Chapter Ten - Incense of Forgetfulness

The cliffhanger escape is a massive cheat, even worse than that time Flash didn't get knocked down and blown up in the Stratosled. Despite the fact that we clearly saw Flash pass out after being hit by the Disintegration Ray, he isn't zapped at all. Instead he just loosens his straps, gets up and escapes through the skylight, hauling Zarkov and Barin up after him. 

It's all quite clumsy, and Zarkov ends up on top of Flash at one point, then holds his legs as he rescues Barin. 

Also, Flash still has his chains on, which come in quite handy.

Incredibly, Ming somehow manages to miss Flash's escape, despite being right there in the control room. Didn't it have an observation panel, like the other room? Anyway, Tarnak informs him that Flash's friends are trying to free him and Ming, thinking Flash is already dead, says they're too late. But when they open the Disintegrating Room, they find everyone gone. Ming is most displeased. Also, why didn't the Disintegration Ray work? I guess we'll never know.

Creeping across the rooftops and keeping low in case the guards open up on them with the Electro-Gun again (that's what Barin calls it), Team Flash find a ladder back down into the Power House. They're cornered by guards, but Flash does a cool thing where he jumps off the ladder and takes out four guards at once.

Or rather, his stuntman does.

With the guards disarmed and locked up, Flash, Zarkov and Barin quickly find a Stratosled and take off. Fair play to the continuity people, because Flash still has his manacles on. Luckily, Barin finds a file in the Statosled and helps him take them off.

In no time at all, Flash, Zarkov and Barin are back in the Clay Kingdom, where they're reunited with Dale and Happy. 

Flash relates all the business with the Black Sapphire to the Clay King, noting that Ming wants Azura to believe the Black Sapphire has been destroyed. The Clay King says, “Ming can be more merciless than Azura” and that he fears the Clay Curse will never be lifted. However, Flash officially announces that, having destroyed the Nitron Lamp, saving the Clay People is now their new mission.

Barin chimes in and says they'll stand a much better chance of capturing Azura if they get hold of the rocketship he used to fly to Mars from Mongo. Dale points out that the ship will be under heavy guard by the Fire People, but they all agree to Barin's plan.

The Clay King asks Barin why he came to Mars in the first place, and Barin says, “The House of Ming and my own ruling house have long been enemies. It was on Mongo that Ming tried to kill all my friends from the Earth. You remember, Flash?” This is a blatant excuse for a second flashback to Space Soldiers, this time to Chapter Eight – Tournament of Death, when Flash battled Barin (disguised as the Mighty Masked Swordsman of Mongo), as Ming looked on, flanked by Dale and Princess Aura. We don't get the full two minutes and 45 seconds of the fight, but at least we get to see King Vultan again.

Meanwhile, back in the throne room, Ming continues his manipulation of Azura, telling her that Flash is heading to the Fire People with the Black Sapphire. Azura believes Flash will use the sapphire to blackmail the Fire People into attacking her, so she commands Ming to use every power at his disposal to capture Flash.

Searching for Barin's ship, Team Flash land the Stratosled in the Forest Kingdom and split up, agreeing to meet back at the ship in an hour. However, as soon as Dale and Happy out of Flash's sight, they're jumped by Fire People, who have been watching the whole time. Happy is bundled to the ground and knocked out while Dale, you guessed it, is kidnapped again. Oh, Dale.

Happy recovers and calls for Flash, telling him Dale has been taken to the Temple of Kalu. Flash sends Happy back to Zarkov and Barin for help, while he heads off to the Temple to save Dale. Happy: “I'll do it if it cracks a lung!”

A captured Dale arrives at the Temple, where the High Priest (or whatever) says, “She shall stand in the Incense of Forgetfulness and become a servant of the god Kalu!”, as a punishment for the theft of the Black Sapphire. Jean Rogers does her best acting so far as the incense takes effect.

Meanwhile, Flash approaches the Temple, while Happy reaches Zarkov and Barin and tells them what's going on. The High Priest says, “All that you have known shall pass away, and henceforth, you will be a Temple Maiden. You are dedicated to the service of the god, Kalu. You must be ready to slay, if necessary, in his defence!”

Outside, Flash meets up with the others and tells them Dale has been captured. Barin wants to rush the Temple, but Flash says it's better if he sneaks in alone. Zarkov agrees and offers Flash a gun, but Flash being Flash, he refuses.

In the Temple, Dale says an incantation and lays her hand on the Sacred Dagger. The High Priest says, “You are now consecrated to the service of Kalu”, as Flash battles his way into the Temple. Flash says, “Quick, Dale, the others are outside!”, but she grabs the Sacred Dagger and advances towards him as his back is turned. Then she plunges the dagger into his back and he collapses!