Firestar
Written by Jonathan Downs, Rachel Ravens and Zack Wanzer
Johnathan Star's Point of View
1916
A year after Ember and Stormy's arrival, Captain Salvage was gifted two switchers for her fleet. Hail was donated by the Royal Navy from the United Kingdom and given the number six. Moonlight came from the San Francisco Fire Department and was given the number seven. Whilst Hail was a fast-talker who tended to pelt her words without a filter, Moonlight was quiet but thoughtful. Both settled in well at the Salvage Fleet and became good friends with the Star Tugs.
One of Jennifer Salvage's friends, Nathaniel Mitton, was so impressed by Moonlight, he decided to get the switcher of the same design.
"I was built at Prendergast Works in Newcastle," Moonlight explained.
"Thank you," replied Mr. Mitton.
Meanwhile, Hail was working Up River when she encountered another switcher. She was painted white with curly red hair and a golden tiara.
"Oh, hi there," called the Salvage Fleet's No. 6. "My name is Hail, because apparently, I'm a fast talker who pelts words without a filter and I was donated by the Royal Navy to help the Salvage Fleet."
"Nice to meet you, Hail," said the switcher. "I'm Corona."
"Are you part of the Salvage Fleet?" asked Hail.
"No, I'm privately owned."
"Corona helps out sometimes," explained Misty.
"Yeah, and soon, there will be another private switcher up here," said Stormy. "Mr. Mitton was expressing interest in Moonlight's design."
"Any idea when?" asked Hail.
"No," replied Stormy, "but if I have to make a guess, it would be some time next year."
"Well," began Corona, "I'm looking forward to…"
"GET BACK TO WORK, YOU USELESS BUCKET OF BOLTS!" roared an angry voice.
Corona shrieked. "Yes, Mr. Jefferies, sir, coming, sir!" With that, Corona raced off.
"Poor Corona," sighed Hail. "Her owner is so cruel."
"You're telling me," sighed Stormy.
Big Mac was making a delivery to the Fire Station where he saw Finbar and another tug with a firehose on top of his sailor cap. Big Mac was surprised as he recognised the other tug.
"Weel, Ah'll be a sea-monkey's uncle!" exclaimed Big Mac. "Warrior! Is that ye?"
"Hello, Big Mac," said Warrior. "Nice to see you again."
"Do you two know each other?" asked Finbar.
"Aye," said Big Mac. "Warrior 'n' Ah ur twins."
"Big Mac is the older of us both," added Warrior.
"Sae whit brings ye tae Bigg City?" asked Big Mac.
"I'm going to undergo trials to become a fire tug," replied Warrior, "hence my firehose."
"Weel, guid luck wi' that," said Big Mac.
Warrior tooted a reply but accidentally backed into a fire barge. "Who put that there?" he gasped.
"I hope you're more careful in your trials," sighed Finbar.
Meanwhile, Top Hat was heading back to the Star Dock when he noticed something. An announcing house had been built on the dock next door with a sign that read in large, capital letters, 'ZERO MARINE BIGG CITY'.
"Of course, he would set up his tugboat fleet," groaned Top Hat. "Captain Star will not be pleased…"
But before Top Hat could set off again, he was approached by two unfamiliar harbour tugs. Both were painted maroon with black smokestacks. One of them was longer than the other with a mustache and the number one, whilst the other was clean shaven and had the number three and a rather thuggish look on his face. In fact, neither of them looked pleasant.
"Um, what do you think you're doing, Star Tug?" sneered the number one tug.
"Heading back to the Star Dock," replied Top Hat, who was standing no nonsense.
"Ugh, no," replied the number three tug. "Zorran meant, why are you spying on us?"
"Zorran! Zak!" snapped a female voice. This came from another harbour tug painted in the same maroon livery, only she had the number four and looked friendlier. "You two get back to work, or Captain Zero will lose it with you for slacking off!"
Without another word, Zorran and Zak slinked away.
