I live! I've been very busy with work, but I have been brewing some ideas for the fifth chapter (and the sixth chapter). This chapter focuses on the tugs up river due to the hurricane, but Charon starts to make his mark...

The next morning, Zebedee was still moored at the pier in Top Town. Clean up operations were underway, and Captain Starr sent the tugs to go out and assist the Coast Guard. However, the loss of Zorran was pressing heavily on the harbor tug's mind. Just what exactly had happened that caused Zorran to die? Why did it take the Coast Guard that long to find him in the first place? He was certainly in no position to lead the Zero Fleet, as he felt he wasn't mentally prepared for the job. Sadness turned to anger, and Zebedee began to silently curse his Captain, his fleetmates, the Coast Guard. It was simply becoming too much.

"Zebedee?" A voice called out, snapping the harbor tug back to reality. He slowly cocked his head to see OJ steaming up to him. "The Coast Guard needs your help. Me and the switchers can't be doing all the work ourselves, and besides, you're the strongest tug out of all of us."

Zebedee was in no mood to answer, and he simply groaned before looking away from OJ. "Who do you think I am? Big Mac? Warrior?" He asked in an angry tone. "Now don't be running up to me and ask me to help. Especially since I have my own loss to deal with."

"I understand those feelings of dealing with loss Zebedee." OJ replied in a gentle tone. "I was in your position once, and I don't want you to go through what I went through. It was… miserable."

"You? Dealt with loss?" Zebedee asked doubtfully, still not looking at the older tug. He had his reasons for not trusting the older tug, especially since he felt that what OJ did was sometimes unorthodox in his book. "Heh, I'm not sure if those losses of yours were as significant as mine."

"I lost a good friend to a collision with an ocean liner during my younger years." OJ said, tears rolling down his face. "He was not just my friend, he was my mentor too. He was why I learned so much about loyalty and tolerance. When me and my other fleetmates got word of what happened, I was devastated and shut myself out."

Zebedee turned his head to see the paddlewheel tug looking down at the water, surprised about what he heard. So he and OJ were not so different after all. "I… I didn't know old-"

"Don't fuss about it Zebedee, it happened a long time ago." OJ replied, letting out a sigh. "Shortly after the loss of my friend, my old owners sold me to Captain Starr. He reminded me of my mentor, and he provided a way for me to recover. If it wasn't for him, I don't know where I would be at right now."

Zebedee's thoughts trailed elsewhere, and to say that he was envious was an understatement. While OJ came from a decent background, he was purchased by Captain Zero at an auction through very questionable means. Captain Zero was more interested in the money as opposed to the well-being of his own tugs, and the tugs had to learn how to not show physical and emotional weaknesses in front of others. Okay, he may have showed concern after the munitions incident, but that was beside the point. He reluctantly undid his lines, and now had to start up his fire. It was pointless to sit and mope all day anyway.

"Zebedee, are you alright?" OJ asked, noticing how quiet the other was. "Do you need-"

"I'm fine Star." Zebedee answered bluntly. "I'll see you down where you need me to be." OJ nodded and sailed away, leaving the Z Stack behind.

Ten Cents and Sunshine were being kept busy with helping Billy Shoepack clear away debris that had gotten into the river. Zip and Zug were further down the river, assisting the Fire Tug to check if any sewage lines were damaged by fallen trees or strong winds. The Fire Tug was greatly concerned that leaking sewage combined with sparks from their stacks could start a fire, and so he was making sure that debris would be cleared as quickly and efficiently as possible. Although work was going smoothly, it was clear that they needed help.

Ten Cents was helping Sunshine clear some fallen trees when a voice came into his head. "Can we go and do something worthwhile? This cleaning the mess work is getting boring!" He said, catching the attention of the switcher. Whoever it was, it was clear that he was getting impatient.

