Zero's No Work
Many months had passed since Sunshine joined the Star Tugs. And everything had gone well for the new member of the Star Tugs. On one particular day, nearby, the Z-Stacks were awaiting their orders from Captain Zero.
But it took a while for Captain Zero to start.
"Uh, is he taking a nap?" Zip asked. "Now listen up!" a voice roared from the window. It is, of course, Captain Zero, shouting from his yellow megaphone.
"Does that answer your question, you idiot?" Zorran asked Zip. "Maybe," Zip answered meekly. "Hey!" Zug said in response, "Try to think if you can, Zip!"
"SHUT YOUR TRAPS, YOU ALL IDIOTS!" Captain Zero shouted sound extremely angry, "None of you have been useful to me in these past few months!"
"Heh," Zorran snarled, "You're right about that!" "Especially no thanks to you, Zorran!" Captain Zero yelled. "Oh, that," Zorran chuckled nervously, "Well, you see, Captain-" "I take it that big boss is made because he'd lost the Duchess Liner contract," Zip suggested. "What do you think?" Zug replied.
"Uh, I heard that you got stuck on that rock," Zebedee pointed out, "Zug told me." "Well, idiot," Zorran replied angrily, "Thank you for pointing that out." Then Zak floated forward. "Don't worry, sir," he said, "I'll make sure they're kept in order." "Yes," Zorran replied, "Thanks for that, Zak."
"Yes," Zak growled, "I'll make sure of that." "Yes," Captain Zero agreed, "You do that, Zak." "Well," Zorran was about to say something before he got interrupted.
"Now get out there and do your work!" Captain Zero shouted, concluding the briefing, "And don't you dare show your wheelhouses to me unless you proven yourself useful today, period! Have I gotten through to your thick heads?!"
"Clear as crystal," Zorran replied. "Or you, Zorran," Captain Zero added angrily, "Will face something even worse than getting stuck on boulders!"
"Yes, sir," Zorran said, "Come on, let's go, you floating sacks of buoys!" "Yes, sir," Zip said.
"Grr," Zorran growled. The Z-Stacks immediately set out to find work.
However, there wasn't much work to do that day, as the Star Tugs were already busy with their jobs.
"Hey, Zorran," Zip asked, "Is today a lovely day?" "What do you think?!" Zug asked, annoyed. "Shut your mouths, you idiots!" Zorran shouted at the zero switchers, "Captain Zero did not give us any jobs today! Because there are no jobs for us!" "Well, that is true," Zebedee agreed.
"Listen!" Zorran said, "We've got to find something to do! Captain Zero is counting on us!" "You mean he's mad because of your failures," Zebedee added. "I know that!" Zorran shouted.
"Well, about moving steel," Zug suggested. "Or freight wagons?" Zip added.
"Look!" Zorran shouted, "Zip, you can't move Frank and Eddie without getting distracted!" "Oh," Zip replied, "Right. But what about steel?"
With that said, Zip chugged towards the steel docks where Big Mickey had moved a large steel girder. "Hello!" Zip called up to Big Mickey, "Do you have steel to move?" "Sorry, Zip," Big Mickey called back, "I've already had another tug delivered them." "Oh," Zip replied, "That's okay."
"Zip!" Zorran shouted, "Get back here!" Zip retreaded back to Zorran. "Can you think at all?!" Zorran scolded. "Uh," Zip replied, "Yes." "Big Mickey is busy working by himself!" Zorran said, "Now come on!" "So what do we do about it?" Zebedee asked.
"We have to split up," Zorran said, "Here's what we do."
Zorran explained the details and the zero tugs split up. Zak and Zebedee had gone their own ways while Zip and Zug set off together. "Now I'll find some work," Zorran said, "Without those idiots getting in my way!" Zorran scanned Bigg City Port to find work.
However he had no luck. "Can't do garbage collecting," Zorran said, "Warrior is already towing Lord Stinker around. Good for him and me. And right now, no freighters have been scheduled to leave."
But Zorran wouldn't give up. "I got to find something," he growled.
At that time, Zak had came across an old tramp steamer. "All right," he said, "This looks like a job."
However, Zak saw a crane unloading the tramp steamer, knowing that he does not need a tug right now. "Great," Zak growled, "Forget it." He'd dared not to remove the ramp steamer himself, so he just left.
Also, Zug was thinking about something, too. "Well," he said, "I know that no tramp steamers trust me after that river dam mistake. What else?"
Just then, Zip chugged up beside him. "Where have you been?" Zug asked. "I found something to do!" Zip answered excitedly. "What?" Zug asked, puzzled. "I found a loose bell buoy floating near a canal," Zip explained. "You what?!" Zug asked surprised.
Nearby, Billy Shoepack, towing a set of explosives, was looking for a marker buoy, which marked a set of dangerous debris. "I don't want to make a great big bang," Billy Shoepack said, "Not today anyway." Zug saw what Zip had done. "Zip!" Zug shouted, "Return that buoy to its original spot!" "Right," Zip agreed. And he did so.