"Those two aren't the brightest tugs in the fleet," replied the female tug. "Don't pay them any mind. I'm Zelda."
"A pleasure to meet you, Zelda," said the railway tug. "I'm Top Hat. So how did you end up working for Captain Zero?"
"Well, I used to work for the Moran Towing Company in New York alongside Zorran, Zak and two other tugs – a switcher named Zipporah, or Zip for short, and a harbour tug named Zebedee. He's my brother. Zebedee's number two and Zip is five."
"Ah, I see," said Top Hat.
"Anyways," said Zelda, "Zorran, Zebedee, Zak and Zip were fired after trying to pull a smuggling ring, and Captain Zero, who was apparently fired by your captain for an incident that occurred Up River last year, took them in. Talk about a stupid move, right?"
"Quite so," said Top Hat. "But… how did you end up in a fleet of miscreants?"
"I volunteered to come here so I could keep Zebedee and Zip on the straight and narrow."
"Ah, that's understandable," replied Top Hat.
"Well, I'd better get back to work," said Zelda. "Say… what's your next assignment?"
"Well, I presume I'm going to the logging camp," said Top Hat. "but I'd have to double check with Captain Star."
"If that is true… what's say we have a little competition while we're there?" challenged Zelda. "See who can finish their work first?"
"I don't really have time for that–"
"Pity," smirked Zelda. "I thought the Stars were made of sterner stuff than that."
"I am!" insisted Top Hat. "I'll show you what I can do."
"Impress me," smiled Zelda. "I'll meet you down there."
After checking with me, Top Hat raced Zelda to the logging camp.
"Prepare to lose, Zelda," called Top Hat.
"I'm prepared to see it happen to you," smirked Zelda.
The two tugs were neck-to-neck and soon, they both arrived at the camp at the same time.
"A tie so far," said Top Hat.
"Yes, but we're seeing who can finish their work first," replied Zelda.
All afternoon, the two tugs raced back and forth to see who could finish first. In the end, it was Top Hat who won the race.
"Well done, Top Hat," said Zelda. "It was a fine victory for you."
"You did very well too, Zelda, dear," said Top Hat. "Same time tomorrow?"
"You betcha," smiled Zelda as the two tugs moved off.
That evening, Captain Zero (who, as we figured, was none other than Sean Zero) had gathered his new tugs around the Zero dock.
"Now listen to me and listen good!" he said through his own megaphone. "If any of you see a tug painted yellow with red, blue and white and a fancy star on their stacks, they're part of the Star Fleet, our main rivals. Our goal is to beat them to any contract that comes our way. There is strength in numbers for us as we have four harbour tugs and one switcher. The Star Fleet has one switcher, two harbour tugs and a railway tug. Yes, a railway tug is technically a harbour tug, but we still outnumber them."
"Don't you worry, Captain Zero," Zorran said confidentially. "We'll show those clapped out sardine cans who's boss."
"I appreciate your loyalty, Zorran," replied Captain Zero, "and for this reason, I am appointing you leader of the Z-Stacks."
"Hey, now just a minute!" interjected Zak. "Why does he get to be leader? I'm much more deserving!"
"Simple," Zorran replied with a smirk. "I'm the smartest out of us and if we're going to beat the Stars, we need to be cunning and outsmart them. The last time we tried one of your schemes, Zak, it got us fired from Moran Towing Corporation."
"Oh, you want to get even?!" snapped Zak. "We'll get…"
"Unless you want to get fired for a second time, Zak, I suggest you stop whining like a child and accept that Zorran is the leader!" thundered Captain Zero.
"But, sir…"
"No buts! It's my decision, my orders!" Zak just sulked.
"With due respect, sir," said Zelda, "just because the Star Tugs are our rivals doesn't mean they're our enemies."
"Zelda does make a good point," said Zebedee.
"Yeah, I met their switcher and he seemed rather nice," agreed Zip.
"I wouldn't trust them if they were the last tugs on Earth," retorted Zorran.
"And if you three want to stay around, I suggest you do the same!" said Captain Zero. Zebedee, Zelda and Zip chose not to argue.
