Pirate
Written by Tarquin Cardona and David Mitton with elements of "Dream On" from Salty's Lighthouse
Adapted by Jonathan Downs, Rachel Ravens and Zack Wanzer
I remember a time, we had all had a long hard day, but there was still one more job to do. And as Ten Cents was the first tug home, he got it. Engineering parts were needed to go to Scuttlebutt Pete the dredger, so they could start work first thing in the morning. I knew Ten Cents wasn't too happy, not because it was late, but because the Z-Stacks were on the same job. Ten Cents had just arrived when he saw Zip and Zug with their own barges.
"Hey up, Zip," Zug said condescendingly. "Look what the winds have blown in – Goody Two-Screws."
"Ahoy, Zug," Ten Cents called. "'Ere, where do you want this barge from the engineers?"
"Too late for today, mate."
"Too late? You don't need this till morning!"
"We might have," Zip insisted.
"No point now; it'll be dark soon," Zug retorted.
"Don't bug me," Ten Cents said crossly. "I've had a busy day. Now where do you want it?"
"Real eager beaver, Zip, isn't he?" Zug said.
"Well, he's got a reputation to live up to, Zug," Zip agreed. "One of the best tugs in the harbour!"
"Yawn, yawn," Zug taunted. "All work and no play makes Ten Cents a dull tug."
"Look, do you want this or do I take it back?" Ten Cents snapped.
"Moor it by the old quay. If you're not too worn out," Zug said, mockingly.
The two Zero switchers both laughed as Ten Cents headed off, shooting them a glare in the process. Soon Ten Cents came to the old quay.
"Alright, you old tub of guts. You can settle here for the night," Ten Cents said as he moored his barge. Suddenly he heard some creaking coming from an old burnt warehouse. "Hello? Who's there?" There was no answer.
"Is that you, Sunshine?" Ten Cents called again, not noticing a mysterious figure with an eye patch watching him through a gap.
"Big Mac?" Ten Cents called. "Well, say something, whoever you are! I'm hearing things!" Then he heard a whistle and who should come up alongside but Sunshine.
"Hello, Ten Cents," the little switcher said.
"Sunshine, it was you!" Ten Cents said with relief. "Now why didn't you answer?"
"Was me, what?"
"In there, I called."
"Ah, can't have heard ya. Ya heading home?"
"What? Oh yeah. Oh, come on. I must be tired," Ten Cents replied.
Just as they prepared to leave, Grampus the Naval Submarine passed by.
"Night, Ten Cents. Night, Sunshine," Grampus said.
"Night, Grampus!" the two Star Switchers replied, before heading back for the Star Dock.
That night, a shadowy vessel slid into the harbour. This was the same figure that watched Ten Cents from inside the warehouse.
"Ah ha! This looks like what I'm after," the vessel said, "engineering parts."
Unseen, unheard, the dark stranger hooked onto Ten Cents' barge and slipped silently into the mist. Zip and Zug were in for a surprise when they arrived at the old quay the very next morning.
"Hey, where is it? I told Ten Cents to leave that barge here, Zip!" Zug exclaimed.
"Round by the old quay you said, Zug. Your very words!" Zip agreed.
"I always said that Star Tugs couldn't be relied on."
"Ooh, he'll catch it from Captain Star!"
"He will when I tell him, land him right in it!"
With that, the two Zero switchers headed for the Star Dock. They were nearby when they saw Ten Cents.
"Hey you!" Zug yelled.
"What do you want?" Ten Cents asked.
"A word."
"Captain Star wants to see me."
"We want to see him as well. You didn't deliver our barge!"
"Of course I did."
"Well, it's not where it should be, is it?" Zip argued.
"And we'll get the blame," Zug said crossly.
"But I delivered it," Ten Cents insisted. "Yeah, I delivered it by the old quay. You saw me!"
"It's not there now," Zug argued.
"You moved it to wind me up!"
"You've double crossed us!" Zip said, accusingly.
"I have not! You take that back!" Ten Cents snapped.
