Threat Level Rising

Chapter Three

                                                     Zarek proudly re-introduced himself as the Master-At-Arms to the passengers of his mighty ship he called the Majestic. Which while still tied to its mast at the Royal Harber was indeed a majestic looking ship. Zarek too had added a long-brimmed helm of blue that had the appearance of a long beak atop his head. In addition, Zarek was brandishing a flowing blue cape hooked to each of his shimmering golden brush teethed shoulder pads.

                                                           "All aboard the Majestic, the mighty steward of the seas!" Zarek yelled enthusiastically as his blond beard stuck out underneath his chin.

                                                            There was a skeleton crew of seamen that made up Zarek's crew besides the passengers. The seamen were casting the sails among other duties in preparation to set sail.

                                                              Consul Ari was being kept very close to his new acquaintances, Powers and Scopes. Glenn noticed Powers whisper something to Ari which was proceeded by the Consul asking to be shown to his quarters. In addition, the Consul wanted both Powers and Scopes quarters to be beside his.

                                                                 Of course, Zarek agreed to Consul Aris request as he personally escorted all three to their quarters.

                                                                 As Zarek led his guests to their quarters, Drusilla made a remark to Glenn who was beside Randor," Those friends of yours are very odd. How do you get along with them?"

                                                                  "Well, I don't get along with them." Glenn admitted. Then she clarified her statement so that Drusilla would understand," Not, anymore, not since there escape from Keldor back in Borderland Valley."

                                                                   "What do you suppose Keldor did to them?" Drusilla questioned.

                                                                 "Please, Drusilla, we have a long voyage ahead of us. Glenn needs some peace of mind as do we all. Let us enjoy this splendid voyage for a while."  Prince Randor proposed.

                                                                   "I did not mean anything by it, my kind prince, I was just wondering." Drusilla explained.

                                                                      "So, you could gossip about it later at the hen house." Malcome teased.

                                                                      "You're telling me about gossip...you of all people." Drusilla quipped back.

                                                                     Drusilla then staggered unintendedly, "Whats this about?" She asked.

                                                                     Several voices on deck yelled out," Setting sail!"

                                                                      The Majestic for all its bulk eased away from the dock like a baby.

                                                                       As the Majestic carried itself on the relative calmness on the waters of the sea. The prince with the astronaut, the handmaiden along with his bodyguard all watched along the side railing of the ship. They all watched as the mainland cast itself away in the distance behind them.

                                                                      Many high-pitched cries were heard from seagulls as they passed over the Majestic.

                                                                        While a certain golden falcon perched on a tall white brick building watched from the mainland as the Majestic floated away on the sea.

                                                                     Skeletor, who was residing on his throne of bony appendages that were linked together looked dimly at his orb in front of him.  The screen on the orb showed nothing on it, yet Skeletor could do nothing but stare at it.

                                                                     Then with a wave of his bony blue fingers, Skeletor cast an image on the orbs face. Beastman seeing the orbs image started to watch what was on it. What Beastman saw were rows of skeleton soldiers roaming the passageways inside Snake Mountain. As Skeletor flicked through the channels of visual images on the orb, nothing but reruns of skeleton soldiers were shown. Skeletor seemingly bored switched off the orb.

                                                                    "My creations make for excellent guards." Skeletor said, "Though that is not all that I intended for them. They are warriors, they need to war. Don't you agree Beastman?"

                                                                       Upon hearing his name finally mentioned, Beastman howls with excitement," Yes, master! I agree with everything that you say! The skeletons need to fight!"

                                                                     Beastman then cocks his head in eager anticipation of how Skeletor might respond, what compliment he might bestow on him.

                                                                     Yet, Skeletor says nothing. Instead, he simply stares yet again at the dark orb in front of him.

                                                                       Duncan looked at a small screen on a console inside a low-lighted enclosure of metal framework. There was a tiny blip on the screen which pulsated. As the tiny blip pulsated inside the circle, it emitted a red glow which lighted up the space that Duncan was inside.

                                                                         There were some coordinates on the bottom of the screen which displayed a longitude and latitude of the blip's movements. The blip was steady in its latitude while its longitude would increase ever so slightly.

                                              "The ship is heading steadily Northward with a slight curvature Eastward; its latitude increasing at a sub-par rate in the direction of the Golden Isles. My estimate is that the ship should arrive there before Sundown." Duncan mused outload.

                                                       Duncan sometimes liked to think out loud when he was alone. It seemed the perfect time to talk to himself while he was trapped inside the closet space of the Aquascout. The small submarine was rarely used since Duncan had built it indicated by his unsettled nerves.

                                                       A handheld communication device attached to the consul by a thick black wire was picked up by Duncan who then spoke into it," This is Man-At-Arms over."

                                                           Another voice spoke to Duncan from his communicator, "Royal Port watchtower we read you."

                                                           Duncan then spoke again," I need confirmation on the last departure. Please indicate if the Majestic has set sail."

                                                           "Affirmative. The Majestic has departed for the Golden Isle." The voice came back.

                                                            Duncan replied, "I copy. Man-At-Arms over and out."

                                                             After returning the communicator to the console from which he took it, Duncan clicked some levers before he grabbed a compact steering wheel firmly with both hands.

