Season Two, Episode Nine: Scuttled

The snow had finally melted, and the tugs were back at work doing busy odd jobs around the port. The Z-Stacks were still in disgrace for their smuggling operations earlier that year, and Captain Zero had put Zip and Zug on dredging duty.

"Alright…" Sighed Zug to himself, "Let me just try this one more time, let's get to work Lil' Ditcher."

"Don't sit too close to his claw, Zug!" squealed Zip.

"Shut it, I know what I'm doing Zip! What would you know about dredging anyway?"

"Alright lads, I've caught something!" said Little Ditcher as he reeled his claw back up. But as he did so, he accidentally bumped Zug's hull.

"Ow! Hey! What'd you do that for?!"

"Told you you were sitting too close to his claw."

Sunshine usually enjoyed dredging and wouldn't be happy to give up his job to a Z-Stack, but since there was a lot of other work to do elsewhere, he wouldn't have to worry about his assignment.

"Right, Star fleet!" I announced, "You will all be very busy today. Top Hat, usual car float jobs for you."

"Oh boy…" murmured Top Hat as usual.

"Hercules, you'll be out at sea to answer any possible distress calls. We'll be having bad weather today."

"Roger, sir." said Hercules.

"O.J., you're on garbage duty. Big Mac, Warrior, there's a new delivery of coal waiting at the docks. I'll be tasking you two to take care of the barges, Ten Cents, Sunshine, I'd like you two to deliver fuel to Mittsville. There's going to be a regatta up there today and the boats will likely want extra fuel."

"Don't you mean the regatta for that new mayor elected at Mittsville, sir?" asked Ten Cents.

"Yes, that one. Don't ask, I'm not the type to get involved with politics, but it does make a quick buck, on your way now."

"Right, sir… Alright, let's go Sunshine."

"What's this about a new mayor?" asked Sunshine curiously.

"Oh it's just some sort of ceremony, and inauguration I think."

"And they're holding a regatta? All over a new person in power?"

"Trust me Sunshine, you don't know the half of it…"

As they were talking, Grampus emerged from the water to pitch in his two cents. "And it'll likely be worse than before, I just got back from there." he explained.

"Grampus! What did you see?" asked Ten Cents.

"The speedboats are being terrors! They've been making massive waves. Doesn't help that the wind's really strong today."

"I'll say… What did the radar say? 10 miles an hour?"

"Something like that… Take care, you two, I hope you don't run into any trouble up there."

"We'll be okay, Grampus. Thank you for the warning." said Sunshine, as he and Ten Cents headed out.

"I'm heading back to alert Captain Star!" called Grampus.

Once the switchers made it to Mittsville, they soon understood Grampus's warning; a speedboat whizzed past and splashed water all over their faces.

"P-Pah! Ptoo! Oi! Watch where you're going, Speedy!" shouted Ten Cents, but the speedboat was already too far into the distance to hear him. "Oi, come back here!"

"Ah forget it Ten Cents, these terrors don't wanna bother showing us any respect. Let's just get on with our work." said Sunshine, disappointed.

Ten Cents and Sunshine soon delivered the fuel and picked up barges of supplies to bring back down to port. As they hitched ropes onto the barges and departed the dock, they suddenly heard a loud gunshot.

"Yipes! What was that?!" said Sunshine, startled.

"It must be a starting pistol, but wait…" thought Ten Cents, "If that's the case, then that means…"

Then, everything seemed to happen in an instant. Multiple speedboats came surging through the water, kicking up massive waves! Sunshine managed to get out of the way in time.

"Ten Cents, LOOK OUT!"

"Oh no!" Ten Cents couldn't move in time, all the speedboats kicked up big waves all over him and his hull. "Hey! P-Peh! Hey! Oi! What's the big idea, huh?!"

"Hahaha, get soaked steamies! Have some water to cool y'er boilers!" laughed one of the speedboat drivers, as they splashed on the two Star switchers again.

"Ugggh!"

The speedboats were soon out of sight. Ten Cents and Sunshine were soaked all over, but there was worse to come.

"Oh no!" cried Ten Cents.

"What's wrong?!" asked Sunshine.

"I'm taking on water! Those twits in their launches have produced such high waves that my deck's taking on water! Sunshine, help!"

"Oh-oh right away, I'll get a line on you!" Sunshine quickly got a line on Ten Cents and held on tight.

"Yeah, there you go!"

"Oof… You're heavier than I reckoned!"

"You can do it! Just keep it steady!"

"I'm trying! I'm trying!"

But at that moment… When they both thought Ten Cents would go under, there was a loud thump, and Ten Cents stopped going down.

"Huh… I didn't realize the water here was that shallow."

