It's me again! Writing up this bad boy took a lot of thinking and planning, as I wanted to make sure the events of the story would flow nicely. Like some of my other chapters, this one is a bit on the lengthy side. Enjoy!

Later on that morning, Ten Cents was sent to go fetch some equipment from Lucky's Yard. Captain Starr wanted to make sure that the Zero tugs would at least get some minor fixes done before being put up for sale, especially when considering their condition. Once Ten Cents arrived, he turned and noticed a rusting vessel lying on one of the barges. It took him by surprise, and it took him minutes to process what he was seeing. "So that is Zorran?" He thought to himself, and no matter how hard he tried to deny it, Zorran was there. It looked as though the Z Stack sank from other issues besides rust, Ten Cents figured. "I know no one is that strong enough to put a big hole-"

Before he could continue, he heard the distinct Cockney accent that belonged to Zorran. "Why are ya staring at my corpse Star?" He asked. Ten Cents looked around, but Zorran was nowhere to be seen. "You'd think I'd be joking, but the truth is- Hey, you're not listening to me. I'm right here!"

"Oi bug off Zorran." Ten Cents snapped, spotting the needed parts. "Starr's selling off your fleet mates, especially after Zero offed himself. Shocking I know, but I can care less."

"They're what?!" Zorran's voice showed alarm. And anger. "Listen Tenny, the only reason why they're being sold right now is because Hades killed-"

Before Zorran could finish his sentence Ten Cents felt that something wasn't right. He looked down at the water and noticed Charon had taken the place of his reflection, and he was hoping none of the dock workers were paying attention. The feeling of Zorran in his head was gone shortly after, and Ten Cents took it as a sign that Charon drove Zorran out. Or at least, any doubts. He quietly collected the parts and hurried back to the Star Dock, not wanting any more distractions.

That afternoon, Ten Cents was talking about what he had seen to Sunshine at the fuelling depot. "So Zorran's body was lying on a barge, all rusted out. I saw dead ships, but not like this." He said with a frown. "He even had a big hole on his port side."

"Zorran had a big hole on his port side?" Sunshine asked, looking at Ten Cents. He then suggested, "It sounds like he wasn't rusted out. Rather, he was rammed."

"Rammed?" Ten Cents was dubious. However, there were some things that he remembered about Zorran. Mainly what happened on the day he brought in Timberwolf to arrest Hercules. "Don't you think Hades was behind this? I mean, Zorran was last seen with you and Hercules."

"Maybe, who knows!" Sunshine replied, looking around to see if no one was watching them. They did not want anyone to be snooping. "He might have sunk Zorran first, and used the rust as a cover for what he did!"

This theory sounded nice, but there was one problem. "If Hades sank Zorran, wouldn't Zorran already been rusted out by the time he got dredged up?" Ten Cents asked. Before he was about to suggest something else, he felt his tongue become bound. The words Hades spoke to him echoed through his head, and the repeated threat of death to the entire Star Fleet shook him.

"Tenny, are you alright?" Sunshine asked, becoming visibly concerned. Ten Cents was not suggesting anything, and it looked as though he was struggling to even speak. "C'mon Ten, snap out of it!" He pleaded, noticing that Ten Cents was phasing out.

Ten Cents looked at Sunshine, the binds on his tongue quickly loosening. "I'm fine Sunshine. I was just thinking about the whole thing, but some of it was not… pleasant." He answered, heaving a sigh. It was pointless to discuss this matter further, especially right now. "C'mon, we got a contract to do!"

Sunshine gave a nod and hurried on to follow Ten Cents out of the fuelling depot, relieved that the older switcher was alright. However, he was still concerned. Was Ten Cents going silent the result of Timberwolf? Or was it because of something more sinister? He pushed those thoughts aside, not wanting to miss out on work.

A day had passed and the remaining Zero tugs were put up for sale. Zebedee protested that the tugs could still have their uses and help out with work, but Captain Starr would not have any of it. "I don't want you to get into trouble with the Port Authority. And the police" He answered, looking at the harbor tug. "For now, you lot will have to stay here."

"We loaf around to draw buyers? Bull-" Zak was about to protest when he was silenced by a glare from Zebedee.

"No fussing Zak. The work might be too much for your engine, but a replacement engine is in the works!" Captain Starr added, hoping to soothe the other harbor tug. "However, it will be a while before I can secure payment for it."

At the same time, Ten Cents and Big Mac were in Top Town bringing in supplies for those affected. Although the area was looking better than what it was a few days ago, there was plenty of work that needed to be done. The work was very exhausting, but it was all for helping revitalize the area. Once some barges were delivered, Ten Cents started to doze off. He wouldn't have work again for another hour, so shut his eyes and went to sleep.

