The Burning Rose (Chapter Seven)

It started faintly none of the others noticed it happening. They all faced the slag of rubble left over from a rockslide not noticing their own who was in pain behind them.

Malcome was arguing with Blovas about staying behind with the horses as they journeyed up the fallen rock pile. Malcome wanted nothing more than the argument settled between himself and Blovas so that he Zoomer ....

The lady was weeping, huddled over in pain at the loss not just of Plodok though especially of him as it reminded her of the loss of her prince.

"It seems the lady has lost her last air of hope, oh the ruination.", Blovas frowned

Malcome gave Blovas a stern look as not to utter another word as Zoomer quickly tried to console Lady Styx.

"Do not worry my lady...everything will be alright.", Zoomer said as he held Styx on the shoulder as she wept freely on the dirt.

"You don't sound all that convincing yellow tongue.", Blovas razzed

"Not another word or I will terminate our agreement.", Malcome sternly told Blovas who nodded his head rapidly in sudden cooperation.

"I cannot focus...I am so sorry Zoomer...", Styx said as she cried tears not of failure but too much loss

"You have to try my lady.", Malcome told Styx as she wept in Zoomers arms

"Let her cry, get it out of her system. It has probably been a long while since she did cry in fact we Helioans almost never shed a tear.", Blovas said in an effort to help which backfired when Malcome turned around to shout, "It is always about you isn't it? I am surprised Zoomer could stand being in your lofty balloon with you for five minutes let alone the amount of time he has!"

"He's right, I need to let my pain out...it has been held to long inside me.", Styx said as she moaned in heartache.

"You see her tears are healing her while mine simply turn into icicles down my cheeks.", Blovas said brandishing a weak smile which Malcome sneered at.

"It seems as though we have reached a crossroads.", a familiar voice said from the bushes nearby.

It was the green man of moss that visited them at the garden of remembrance where Gomots body was being memorialized.

"Pardon my interruption again but there have been many tremors in this area recently as you can see.", the green man of moss said referring to the rockslide.

"Moss Man is your name is it not?", Malcome asked the mysterious traveler

"You have a good memory but of course you are correct. It was the name given to me by my father who is awaiting your arrival in the Lost Valley as we speak.", Moss Man kindly reminded

"What about these tremors are they normal in this area?", Malcome asked Moss Man

"As a plant-based man myself I can attest that all geological forces are normal, especially if they have been tampered by unnatural ones.", Moss Man remarked

"Have you come to help us find my friend Plodok?", a concerned Zoomer asked Moss Man

"I felt the sadness of the ladies' tears trough the root system of where there have been many unsettling tremors as of late. Though to my dismay before I felt the lady's sadness, I was troubled at all the arguing between you all. The disharmony amongst you reminded me of the shifting of the plates deep under the ground or the destruction caused by floods. Yet in nature there is a calmness after the destruction caused by nature which can be healed from. When a tree's roots lose nourishment, they can receive help from the fungi who provide them with water while in return absorb carbon from the roots. They strike a balance as they work in harmony to survive the harsh treatment from natural occurrences like tremors. In this way so must you all work together.", Moss Man explains in depth

"He's right as rain.", Styx says as she tries to get to her feet once more. Zoomer helps Styx stand as he pulls her up to her feet.

"We have to get on the same page once again. For Plodoks sake as well your prince lady Styx. We can do it if we act.", Malcome tells both Zoomer and Lady Styx though while he does a voice from behind him says, "I am with you for like the trees above the clouds in Sky-high that hang Armonia fruit which we use to produce Armonia milk and wine gives us our wonderous ability to fly in the air."

"Most harmonious!", Moss Man said as he withdrew back into the forest behind him where his body became nothing but a permanent fixture within the foliage.

As everyone else had been facing each other they turned to face Moss Man after hearing his voice only to find that he had vanished back into the forest once again.

"He's done it again just disappeared like he was never here!", Zoomer acknowledged in wonderment

"Though we know that he was here as well as with us in Lucida.", Malcome interjected

"It appears that the Moss Man has a vast awareness as well a willingness to help guide us.", Styx approvingly stated before producing her spiraled wooden wand once more to declare," So since the forces for good are backing us. There must be a far greater evil which is growing one that we must extinguish before it is too late."