"I don't think I've hit the bottom… Look, forget the line, find some cranes and get me out!"

"Aye aye!" said Sunshine, as he rushed off for help.

Ten Cents had sunk quite a bit, the water was barely touching his wheelhouse. But he knew it would be best to stay calm, and pray that no other speedboats would splash him. Sunshine had a few difficulties in getting help.

"Zip! Zug! Lil' Ditcher! Leave your barge, I've an emergency and I need your help!"

"Is it enough of an emergency to stop us from cleaning up this harbor?" accused Zip.

"Ten Cents is sinking! Some mad speed boats Up River have kicked so many waves that he's taken on water!"

"Well well well, good for them! Saves us some competition, eh Zip?" giggled Zug.

"No-I I mean yes! Yes!" stuttered Zip.

"You wouldn't actually let him drown, would you?" asked Sunshine.

"I wouldn't, would you Zug?..."

Zug sighed. "Alright, Zip… But only if we get something out of the salvage."

"A deal's a deal… Come on you two, we've got a fellow switcher to save." said Sunshine as he lead the cavalcade back up river.

Ten Cents was still miraculously above water level when they arrived. Sunshine was the first to check in on him.

"How are you feeling?"

"Not any better than I was before you left me to sink."

"I had to get help somehow…"

As they were quarreling, Zip noticed something bubbling from the surface.

"Wh-Wh-What's that Zug?! Is it a sea monster?" he shrieked.

"Sea monster?! But we're in the middle of a lake!" protested Zug.

"B-But look at it, it's huge, bubbly and-" Zip was interrupted by Grampus emerging from the surface.

"Oh, it's only Grampus… I-I knew that."

"I know what saved you, Ten Cents." explained Grampus, "You happened to land right on top of an old Paddle Steamer!"

"A whaaattt?"

"T'hell's a Paddle Steamer doing in the middle of a lake in Mittsville?" asked Zug, who was most puzzled.

"I don't know, but I may ask around. Let's focus on freeing Ten Cents first!"

And so they did. Work took a while, but since there was no damage done to Ten Cents' hull, he was able to float back to the surface once all the water was flushed out of his deck.

"Ahhh, thanks fellas. Those speed boats had me worried when I saw 'em kicking up all those waves."

"Right, now we gotta salvage that old Paddle steamer." suggested Grampus.

"Why? Shouldn't we leave it alone?" asked Ten Cents thoughtfully, "It's not our property after all."

"Don't be so neglective, Ten Cents! Poor thing looks like she's been submerged for years! We gotta help her! Wouldn't you agree, Sunshine?"

"Oh yeah, and we've got the equipment too. Get ready, Mighty Moe!" called Sunshine.

"Roger that, just let me get my hose fastened to the vessel and I'll get right to work. Lil' Ditcher, I'll need your help too!"

"No trouble, Moe."

"Ready?... HEAVE!"

As the cranes were getting ready to lift out the paddle steamer, a few of the other tugs came up to see what all the commotion was about.

"Ahhh, you alright, Ten Cents? Feeling better?" asked O.J.

"Yeah, just a bit shaken up, no real damage done."

"And what's this here?" O.J. was most surprised, "Wait… Is that… Is that old Marincay?"

"Marin... What?" asked Sunshine.

"That's right, y'all don't remember. This paddle steamer along with her sisters used to transfer people and cars across the Bigg City Port in the 1900's and 1910's."

"Oh yeah, much like the Fulton Ferry now!" commented Ten Cents.

"Aye, the Fulton Ferry… Actually replaced the steamers like Marincay here earlier this decade I remember, before most of you came along. Most of them were broken up by Burke and Blair, but we never knew what happened to Marincay here… Until now, at least."

There were a few moments of silence, until Sunshine had a suggestion.

"Is there any way we can get this old lady back up and running? She doesn't look in that bad of shape."

"Stupid suggestion!" argued Zug, "Who's gonna want this old timer? If you ask me we should send her to Burke and Blair-"

"Hey, show some respect Zug!" objected Zip, "No vessel is too old to be useful, imagine how many crowds she'd draw today!"

"Zip being the one to talk down to Zug? Now I've seen everything!" laughed Ten Cents.

When the cavalcade brought the "Marincay" back to Bigg City, I had a few words to say regarding the discovery.

"Where did you find that old muddy vessel?" I asked.

"In the bottom of the harbor at Mittsville," explained O.J., "You remember her and her sisters, don't you captain?"

"Yes, O.J., I do. But do we have any use for it now?"

"Can't we keep it safe somewhere, Captain?" peeped Ten Cents, "She really is a beautiful ship, and I wouldn't want to lose her to the breakers."

