I liiiive! School has been keeping me busy, so I've been getting more plot ideas for these chapters. This chapter contains language and some gruesome injuries, so the story will finally be rated M. Enjoy!
A few days later, the Star and Zero tugs awoke for the morning briefing and an update on Zug. "I got a call from Lucky's earlier this morning and I have good news. Zug took minimal damage from his attempted sinking, so his repairs have been completed. However, once he gets home tomorrow, I may have to place him on dry dock." Captain Starr announced, drawing gasps from the tugs.
"Are ya dancin' with the devil Starr? Zug will become a maniac if he gets put on dry dock!" Big Mac shouted, knowing all too well what had happened to vessels on dry dock. "He already isn't the same tug thanks to Zorran being dead, and dry dock may push him even further. Maybe even drive him mad."
"Considering his attempt at sinking himself, it might be for the best." Top Hat frowned. "That little gremlin needs help, but I don't think we are equipped to deal with suicidal boats."
"Well we are!" Ten Cents retorted, glaring at Top Hat. "Sunshine and I helped Boomer out, so I think we should be able to help Zug get back together-"
"Boomer was easy compared to Zug, Star! Boomer has a brain, Zug doesn't!" Zak replied. "Besides, he needs to keep his yap shut."
While the other tugs argued, Zebedee quietly slipped away from the Star Dock. He had to check up on Zug, and the last thing he wanted was a Zero tug on dry dock. He was halfway through his journey when he noticed that someone, or something, was following him. He turned around and noticed that it was only Ten Cents, and he cursed under his breath. "Get lost Star, I've already had enough goin' on." He muttered.
"I want to help you out Zebedee. Look, those guys don't even know how to deal with a tug who's been separated from his own fleet." Ten Cents replied, remembering what Zorran had told him in his dream. "Besides, he might need you to help him heal."
Zebedee wanted to ask how Ten Cents knew about Zug's origins, but shrugged it off. Now was not the time to be confrontational. He groaned and quietly steamed on towards Lucky's, not minding Ten Cents trailing behind him. After several minutes, the two tugs arrived at Lucky's Yard and saw Zug on dry dock. Men were now inspecting him to make sure the repairs they made would stay up.
"Zug it's-" Ten Cents was about to greet Zug when Zebedee silenced him. Right, that would catch Zug off guard, he thought. Instead, he stayed at the gate to Lucky's Yard and watched Zebedee quietly steamed up to the smaller switcher and anchored close by.
"Hey Zug." Zebedee calmly said, hoping to get Zug's attention. "I know you're pretty banged up, but we wanted to say hello before we headed off to do work."
Zug turned to face Zebedee, and gave a small smile. "Hallo Zebedee…" He mumbled, slipping back to his native German. "Anything from Starr?"
Ten Cents gasped, surprised to see Zug behave like this. "So Zorran was right about Zug's family being the Zero Fleet…" He thought, observing Zug and Zebedee interacting. Zug became more relaxed, and Zebedee was exceptional at keeping the smaller tug calm. Then, an idea came into his head. He hurried off from Lucky's Yard, wondering on how to best execute it.
Later on that morning, Ten Cents was relating what he had seen with Sunshine and Zip. The three tugs were busy helping do smaller work in the harbor, mostly deliveries to the rail yard and surrounding area. "Is Zebedee always like this? He already helped us out during the high winds incident." Ten Cents asked Zip curiously.
"Not always. He's grumpy and doesn't like getting bugged by us, but he means well." Zip replied. "He won't hesitate to stop Zorran and Zak from breaking me and Zug to bits." Zebedee was like a father to Zip, and so he sometimes looked up to the harbor tug for guidance. And besides, Zebedee was less scary than Zorran and Zak.
"That's amazing." Sunshine's mouth was wide open. He wanted to ask more, but he didn't want to make Zip uncomfortable. "Let's get this finished up real quick! I hope Zebedee will like that." he said, soliciting smiles from the other two switchers.
