"Mr. President, it is very nice to see you again." Wacky sat down in front of the somewhat casually dressed Big Wig. Wacky was still unused to seeing cogs outside of suits. The President was even more of a shock. Sporting a black polo, the cog stood up and stretched his hand out.
"Edward. You can just call me Edward. No need for the formalities, Wacky." shaking hands, the two leaders sat down. "It's been a while. How have things been in Toontown?"
Wacky shrugged and sighed. "Eh, things could be better. Although I guess the same could be said about Cog Nation, yes?"
"Well I'd be lying if I said that things were going smoothly. I assume you have been caught up with things?" the large Big Wig pulled out a folder and slid it across the desk. "Almost one-hundred cogs have been destroyed in the last three weeks. As first we thought it might just be a manufacturing malfunction that was starting to show. However, last week we found remnants of a cream pie with the remains of a Tightwad in an alley down on Business Boulevard. Now a high ranking official was killed in his apartment shortly after sending out for help from Toontown? Now, you know me. I am a friend of Toons and have a strong respect for Toontown. I have no reason to believe that Toon leadership is involved, but most cogs are not going to go for that. There are a lot of scars from the two previous wars. A lot of cogs don't trust Toons to be honest."
"I understand. I know there are quite a few wounds on both sides. I can assure you that I have been taking a much harsher and stricter action against Anti-Cog behavior. We have already issued a warning to all government officials, as well as citizens that there will be severe punishments. I've had a personal hunch that whoever is behind this is working alone or in a small group. Maybe to fan the flames of violence again. I think we have a mutual interest in stopping this before it gets any worse." Wacky was unable to tell the expression on the Big Wig's face.
Deep in thought, Edward stared blankly ahead. The president of Cog Nation had lived through both Cog-Toon wars, and was certainly against the possibility of any more fighting. "Yes. Yes, you're right. Did you know that cogs have emotions?"
"Emotions?" Wacky asked confused.
"Yes. It's something I don't think most Toons realize. Cogs actually have emotions. I know that Mark is well-known as an anomaly in Toontown, but it's true. Actually, it's something I wasn't even aware of for a long time. It was something I kept concealed, a mark of shame as you will. When the shackles of our previous regime were lifted, I think the pressure to stifle who we really are was freed. Apparently all cogs were built with emotions. We were forced to hide them out of fear of being ostracized, but ironically it was something we all had. Love, fear, happiness, sadness. While they are wonderful, you must remember that for many cogs this is their first chance to really live life. Most were manufactured to fight, and there are many who still view that as their primary purpose. It has taken a long time to undo the damage that my predecessors inflicted on this nation." Edward stood up and walked over to a small bookcase where there was a framed picture of a Mingler. "I have known the pain of loss, the fear of death. Right now this is how cogs feel. We are scared, for ourselves and for our loved ones. We thought we were finally free to live, but it appears that for some that privilege will never be acceptable."
Hearing those words from not just a cog, but THE cog was heart-breaking to Wacky. Even as someone who had spent much time in his career dealing with cogs, he had never really realized the similarities between Toons and their counterparts. "That Mingler? Did you know her well?"
Sliding his fingers across the glass cover, Edward smiled sadly. "Yes, many years ago. She is just a distant memory now. A victim of passion and circumstance. She is the reason I fought so valiantly to be in my position now. It's a long story. It's hard to explain."
"I understand, Edward. I actually lost someone very close to me, many years ago. But I guess this isn't the time to tread over old memories. We are here for a solution." taking his seat, Wacky pulled open his backpack and grabbed his notepad and pen. As he began to write, the door burst open and a frantic looking Yesman stood with a horrified look on his face.
"Mr. President! You need to come out and see this immediately!" the short, bald cog pleaded with Edward to come with him, nearly falling over from tilting so far towards the opposite direction.
Shaking his head, Nodded held up his hand. "Jim, can you not see I am in a very important meeting? Can this not wait?"
The roaring chants of monotonous tones screamed outside of the window. Calls for Toons to leave Cog Nation, for peace, for lower oil prices. Both Wacky and Edward walked to a window and pulled over the shades and gasped in shock. Outside on the steps of the building, hundreds of cogs stood holding up fists, signs, and empty oil cans. Every build and level of cog was represented in the group. From the smallest Flunky to the largest Legal Eagle. "Jim, what is going on here?"
"Sir, it looks like there is a protest! There has been another attack! It looks like there was an explosion in a critical manufacturing plant in Stocksville! Eighteen more cogs destroyed!"
Wacky stared blankly at Edward, unable to speak. "Very well. I will be out shortly to address them. They deserve answers." turning to Wacky, Edward sighed. "Mayor Banana, I recommend you stay here. We would be best not to make things any worse, especially for your safety. I will be back shortly." Edmund jogged behind his assistant and closed the door behind him. Wacky knelt and peeked out the window. How had things gone so wrong so quickly?
The week after the Corporate Raider attack had been smooth sailing for the Melville. Scurvy had to assure the crew that the things that had happened were not normal for sailors, and that their luck was due to change for the better. So far, they had been right. The wind had mostly cooperated, the sun mostly shone, and the crew was happy again. To celebrate life, each night Mariner and John prepared magnificent feasts, filling the table to the brim with delicious pastries, soups, breads, and anything else they could imagine. There had been no signs of land, or anything besides water, but the crew didn't care. They had learned to pass the time a bit easier than before. Finding games to play, work that needed to be done, and for some better places to hide to take naps. "Hey Edmund, you haven't really told us all that much about you. How did you end up being here?" Calypso asked the brown dog who was sucking down on a cream chowder soup.
