But I am very glad you did.
Pequod’s words filled my head as if they were my own thoughts. The others heard them too. It was the voice from our dreams, and the one that had led us to this door.
Do not be afraid. The door is locked to prevent the guards from returning. I sent them away to join Stitch’s feast, so that you could come to me.
“You sent the guards away?” Aleetha moved slowly toward the water tank. She looked at Pequod like she was trying to solve a tricky math problem. “How did you do that?”
The same way I brought you here. The creature’s words filled my mind. I convinced them to leave, just as I convinced you to come.
“Through our dreams and thoughts.” Aleetha nodded. “That’s why there are no kobolds around here.”
I do not wish to harm you. I need your help.
“Our help?!” I growled. “You’re the one stealing ships for Captain Fur-Face and his goons. You nearly killed us with your thrashing and smashing tentacles. Why should we help you?”
Because I can take you home.
That got my attention.
And if you help me, you will be able to rescue Gwena and stop Stitch’s plan to flood Slick City with MagTech appliances.
“You’re in a tank of water!” I said. “How do you know about that stuff?”
A deep gurgling sound came from the tank. Pequod’s tentacles swirled in the water, creating large bubbles. It took me a second to realize the meglohydra was laughing.
I know all that happens on this island. I’ve watched the three of you, Fizz Marlow, Tatanka Wrenchlin and Aleetha Cinderwisp, since you fell onto the deck of the Wave Dancer.
“You picked us up and dumped us on that ship!” I said. “That was your fault.”
“Fizz!” Aleetha growled.
Pequod didn’t seem bothered by my pointing out the truth. The meglohydra’s calm voice filled my mind again.
It was an accident, but now I see it might have been destiny. That is why I led you to Gwena.
“You put the image of the cave drawing in our minds!” Tank said. “And the rocketboard that led Fizz to overhear Mirella and Stitch’s plan.”
“And you sent the dream that led us here,” I said. “How?”
I will explain. We do not have much time. You must act quickly, if we are to succeed.
Aleetha pulled out two chairs from a nearby table and slid one next to me.
“Sit down, Fizz,” she hissed. “And try not to argue with the meglohydra that could fry our brains.”
I sat down and kept my snout shut. Pequod’s long tentacles drifted slowly through the water as his words flowed into our minds.
Hilsa captured me many months ago. He has found a way to combine magic with technology to control my mind and my actions. He forced me to steal those ships from your harbor.
“How can he do that?” Tank asked. “You’re so big, you could crush him with one tentacle.”
Don’t think I haven’t tried. He is able to take over my neural network and control my mind through these discs on my body.
“The density-inverters?” Tank pointed to the flashing discs dotting the meglohydra’s body. “They decrease your mass and make it easier for Hilsa to teleport you. Like he did with the shipping containers on the Wave Dancer. But the discs aren’t designed for mind control.”
“They could be if Hilsa put MagTech chips in them,” I said. “Just like the toasters and vacuum cleaners.”
Exactly, Fizz. The chips inside the discs force me to follow Hilsa’s commands. The density-inverters allow Hilsa to teleport me in and out of your harbor. In order to do this, however, the wave mage also needs his staff and the ones he calls conduits.
“Gwena and her family!” I said.
They are the ones who can combine magic and technology. Hilsa merely controls them with his staff of shells. Without the staff, his power falls away. Even with three conduits, Hilsa struggles to control me. Not only am I large, but I am also very smart. Hilsa is able to take control of my mind and bend my actions to his will. But I soon break free. When he is not forcing me to steal ships, he locks me in this tank. But my mind is able to wander free.
“Free to sneak into monsters’ dreams,” I said.
And into the minds of Stitch and his band of kobolds. I controlled the minds of my guards to clear a path to this room so you could find me. I will do the same to the kobolds at Stitch’s feast. You should be able to sneak by them unnoticed and put my plan into action.
“What exactly is your plan?” Aleetha asked.
