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“Alright everyone,” Captain Barnacles announced, “I think that it’s time for our much-needed vacation.”
Everyone cheered.
The Captain turned to the engineer, “Tweak, how long do you think it’ll take for you to finish the repairs?”
Said rabbit bit into a carrot with a grin, “I’ll have the Octopod fixed faster than you can say, ‘Bunch of munchy crunchy carrots’!”
The polar bear grinned amusedly as if he had already expected that response, “How does 2 weeks sound?”
Tweak pondered for a moment, “Maybe add one more week to that. The inner workings of the Octopod are a bit worn right now, besides I’d like to add some upgrades.”
Tweak was careful to control her expression as the lie fell out of her mouth. In truth, the Octopod was actually in a much better condition than you would expect after such a long time of exploring. The extra time was for Tweak’s other plans.
Captain Barnacles gave her a nod and turned his attention to the glass of the HQ leading to the outside, “It looks like we’re here.”
Everyone prepared for the landing of the Octopod in its repair station.
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In the past, whenever the Octopod had to undergo a complete repair, everyone else would go on vacation while Tweak repaired the Octopod. She figured it was time for her to take a break as well.
The thing is, lately, she had been feeling very homesick. She didn’t know the next time she would have a chance to return home. This was as good a time as any.
“Tweak, are you all set to be on your own with the vegimals?” Captain Barnacles’ voice came through the radio.
Tweak pressed a green paw to her collar to reply, “I’m all set, Cap! The vegimals will be a great help.”
“Alright then, see you in 3 weeks.”
The radio filled with silence once more and Tweak turned to the vegimals, “Let’s get to work!”
“Cheeba Cheeba!” They jumped as they cheered.
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Tweak groaned as she massaged her forehead. She thought she had given herself plenty of time!
First, the vegimals dropped a heavy pipe on some delicate wires.
Then, her fingers slipped and she loosened a screw too much, causing the gears and springs within the panel to spill out.
But worst of all, she needed more metal to fix the ship that wasn’t going to be shipped until a few days before the 3 weeks was up!
Was she going to make it?
She had to.
She had to try.
And so, Tweak pushed herself to her limit. She had to fix everything. Quickly.
She drove out in the Gup E herself to get the materials she needed, she moved methodically, never stopping her hands as she put each gear and spring back into place, and she connected each wire back together again with electrical tape.
Tweak kept working.
The vegimals chirped at her in their language with concern for her, but she brushed them off every time.
Her storage of carrots seemed to be barely touched.
It didn’t matter, she had to work harder, faster.
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At last, she screwed in the last bolt. Tweak was filled with dread as she reached to check the date.
Before she could even look at the screen, a voice interrupted the silent space, “Tweak! We’re back, matey!”
…They’re back..?
She missed it.
In the back of her mind, she could hear Kwazii talking animately about whatever he did on his vacation.
“Tweak? Are you alright?” the captain’s naturally loud, commanding voice broke through her heavy and silent disappointment.
Tweak looked up at him and forced a smile on her face, “Perfectly fine, Captain. The ship’s in tip-top shape,” she took a bite out of a carrot for good measure.
Man, she was really hungry. She should eat something. Tweak voiced this to the group before leaving the launch bay.
Tweak ignored the feeling of Captain Barnacles’ concerned gaze following her retreating form.
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Her mood had been dampened for the next few days. The others had picked up on her sullen mood, but if they asked about it, she would adamantly deny anything wrong.
One morning, she walked into the HQ with a yawn. Captain Barnacles, Dashi, Kwazii, and Peso were talking about something called a ‘Danger Shark’?
“What’s all the commotion up here?” Tweak asked.
“We received a distress call, but we can’t make out who it’s from. Listen,” Captain Barnacles answered.
‘Come in Octonauts static this is static -anger Marsh’
Tweak’s eyes widened and her ears twisted with each other in worry, “Oh me oh my, I know exactly who that’s from. Ranger Marsh, my dad.”
“Your dad?!” came an outcry.
I guess I am going home after all! I can only hope that everything will be ok once we get there though… Tweak thought to herself.
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Once the mission was over and they had returned back to the Octopod, the others noticed her mood shift.
“I’m glad to see you aren’t down anymore, Tweak,” Captain Barnacles smiled at her.
“Yeah, sorry about that. I was just feeling a teeny bit homesick,” Tweak said sheepishly.
“That’s what it was?” Barnacles said, glad to know what was going on with Tweak.
“Tell us next time! We don’t care if you want to take a break to go home,” Peso told her honestly.