosure; pointing out the more notable defenses as he spoke, "The island doesn't run on Octan's main computer systems, and any attempts at contacting the place have been cut off. So it's probably a safe bet to say that the robots are still online there, and don't know about what happened on TAKOS Tuesday. For all they know, their prime directive is still in effect." He let out a guilty puff of air, "They don't know they can let the master builders go..."
Lucy tapped her foot with a growing impatience; glaring, "And you didn't bother to tell us this until now WHY?"
Business threw his hands up defensively, "Come on! I'm just one guy! I can't keep track of EVERY last thing that goes on around here! That's what assistants are for! I didn't find out about this trouble until just a few days ago!"
Metalbeard, meanwhile, was only half focused on the President's hasty explanation. Instead, his one good eye was drawn to the coordinates on the view screen...something about those waters was strikingly familiar...and soon, the realization hit him like a ton of bricks, and he exclaimed, "Yaarg! That island be smack along the edge of Pirate's Cove!"
Without waiting for permission, the captain quickly commandeered the computer and began printing out any and all information about the mysterious island (an amazing feat, considering how his giant hands managed to type on such tiny buttons). At the same time, the action girl continued to argue with the world leader; poking his chest with an accusing finger...er, claw, "Okay, fine! So you didn't know about the island. But I don't see YOU going out there to save those people! Why didn't you get a squad together right away?"
"I'm having enough trouble just trying to get everything reorganized HERE!" the President threw his arms open for emphasis, "I'm lucky I have a janitor and someone to get coffee, much less a team to go and shut that place down!"
"So instead of calling the police, you called us", Lucy could already read between the lines, "You found another huge mistake, and you didn't want to look even worse in front of everyone, so you want us to take care of it. Is that it?"
Business appeared for all the world like a kicked puppy...but he didn't accept, nor deny her accusation. Instead, he rubbed his eyes; not wanting to argue anymore, "Look...you can blab this to the entire universe for all I care. I called you because right now, you're all I got. Now, are you gonna' go to this island or not?"
"Oh...we be goin', alright..."
The dark tone to Metalbeard's voice caused everyone to face the captain, who had suddenly gone stock still. The normally animated pirate was staring at something on the President's laptop-his entire hulking frame vibrating ever so slightly as he tried to contain his ever increasing rage. But finally, after a tense pause, he swiveled on the politician with one fell swoop, "Care to explain THIS?!"
The cyborg sea captain proceeded to shove a piece of paper in Business' face; upon which were a list of names and corresponding photos. There was no doubt that it was the roll call of all the master builders incarcerated on the island. The President didn't see the surprise in that, and shrugged, "It's...everyone who's in the Think Tank...and?"
"AND...maybe a few of these fine faces be familiar to ye'!" the pirate pointed to a particular grouping of pictures. The people in question included two pirates (one male, one female), a disco dancer, a race car driver, a magician, and a witch.
"Hm...Mr. Doubloon...Polly...Boogie Woogie...Speed Racer...Al Lusion...and Toily Trouble..." the world leader ticked off the names; trying to place them in his mind's eye. And then it dawned on him, "Hey, wait...I remember now. These were the guys who broke into my office!"
"Aye...and they ALSO be me old friends I sailed the seas with!" Metalbeard snarled through clenched teeth.
It took only a second for Business to soak in the full gravity of what the captain was telling him...and his heart hit his stomach, "...oh."
The pirate scowled; pointing at his original shipmates, "All these years, when I thought me hearty crew was lost to the seas of time forever, ye' had them imprisoned in a far off land, never to be found!"
The politician was about to comment that he had no clue these people were personal friends of the captain, but then thought better of it. It didn't matter if they were family members or total strangers-what he did to them was still wrong. He tried in vain to pacify the cyborg, "Uh...well...this is...good, right? I mean, you can just go there and pick 'em up...and everything will be okay again...right?"
He did his best to keep his eyes on Metalbeard's face and not his clunky, Frankenstein-esque body...a devastating injury that the President indirectly caused. And the pirate wanted to make sure he wouldn't soon forget it, when he slowly leaned into Business' personal space and seethed, "Aye, they better be no worse for wear...because don't forget, ye' salty mollusk...yer' first think tank is what did THIS to me."
He motioned to his hulking frame, before narrowing his one, good eye, "So if even ONE of me old crew bears one eye patch or peg leg too many...yer' new office'll be at the bottom of Davey Jones' locker."
By then, all of Business' previous bravado had drained from him, leaving him to stare up at the giant master builder-his voice quivering, "...understood."