First, you are going to set me free…
We listened as Pequod laid out his plan. To be honest, I didn’t hear much beyond the words set me free. This meglohydra had smothered giant ships and nearly crushed my friends and me. Who knew what he would do if we released him? What if he snatched us in his tentacles for a light snack before swimming away from Hook Island? Maybe he was controlling our minds right now and tricking us into setting him free.
My claws curled at the thought of all that could go wrong. But if we wanted a chance to return home and stop Stitch and Mirella, we’d have to trust the tentacles.
It was time to say goodbye.
We had made our way from Pequod’s room back through the tunnels and into the ship that served as Stitch’s home.
The three of us huddled in the shadows at the tunnel opening, watching for kobolds. So far we had seen very few pirates. The ones we did see had let us walk right by without so much as a growl. Pequod was true to his word. Somehow he was able to control the minds of the kobolds so they didn’t look twice at us.
And for our part, we kept our promise and set the meglohydra free from his tank. The whole cavern was actually under the water of the bay, not far from where Stitch’s ships were anchored. There was no time to remove the density-inverters covering Pequod’s massive body, but we were able to flip the switch that opened the top of his tank and watch him swim away.
Wait for my signal.
Those were his last words before disappearing into the waters of Howler’s Bay. I had my doubts we’d ever see the big ball of tentacles again but Aleetha, was convinced we could trust the meglohydra. Only time and tentacles would tell.
“Okay, this is where we split up.” Aleetha turned to Tank. “Think you can remember the way to where the Fishers Hollow goblins are being held?”
Tank tapped the side of her head with a finger. “Pequod planted the route right in here.”
“Good. Bring them down to the docks,” Aleetha said. “After that, you know what to do.”
“Are we certain the SlurpCo containers are down there?” I asked.
“According to Pequod,” Tank said, “the kobolds just finished filling them with MagTech appliances. And now the containers are just sitting there, ready for Hilsa to zap them back onto the Wave Dancer after the feast.”
“Tentacle-Face better be telling the truth,” I grumbled. “How do we know he didn’t just swim away and leave us here for good?”
“We don’t,” Aleetha said. “But if he really just wanted to escape, he could have used his mind tricks to get some kobolds to open his tank. Following his plan is our best chance of rescuing Gwena and her family, getting back home and exposing SlurpCo for being jerks. And that, hopefully, will be enough to get Tank’s mom’s job back.”
A cheer erupted on the deck of the ship. Stitch’s feast was in full swing above us.
“Time to go.” Tank punched my shoulder playfully. “See you later, buddy. And don’t worry—Pequod will come through.”
My friend hurried back down the tunnel and disappeared into the shadows. Aleetha stuck her head around the corner.
“The way is clear.”
The lava elf slipped out of the tunnel and into the ship without another word. I followed her to the bottom of the steps leading up to the deck. From here the sounds of shouting, barking and general chaos were louder. Ice gripped my scales. We were walking into a kobold party, and the only things keeping u
s safe were our own wits and a promise from a talking meglohydra.
“Once we get up top, we’ll need to find a spot to hide and then look for Gwena and her brother and father,” Aleetha said. “We need to get them away from Hilsa.”
I nodded. “Hopefully Pequod’s distraction will be big enough to keep Stitch and his pirates busy while we separate Hilsa from his precious conduits.”
“I don’t think that meglohydra does anything that isn’t big.” Aleetha stepped aside and nodded at me. “After you, detective.”
With me in the lead, we walked up the final set of steps.
Whether because of Pequod’s mind-control powers or the delicious feast, Stitch and his goons didn’t notice us. Gwena and her brother and father stood near Hilsa, still as statues. From where I was hiding I could see Gwena’s face under her hood. She stared blankly at the ship’s wooden deck. It was clear Hilsa had her under his control. Breaking her free of that control was the key to getting us home. If Hilsa couldn’t use his conduits, then he couldn’t control Pequod. And that left Pequod free to, in his words, settle things once and for all. As I sat squished into my hiding spot with Aleetha, I really hoped settling things didn’t mean crushing innocent goblin detectives in the process.
Captain Stitch thumped his fist on the table and got to his feet.