Also, Zebedee was looking for work, too. But instead Zebedee came across, Boomer, a former tugboat, now a houseboat. At the moment, Boomer is giving a nice little family a wonderful time. Zebedee never knew that Boomer had been converted into a houseboat because of his mishaps.
Since then, Boomer had lived a happy life.
At once, Zebedee decided to talk to the stranger. Well, stranger to him. "Uh," Zebedee said, "Can I help you with something?" "Oh," Boomer said in response, "I remember you." "Uh, have we met?" Zebedee asked. "Of course we've met," Boomer replied, "You were there to jeer me away after that barge exploded."
"Boomer?" Zebedee asked, "Is that you?" "Yes," Boomer answered, "I remember working for you guys. And I remember that you berated me after that mistake." "Oh, yes," Zebedee said, "I remember that. So how's life been going for you?"
"Not bad at all," Boomer answered happily, "Just giving this family a wonderful time of their lives." "Well, that's nice of you," Zebedee said, "Good luck. Well, is there anything I can do for you?" "No," Boomer answered.
"Well, would you like some company?" "Sure," Boomer said, "Now what would you like to talk about?" "Now," Zebedee began, "You see."
Meanwhile, Zorran is still out looking for jobs as well as Zak. Zorran is scanning an ocean liner, still being refurbish for the voyage home. "No work here," Zorran concluded. "Hey!" a stern voice called out.
Zorran knew that it belonged to the Coast Guard. "Oh, sir," Zorran replied, "Officer." "And what are you doing here?" the Coast Guard asked sternly, "You know this area is off-limits!" "Oh," Zorran said, "I was just-"
"Just what?" the Coast Guard asked. Zorran had to come up with something. "Just checking for floating junk," Zorran lied, "Yes. Okay, there are none here. No debris here to damage the ship. So, the water is clear."
"Okay," the Coast Guard replied, "Well, carry on over there." "Yes, sir," Zorran replied. He knew the Coast Guard only pretended to buy his false story. He hurried away before the Coast Guard could say anymore. "That was close," Zorran said, "I can't keep wasting any more time!"
Meanwhile, Zip and Zug were still searching. "Uh, what we were searching for again?" Zip asked. "Stupid!" Zug answered, "We are looking for work to do and we haven't found a bloody job around here!" "Oh," Zip said in response, "I thought we were searching for Bluenose." "
Now who would be searching for some idiot like him?" Zug asked. "Well," Zip answered, "Us?" "What are you talking about?" Zug asked. "Why don't you ask Bluenose himself?" asked Zip. Of course, the navy tugboat is looking at the two zero switchers.
"You two better move along, Zero civilians!" Bluenose shouted, "Or I'll use you as target practices for the navy's next firing practice! Now get!"
"You don't have to ask me twice!" Zip said and the two switchers ran away.
At once, they both ran into Zorran. "Well, idiots?" Zorran asked. "Nothing," Zip said. "You haven't found a single job for us?!" Zorran asked impatiently. "Well, we did find Bluenose," Zug said. "You have wasted your time!" Zorran yelled, "Captain Zero is counting on us! And you have failed!"
"We've failed to find work," Zip said. "Ugh!" Zorran growled, "You two idiots are sticking to me now! Now come on!"
"What about something?" asked Zip, but before the idiot could ask a proper question, Zorran had already tied his towrope onto the two switchers and forcefully towed them with him. "I'm not letting you retards out of my sigh until we find something to do!" Zorran shouted.
"Like what?" Zug asked. "Look!" Zorran said upon stopping, "There's Hercules!" "So, what about him?" Zip asked. "Listen, stupid," Zorran said, "And stupid, too, you're going to try and 'help' him. Get the point?" "Oh, yes," Zug answered, "Yes, we do."
Right now, Hercules had finished moving a large yacht into its dock and now he's preparing to bring in a big tramp steamer. "He's about to bring in a big ship," Zorran explained, "So go help him!"
"Yes, sir," Zip and Zug said and the two zero switchers followed Hercules out to the estuary. Meanwhile, Zebedee continued talking to Boomer who is now preparing to take the nice little family back home.
"Well," Boomer said, "Living as a houseboat proven to be peaceful and quiet." "Yes, I understand," Zebedee said, "Well, thanks for telling me your stories." "You're welcome," said Boomer.
At the same time, back at the estuary, upon approaching the big tramp steamer, Hercules finally noticed the two zero switchers. "Well," Hercules said, "What do we have here?" "Oh," Zip said, "Hello, Hercules." "We thought you might need help," Zug said. "Hmm," Hercules thought, "Well, I could use some company."
"Oh we will be of some help," Zip said excitedly. The two Zero Switchers were supposed to tow the tramp steamer instead of Hercules.
Instead, Hercules decided to tell a story about him and Lillie Lightship. "Let me tell you a little tale that I've heard from m'dear, Lillie," Hercules said. "Uh, okay," Zip replied as Hercules towed his line onto the tramp steamer and towed it into port with Zip and Zug following the big tug, being distracted by his stories instead of taking his job away.
