The Earth, tamed, cultivated and ruled by a civilization of people existing upon its
surface, harbors another civilization deep in its very core.
Ruled by Zaldur, a despot who, determined to break free of the confines of his subsurface
kingdom, constructed a machine to blast a passage to the surface with the raging fires
of the Earth's heart.
But Flash Gordon, with the help of Dale Arden and Dr. Zaldur, destroyed the machine and
escaped back to their subsurface ship, the Earthworm, before they were consumed by the
fires that their own destruction unleashed.
It was many months later when Dr. Zarkov, back in his laboratory at GBI headquarters,
perfected a video machine capable of penetrating the Earth's stratus to determine just how
great was the destruction in Zaldur's kingdom.
Have you seen any signs of life down there, Dr. Zarkov?
Not yet, Dale.
The passages are clear.
There's no signs of destruction at all.
But that's impossible.
Like when we escaped, flames were licking at our heels, explosions breaking out, walls
falling down.
That's what's worrying me.
Everything seems to have been cleaned up, yet there's no sign of life.
At this very moment, 1,500 miles inside the Earth's core, two of the strange creatures
of the sub-world gaze into a flickering screen.
How much longer before I decide you can gaze upon the outer Earth?
Forgive me, my goodness, but until I find a non-magnetic channel to the surface, it
isn't possible.
I will wait no longer.
I will see.
Look.
Hear this.
The surface, sir.
What are they?
Surface people.
Maybe they are another kind of surface people than those who come here.
They move, but yet they stand still.
Strange.
And what is that which they stand in?
And all of that surface behind them?
It is another part of the surface world, your mightiness.
It looks solid as though one can walk upon it.
I would see more of this surface world.
I will conquer and rule.
What can that be?
I do not know, your mightiness.
Even in my wildest dream of what is on the surface, did I imagine a sight like this.
Why?
Or is it such order like the parts of a machine?
The open corridors that lead from one place to another are like wires that go from one
part of the machine to the other.
And the things that move, can they be other surface people?
But of all that I can see, nothing has the power that I yield.
I do hold in my hands all that we look at.
I can destroy what we blast through with a blasting fire of the third score.
I'm going to try and scan through the chambers to see if I can find the fire chamber where
the blasting machine was located.
If it's still there, I'll bet it's a mess.
Dale, adjust the magnetic rectifier up four cycles, quickly.
Up four cycles.
What is it, doctor?
See for yourself.
It's Zaldo's fire chamber.
I can't understand it.
We saw it destroyed with our own eyes.
That's Sudman whipping a slave.
Did you recognize him?
It's Zaldo's lieutenant.
I thought surely he was dead too.
If he lived, Zaldo could be alive today too.
Well, if he is, doctor, he won't rest until he's broken out and destroyed the surface
people.
Contact Flash and Commissioner Herrick on the intercom.
Report what we've seen.
Yes, sir.
Oh, and tell them to check the seismograph readings.
If Zaldo is ready to blast through to the surface again, there should be strong tremors
just as there were before.
In the same vicinity, do you think?
Possibly.
Probably.
The volcanic fissure they found the last time would be the logical place for them to start.
If they do start blasting, doctor, what can we do to stop them?
We're just coming to that.
After you've talked to Flash and Herrick, contact the earthworm hangar.
She should be made ready for descent within the hour.
Get me GBI headquarters, please.
So what it looks like, at least to Dr. Zarkov and me, is that the subsurface men are getting
ready to try another blast through the surface.
Dale, are you sure?
After what we saw with our own eyes, the explosion, the fire, I can't believe it.
Flash, there's no doubt about it.
The fire chamber is still there and the blaster conduit rebuilt.
There haven't been any tremors showing up on the seismographs, have you, as usual.
Well, they haven't started blasting yet, but once they get the conduit over the fire hole,
that's what it will show.
Just a second, Dale.
Alan, put the finder board on the subsurface.
Let's see what the earth tremor patterns look like at the moment.
Nothing shows, Dale, but small tremors.
When does Dr. Zarkov expect the blasting to start?
How near ready are they?
They're almost ready now.
Come here, Dale.
Call back, Flash.
What are you trying to make that poor slave do?
Place the conduit pipe over the fire hole.
The fire seems so small, Doctor.
There's not enough blasting power in that to burn through 1,500 miles of iron and rock?
No, of course not, Dale.
All we see are the flames that have forced their way through the damper opening.
I was just wondering.
Otherwise, the whole machine would blow up again.
Within the pipe, they constructed a small derrick.
When the pipe is in place, they drop the derrick down, lift the damper, and let the full fire blast escape.
We saw it work in reverse when we were in the fire chamber, remember?
As we entered, the full force of the blast was shooting up through the conduit pipe.
Flash pulled on the lever controlling the derrick, fighting the terrific pressure of the escaping flames.
Slowly, he lowered it, until finally the damper completely covered the fire hole.
Now I understand.