"What's going on out there?!" I boomed through my megaphone.
"Oh, Captain Star, sir," said Zug. "Ten Cents didn't deliver our barge last night, and…"
"I did!" Ten Cents interrupted. "You know I did!"
"You did not!" Zug snapped. "It's not there! It's not there!"
"Alright, that's enough!" I shouted. "I've already had a complaint from the client. On your way now."
"Right, sir!" Zip called.
"Have a nice day, Ten Cents!" Zug said, chuckling to himself as he and Zip left.
"I'm just as confused as you are, Ten Cents," I said. "The owners claim their barge is missing, never delivered."
"That's not true, sir," Ten Cents said. "It was my last load of the day. Zip and Zug told me to leave it by the old quay."
"Did anyone see you?" I asked.
"Sunshine, sir."
"I see," I said. "Now the clients have requested you deliver a new barge of engineering parts immediately, but rest assured I'm not blaming you for the incident. I will be speaking to the Coast Guard later. In the meantime, keep your eyes open for anything suspicious."
"Will do," Ten Cents said, feeling dejected. Whilst he was glad I believed him, he probably felt he was being punished for a crime he didn't commit. I could only feel sympathy for his plight but what could have happened to the barge? Perhaps, Zip and Zug hid the barge away to frame Ten Cents or perhaps both parties were innocent and this was an act of piracy.
Out in the estuary, Big Mac and O.J. were on their way to lend a line to an old sailing ship when Top Hat flagged them down.
"I say, old chaps," Top Hat called. "Have you seen pirates on your travels?"
"What pirates?" grunted Big Mac.
"There are no pirates in Bigg City, Top Hat," retorted O.J.
"Oh, really?" Top Hat said, indignantly. "Then I suppose that the tug with an eye patch stealing barges last night was merely a figment of my imagination."
"Top Hat, what are you talking about?" Big Mac demanded.
"I'll tell you exactly what I saw," Top Hat insisted. "It was quite late in the evening and I had just finished my job for the day. I was just coming past the old quay when I heard something and noticed an unfamiliar tug slink out of the old warehouse. I knew then something was up so I slid behind an old ship. Then, calm as you please, the pirate said something about engineering parts, tied himself to the barge and towed away into the mist. Then, as I continued on my way, there he was again, stealing another barge from the fire station. I'd never seen anything like it before in my life. Now do you believe me?"
"Huh! I'll believe it when I see it," Big Mac retorted.
"If you ask me, Big Mac, it's all a dream," O.J. agreed. "Let's go get that sailing ship."
With that, the two tugs moved off, chuckling at their own wit.
"Dreams indeed!" Top Hat muttered as he moved off himself. "I know a pirate when I see one. We'll see who's dreaming and who's not."
Meanwhile, Ten Cents arrived at where Scuttlebutt Pete was dredging. He was making the dock deeper so larger ships could dock there.
"Oh, hi Scuttlebutt," Ten Cents said sadly.
"You look gloomy this morning, Ten Cents. What's up?" Scuttlebutt asked.
"Ah, nothing."
"I hear you lost a barge."
"Ah, you would be the first to know, wouldn't you?"
"It's no secret; talk of the harbour."
"It's bound to be what you know."
"I've heard a rumour," Grampus said, bubbling to the surface.
"Grampus! What do you know about it?!" Ten Cents exclaimed.
"Well, you've lost a barge," the naval submarine replied.
"You don't waste time, do you, Scuttlebutt?" Ten Cents said crossly.
"No," Scuttlebutt Pete replied.
"Yeah, rumours are his specialty," Sunshine replied, pulling up alongside Ten Cents.
"I was only trying to help. The more I know about it, the sooner that you'll be in the clear," Scuttlepete Pete said.
"But I am in the clear! Get that clear!" Ten Cents snapped just as Zebedee and Zak passed by.
"Naughty, naughty! Temper, temper!" Zebedee taunted.
"He'd lose his stack if it wasn't screwed on!" Zak said rudely.
