As an early Christmas present from me, I decided to post the next chapter of Death on the Water! Since this is an au fic, I decided to incorporate the events of Ghosts into the story (hence why the White Fleet has faces!). Enjoy, and happy holidays!
The next morning, Hercules was sailing up the coastline, wondering what was needed from him this time. Just an hour earlier, Captain Starr received a message from a Canadian company about an escort into port, and the company was willing to pay good money for it. No specific details of what ship (or ships) that he was supposed to escort were given, making him genuinely curious. He soon spotted a group of ships that were painted white and blew his whistle to draw their attention. "Hullo! Do you need help getting somewhere?" He asked politely.
"Chto- Yes, yes!" One of the vessels replied in a thick Russian accent. "I am Ded Moroz, and you must be- Oh my!" He gasped, reading the name on Hercules' starboard. "Apologies, but we all heard of your fame from a few-"
"No need to gush lapochka." Hercules chuckled and smiled, knowing how many vessels had heard his name. "Where are you all heading to anyway?"
The vessel was impressed by the ocean tug's use of Russian and answered, "We're heading to Bigg City! Lots of icebergs mean business for the White Fleet."
"The White Fleet? I am not too familiar with them, so I may need some explanation." Hercules replied, spotting the company insignia on their flags (he couldn't find any insignia on their stacks).
"We're painted white like the ice! Our owners want us to be one with the ice or whatever bull-" A second vessel explained, showing annoyance as he spoke.
"Do not swear." Ded Moroz snapped, glaring at the second vessel. "Apologies Hercules, but we turn off engines to listen for ice. Once we hear ice, we record it and transmit information to other ships! They know when ice is in the area!"
Hercules listened with interest. "I figure reports of ice brought you down here. Come on m'dears, I'll take you to port." He said, and started making his way back to Bigg City. The White Fleet were impressed with his manners and followed him with much enthusiasm.
As they got close to the city, Hercules learned more and more about the White Fleet. However, one detail they mentioned caused something inside him to stir with great interest. "We have been contracted by Bigg City Museum to find galleon." Ded Moroz explained, a big smile on his face. "They will turn it into display for all to see!"
Burke and Blair were on their way to collect some discarded boat parts when they spotted Hercules and the White Fleet. Intrigued, they started to eavesdrop on the conversation and were surprised by what they heard.
"Galleon? That means-" Burke started, eyes widening.
"More wealth for us." Blair added, smiling wickedly.
After the O.J. incident, the breaker's yard Burke and Blair worked at had taken a financial hit. Their owners were struggling to attract companies who were willing to let them cut up their old vessels, and there was a real risk of the two tugs being sold in order to make ends meet. They spotted Hercules and felt themselves get drawn to him. He was in fine shape, but that wasn't the reason why. Something about him inspired fear, and they liked it.
Just as Burke and Blair got close, one of the other White Fleet tugs spotted the pair and sounded the alarm. "Ay, what are you two doing?" He said, and the scrappers stopped in their tracks. "Moroz! We got rivals!"
"Rivals?" Blair asked, inching back nervously.
"We're not your rivals!" Burke replied, trying to challenge the tug's claims. "We're ordinary tugs, not some competition for you lot. Shoo!"
Hercules rolled his eyes and told the White Fleet to keep going. Picking a fight then and there would have been bad for both Star and Marine and the White Fleet's owners. The White Fleet tugs nodded and hurried on to catch up to Hercules, leaving Burke and Blair behind. The two tugs shrugged and decided to follow the group.
Half an hour later, the White Fleet arrived at their intended destination. Hercules was getting ready to head back to the Star dock when he spotted Burke and Blair heading towards him again. He was incredibly disappointed to say the least, and was now ready to use whatever was necessary to get them to leave. Violence was a no no, but some well-placed words would do.
"Alright you two, explain yourselves." Hercules snapped, glaring at the two scrappers. This was enough to get Burke and Blair to stop in their tracks. "There has to be some reason for why you two keep following me around. It's getting on my nerves!"
"We overheard that someone was looking for a galleon. We wanted to-" Blair explained, sweat rolling down his face.
"I know you two are interested in wealth, especially after what you tried to do to O.J." Hercules interrupted, not in the mood for being reasoned with. "If you boys keep on behaving like this, that breaker's yard of yours will be a ghost town in a matter of days. Now beat it!"
The two tugs glared at Hercules and took their leave. A wicked idea soon came into the ocean tug's head, one that he sometimes used to get what he wanted. If he wanted Burke and Blair to be of any use to him in finding the galleon, he had to do it. "Hold on, stop!" He said, catching the attention of the two scrappers with a blast of his whistle. "There is someone who is just as interested in the galleon as the museum is."
