A\N: Just as I promised, here is Samantha's back story. It might not be the prettiest, but this is who she is and how she came to the port.

I had finally escaped from the clutches of that wretched human named Francis, and aimlessly roamed the open sea, not sure where I was going. Finding food was hard because Francis had always kept me fed, but I miraculously managed to catch a clawful of fish, but I couldn't completely satisfy my hunger, so I was always somewhat hungry. The nights were the worst. They were cold and unforgiving. Many nights I had nightmares about that awful laboratory, and I would always wake up screaming. Sometimes I cried myself to sleep. I was alone, and a total freak. I never saw my reflection until after I escaped. I had no idea who, or what I was. The stitches on my cheeks, and brow, and the dull red snake scales on my chin were from the horrific experiments Francis had performed on me. My eyes were two completely different colors. My left one was blue, and my right one was a dull gray. I just drifted along, letting the current take me wherever it desired.

I had no protection from the elements. When it rained, I came down with a cold. I got over it, but the cold night was a constant reminder of the chilly air of that laboratory. I was helpless... all alone... no one to talk to... no family that I knew of to snuggle with... just the constant and steady rocking of the waves. One night when I was asleep, a bright light pierced the darkness and woke me up with a start. I whimpered and started to back away, afraid Francis had found me. Instead, a fellow tug that was rather small approached me. Of course, I had been isolated from the world since birth, so I had no clue as to what he was or even what I was.

"Where did you come from?" the tug had a Geordie accent, and a distinct whistle.

"I...I...escaped my human owner...he...didn't treat me well." I felt a hot tear roll down my rough cheek. The tug came closer, and touched the stitches on my cheek with an anchor like claw. The tug's eyes were wide with either wonder or fear. No surprise there. The experiments had made me look like what must be a total freak to him.

"What the... you don't look too good. What happened?" the tug asked me. I shrank away, and grimaced as those horrid memories of the horrific experiments came rushing back to me. I whimpered and cowered. I was about his size, but I was just a pup, a young tug, not even a fully fledged teenager yet.

"Oh, I'm sorry... I didn't mean anything by it." the tug's expression was gentle. "I'm Sunshine. Who are you?" the tug smiled gently. It was as if he was trying to take my mind off the subject and calm me down a little.

"I-I'm Samantha." I stammered.

"Well... I can take you to port, Samantha." Sunshine's tow line twitched like a cat's tail. I couldn't believe it. He opened his home to me, a total stranger. I felt hot tears roll down my cheeks.

"Yes, please!" I begged him. This was a blessing. I was practically clinging to him as he led me through the port. It was quiet, and lifeless, except for a few tugs that were on a nightly hunt, or on the job. They all stared at me, except one, who had a look of fear in his eyes. I held back tears. No one would like me or accept me. I was alone. He led me to the Star Marine Corporation, where there were more tugs waiting. They all stared at me. One, who was wearing a monocle and top hat, looked away in revulsion. My heart sank. I was unwanted, thrown away, and left to die. Only three of the six of them gave me a curious look: O.J, Warrior, and Ten Cents. They were all much bigger than me. I was so small compared to them. Sunshine let me settle into his spot for tonight. Sunshine was the only one who had opened up to me. I nervously looked around at the other tugs around me.

"Please tell me that thing isn't staying with us tonight." Top Hat was obviously disgusted by the fact that I was staying here for what I thought was just one night. I sniffled softly. That hurt. O.J snarled and I cowered. Top Hat flinched.

"You can't judge someone by their appearance Top Hat!" O.J growled "Don't judge a book by it's cover!" he looked down at me, and gently wiped my tears with an anchor like claw. I whimpered.

"I didn't mean to scare you lass." O.J gently touched the stitches on my cheek. "Poor thing. She's scared of her own shadow." O.J crooned. I eventually stopped shaking, and actually started to feel comfortable. For the first time in my life, I relaxed.

"Where did you find her Sunshine?" Ten Cents asked Sunshine.

"I found her outside the port just floating along." Sunshine replied.

"You mean she was letting the sea take her?" Big Mac gave me a puzzled look. "What brought you here lass?" he asked me. I whimpered and shifted nervously. I bumped into Warrior and looked up at him. Warrior had the most gentle of expressions on his face. He was a gentle giant. I regained my courage and told them everything: how Francis took me away from my mother the moment I was born, his experiments, and the abuse. They all gave me a horrified look. I started to cry, and Warrior crooned, and gently wiped my tear with a huge anchor like claw. I looked up at him and he smiled gently.

"It's okay. We won't let him hurt you again Sammy, we promise." the look in Warrior's eyes... they were so gentle. I inched closer to him, and he gently grasped my tiny claw in his huge claw. I yawned, revealing my little fangs. O.J chuckled.

"I'd say it's time we get some sleep. We've got another day of work ahead of us." O.J smiled. For the first time ever, I smiled a little, and I slowly fell asleep nestled against Warrior.