"Oh, one of these days!" Ten Cents growled.
"Ah'd leave them, Ten Cents," Sunshine said. "Captain Star has another job for ya, anyway."
"Yeah, what is it?"
"Ah don't think that ya're gonna like it. It's more work with the Z-Stacks."
"Ugh, that's all I need!" Ten Cents groaned.
Later on, Ten Cents was with Zebedee and Zak at Ballantine's and he had an oil barge attached to him.
"Now you do know where to take that lot, don't ya?" Zebedee asked, mockingly.
"He takes it somewhere and it disappears," said Zak.
"You could make a fortune, selling barge loads on the side," added Zebedee.
"Are you saying I'm a crook?" asked Ten Cents
"We weren't talking about you, were we, Zeb?" Zak said, defensively.
"Didn't mention his name, Zak," Zebedee replied.
"Strange how ordinary people can suddenly turn criminals, Zeb," Zak said.
"It's the evil inside them that suddenly comes out, Zak!"
"Yeah, you two would know all about that. Wouldn't you, Zak?" Ten Cents retorted.
"And they can't take a joke either. You notice that, Zak?" Zebedee asked, causing Zak to laugh.
"It's no joke! Get that straight!" snapped Ten Cents as he headed off.
Poor Ten Cents was feeling frustrated by the whole ordeal. But, fortunately for him, Top Hat was telling Grampus about the pirate he'd seen.
"It's true, Grampus! I saw a pirate last night," Top Hat said.
Grampus looked thoughtful; he was worrying about Ten Cents and hoped that he could find some way to help him clear his name. Perhaps this "pirate" might have had something to do with it.
"I'll tell you what, Top Hat," Grampus said. "I'll check it tonight."
"Oh, I would be grateful!" Top Hat said happily. "No one believes me!"
"I believe you, Top Hat," Grampus replied.
Grampus was known to dock near the Bridge Café, but due to the late hours of performances by its famous musical group, the "Bridge Café Band", he was often given "sleepless nights," and would decide to move off around the harbour at night. This was the perfect opportunity to see if there really was a pirate in Bigg City Port. He didn't realize how soon that was to be.
"Boy, it's creepy around here at night," Grampus said as he came towards Ballantine's. "There's something moving over there. Better check it out."
Grampus got closer and looked to see a tug with an eyepatch heading towards him.
"Avast, you!" the mysterious tug shouted. "Get outta here!"
"Dive! Dive! Dive!" Grampus exclaimed, diving under the surface just in time. He resurfaced and watched as the stranger sailed off into the distance and saw that he had a barge attached to him.
"Phew, that was too close," Grampus said. "That must have been the pirate Top Hat mentioned. Hey! That looks like one of Ten Cents' barges! Where's the thief taking it?"
Grampus lost the barge snatcher in the mist, and spent the rest of the night worrying about who it could be. And all of this time, the thief was busy, and other barges were disappearing.
The next morning, I told Captain Zero Stars and Z-Stacks had to get together on this. I can't say any of our tugs agreed on that as was evident when both fleets gathered at the Star Dock.
"I say, what is this all about?" Top Hat said indignantly. "Star Fleet and Z-Stacks together? Whatever next?"
"If we're looking for suspects," Zorran said, "I'm pointing the finger at Ten Cents! His barge was the first to go missing."
"Yeah, bet he knows what it's about!" Zug agreed.
"Him stealing barges, that's what!" Zip said.
"My little brother would do no such thing!" Hercules growled.
"Cut that out about Ten Cents!" Big Mac snapped.
"Yeah! Watch it, you two," Warrior said sternly.
"W-we didn't mean anything by…" Zip stuttered.
"Just be careful what you say!" Big Mac yelled.
"Silence!" I shouted. "This bickering isn't helping anyone. Now Captain Zero and I have had a meeting. Missing barges is serious, we've got to get to the bottom of it, and the best way to do that is by working together. Captain Zero, I'll leave it to you to lay out our course of action."