                                                             As Duncan pushed the compact steering wheel forward, bubbles shot up in the water outside his thick glass window. The bubbles began to recede in the front of the small submarine as it drove forwards underneath the ocean floor.  The compact submarine then expelled bubbles as Duncan propelled the craft along.

                                                         "Steady as you go scout." Duncan nervously told the tiny submersible.  

                                                            A beast was rising from the ocean depth, it had a strange snout on its face which extruded flagellating tendrils.  The creatures partially spiked bulbous body displayed a swirling mass of tentacles. This was the Oktobarb for which Mer-Man had summoned to meet with him in the Gnarl Ocean.

                                                                The Ocean Warlord himself was bobbing on the surface of the sea in communication with some passing seagulls. Mer-Man had already sent the seagulls to the Royal Port to watch for prince Randor and the ship that he set sail on. The seagulls now informed the scourge of the seas that the Majestic was headed his way.

                                                                "You performed well my sea birds! As a reward I give to you fresh fish to gorge on!", Mer-Man says as he raises his tri pronged trident above the waters.

                                                                   Suddenly, hundreds of silvery fish start to shoot out of the water! The seagulls instinctively start diving at the fish to catch their fresh kill!

                                                                    Mer-Man laughs as the seagull's feast on whatever fish they catch while tearing them apart! Then a voluminous shadow starts to form underneath Mer-Man. The shadowy bulge becomes larger until a spiked back is made visible above the water alongside of Mer-Man.

                                                                      "I see the sign." Scopes says to Powers who is also in Aris room having just put the Consul to sleep.

                                                                        "We must go up top then. To see if the prince is still on the deck of the ship." Powers insists.

                                                                         "Randor is still on the deck along with Glenn and Malcom. Drusilla has gone to the kitchen to prepare some snacks. I think." Scopes mentions.

                                                                      "Who cares about Randors Handmaiden!" Powers scoffs, "The prince is our first concern. We must hurry to the upper deck!"

                                                                     On the deck of the Majestic were Randor and Glenn seemingly very close to each other while not far off was Malcom who was talking to some Royal Seamen.

                                                                     As soon as Powers arrived on deck she made a b-line towards prince Randor. "We have to stall for time...keep the prince on the deck of the ship." Powers told Scopes as she made her way towards Randor.

                                                                     Scopes who still had his bird themed walking stick that Drusilla gave to him followed behind Powers.

                                                                    As soon as Malcom spotted Powers interrupting the interlude between his prince and Glenn he acted to put a stop to it!

                                                                   Scopes intentionally blocked Malcom's path as he had already seen him coming. Though to Malcom it seemed like an accident.

                                                                 No one was aware that the Majestic was slowing down during the commotion. That was when a tremendous force had struck the side of the ship!

                                                                Malcoms first concern was to get the prince inside of the ship! Though as he tried to sidestep Scopes, he continuously stepped in front of him as if by accident.

                                                                "Whats going on?" Scopes said pretending not to know.

                                                                 "Let me pass!" Malcom said as he urged Scopes to move, "I have to get to the prince!"

                                                                 Scopes did move out of the way though as he did, he not so accidently blasted Malcom with his walking stick! The blows power was so sudden that it actually sent Malcom over the side of the ship!

                                                                    Scopes continued to pretend that he didn't know what was going on however, as he still asked, "What's going on?"

                                                                    "Malcom!" Randor shouted after seeing his friend fall into the suddenly rougher waters!

                                                                     The Seamen came over to gather everyone into the ship when the seagulls from earlier started to attack them! Though, curiously Randor, Powers and Scopes were left alone!  

                                                                       Glenn did not notice the seagull's affinity however as she dived from the ship to try and rescue Malcom!

                                                                           On the opposite side of the deck from where Glenn dived off from, long red tentacles were feeling their way around! The Oktobarb, who's weight on the side of the ship was actually tilting it slightly as it aggressively grabbing anyone that it could. Many seamen were tossed aside into the 0cean because Mer-Man who was riding atop the creature identified them as not the right person! Randor hanging onto the railing was yelling down for both Glenn as well as Malcom was more concerned for them than his own safety! Scopes was holding the railing with one arm while he held Powers with the other so as not to be pulled towards the Oktobarb!

                                                                      Then the head of the tentacled sea creature reared its horrific head! Mer-Man shouted in savage lust" Grab the prince!"

                                                                         Prince Randor saw the tentacles of the beast reaching for him as he tried to pull himself over the railing! The Oktobarbs sheer weight was tipping the Majestic more in its direction which was having Randor fight not only his fear of being captured but gravity as well!

                                                                        "No! Let me go!" Randor shouted in defiance as one of the Oktobarbs elongated tentacles grabbed around his waist!

                                                                          The strength of the Oktobarb easily pulled Randor from the railing, then proceeded to pull him in!

                                                                              Mer-Man gloated in his seeming victory at finally catching prince Randor," We have what we came for my beast! Now let's go!"

                                                                           A couple of seamen were able to come onto the deck with spear guns though Mer-Man callously shot them with spikes that burst from the teeth of his trident!

                                                                          The waters started to subside around the Majestic as the ship started to settle from the attack of the  Oktobarb.

                                                                           In the wake of the assault, the prince had been captured while several others, starting with Malcom had been thrown overboard.

                                                                            To be told, the trail of Mer-Man and his creature was chillingly cold as neither they nor prince Randor were anywhere in sight.