"Now, remember, Zorran," continued Captain Zero, "it's up to you to make sure we put the Star Fleet in their place. If your plans succeed, we will be triumphant."
"Yes, sir!" replied Zorran.
The Salvage Fleet were discussing the new arrivals.
"What do you make of Warrior?" asked Pisces.
"He seems like a nice tug," replied Ember, "but his clumsiness concerns me."
"I think he's nice," said Hail.
"The Z-Stacks feel like a mixed bag," said Stormy. "Zelda is the nicest of the new fleet. I met Zebedee and Zip, and now I'm neutral on them. But Zorran and Zak are definitely the worst."
"I'm going to keep an eye on them," agreed Scorpio. "Those two are bad news."
"Mmm-hmm," said Moonlight.
"I hope Zelda can keep Zebedee and Zip on the right path," said Misty. But before anymore could be said, she felt another tug bumped into her, causing her to yelp.
"Ow…" she said weakly.
"Look at that, boys," sneered an ocean-going tug with a red backwards sailor's cap to two harbour tug (one with a dark blue cap, the other with a dark green cap). "She's going to cry like a baby." All three tugs had poisonous plants painted on their smokestacks.
"Hey!" snapped Scorpio. "Who do you think you are?"
"We're the Poison Plant trio!"
"Oleander!" said the dark blue capped-tug.
"Nightshade!" said the red capped-tug.
"And Foxglove!" said the dark green capped-tug.
"What's going on out here?" Captain Salvage demanded, coming out of her announcing house. "What are you three doing here?"
"We're the new tugs you bought to help out," said Nightshade.
"Under whose orders, exactly?" said Stormy. "We've heard about you three. A trio of troublemaking tugs who like to bully other boats and push them around."
"Yes, why should I accept your help given your negative reputations?" demanded Captain Salvage.
"Well, we're here to help now," insisted Oleander. "And besides, the guy who sold us to you does not allow refunds."
"Yeah," agreed Foxglove. "No refunds."
"Of all the tugs that could have come…" groaned Ember.
"Great, now I have three delinquent tugs that could drag the good name of the Salvage Fleet down," sighed Captain Salvage. "That's the last time I ever buy any tugs off that guy."
"We'd better keep an eye on those three and make sure they don't cause trouble," Pisces said. The rest of the Salvage Fleet agreed.
Meanwhile, Top Hat and Zelda were pretending to compete with each other whilst keeping their friendship a secret.
"I say, Zelda," said Top Hat. "I bet I can beat you to the logging camp again."
"You're on," called Zelda.
Once again, the two tugs raced towards the logging camp. This time, Zelda beat him.
"Oh bravo!" said Top Hat. Just then, the Poison Plant trio came up in a foul mood.
"Well, well, well," smirked Nightshade. "Look what we have: some over glorified hatstand."
Top Hat was so offended that he was at a loss for words. The three Poison Plant trio laughed cruelly at that.
"Hey!" snapped Zelda. "Do you have anything to do than antagonize other tugs?"
"No one tells us what to do, babe!" retorted Nightshade.
"I'd imagine you three wouldn't understand being told what to do," snarked Zelda.
"I know you are, but what am I?" retorted Oleander.
"Shut up, you idiot!" snapped Foxglove, but rammed him so hard the two stupid tugs sank a barge of timber.
"Well, there's only one place you three belong: the Stone Age!" retorted Zelda. "No, scratch that, you three are dumber than cavemen!"
"Now, unless you want me to ask your captain to have you three painted pink," added Top Hat, "I suggest you clear off."
The three Poison Plant tugs subsided at that dreadful threat and backed away.
"That will show them," smirked Zelda. Top Hat could only agree, but he was also impressed with the way Zelda stood up to Nightshade, Oleander and Foxglove. Zelda certainly is afraid to make her mind, he thought to himself.
"Okay, Warrior!" called Finbar. "You will need to get these fire barges to the training area!"