"I have a scheme to catch this pirate," Captain Zero said.
"Ha! I expect he knows several," Top Hat scoffed.
"Aye, set a crook to catch a crook," Big Mac said darkly.
"What are you suggesting?!" Zorran said, indignantly.
"Quiet!" I said once more. "We've decided to set a trap."
"Certain barges are being rigged with flares that will trigger off if the barge is even touched! Never mind STOLEN," said Captain Zero.
"So this is the plan," I continued. "Tonight you'll all be out in pairs, maintaining silence. The pairs will be as follows: Ten Cents and Sunshine, Zip and Zug, Zorran and Warrior, Top Hat and Zebedee, Zak and Big Mac, Hercules and O.J. Keep your eyes open."
Unknown to us, Grampus was searching for the missing barges where he had seen the thief the night before.
"Got as far as here," he said thoughtfully. "What about this old warehouse? It's possible. Hasn't been used for years."
With that, Grampus dove underneath the surface as he snuck inside and when he resurfaced again, he could see the thief and the missing barges. He kept quiet so as not to arouse suspicion.
There were also two strange-looking tugs in front of the thief as instead of having faces, they had big green spotlights, which suddenly turned off.
"You've done very well so far, Patchy," the first green-eyed tug said. "But we figure that you still owe us!"
"You're going back on your word!" the "thief" said in shock. "You said that was the last barge!"
Grampus was surprised.
"What do they mean he still owes them?" he whispered.
"Changed our minds, see," the second green-eyed tug said. "It's one more barge. Get it tonight or it's goodbye to him! Davy Jones's locker on the seabed!"
Grampus looked to see an elderly tug suspended up out of the water with the name "O'Malley". Then, he looked at the name of the "thief", which read "Sea Rogue".
"Those must be some of Sunshine's old friends from Up River," Grampus muttered to himself.
"What's that? Hear anything, Flotsman?" the second green eyed tug said to his partner.
"No, Jetsam," Flotsam replied as Grampus eased himself under water.
"Right…" Jetsam said.
"Do as we say, or else!" Flotsam ordered.
"It's getting too risky," Sea Rogue argued.
"One more, I said. Tonight!" Jetsam demanded.
"Don't do it!" O'Malley begged.
"I've got to haven't I?" Sea Rogue said in defeat. "You promise tonight will be the last?"
"Deliver, or he sinks!" Flotsam snapped.
With that, Flotsam and Jetsam's spotlights turned off and Sea Rogue turned his wheelhouse towards O'Malley.
"You alright? Not hurt are you?" Sea Rogue asked in concern
"I'm okay, but don't do it," sighed O'Malley. "It's wrong!"
"I can't leave you here with them, Uncle!" Sea Rogue said. "Tonight will be the end of it."
"Oh dear, this is a sad state of affairs!" Grampus said to himself as he dove underneath the surface.
That night, the plan to catch the thief was put into action.
"Dash, good idea, this. Barge in place, flares set to go off," Top Hat said. "Positions, Zebedee! At the double!"
"Yeah, yeah," Zebedee replied, backing up to his position whilst Top Hat did the same.
O.J. and Hercules had set their flares up as well.
"Now, O.J.," said Hercules, "in order to catch the pirate, we must devise a strategy akin to wartime. You hide in that building and I'll keep a watch out from out here. Agreed?"
"Agreed," O.J. replied. "Now let's back up and get ready."
"Don't worry, little brother…" Hercules said determinedly. "You'll be proven innocent yet…"
Zorran was less than thrilled about working with Warrior as they moored near the railhead.
"This is so exciting!" Warrior said.
"How do you figure?" Zorran snarked.
"It'll be great when you and I catch him!"
"Oh, yes. Thrilling. Absolutely thrilling," Zorran replied. "I must say, we do occupy quite the tactical position here."
"What's that then? Tactical?" Warrior asked.
"It means thinking strategically!" Zorran replied.
"What's that then? Strategical… What you said."
"Tactical, you idiot!"