If we had left the damper open a bit, the machine would never have exploded.
Exactly.
What a horrible moment that was.
The pressure building up so that we knew it would explode any second.
While outside, the subsurface guards were trying to break through the door to save their kings, all of them.
And speaking of survival, here he is, in person, alive.
By what miracle, I can't imagine.
But alive, and ready to give the order to burn through to the surface.
Get Flash and Herrick back.
The tremors should start again almost immediately.
Send me Commissioner Herrick.
There's no other tremors.
Any quake areas you haven't covered, Allen?
No, sir.
Herrick, here.
The conduit pipe is in place, Commissioner.
Watch for major tremors to start almost immediately.
Where?
Your guess is as good as ours.
Why don't you try the Oregon area where they tried breaking through before?
Nothing, Dale.
So far, it's even quieter than usual.
Maybe it's the calm before the storm.
Now, Commissioner, now.
Is there any peak?
The order has just given the order to blast.
Yes, Dale, yes.
The strongest tremors we've ever registered.
With a four-point break like that, the entire area will be demolished.
You're sure the earthworm is fueled up and ready to go, Dale?
Yes, sir.
We gave the order ten minutes ago.
Tell Dale and Zarkoff I'll meet them there.
OK.
Fledger's on his way to the earthworm.
But you and Dr. Zarkoff wait for me.
I want to see you before you take off.
OK, Commissioner.
Oh, all evacuation.
And after the dead line up for the quake area.
And order every GPS aid trip within one hour flight time to get down there and help pull those people out.
Yes, sir.
What is all that paraphernalia you're jamming into the bag, Doctor?
Oh, the supply of anti-heat serum and plaster gel to protect us within and without.
Three atomic demagnetizers, one for each of us.
And a supply of oxygen concentrate tubes in case we run into some poisoned air.
We'll have to use our space helmets.
With a few more items, you'll be able to open up an electro-medical hardware store.
Just taking that ounce of prevention will allow us to keep that lovely face of yours alive and ever-loving.
Thank you, sir.
Now, where is this fuel gadget you've got?
I want to see this worm and throw it in for myself.
Right over there, Commissioner.
There'll be a good girl to take that down to the ship for me, will you?
I want to show Commissioner Herrick how this works.
Go on, Commissioner. I'll see you in Haiti.
Oh, the shoes on the other foot, Dale. I'll be seeing you there.
Touché. Bye.
Good luck.
Zaldo. Let me see this mighty Zaldo.
From a glint in your eye, Commissioner, it looks to me as though you'd be our best weapon against Zaldo.
Very funny.
Is he there?
Hmm. He's not in the fire chamber. Let's see if he's in his throne chamber.
There he is.
That? That skinny, vermin-eaten corpse of Zaldo?
That wants to conquer us?
And can, Commissioner.
In his hands he holds a power that's greater than any weapon we possess.
The power of the Earth's fiery core.
If he can bring this fire to the surface, he will unleash it,
enveloping the entire surface,
until the Earth is a ball of flame like the sun.
He...
He can really do this?
Unless we can stop him, he will do this.
I must go. We have no time to spare.
Say, isn't there some way I can hear what he's saying?
I'm sorry. I didn't have time to hook up the audio.
If you'll call Dr. Adner, he can have it working in an hour.
Thank you, sir.
Bye. And good luck.
Water pressure? Normal.
Check.
Atom chambers one, two, three, four, five, or four.
That completes the checklist, class.
Good. Now we're missing just one item, Dr. Zarkov.
What's holding him up?
He's introducing Commissioner Herrick to Zaldo.
All set? Buckle in and we'll take off.
Let the dry run begin.
Herrick here. Any reports from the quake area yet?
Almost total property damage, sir. Not a building left standing.
Loss of life?
No figures yet, sir, but it looks bad.
Education started?
Yes, sir. They estimate it will be cleared out within 12 hours.
Keep me informed, will you? I'm Dr. Zarkov's lab.
What is that, sir?
Zarkov's smarter, sir.
Turn on the audio.
The surface men will come.
Now that we have started blasting through, they will come.
But they can't stop me.
Nothing can stand between me and my ambition.
I will have their lives for what they did to me.
I will crush them with a weight as great as the whole world pressing down upon them.
Contact the earthworm.
Warm flesh that is digging right into a trap.
Tell him to turn back right away.
I can't, sir. We can't contact them.
What do you mean you can't?
You must.
But, sir, try to understand.
As the earthworm drives through the stratus, the friction is terrific.
And so what?
The friction creates a heavy electrostatic field around them
that destroys every sound wave trying to penetrate it.
We are completely cut off from them.
Two pencils of light on a radar screen.
One moving from the earth's surface towards the kingdom of Zaldo in the core of the earth.
The other creeping from the core to the surface.
The first light indicating a jet-propelled mechanical mole piloted by Flash Gordon.
The second light showing the progress of Zaldo's blasting operation to the earth's surface.
Look.
