Season Two, Episode Eight: Smugglers
A fair share of people, knowing that this was the 1920's, have asked me if me or my Star Fleet have ever had any run-ins with Prohibition. Well, I think it's time I tell you this story. I remember it like it was yesterday. During that winter, I had assigned Sunshine to deliver a sand barge.
"Ho-ho-ho-ho…" he shivered, "It sure is cold today, let's just get this over with."
"Well at least you can actually move!" called Zorran from a distance, "Get me out!"
"Ho-ho-ho, not a chance!" came the reply, "Gotta deliver some barges first, besides, maybe it'll teach you not to be a troublemaker for once."
Sunshine laughed as poor Zorran had been frozen in. Many barges had been covered with tarps, this was simply to prevent the loads from getting covered with snow or frost, but because of this… The tugs wouldn't be able to see what was actually in the barges, and little did poor Sunshine know that he would have quite a different experience on this day.
"Ahhh, here it is… Captain Star did tell me this is where I should find the barge…" he said to himself, but suddenly, he could hear a bump near the back of the dock, followed by what sounded like another tug nearby.
"Wh-What? Who's there?" asked Sunshine. No one replied, "Hmmm, maybe my mind's playing tricks on me…"
Sunshine quickly brushed it off and puffed away with his barge. But as he was taking his barge across the port, he was suddenly stopped by the Port Authority.
"Stop!" shouted the officer, "Sunshine, we've been getting reports of alcohol being smuggled into the city port in tarped barges. Since yours matches the description, we'd like to take a look inside it and see what it contains."
"You'll have no luck with me, this one's loaded with sand." said Sunshine.
"I'd still like to take a look, just in case."
"Fine… Go right ahead." sighed Sunshine, he thought the officer was wasting his time. The tarp was quickly lifted off… And what the Port Authority found, took both of them by surprise.
"Barrels… Filled to the brim with Whiskey?!" he shrieked, "How do you explain this, Sunshine?"
Sunshine was so shocked, "I-I-I-I don't know what to say… I must have grabbed the wrong barge or something, I swear, I didn't know there was alcohol in here."
The officer wasn't having it, "Likely story… I'm gonna have to take you in for questioning Sunshine, this is a serious matter."
"Please officer, I-I thought it was filled with sand, Captain Star-"
"Sunshine… Come with me now, or you're under arrest…" said the officer sternly. Later, he had to come to question me as well.
"I can assure you officer, I have no such involvement with smuggling alcohol, and I doubt Sunshine would know anything about it either."
"Then how do you explain Sunshine towing a barge filled with barrels of whiskey?" asked the officer.
"He might have accidentally taken the wrong barge. You did go to the third pier like I instructed, right Sunshine?"
"Yes sir, but the barge they caught was the only one I found."
"Excuse me?" asked the officer.
"Just telling you what I saw…"
"I see… Well, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to charge you Sunshine. Based on what I've witnessed, it would appear that you were intending to smuggle alcohol."
Ten Cents was shocked, "What?!" he exclaimed, "Officer, he stated quite clearly that he-"
"Don't interfere Ten Cents or I'll charge you too! Now, I hope we can leave it at that. I'll be keeping a close eye on you for the next few days Sunshine… Good day!" And without another word, the Port Authority left!
"Good grief…" sighed Ten Cents, "I'm sorry you had to go through that Sunshine, he was acting like you had sunken a tug!"
"Or kidnapped the mayor too." murmured Top Hat.
"Settle down you lot," interrupted O.J., "The Port Authority does take the law very seriously so it's no surprise… Still Sunshine, you went to the correct pier, yes?"
"Yes, O.J., I did…"
"And there was one barge you found… And that one happened to be filled with the whiskey? If that's the case… Then where did the sand barge go?"
"That's what I want to know… But I'm not a smuggler O.J., honest!"
"We know, Sunshine… Still, it is peculiar." admitted Ten Cents.
"And it's not like this is the first time one of us was framed too… Hah!"
"Shut up, Top Hat…" grumbled Ten Cents. Next day, I sent Sunshine upriver to work with Big Mac and Warrior on the logging duties. Sunshine couldn't help but feel responsible for what had happened.
"Alright, lads…" sighed the switcher, "Let's just get this over with, then you can just forget that I was ever here."
"What? Why would we do that, Sunshine?" asked Warrior, confused.
"If this is about your run-in with the Port Authority yesterday, don't let it get to you." comforted Big Mac, "Everyone makes mistakes."
"But you'd think I'd pick the right barge… If I had bothered to check…"
"Cheer up, buddy!" said Warrior, "It's not like Captain Star's gonna get rid of you! Look at me, the clumsy one!"
"Well you're still in the red, Warrior, so don't get any ideas." teased Big Mac.
"Hey I was just trying to help!"
"I'm pulling your hull brother. Come on, let's get this lot delivered, then we can catch up with the rest of the crew."