"Tactical… Strategical…"
"Lord, give me strength…" Zorran groaned, rolling his eyes. Of all the tugs I have to be partnered up with, why him?
Zak and Big Mac were not happy about working with each other either.
"Alright, Zak!" Big Mac bellowed. "Now, I'm not taking any nonsense from you tonight! You hear me? This is serious!"
"Alright, alright!" Zak replied. "You don't have to be aggressive!"
"Says the tug who had the audacity to hit Sunshine!"
"Well, you blamed her for the accident!"
"At least, we apologised to her! You never once said sorry for hitting her!"
"Oh, you want to get even! We'll get..."
"We'll deal with it later," Big Mac snapped. "Just get into position and stow it!"
"Oh, alright!" grumbled Zak.
Zip and Zug were moving into their positions.
"Tied off my end," Zug announced. "Right, Zip; I'll stay back here out of sight. You keep a lookout up front."
"Why do I have to be up front?" Zip asked, feeling afraid. "It's scary, I feel vulnerable! You come here, I'll come there, hmm?"
"Oh no!" insisted Zug, trying to save his own paint. "You'll be much worse off here! Better there, believe me!"
"Is it really bad over there?" Zip asked.
"Honestly, Zip? Would I lie to you, now would I?"
Zip moved forward to see if Zug was right. "Psst," she said.
"Oh no! Please Mr. Pirate. I don't mean no harm! I... I..." Zug yelping, shaking in fright.
"No, Zug, it's me! Zip!"
"Stupid!" Zug snapped. "Captain Zero said we are not to move. You nearly scared me!"
"If that's only nearly, I'd hate to see you really scared."
"Get to your post!" Zug ordered.
"I only wanted to see if it is better back there," Zip replied, backing up again.
"Well it isn't. Stay there and shut up!"
Ten Cents and Sunshine were keeping watch elsewhere. Despite being cleared, Ten Cents was still upset.
"Hey, cheer up, Ten Cents," Sunshine said. "Now, Ah know ya didn't have anything to do with the missing barges. Zip and Zug were trying to make something of it."
"Ah, thanks, Sunshine," replied Ten Cents. "But it makes me angry, ya know, not being able to prove it."
"Ah'm sure Captain Star believes ya, and don't pay any attention to Z-Stacks that troublemakers rubbing you up the wrong way and we'll catch the thief tonight! With any luck!"
"Yeah, we might, we might not. But if we do, I'll sink that pirate!"
Ten Cents and Sunshine then heard a swishing sound in the water.
"Hey, what's that?" Sunshine asked as Grampus resurfaced.
"Oh, what's Grampus doing here?!" Ten Cents groaned. "He'll give us away! Grampus, get out of it! You're in the way!"
"We're laying a trap for the thief!" Sunshine explained.
"That's why I've come to see you! I've been trying to find you for ages!" Grampus replied.
"Yeah, what do you know? Where are the stolen barges at?" Ten Cents asked.
"I've been there. Seen them," Grampus replied.
"Well, let's get the pirate!" Ten Cents said. "He'll be sorry that he crossed me, I'll tell you!"
"Just a minute, Ten Cents. It's a bit complicated."
"But I want him now! To prove that it's not me!"
"Will you listen for just a minute?! Your 'Pirate' is Sunshine's old friend Sea Rogue!"
"Really?" Sunshine exclaimed. "Sure, Sea Rogue has an eyepatch but that was a result of an accident at the munitions factory and he would never do anything like that."
"Yes," Grampus replied. "But Sea Rogue is being forced to steal against his will! The real villains are two green-eyed tugs named Flotsam and Jetsam who have captured his uncle O'Malley and they're threatening to scuttle him if Sea Rogue doesn't steal barges for them!"
"What do we do?" Sunshine asked, feeling concerned for her friends.
"Get to the pirate, Sea Rogue, well before the others," Ten Cents replied. "No time to explain to them."
"You're right. Follow me," Grampus agreed as he dove back below the surface.
"Zug," Zip whispered.
