A part of the Sand Zone.
The Sand Zone (砂区 Sunaku) is the third teleporter-only accessible location of Cave Story. Quote is sent to the Sand Zone by Professor Booster, who urges Quote to seek the Red Flowers and destroy them.
Plot
Before Quote reaches Arthur's house, Kazuma, Sue and King hear Professor Booster explain the Doctor's plans to create an army of Mimigas using the Red Flowers. At that point, Quote appears in Arthur's house. The Doctor has located the Red Flowers, and Booster tracks this whereabout to the Sand Zone. He pleads Quote to help him and the others by going to the Sand Zone and destroying all the Red Flowers.
Quote teleports to the Sand Zone from Arthur's house, and sees Curly Brace, who retreats to the Sand Zone residence upon seeing him. As he enters her residence, the Colons alert Curly of Quote's arrival, and interpret his presence as hostile based on their past experiences. Curly and the Colons eventually submit to Quote, but find out that he is not the "killer robot" they were expecting him to be. One of the Colons tells Quote that he might be able to find out the location of the Red Flowers by visiting Jenka. The Colon then suggests taking the dog in the small room that's next to the bed.
Quote goes to Jenka's house, where he drops off the first puppy. He is interrupted by Balrog, who suddenly enters and demands the key to the storehouse, where the Red Flowers are kept before leaving. One by one, Quote returns Jenka's lost puppies and asks of the Red Flowers' wearabouts. Jenka refuses to tell him, believing the Red Flowers will incur the same damage they did to the Island ten years ago. As Quote brings back the last puppy, Jenka is attacked by Balrog, who takes the storehouse key. After Balrog leaves, Jenka urges Quote to stop the Doctor before he takes the Red Flowers.
At the storehouse, the Doctor has acquired the Red Flowers, and chooses to test their reaction on a Mimiga. Misery, who is with the Doctor at the time, summons Toroko for testing. Toroko attempts to escape, but is stopped by Balrog, who feeds her a flower by force. King enters the storehouse in an attempt to save Toroko, only to find that he is too late. He tries to take revenge by attacking the Doctor, but is stopped by Misery. Quote soon arrives at the storehouse as the Doctor is about to leave, abandoning the two unconscious Mimiga.
The fight between Toroko kills her, leaving Quote and King the only two in the storehouse. As King dies, he asks Quote to avenge him, leaving behind his Blade. Quote exits the storehouse and is about to exit the Sand Zone when Balrog captures him, and he and Quote are banished to the Labrynth by Misery.
Enemies
Available items and weaponry
- Machine Gun - This gun allows for the continuous fire of bullets by pressing and holding the attack key. The player can obtain this weapon by trading their Polar Star with Curly Brace in the Sand Zone residence.
- Curly's Panties - This item is located in the small room of the Sand Zone by accessing a hidden passageway only visible by map. The panties, in the original PC version, have no function in the game. In the Wii port, they allow the player to unlock Curly's Story.
- Life Pot - The Life Pot can be received from Jenka once Quote returns the last puppy, after Balrog's second interception. It is a one-time use item that restores Quote's health to its maximum amount. She will give Quote another vial after he uses it up if he is able to get to her house.
- Blade - This weapon must be taken before leaving the storehouse. It is left by King after his death. When used, it delivers a higher amount of damage than the Polar Star or Machine Gun in its level 1 form.
Bosses
- Curly Brace - The first boss encountered in the Sand Zone, Curly Brace is a robot who has become a caregiver to the Colons of the Sand Zone Residence. She mistakes Quote for an intruder, resulting in a battle between Quote and Curly with the Colons. Defeating Curly gives access to the small room, where Quote can pick up the first of Jenka's puppies.
- Omega - The second boss of the Sand Zone, Omega is encountered in an enclosed area that is made up of a thick layer of sand. Omega intercepts the implied battle between Misery and Quote. When defeated, the spell on the Sunstones is lifted, allowing access to Jenka's house, where Quote can drop off the puppies the player collects.
- Frenzied Toroko - The ravaged version of Toroko, who has become affected by the red flowers. Toroko's defeat signals her death as well as King's, who leaves his Blade for Quote in the process.