A/N: Finally! Another chapter! A brief warning of some alcohol use, and some language in this chapter. Anyway, on with the story!

Captain Star was in his office organizing his files, when he heard a soft knock on the door. He looked up form his paperwork. No one had an appointment with him today. Well, it could be his beloved wife, but he wasn't to keen on her being out and about now. One of his tugs could easily snatch her up. He stood up out of his chair, and opened the door. To his surprise, Captain Zero was standing before him. He was pale, and his hair was disheveled. Something had spooked him.

"What the Hell happened to you, Zero?" Captain Star had never seen him in such a state. Captain was always strong headed, and never backed down from a fight, but to see him like this was concerning.

"I was attacked by one of my own damn tugs! What else could have happened?!" Captain Zero snapped, and stormed into his office.

"Wait, you mean they attacked you, their captain?" Captain Star felt a knot form in stomach. This was worse than he imagined. If Zero's tugs had turned against their captain already, the Star Tugs would be quick to follow.

"What does it look like, Star?! I ran all the way here because I heard your switchers killing those boys near my company! They're getting too bold . Do you have any booze in here? I think I need a drink." Captain Zero plopped down onto the office chair, and groaned.

"Y-yeah. I've got a secret stache in my desk when I need to calm my nerves." Captain Star unlocked a drawer on his desk, and a couple of shot glasses. He poured the liquor into the glasses, and took, and took a swig. He needed a drink himself after hearing that. Captain Zero snatched his glass, and downed it within seconds.

"We need to get to Fantanzia, Zero. We have to talk to her. She's our only hope of getting this fixed." Captain Star looked out the window. His tugs were supposed to be working, but they could be conspiring against him with the curse picking up speed. He didn't know anything anymore.

"How the Hell do you think we're going to pull that off, Star?!We can't leave our tugs unsupervised with this curse running rampant!" Captain Zero poured himself another drink. He had spent many nights like this, drinking to try to forget all his problems, but this was beyond the power of booze. This problem was bigger than dealing with Johnny Cuba back in the day.

"I bought a shrimping boat we can use. One of the detectives told me about it. They said only we can put an end to it because we were the ones who started it." Captain Star took another drink out of his glass.

"I know, but we can't just leave, Star. Our businesses-" Captain Zero grumbled. Captain Star slammed his glass down on his desk. He had had enough of his rival fretting over his precious business.

"Our business will be put on hold! You just don't want to face her like the coward you are! For once in your damn life, Zero, grow up, and take at least some responsibility for your actions! I told the detectives to tell the police to evacuate the town to keep the townsfolk safe! No one would be able to do business with us, Zero, no one!" Captain Star snapped. Captain Zero froze, and put down his drink. The office was dead silent for several minutes until Captain Zero finally spoke up.

"I screw everything up, Star, I always do. If I went with you, we wouldn't make it. I don't want to make things worse than what they already are." Captain Zero grumbled.

"That was your tugs' fault, not yours. We need to go there together. We need to fix this, or the city will be destroyed, and what do you think what will happen if they run out food?" Captain Star furrowed his brow. The tugs would follow the prey. They would be spread out all over the globe, spreading the curse, and slaughtering innocent people. The whole world was in danger of these monstrosities.

"They'd move on to another source... and..." Captain Zero's eyes grew wide when he realized the threat their tugs posed to the whole world. "And they would devour every human on the Earth."

"Exactly, now you see the threat the curse poses. As I was saying, the police will evacuate the town, and I bought a shrimping boat for us to use on our journey. All we need to do now is figure out which route is safest, and what we should bring on." Captain Star stood up, opened a drawer, and pulled out a map, a pen, and scrap piece of paper.

"Alright," Captain Star set the items on his desk, and spread the map onto his desk.

"We would need to avoid all harbors, and ports just in case the curse has managed to spread beyond Bigg City, and we don't know if the curse is attached to us, or just our tugs. We can't risk spreading it anymore than it already has." Captain Star knew there was a high chance the curse had gotten out of the port. Hercules was recently sent out to deliver supplies to an island near the United Kingdom. He hadn't received a call yet, but it was probably only a matter of time before the curse shows it's ugly face there.

"I know a few routes that Johnny Cuba took to avoid being detected by the Coast Guard. We could use them to get there, but if we get stranded out there, we're screwed." Captain Zero traced the different routes with his finger. That wasn't that bad of an idea, but if they stumbled across a tramper that was inflicted with the curse, they would be sure as dead, but it could be worth the risk.

"We don't have much of a choice, Zero. If we are able to get to Fantanzia in one piece, we will have to take those routes. We can't risk crossing paths with a tug or tramper with the curse." Captain Star had a point. If they were to pull this off, they would have to take some risks.

"We would have to leave at night. Your tugs would be asleep, and I bet my tugs would be more drawn to the other hideout of another gang near my business. They shouldn't bother us if we don't fire up the engine of the boat. That means we would have to be completely silent. Otherwise, our tugs will find us, and I hate to think about what would happen after that." Captain Zero shuddered. The very thought that he could fall victim to one of his own tugs was rather unsettling, but as long as they keep a low profile, their tugs might not be able to detect them.

"How long so you think the trip will take, Star? You're better at this than I am." Captain Zero had an idea as to how long the trip could take, but he lacked the experience his rival had.

"I'd say about three or four months, give or take." Captain Star replied. It all depended on which route they would take, and if they would have any problems along the way.

"So, it's set then?" Captain Zero looked over to his rival, now his ally.

"Yes, now all we have to do is to start packing." Captain Star replied.