"Actually, come to think of it. How did most of us show up here?" Mariner asked to the group. "Hey Captain, how did you find us? Weren't you the one who handpicked us yourself?"
"Aye, I just be knowin'. Don't question tha wisdom of an old sea captain, harr harr." Scurvy winked and stuffed a mouthful of sea-salt spaghetti into their mouth.
Edmund chuckled and stood up. "Well I think that's a good introduction I guess. Not like I'm very interesting though. When I graduated from school I got a job with my uncle building estates. I didn't really know much about construction, so I was just kind of doing basic stuff you know? Cleaning up, doing small things, grabbing stuff for other guys. It was all pretty easy, everyone I worked with was great. Well about a year in and work really picks up with that new estate program. All of a sudden we're getting a house done per week and still not keeping up. I was working triple overtime and I was just getting burnt out. Right before I decided to call it quits, everything died down and all of a sudden there was NO work. One extreme to the other. Well he had to let me go because he wasn't bringing in any money. Mom offered to let me come live with her but I really wanted to make it on my own. I moved to Donald's Dock and got a job at a bookstore. Mostly running the cash register, stocking, stuff like that. It was alright. Most of the time it was pretty slow so I would just read. I don't think I ever read as much as I did in my few months working there. One day, Mayor Banana comes in and tells me he has this great opportunity. Let me tell you something, seeing the mayor of Toontown walk into the store was one thing. Having him offer me this well paying opportunity? I couldn't believe it. I thought someone set up a prank!"
"Wow, that's amazing!" Mariner interjected. "How did you know Scurvy?"
"Arrrgh. I be hurtin' here. Me own crew never recognized me. The store was called "Jolly Roger Reading" it be where I went to get my reading material. Probably went there a hundred times and ol' Edmund here still never recognized me. Can't imagine what kind of things a Toon sees where a one-eyed, one-legged sailor doesn't cause him to bat an eye." the entire group laughed as Edmund turned red.
Cross clapped and squealed with laughter. "Don't worry Captain. I wouldn't have forgotten you if I ever saw you. You are truly one of a kind!
"Well you say that, but you ended up here like the rest of us. I bet you have an interesting story to tell. I hope this one also involves embarrassing some cocky punks!" a small bit of laughter erupted as the reminder of the mouse's previous story didn't go unnoticed.
"If you say so! It's not particularly interesting either. I was a student at Minnie's Melodyland Community College. I had been kind of skimming by, not really going anywhere. I had spent three years taking classes, changing degrees, and then switching again. Just kind of treading water. Heh, no pun intended. Anyways, it was coming up on year four and I still had no idea what to do. I had gotten a part-time job at my mom's restaurant, but the stress of trying to figure out what to do was getting to me. I kept calling out of work because I had no motivation to go, yet I would just lay in bed for hours and do nothing. I was really struggling for any sort of purpose. Well a day or two before we go, mom calls me up and says she got invited to go on this escapade. She's not sure she can go and asks if I want to run the restaurant. I was honest with her and told her I just didn't think I had it in me. Well instead she tells me maybe I should go. I don't know anything about sailing or boars, or anything but for some reason it just clicked in my brain. This is where I needed to be." Cross crossed her arms and shrugged. "I guess it all worked out, alright."
Calypso was surprised how similarly some of the others had felt. It seemed like everybody here had lost some kind of purpose, or had been searching for more meaning in life. "You know guys, I'm really glad you came along. I couldn't imagine this ship without you guys."
"Aw, Calypso. You probably miss your son though right? Gosh it's been almost two weeks now!" Cross frowned at her comment.
"Yeah, I absolutely miss him. But I don't know if he feels the same way. I feel like since the divorce that me and him have drifted apart. It doesn't help that his mother has majority custody, but she is also very good about keeping him away. If you had told me fifteen years ago the woman I loved the most would turn into the Toon she is today, I would never have believed you. I guess we are all capable of changing though." the blue duck stood up and walked over where he stared at the sea. "But it's all okay, because you guys are my family now. Plus when we get home, I'm going to show him that I'm a pretty cool dad. I mean, I stood up to killer monkeys AND pirates? That's one heck of a story! Might even write a second book!"
Horsenado who had been mostly silent, happy to soak in the words of his friends started to speak. "You know. When I first suggested this, I didn't actually think it would ever come to fruition. Actually, part of me suggested it jokingly. Even then, I never thought I'd be here. I've lived my entire life worrying about things. Fearing the inevitability of my own death and that has just led me to hide. Even when things have gotten rough, I hid. But because of you guys, I have found that I can be brave! I am capable of fighting for what I want. I don't think I ever would have found that without you all. I just wanted to say thank you!"
A small burst of applause broke out from the rest of the crew. Scurvy stood up and walked over to Horsenado. Taking off their captain's hat, they placed it firmly on the horse's head and smiled. "Arrrgh, so says the best steersman this ship has ever seen, matey. Yer a true sailor if I've ever seen un'." as the Toons conversed, a small drizzle of rain came. The blue skies had parted to give way to dark and foreboding clouds. Scurvy looked up and stroked their chin. "Aye, everybody best be gettin' inside. Looks like we will be hittin' out first storm. Let us all do our best to ride things out, don't be lookin' too bad right now.