Malcome did not say it aloud though he also surmised that this Moss Man was the one that saved the trapped minors back at Trekkors mine.

"Let my wand guide us to wherever Plodok has been taken to.", Styx said as she was helped up the slag of rock by Zoomer.

"If we are not back here by the next day then I besiege you to contact Trekkor so that he can get word to Eternos about what has happened.", Malcome told Blovas

"I will do as you wish.", Blovas said with sincerity as he watched Malcome go forth to join the search party along the stretch of rock.

Plodok was regaining consciousness as he lied on his back atop a conveyor belt inside a room filled with machinery as well more rows of conveyor belts. As Plodok slowly opened his eyes the lights above made him squint then as he got used to the light, he had to unblur his sight. Plodoks body also felt heavy though there was very little feeling in his hands and feet as he tgried to feel around his limp body. To Plodok everything felt fuzzy and when he finally tried to lift up his body he could not do so. There was something holding him down on whatever he was atop of.

Then a voice which hurt his lightheadedness called out," Ah, your awake at last stranger."

The voice went on in a loud not very sensitive way as to Plodoks condition, "My name is Karos I am the lead technician on a transport machine referred to by my cousin the one who invented it as a Trapper."

"That's nice...", Plodok replied wearily, "Why can't I move my arms and legs?"

"Good question!", Karos answered extatically before continuing," Since you are our prisoner, we had to place you somewhere in order to detain you. It was my idea to hold you in the machine room on one of the conveyer belts. It was necessary to strap you down so you would not fall off. For your safety of course!", Karo emphasized by shouting in Plodoks aching earhole.

"How do you feel?", Karos asked

"Why do you ask?", Plodok inquired

"Garak the Goblin who shocked you also wanted to dispose of you. It was I who convinced him otherwise. So, to sort of satisfy Garaks barbarism I placed you on a conveyer belt leading to that compactor for scrap metal. Oh, don't worry the compactor is not in operation yet.", Karos tried to reassure Plodok

As Plodok gulped...Karos went on, "Garak is going to join us in a while for your interrogation before we inspect your transport. I wanted to give you a tour of the parts rooms in order to show you our process of dismantling as well as reverse engineering the vehicles that we capture. I am sure that you find it most interesting."

"I am sure...", Plodok said weakly

"How much more time do you need before I show you around? I know that you are recovering from a terribly debilitating shock which could have paralyzed you or worse, but Garak is very determined to interrogate you. It would be better for to at least get something of value before an unfortunate demise. Not that I would let Garak do anything like that to you. I believe that you hold valuable information that we can use though for your benefit as well as life you had better give it to us.", Karos politely warned

"If you could speak softer...my head is hurting...", Plodok asked

Though he could not see it Karos was holding his green sonic blaster. Then Karos held the weapon up saying," I did not think that you would have used this weapon on me. I do regret Garak shocking you with his stun rod. I do also regret that I could not then when I first saw you brandish this weapon against me or now that you can ever leave. It is only that I would prefer you alive while Garak wants you exterminated like a pest. The thug."

"If you let me be for a couple of minutes...to recover more...", Plodok asked Karos who nodded while smiling a very rakish grin before heading of.

Plodok sighed with relief before closing his eye lids to meditate in the hopes he could improve the condition of his body. Plodok also hoped to find his Ribit as it was his best way of escape.

Lady Styx was leading the way up the rock using her wand to tune into Plodoks aura. Despite Styx's certainty she kept saying that the signal was weak. Styx also said that there was an unliving cold feeling that Plodoks aura was trapped inside of. Styx also emphasized that the thing she felt was unnatural like a machine.

"Unnatural forces!", Malcome cried out, "Moss Man alluded to unnatural forces often times giving rise to tremors!"

"Let's keep going to find out if this unnatural thing caused this rockslide.", Zoomer said as the way forward was becoming more elevated up to a point where the peak flattened out. Whatever could not be seen beyond that point was perhaps the something they all sought.

Then Zoomer hurriedly asked Malcome, "Let me scout ahead as we Saurian can scale up mountains very fast. I can send a rope down to help you climb up once you catch up."

"Zoomer wait.", Lady Styx told the Saurian archer before Malcome could even reply back to him.