Metalbeard glared at the world leader one last time, before stepping over him with just a few paces. With a stack of papers clenched in his mighty fist, he shouted, "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to be returnin' to the Sea Cow to set sail on this rescue mission. I gather I'll be hoistin' anchor first thing in the mornin'."
"Yay! We're going on a boat trip!" Unikitty hopped around in excitement.
But the pirate shook his head, "Oh no, this be a bareboat charter!"
"Aw, come on!" the Princess pouted, "But we-"
"No buts!" the sea captain waved his arms as if he were wrestling with the ocean itself, "This island be causin' me to sail straight into full on pirate territory, with more carnivorous creatures and bedevilin' scallywags then ye' can shake a sword at! It be no place for the likes of ye' folks who only have land legs."
"But you can't go by yourself!" Emmet pleaded, "We're a team!"
"I said 'NO'!" Metalbeard punctuated the sentence by storming out of the office; the doors slamming behind him, to which his friends hurried after him- calling his name.
Lucy was the last to go, and both she and the President watch the others leave; the silence afterward growing increasingly awkward. Of course rescuing the remaining incarcerated master builders was important, but no one could've fathomed how personally the pirate would take it. However, eventually, Business broke the quiet when he cleared his throat, "Um...thanks for doing this for me."
"No..." the action girl pointed at the list of builders still on the view screen, "..we're doing this for THEM."
The world leader folded his arms and pouted, "Well, I COULD'VE just never said anything."
"And you could've not done any of this to begin with!" the not-DJ shot back.
"Look, I'm SORRY, okay? But I owned up to my mistake", the President couldn't help but vent his frustration, "I'm trying to fix this. Isn't that enough?"
Lucy had a few more choice words to say to him, but decided it wasn't worth it. She had more important matters to worry about than arguing with a guy who thought a few band-aids would cure everything. So instead, she walked away, muttering, "...it's a start."
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The sun slowly began to rise over the horizon; turning the morning sky a soft pink and the oceans of Pirate's Cove a deep purple. But despite the calm respite of the beginning of the day, below the decks of the trusty Sea Cow, a storm was brewing.
Metalbeard paced back and forth around the confines of his quarters; pouring over all the maps and schematics he swiped from Business' office. He had spent the majority of the previous day making sure his vessel was ship shape- loaded to the brim with weapons, ammo, and any other supplies he thought he might need for the journey to the accursed Think Tank Island. But even in spite of all the preparation, the captain couldn't help but admit to himself just how nervous he truly was.
Besides the obvious of not knowing what was in store for him, Emmet had made a valid point- it wasn't wise to embark on this excursion alone. However, the pirate's fleeting hopes were dashed when he attempted to call the remaining three members of his old crew who DID manage to escape capture on that daring mission gone horribly wrong. There was no sign of Medusa; the Flash was too busy helping the Justice League, and the mime...well...the mime didn't really say anything.
Disconcerting as it was, the captain tried to stay positive. Perhaps this was a good thing? He'd been sailing alone ever since the accident- there was less risk of any more people getting hurt. Which brought him back to his thoughts of his crew- trapped out there on a secluded island for years on end.
...but after all that time, the very thought that his old friends were STILL possibly alive gave him renewed energy...and THIS time, he wasn't going to fail them.
But just as he started to go over the maps for the hundredth time, a voice tore him from his thoughts, "Ahoy there!"
Who could be calling out at such an early hour? He went on ignoring the person...until he heard, "Come on, Metalbeard! Did you fall off the plank or something?!"
Well THAT got his attention. Abandoning the blueprints for a moment, the cyborg captain raced to the upper decks and peered over the railing- wondering just who was yelling for him...
To his utmost surprise, his good eye caught sight of Emmet, with Lucy, Benny, and Unikitty right beside him. All four of them waved from the dock; the action girl shouting, "Permission to come aboard, captain!"
"What the-?!" Metalbeard swept a hand over the group, "What are ye' doing here? What be all this now? And what, pray tell, are ye' wearin'?!"
It took a second for the sailor to realize that all his friends weren't dressed in their normal, day-to-day wear...at least, not completely. Emmet took to wearing a backwards, polka dot bandanna, with no shirt beneath his opened construction vest. Lucy traded her graffiti tracksuit for a white, ruffled shirt, and a black skirt with matching boots. Benny had drawn a makeshift scar and eye patch on the glass of his helmet with magic marker, as well as a construction paper skull and cross bones taped over the planet symbol on his suit. And as for Unikitty, she proudly sported an oversized hat similar to Metalbeard's own...save for the huge, pink feather in it.
In answer to the captain's first question, Benny flew in a circle around his friends, "We're your new pirate crew! We're gonna' help you save the master builders!"