The surface people drive closer and closer by the minute.
We are ready for them.
Nothing must go wrong this time. Do you hear?
Do you hear?
I have seen dirtiness.
I have seen to it myself, your Majesty.
Tell me. Tell me what you have prepared.
Tell me again. I must be sure. Tell me.
When the surface ship reaches point plus one, we cease blasting operations to the surface.
That's my order. Go on.
Then full power of earth fire will be channeled to magnetic activator in the chamber of iron.
Yes, yes. Then speak.
The surface ship will be pulled into the chamber of iron and locked into it electromagnetically.
Yes. Then I will have my revenge.
All the fiery power of the earth's core concentrated to crush them in a magnetic line until they are blasted.
Our last possible chance to warn them.
Go on.
What do you mean?
I was hoping that when they reach the subsurface barge and stopped, we could get through to them.
Of course. The electrostatic field that is isolating them now would be no more and our radio wave could get through.
But now the magnetic activator will isolate them too. It is hopeless.
With flash out of the way, with no other means of descending to Stubbs' Aldo,
he can blast his way out.
Then heaven help us. There is no weapon that can stop him from destroying us.
1920 kilometers.
Outside temperature?
500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hmm. Perfectly normal.
Timing and exhaust blast in good order in all jet chambers.
This has turned into a joy ride. What a contrast to our last trip to the earth's core.
What's your plan when we get there, Flash?
I know one thing. Aldo is not going to stop blasting just because we asked him to.
There's only one thing to do, Dale. Capture Zaldo himself and bring him to the surface.
Then try to find someone in the subsurface kingdom who is willing to rule and live in peace with us.
That won't be an easy job. Capturing Zaldo, I mean.
I've got a plan, Doctor.
I can steer a direct course into Zaldo's chamber. We can take him by surprise.
What was that?
I don't know, but I'm trying.
It's no problem.
Strange. All jet chambers working perfectly.
We've veered 20 degrees.
As far as I can see on a fast check, there's nothing wrong with the earthworms.
That means that the power is even stronger than our adult jet motors.
Pulling it into... I don't know what.
Gee! Gee, your Eminence!
They have hit point one!
They have been turned by the magnetic activator.
It is as I wish. It is as I wish.
Gee! The earthworm is now channelled to the magnetic activator in the chamber of irons.
The chamber of irons! That will be soon their chamber of death.
Yes.
Commissioner Harrick, the tremors have stopped.
I know, I know. But they'll start again, Elm. Very soon.
And worse than ever. Don't stop evacuation.
Oh!
Poor flesh.
Bale.
That's the sarcophagus.
And soon...
Poor us.
Flesh!
Pressure!
Pulling!
Shit!
Dead!
Much more!
Can we do something?
I will...
My bird...
Anti-magnetize...
Inside...
One for each of us.
Can...
You...
Make...
It?
What's wrong?
I can't do it.
It's horrible.
Sir!
Pressure count?
What is it?
Speak!
Three hundred tolls.
Enough.
Enough of that.
Let them suffer.
Let them feel the hard muscles trail to keep them alive.
In the chamber of iron, when the pressure comes from all sides,
then, Your Majesty, they will feel the revenge of the Lugnus.
From all directions.
It will tear and pull and tameeze every fiber.
Look! Look!
Each second they draw closer.
Even at this moment, no living thing could move a finger.
Can...
You...
Make...
It?
Don't...
Answer.
Can't...
Stand...
Much...
More...
Pressure...
Greater...
Every...
Second...
More...
Pressure...
Greater...
Pressure...
My moment has come.
They are breaking into the chamber of iron.
They are here.
Trapped.
Now, I open all of the force of the earth's fire.
I pour it into the magnetic activator.
Yes.
Listen to its scream.
As it rushes, to crush and to bite.
Go.
Go!
Order my engineers to redirect the firepower to the escape chamber.
This time, nothing can stop us.
Go!
Do as I order.
Now...
Now I will taste my revenge.
I will see what is left of these miserable surface people.
Everything.
Not even their stars are this bad.
This is my town.
This is...
Saldo the Mighty will ride in triumph to the surface.
And sooner than you think, Saldo, boy.
But you can't be alive.
I've been a distrusting man for you.
Can't even believe his own eyes.
I think you deserve an explanation, Saldo.
You see, I knew you wouldn't try and destroy us with heat again.
Our plaster gel defeated that trial last time.
So he prepared us for your attempt to crush us with magnetic force.
Next to heat.
The greatest power in this subsurface world is your magnetized iron.
I thought that somehow you would try to use it against us.
You think for us you brought these after-demagnetizers along, Dr. Darko?
I won't say better luck next time, Saldo.
You won't have one.
But now you have a parting message to send to your subjects.
It's short and sweet.
Tell them to turn off the fire blaster.
Or the mighty Saldo will be mighty sorry.
Attention.
This is Saldo the Mighty.
I order you to turn the fire from the surface channels.
Do as I order.