"I have seen your arrows change Blovas clouds to ice as well as overheard you had a teacher of alchemy back in Soros.", Lady Styx imparted

"Anole was the name of my instructor. I was his apprentice in alchemy he was my second teacher my first teacher Antillus taught me archery. Though since I mastered archery to become a golden archer it was necessary to incorporate alchemy with my arrows. Anole wanted me to eventually take his place one day...", Zoomer regretfully said as his realization of Anoles loss became apparent once more.

"I want to imbue one of your arrows with a transference of energy to help you sense what my wand is helping me to detect which is Plodoks aura. Do you have a binding arrow one that can adhere to my transference spell?", Lady Styx asked

"Quicksliver!", Zoomer blurted out

"Would you be so kind as to hold it out tip first.", Zoomer hastily reached back into his quiver to feel for the quicksilver arrow before pulling it out.

"I have primed all of my arrows to be in tune with them. I sense the properties of each arrow in order to choose the right one. My sensation to quicksilver is always cool as well as wet to the touch.", Zoomer said as he held out the silver tipped arrow for Styx.

Styx lightly tapped the tip of the quicksilver arrow with her wooden wand saying, "I cast upon this arrow from my wand the heat to sense what I am sensing."

There was a slight spark of flame as the transference was completed.

As Styx withdrew her wand Zoomer shouted, "The arrow has turned warm!"

The silver tipped arrow smoldered a little before cooling itself once again before Zoomer began to place it back into his quiver.

"Stop.", Styx told Zoomer before he could place the arrow in his quiver.

"Use your arrow to focus along with me.", Styx told Zoomer as she held out her wand.

Zoomer placed his arrow in his bow and went beside Styx to align his arrow with her wand. The two stood beside each other as they faced forward to divine a path towards Plodoks location.

"Do you feel it?", Styx asked Zoomer who was more in tune than she was as his body shook with anticipation.

Then with his eyes shut Zoomer pointed the arrow upwards above the horizon where they were heading towards.

"Do you want to release the arrow?", Styx asked Zoomer who was aching to shoot.

Then as Zoomers anxiousness to shoot his arrow increased the arrowhead began to glow.

"I can feel Plodok inside of something unyielding.", Zoomer told Styx

"He is in danger.", Styx warned as she tapped into what Zoomer was feeling.

"You must shoot your arrow when ready.", Styx told Zoomer

Zoomer arched his bow upward as his arrow radiated light before releasing it into the sky towards the target above the ridge!

Then after many seconds the horizon lit up with a bursting light. What followed was a burning flame along the ground which ran from up the ridge to past the pursuers all the way towards where Plodok was originally abducted. The spot where Plodok was taken was then encircled by flame! The flame eventually died out leaving a trail of burnt earth to follow.

"Excellent work you two!", Malcome congratulated as he continued." Go ahead Zoomer, go scout above that ridge as we follow behind you."

A proud Zoomer nodded rapidly before racing off to clime the vertical incline the burnt trail lead up towards.

"Bring it in!", Garak told another Goblin operating a four wheeled lift which was transporting Plodoks Ribit high in the air by its back feet. The Ribit was dangling by its back feet attached to a large flat magnet that the goblin driver was controlling with his lift.

"Hook it to the line!", Garak then ordered just as Karos presented himself holding the sonic blaster.

Upon noticing Karos Garak demanded, "Where is he?"

"In the back on the compactor line.", Karos admitted

Garak then saw the sonic blaster in Karos hands," Do you plan to use his own weapon against him during the interrogation?"

"It would have to be examined first in the testing room as I do not know how to use it. Though I had no intention of using it against him.", Karos reasoned

"What details have you gotten from him?", Garak tersely asked

"Not much but on his uniform, it reads officer Plodok. Which places him from Pacwad.", Karos answered

"Did you tell him anything about us?", Garak asked concernedly

"A little to entice him about taking a tour of the ship.", Karos admitted

"What?", an aghast Garak exploded, "Why would you even offer him a tour of the ship? For what purpose? What did you tell him?"