"Quiet," Zug whispered. "You'll give us away."
"Ten Cents and Sunshine are leaving their post!"
"What?"
"Look!"
"You're right," Zug replied, upon seeing Ten Cents and Sunshine moving quietly through the mist. "That Sunshine must be Ten Cents' accomplice in all this. Come on."
With that, Zip and Zug left their post as well.
"I can't see them through this mist," muttered Zug. "Stay close or I'll leave you behind."
"Thanks, pal! Thanks very much indeed!" Zip replied.
Flotsam and Jetsam were carefully laying plans for their escape. They were covering up lightships, putting out lights in lighthouses, and muffling bell buoys so that they wouldn't be seen or heard when they sailed off with their loot.
"Just one thing, Jetsam," Flotsam said. "One more run tonight, and Sea Rogue will steal all he can steal and then it's goodbye, Bigg City Port!"
What they would do to the old tug wasn't known.
Ten Cents, Sunshine and Grampus were hiding by the old warehouse. They had seen the villains reenter, and were now waiting to spring their trap on Sea Rogue.
"Not much around tonight," Sea Rogue muttered. "I've got to find what they want. Time is running out."
"It's too spooky for my liking," Ten Cents groaned.
"Ah wish Ah was back home, working Up River," agreed Sunshine. "Then again, Ah wish Sea Rogue and O'Malley were back home there too and not in this mess."
"Shh. Be quiet," whispered Ten Cents. "'Ere, I think I hear something."
"I'm not going to make it," sighed Sea Rogue, worriedly. "Nothing in sight. The tug fleets have rumbled me!"
"Heave to, Sea Rogue!" Ten Cents called, charging forwards and pinning a surprised Sea Rogue to the pier. "You're cornered, you can't escape!"
"Ah! I'm not trying to!" Sea Rogue insisted.
"Well done, Ten Cents!" Sunshine said. "That's Sea Rogue, alright!"
"Sunshine!" Sea Rogue gulped. "This isn't what you think..."
"We know it's not," Grampus assured him.
"Grampus told us everything," Sunshine replied.
"He saw you with those two green-eyed things!" Ten Cents explained.
"Did you see O'Malley there too?"
"Everything."
"We must save him," Sea Rogue explained. "He's my uncle. They're holding him ransom to make me steal barges. Even if I get one more they might still sink him."
"Well, help us and we'll help you. And we'll sink them."
"Anything you say," Sea Rogue said with relief. They heard the sound of two tugs approaching in the distance.
"Who's that?" Sea Rogue asked.
"Quick, let's hide!" Ten Cents cried.
"This way," Sea Rogue said, leading the others away.
Then, Zip and Zug came out of the fog.
"This can't be far, must be around here somewhere Zip," Zug said.
"So could that pirate, Zug!" Zip gulped. "Maybe we should get back. I don't like this, Zug."
"Quiet!"
"Zip and Zug. They're stupid enough to go into the warehouse," Ten Cents said.
"They'll get no quarter if they do," Sea Rogue said.
"It'll serve them right," Sunshine said, feeling angry over what they'd put her best friend through.
"That gives me an idea!" Ten Cents said. "Grampus, go to the warehouse entrance, and if the villains leave the shed, save O'Malley."
"Alright, Ten Cents," Grampus replied, diving below the surface.
"Now let's see what's going on," Ten Cents said.
Ten Cents and Sunshine watched as Zip and Zug entered the warehouse.
"Just a quick look," Zug said.
"No, Zug," Zip said, now feeling terrified. "Let's go back please."
"Come on! And stay close."
"Don't worry, I will."
"Ooh! I didn't know it was so dark inside," Zug said.
"Maybe there's no one there," Zip said hopefully.
"Hey!" Zug cried, excitedly. "The stolen barges! Great! We cracked it! We're heroes!"
"Eat your heart out, Ten Cents!" Zip laughed in delight.
"HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" Flotsam yelled, as his and Jetsam's headlights turned on.
"Yikes! The Pirate!" Zug shrieked.