"And who might that be?" Burke asked, turning to face the ocean tug with a face of doubt. "What does he look like?"
"He prefers to not show his face. He's shy." Hercules replied, pleased that Burke and Blair were now giving him their undivided attention. "I am what you call a spokesman."
"A spokesman?!" Blair and Burke were intrigued by this information. They looked at each other before looking back at Hercules and asking, "Say, what business does he have sending you out here then? To ask us of all tugs?"
Hercules smirked and replied, "My friend promises you two wealth if you find the galleon and bring it to him. However, there is one condition. You will need to work with the White Fleet in order for the deal to happen."
"What?" Blair asked, confused by what Hercules has told them. "How come?"
"My friend and I both have other affairs to attend to. We do not want to get our hands dirty should worse come to worse." Hercules explained, getting ready to leave for the Star Dock. "Also, it would be a good way for you two to make up with the White Fleet, especially after what you tried to do earlier."
The two tugs nodded obediently, and watched as Hercules steamed away. Once Hercules disappeared from their line of sight, Blair and Burke quickly headed back to the breaker's yard. They were quite pleased, as they hoped that the deal would bring something beneficial for them.
That night, Ten Cents and Sunshine were heading back to the Star Dock after bringing Lillie her fuel. The waters were calm, but everything was covered in a blanket of fog. With this sort of weather, not a lot of vessels were out and about. Besides, the switchers figured, those vessels didn't want to end up like Zip and the yacht.
Once they dropped off the empty fuel barge at the fueling depot, they were getting ready to head home when they spotted Hercules. Ten Cents was intrigued, and motioned for Sunshine to follow him. Hopefully, the fog wouldn't thwart their efforts in pursuing him this time. As the switchers sailed on, the fog grew thicker. They kept on, that was, until Hercules stopped.
In a panic, Ten Cents and Sunshine hid behind a building. They weren't even sure if Hercules knew he was being followed. If he was, they would get a scolding or worse depending on how he was feeling. It took Ten Cents a moment to realize where Hercules was heading. "Why's Herc going to the breaker's yard? He isn't even sick!" He exclaimed.
"Or dying!" Sunshine added. "We've got to stop him before it's too late!" With that, the two switchers continued their pursuit. However, they were soon forced to slow down when they noticed the fog become extraordinarily thick. It would be too risky to continue on without getting damaged. Discouraged, the two switchers headed home.
At the breaker's yard, Burke and Blair were sound asleep. They had gotten scolded by their owners earlier for the delay in collecting the discarded boat parts, but that wasn't on their minds. Instead, their main focus was on what Hercules's friend had in store for them. Suddenly, they were awoken by a (somewhat) gentle gust of wind.
Blair opened his eyes, and noticed that the breaker's yard was covered in fog. In an instant, a large tugboat appeared at the entrance of the yard. He quickly woke Burke up, and he whispered, "Someone's here. I don't know who." He then looked at the tug and said, "The yard is closed sir. Please leave!"
"I apologize for the intrusion." The tug said, his voice quiet but harsh. "I am looking for Burke and Blair, if that isn't too much of a bother. I have a message."
"That will be us!" Burke answered, now wade awake. "What business do you need from us?"
The tug smiled and replied, "You may call me Hades. My friend Hercules told me about you two. I am here to speak about the galleon and what comes with that."
"Are… are you going to help us then Hades?" Blair asked, the question on his mind. "With finding the galleon I mean. "
"Yes, Hercules told you two to work with the White Fleet to find the galleon. However, I am willing to give you two aid." Hades said in an oily voice. "After all, I can't leave you two hanging by a thread."
Blair was impressed, and was satisfied with the information. However, Burke was not as pleased. "Now, what do we do once we find the galleon and bring it to you?" He asked.
"I do my work, and the museum will have it afterwards." Hades replied before asking,"Do we have a deal?" His eyes started to glow, and they pierced through the thick fog, almost blinding Burke and Blair. "Or do you two need time to think? I'll be patient."
After a minute, Burke and Blair came to a decision and said in unison, "Yes! We'll do what you say!"
Hades' mouth curved into a wide grin when he heard those words. He now got them where he wanted them to be. Without saying anything else, he vanished into the night. The fog quickly dissipated, and Burke and Blair watched as the fog formed a grin before drifting away with the wind. They took it as a sign that Hades was willing to help them out, and went back to sleep with grins on their faces.
Notes:
- lapochka is a term of endearment in Russian (it means darling)
- Ded Moroz is Father Frost, the Russian version of Santa Claus