"I introduced myself to gain his trust.", Karos freely admitted

"Which means you probably told him my name.", Garak grumbled

"Do not worry yourself Garak, there is nowhere that our prisoner can go, though I could use his help in dissecting his transport.", Karos admitted

"You are not a soldier you do not understand protocol. I need to interrogate him immediately. If I determine him a threat in any way he is to be terminated. Otherwise, you can use him for your purposes until he is no longer of use. Understand?", Galak aggressively demanded

"Of course.", Karos said as he smiled graciously which led to a sneer by Galak

Suddenly an alarm sounded!

"Officer Garak needed in the control room! Repeat: Officer Garak needed in the control room!", a voice howled on the intercom as the red alert sounded continuously.

"Do nothing until I get back!", Garak told Karos before heading off with his guard to the control room.

it did not take Zoomer long to scale up the vertical precipice of the rockslide in order to peer over the ridge. Zoomer stayed as low as he could while looking from behind a large rock at was a smoldering ring of fire. Zoomer knew that was where his arrow had landed from the energy it gave off. The arrow had first exploded in an illuminating burst of light to only begin melting the rockface.

Though what Zoomer could not see was the arrow oscillating waves of heat which appeared to melt a path underground.

Plodok was awakened from his meditation by the ship's emergency alarm! Plodok did know that he was inside some sort of ship called a Trapper though he had no idea what the alarm going off in his head was about.

A loud crash was heard as the alarm sounded!

What kind of danger was he in," Plodok thought to himself as he felt the room shake around him."

Plodok then struggled to get lose from his bonds only to find his best-efforts wain in vain. "It's no use...I can't budge these straps!", Plodok realized.

Karos was inside the main control room in the machine room when he realized the Trapper was moving.

From his control panel where he could survey the entire room from multiple monitors he was stationed at, he was relieved to see Plodok as well as his transport still secure.

Karos decided to contact the Trappers control center as the alarm was still basting!

A larger screen came on to show Garak standing beside the ships pilot, Karos asked what the alarm was about?

"Were surfacing fast!", Garak replied

"There has been a hull breach! In addition to that whatever breached the hull is spreading in all directions! What's worse is that it cannot be contained!", Garak concluded

What Karos filed to notice during his call with Garak was that a burning fluid had entered into the machine room searing several paths along the way spreading in all directions!

Malcome used the rope that Zoomer anchored to a large rock to carry Styx as he climbed up to the ride of the rockslide.

All three pursuers were in awe at the pool of melting ground revealed to them.

Then they saw something begin to rise from the gaping burning wound of earth, it was large bluish gray as well as mechanical.

Then the large machine began to rumble as well as shake in order to rise out of the burning hole!

Unable to totally free itself from the hole the maw of the ship opened itself wide!

Then a jaw bridge lowered onto the unstable burning bedrock.

Malcome withdrew the laser pistol from its holster as Styx held her wooden rod while Zoomer took an arrow from his quiver to then place it in his bow in preparation for what could emerge from the machine.

The alarm had finally ceased inside the Trapper to Plodoks relief.

A loud clang rang out in the Machine room which caused Karos to spot on his monitor that Plodoks machine had fallen from where it had been hung up on its track!

"The machine room is being burned apart!", Karos shouted upon exiting the control room as he saw streaks of crimson red spreading over the floor as well as the ceiling! The conveyer belts were being demolished as well as the streaks of crimson cut threw them as well! They were destroying the entire machine room!

The bands of crimson red had finally reached Plodok trapped on his conveyor belt.

Plodok then felt something warm near his torso and legs. For some inexplicable reason Plodok felt safe as the crimson red bands burned his bonds with surgical precision. Plodok was finally released from the tension of the straps across his body he could finally take action.

"Hold it!", Karos warned Plodok as he trained the sonic blaster on him.

Plodoks reflexes were most likely slower than normal though he had to use his legs which were free to nip up off the conveyor belt.

"I don't want to hurt you with this blaster! Don't make any sudden moves!", Karos again warned Plodok who eyed his adversary intently while preparing for one giant leap over his adversary.

"What do you want me to do?", Plodok asked before leaping off the conveyor before Karos could even think off a reply!

Karos turned to face in every direction around him with the sonic blaster! Plodok was nowhere to be found!

Then Karos aimed his weapon above him only to have it snatched away by Plodoks before he could pull the trigger!