"Hey, we gotta help the townsfolk first. The railroad is doing their part of clearing the tracks of debris." Ten Cents snapped, hoping that would get the voice to shut up. "We gotta make sure supplies come in from Bigg City-"

"Bigg City, Bigg Schmity! They're damaged as is by the hurricane!" The voice sneered. "Besides, the big guy's being kept busy down there, and he can't get up here. That's why he needs us to help him out. If not..."

The big guy? Ten Cents was confused, and he wanted to press for more information. However, he had to help Sunshine. He pushed those nagging feelings aside for the time being and concentrated on his work, not afraid of any possible repercussions. Once the trees were cleared, he noticed that the voice had seemingly gone quiet. Good, he thought to himself, and he went to go and assist Billy.

Later on that afternoon, Ten Cents and the other tugs had reached Mittsville and were now waiting for the all-clear to go back to Bigg City. However, there were still concerns about fallen debris, and there was no way in telling what sort of hazards were hiding in the water. To make the situation worse, coal was in short supply, and running out during the trek down the river would be disastrous. They would have to stay here for the evening.

Ten Cents was watching the sun set with Sunshine when he noticed a rather large raven land on his deck. He looked down and was immediately taken back by the raven's condition. Although it was able to fly, its body was riddled by gunfire. To make the situation more confusing, Sunshine looked like he didn't bat an eye to what was happening. Ten Cents looked back up at the setting sun, hoping that would get the raven to leave.

"That's the big guy's pet. He looks like he wants to help ya out." The voice from earlier came back, trying to draw Ten Cents away from the setting sun. "Besides, we have work to do, remember?"

"We're kinda short on coal at the moment." Ten Cents thought, hoping to stop the voice from pestering him. "Whatever sort of work you want me to do, I don't want to run out. The next coal train won't be coming in for at least another day!"

"In this work, coal is pointless." The voice retorted, and Ten Cents watched as his reflection in the water became maroon. To make it more stressful, he felt himself become restless. "Our power ensures that vessels like you don't run out on the job. Makes it easier for the both of us."

"Thanks for the boost, but I don't need it. At least not right now." Ten Cents snapped, watching as the sun finally slip into the horizon. He turned to face Sunshine and said in a quiet voice, "That was a good sunset, wasn't it?"

"Yeah! Our first one in a few days too!" Sunshine chuckled, turning to face his friend. He noticed that something wasn't right and asked, "You look a little confused Tenny. Is something wrong?"

"I'm fine Sun." Ten Cents assured, trying to shrug off the remnants of the nagging feelings. And the bird. "Hopefully things should be getting back to normal soon. I miss working down at Bigg City!"

"Oh that's what the harbor folk always say! I like it here Up River, but you do have a point." Sunshine chuckled. He noticed something in the corner of his eye and said, "Hey look, there's Zebedee!"

The Z Stack sailed up to them, carrying a coal barge. "It took some bargaining, but there's enough for all of us. Your old man is actually a decent guy, and helped me get the barge." He said, pointing to OJ steaming behind him.

"Thanks Zeb!" Ten Cents smiled. "I think we'll be able to make it back to Bigg City now. At least by tomorrow evening."

"Heh, if we try at least." Zebedee smiled for a second before becoming serious once more. "We gotta clear crap first if we want to go home."

"But on the upside, a lot of the debris has been cleared already thanks to our combined efforts!" OJ added, making Zebedee pout. Once Zebedee left, the paddlewheel tug steamed up to the switchers and said, "I've been helping him cope with Zorran's death, make him grow a little more. Hopefully he'll be able to win the others over with what I've taught him."

"Hopefully? OJ, knowing Zak-" Ten Cents was about to ask when he was interrupted by OJ.

"Zebedee is stronger than Zak Ten Cents. He shouldn't have to worry too much when it comes to a challenge in leadership you know." The paddlewheel tug explained, looking on towards the evening sky. "Besides, you know the saying 'bark and no bite'? That's all Zak is."

