A/N: Finally, another chapter! If you've ever read the book, or seen the film Christine, you'll pick up on an easter egg I left in this chapter, see if you can spot it. I'll reveal it at the end of the chapter. The story is finally picking up a bit, and things become a little more interesting from here on out. A quick warning of some language in this chapter. Anyway, on with the story!
The next morning, Captain Star woke up when he heard someone knocking at the door. He groaned, slowly climbed out of bed, and made his way to the door. He peeked out the window, and what he saw startled him awake. Two detectives were standing outside his door. Had the curse caused Ten Cents to attack, or kill a civilian? He silently prayed it wasn't true before he opened the door.
"Can I help you boys?" Captain Star raised an eyebrow at them.
"We have several witnesses claiming two of your tugs slaughtered, and... ate a few of their friends." the detective on the left almost looked like he didn't believe the claims himself. Captain Star's eyes grew wide in horror. His worst fears had come true. Not one, but two of his tugs had killed several civilians. This was worse than he thought.
May it spread, so everyone shall suffer! The were-cat's words whirled around in his head. The curse wasn't confined to one tug anymore. It was spreading from tug to tug.
"T-two, sir?" Captain Star stammered. The detective on the right nodded.
"What did they look like?" Captain Star asked them. The detective on the right flipped through his notebook.
"Apparently, from what I've been told, they were your switchers. One was smaller than the other. They were painted in the Star Fleet livery, the fleet you happen to own, Mr. Star." the detective on the right looked up from his notes. Captain Star knew which ones did it, but he couldn't explain why his switchers snapped so suddenly out in the open. It would raise panic in the city.
"Yes, they are mine, but... you might want to come inside to hear this." Captain Star gestured for the two detectives to come into his home. The two detectives looked at each other, as if considering offer for a moment, and then entered his house.
"Please, make yourselves at home. Can I get you boys some coffee or anything?" Captain Star closed the door, and the two detectives sat in a chair in the living room.
"No, son, but thank you for your offer." the detective on the left shook his head. Captain Star took his seat on the couch. Good thing his wife, and son weren't awake yet. They would probably panic at the sight of the two detectives sitting in their living room.
"I'm Junkins, and that's Rudolph, but everyone calls him Rudy." Junkins, the detective on the right pointed at the detective to his left.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you both." Captain Star nodded in acknowledgement.
Now, back to our little problem, you said you know why your switchers attacked these people?" Rudolph leaned forward a bit, and rested his elbows on the coffee table. Captain Star nodded.
"Yes, you see, I sort of angered a were-cat -" Captain Star was cut off when Junkins raised a hand.
"Hold on, you pissed off a were-cat?" Junkins then realized what had probably transpired. Were-cats were powerful beings, and have caused trouble before, but it was against the treaty for mankind to not get involved. The king, and queen of Fantanzia were to handle these matters.
"Unfortunately, she cast a curse, and I thought she was bluffing. If she was, you two wouldn't be here right now. I'm terribly sorry for ignoring it, I really am." Captain Star sighed.
"That explains a lot because Zero's tugs have started attacking people too." Rudolph looked over to Junkins.
"Wait, what?" Captain Star sat up straight. Junkins frowned.
"You heard 'im, Zero's tugs are killing people townsfolk left and right. We interrogated him before we came here. He has the same story as you. Whatever you did, Star, it unleashed an abomination that knows no bounds. You put the city in danger, but we can't charge you because it wasn't you that cast the curse. The were-cat is probably back in the Bermuda Triangle, where it belongs, and is getting an earful from the king and queen, but you have to take up responsibility for your actions, and negotiate with the were-cat that caused this, or the whole city will be destroyed by this curse." Junkins tapped his pen on the coffee table. This was out of their power. Their only hope was having the captains meet with the were-cat that cast the curse, and try to change her mind. If they make it there in one piece that is.
"I see... Well, thank you for your advice. I'll have to find a way to get there since no one offers a mail service all the way to the Bermuda Triangle." Captain Star let the curse get to this point, and that was a huge mistake. He had to fix this, but who would watch over his tugs? Captain Zero hardly ever kept an eye on his own fleet to begin with. It was unlikely he would watch over the Star Fleet anyway.
"There's a shrimping boat for sale near your company, Star. It's a pretty good deal, but you do whatever you want, just put the curse to an end." Rudolph pulled the a newspaper clipping out of his pocket.
"Here, I was saving it for my brother who owns a shrimping business around here, but you need it more than me. It has the phone number you need to call to get in contact with the owner." Rudolph handed Captain Star the ad.
"Thank you. I will call them the first chance I get." Captain Star nodded, and graciously took it.
"And one more thing, be careful out there. I wouldn't trust your tugs even if you knew them from the day they were built. They're no longer under your control, Star. They are under the were-cat's influence. She owns them now." Junkins gave him a firm warning before the two detectives got up, and left the house. Captain Star looked down at the ad in his hand, picked up the phone, and dialed the number. He was going to end this once and for all.
A/N: Woo-hoo! Another chapter out of the way! The easter egg is that the detective that investigates Arnie Cunningham is named Rudolph Junkins. If you put the two names of the detectives together, you get the same name. I thought it was a nice nod to the Master of Horror himself: Stephen King. He influences my writing a lot, in case you haven't been able to tell. The next chapter is already on the works, and it will be out shortly. Until next time, see ya later!