"Where is my ride?", Plodok told Karos as the tables were now turned in his favor.

"Let's make a deal!" Karos pleaded as Plodok kept his sonic blaster trained on him.

Plodok charged his weapon which made a high-pitched noise, which made Karos tense up in pain" I know that Katniks have sensitive ears. That's just a small sample of the sonic pain I can give you. Now take me to my ride. I know it's in this room."

Karos seeing no alterative lead the way as Plodok followed close behind.

"Kondor strike team attack!", Garak ordered from within the control room of the Trapper.

In a blur, an assault team of Goblins in harnesses with long spread-out black wings with talons attached on each arm launched out of the Trappers mouth.

A voice came in on Malcom's communicator, it was Blovas," I have spotted with my wandering eye from my telescope some unfriendly flyers!"

"Do you have cloud cover for us?", Malcome asked in earnest as he was prepared to make a retreat seeing as they were so outnumbered.

Blovas answered back, "I have blown you a convergence of clouds that could trap your foes in ice with Zoomers help!"

"Zoomer take Syx with you! I'll follow! Blovas has sent some clouds headed our way you just have to turn them to ice with these guys inside them!", Malcome affirmed as he shot off his laser pistol which whiffed past two Kondor attackers with relative ease!

Two of the Kondor Gobllin flyers stayed behind to capture Malcome as he fired frantically at them to no avail! The rest of the Kondor Goblin flyers went in pursuit of the fleeing party!

Zoomer had already gotten a headstart as he carried Styx who fired off a couple of fireballs from her swirling wooden wand! The Kondor Goblin Flyers easily dodged the fireballs as if they were in slow motion as they gained on their prey!

Malcome was felled by some unseen sonic blast that screamed inside of his ear!

Malcome fell to the ground like a dead weight as his pistol rolled from his hand! The Kondor Goblin flyers descended to the ground to interrogate there fallen prey!

After the goblins landed something burst from the ground to latch onto their feet!

"What's going on?", one of the goblin flyers panickily asked

"It's some kind of undergrowth, it's got me to!", the other goblin as the vine quickly wrapped up his thigh tightening as it went!

"What's going on out there?", Garak screamed as he saw what was happening to his troops.

The goblin pilot confirmed what was happening to the landed Kondor flyers," The ships sensors are reading a large mass of vines underneath us! They are spreading outward as well!"

"Then launch the Trap Worms they can eat threw these weeds!", Garak raged

"Unable to release the Trap Worms! The portholes on the Drop drill have been blockaded by the massive undergrowth as well.", the Goblin pilot admitted

"Get this ship off the ground! Use maximum thrust to do it! As you do that send a distress call to our other half!", Garak ordered in disbelief at was happening

Plodok used his small glow-key to flash a response from his Ribit which was lying on the floor of the machine room after falling from its rack. The pulse wave of light awakened the Ribit once again!

Plodok then remotely replied into his glow-key, "Mouth open!"

Upon command the Ribit opened its front mouth wide open. Plodok took the opportunity to persuade Karos inside with his sonic blaster.

Karos pleaded, "Please let me go."

"Tongue, target, mouth.", Plodok said

Instantly, Karos was captured by the tongue of the Ribit which sealed him up safely inside of its mouth.

Plodok feeling satisfied hoped on into his Ribit in order to get at the controls of his cockpit where once again he could ride off!

The Kondor Goblin flyers went to overtake their prey as they entered into the looming mass of clouds when Zoomer seized the opportunity to fire of his alchemical frost arrow to transform the mass of clouds into a mass of ice!

The everything came crashing down!

Lady Styx made a shield of protection with her wand to protect herself as well as Zoomer from the falling ice mixed in with machine and goblin!

It was a powerful but brief hailstorm!

Garak was unable to even prevent Plodok in his Ribit from leaping out the front door as a mass of vines was preventing it from re-closing.

Plodok rescued Malcome as the Kondor flyers watched unable to stop him as they were completely covered in vines.

Plodok placed Malcome inside the back seat of the cockpit where he then took control of the Ribit in order to ride away in freedom!

This time there was no magnetic barrier to lock the Ribit rider up again. Though when everyone met up at the fork in the road, they happily took the left-hand path toward Igniton to flee there pursuers as fast as possible!