"Aw, now wait just a sea sprayin' minute!" Metalbeard marched down the plank connecting the vessel to the dock. Already, he was shaking his head, "Didn't I tell ye' this be a single sailor operation?"
The unicorn cat pouted, "Aw, but I picked out all these outfits especially for us!"
"And ye' done a very fine job of that", the captain had to admit, "But just because ye' look the part doesn't mean ye' can play the part. And this isn't like our previous excursion together. This island be a few days journey away, and none of ye' have the proper experience of being pirates…I mean REAL pirates."
"So we'll learn fast", Lucy waved away his concern, "Come on, we've been through worse. How hard could it be?"
"But I-" the captain started.
Emmet couldn't understand why the pirate was being so difficult. But he had a feeling it wasn't really their skill set that was in question...there was something else going on here that the captain didn't want to disclose. With that thought in mind, the construction worker stepped forward, "Metalbeard...listen...you know there's no way we're letting you go out there alone. I know these people mean a lot to you. And even if we personally don't know them, they still need our help." He practically begged, "We're your friends...let us do this for you."
The captain regarded the group of builders for a long pause. They all seemed pretty eager to assist him...the same sort of excitement he once saw in his old crew as well. He really didn't fancy the thought of training a new set of sailors right on the spot...but clearly, they weren't about to take 'no' for an answer. He let out a puff of air, "So...I take it ye' minds are all made up? You're comin' with me whether I throw ye' overboard or not?"
Everyone gave him a firm nod, to which he groaned, "Yarrg...not even me crew yet, and you already be plannin' a mutiny..." But there was no fighting being outvoted...so with a heavy sigh, Metalbeard finally replied, "Alright... I know when I've been licked...ye' all came come aboard."
To that, the gang let out a series of cheers and high fives. Only the captain remained serious; pointing at the sky with a dramatic flair, "We'll be settin' sail immediately. Daylight waits for no one."
"I'm on it!" Benny quickly zipped around the dock; assembling a pile of scrap that was no doubt going to become some sort of steampunk spaceship.
But Metalbeard was already shaking his head, and he plucked the astronaut from the sky; holding him between his fingers by the scruff of the neck, "I don't mean to get yer' britches in a pretzel knot, but accordin' to them blueprints by that bilge rat Business, that island be protected by surface-to-air missiles that'll make mincemeat out of anythin' that so much as flaps a feather in the sky! We be needin' to traverse the seas to remain undetected."
It took a second for Benny to filter through the old world speech, but finally, he frowned, "So...no spaceship?"
The captain set him down on the beach. Clearly, to sail with Metalbeard on his ship, one had to follow HIS rules, "We be traveling through pirate territory, so we're gonna' handle this the pirate way. Fighting fire WITH fire!"
"Uuggh...fine..." the astronaut crossed his arms with a frustrated 'haroomph', and tapped his half built creation with the stub of his toe. A second later, it broke into a hundred tiny pieces with one swift 'poof'.
Meanwhile, Lucy turned to Unikitty, as a sudden thought occurred to her, "Speaking of building, we're gonna' be on this boat for a couple days. Is Cloud Coo-Coo Land going to be okay while you're gone?"
The Princess must've already considered the problem, for she responded, "Don't worry! I left GCBC in charge until I get back."
"GCBC.." the action girl had to remember the acronym, "...you mean Good Cop/Bad Cop?"
"Yeppers!" the magic cat nodded with full confidence, "They can handle anything!"
A mental image of the Cops patrolling a saccharine sweet candy land briefly crossed both Lucy and her boyfriend's minds. But before they could comment on her choice of 'realm babysitter', Metalbeard suddenly bellowed out, "Alright then...let's board our vessel and prepare to hoist anchor! We're shovin' off!"
With a chorus of 'aye, captain!', The crew of master builders all ascended the plank and hopped aboard the ship, at the same time the cyborg pirate began cranking up the anchor from the bottom of the sea bed. In just a few lever pulls and a spin of the driving wheel, the boat's mighty propeller sprang to life, and the Sea Cow broke free from the dock; sailing onward to a fate unknown.
Rather than watch the beach gradually shrink as they floated away, the newly-minted pirates began taking stock of the place they were going to call home for the next few days. Although they had been on the Sea Cow once before, on that fateful morning of TAKOS Tuesday, they had been so busy planning the infiltration of Octan Tower, that they hadn't really taken notice of all the fine details of the vessel. It had definitely seen its share of battles, judging by the dents, scratches, and scorch marks dotted about. And the sails had definitely been mended more than a few times. But despite the damage (or maybe BECAUSE of it), there was still a certain rustic charm to the boat. A wide assortment of gadgets and knickknacks adorned every square foot of the deck, from bow to stern. This wasn't just a mode of transportation or a home...it was a character in and of itself...a hodge podge of memories and experience that was an extension of her own captain.
