Bob hovered over the Transfer button like it was a self-destruct switch. His finger trembled. His eyes were wild. The transfer chat still screamed behind him like a digital stampede.
And that's exactly when Mallo walked in. "Bob… what are you doing." Bob didn't answer. Bob pressed the button. And pressed it again. And again. And again. Nothing happened. He mashed it with both hands. He head-butted it. He tried yelling at it in three different languages he absolutely did not speak. Still nothing.
Then — ping. A message popped up: "Transfer unavailable. Pirates stranded. Lax monster blocking departure." Bob gasped. "MALLO. WE HAVE A QUEST." Mallo sighed the sigh of someone who had been through this too many times. "You're not going alone."
And so they sailed. The pirate ship was tiny — more like a floating disappointment than a vessel. The stranded pirates waved frantically as Bob and Mallo approached. Nono arrived moments later, toolbox in hand, already muttering calculations that made Bob's brain melt.
Together, Bob and Nono rebuilt the ship. They hammered, welded, glued, taped, and at one point Bob tried to "motivate the wood" by yelling at it. Miraculously, the ship grew into something seaworthy. But not big enough. "There's no room for me," Nono said. "THEN WE MAKE ROOM," Bob declared heroically, immediately tripping over a rope and falling off the dock.
In the chaos, the newly enlarged ship launched itself — without Nono… and without Bob… and without Mallo. The pirates sailed away cheering. Bob blinked. "Did… did we miss." Mallo groaned. "Get on my back."
So Bob and Nono climbed onto Mallo's smooshy, buoyant form. Bob planted a tiny sail in her back like a proud idiot. Mallo began swimming toward 1507, grumbling the entire way. During the journey, Bob and Nono roasted small, harmless, regenerating pieces of Mallo's marshmallow-like fluff for snacks. Mallo complained loudly but floated on.
When they finally reached 1507, the pirates were already celebrating. APX cheered as Bob, Nono, and a very soggy, very annoyed Mallo arrived with heroic flair. Bob puffed out his chest. "TRANSFER BUTTON CAN WAIT. WE SAVED PIRATES."