Ten Cents and Sunshine now had some reassurance, but they still had concerns over Zebedee. He didn't even want to be a Z Stack, let alone a Star Tug. Hopefully, this experience would allow him to put aside his worries and show that he was not like Zorran. However, now was not the time to bother him nor OJ.

Later on that evening, Ten Cents was fast asleep when he heard a bird call. He groaned and shrugged it off as an owl, but the call became louder. Meanwhile, he undid his line and started to move. It wasn't long before he felt a bump and woke up. Ten Cents looked and noticed that he bumped into OJ, and he was panicking. "Please don't wake up, please don't wake up!" He said to himself, noticing how the older tug was stirring. After a minute, OJ remained sound asleep, letting out a loud snore.

The voice came back, and said, "Lucky for you, the old guy stayed still. Now, we have work to do."

"What sort of work anyway? You keep talking about it like it's significant!" Ten Cents impatiently asked before noticing the same raven from earlier on the edge of his bow. "I take it that's the big guy's pet wanting to show me the way?"

"Yeah. He got shot by some idijits a while ago, but he can still fly. Best part is... he's a ghost!" The voice chuckled, drawing a gasp from Ten Cents. "Come on, let him show you."

With some hesitation, Ten Cents looked at the raven and asked in a quiet voice, "Where to?" The raven simply said nothing, only pointing his beak to Ten Cents' right. Ten Cents looked and noticed that the raven started to glow under the moonlight, and curiosity began to overtake him. However, there was one small problem. How was he going to follow a glowing bird without waking the others up?

"Still nervous aren't ya?" The voice asked. "Lemme help with that!" Ten Cents watched as he began to change before his very eyes, and he was panicking! He shut his eyes in fear, but he still felt his body on the water. And that he was now moving. When he opened his eyes, he realized that he was not in control of his own body. He could still see from his wheelhouse, but that was it.

"Where are we going exactly?" He asked the voice, showing some caution. "I don't want to get us caught- fog?!" He watched as fog rolled in, muffling the noises in his engine to barely a whisper.

"Big guy's way of keeping quiet on the job!" The voice laughed, taking complete control. "You had your fun Tenny. Now it's Charon's turn!"

Charon? Ten Cents had heard the name before, but the name didn't click. However, it wasn't until he reached a dock full of houseboats that he realized what the voice meant. "Hang on... we shouldn't be here! I'm a Star Tug, not Hades's goon-" Ten Cents tried to protest, but Charon took over.

"I'll make it as painless as possible for you, okay?" Charon said in a quiet voice, noticing how impatient Ten Cents was getting. "Besides, after this, you better start getting used to your new life."

Ten Cents was at a loss of words, and helplessly watched from his point of view as Charon approached an injured houseboat. His body had received substantial damage due to debris from the storm, and his face was bruised. Although he could be repaired, he looked as though he was about to pass on. Ten Cents supposed his injuries were too great, and could only watch as Charon went to work. The moment he saw smoke race towards the houseboat, he blacked out...

The next morning, Ten Cents awoke to find himself tied at his spot at the dock, surrounded by Sunshine, OJ, Zebedee, Zug, and Zip. Much to his relief, they were still fast asleep. "Maybe what I saw last night was a dream..." He thought to himself, looking down at the water and noticing that his reflection was normal. The raven was also nowhere in sight, and he supposed it was just an illusion.

Within an hour, Ten Cents, Sunshine, Zug, and Zip were getting a morning briefing from Captain Starr (OJ and Zebedee had left to go help with some cleaning). "We have gotten the all clear to go back to Bigg City!" He said, getting drowned out in whistles and sighs of relief from the switchers. "The main path has been cleared of debris thanks to OJ and Zebedee, and Big Mac and Warrior did their part on Bigg City's end to assist." After a few minutes of whistles, he shouted silence and said in a serious tone, "I have not heard from Captain Zero since he got the news of Zorran's death three days ago, so I will be going to check up on him this afternoon."

