Umm... Well... I really have nothing to say here, except thank you to all those that reviewed the last chapter and those that have followed this story for this long! Only a couple chapters left... I'm getting excited!
"Still no luck tracking down Argost?" Zak asked as he walked into the cockpit.
"We're working on it, Mini-man," Doyle called over his shoulder. He was standing in the middle of Drew and Basie, who were all looking at several maps of different places. Zak didn't understand them and he didn't care to get involved. He knew of everyone's abilities and trusted that they would find what they were looking for.
Ever since Doc had gone comatose, Basie quickly and naturally picked up the extra duties around the airship. She was busy trying to interpret the maps, just like Doc would have been doing.
Emir was the only other one in the cockpit, but he sat a ways off, not paying any attention to the maps. Zak actually thought he was sleeping, since he hadn't moved. As for Munya, Wadi, Alima, Coman, Ain, and Seti, Zak had not seen them all morning, not even at breakfast. He thought they were probably still sleeping. Fisk had been assigned to watch Doc for the morning and Zon and Komodo were nowhere to be found.
Zak approached the maps and stared blankly at them, not comprehending what he saw. There were so many different lines pointing in different directions along with little circles that beeped every few seconds. Drew put the map into a 3-D effect, causing the topographical landscape to extend upward, creating a mini model of the map instead of a two-dimensional picture.
Letting Doyle, Drew, and Basie get to it, Zak left the cockpit. He figured he could be training for whatever Argost might have in store for them, but decided against it. The only one he really wanted to train against was his father. With that thought, he decided to go and see Doc. He didn't expect anything to have changed, but he had heard stories that talking to people in a coma had a possibility of helping them recover.
Inside the medical room, Zak strode over to his father's bed and sat down beside Fisk on the neighboring bed. Fisk stared down at his brother quizzically, but was only met with silence, so he didn't say a word.
Suddenly, Zak hopped down off the bed and stood near Doc's bed. He thought for a moment about what to say, but just said things as they came to his mind.
"Well Dad, I think we're going to end up fighting Argost today. I can't shake this feeling that I'm going to be the one that has to face him in the end, although I'm sure Mom won't take that idea sitting down. I think I speak for all of us when I say that I wish you could fight with us... This wasn't going to be easy in the first place, but now that we have to fight without you..." Zak paused. He was staring straight into his father's stoic face.
"Dad, I'm afraid that some of us aren't going to make it out of this."
Fisk let out an audible gasp and looked over at Zak, who didn't return his gaze.
"I don't know, Dad... It's just this feeling I have, and it's really bothering me. Even though Argost didn't kill Van Rook, he might as well have. Now that Argost can control cryptids and I can't, things are going to be much harder than last time," Zak continued. "We need you for this, Dad."
Zak hadn't realized he had been crying until he finished speaking. Tears had welled up in his eyes and once he was done, they started spilling over. Fisk looked sorrowfully down at Doc, who had remained unresponsive throughout Zak's speech.
"Okay, I think I'm going to go see if anyone's had any luck finding Argost. We'll come talk to you later Dad, I promise," Zak said.
With that, Zak and Fisk both left the medic room. While on their way to the cockpit, they were stopped by a flustered Wadi. "I have been looking for you everywhere, Zak Saturday! Your mother says there is a Dr. Grey that wants to show everyone something."
Zak and Fisk followed Wadi into the cockpit, wondering what Miranda wanted. They hadn't heard from her in months.
When the three arrived, Doyle was talking animatedly to Miranda, whose face appeared on a large screen to the left side of the cockpit.
"Have you found Abbey yet?" Doyle said as Zak walked in.
"No luck yet, Doyle. We're still trying though," Miranda answered.
"Will you promise me that you'll let me see her whenever you do find her?" Doyle asked, smiling maliciously.
Miranda laughed. "As long as you promise not to kill her!"
"I would do nothing of the sort!" Doyle said, overly feigning an innocent tone.
"Abbey is my sister, Doyle. Don't go overboard if you do get a chance to see her," Miranda replied seriously.
At this statement, Drew spoke up, "Zak being my son never stopped you from going after him once the news that he is Kur leaked out."
Miranda went silent.
Although still not on speaking terms with his sister, Doyle chuckled at her comeback. He then turned to see that Zak, Fisk, and Wadi had made it into the cockpit. "Everyone's here, Miranda. What's this big news you wanted to tell us all about?"
"It's easier if I just show it to you. Here's the clip now," Miranda pressed a button that was off screen.
A shot of Munya and Seti's completely destroyed village replaced the one of Miranda's face. Zak quickly looked around to see that neither of the two was in the room, which was probably for the best.
"Greetings and bienvenue, my ever loyal Weird World watchers. I know that it has been four years now since you have seen I and my crazy schemes, but I assure you, this time I am back and here to stay. As for an apology on my part, I have decided to give you all recompense. Tune in tonight to Weird World. I promise you that it will be a show you will never forget. It will change the world forever!"
The screen spun around to show Argost grinning maliciously with a large army of cryptids behind him. The screen faded to black and Miranda's face reappeared.
"You don't suppose he's trying to lure us in?" Drew asked.
"That's exactly what I'm thinking. However, you know that if you don't go tonight, he will take it personally, probably acting out by sending his army of cryptids to attack a major city," Miranda voiced her thoughts.
"We had already planned to track down Argost and finish him once and for all tonight. That promo just helps us eliminate the whole tracking part of it. Now we can prepare," Doyle stated.
"This isn't going to be like it was before, is it?"
Everyone turned to look at Zak in surprise. He had remained quiet ever since he entered the cockpit.
Without waiting for an answer, Zak continued, "No it's not. Argost is more powerful than ever. What if..."
Drew dropped her gaze to look at the floor. She knew what was coming next.
"Argost is fighting to kill. What if he does?" Zak whispered.
To everyone's surprise, it was Emir who answered, "We all are well aware of the risks that accompany fighting this Argost man. My family and I knew of them when we agreed to go along with you all. To me, this is not about glory or even helping anyone out. This is to stop the world from falling into the hands of V. V. Argost. I will fight."
The other four villagers nodded their heads in their agreement.
"I guess that's settled then," Drew said solemnly.
"I will fight, too, Zak Saturday, and there is nothing you can say that will stop me," Wadi said as she looked directly into Zak's eyes.
"That's right mini-man. We're all in this and we're not backing out until the very end," Doyle said with a smile.
"That includes us, as well. Alert me immediately if you need backup tonight, Drew. I will personally see to it that each of the secret scientists gets the message," Miranda said.
Zak looked around at everyone, feeling their emotions of justice, anger, and togetherness. "Well, I guess the world really is in for a show that they will never forget."
Yeah... That was a bit of a tamer chapter. I guess it needed to be a sort of filler. Anyways, thanks for reading and please review! The next chapter is the beginning of the fight!