Sure enough, Vera already knows what happened to Amelia. Awkward!

Zik and Trent made it back with the water! But now they get the news of Amelia’s capture. No one has told Vera yet, since she’s been resting since it happened. Zik takes on the responsibility, since it’s his fault that she got into the trouble she’s in.

Ever the cagey combatant, James Anchor wants to stay hidden for as long as possible. Without knowing the capabilities of your opponents, it’s always safest to assume that they can vaporize you with a glance. That isn’t far from the truth, since Zozians spent the better part of the last millennium asleep on a colony ship! A course is laid in, and off they go!

Here’s a fun thing about Jupiter’s asteroids: what I depicted in today’s comic is something that actually exists in our solar system!

So the spring isn’t so special after all! It’s basically mineral water. But Zik is always on the look out for a new opportunity. Perhaps this spring can be tapped and the water sold back home on Zoz! People always like to buy exotic things with mysterious health benefits. The problem is, this isn’t Zik’s planet. No one on Zoz can really conceive of the fact that a whole planet could possibly belong to one individual, but that’s exactly the case here. Queen Elcyra owns this place!

Meanwhile, Zik and Trent have arrived at the spring! It’s strange to see water way out in the desert like this. The two of them seem to be getting along much better now, after that bit of drama they had!

Amelia tries to bluff her way out of trouble, but that Clonoid is having none of it! They have her on video surveillance! Poor Amelia is dragged away by the Clonoid soldier and the rest of the people are given a harsh warning to stay in line!

Back at the village, Amelia is busy taking care of Vera. As she does so, she thinks of Zik and how fortunate they are that he has arrived! But someone interrupts her reverie…

The two erstwhile combatants gingerly let themselves the rest of the way down the cliff and continue their journey. Zik swears not to get in Trent’s way, although he didn’t swear not to dissuade Amelia if she’s interested! They’re friends, it seems… for now!

Whew! That was quick thinking by Zik! Good thing he’s got that emergency grappling hook! It certainly comes in handy! And nothing breaks the tension like a near-death experience. If you can’t laugh at that, you can’t laugh at anything!

Down they go! Will they survive?