Said captain then swung down from his place at the helm to the deck below; landing in front of the group with a thud that made the entire floor vibrate. His friends jumped in surprise as he commanded, "Okay lads and lassies, fall in!"
The master builders understood this wasn't just a pleasure cruise. Quickly, they all lined up and stood at attention; wondering what their orders were going to be. Metalbeard paced to and fro- his hands behind his back, as he began, "I'm not going to put a pillow 'round yer' peg leg-there's many a time these waters'll show ye' no mercy. And a ship be only as sturdy as her crew. We all have to do our part to stay afloat. But before I assign ye' all yer' duties, let's start by teachin' ye' the rules of the sea."
His friends all nodded; listening with great attentiveness. With a swift wave of the hand, the captain pulled out an old scroll that was hidden in the many compartments on his leg. He unveiled it for all to see, and began pointing at the crude drawings on the parchment as he explained, "First rule...never place yer' rear end on a pirate's face."
Benny bounced on his heels, "Ooh-ooh! I remember that one!"
"Aye, and unfortunately, I do too..." the captain rolled his eyes at the memory of a few security robots having 'fun' with his copy machine disguise. He moved on to the next bullet point, "Number two...never wear a dress on a Tuesday."
Emmet and Lucy both raised an eyebrow, but Unikitty wasn't fazed at the odd role and ran with it, "That's okay." She then leaned in and whispered, "Most of the time, I'm naked...!"
The others simply gave her a sarcastic look that seemed to say, 'really? We never would've noticed that'. But Metalbeard pressed onward, "Third rule...never release a Kraken."
Lucy scratched her head at such a bizarre list of do's and don'ts, "Stuff like that happens THAT much that it needs its own rule?"
"Trust me, lass, ye' be surprised", the pirate answered with a deadpan expression, "Fourth...never stick yer' hand in a clam's mouth."
Emmet smiled and winked, "Oh, I get it. That must be the pirate version of 'don't look a gift horse in the mouth', right? Like, cherish what you have, and only take what you need?"
Metalbeard blinked at the construction worker's selfless philosophy...then replied, "Uh...no. It literally means DON'T stick yer' hand in a clam's mouth."
"Oh..." the Special blushed.
"Anyway...number five", the pirate ticked off the list, "Always abandon a lost cause."
"Really?" Benny folded his arms and lifted an eyebrow, "Like the double-decker couch for starters?"
The cyborg captain's face instantly went pink, as he realized what the astronaut was referring to. Being caught breaking one's own rule was always embarrassing...but then again, if he hadn't rescued the builders from Lord Business' forces, they never would've become friends. There came a long, awkward pause, until the pirate cleared his throat, "Eh...let's just move on, shall we?" He threw the scroll back into his leg compartment as he finished, "Finally, and most importantly...jolly rogers are NOT for eatin'."
Despite him pointing at the ship's flag for emphasis, Unikitty asked, "Who's Roger? And why would anyone wanna' eat him if he's so jolly? Was it the Kraken?"
Everyone stared at the Princess for a moment; wondering whether she was just joking or asking an honest question. Instead of indulging her with an answer, the pirate scratched his chin, "I, uh...well...well speakin' of food, yer' baked goods are always a delight whenever I pay a visit to yer' cloud kingdom. So why don't ye' be our head chef for the journey?"
"Aye-aye, captain!" the magic cat saluted him, then bounced off, "YAY cooking!"
Quick as a flash, Unikitty descended to the lower decks; roaming the halls and peeking into every last room that conveniently had its doors left open. True, she could've simply asked where the galley was, but what would be the fun in that? She found it much more exciting and "pirate-y" to just discover everything for herself. And sure enough, she eventually stumbled upon a storage closet, which strangely, contained nothing but a lone icebox.
"Ah-ha!" she bounded over to the fridge, "I'll make the best pirate stew ever! Now let's see-"
But her words were cut off when she threw open the lid...only to find the container virtually empty. The only edible food to be had was an orange, half a sausage, a bottle of ketchup, a banana peel, and some fish and chicken bones...the likes of which was being nibbled on by a surly looking mouse with an eye patch.