Ten Cents was processing this information, and now was the chance to go and act upon that idea. Once work was completed, Ten Cents hurried away towards the Star Dock. He had to tell Captain Starr what he had seen. After half an hour, he arrived at the Star Dock to notice that Captain Starr was not there. However, Hercules was.
"You look like you're on a rush to get here Ten Cents." Hercules said, noticing the way Ten Cents was acting. "Is something the matter?"
"Nothing in particular, but I need to see Captain Starr." Ten Cents replied, looking at the ocean tug. "It's about Zebedee."
"Captain Starr left a few minutes ago to go to Lucky's Yard." Hercules answered, using his pipes to point towards the direction of the yard. "You should be able to beat him first though. Lucky's isn't too far from here when you're a boat."
"Figures!" The switcher snickered. "What're you hanging out here for anyway?" He asked curiously, still trying to keep in good spirits. "You were supposed to help out some rescue work down the coast!"
"I don't leave for another few hours m'dear." Hercules replied, shaking his head. "And before you ask about reaping, Hades is keeping himself occupied at the moment."
"That's good. Betcha Hades gets bored during contracts anyway." Ten Cents remarked, now getting ready to leave for Lucky's. "I'd ask more, but I gotta see Starr. Later Herc!" With that, he hurried off, leaving the ocean tug behind.
Within minutes, Ten Cents arrived at Lucky's Yard. Captain Starr pulled up a minute later, and was surprised to see the switcher. "Ten Cents, what are you doing here?" Captain Starr asked. Without a megaphone on him, he would now have to yell in order to talk to Ten Cents.
How should he do this? Ten Cents had played through various scenarios in his head, and he said, "I went along with Zebedee to Lucky's this morning, and…"
"And what? I heard you and Zebedee were very concerned about Zug." Captain Starr said, perplexed about what his master switcher was saying. "Go on."
"I saw Zebedee talking to Zug, and Zug calmed down pretty quickly." Ten Cents replied, looking at the Captain. Now was the time to argue his point! "Captain Starr, Zebedee isn't like the other Zeds. He has morals!"
Ten Cents did have a point. Zebedee was not quick to do evil like the other Zero tugs were, and he wasn't falling apart. And then there was the role he played in stopping Johnny Cuba from starting his reign of terror in Bigg City. "What am I supposed to be getting from this Ten Cents?" Captain Starr asked, trying to make sense of what Ten Cents was telling him.
"Captain Starr, don't you think it's possible that Zebedee can be the newest Star Tug?" Ten Cents asked, pleased that his plan was going smoothly. "He's got nowhere else to go, and I think he might be a good addition. Please sir, he's great at getting the job done."
It all clicked for Captain Starr, but he was not easily convinced. "You want me to buy Zebedee Ten Cents?" He asked. Then, he frowned and let out a groan. "I'm terribly sorry, but it isn't my biggest priority at this time. The Star Fleet is big as is, and it costs me a lot of money to keep you all well maintained. I might look into it sometime soon, but for now, Zebedee is still up for sale."
Those words crushed Ten Cents' spirit. It was pointless to argue with the Captain, so he went silent. Realizing he had to get back to work, he gave a small nod and left without saying a word. He had hoped that Zebedee would be allowed to join the Star Fleet, but for now, that was still just a pipe dream.
It now early August, and Captain Starr was in his office dialing the number to Lucky's Yard. The Star Tugs and even some of the Z Stacks were complaining that Zak was starting to become weaker, and so Captain Starr was forced to arrange having Z Stack go in for repairs. However, there was something else that was pressing on his mind. "If this turns out to be a frequent thing, we're going to take a hit. It's a miracle Zero didn't go broke." He thought.
A knock at the door drew him away from his thoughts, and he looked up to see his secretary open the door and walk in. "Here are your-"
"Just one moment Dulcie, I need to make a call to Lucky. Zak has been struggling as of recently, and I need to make sure he gets fixed." He interrupted.
