Writer: C. A. E. Jones
11:51 AM 02/07/2010
[ INT. JAIL CELL - NIGHT. : Hoita Nono sits, one knee tucked to her chest, the other leg extended in front of her on the bare floor inside a barred cell. She has one hand over her mouth, using the index finger on the other to write on the ground (though it can't be clearly seen if there is enough dust for her writing to be visible.). ]
[ Footsteps can be heard from offscreen, and a guard steps into view outside the cell. ]
GUARD:
Dr. Nono, you have a visiter.
[ Hoita looks up, interested, but not enthused. BB14 (reference episode 2) steps in front of the cell. ]
GUARD:
Have fun.
[ The guard walks off. Hoita scowls. ]
BB14:
You don't look happy to see me.
HOITA:
Should I be?
BB14:
That depends how cooperative you intend to be.
HOITA:
What do you want?
BB14:
What do I ever want?
HOITA:
To ask me questions hoping the truth will change.
BB14:
I'd much rather get the truth.
HOITA:
Ask a question already.
BB14:
Pushy for someone behind bars.
HOITA:
I can still threaten you.
BB14:
Try me, professor.
HOITA:
At what angle and initial velocity would one have to throw a cup to put a dent in a man's temple?
BB14:
An angle too precise for your shaken hands, and a velocity too great for your Fastfood arms.
[ BB14 takes hold of a bar and pulls the cell open. ]
BB14 (cont'd):
... but nothing my fist can't manage.
[ BB14 steps inside and pulls the gate shut behind him. ]
BB14 (cont'd) (cont'd):
Now, let's talk.
[ Hoita makes a long mark on the ground in front of her, but doesn't look up. ]
HOITA:
Well?
BB14:
What is Eoce planning?
HOITA:
I told you already.
BB14:
Tell me again. Except this time, make it useful.
HOITA:
He never told me everything.
BB14:
He didn't steal all his supplies before you moved in here. He tried to do something to your computer. You know something.
HOITA:
How could he do anything to my computer? I thought it was in storage.
BB14:
Don't play dumb, Hoita. You were in contact with Eoce to the minute you were dragged out of your apartment. That's a lot of devotion; am I to understand those were loveletters with all those blueprints of the building you and Fieron worked on? Or how about the security details on the collider?
HOITA:
Why ask if you've read it all?
BB14:
You know full well what I mean. The minute investigators took a break, that computer of yours was compromised. Why?
HOITA:
Clearly it was someone in the police. Unless you think Eoce walked into the building.
BB14:
He used his portals to kidnap some colleagues of mine. You supplied him with materials and information. You knew he had portals. Didn't you say before your arrest that he wouldn't be caught? For someone who thinks herself a criminal genius, you had a lot of faith in some guy playing with toys in his parents' basement.
HOITA:
Questions, agent?
BB14:
How do the portals work?
HOITA:
Eoce wouldn't show me the designs. Believe me, I tried to figure them out. The materials, the energy consumtion... but he has something I can't make sense of.
BB14:
Where did he get it?
HOITA:
I don't know. He's spent time over seas. He's tried to get funding from every wealthy nation with a scientific community he could talk to, but so far as I know that didn't work.
BB14:
What's he doing with his technology?
HOITA:
I don't know.
BB14:
Are you sure about that?
HOITA:
Wherever those... "portals" take him, he stays there most of the time. I have no idea what he's doing. Antisocial germaphobe wouldn't even let me use it for storage. Well, he did hold a few things for me for some computer equipment, but I couldn't find what he wanted me to pay to hold anything you'd be interested in.
BB14:
Fine. What's Fieron got in it?
HOITA:
I told you, I don't know him. He dropped in on me at Crystal Island. People showed up, and he left. He shows up wherever I don't want him.
BB14:
Now, now, that's my line, Doctor. Your thugs ran back to Fieron, he was at your apartment, and now he shows up at Eoce's operation.
HOITA:
Eoce's operation? You've lost your mind. You'd need to throw something that could bend gravity or pull matter out of nothing to get Eoce to pull an "operation" that anyone would see.
BB14:
Well now, that's interestingly specific.
HOITA:
What?
BB14:
A friend of mine saw Fieron and Eoce chatting after his teammates fell through his portal. Then Fieron and Eoce disappeared together. You still want to tell me you don't know anything?
HOITA:
Maybe Eoce was working with Fieron behind my back. I've told you everything.
BB14:
I doubt that.
[ BB14 opens the gate and exits, closing the bars behind him. ]
HOITA:
Giving up already? Or have you come to your senses?
BB14:
I'm going to eat. I'll need energy for the next part of our discussion.
[ The guard approaches and locks the cell with a key on a large and crowded keyring. BB14 exits. ]
HOITA:
Blind moron.
