Chapter 16: Captured by Mechamorphs
That same time, Azmuth and the kids were wandering the island. "Well, it's too dark to do anything now." Azmuth said. "We'll camp here and wait for first light." Azmuth doused his lamp and went to sleep, along with Kevin. Gwen stayed up with Zed, who was scared to death. She then heard a grunt. "Kevin? Is that you, Kevin?" She lit a match to see what was what. She screamed, waking up Kevin and Azmuth, as they were captured by an army of Galvanic Mechamorphs.
"Vilgax look!" Clancy called as they passed a dead tree dangling with skeletons. Vilgax recognized them as Flint's landing party. "Flint hung them up there after he gullied them, to mark the trail to the treasure." Vilgax explained, also recognizing Flint's sense of humor. "Alright Ben, where to from here?" He asked Ben, despite Liam saying that the place is cursed. Ben read the map. "On the heading of 179 degrees, walk 312 paces from where the dead men hang high." Vilgax looked at the compass and pointed them in the right the direction to go next. "That way!"
Meanwhile, a Mechamorph walked towards Azmuth, Kevin, Gwen and Zed, who were all tied to wooden stakes. "Howdy-doo, little Galvan man and friends." He spoke. "I am Baz-l, high priest of the Mechamorphs. Your mucho wickedness dares to trespass on our island. Now you will suffer the wrath of our queen, Boom Shakalaka!" Gwen now felt uncomfortable. "Great. Captured by crazed blobs of organic tech soon to be sacrificed before to their queen and alter." "Silence, little Anodite!" Baz-l snapped at Gwen. "You all have violated our sacred island!" Azmuth then spoke forth. "Excuse me. I'm Captain Azmuth Smollett. We mean no harm to your culture. We embrace all creatures of different nationalities and species." "SILENCE!" Baz-l yelled again, growing impatient. "Bring forth Boom Shakalaka." "This can't be good." Kevin muttered.
Another Mechamorph rang a gong and other Mechamorphs began chanting their queen's name. They cut the 4 loose from the stakes and shoved them to their knees in a bowing state of position. A Zibosan covered in flowers came to the alter. The flower curtain revealed another Galvan, female and almost elderly as Azmuth. "Good evening, my friends." The female Galvan greeted. Azmuth looked up and gasped, recognizing the girl. "Come, Ship darling." She told a dog formed Mechamorph, who tugged her down the stairs, making her tumble to the bottom. She then noticed the prisoners and allowed herself to speak. "Greetings. I am Zenith Gunn." She stopped herself, recognizing Azmuth. They both walked towards each other. But then, Zenith hit him, sending him into the gong. "Tie them back to the stakes!" She ordered.