Episode Fifty-Four
"The Martyrdom of Kathleen the Platypus"
Tenody stood on the prow of the small boat. Before her stood the other 11 animals left from the escape from Sydney Zoo.
She gazed out at their somber faces and spoke: "We gather to honor the one called Kathleen. She was a Revolutionary, a charismatic leader, and a loyal friend. She helped us to escape our imprisonment and was determined to fulfill her mission: to unite the legions of Australia in preparation of the coming war."
Tenody looked at the concerned expressions. "That is right, there is a war coming," She restated, more firmly. "But Kathleen was not afraid. So we shall not be."
Tenody's demeanor changed in its ferocity. "We will carry on in her name! We must arrive at the Outpost. We must seek the Wise One. We will succeed! For Kathleen!"
"For Kathleen!" The other animals repeated, inspired by the eulogy.
"Tenody!" cried out the shrill voice of Warra the Kookaburra. "Look!"
All the animals rushed to look off in the direction Warra indicated. They could see it. A strange red light shining in the city of Sydney. A plume of smoke circled up towards the sky.
"What is that?" Mary asked quietly.
Tenody stared at the pillar of smoke that began to turn red. "It's one of Them."
Meanwhile, on the alien Planet,
Zev glanced up at the little lights that continued to zoom overhead in the purple moonslit sky. The buildings around him seemed oddly web like and flimsy, yet somehow sturdy at the same time. He pinched himself for the fourth time. He still wasn't dreaming.
"What is this place?" Helloweez the Swiss Army Hamster cooed with awe from his shoulder.
Jantu stopped to admire the alien surroundings. "A city."
"Where?" Helloweez asked, gazing up at the fiery bird creatures that flew above them in the air.
Jantu pondered for a moment, then shrugged. "Still no idea."
Zev stared in awe as another group of aliens hurried past them as they walked further into the city. "They have scales."
Kea smiled at him. "Yes they do."
Zev felt dazed with it all. "They aren't human."
"No, not everyone is," Kea said, rather indulgently.
A sharp grunting cry startled Zev out of his daze. Some of the scaly aliens were holding odd shaped instruments towards them. They looked rather mean. A more decorated one began grunting at them, apparently saying something.
Kea leaned over to her boyfriend. "What did it say?"
Jantu watched as some of the creatures began to move forward with odd little devices in their claws. "I think we're being taken into custody."
Zev moved closer to Kea as Jantu's wrists were bound. "Why?"
Then he blacked out.
Meanwhile, in Miami Harbor
"From here you will take us straight out." Taram the Cormorant indicated the direction with his wing. Xar nodded and kept the boat straight on course.
"What if we're stopped by a coast guard patrol?" Snowball asked as she scanned the horizon for said possible threat.
"We'll be alerted before then," Taram replied, looking up at the other birds that flew overhead.
"Where are we going?" Xar asked.
"To an island," Snowball replied.
Xar rolled his eyes. "Where is this island?"
Snowball considered her answer. "It varies."
Xar stared at the cat that was his daughter. "It varies?"
"We're going to the Bermuda Triangle," Taram cut in before Snowball could reply. Xar stared at them both. Surely they were joking. Weren't they?
To Be Continued...