"Hmmm… Well there isn't much room on my fleet for her, see if there's any room at Lucky's for her and maybe they can fix her up, if not then I think you'll have to consider letting her go. On your way now."

"Aye aye, sir.." sighed O.J., and with that, the cavalcade made their way towards Lucky's.

Once the tugs made it to Lucky's Yard to drop off their payload, they spoke to the manager about the situation.

"Well there's a dock near the back that we could store her at, but I can't promise she'll be restored right away." he explained, "We've been trying to focus more on one of our newer projects that we've been putting off for too long."

"Thanks sir, but what sort of project?" asked Ten Cents.

"Well once you put this old paddle steamer' in the back, you can take a look. The project's in the front."

The tugs finally moored old Marincay in the back, and it would be difficult to spot her from a normal passerby.

"Well old girl, you're safe here." Comforted O.J., "We're glad to have saved you and please, make yourself comfortable while you're here."

Although Marincay couldn't speak, O.J. seemed to nod like the vessel had said "Thank you" in response.

"Well, we'd better head out then lads. Back to work."

"Actually, I still want to see what that 'Project' Mr. Lucky mentioned… Can we take a peak on the way out?" asked Ten Cents.

"If you want, I'm heading back to the Star Dock." said O.J. as he headed away.

"As am I, I'd rather wait until the full reveal, y'know?" said Sunshine as he left too.

"Oh well… Your losses." sighed Ten Cents, as he headed over to the front.

"Mr. Lucky? Sir?"

"Yes Ten Cents?"

"Where's that project you mentioned earlier? I'd like to have a sneak peak at it if that's okay with you."

"Oh for sure! It's right on your right, in the green tarps."

"Interesting… Thanks sir" said Ten Cents as he made his way over.

"No problem, hope you like what you see!" called Mr. Lucky.

Ten Cents could tell that whatever was under the tarp was something big… But was shocked as to how big it would be when he took his peak.

"Dear lord… This is going to change the industry in more ways than one." he pondered, but then he looked around to make sure nobody heard him.

"Well… I'd better get back to my post." he said as he made his way back to the Star Dock.

"Ahhh, you're back Ten Cents! What was that mystery project Mr. Lucky was talking about?" asked O.J., "Did you get a good look at it?"

"I'm.. Actually not allowed to talk about it to others." explained Ten Cents.

"Whatever do you mean chap? It can't be that confidential." said Hercules.

"I think you all will just get the bigger picture when the project is done."

"Are you sure? I was quite curious when O.J. and Sunshine told me…"

"That's enough!" I interrupted, "Ten Cents, the port authority wants to speak with you."

"Why? What did I do?"

"No no, they just want to ask you a few questions about what happened earlier at the regatta."

"Oh, alright… I don't really know how much help I'll be though."

"Just answer it as best as you can… By the way, I'm proud of you for persevering after what happened earlier."

It wasn't too difficult for Ten Cents. It was mostly a few questions regarding what he saw and what the speedboats looked like, and soon the Port Authority was on their way. All the drivers at the speedboat rally were all laughing at the fun they had that day.

"Wasn't this a great party today, lads?" said one, "I'd say I was kicking up waves of over ten feet back there!"

"Yeah, you should have seen the look on those yellow tugs's faces, 'hey didn't know what hit 'em!"

Just then, the coast guard showed up. "Ahoy, ahoy there! Can I ask you boys some questions?"

"Oh crumbs…"

"From what I heard, you boys not only came close to sinking one of the Star Tug and Marine Company's switcher tugs, but completely submerged at least four other speedboats! What do you all have to say about that, hmmm?"

"We did what?!"

"You heard right… We're bringing out salvage cranes as we speak to rescue them. And from the looks on your faces and what I just heard you saying before I came in, I'd say there's no denying it, eh?"

"What do we even say?"

"Tell him we didn't mean any harm!"

"Well it's a little late for that, isn't it, boys? You're all under arrest, please come with me quietly so we won't have to do any harm to you all."

"I give in…"

"That's what I thought. Let's go, boys."

All of the reckless speedboat drivers were all sentenced to 2 months of community service. Regardless of how excited you are over a special occasion, you should always put safety over your own entertainment. As for what became of Marincay, well, that's another story.

Episode 9 of 13

This one was based off of two real life events actually, the portion with the speedboats was based off of a case in Texas involving speedboats sinking others during a Trump rally, and the story of Marincay is based off of a real life preserved steamship called "Minniehaha", albeit the real life story happened almost half a century after Minniehaha was scuttled, not only five or so years. Enjoy the story!

Article on the Trump Rally sinking: .

Article on the Minniehaha steamship: en. wiki/Minnehaha_(steamboat)