“Quiet down, you filthy dogs!” One by one the pirates stopped their yapping and faced their captain. Stitch raised a mug filled with frothy liquid. “I’d like to propose a toast!”
The kobolds howled with approval and grabbed their mugs. Stitch turned to Mirella Ballaworth, who buzzed above her seat, quietly sipping from a thimble-sized mug. The SlurpCo executive smiled uncomfortably under the gaze of so many pirates. Behind her, the SlurpCo security guards stood ready for any pirate treachery.
“To Ms. Ballaworth from SlurpCo!” Stitch continued, mug raised high. “A blaze fairy who knows a good deal when she sees one. With my genius and SlurpCo’s business skills, we’re going to be hauling in heaps of loot for a long time!”
The kobolds exploded with howls, barks and cheers. Kobolds jumped to their feet and danced on the table. Soon the whole table was a cacophony of singing, shouting and laughing.
In the chaos, no one noticed the water churning in Howler’s Bay. The waves grew larger by the second, rocking the ships anchored in the harbor.
Then Deekin wiped his crooked snout, looked out over the harbor and frowned. “Er, Captain. What’s going on down there?”
Stitch turned in time to see a wall of water burst up from the bay. Behind the wave, a tentacled terror rose up.
Chaos of a different kind erupted on the deck of Stitch’s mansion.
The kobolds’ laughter and singing turned into screams and shouting as Pequod smashed the pirate ships anchored in the harbor.
“Party’s over, lads!” Stitched hollered over the noise. “Get back to your stations and stop that beast!”
“That’s our signal!” Aleetha jabbed me with her elbow. “You know what to do.”
She scrambled out from her hiding spot and into the crowd of panicked kobolds. I followed, half a step behind her. Around us, the pirates ran in all directions as they raced to follow their captain’s orders.
I had to hand it to Pequod. The meglohydra knew how to create a distraction. His tentacles were causing mayhem on the water and on the land. He had plucked one of the smaller pirate ships from the water and was shaking it like a baby’s rattle. Two other tentacles swept through the streets of Howler’s Bay, crushing buildings and flattening shops. Monsters poured out of the buildings, escaping the giant creature’s revenge.
Aleetha and I hurried to the front of the ship, where Stitch watched the destruction unfold with Hilsa at his side.
“Your pet is destroying my town!” Stitch screamed to the wave mage.
“Not for long,” Hilsa growled. The wave mage slammed his shell-encrusted staff onto the wooden deck. “Conduits, stand ready.”
Gwena, her brother and father moved to Hilsa’s side like mindless robots. Hilsa was preparing to use them for his magic. We had to get Gwena away from Hilsa before he could draw on her power to control Pequod. If we could disrupt Hilsa’s spell, Pequod could continue his rampage. I charged at the three conduits with Aleetha at my side.
We’d gone only a few steps when a dark, furry shape leaped in front of us.
“What are you two city rats doing up here?” Deekin snarled his crooked snout, drawing his sword. The kobold’s curved blade sliced through the air a scale’s width from me.
Stitch turned at the noise behind him and moved to join his first mate. “Fizz Marlow, the goblin who wouldn’t quit. I’m impressed by your determination.”
“Tell that to my math teacher,” I snapped.
“How about we do a little division right now, and I slice you in two?” the captain growled.
At the same moment, Stitch and Deekin both swung their blades. I dove one way, and Aleetha the other. I felt the rush of air as Stitch’s sword narrowly missed my tail. I scampered along the ship’s deck, with Stitch only a step behind.
The captain’s sword swiped at me as I ran. Each strike came closer than the last. It was only a matter of time before he took my tail as a trophy. I was scrambling up some rigging when movement on the ground below caught my eye.
Goblins were pouring into the streets of Howler’s Bay. Tank had freed the villagers of Fishers Hollow and was leading them down to the shipping containers on the docks. Some had already climbed onto the containers loaded with SlurpCo products, broken open the doors and started tossing MagTech-chipped toasters, vacuums and other appliances into the harbor. Mirella Ballaworth buzzed down from where she’d been hiding and flew next to Stitch’s ear.