The Princess was surprised for only a moment, but soon came to a curious consideration...Metalbeard had planned on only traveling alone, so it made sense he'd store food just to sustain himself. And surely it wouldn't be a lot, judging by how his cyborg body left him without much of a stomach to feed- literally. But despite the setback, the magic cat rolled up her imaginary shirt sleeves. She was a master builder for pete's sake! She'd worked with less than this before. She was confident she could prove her worth as a pirate and cobble together something tasty...somehow.
Meanwhile, back above deck, Metalbeard just chuckled at Unikitty's enthusiasm, before turning to Lucy, "And you be one of our most skilled fighters. So I'm puttin' ye' in charge of all weapons and mannin' the cannons."
The not-DJ smiled up at him and winked, "Got it!"
"You'll also be playin' second barrelman to Benny", the captain pointed at the astronaut.
"Barrelman?" the spaceman scratched his head- not understanding the terminology.
"A look out!" Metalbeard translated. He stuck his hand deep into the mouth of the shark on his right arm; pulling out a telescope and passing it off to the space pirate, "Here's a spy glass for ye'. You can get in that crow's nest up yonder and keep an eye open fer' trouble."
Benny had to crane his neck to see the lookout tower the captain was motioning to at the very tippy top of the tallest mast on the ship. But the staggering height didn't intimidate him in the slightest, and he gave an excited salute, "Aye-aye, sir!"
With that, the astronaut easily floated upward, through all the ropes and netting, and settled himself into the tiny, circular box. Immediately, he began scanning the horizon line a full 360 degrees-the ocean spread out in all directions and appearing just as blue as his suit.
But just as Metalbeard began to speak to Emmet, Benny suddenly cried out, "LAND HO!"
"What are ye' talking about?!" the captain squinted into the distance, "What nonsense are ye' blabberin'?!"
"Over there, sir!" the spaceman pointed.
The pirate followed to where the astronaut was motioning to- spotting just a mere sliver of land on the horizon...then did a facepalm, "Yarg, that be the mainland we just sailed from, ye' nematode!"
"I know!" Benny laughed, "I always just wanted to say that!"
Metalbeard fixed him with a glare, "I'm only gonna' warn ye' once, mate...don't go flappin' yer' gums unless ye' mean it!"
Although the spaceman still smirked, he said much more seriously, "Yes, sir."
At long last, the cyborg pirate then swiveled on Emmet; regarding him for a beat, "And as for you...ye' always be pretty adept at followin' them fancy instructions of yours...how's about ye' becomin' my first mate? Ye' can help me plot a course for the island of horrors."
"Really?" the construction worker couldn't believe he was being given such an important job. He nearly bounced on his heels, "Awesome!"
"Hang on then, lad!" without hesitation, Metalbeard snatched the Special with just one swoop of his hand, and swung on a nearby rope- using it for leverage as he bounded up the steps to the highest deck. In just a few massive paces, the pirate came to land in front of the steering wheel, and plopped his new first mate on the floor.
Just as Emmet was gathering himself, the captain whipped out all the various maps and charters of Think Tank Island- spreading them across a flat section of railing. Pointing at a specific spot in the ocean, and then to the land they were heading towards, he replied, "Take a squint at this...here's where we be presently...and here's where we need to go. So we just have to triangulate the best course to get there. Any ideas?"
Emmet's eyes darted between the pirate and the map, and for a few seconds, he had to wonder if this was a test of some kind. Was Metalbeard really asking his opinion, or was he just seeing if the Special's answer matched his? Either way, the construction worker contemplated the map for a long beat, before shrugging, "Well...whenever my coworkers and I build towers and stuff, we try to keep things as simple as we can. So...if there's nothing in the way between us and the island...why don't we just go in a straight line?"
He sent a nervous glance towards the captain, who regarded the blueprints for a minute...then patted Emmet on the shoulder, grinning, "Simple and clean...of course of mind like yours would come up with that...and I like it! Well done, mate."
The construction worker breathed a sigh of relief...until Metalbeard shoved him into the driver's seat, "Here, why don't ye' take the wheel for a bit?"
"M-ME?!" the Special gripped the handlebars tightly, as if the boat would suddenly spin out of control and sink if he let go.
"Ye' won't learn just by standin' there and twiddlin' yer' claws", the pirate began pacing back and forth- spouting off directions as he read the map, "Now, turn ten degrees astarboard."
"Huh?" Emmet quirked an eyebrow.
"Turn ten degrees astarboard", the captain repeated, as if he were speaking to a child, "then keep straight on until I tell ye' to shift portside."
"Um..." the construction worker blushed in embarrassment at not understanding a single word of these nautical terms, "No offense, but...can you just say 'left' and 'right'?"
Metalbeard breathed a heavy sigh...this was going to be a LONG trip...
To be continued...