He woke up and found himself in the Star Dock, and he noticed that it was empty. Everyone must have gone out to do work for the day, he thought to himself. Well, almost everyone. Zorran was at the entrance to the Star Dock, and he was not happy. "What're you doing here Zorran?" The switcher asked, not in the mood to confront the harbor tug.

"Trying to finish what I was saying before I was thrown out by your little pet." Zorran spat, steaming in. The hole in his bow was still there, yet the harbor tug did not sink. He quietly sailed next to Ten Cents and killed his engine, and he gave a breath of relief. "Now for some peace and quiet from that guy. He doesn't know when to stop either."

Peace? The Star switcher was puzzled. "Zorran, you're in my head. Since when has my head been peaceful, especially after being with Timberwolf?" He snapped, hoping to get Zorran to leave.

"Ha! The pain you endured while being with Timberwolf is a regatta parade compared to what I've been through." Zorran retorted, his words riling Ten Cents up."The constant beatings and assaults by Hades and his pet bird are enough to drive a vessel mad Star. The pain is so great most of vessels trapped inside give up immediately! How do you think Burke and Blair looked mad that one time?"

"I thought he simply absorbed them." Ten Cents said, inching away from the Z Stack. Now he needed to get help, as Zorran was making him uncomfortable. He looked at the entrance to the dock and noticed Hades standing in the way. Before Ten Cents could say anything, the maroon tug vanished from view.

"Are ya listening to me Tenny? Hades is trying to turn me into a weapon. And not just any-" Before Zorran could finish, large tentacles emerged from the water! The tentacles looked like octopus tentacles, but they were adorned with eyes. Ten Cents could only watch as the tentacles wrapped themselves around Zorran's hull to the point he screamed in pain, and quickly dragged down into the sea. To the switcher's horror, he noticed that the tentacles's eyes were all staring at him. He quickly shut his eyes, hoping that whatever it was wouldn't sink him too.

The switcher opened his eyes and noticed that he was in Top Town. That was one weird dream, He thought to himself, and he quietly went back to work. He was definitely going to have to speak to Hercules once he got back to Bigg City. After all, the ocean tug was host to a Reaper…

It was late June, and Hercules returned from contract work in New York. And to do some unfinished business. Most of his time in Bigg City was spent trying to break up fights that Zak instigated, as well as trying to keep quiet about what really happened to Zorran. Although no one noticed, he was stressed to say the very least. He needed to take his mind off those things, but his responsibilities were making it impossible to unwind. He moored himself at the Star Dock and was about to sleep when he heard Ten Cents blast his hooter.

"You needed something Ten Cents?" He asked, snapping awake. Hopefully talking would bring any sort of relief. "You caught me off guard for a second."

"Sorry about that Herc." Ten Cents replied. Now to start talking about what had been going on. "So Starr put up the Zeros for sale-"

"Did he now? Did something happen to Captain Zero?" Hercules quizzed, intrigued by the news. He must have missed out on the rumors he was hearing down in New York. 'Do tell."

Ten Cents nodded, and told him about what had happened to the Zero fleet. "Starr's finally bit the bullet and let them help out on contract work, especially after they all threw fits." He added, looking on towards the city landscape. "Zebedee's been doing great, Zip is Zip, but Zug's been a complete mess ever since Zorran was found dead. Zak's not helping us out on any of the work, and was arguing with Zebedee."

"As expected." Hercules muttered. Great, now to get Zak to straighten up again. "You look concerned old chap. Now what's wrong?"

Should he tell him? Ten Cents was so desperate to tell Hercules all of the Zorran related thoughts and dreams, but was worried about how the ocean tug would react. "It's just that Zorran's been appearing in my head." He blurted out, looking at one of the bridges. "He's got a big hole in his bow, and last I saw him, he was dented!"

"Has he now?" Hercules asked, raising an eyebrow. Deep down, he was panicking. There was no way Ten Cents should even be connected to his own thoughts, let alone get glimpses into Hades's world. "How long has this been going on for?"

"A few weeks at least." Ten Cents replied. He noticed how calm Hercules looked, and that was not a good sign. "Why are you so interested in this anyway?"

"I tend to worry about your wellbeing. Now don't fuss too much about it." The ocean tug replied, but the words he spoke caused Ten Cents to straighten up. "We can talk about it later my little angel, I need to visit someone right now." He undid his lines and steamed off, noticing how quiet Ten Cents had gotten. He was going to have to speak to Hades later.

Within an hour, Hercules was sailing to the estuary. With his evening freed up, he had one small item of business to take care of. He soon spotted the distinct shape of a lightship, and with a gulp, steamed up. "Evening Lillie." He greeted in a soft voice, not wanting to startle Lillie. It had been over a month since the two last spoke, and Hercules was in no mood to start a fight. Especially with his beloved.

