The Octonauts and the Random Role Reversal

Chapter Four

The rest of the day took a little getting used to, it was safe to say.

Kwazii snatched the large toolbox from Tweak's outstretched paw, the bunny looking none too happy that she had to yield her treasured workroom and all her Gups down in the Launch Bay to Kwazii, of all people. "I'm ready, matey," he promised for about the third time since he had followed Tweak down the OctoChute for his 'initiation'. She had finished showing him her workroom, and how to draw a blueprint, and the levers to control the water tanks, and the engine room, and of course the bubble engine... All of which she suspected Kwazii hadn't really been listening to, at the slightly glazed look in his eyes by the time she finished explaining how often the batteries in each Gup had to be replaced. (The only question he had asked during the whole process was what video games she had so he could play them all and beat her high score. She had huffed at that and just wished him luck.) "How hard can being an engineer be?"

Said engineer huffed, but decided that another shouting match wasn't really the aim of the game. After all, the Captain had decided to do this partially for their benefit. "Oh, I'm sure you'll find it easy," she said sweetly. "No need to get your tail twisted at all."

Kwazii grinned, thinking he had finally drummed the point home with his friend. "So you admit that my job's harder?" he asked, failing utterly to hide his glee.

Tweak sighed just as Shellington happened to shoot out of the OctoChute, tumbling out of the bottom in his haste and skidding to a halt just before he toppled headlong into the tank. "It might definitely be harder for some people," she admitted, her voice dropped to an undertone so that the beaming sea otter wouldn't overhear them.

By the grin on his face, Kwazii still seemed to take that statement as a win, so Tweak decided to let it go for now, and settled back against a large empty canister to watch Shellington's induction into lieutenant-hood with a slight smirk. They'd see whose role was more of a challenge.

* * *

Barnacles sighed as his paws got hopelessly tangled for the fourth time. He had to look up at the Octopod's resident medic somewhat apologetically as Peso laughed and deftly whipped his flippers around the polar bear's paws to pull away the bandage roll he had been practicing with since lunchtime. "Thanks, Peso," he chuckled. "I guess I'm not the best at bandaging yet, it just doesn't come easily to these paws."

"It takes time," agreed Peso reasonably. "You've practiced plenty today, I think it's time to finish for now. Also, I told Dashi I'd meet her in the HQ so she can show me the basics of her job."

"Sure," Barnacles said, trying not to sound too relieved as he helped Peso roll up a couple of the bandages he had been demonstrating with, packing them away in one of the boxes in the Sick Bay and waving goodbye to the sea creatures bobbing around in the Sick Bay tank. The penguin had complimented him on his bedside manner, at least, he was used to reassuring various animals and chatting to them as he helped heal them wasn't too far out of what he normally did for a job. It was just the whole 'healing them' thing which he was still a little shaky on.

He carried the medical bag in his paw as he joined Peso up in the lift to the HQ, where their new captain was waiting, looking a little unsure as she stared out at the ocean currents carrying creatures and the occasional spot of seaweed past their ship. "Hi, Peso," she greeted lightly when she saw them. "Hi Captain - I mean, Barnacles."

"Hello, Dashi," Barnacles said with a smile. It was odd hearing the other crew members call him by his first name; usually they just addressed him with 'Captain', partly as a show of respect. It was a nice change. "Peso said you wanted to tell him about how to run the ship up here."

The penguin gulped and nodded. "Yes," he affirmed.

Dashi offered them both a warm smile. "Of course, Peso. You're being me for a few days, after all. I'd be happy to show you what buttons to press."