"Got it," he replied. Warrior started to tow the barges, one of either side of him. Unfortunately, he didn't look where he was going…
"Warrior, watch out!"
BANG!
"Oh dear…" sighed Warrior. "Sorry, Finbar."
"No damage done," Finbar grunted. "But you have to be more careful and responsible as a fire tug, Warrior."
"I know, I know…"
"Don't be tae hard on mah brother," called Big Mac. "Warrior's daeing his absolute best."
Warrior gave a weak smile at Big Mac. "Thank you… I just hope I get straightened out for a real emergency."
"While it's true ye hae tae be responsible 'n' careful," said Big Mac, "you an' a' need tae hae courage. Ye're a brave tug fur gaun thro' thae trials at a', Warrior. 'n' fur that, A'm proud o' you."
"Thank you, Big Mac," smiled Warrior.
"You win this time, Top Hat," said Zelda trying to contain her laughter.
"Well, it was an even match at least," said Top Hat. Then he heard Zak's hooter.
"Hey, what's going on there?" demanded Zak.
"Only that this wretched Star beat me again," grumbled Zelda.
"Oh, stop being a sore loser," retorted Top Hat.
"You really need to pick up the slack, Zelda," said Zak. "Zero will have your boiler if he finds out."
As Zak rumbled away, he didn't notice Top Hat and Zelda wink at each other.
"You were right, Zelda," said Top Hat once Zak was out of earshot. "Zak isn't that bright at all."
"And he's certainly not good-looking," smirked Zelda, "especially when compared to you."
Top Hat blushed at this. "Oh, well, thank you, Zelda," he replied.
"Well, I'd better let you get back to work," said Zelda as she moved off, "but I'm going to beat you next time."
"In your dreams, Zelda," said Top Hat.
"Hey!" cried Pisces. "I just cleared that debris!"
Nightshade laughed hysterically. "And now you have to clean it up all over again."
"Silly tug!" smirked Oleander.
"Gotcha, big time," laughed Foxglove.
"Well, guess what?" snapped Ember. "Now you three have to pick it up! Pisces will go on her break."
"We will do no such thing–"
"If you want to end up in dry dock you three," Captain Salvage announced, "then I can arrange for it right now!"
The Poison Plant trio gulped, and quickly went right to work.
"Now, listen up!" said Captain Zero. "I have some 'treasure' you need to take down to… well, you all know where it goes by now, I'm sure. Johnny Cuba will meet you there."
"Yes, sir," said Zorran. "You heard the captain. Come on, slowpokes. Move it!"
"Yes, yes…" grunted Zak. "Coming…"
"We'll be there too," said Zebedee. "Let's go, Zip–"
"Oh no, you two don't!" scolded Zelda. "I don't want you to end up in dry dock."
"I appreciate you looking out for me, sis," replied Zebedee, "but I feel morally conflicted about this. I mean, what's to stop Captain Zero from demanding it of me?"
"S-same here," said Zip. "He's very scary."
"Then he'll have me to answer to," insisted Zelda.
"Thanks, sis," replied Zebedee.
"Yeah…" Zip said quietly. "You're a great tug…"
Later, Top Hat and Zelda were out at the marina.
"You know, Zelda," said Top Hat. "I've been growing feelings for you."
"Really?" said Zelda, blushing. "I feel the same way about you." She considered her next words carefully. "But we can't let anyone else know about this."
"Well, perhaps we can try to bring peace between our fleets," suggested Top Hat. "For now, we'd better keep it a secret."
"Agreed," said Zelda.
But neither tug knew that tragedy was about to strike…
Foxglove was near the old pier when he noticed Burke and Blair nearby.
"A word, if you please," said Burke. Foxglove made sure no one was about and entered the warehouse.
"We've got a proposition for you," said Blair. "That clapped out paddler, O.J., has been at the top of our list for years, hasn't he, Mr. Burke?"
"Mr. Blair and I have tried to persuade Captain Star to sell him to us, but he refuses," added Burke.