"Good evening." Lillie replied, not looking at Hercules. With a heavy sigh, she asked, "What brings you out here anyway? Is something pressing on your mind?"

"I want to make up." Hercules answered, stopping in his tracks. "I did not realize that killing Zorran had consequences that could be felt throughout his fleet. I was incredibly furious that he betrayed me, and it seems that-"

"You do realize actions have consequences, right?" Lillie asked, raising an eyebrow, staring on towards the open ocean. She knew that Zorran was found dead, but wasn't too aware of what else was happening. "How has the fleet dealt with his death now that his body has been found?"

"Captain Zero…" It took all of Hercules's willpower to not break down in tears. The news was still incredibly shocking to say the least. "Zero shot himself dead, and his fleet has been with us since. Captain Starr has no intention on keeping any of them, so he's put them up for sale." He finished, tears slowly trailing down his face.

"Zero killing himself was inevitable whether or not Zorran was alive." Lillie remarked, slowly turning her head to face the ocean tug. "He put so much into his tugs that he was unable pay attention to himself. I know for a fact that if something did happen to one of his tugs, he would take his life before the mob did." After a few minutes of thinking, she asked in a quiet voice, "Did your Reaper manage to break him?"

"Zorran's still sane after all this time. And he's sulking about it too." Hercules answered before heaving a sigh. The stress of what had happened had finally caught up to him. "Despite the torture Hades put him through, he's a plucky little thing. He thinks his insults will convince Hades to free him, especially after his attempts at begging failed miserably."

Zorran? Beg? Lillie was intrigued to say the very least. "Zorran has endured a lot, hasn't he Hercules? I know that when I first arrived, he tried to impress me by picking fights with other ships." She replied, motioning for Hercules to join her. "He acted like a total bimbo while doing those things too. I'm surprised he wasn't sunk by someone before you came along."

The image of Zorran trying to be a brave and dashing tug appeared in Hercules's head, and he tried to stifle a chuckle. "Lils, I don't think bimbo would be the word to describe Zorran." He mused, steaming up to the lightship and anchoring himself next to her. "Besides, he only acted like that when I wasn't around."

"Good point love." Lillie chuckled, trying to shake some unpleasant images of Zorran from her head. "Zorran with long flowing hair would be unsightly, don't you think?" She asked with a grin, looking much happier than what she was earlier.

"Agreed m'dear." Hercules smiled in agreement, now looking at the sunset. He was relieved that Lillie had made up with him, and that there were no complications. Once the sun disappeared from the horizon, he saw Lillie off before the nagging feelings came. Death was imminent, and he instinctively drew up his anchor before hurrying into a cloud of fog.

At the same time, Zug and Zip had finished a contract for a local fishing company and were heading home for the night. However, there was one problem. The fog had rolled in, making it very difficult to navigate without bumping into something. And given their poor navigation skills, the two switchers felt like they were going in circles. They sailed past a fish processing plant when they heard voices.

"Now Charon, this vessel has a problem." One voice said, but it was muffled by the fog. "He's awake, and suffering something that can't be detected through normal means."

"It's not even my time yet!" Another voice called, but it was more frantic than the first. "Please, I'm in fine health. It's these guys behind me that are not feeling so good."

Zug panicked, and noticed that there were two shapes in the fog. He gasped loudly and exclaimed, "They must be pirates Zip! They're trying to extort-" But before he could finish, he heard a low growl and panicked.

"Charon, stay here! It looks as though we have company." The first voice snarled, and a scream was heard. Then, everything went silent at once. The fog became thicker now, making navigation without lights almost impossible.

"Is that-" Zug swore he saw something in the distance kill the fishing vessel, and the shape troubled him. It looked like an ocean tug, and was shaped like one too! "Hercules is using demons! Or magic powers!" He thought aloud, trying to process what he was seeing. In desperation to escape, he turned on his light and steamed off toward some unknown path, leaving Zip behind.

"Zug wait for me!" Zip shouted, trying to catch up to the switcher. However, he didn't get very far before he was blinded by a bright light. He stopped at once, and his breathing became quickened. "Zorran, is that you?" He asked, looking on towards a tug in the fog that was inching towards him. Tears were rolling down his face, and in a panic, he shouted, "I didn't mean to get lost and ram the yacht way back Zorran! I'm a good tug, not a monster... PLEASE!" The tug's pace only quickened, and Zip shut his eyes...

Some notes:

* "bimbo" was a slang term from the 1920s for a macho man

* Zip feels he is completely responsible for the collision with the yacht (the same one that died in Death on the Water)

* Hades has shapeshifting powers. When he isn't in control of Hercules, he can transform into a variety of ghastly sea monsters to attack. Thankfully, his forms can only be seen by Herc