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Well, that plan had been a disaster! It had seemed simple – ride in the Gup A, get Shellington, and ride back to the Octopod. Except… they hadn’t accounted for there being so many jellyfish. Swimming back had been fierce, even Kwazii knew it was best to leave them well alone.
Thankfully, the scurvy jellyfish didn’t get their tentacles on him or Peso; and both broke the surface of the launch bay tank. Tweak almost dropped her screwdriver in surprise.
“Did you find Shellington?” she asked as the duo scrambled out.
“Those beasts didn’t even let us get within three feet!” Kwazii groaned, his tail lashing in frustration. “They clogged up the intakes.”
“And we barely avoided getting stung,” Peso added. “One sting is bad enough, but lots of little stings could paralyse you.”
Tweak gulped and her ears twisted. “Thank goodness you two are al– hold up!” she cried. “Where’s the Captain?!”
“He… shouldn’t be long, Tweak,” Kwazii fidgeted with his tail, and Peso glanced back anxiously. Barnacles should have come in seconds after them. What in the seven seas could have possibly slowed him down?! Unless…
Splash!
Kwazii, Peso and Tweak whipped their heads around, and a familiar polar bear was in the launch bay tank. The lieutenant and medic rushed to Barnacles’ side, while Tweak shut the Octohatch. “Captain, don’t you ever do that again!” cried Kwazii. “I was about to go out and look for you.”
“Oh… er… sorry, Kwazii,” sighed Barnacles, grabbing the edge of the pool with one paw. “I was… just making sure that everything was secure.”
Kwazii raised an eyebrow. He exchanged a silent look with Tweak and Peso, motioning for them to join the others at H.Q.. The rabbit and penguin nodded in agreement; it would be best if Kwazii handled the situation alone. Once they were out of earshot, Kwazii turned his attention back to the polar bear. “Captain… let me see your other paw.”
Barnacles cleared his throat, trying to mop his brow from sweat. “Er… I er… think my octo-compass has fallen into the launch bay tank.”
“I’ve still got my air tank,” Kwazii insisted, putting it back on. “I’ll just pop down and get it for you.”
“N-No, Kwazii,” insisted Barnacles. “I can get it–”
Too late; Kwazii leapt into the water and swam around. As small as it was, the object wasn’t hard to miss, especially as it often shimmered against shiny surfaces… “You dropped it, huh? Unless I miss me guess, what is that on your belt?”
Barnacles glanced down sheepishly. “Oh… false alarm,” he let out a nervous chuckle, and reached down for it. “Silly me thought that it slipped– OUCH!”
Just as he suspected; a jellyfish sting. “Yowch, Captain, that must feel like fire on your paw.”
“It’s not that… er…” Kwazii held his gaze firmly. “Okay… yes, Kwazii… it really hurts.”
“We can’t let that continue,” Kwazii shook his head, scrambling back out of the tank. “Come on; Peso will know what to do.”
Barnacles hung his head, as Kwazii gently helped him out of the water. The cat had to grab Barnacles’ arm, rather than his paw, lest the sting get any more irritation.
“Captain… I know everyone looks up to you as a leader,” Kwazii said slowly, motioning over to the ladders. “But they also see you as their friend!”
“I… I know that,” sighed Barnacles. “But… because I’m hurt, that’ll push back rescuing Shellington. He can’t be out there forever!”
“That as may be,” Kwazii agreed, “but there’s no way you’ll get back out there with your paw burning red. You know what Peso always says; ‘you can’t help others if you’re injured or sick yourself’.”
Barnacles hated to admit it, but Kwazii – and by extension, Peso – were right. “I just hope Shellington isn’t hurt too… I shouldn’t have let him stay out in the Gup last night!”
“We had no idea there’d be a jellyfish bloom overnight,” Kwazii insisted. “Besides, mark my words, Captain, we will get Shellington safely home!” He held out his paw, making a fist. “Now… I want you to promise me: if you don’t get better instantly, you’ll let Peso and I handle the rescue mission without you coming with us.”
“Is it okay if I call you on the monitors?”
Kwazii smiled. “Aye, Captain; that’ll be good enough for me.”
Barnacles, satisfied with the response, held out his unhurt paw and they fist bumped each other. As he settled onto the hospital bed and Kwazii rushed to find Peso, the Captain felt a little bit more at ease. Though Kwazii was a little hot headed and reckless sometimes, he had a good soul where it really counted. And that’s why he trusted him as his lieutenant.