"What do you want me to do about it?" asked Foxglove.
"O.J. will be making a delivery to Scuttlebutt Pete the dredger tonight," said Blair. "We would appreciate it if you start a fire and then he will burn to death. We will pay you handsomely if you succeed."
"Deal," said Foxglove, letting out a slight cackle.
That evening, Foxglove lay in wait. He had set up a barge of flammable materials and was planning to spark it just as O.J. arrived. Zelda was on the same job as O.J., and she spotted Foxglove nearby.
"Hey, you!" she shouted, racing over. Foxglove, realising he'd been caught, ran off, but a spark leapt from his funnel and ignited the materials. Worse of all, the barge was caught adrift and trapped Zelda into the quayside.
Quickly, Zelda sent out a distress whistle. Top Hat and Warrior were nearby.
"Good heavens!" exclaimed Top Hat. "Hold on, Zelda! We're coming!"
Warrior grabbed a fire barge and the two tugs raced off to the rescue. The fire had spread to the rest of the dockside.
Top Hat worked the fire barge whilst Warrior aimed at it with his hose. However, Warrior's hose jammed up. "Oh no," he gasped. "I've got to get Zelda clear!"
"Warrior! No!" shouted Top Hat. But it was too late. Warrior accidentally rammed the fire barge into the quayside and it promptly sank. Then, burning debris began to fall around Zelda.
"Top Hat! Warrior!" she cried. "Save yourselves!"
"No!" said Top Hat. "I'm not leaving…"
"GO! NOW!" shouted Zelda.
"Come on, Top Hat!" said Warrior, lashing a towline onto Top Hat and pulled him to safety. Zelda bravely accepted her fate as more debris fell.
O.J. was just arriving when he witnessed the fire and went to alert Finbar. Sadly, the Fire Tug would be too late…
As morning came, the damage was done. The quay and Zelda were completely destroyed. The Z-Stacks were devastated, especially Zebedee and Zip.
"No, no, no!" sobbed Zip. "This can't be true… it just can't be…"
"Oh, Zelda…" said Zebedee, tears welling up.
Top Hat looked sadly at Zelda. Then, his expression changed into anger as he turned his wheelhouse towards Warrior.
"YOU INCOMPETENT APE!" he thundered. "WE HAD ONE CHANCE TO SAVE ZELDA! ONE CHANCE, AND YOU MESSED THINGS UP! I WISH YOU NEVER CAME TO BIGG CITY PORT! THEN ZELDA WOULD HAVE STILL BEEN ALIVE!"
"I… I'm sorry," Warrior said, tears welling up.
"SORRY?! SORRY?!" shrieked Top Hat. "THE WOMAN I LOVED IS DEAD BECAUSE OF YOUR STUPIDITY AND ALL YOU CAN SAY IS 'SORRY'?! JUST GO BACK TO THE STONE AGE WHERE YOU…"
"SHUT UP!" roared Big Mac, who had overheard. This startled Top Hat. "MAH BROTHER SAID HE WIS SORRY, 'N' HE DOES NAE, AH RAME, NAE DESERVE THAT INSULTING COMMENT ABOOT BEIN' A CAVEMAN! IF ZELDA WIS STILL ALIVE, SHE'D BE HORRIFIED WI' YER ATTITUDE, YE OVERGLORIFIED HAT STAUN!"
Top Hat was speechless.
"Big Mac…" he began. "I…"
"Juist forgoat it!" snapped Big Mac. "You're awready late tae pick up Frank 'n' Eddie."
Without a word, Top Hat left. "Oh, Zelda," he said to himself, tears welling up. "I'm sorry…"
It wasn't long before the news of Zelda's death reached Captain Zero, and needless to say, he was upset.
"You see," he said between sobs, "this is what happens when you try to befriend the Stars…"
"But, sir…" began Zebedee.
"SILENCE!" snapped Captain Zero. "I never want to hear any mention of Zelda ever again, and I don't want to hear or see befriending the Star Fleet again! Understood?!"