"How bad has it gotten?" Dulcie asked, staying at her place by the door. "Zero was very concerned about making sure his tugs working, but he often ran them to death." She pointed out, knowing all too well how desperate Zero was to make a profit.
"I have limited Zak's workload as a precaution, but he refuses to cooperate. He insists he still works properly, even if he slows down. Something tells me Zero taught his tugs to keep going even if their engines said otherwise." Captain Starr added, hanging up the phone and motioning Dulcie to bring the papers to him. "My goal is to try and get Zak's engine completely replaced before I can sell him off, but him slowing down right now is going to make it difficult."
"I don't think we have enough money to cover the cost of the replacement, especially after we spent money on Zug's repairs." Dulcie said, walking over to Captain Starr. "After Zug tried sinking himself, it scared off any remaining potential buyers."
"But there are scrap brokers who might look into buying them." Captain Starr said, drawing a gasp from Dulcie. "It is cruel to send Zak to the breaker's yard, but I do not have much of a choice. Lucky pointed out to me that Zak's engine is in a much worse state than OJ's was when we had his replaced, and the cost of the replacement is one that we can't afford to pay off at this time. He also added that Zak will likely die during because his engine is so worn out, so scrapping him might be the most merciful thing done to him."
Outside, Zak listened to their conversation. Something he had repressed began to manifest itself again, making him filled with fear and dread. No one could blame his previous owners for selling him to a scrap broker, as his engine was making them lose money faster than they gained it. On the day he was due to be cut up, Captain Zero bought him. To be placed in this position once more would break him, and Zak hurried off. He needed to save himself before death came to claim him.
Zebedee was at the fueling depot getting some coal. He was minding his own business when Zak steamed in, and he asked in a monotone voice, "Did they catch you pulling shit again Zak?"
"Starr's gonna cut me to pieces Zebby!" Zak exclaimed, catching Zebedee by surprise. "I heard him talking to someone in his office, and he might send me over to Lucky's to be broken up! Or worse… send me to the breaker's yard."
"As far as I know, Starr's not selling you to a broker. He's still trying to get buyers for all of us." Zebedee said, trying to calm the other Z Stack down. However, he was internally panicking. The thought of a Z Stack getting scrapped was one he would never had to experience, but now, that nightmare was becoming reality. "It might be the fear kicking in Zak."
"FEAR?! First Zug tries sinkin' himself because of a Star Tug, now I have my life on the line because of their cocksucking Captain!" Zak spat, going straight up against Zebedee's bow. "For being the leader of the Z Stacks, you're doing a terrible job at it! You fuss over the lives of those little Stars as opposed to us Zeds!"
"I care deeply for you and the others though!" Zebedee retorted. "I tasked you and Zip to keep an eye on Zug, but all you do is ignore me and try to cause problems. I even showed concern for ya after your engine started to take a turn for the worse!"
Zebedee did have a point. Zak would have been verbally berated anyway, so he kept his mouth shut. He inched away from Zebedee and stormed off, still displeased with the latter. Perhaps, he thought, Zebedee was starting to not care about him. Instead, he felt, Zebedee was diverting his energies to the little guy.
Zebedee turned to face his reflection in the water and sighed, thinking on what would happen if Zak did indeed get cut up. Zip might have been relieved, but Zug… there was no way in telling how Zug would react. Perhaps he too would be relieved, but there was the real chance that he would break. Once he was finished being refueled, he steamed off for a steel contract he was supposed to do with Big Mac.
Big Mac was at the steel plant waiting for Zebedee to arrive, and was relieved to see the Z Stack steam in. "For a Zed, you're always punctual." He remarked, watching men load a steel barge.
"And I'm supposed to take that as a compliment?" Zebedee dryly asked, facing Big Mac. "Alright, what're we dealing with today?"
"The usual. Some of it's going Up River for their new buildings, but the rest is going for the skyscrapers they're building down the coast." Big Mac replied.
"Isn't that the railroad's job though?" Zebedee bluntly pointed out. "It makes us look like glorified butlers. Or whatever butlers are."