Meanwhile, back up river, Zak had given up trying to find work, finally deciding that he had enough. "That's it!" Zak said out loud, "There's nothing here at all!" He prepared to turn back for home. Just then, a speeding car that was driving on a road close to the river, sped through a muddy puddle and splashed Zak.
"Enough!" Zak shouted, feeling the sting of the splash, "I'm going to regroup and call it a day! And Zorran isn't going to like this!" Zak set off back to the Zero pier.
At that moment, Hercules, docked the tramp steamer, by himself, with no help from Zip and Zug, who were still distracted by his stories. "And that's how," Hercules concluded, finishing his work, "Lillie Lightship came to live with us."
"Oh, that's wonderful," Zug said. "I'm in tears," said Zip. "Well, it was nice talking to you," Hercules said, "I must be off now. Can't keep Captain Star waiting." With that, Hercules left to return home. "Well, that was an interesting story of Hercules," said Zip. "And Lillie," Zug added, "And now- Wait a minute."
Both Zip and Zug had realized that they had been outsmarted by the big ocean tug.
"Uh, we were supposed to do something?" Zip asked. "He was onto us!" Zug said. That's when Zorran steamed furiously up to the two bumbling idiots.
"Well, dummy and dumber?" Zorran asked the two. "Well, there's a funny story about that," Zip said nervously. "Hercules told a decent story about Lillie," said Zug. Zorran realized what had happened.
"You had one job to do," snarled Zorran, "ONE JOB! And you blew it! Both of you!" "We're we supposed to do something?" Zip asked. "Oh, yes!" Zug replied. This made Zorran angry.
Meanwhile, Zak was on his way home when he came across Zebedee, still talking with Boomer. "What?!" Zak growled. "Huh?" Zebedee said, confused. "Zebedee!" Zak said, "Come on! We've got to go!" "Uh, thanks for telling me your stories, Boomer," Zebedee said to the houseboat, former tugboat.
"Nice to have company today," said Boomer, "Hope to see you again soon." "Same here," said Zebedee, "I'll see you later!" "Come on!" Zak shouted, pushing Zebedee away. "It is nice to have company," said Boomer.
The two Zero tugs met up with Zorran, Zip and Zug. And they all realized that they had not found any work that day.
"Captain Zero will be mad," Zak said. And he is right. Back at Zero Dock at the end of the day. "No one had done any jobs?!" Captain Zero shouted. "Well," Zebedee said, "I did talk to an old colleague of ours."
"And who pray tell might that be?" asked Captain Zero. "Boomer," Zebedee answered, "He's doing all right as a houseboat since we've taunted him away." "Oh, Boomer?" Zip asked. "Heh," Captain Zero chuckled, "That was a nice thing to do, Zebedee." "Uh, thanks," Zebedee said.
"And," Captain Zero went on, "NONE OF YOU HAVE FOUND ANY WORK TO DO TODAY!" "Well, the two Bumbling Brothers of Washed-Out Circus failed in their jobs!" Zorran said. "YOU ALL FAILED IN YOUR JOBS!" Captain Zero shouted, "YOU HAVEN'T FOUND ANY WORK AT ALL!" "Uh," Zorran stammered, trying to think of something to say.
"SINCE YOU'VE FAILED TO FIND WORK!" Captain Zero continued, "And you have the nerve to show your wheelhouses to me, I'll assign a job for all of you!"
"Oh no," said Zorran.
So, before sunrise, Captain Zero ordered his Z-Stacks to work with Scuttlebutt Pete with dredging the estuary. It proved to be a nasty job.
"Not again," Zorran growled, "Zip, Zug, do your job for once in your miserable lives!" "Yes, Zorran," Zip answered while moving a barge. "You can count on us," Zug added. "I'll get those Star Tugs for sure," Zorran growled, "If it's the last thing I do!"
"Good morning everyone!" Zebedee said, trying to cheer the other Z-Stacks up. "Yeah, good morning, Zeb," Zak said, "Which is not a good morning!" "I was just trying to lighten the mood," said Zebedee.
Suddenly, Zorran moored into a wrong place and Scuttlebutt Pete accidentally dumped a load of sludge onto Zorran. "Oops," said Scuttlebutt Pete, "Sorry, Zorran. I didn't see you there." "Grrrr." Growled Zorran.
"Good morning, Zorran," Zebedee said to Zorran. The other Z-Stacks stared at Zebedee. "I'm just trying to lighten up the mood," Zebedee explained. "I can help," said Scuttlebutt Pete and he told the Z-Stacks another of his stories.
Well, actually, it's nothing more than culture gossip. At least the Z-Stacks will be entertained while working on their unpleasant job.
"Oh, thanks, Scuttlebutt," said Zebedee, commenting on the dredger's gossip, "You conveyed it pretty well." "Don't encourage him!" snarled Zorran.