FLYING across the ocean in their private plane, our heroes excitedly hurried to the tropical paradise of “Clockwork Island.” The secret home island of the enigmatic Clockwork and their island co-inhabitants, The Flora.

SENSING a larger effort than afoot than Chillwave and Dr. Snowstorm, The Professor is keen to collect as much information as possible about this new group of that has been draining volcanoes of their energy.

DNA analysis revealed nothing they have ever seen before, confounding their efforts to distill where the foxes were engineered, or how many more of them there could be. Our intrepid team descends upon the cloud-shrouded mountains as our chapter begins….

Void Cat pushed her face against the airplane window as the professor piloted his Cessna through the clouds into the airspace of Clockwork Island. The name betrayed the fact that the landmass was surrounded by water, but the reference to clockwork was misleading. Every square inch of the volcanic island was covered in greenery. Noting on the land was not verdant and growing, save for the beaches and the very throat of the volcano; its rising steam providing the clouds encircling the area.

Shadow squinted against the sun beaming in through the windows after the plane cleared the cloud deck. She pushed herself back into her seat, attempting to avoid the sunbeam as if she were a vampire away from its coffin. Her irises shut to narrow slits. Sifu, in the co-pilot's seat, pulled her seatbelt tighter.

Within moments the plane landed on the only runway on the island, which ran parallel to the beach; it was one of the few spots not choked by plant life. The four piled out of the plane onto the bright sand.

“Vell,” Shadow asked after looking around, “I see no one here. Ver are the 'Clockwork?'”

“You don’t hear them toots? I can feel them underneath my paws. Shaking the joint up,” Void Cat answered, squishing the sand between her webbed toes.

The professor looked around the landing strip, and after a moment walked toward an oddly colored rock protruding from the sand. Sifu stood on the beach, her face turned up toward the sun. “I feel them too. They should be…”

With that, the rock split open and the sound of ticking could be heard; like the clicking of a tightly wound clock, its gears counted off the gyrations of gears. The professor stood back, giving space between him and the stone.

“Greetings Professor,” a mechanical voice said from within the split rock, “It has been some time since you visited us. It is good to have you back among us.” The team turned their heads away as a brilliant light erupted from the rock, golden and shimmering as if the sun itself were standing before them.

The professor kept his eyes closed and turned to the light. “Thank you, it’s good to be back. Perhaps you can stand out of the sunlight, your refection is causing undue distress to our optics.” He bowed slightly to drive home the request.

Stolen novel; please report.

“Certainly, Professor, forgive our mistake.” The group could hear the sound of metal gears whirring and clicking, the ticking sped up, and thuds could be felt through the ground. The light faded and the professor opened his eyes.

Before him, under a palm tree, stood a two-meter tall brass automaton. Its limbs, long and slender, held down at its side. Legs, which were little more than pistons, hung off of a body made of several pieces of brass, all intricately connected and machined to fit together perfectly. Its right arm clicked and whirred, even though it was not moving. Its face bore two garnet eyes, lidless and without motion. On its back, a large brass key jutted out, slowly rotating in the hole. Joints glistened with blue oil.

“Ah, my friend, it is good to see you again!” The professor said, outstretching his hand in greeting. The clockwork did not return the gesture. “I trust you remember my team?” The professor gestured broadly, encompassing the other three in his group. Sifu stood back at the recognition, a tortured look on her face.

“Of course, we remember your team well. Good day Mistresses Void Cat, Shadow, and Sifu. It is a pleasure to have you back among us.” The automaton spoke, with no clear indication of a mouth or speaker; the sound seemed to come from its entire body.

“Good to be back, Mac. Nice shine you have there. No tarnish on the old exterior?” Void Cat asked, rushing up to the clockwork to study the workmanship. Her tail wagged in time with the clicking and whirring of the clockwork’s right arm. She raised a paw and knocked on the chest. “Beautiful! What an echo!” She exclaimed.

“We keep ourselves in good repair Mistress Void Cat.” The garnet eyes of the clockwork fixed on Shadow. “There is no need for apprehension Mistress Shadow. You are welcome here, as you know, and as the professor has doubtless told you. You have not visited since you were a kitten. It is good to see how much you have grown over the year.”

Shadow took a step to the side, closer to Sifu and away from the talking brass mechanism. The clockwork continued, “And to you Sifu. As the companion to the professor, and teacher of many physical skills, you are welcome here. Our home is your home.”

Sifu extended her palm and fist together holding them in front of her. She bowed respectfully but did not speak.

The clockwork turned to the professor, the gestured to the split rock, which revealed a marbled staircase descending below the surface of the island.

“Please, allow us to extend our hospitality. The Flora has provided a meal for you to eat. We shall discuss our findings after you have dined and rested.”

“We don’t eat plants, Mac, did you forget that?” Void Cat asked her eyebrow cocking, ear turning sideways.

“Yes, we have not forgotten. Clockwork Island is surrounded by many fish stocks, all teeming with life and unexploited by outsiders. You will have plenty to eat.” The automaton replied, and then bowed.

“Fish?” Shadow asked, she licked her chops and a sparkle flashed into her eyes.

“Yes mistress, all the fish you can eat.” The clockwork did not move from its position.

“Okay then, vaht are ve vaitink for?” Shadow headed down the stairs without the slightest hint of reservation. Void Cat followed, then the professor and Sifu. Once their heads were below the level of the sand the automaton followed, closing the rock behind them.

What will our intrepid team find in the wondrous land of The Clockwork? Who are The Flora and what have they to do with the food on the island? What is the connection to the volcanoes having their power siphoned off? The answers to these questions, and more, are revealed in: The Double Agent, the next exciting episode of "The Adventures of Void Cat and Shadow!"

Special thanks to my loyal patron: Heather Devrick for her continued support, for both my Patreon account and my writing in general.