Big Mac chuckled and watched as Zebedee wrapped his lines around the barge. "It doesn't end, does it?" He mused, blowing his hooter to show that he was getting ready to leave. "Come on, the trains are expectin' us."
"I swear we wait hand and foot for those freight trains." Zebedee huffed, and the two tugs left the steel plant. They weren't very far in their journey when they heard shouting coming over from one of the canals. "Sounds like someone got into a fight." He remarked, shrugging it off as normal.
Big Mac heard the shouts too, and his face became serious. "That's not two dock workers back there. I swear I can hear Top Hat back there!" He exclaimed.
Zebedee was about to say something when he felt himself slowly get dragged over towards the canals. "Mac, ya gotta be serious! We're going to get in trouble with the railroad at this point!" He pleaded, but it fell on deaf ears. The two harbor tugs changed course and steamed into the canal, and quickly spotted Top Hat arguing with Zak. And it looked like it was about to get physical.
"Now Zak, you keep slowing everything down. Your engine is on its way out as is!" Top Hat explained. Frank and Eddie were in tow, and the two rail barges were muttering something about the railway tug falling back to his habit of picking fights with stronger vessels. "Now get out of my way and let me through!"
"I have a right to be here Toppy. I have to deliver these guys their coal barge!" Zak explained, not in the mood to deal with a tug like Top Hat. "Your captain is an idiot for assigning me switcher work. I can do anything!"
"You can do anything?" Top Hat had lost patience. Oh that was it. "If you say so, go into the breaker's yard and rot then. You constantly keep everyone waiting for you. Makes it easier for everyone if I say so myself."
Zak was furious. "So you heard that Starr's gonna send me to the breaker's yard huh?" He asked, getting ready to charge. "I bet you won't care for me when I make love with the blow torch!" Before he could attack, he felt a line snag onto his bollard.
"Zak, Top Hat, stop this instant!" Zebedee snapped, not wanting to have a fight break out under his watch. "You both aren't helping anyone, so shut it!"
Zak turned to face Zebedee, and he snarled. So Zebedee was more concerned about the Star Tugs than him after all. Zebedee would not even care that Zak would have gotten arrested, if not killed for his actions. He quickly broke free of Zebedee's lines and hurried off towards his destination, realizing he lost this fight.
Top Hat wanted to thank Zebedee, but he was silenced when he was struck by a stray line. "Ow! What was that for?" He asked, drawing chuckles from Frank and Eddie.
"Ya pissed off Zak, and he is on the edge. Especially after he overheard a conversation involving Starr." Zebedee explained. "Don't piss me off, or else you might get what's comin' for you. Come on Big Mac, we gotta finish the contract."
Big Mac wanted to scold Zebedee, but Zebedee did have a point. Top Hat had a tendency of instigating fights, and he probably deserved that slap. Zebedee being quick to dissolve the fight left an impression on him too, and he too wondered if Zebedee would make a good addition to the fleet. However, Starr only agreed to be a caretaker. The two tugs hurried off towards the rail terminal, and neither one said a word.
The next day started off as normal, and Captain Starr was giving the morning briefing. "Now, there are some changes that have been made to today's workload. Top Hat, you will not be doing railway work today." He said, drawing the railway tug's attention. "Because of your fight with Zak yesterday, you will be assisting Zip and Zug with the sewage contract as punishment!"
"The sewage contract!? Captain, I am not made for dealing with raw sewage, I am made for dealing with rail barges!" Top Hat complained, ignoring the bursts of laughter from the two Zero switchers. "I do not want to smell like a toilet!"
"But you don't complain when you smell like seagull poop." Warrior pointed out, and the other tugs laughed. Top Hat growled and started grinding his teeth, annoyed that Warrior had exposed him like this.
"Now now, there's work that still needs to be done! In the meantime, Zak, you will be doing Top Hat's work for the day. You need to learn how to be patient." Captain Starr said, turning his attention to the Z Stack.
