Chapter Eight
The bandits managed to acquire quite a few new items from the citadels armory. There were many laser guns that, while centuries old, are still functional. There were also many more conventional weapons, such as swords, battle axes, and spears. Each brigand took one laser rifle, one laser pistol, and at least one sword or other close quarter weapon. The wizard Artemis took the spell book as well as the robe and the staff. He stayed up most of the night committing as much of the books contents to memory as he possibly could. Shortly after sunrise, the band of brigands leave the wizard stronghold Artemis points his magic staff at the hand crank and retracts the drawbridge. As they begin their long march back to the village of Knox, three of the brigands are struck down by stun arrows. As they're looking about to see where the attack is coming from, three more are struck down. Artemis raises his magic staff and conjures a magical globe of protection which surrounds the entire band. Three more stun arrows fly through the air, only to fall harmlessly to the ground. Six moks step out from the treeline, howling in rage. Three of them carry powerful mok bows, while the other three carry tridents. They run at the brigands to attack and recapture the leaders. Besides, they recognize Uruk and wish to bring him to justice. Captain Corden smiles at her good fortune.
"Attack!" She orders her men, "bring me those moks' heads!"
The brigands all pull out their swords and axes and charge the moks. The moks fight through them, knocking their weapons from their hands and throwing them down, or picking them up and squeezing them into unconsciousness. Captain Corden brings her fingers to her mouth and blows a shrill whistle, signaling the men to fall back. The Pirate Queen draws her sword. Ogre does the same, Squeak draws his pair of sai, Uruk brings out his morning star, and Artemis brings out his magic staff. One of the moks takes aim at Squeak with his bow and fires a stun arrow at him. Squeak deflects the arrow with the sai, then hurls them one after the other into the eyes of the mok. The sai then fly back into Squeak's outstretched hands. Another mok takes aim at Artemis and launches a stun arrow. Artemis blocks the arrow with a magic shield, then points his magic staff at the mok. A green beam of light strikes the mok, and he disintegrates in the blink of an eye. Ogre charges at a third mok, his falcion held high to strike. The mok brings his trident up over his head like a staff to block. The blade cuts right through the shaft of the trident as though it wasn't even there, then continues on through the mok. The warrior collapses in a heap, his life blood flowing from his wound. Another mok tries to skewer Uruk with his trident. The former bandit king knocks the trident aside with his morning star, sweeps his opponent's legs out from under him, then smashes his skull with the enchanted weapon. Another mok thrusts his trident at Captain Corden. The Pirate Queen parries the strike, side stepping the attack, then thrusting her own blade into the mok's flesh. In seconds the mok is frozen solid. She then strikes him with the blade, shattering him into a million pieces. The last mok looks at how easily his companions had been slain. They were all veteran fighters, had all fought numerous battles against foes great and small. He'd never felt fear like this before. He turns and flees, making for the relative safety of the trees. Artemis takes aim with his staff, but Captain Corden stays his hand.
"Let him go," she tells him, "It matters little whether or not he warns the others. They'll be just as dead either way."
The mok runs into the woods until he gets to where he and the others had tethered their equarts. He mounts his and gallops off as fast as the beast will carry him. He doesn't so much as look back, he just flees. Part of him feels like a coward for running like this. But five of the tribes best warriors were bested in a matter of seconds, and Chief Ogrot and the tribe must be warned as to the kind of power they will be facing.
Miles away at the village of Knox, Thundarr, Ariel, Ookla, and Princess Eekra finally arrive. It took them many days of near constant travel, but they made good time. Chief Ogrot comes out and greets them. He shakes hands with Thundarr and Ookla, gives Ariel's shoulder an affectionate squeeze, and gives his daughter a loving hug. He then starts explaining what has been happening since Captain Corden's escape from their prison. Thundarr translates the mok chieftain's words for Ariel, who has not yet learned to understand the mok tongue.
"He says that his warriors have been digging in for an attack," says Thundarr, "he's also been sending runners to neighboring villages to arrange fallback positions."