"Oh no, two of them!" Zip yelped.
"Get them quick!" Jetsam shouted.
Zip and Zug backed out of the warehouse in fright, screaming their heads off and blasting their whistles whilst Ten Cents and Sunshine backed up to avoid being spotted by the pirates.
"Right, now get ready to spring the trap when I say," Ten Cents said.
"Okay," replied Sunshine.
"Let's hope Grampus has got a clear path," said Ten Cents.
Flotsam and Jetsam charged out of the warehouse in pursuit of Zip and Zug.
Grampus used the opportunity to slip into the warehouse, unnoticed.
"Oh dear," O'Malley sighed. "I hope everything's okay."
Just then, Grampus surfaced near him.
"What the… Who's there?"
"Easy, old man," soothed Grampus. "I've come to set you free."
Top Hat and Zebedee were still on guard when they heard screaming.
"What's that?" Zebedee asked.
"I'll go and investigate," Top Hat said. "Wait here, Zebedee."
"If you say so," grunted Zebedee.
Flotsam and Jetsam were still chasing a terrified Zip and Zug.
"Here they come!" said Ten Cents. "Don't move yet!"
"Right!" Sea Rogue said in agreement.
Zip and Zug rushed past in front of them. It wouldn't be long till the pirates were in range.
"Okay, wait till I say," Ten Cents said.
"They're getting close," Sea Rogue said.
And indeed they were. Flotsam and Jetsam were soon in the "crosshairs".
"Three, two, one, CHARGE!" Ten Cents called.
With that, Ten Cents, Sunshine and Sea Rogue charged towards Flotsam and Jetsam, screaming battle cries. They rammed into the pirates, pinning against them and their headlights turned off.
"Gotcha!" Ten Cents called triumphantly.
"The game's up! There's no escape!" Sea Rogue agreed.
"I say!" Top Hat exclaimed, coming around the corner and noticing Sea Rogue. "You've caught my pirate!"
"Oh, Top Hat!" Sunshine said. "Have you met Sea Rogue? He's actually one of the good guys."
"Am I missing something?" Top Hat asked.
"I think I'd better explain," Ten Cents replied.
"Just as I predicted; six hours of observation and nothing!" Zorran grumbled. "This really was a wasted effort…"
"Yeah, it's turning out to be a bit of a downer," Warrior sighed. "But then again– Hold on!"
"What?"
"I think I heard something."
"That would be me," Top Hat said, coming up. "I'm here to inform you gentlemen that Ten Cents, Sunshine and Grampus have found the pirate. Apparently, it was a tug named Sea Rogue who was being forced against his will to steal barges; otherwise, the real villains would sink his uncle. But Ten Cents, Sunshine and Sea Rogue have caught the villains and Grampus has rescued O'Malley. They're on their way to report it to the authorities. I suspect we'll be hearing about it from him for a good long time thereafter."
"Unlike if you made the arrest, eh, Top Hat?" Zorran sneered.
"Of course. My natural modesty would have ensured a minimum amount of fuss."
"Well, since we don't need the flare anymore, I'll push it out of the way," Warrior said, moving forward.
"No, you dummy! It's still live!" Zorran cried.
"Warrior! Warrior!" Top Hat exclaimed. "Watch that..."
BUMP!
"…flare! You bright spark, Warrior!"
"Some flare!" Warrior exclaimed, as the flares went up.
In the morning, a slightly singed Top Hat and Warrior led Flotsam and Jetsam away.
"Don't bump them too hard, Warrior," Ten Cents remarked. "They might send up a flare too!" Sunshine, O'Malley and Sea Rogue laughed heartily at the joke.
"Now that's what I call a good night's work," continued Ten Cents. "You heading Up River, Sea Rogue?"
"Yeah. Thanks, Ten Cents," Sea Rogue replied.
"Ah, that's alright. Least I could do."
"Right then," Sea Rogue said. "We'd better move. Pirates are not welcome here."
"Nonsense, you're no pirate," Grampus insisted.