"Starr, what about Zorran's body?" Zug asked, and Zip was now ready to calm him down. "Are you making shi-"

"I am not making it up Zug. It's currently being held at Lucky's Yard, and will be melted down next week." Captain Starr said, silencing the Z Stack. "Based on the descriptions of it from the others, I wouldn't recommend it. Dismissed!"

Later on that morning, the switchers had gotten filled with coal and were now steaming down the river back to Bigg City. Along the way, they spotted Billy Shoepack. However, for whatever reason, Billy was glaring at Zip.

"Billy, are you alright?" Ten Cents asked, looking at Billy Shoepack with worried eyes. "What's gotten into you that you don't like Zip all of the sudden?"

"I saw him last night in the fog, following a strange glowing light." Billy replied. "He was laughing and muttering something about a big guy!"

"Me?" Zip asked, looking at the alligator tug with confused eyes. "What did I do wrong?"

"I saw you going near the houseboats last night Zip. You looked pretty excited about it too." Billy answered, steaming up to the switcher. "Just what exactly were you doin', huh? Tippin' them over?"

"I wasn't doing anything stupid! I was fast asleep!" Zip retorted, looking at the other switchers for backup. He certainly did not want to face an untimely demise, especially at the hands of a tug like Billy Shoepack. "You... had a dream last night. You must have had one about a ghostly tug lookin' to cause trouble!"

"Dream? DREAM?" Billy was furious. "I'm done playing games Zero boy. Now shut your-"

"We saw Zip snoozing right next to us!" Sunshine replied, hoping to calm his friend down. Ten Cents and Zug also nodded, confirming what Sunshine had seen. "Zip was out like a light the whole night too. Listen, I know you're cross and all, but we have to head home."

Billy slowly calmed down, as Sunshine did have a point. It was useless to start a fight, especially since these switchers needed to get back home to Bigg City. "I suppose I was getting hot headed there for a sec. But I got my eye on you Zip." He said, blasting his hooter and sailing away. Zip was befuddled, but shrugged it off as he followed behind Ten Cents, Sunshine, and Zip.

By early evening, the Star and Zero tugs who were sent inland made it back to Bigg City and went their separate ways. Ten Cents, Sunshine, and OJ tearfully reunited with Big Mac and Warrior, and the five tugs hurried back to the Star Dock to get cleaned up. Zak was not present, and Zebedee groaned as he led Zug and Zip back to the Zero dock. During the journey, Zug quietly broke off from the main group and hurried off towards Lucky's Yard. Captain Starr did say that Zorran's body was being kept there, and part of him wanted to go there and prove the man's words. Once he arrived, he quietly and cautiously looked around to see if Starr was telling the truth. It didn't take him long to see a large vessel resting on a barge. Zug turned on his light, and was alarmed to see that the vessel looked like a tugboat or a smaller vessel. With a gulp, he sailed towards the barge. The vessel had a large hole in its bow, and was covered in rust and barnacles. He immediately recognized the distinct shape of the bow and ran out of the dock, crying hysterically. "Zorran's dead! Zorran's dead!" He shouted, trying to shake off what he had seen...

The next morning, the Star Tugs awoke to see Zebedee, Zak, Zug, and Zip sail into the Star Dock. They were very alarmed at the sight, but now was not the time to argue. The four Zero Tugs looked visibly shaken, and there was terror and fear in their eyes. The Star Tugs assumed that they too had seen what remained of Zorran, as evidenced by Zug's unhinged look.

Captain Starr pulled up a few minutes later in his car and stepped out, but he looked serious. Pulling out his megaphone, he announced, "As of last night, Zero and Marine is out of business. Captain Zero was found dead in his Up River office, and police confirmed this morning that Zero committed suicide. With no one else to run the company, his remaining tugs were put into my care by the police and the Port Authority. However, they won't be staying here permanently. I'll be putting them up for sale this afternoon." Then with a sigh, he said, "Considering their reputation... I'll be surprised if there's anyone willing to buy them."