"That's a good idea," says Ariel, "are they going to be sending reinforcements?"
Ogrot growls a response. "No, they're shoring up their own defenses," Thundarr translates, "They're hoping the moks can stop the pirates. If they can't then they will unite."
"Well that's something at least," says Ariel, "So what do you need us to do?"
Ogrot replies, and again Thundarr translates. "He says they're sending all women and children to the most fortified neighboring village," Thundarr informs her, "then if we can't stop her here we'll meet up with them there."
Princess Eekra says something to her father, to which Chief Ogrot growls a reply. Eekra begins howling an roaring at her father angrily. Chief Ogrot roars back, just as angrily.
"What are they saying?" Ariel asks.
"Chief Ogrot wants Eekra to go to the neighboring village," says Thundarr.
"The princess doesn't sound too happy about that," replies Ariel.
"She isn't," says Thundarr, "She says she's as good a warrior as any male. She says she would be a help, not a hindrance."
"She has a point," says Ariel, "She may not be as big or as strong as her father or Ookla, but she's a far more capable fighter than most any male mok or human that I've ever met. And I've read about these fighting styles she's taught herself. They're very difficult to defend against if you don't know the fighting styles. She would be very useful in the upcoming battle."
"Tell Chief Ogrot," Thundarr says with a smile, "he's the one who wants her to leave."
Ogrot walks over to Ariel, roars in her face, then storms off. Ariel turns to Thundarr.
"What was that about?" She asks.
"He says you have your wish," translates Thundarr, "Eekra stays."
Thundarr, Ariel, and Ookla then help in fortifying the village defenses. Ariel uses her magic to dig trenches. Thundarr and Ookla carve pongee stakes and set them in the dirt mounds bordering the trenches. They fill and stack sandbags forming barricades. While there were only three escapees from the prison, they were headed to a wizards stronghold. And wizards are renown for maintaining robot armies. Who knows how many such soldiers they might be returning with? The next morning, the mok hunter who Captain Corden had let escape finally arrives. He on foot, his equart nowhere to be seen, and collapses in exhaustion. The other moks quickly bring him blankets and mugs of water to quench his thirst. Once he's recovered enough to speak, he begins to tell them his story. Thundarr, Ariel, Ookla, Ogrot, and Eekra all gather around to hear what he has to say. Thundarr translates for Ariel.
"He says he and the others finally caught up to Corden and her men. Apparently they had teamed up with someone named Uruk and a blue skinned wizard."
"Who's Uruk?" Ariel asks.
Chief Ogrot growls a reply, and Thundarr translates.
"Uruk is a former member of the tribe," says Thundarr, "he was kicked out for dishonorable, cruel, and violent behavior. He has been living in the northern jungles, living as a thief and highwayman. He has apparently put together quite the band of rogues to aid him in his livelihood."
They listen to more of the story, and Thundarr translates.
"He says that by the time they caught up to them, it was too late. They had already found the wizard's stronghold and raided the armory. He says hey tried to stop them, but their new weapons were too powerful. He says that they fared well against the carocks, groundlings, and humans. But these weapons were too much."
"What happened to the other moks in the posse?" Ariel asks him.
The exhausted mok silently shakes his head. The other moks around them all bow their heads, and the expression on Thundarr's face are all the answer she needs. Ariel too bows her head in mourning of those who had passed. When the mok continues his story, Thundarr continues to translate.
"He says that Corden and her commanders bested them with ease," continues Thundarr, "when he saw how easily they had lost, he fled to warn us. He just got on his equart and rode off. He didn't stop for rest, food, or water. His equart dropped dead of exhaustion over a days ride away. He continued the rest of the way on foot."
"How long do we have before they get here?" Ariel asks.
The mok growls a reply, which Thundarr translates.
"He's not sure," says Thundarr, "not all of them are mounted, and they're not in as great of a hurry as he was. We have some time before they get here. But we will be in for one hell of a fight."