[ INT. ISDA BREAKROOM - DAY. : Glacier stands in one corner of the room, while Black Eagle glares at him from the door. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Smoke and oil? Do you have any way to fix it?
GLACIER:
I don't know.
BLACK EAGLE:
You'd better start knowing! How much material do you have?
GLACIER:
It could fill two houses, at least.
BLACK EAGLE:
Do you know what it is?
GLACIER:
A lot of oil, ashes, sewage.
BLACK EAGLE:
Can you predict what you'll have when?
GLACIER:
I should have several pounds of oil left.
BLACK EAGLE:
And you aren't selling it?
ISDACHAIRMAN (over TV):
Black Eagle.
[ Black Eagle takes a breath, straightens, faces the television and salutes. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Sir?
ISDACHAIRMAN (over TV):
Report to meeting room A.
BLACK EAGLE:
Done.
[ Black Eagle glares at Glacier, then turns and leaves the room. Glacier hesitates, then follows. ]
[ Fade in to INT. ISDA MEETINGROOM - DAY. : Glacier, Gravitor, Hydron, Wind, Black Eagle and two BB agents stand in the room, with the ISDAChairman sitting in his usual seat. ]
ISDACHAIRMAN:
The head was found around six thirty AM. It had apparently been struck by a large blade. Investigators believe it could have been a battleaxe. The cleanness of the cut suggets it was wielded by someone trained to use it.
WIND:
Battleaxe?
ISDACHAIRMAN:
The only thing missing from the museum was a key kept in storage. The key was composed largely of gold and other trace metals. The only unique design about it was the symbol of a snake on the head of the key. The design of the snake resembles those found in Asia Minor from the eleventh century A. D.
GRAVITOR:
Someone stole a gold key. It could be sold.
BLACK EAGLE:
There were plenty of valuable items in the museum. The thief could have taken more than just the key, and didn't have to take an axe to a guard.
WIND:
Maybe the guard just was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
ISDACHAIRMAN:
The path that the thief took was the only exit of the building that was not vulnerable to metal detectors or magneticly-controlled machinery.
GRAVITOR:
Maybe the key was tagged to set off an alarm.
ISDACHAIRMAN:
It was. The tag had been remove and left behind. We can only assume that the scanners would have diminished the value of the key. The thief entered the building undetected. The theft would likely have gone unnoticed had the guard not been murdered.
WIND:
Why does this involve us?
ISDACHAIRMAN:
The national security agency suspects terrorist involvement.
GRAVITOR:
Terrorists stole a key. With an axe.
ISDACHAIRMAN:
The position of the snake-symbol was unique to the key in our records, save for one match found using the internet.
WIND:
Was someone selling these on EBay or something?
ISDA CHAIRMAN:
Yes. One key was found in a collection of what was called "Old family relics" that sold for two million four-hundred eighty-nine thousand euros on Ebay. This transaction is the only lead we have on the identity of the thieves. The set was apparently sold to a Mr. Jacob Isenber of Denmark. However, Isenber's address is apparently that of a refugee center, and no record of a Jacob Isenber was found there. It is unknown where the package went after that, however. Analysis of the account used to pay for the package shows ties to eastern Sweeden, but the account's owner is apparently a certain "Kimal-hada Trust". The only thing known about this trust is it's apparent sponsoring of an unknown activity in the central region of the British Isles. The account to which that money went apparently no longer exists, however it has been traced to a recently foreclosed district of east Cornwall. The significance in this area is unknown, however research into British records of bizarre activity at the time of the shipping of the package containing the second key show that there were reports of a shadowy creature moving rapidly through the area, associated with minor electrical disturbances.
GRAVITOR:
I have to ask how putting two-thousand year-old keys under an xray can cause shadowy figures to fly around and mess with appliances.
ISDA CHAIRMAN:
The only current hypothesis requires that the keys possess some sort of quantum entangled particles that have somehow avoided losing their entanglement over the centuries.
HYDRON:
Were all of the names involved found to be aliases?
ISDA CHAIRMAN:
Jacob Isenber clearly does not exist. The Kimal-hada trust is apparently not owned by a single individual, and attempts to track down those involved with it are currently being undertaken by undisclosed organizations. Kimal, however, is the only name attributed to a leading member of a gurrilla terrorist organization that has been greatly scattered over the past twenty years. Attempts to connect Kimal's organization to this plot are weak at best. The biggest piece of evidence bringing this group into the scenario is in evidence that they may well have had agents in the area to which the Kimal-hada Trust sent money as recently as this month; early enough to have had involvement in the key heist.
GRAVITOR:
I'm hearing a lot of vague speculations and confusing speech... Why are we here if all we know is that we know nothing?
