"After all that happened tonight," Chloe stated to Sunny with her hands on her hips. "What makes you think we should have someone like you on our boat?"
"I concur," Ramone answered, and his agreement made Chloe feel more powerful. "Considering how much deep water the great oceans are in, do we really need a little ruffian who brought that troublesome woman of the law aboard?"
"Well I..." Sunny squeaked. "I couldn't just leave the Big Banging Bicep Lady to die. She did distract Mr. Hoody Hoody Demon Man for us."
"That's true..." Chloe stated but she shook her head. "But you do realize that I'm trying to save the ocean and become pirate queen of it myself. The police chief won't like that at all!"
Ramone nodded. "Indubitably. Queen Annabell and I may lock horns every once in a while, but after tonight, I think the last thing we need is distractions!"
"Argh," Abacab nodded and pointed his Yo-Ho bottle at Sunny and John Lion. "And you, little lassy, are a big distraction!"
Sunny was speechless, and before she could manage an answer, she was interupted by Vinnie, (who had Monica by his side.) "Ey, guys, you might not know this, but dis girl helped me and Moni out of a real jam! Without her, we'd be toast."
Sunny's eyes brightened and her mouth hung open in amazement.
"Besides, she's jus a kid. Not all kids can be as disciplined as Queen Pirate Chloe here."
"Wowie!" Sunny exclaimed. "Thank you Mr. Zappy Zappy Eel Man!"
"Enough with the nicknames, kiddo," Vinnie said. "Even I'd toss ya over board for them."
"Awright," Sunny said. "Ma real name is Laura Southerncross."
"Dats betta," Vinnie announced. "How bout we treat dis like it's your first meeting with us, Laura."
Chloe sighed. "Are we really doing this, Vinnie?"
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"Hey," Vinnie said beaming. "We could use another swabbie to clean da fish traps instead of me."
With a roll of her eyes, Chloe begrudgingly muttered, "Laura Southerncross, would you like to be our loyal swabbie and clean the fishtraps and our dirty socks?"
"Would I ever!" Laura exclaimed. "Cleaning dirty clown socks was all I did at Three Ring Isle. Fortunately it was easy since they were all colorful and stripey."
"Well," Chloe muttered. "If it gets me out of doing my own laundry, you're hired."
"Yayeee!" Laura exclaimed at the top of her lungs. "And I'll also sleep on the floor too. Got used to that at the circus too! Thank you for freeing me, Madam Chloe!"
"Ok," Chloe giggled. "Now you're speaking my language. I was hoping that swordslady would call me that, but alas, I'll settle for this."
"Correctomundo, mistress!" Laura bowed and playfully skipped towards the cabin. "I'll go find the warmest place on the floor. Toodles!"
John Lion followed close behind her, leaving the crew of the Whaleboat alone with an unconcious Valcom.
"I dunno why, my queen," Ramone remarked, bristling his goatee. "But I think our crew finally jumped the shark with this new addition."
"Arr!" Abacab smiled. "I'm sure yee all thought that when I showed up too!"
Monica smiled fondly at Vinnie. "You sure are nice to that little chica. What gives?"
Vinnie chuckled and put his hands through his belt. "Welp, to tell ya the truth toots, I see myself in that little rapscallion. Kiddos tend to make a lotta mistakes when they're just urchins!"
Monica's eyes shined brightly and she sighed. "I never knew you could think about things in that perspective, senor."
"Hehe," Vinnie giggled, his eyes glinting. "And to tell ya the truth, I kinda like imagining dats yous and I's kid!"
Monica gasped. "Ay dios mio. I knew there was a catch, sea pig!"
"Waitaminute toots!" Vinnie cried. "I didn't mean it. Except for da parts I meant!"
"Ugh, cerdo!" Monica howled and turned her back.
As she stormed away, and Vinnie followed her, Chloe, Ramone, and Abacab all stayed behind to watch Valcom. "Speaking of which," Chloe asked. "What do we do with anchor arms lady? She's nice to look at, but I dunno if she will be when she's knocks someone's head off with that anchor!"
Abacab crouched down and rubbed his chin. He reached out to Valcom's arm cannon. Slowly, he began to unscrew the anchor from it.
"What are you doing, sea man?" Ramone asked.
"We can throw her in the brig," Abacab chuckled. "And I got me a new doorstop!"
Chloe smirked. "That's brilliant. She'll be no trouble at all that way."
Everyone enjoyed a good laugh at Valcom's expense, but as the sun reached upwards with its golden hue, Chloe realized a bit of sleep was in order...So did everyone else, except for Abacab who was on an all night caffinated soft drink binge. As the crew retired in their cabin, Chloe began to wonder about their next plan of actions.
An hour passed when suddenly, she was answered by the Demollusk shell that had remained on Abacab's desk.
"Come to Buckingham Blue..." It called in its mysterious voice. "And all of my secrets will be revealed to you..."