"Yes, sir," said the four remaining Z-Stacks.
"Good," said Captain Zero. "Now get back to work!"
With that, the Z-Stacks left the Zero Dock.
"Now don't forget, Zebedee and Zip," said Zorran, "we're out to beat the Stars. Do you want to end up like Zelda?"
"No, Zorran," replied Zebedee.
"N-no…"
"Then do what I say."
Big Mac was heading back from the quarry when he heard sobbing. He looked to see Warrior in complete tears.
"Warrior," said Big Mac gently, "ye shouldn't let Top Hat's wurds git tae ye."
"It's not that," sobbed Warrior. "Zelda's death was the final straw. I've failed my trials."
"Och, Warrior…" Big Mac said sadly.
"I guess I'm no use to anyone," sobbed Warrior.
"Dinae say that," replied Big Mac. "A' we need is tae fin' a captain wha haes th' patience to… haud oan. Ah've git it!"
"So you'd like me to take Warrior into my fleet?" I asked.
"Aye, sir," replied Big Mac. "He micht be clusmy, bit he haes a guid hert 'n' strength tae match. Plus, wi' th' richt support, I'm sure he'd mak' a great member o' th' Star Fleet."
"Sir, I must protest," said Top Hat. "If you let Warrior onto our fleet, we'll become the 'Falling Stars'!"
"Oh, shut up, Top Hat!" snapped Ten Cents. "Big Mac is right. Warrior deserves a chance."
"I'm willing to give Warrior a chance as well," agreed O.J..
After listening to my tugs' opinions on the matter, I had a long think about it. At last, I made my decision.
"Well, Warrior," I said, "after careful deliberation and taking my tugs' views into account, I have come to the conclusion that whilst you are clumsy, you should be given a fair chance."
"You mean…?" gasped Warrior.
"Welcome to the Star Fleet."
Top Hat just groaned in disbelief whilst Ten Cents, O.J. and especially Big Mac gave three cheers for our new number five.
"What do you mean, I don't get paid?" demanded Foxglove.
"The deal was simple," replied Burke. "You would get paid if you succeeded in killing O.J.."
"But it was Zelda who died in the fire," added Blair, "whilst O.J. is still alive. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have other important matters to deal with."
"Such as the matter of an arrest warrant!" said a voice that caused the three tugs to freeze in fear. Peeper Pipes had overheard.
Foxglove, Burke and Blair had to spend the rest of the year in Dry Dock, and both Mr. Broke and Captain Salvage had to pay a fine to Captain Zero for the loss of Zelda.
"You idiots!" Mr. Broke rapped to Burke and Blair. "That was a wasted opportunity to get O.J., and now look! You two will be on dredger duty at the start of next year!"
"The same goes for you Foxglove," Captain Salvage said sternly. "I do not approve of my tugs trying to murder other boats. I will be instructing Pisces and Ember to keep an eye on you three in case of any further trouble. So, if you three want to stay, I suggest you change your ways."
With that, Mr. Broke stormed off and Captain Salvage sternly walked away.
"This is your fault, Foxglove!" snapped Burke.
"No, it wasn't!" snapped Foxglove.
"Yes, it was!" snapped Blair.
Warrior was soon repainted into the Star Fleet corporate livery with the number five. Whilst he was still clumsy, I could see he had a good heart and his strength proved invaluable. He and Big Mac made a great team when competing against Zebedee and Zak for contracts. Although Big Mac would sometimes get annoyed with his brother's clumsiness, he had never lost faith in him.
As for Captain Zero, he would eventually get another tug to replace Zelda, but that's another story.
The End
Athour's Notes: Here we get to see the origins of the Z-Stacks, a few new members to the Salvage fleet, and we get our favourite clumsy but kind tug, Warrior. Zelda really took a shining to Top Hat, but sadly... it wasn't enough to save her from being burned. And now... we know why Zug was numbered 4, not 5.
Next time, we find out that Top Hat and Zelda aren't the only Star Crossed Lovers.