ISDACHAIRMAN:
We have reason to believe that a third key is located in a tomb near Cairo. Intelligence suggests that Kimal has operatives in the area. The tomb hasn't been thoroughly examined, and the nature of the key has created concern enough that your talents have been requested to locate the key.
WIND:
Wait, they want us to go to Egypt?
BLACK EAGLE:
The ISDA's authority to undertake international missions is still shaky. We'd only be able to get in there with a strong recommendation from a more powerful agency.
ISDACHAIRMAN:
Kimal is either overwhelmingly superstitious, or has a very strange plan. In either case, information is the weapon we lack.
[ Wind and Gravitor exchange perplexed glances. ]
[ Dissolve to... ]
[ EXT. AIRPORT - DAWN. : Jeanjames, a tall Mulado man stands on a curb with a dirt-streaked taxi sitting in wait nearby. ]
[ Gravitor, dressed in jean-shorts and a T-shirt, steps along the curb. When Jeanjames speaks, he does so with a thick French accent. ]
JEANJAMES:
Bonjour, mon ami.
GRAVITOR:
My morning isn't cheese.
[ Jeanjames approaches Gravitor. ]
JEANJAMES:
I am Jeanjames.
GRAVITOR:
Charles.
JEANJAMES:
Charles. Is the path of the dead of interest to you?
GRAVITOR:
I'm here for the sword of knowledge.
JEANJAMES:
I have a taxi waiting. There might be room for six, if the trunk holds water.
GRAVITOR:
We can swim. Thank you.
JEANJAMES:
I will wait for your friends.
[ EXT. ABOVE PUERTO RICO - NIGHT - ESTABLISHMENT SHOT. : Zoom in. ]
[ EXT. SCHOOLYARD - NIGHT. : Three eleven-thirteen-year-olds--two girls and one boy--are near a tree surrounded by thin, short grass. The boy and one girl are lying face up just in arms reach of one another, while the other girl, Theracy, sits with her feet out in front of her. ]
THERACY:
You aren't going to fall asleep, are you?
GIRL1:
It's not even three, yet.
[ Theracy covers her mouth as she yawns. ]
BOY:
You getting tired?
THERACY:
Well, yeah...
GIRL1:
It's because you never get out at night!
THERACY:
Well, this hasn't been that interesting.
BOY:
It's better than lying in bed until classes.
THERACY:
Isn't that what you do?
BOY:
Not without li--
[ A prick of light appears in the sky, accompanied by a distant whistling sound. ]
GIRL1:
What's that?
THERACY:
Huh?
[ The light grows dim, but doesn't fade entirely as it gets closer. ]
BOY:
It's like some kind of rocket...
[ There is a loud BANG!, and the smoking object--roughly a cubic meter in size--strikes the ground a few meters away, scattering smoking grass in its wake. A cloud of dirt swells around the impact, but visible steam still escapes the cloud. Theracy pulls her feet in so that her knees are near her face. Boy and Girl1 sit up; boy pushes himself back with his hands. ]
GIRL1 (terrified):
Maybe we should get out of here...
[ The dustcloud clears enough to reveal the small crater, from which steam still rises. ]
[ Theracy leans toward the crater, winding up on her knees. ]
BOY:
If someone sees us running away, they'll think we did it...
[ Theracy half-crawls toward the crater. ]
GIRL1:
Theracy, what are you doing?
BOY:
That'll burn you, stupid!
[ Theracy stops, blinks, and looks around. ]
THERACY:
Huh...
BOY:
Maybe it's like, an alien...
GIRL1:
It's too small...
BOY:
It could be a small alien.
THERACY:
It's... just a piece of ice.
[ Theracy slowly moves closer. ]
BOY:
Ice? The grass is about to catch on fire!
[ A burning blade of grass flutters toward Theracy, hitting her knee; she gives a yelp and falls to one side; her hand comes near to the crater, and a sudden breeze blows the steam toward her. ]
GIRL1:
Are you all right?
[ The steam touches Theracy's hand, and her arm tenses, but doesn't pull away from it. ]
BOY:
It's gonna burn you; get away from it!
[ Theracy's hand starts to redden, but she stairs into the steam as though in a trance. ]
[ Cut through white to... ]
[ EXT. OCEAN - NIGHT. : A small boat, carrying two figures--one's head covered by a black helmet--cuts through the waves, though it is thrown about as though it might overturn any second. A larger boat sits a considerable distance away, with a light visible from it shining toward another section of the water far from the boat. ]
[ Cut through white to... ]
[ EXT. SCHOOLYARD - NIGHT. : In the same position as before, Theracy's hand is giving off smoke distinct in color from the steam that covers it. ]
[ The wind dies, and the steam returns to rising directly upward from the crater. Theracy looks down at her hand, opens her mouth and screams shrilly. ]
GIRL1:
Theracy, get away from there!