Zak said a silent prayer of gratitude when he heard the news. Not only would this be a step up from what he had been doing, it meant that he would live another day! "What if I need help Starr?" He asked. "I may not know how to properly do all of Top Hat's work."
"Well, I might assign someone to help you out, I just don't know who though." Captain Starr said, looking at some papers. "I'll think about it and let you know. But for now, you'll be going solo."
Hercules was watching the two talk, and something in him began to stir. "You know someone is going to die because of Zak doing the railway tug's work. I mean, what could possibly go wrong?" Hades's voice came into his head, and the nagging feelings of imminent death started to come.
"Perhaps it's a random barge. Or Frank and Eddie depending on how Zak feels." Hercules mused, looking at Zak suspiciously. "Either way, I think something is amiss."
Ten Cents was getting his tasks for the day when he heard Hercules talking to Hades. He remained focused, but their conversation was starting to trouble him. Just how exactly was he hearing them? He slowly cocked his head to to see Hercules, but he wasn't moving his mouth. Once everyone was dismissed, he pulled Sunshine aside and quietly asked, "Did you hear Herc talk to Hades by any chance? Or was it just me?"
"No." Sunshine replied, raising an eyebrow in concern. "Is something the matter Ten? You look nervous."
"I heard the two talk, but Hercules wasn't moving his mouth at all." Ten Cents answered, trying to keep quiet. After all, he did not want to get reprimanded by Hercules or Captain Starr. "They were mentioning something about death."
"Death? On a day like this?" Sunshine was troubled. "How are you snooping on 'em anyway?"
Ten Cents wanted to answer, but he couldn't. Charon's existence would surely drive his best friend to madness. "I may have started hearing voices after I got rescued from Timberwolf." He whispered, and he became serious.
"I heard it once before. Trauma, wasn't it?" Sunshine quizzed, pleased when he got a nod from the bigger switcher. "It might have been the reason why you were seeing stuff that I couldn't see."
"I think OJ would know about it more than the both of us. I'll ask him when I help him out this afternoon." Ten Cents sighed. "He knows a lot of stuff, doesn't he? Come on, we got work to do." With that, the switchers hurried off.
At the same time, Zug was getting ready to go Up River with Zip and Top Hat when Zak arrived. Zip was confused, but Zug motioned him to go ahead and join Top Hat. "You need something from me Zak?" He asked. "I gotta head Up River with the two idiots!"
"I need to ask ya a good… shortcut if you will. I'm supposed to tow some of the prick's barges with Zebby this afternoon, and I need a good way to get to our destination." Zak replied, relieved that no one was paying attention to them. Yet.
"Yeah yeah, you just go through the canals. However, the tide can mess you up real good." Zug answered. After a minute, he got curious and asked, "Wait, why are you asking me all this?"
"Zebedee… crossed the other side." Zak huffed, relieved that Zug had been snagged into his scheme. Now to tell him his plan. "Zebedee's made the choice to suck it up to the Stars, so he has to go. Besides, Zorran would not have approved of his second in command joining the Stars."
"So you're gonna…" Zug was mortified by what Zak was telling him. However, the thought of Zebedee joining the Star Tugs was also concerning. "Zebedee is your brother Zak. If we do this, what do I get out of it?"
"When the tide kills him, I'll be in charge!" Zak snapped, silencing the smaller Z Stack. "We can go back to the good ol' days, just like what Zorran would have wanted. Besides, he had problems with Zebedee from time to time. Now, you gotta keep quiet about this."
Zug was still nervous, but he gave a small nod. In the end, he wanted to respect Zorran and make sure his legacy would be honored. Zorran and Zebedee did get into fights from time to time, and Zebedee becoming a Star Tug was a great offense. "Alright Zak, I'll keep my mouth shut." He said, hurrying off to join Top Hat and Zip.
"Good." Zak said, pleased that he got what he wanted. With Zug on his side, he had the power to go and take control of the Zero Fleet from his brother. He laughed and steamed off towards his next destination, hoping that all would go according to plan.