As the cavalcade made it back downriver, Big Mac decided to check his surroundings… He couldn't help but wonder if someone else in the harbor was up to no good.
I advise that you two keep an eye out…" he said to Sunshine and Warrior, "Something tells me there's more to what happened to you yesterday than what the Port Authority found."
"Yeah, it just proves more and more how silly of a tug I am…"
"Stop beating yourself up, Sunshine! Remember, you may have picked up that barge by accident, but… How did it get in the port in the first place?"
Their answer was sitting right underneath their noses. Neither of them noticed the Z-Stacks talking to each other as they passed by.
"Right…" said Zak to Zip and Zug, "I'm still trying to look for the best way to free Zorran from the ice, now you two… You know what to do tonight, more of our… (Ahem) 'Deliveries' will be available out at the estuary, at 2300 hours."
"Why do we have to pick up the 'Deliveries'?" asked Zip nervously, "I don't feel comfortable going there… Besides, you're stronger than the two of us!"
"Yeah, and that's why I'm more suited for getting Zorran out of the ice trap…" replied Zak.
"Don't be a coward, Zip…" encouraged Zug, "I was able to do this task alone last time. It's not that scary at all, honestly."
"Okay, pal… But can you just stay close tonight? I don't want to be alone in that area…"
"Very well, besides… I will need your help tonight, anyways."
That night, the tugs were preparing to set off for their night work. Ten Cents and Sunshine were preparing to take a fuel barge out to Lillie Lightship.
"Good luck tonight you two, it's gonna be chilly…" said Big Mac, "And keep your eyes open as well, smugglers are usually more active at night after all."
"Smart thinking Big Mac…" said Ten Cents.
"Eh, doesn't matter really… I'll just get in more trouble like usual…" moaned Sunshine.
"Don't be so pessimistic Sunshine, we've got a job to do."
"You weren't the reason that barge ended up here in the first place…" reminded Big Mac, "So remember, be on your guard."
"Duly noted, Big Mac. Come on Sunshine, let's get ready."
"Alright, alright… I'm only doing this for Lillie though." Sunshine was still doubtful about himself. Meanwhile, Zak had attempted to use Scuttlebutt Pete to break the ice Zorran was trapped in.
"Alright, Scuttlebutt…" groaned Zak, "Surely you can use your shovel to break your ice."
"Sheesh, Zero! I'm a dredger, not an icebreaker. Just be patient." grumbled Scuttlebutt.
"Yeah, though if you can knock down some buildings surely cracking up some thin ice shouldn't be rocket science, hmmm?"
"I suppose… What do you need to do this for, anyway?"
"To free Zorran of course, that's an easy one!"
"Zorran? HAH! What a lark, and I was just thinking that he might be behind that smuggling the other day."
"Smuggling?" Zak tried to keep his composure, "Where'd you get such an idea?"
"Someone must have brought that barge filled with alcohol in somehow."
"Yeah, it was that switcher Sunshine, so why don't you keep your mouth shut for once? Oh wait I forgot, you don't know what that even means."
Back at the fuel depot, Ten Cents and Sunshine were almost ready to go.
"Alright Sunshine, I think we're due to depart soon. You almost ready?"
"Yeah, just getting my last line fixed to my barge."
"Be quick, I-... Hang on."
"What's up?"
"Look! Over there… It's Zip and Zug."
"So? We see them all the time."
"No-no-no, listen…"
Zip was nervous, "Please Zug… Are you sure we can't turn back now? I don't want to get caught…"
"Who would be out at this time, Zip? Get a hold of yourself, let's go… And besides, if we keep quiet, no one will notice."
"They must be up to something…" observed Ten Cents, "Come on, let's keep an eye on them…"
"If you say so…"
Ten Cents and Sunshine watched carefully as the two Zero Switchers crept out to sea. They had to follow them anyway, as Lillie was in the direction they were heading.
"What could Zip and Zug even be doing at this time of night?..."
"Just wait and see…" said Ten Cents, but just then they could hear a foghorn in the distance.
"That's Lillie! Ten Cents, why don't we just go deliver the fuel to her first?... I really don't want to get involved in any trouble."
Ten Cents finally gave in, "Alright then… I was only trying to get you out of trouble…"
Zug soon directed Zip towards where they were due to pick up their cargo.
"Where even is this 'Delivery boy', Zug? I can't see anyone in sight!"
"Quiet! You'll know when we get there!"
"Thanks for the fuel, boys." said Lillie. The star switchers had finally reached her, "You know how to treat a lady like myself."
"Heh, we're just doing our job, Lillie." chuckled Ten Cents.
"By the way… Did you two know that Nantucket was back? I just saw him coast through the sea last night."
"Old dirt bucket?..." Sunshine perked up, "What's he doing out here?"