“Stop those goblins!” She pointed to the green swarm below. “Or our deal is off!”
Stitch shook his sword at me. “This ain’t over, Fizz Marlow.”
The pirate captain stormed off to deal with his precious cargo with Mirella still buzzing in his ear. On the far side of ship, Aleetha was doing a good job of avoiding Deekin’s swinging sword. Far below, at the shipping containers, Stitch’s pirates and Mirella’s SlurpCo guards moved in on the looting goblins, only to be swept aside by Pequod’s massive tentacles. Having a meglohydra on our side was definitely helpful.
Not far from me, Hilsa had his conduits in place. Gwena and her brother and father stood stoically in a line, not moving. The wave mage held his staff aloft, preparing to bring Pequod back under his control. If he was able to cast his spell using the conduits, he’d regain command of Pequod, and our little revolt would be crushed. I had to get to Gwena first and disrupt Hilsa’s spell.
I scrambled down the rigging and charged toward the wave mage and conduits. By this time most of the kobolds were on the ground, trying to squash the goblin uprising in the streets. My path was clear. Hilsa’s words of magic grew louder as I got closer. I took a final step and leaped into the air, ready to tackle Gwena.
The jolt of magic rattled my scales and sent me crashing onto the wooden deck. Hilsa’s spell soared through his conduits and across Howler’s Bay, where it gripped the mind of the meglohydra. Pequod’s tentacles went limp. His storm of destruction stopped in an instant. Relative calm fell over Howler’s Bay. Kobold pirates emerged from their hiding places and into the streets. The SlurpCo guards picked themselves up, regrouped and turned their attention to the goblins still looting their valuable cargo. They charged at the goblins, sending them fleeing in panic.
My heart sank. Hilsa had captured our biggest advantage. Only a small portion of SlurpCo’s corrupted cargo had been destroyed, and Gwena was still trapped as a mindless conduit. Our rebellion was a failure. My friends and I would be doomed to spend the rest of our days in Howler’s Bay, serving a fur-brained pirate and his band of muttheads.
“Get up, Fizz!” Aleetha’s voice cut through my misery. She crouched under Stitch’s feasting table. I scurried to her and slid under the table. “We’re running
out of time,” Aleetha said when I got to her. “Hilsa will have Pequod back in his tank soon. Then Stitch and his pirates will round up the Fishers Hollow goblins.”
“And that will be the end of our little rebellion,” I muttered.
Hilsa stood at the edge of the ship’s deck, his staff raised high and his back to us. The wave mage was fully focused on controlling Pequod in the harbor. Beside him, magic energy engulfed Gwena and her brother and father.
“I can’t get near Gwena,” I said. “One more zap from Hilsa’s magic will melt my scales.”
“I think I can break through the magic.” Aleetha got to her feet like a sprinter ready to race. “I get a lot of practice getting zapped in the Shadow Tower.”
Before I could stop her, the lava elf charged out from under the table and straight for Gwena. Aleetha dove into the bubble of magic that surrounded Hilsa and his conduits. As she crashed into Gwena, the air around them sizzled like someone had stuck a fork into a toaster. I guess she was right about her tolerance to getting zapped, because she didn’t shoot across the deck like I had. Instead the magic around the wizards vanished. With his magic gone, Hilsa spun to face Aleetha. She lay on the deck, dazed and confused. The wave mage pointed his staff at my friend.
“The staff!” I jumped to my feet, banging my head on the underside of the table. But that didn’t stop me from doing what I suddenly realized I had to do.
Pequod’s words from only a few hours earlier ran through my mind. The staff gave Hilsa his ability to turn Gwena into a conduit and control Pequod. If I could get my claws on that staff and not get fried, then Hilsa’s magic would be gone for good. Maybe. I raced across the deck.
The meglohydra’s words filled my mind.
Thank you for helping me break free of Hilsa’s grip.
Pequod carried me to safety and set me down on the ground near the shipping containers on the docks. With his staff knocked from his hands, Hilsa had lost his hold over Pequod for good.
The Case of the Tentacle Terror Page 7