A few hours later, Zak and Zebedee were in the harbor getting ready to tow some coal barges to the rail depot. Although Zak could haul the barge himself, his engine meant that Zebedee was tasked to help him out. "You look like you're in good spirits." Zebedee remarked, noticing how confident Zak looked. "Now, this barge shouldn't be too much for the both of us."
"Ya know, this arrangement isn't bad at all." Zak chuckled, tying his lines to the barge. Now to execute the plan. "C'mon Zebby, we're gonna be late!"
Zebedee quietly nodded and blasted his hooter, and the two brothers were off. During their journey though, Zebedee started to get suspicious. While his own lines were tightly secured to the barge, Zak's lines looked loose and sloppy. It was as though Zak had done this intentionally, but he dismissed it. Zebedee soon felt Zak change course, and spotted some buildings. "Why are we goin' this way exactly?" He asked.
"Taking a shortcut." Zak replied. "Besides, we're cutting the time we have for this delivery." As he spoke, he noticed the tide beginning to change. Perfect! He steamed with enough force for his line to become loose. Then… snap!
Zebedee was about to say something about Zak needing to slow down when he felt himself get lodged against some metal. "Zak! Help me!" He called, feeling something begin to puncture his hull. "Hurry, before the tide-"
"I'll get help. Just don't move too much, okay?" Zak said, now steaming ahead. "Besides, the Star Tugs would be crying over your dead body anyway." He muttered under his breath, ignoring Zebedee struggling to break free.
"Ya better make it quick Zak…" Zebedee muttered, watching as Zak triumphantly left the canals. He cut his line to the barge and now tried to focus on moving, but he screamed in pain as the debris penetrated his hull. He looked down and noticed blood began to seep out of his hill, and he blacked out.
It was early evening, and Hercules was heading home after doing patrols along the coastline. Then, he got the feeling he didn't want. Someone was about to die, and Hades needed to be there. "Looks like Zak had killed someone after all." He said to himself, drawing the attention of his Reaper. Instinctively, he changed course towards the city.
"Told you." Hades hissed, manifesting in the water below. "Now now, where did Zak dump the vessel? We shouldn't be too far, depending on where the poor vessel is of course."
Hercules was sailing towards the Star Dock when he spotted some strange fluid in the water. "Odd," He said to himself, and he followed the streak. His path led him into the backwater canals, and he cautiously traversed the ares to avoid bumping into anything that was hidden by the tide. Then, he spotted Zebedee impaled on harbor debris and paled. "What happened?" He asked himself, an immense wave of guilt overcoming him.
"It doesn't matter Hercules. I sense he's still alive." Hades said, now trying to take control. "You usually let me slide in these kinds of situations, but you're standing your ground." He remarked, noticing that he was getting some resistance.
"Something doesn't make sense in all this." Hercules replied, showing hesitation. "Why is Zebedee here? I know he was tasked to help Zak, but that's about it. Unless Zak did something he shouldn't have done..."
The moment he mentioned those words, he felt Zorran's presence. "THAT BASTARD!" Zorran called out, and his soul billowed out of the ocean tug's stack. Because Zorran was bound to Hades, only his head was present. "No way in Hell am I letting you two let Zak get away with it!" He shouted.
"Get back inside this instant!" Hades roared, now taking full control of Hercules. "You care so much about this one, but he's mine! Cuba and that Reaper of his didn't get their chance, so I'm all too happy to finish what they failed to do!"
Hercules's soul was now confined to Hades's reflection in the water, and he was panicking. "Hades, I will take you to Lucky's Yard if you do this." He shouted, not noticing that Zebedee was watching them. "Lucky's men might not be experienced with exorcism, but Lucky is."
"Not right now!" Hades grit his teeth, and now began to inch forward. However, he felt himself not go very far. It was as though Hercules was keeping him at bay. "Dammit Hercules, you're not helping me!"
