The Atlantis Expedition

Chapter Eight: High C's

Sirius was admittedly impressed with the level of automation on the Sea Cow; there was really very little for Metalbeard's new "crew" to do to help. He wondered, briefly, why the pirate captain hadn't hired a new crew after his ill-fated attack on Octan Tower. Because he was too loyal to his old crew to replace them like that, he realized. Or felt too guilty for leading them to their doom. Or both. Which was kind of heartbreaking to think about, when he'd overheard some of Metalbeard's old crew cursing him for getting them all caught, never mind that their fearless leader nearly lost his life, let alone his freedom.

He paused in his admiration of the pirate's ingenuity when he caught sight of Bad Cop speaking with Benny, Emmet and Lucy. "Bad Cop-!"

"Let's get one thing straight," Bad Cop cut him off, and loomed. Even the others looked wary at his sudden change in stance. "The only reason I am even remotely okay with being in such a confined space with you is because you promised to make yourself useful. So unless it has to do with the mission on hand, I don't want you to speak to me, I don't even want you anywhere near me. Got that?"

In their past life, Sirius would have never tolerated such blatant disrespect, and even now he wanted to demand an apology for such rudeness. But the warning looks Benny and Lucy were giving him had him swallowing down his words hard and giving a single nod before abruptly turning and marching away. "Wow, Bad Cop, that was harsh," he overheard Emmet admonish.

"Do I look like I care, Brickowski?"

"Apparently not," the construction worker muttered sourly before trotting after the former President. "Look, Sirius, I'm sorry-"

"You don't have to apologize on his behalf, Emmet," he sighed. "It's like you and Benny said; I screwed up and people have a right to be angry with me. Him especially."

"But I know you're trying..."

"And the only thing I can do is keep trying and hope it convinces him I really am sincere. Look Emmet, I appreciate that you're trying to help, I really do, but this is one thing you can't fix. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some studying to do." Emmet sighed, shoulders slumping as he watched Business retreat to the captain's cabin.

The next four days passed rather uneventfully, and Business continued to make himself scarce (how he managed to keep it up for so long was baffling, he wasn't exactly the type that enjoyed solitude). It was shortly before lunch time on the fourth day that they heard it- a rumble of engines, the thunder of propellers. Metalbeard adopted a sour look, much like the one he'd worn in the conference room, and Benny was quick to take note. "It's them, isn't it?"

"It's them," the captain grumbled back. Then there was the sound of another engine starting, and everyone's attention turned to see Bad Cop's car transforming and lifting off the deck.

"Oh no!" Benny yelped, scrambling after him.

"Where is he going?!" Lucy demanded, sprinting alongside the astronaut.

"The idiot's gonna try to take them on himself!" He leapt into the cockpit of his ship, starting the engine. Lucy climbed in on the other side, strapping herself in. Benny barely spared her a glance, simply accepting she was coming along.

"Benny, wait for us-!" Unikitty cried, but to no avail. Benny was already taking off after his friend.

Business wandered out from his self-imposed exile to see what all the noise was about. "Well," he stated, and Unikitty turned wide eyes to him. "They won't know what hit them." She let out a hysterical giggle and stared at the ship floating above the horizon.

~* *~

Flea kept the Sky Rogue on course, only halfway paying attention to his captain pacing the deck behind him. He chuckled softly to himself as she rambled; she was excited. The fact that they were so close- he could even see the island now!- only further brightened her mood. "Why don't you give it a rest, Ames, you're about to wear a hole right through the deck."