There, clinging precariously to the ship's ladder, was Cole, his face a mask of bewilderment and seaweed.
"Rumi?" he called out, his voice strained. "What in the Stone Master's beard are you doing?"
Rumi blinked, the crazy temporarily short-circuiting out of her brain. "C-Cole? How did you...?"
Before she could finish her question, a mischievous glint returned to her eyes. "Ah, Cole! Just taking the Bounty for a spin, you know? Morning air, scorching sun, the whole shebang!" She forced a casual smile, hoping he wouldn't notice the tell-tale tremor in her voice.
Cole, for his part, looked like he'd just seen a giant squid tap-dancing the Macarena. "A spin, huh? Looks more like you're auditioning for a role in a pirate movie gone horribly wrong."
Lloyd came up onto the deck. " What happened?"
Rumi pointed to Cole, who was hoisting himself up. " Him."
Lloyd's cheeks flushed. " Cole?! What are you doing here?!"
" Well, I WAS fixing the engine."
Lloyd sighed. " We need to turn back and bring you home."
Rumi nodded. " Agreed.*
Then she looked at the controls. " Uh.... Lloyd?"
" Yeah?"
" One question - which buttons controls what?"
Rumi looked at the array of buttons and dials on the control panel, her eyes darting from one to another in confusion. In her panic, she ended up pressing a bright yellow button. Immediately, the ship's engines roared to life, propelling them forward with a burst of speed that sent them skidding across the deck.
“Whoa, what’s happening?!” Cole shouted, struggling to maintain his grip on the railings as the ship lurched violently.
Rumi, who had been standing near the controls, was flung backwards. She grabbed onto Lloyd’s leg for support as he tried to brace himself against the sudden acceleration.
“Hold on!” Lloyd shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of the engines. He managed to cling to Cole’s waist, who was desperately holding onto the railings with all his might.
The Bounty surged forward, and the crew found themselves struggling to keep their balance. The powerful thrust made the ship buck wildly, and the sheer force of the wind threatened to pull them overboard.
“Lloyd! I’m so sorry!” Rumi shouted, her voice trembling. Her grip on Lloyd’s leg tightened as she tried to steady herself.
“It’s okay, Rumi!” Lloyd yelled back, his voice strained but comforting. “We’ll get through this!”
The ship finally began to slow down as Cole, gripping the wheel tightly, managed to regain control. He maneuvered the ship back to a more manageable speed, the tumultuous rocking gradually subsiding.
Lloyd, still clinging to Rumi's foot, took a deep breath and then, with a gentle tug, pulled her up into a hug. He looked into her eyes with a mixture of relief and affection. “Rumi, it’s alright. You’re okay. We’re okay.”
Rumi, shaking and still clutching Lloyd’s shoulders, looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “I didn’t mean to cause so much trouble. I just… I didn’t want to mess things up like I did before.”
Lloyd wiped a tear from her cheek with a soft, reassuring smile. “Rumi, you’re not as bad as you think. Everyone makes mistakes, and it doesn’t mean you’re a failure. You’re trying, and that’s what matters.”