"Hades, there is a reason why I didn't want to die. Think of what would happen to the kids if Zeb died!" Zorran tried to attack Hades, but it didn't even affect the tug. "Zak will break 'em! He'll backstab 'em in favor of a new-"
"ENOUGH!" Hades roared, finally shaking off both Zorran and Hercules's influence. "I do not need interference, especially from you two!" Thick black smoke emerged from his stack, transforming into sharp blades. They were about to lunge at Zebedee when-
"You gotta stop Zak." A voice pierced the air, and the blades stopped just an inch from Zebedee's face. Although the tug was too weak to speak, the voice sounded exactly like him. "Zak is gonna do more damage to Zug and Zip than Zorran ever did. Hurry, before it's too late."
Hades was dumbstruck. Reapers never turned down a soul's real desires, and it was clear that this one wanted vengeance. To turn a soul down would bring about negative consequences for the Reaper, or so he heard. However, if he let Hercules get the crane, Zebedee would have been dead. Then, an idea came into his head, and he vanished into the night.
Meanwhile, at the Star Dock, Ten Cents was talking to OJ about what he was experiencing. "I guess I haven't been the same since my arrest. The trauma I went through was a lot more painful than what I thought." He sighed, and OJ nudged him in a gesture of comfort. "I'm doing better though!"
"Ten Cents, trauma like this lasts for life." OJ said in a serious tone. "I knew some tugs back in England who still got night terrors after helping tow in some battleships. It is painful yes, but we have to help you become mentally straight." He then heard a commotion and perked up to see Zip asking Zak about something. "What's he doing like this?" He asked.
"I thought Zebedee was supposed to help him out." Ten Cents gasped, and then the thought came to go grab some cranes and possibly get the other Star Tugs. And fast. "Now is not the time to ask Zak. C'mon, we gotta find Zebedee!"
OJ nodded, and he quickly alerted Warrior and Big Mac. "Something has happened to Zebedee! Zak mentioned something about Zebedee getting stuck in the canals." He said.
"Zak arrived at the place with no Zeb and no barge, and he didn't say anything." Big Mac pointed out, watching Zak and Zug comsole a sobbing Zip.
"Do we need a crane?" Warrior asked, steaming up to the other Star Tugs. "Or maybe two depending on how bad Zebedee got hurt."
"Now now, Starr is wondering where Zebedee and the barge went." Top Hat added, motioning to a bright light in Captain Starr''s office. This spurred the other tugs to action, and they set off. Within an hour, the five Star Tugs got together and had arrived with cranes in tow. Very quickly, they were mortified at the sight.
"Good Lord, what happened to 'him…" Big Mac remarked, looking at the scene.
"It looks like we're too late." OJ gasped, looking at how pale Zebedee's skin was. "Now he's a dead tug."
Sunshine squinted, and noticed that Zebedee was breathing. "He's still kickin! We might have a chance!" He said, looking up at the paddlewheel tug.
"Not with the way he got spiked though." Warrior pointed out, looking at the pier debris lodged into the Z Stack. "He might need some patching too."
"Ten Cents, Sunshine, go get Lucky and his men. They should be able to help him out before he can be repaired. Hurry!" OJ explained, watching as the two Star switchers hurried off towards Lucky's Yard.
At his office, Captain Starr got a call from the Coast Guard. Zebedee was found, but he was barely alive. He was mortified, especially after learning that Zebedee was the one who was assigned to help out Zak on that barge delivery. "I knew I should've pulled Zak from service today…" He said to himself, leaving his office to go to the scene. "Now I'm going to be the one paying for it."
Some notes:
As stated in the chapter, Zak was sold to a scrap broker by his old owners due to his engine problems. He and Zebedee are also related, but the two were sold to different owners before falling into Zero''s ownership.
Captain Starr's secretary now has a name: Dulcie!
Reapers can be exorcised from a vessel by some skilled humans. The threat to be exorcised keeps Hades on his toes, but not always...