"I'm only joking," Sea Rogue chuckled before continuing. "Thank you all for your help."
"Yes, thanks for everything," O'Malley said.
"Come on, old man. Let's get you home," Sea Rogue said as he and O'Malley moved off.
"Oh, that'll be nice," O'Malley said, relieved that their ordeal was over.
"I'm really sad to see them go," Ten Cents sighed.
"You never know," Sunshine said. "If we need any help, we might ask Sea Rogue or O'Malley to help."
"That's very true," Ten Cents admitted.
Just then, Hercules pulled up alongside.
"Oh hi, Hercules," Ten Cents said.
"Hello, Ten Cents," Hercules replied. "Are those the two you rescued last night?"
"Yeah. They helped us find the stolen barges."
"Captain Star says you've done a great job, Ten Cents… and so do I." The ocean going tug beamed. "You proved yourself in more ways than one."
"Well, I couldn't have done it without Grampus and Sunshine," Ten Cents said.
"Thanks, Ten Cents," Sunshine replied.
"Well, good work, m'dears!" Hercules said.
"Thanks, Hercules," Ten Cents and Sunshine replied.
"Thanks, Hercules," Grampus replied, moving off. "Well, I'm off to get some rest."
"Thanks, Grampus," Ten Cents called, before looking across the harbour and saw Zip and Zug.
"Hey, Sunshine," Ten Cents said. "What do you say we have a word with those two?"
"You betcha!" Sunshine replied.
With that, Ten Cents and Sunshine steamed over to Zip and Zug.
"Well, I don't know what we'd have done without your help," Ten Cents said.
"Well," Zug chuckled nervously, "someone had to flush them out. So, we did."
"We never thought you really stole the barges," Zip said nervously.
"Oh no," Ten Cents snarked. "Could've fooled me."
"Weren't you just a little bit scared?" Sunshine asked innocently.
"No, nothing scares us. Does it, Zip?" Zug lied, as he started backing up… right towards another barge with flares. Zip noticed this.
"Forward, Zug! Forward! The barge!" she cried.
But it was too late! Zug backed into the barge and triggered off the flare, causing Zip and Zug to run away screaming for the second time.
"For tugs who aren't scared, they move pretty fast," Sunshine said.
"They certainly do," agreed Ten Cents.
The two Star switchers laughed at the Zero switchers' predicament. All that just goes to show that you shouldn't be fooled by appearances. Just because Sea Rogue wore a black patch didn't mean he must be a pirate.
And what about the green-eyed tugs, you ask? Well, it would be discovered that they had committed similar crimes in other ports and had murdered any tug who didn't comply. Flotsam and Jetsam would be found guilty for their claims and sentenced to execution via Final Firing. The owners were able to reclaim their barges and after Ten Cents, Sunshine and Grampus put in a good word for Sea Rogue. The munitions tug was pardoned by the authorities, and lived peacefully Up River ever since.
The End
Arthur's notes: Once again, special thanks to Johnathan for making it possible. Johnathan has quite a bit of knowledge of Salty's Lighthouse, it seems, as he slipped in a B plot where Top Hat thinks Sea Rogue is a pirate... which is sort of true. Captain Star's misblaming of Ten Cents was also dropped. Admittedly, I probably would have kept that in and have him apologise to Ten Cents later, but it does go against what we knew of Captain Star in Sunshine. My little addition was Hercules being protective of Ten Cents; big brother instinct for the win! (I've had the Mario movie on the brain as of late, and Mario and Luigi's bond in that movie was too cute!). We also switched up a character duo: Top Hat and Warrior were together in the actual episode, but here, Warrior was with Zorran and Top Hat with Zebedee. I wonder if Zorran and Zebedee were a duo in the real episode too. The other character duos we had were Big Mac and Zak (and Big Mac was letting Zak have it after the previous episode), and Hercules and O.J., (which I think makes quite a sweet duo; almost like Edward and Toby). Watch out for when some tugs get Trapped up river next time...