"I don't know… All I saw was a rusty old ship coasting through the harbor and was able to recognize it as him when I looked closer. I didn't think he'd ever want to come back after the Coast Guard nicked him during that plague."
"Wait a minute…" said Ten Cents thoughtfully, "I think I might have figured out this mystery."
"What mystery?..."
"Sunshine, once we're done here, let's catch up to those Z-Stacks… I think I know what I'll find if we run into 'em."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the sea, Zip soon discovered their "Delivery boy" himself.
"DIRTBUCKET?!" squeaked Zip.
"Quiet, Zip!" said Zug, "What have I told you about being discreet?!"
"Huh… I see you brought your dumbbell with you tonight, Zero." said Nantucket, observingly.
"Shut it! Have you got the cargo?"
"Yeah yeah yeah… Hold your horses, I'll get it loaded on your barge."
Zip was confused, "Wouldn't it be easier to tow you into port, Mr… Nan-"
"I ain't ever going into Bigg City again after those goody two screws of ;Coast guards; arrested me for asking for a tow…" interrupted Nantucket.
"Besides, Zip… If we do it this way, we're less likely to be caught." added Zip.
"I guess…" sighed Zip, and soon their barge was loaded, and the Zero Switchers headed back out to port.
Even though this wasn't the first time the Z-Stacks had committed a crime… Something about this case felt… Different, for Zip. I can't really tell you what came over him, maybe he didn't like alcohol, maybe he thought smuggling illegal cargo was going too far, maybe he didn't trust Nantucket. What I can tell you was that as they crept back towards the port, Zip felt a lot more tense… Zug noticed this and grew concerned.
"Zip? Zip? What's wrong?"
"I-I let's get this cargo delivered fast."
"Zip, that doesn't answer my-"
"There's nothing wrong,- I'm fine!"
"Okay, okay…"
That was soon to change when Ten Cents and Sunshine spotted them.
"Ahoy, Zip! Zug! What are you two doing out here at this time of night, huh?" he asked, observing the barge.
"None of your business, Star…" grunted Zug.
Ten Cents was taken aback, "No need to be snappy, I was just asking."
"We were just on our way home after delivering fuel to Lillie…" said Sunshine, then he noticed how tense Zip was. "Zip? Zip? Are you okay?"
"Don't bother Sunshine, I've already tried asking him and he won't let it out." explained Zug, "We were just… Uhhh, delivering a dredged barge, yes, we were dredging out in the estuary."
"Where's your crane then?" asked Ten Cents.
"Oh, they asked to stay out there for the night, they just wanted to continue working so that they could clean up the sea."
"But that's dangerous… Why don't we go out and help take them back into port? This is our last job for the night anyways."
"Nothing like dredging!" said Sunshine, but this was too much for Zip.
"VILLIANS!" he screamed!
"Zip?!" exclaimed Sunshine, he was shocked!
Zip couldn't keep their load a secret any longer, "Yes, I'm guilty! I did it, I took the booze! Take off our barge's cover, here, HERE! It was the sloshing of the hideous jugs!" At that moment, Zip moved back, and used a line to pull off the barge's tarp.
"ZIP! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" shrieked Zug.
"I knew it!" bellowed Ten Cents. They had been caught by an unlikely hero.
In the morning, the authorities soon came in to charge the two Z-Stacks, and Zip proceeded to sing like a canary and confessed to Zak and Nantucket's participation as well.
"Way to go, Zip…" grumbled Zak, "All those times you caused chaos with your ignorance, and now you snitch on us? I don't know why Captain Zero still bothers with you…"
"Don't blame him, dummy!" said Zorran. He had finally been freed, but was very angry to learn what the three of them had done, "It was stupid of all of you to get involved with Dirtbucket and smuggle alcohol in the first place!"
"Oh… So this is the thanks I get for freeing you from that ice trap?"
"I can handle myself, dinghy-brain! And to stoop to something like THIS?! That's criminal, even for us!"
"Whatever… You're the boss…"
Zak and Zug were reprimanded, but Zip… Well, got a lighter punishment for being the one to expose their actions. Sunshine, meanwhile, finally felt a little bit better about himself.
"We're sorry for reprimanding you before, Sunshine." said the Coast Guard, "We should have known that you wouldn't pull a stunt like that."
"Ah, don't worry about it… I just want to relax after all this nonsense."
"You deserve it, Sunshine!" smiled Ten Cents, "I knew things would get better for you."
"Really? I didn't think I…"
"Of course. Remember the old saying, don't jump to conclusions until you have all the facts."
Sunshine knew just what Ten Cents meant. It was a lesson both switchers knew well, and they both felt proud to have finally been able put what they had learned into practice.
Episode 8 of 13
Happy New Year, everyone! Here's the eighth part of my own TUGS: Season Two. I knew that, at some point in time, I would have to address prohibition, which was in its prime during TUGS's time period. See also if you can catch a reference to a famous Edgar Allan Poe story too!