Chapter 4.5: Zako Zako Hour

In the Gundamusai's engine room, the iron curtain rose, showing Ladle Zako standing alone in the middle of the stage.

"Ladies and gentlebots!" He said, bowing. "It's the Zako Zako Hour! Today's meeting is all about- all together- So, What Is This Garden Of Wisdom Place?"

There came no applause from the audience, so Ladle hissed, "Yey, you rule, Zako!" under his breath.

"Zako!" Ladle Zako said, "Today, Zako, I'll report by myself!" He began to imitate Red Mic. "Well, well, well! Let me see! Come to think of it, I've traveled very far on the Gundamusai from somewhere near Lacroa Castle!"

Ladle zipped over to the right side of the stage and began to imitate Blue Mic. "That's not it, that's not it, that's not it! You got it wrong, Zako! We flew over something that resembles giant footprints!"

The screen showed an image of the Gundamusai flying over the footprints . Ladle Zipped over to the left part of the stage and began to imitate Yellow Mic.

"Yes-yes-yes! This can only be the footprints of one unbelievably Gundam, don't you agree, Zako?" He asked.

He zipped to the middle, imitating Red Mic. "Are you trying to say that this huge Gundam is bigger than the Big-Zam? Zakooo!"

He zipped to the right, imitating Blue Mic. "That's not it, that's not it, that's not it! Its stride is extremely wide, Zako!"

The screen showed a simulation of a Big-Zam, a type of super-tank used by the Dark Axis, walking on its robotic legs next to one of the footprints. An aerial shot showed that it was a dot compared to the footprint.

Ladle-as-Blue Mic took a step forward. "I wish we Zakos had a wide stride, Zako."

Ladle zipped over to the left, imitating Yellow Mic. "But-but-but, I heard of an incident a long time ago…"

"Did this incident happen a very long time ago?" Ladle asked in his normal voice.

He then zipped to the middle, imitating Red Mic. "Well, well, well…"

Then to right, as Blue Mic. "That's not it, that's not it, that's not it!"

Left, Yellow Mic. He was starting to lose steam. "But-but-but…"

Now thoroughly exhausted, he stumbled into the middle. "Well…well…well…"

He slumped to the right. "That's not it…that's not…ugh…" He fainted.

"Argh!" Ladle groaned, "It's hard for me to do this by myself, Zako!" Getting up, he said, "But I'm not alone! I have my friend the Elmouse! Zako!"

One Elmouse crawled onto the stage. He grabbed it and tossed it onto his chef's hat.

Ladle jumped up and cried, "We're going to try and explain it together this time, Zako!" He pointed to an image of petrified trees on the screen. "What we have here is the Garden of Wisdom!"

The Elmouse made a confused squeak. "Mouse?"

"Oh, I forgot!" Ladle cried, "You can't speak, Zako!" he fell to his knees. "This…isn't gonna work. You can't help me! All you can say is mouse-mouse-mouse-mouse-mouse! Even though I liked to consider all the little Elmice here my friends…" He stood up. "I'm a Zako Soldier! I shouldn't be goofing around while all the other Zako Soldiers are fighting battles somewhere, Zako!"

The screen began to fuzz. Red Mic's voice could be heard over the speakers.

"…Llo? Gundamusai! Are you there? Come in, Gundamusai! Are you there, Gundamusai? Come in, please! This is us! The Zakos! Zako-Zako! Gundamusai!"

Ladle Zako looked at the screen. "Oh, is that you? I've been so lonely!"

The screen cleared to show the Zako horde, Zapper, and others, caught up in the River of Mmns.

"Ahh!" Ladle pointed accusingly, "I see it! You guys are the ones goofing around, Zako!" He began to throw a tantrum. "I'm working so hard here, it's no fair, Zako!" He calmed down. "And I'll keep working hard, even by myself!"

The iron curtain fell. As some Elmice scurried around the audience floor, squeaking, Ladle's voice drifted out.

"Don't worry about me! I've got all my friends! Oh, look! A standing ovation!"