[ The boy gets up. ]
BOY:
Let's get out of here!
[ The girl gets up and moves toward Theracy. ]
GIRL1:
Theracy, come on!
[ Theracy shoves her burned hand under her shirt and shakily gets to her feet, backing away from the crater. Tears start flowing down her face as she quivers uncontrollably. ]
GIRL1:
Theracy?
[ Girl1 reaches out for Theracy, but Theracy jumps to the side, turns, and runs. ]
GIRL1:
Theracy, wait! Come back!
BOY:
Let's go!
[ EXT. RIDGEBOTTOM - MORNING. : The ground is mostly bare of vegetation, and the soil is pale and sand-like. To the left, the ground rises in a steep and uneven hill that curves up toward the higher ground, roughly four meters above. To the right, a rough, bootprint-marked slope leads upward toward the top of the ridge. Between the hill and the footpath is a striated wall of dirt, with a section of stone blocks visibly protruding from a region left of the center, at an angle resembling the corner of a wall or pillar. Further along the wall, two pyramid-shaped stones protrude from the dirt near the ground. ]
[ Jeanjames walks with a slight limp down the footpath, followed by Black Eagle, Gravitor, Wind, Hydron and Glacier. ]
JEANJAMES:
This area isn't supposed to be opened to the public, but it isn't very well guarded, either.
BLACK EAGLE:
That'd make it very easy for people we don't want to get inside.
JEANJAMES:
It is a difficult place to navigate without knowledge of how these tombs were constructed.
[ Jeanjames reaches the corner sticking out of the earth-wall and leans against it. The rest of the group stops near him. ]
JEANJAMES:
I doubt my leg will be good enough to lead you much further.
[ Jeanjames straightens and hands a flashlight to Black Eagle. ]
JEANJAMES:
Do you see those small pyramids near the ground?
BLACK EAGLE:
I see them.
JEANJAMES:
Push the left one down. Then the right. Then press and hold them both.
[ Jeanjames steps away from the wall and moves back toward the path to the top of the ridge. He stops and looks back. ]
JEANJAMES (cont'd):
Watch your step.
[ Jeanjames limps his way up the footpath to the top of the ridge. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Gravitor, get to that stone.
[ Black Eagle points to the right-most pyramid-stone, and Gravitor walks to it. Black Eagle crouches low enough to reach the left stone and pushes on it. It seems to require a great deal of effort, and there is a loud grinding noise as dirt flows off of the stone. There is a loud clicking sound, and Black Eagle releases the stone. ]
GRAVITOR:
My turn?
BLACK EAGLE:
Push it.
[ Gravitor pushes on the stone, though puts in more visible effort than Black Eagle. The stone doesn't sink at first, but there is a sudden crack, a shower of dirt, and the stone grinds its way downward until there is another click. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Together.
[ Black Eagle and Gravitor push both stones, and the grinding noise is louder. ]
BLACK EAGLE (cont'd):
Hold them...
[ There is a louder click, and a louder, deeper grinding noise. Dirt rains down from the ridge, not sparing Gravitor and Black Eagle. ]
GRAVITOR (exerting effort):
Weightless dirt sounds nice.
[ The dirt in the air continues to fall, but doesn't accelerate; several cracks appear in the dirt that hasn't fallen. There is a large gap near the top of the exposed corner, and a large opening leading into darkness is visible. ]
[ There is a loud, resonating click, and the grinding ceases. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Let's get back.
[ Black Eagle and Gravitor step away, and the dirt in front of the opening falls to the ground, some inside and some outside the now passable doorway. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Wind, take the light.
[ Wind steps toward Black Eagle and takes the flashlight from him. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Now, we enter.
WIND (uneasy):
You want me to go first?
GRAVITOR:
I'm right here.
WIND (sarcastic):
Jee, thanks.
[ She clicks the light on and shines it into the opening. It doesn't fall on anything discernable. ]
WIND:
I don't see anything in there.
BLACK EAGLE:
Let's get going, Tahoes.
GRAVITOR:
"Taoe"... sounds fake-Chinese.
BLACK EAGLE:
Entering, team.
[ Wind cautiously steps over the pile of dirt and into the opening, keeping her head lowered and the flashlight extended in front of her. Gravitor takes longer steps and comes up alongside her. Hydron and Glacier follow them, and Black Eagle brings up the rear. ]
[ EXT. ABOVE RIDGE - DAY. : Jeanjames limps to a parked jeep and leans against it. ]
BLACK EAGLE (over radio):
We're inside.
JEANJAMES:
Good work.
BLACK EAGLE (over radio):
How do we close the entrance?
JEANJAMES:
The door was designed to be opened only from the outside. I suggest that you not close it.
[ A beeping noise comes from inside the jeep. ]
[ INT. INSIDE TOMB - DARK. : The light from the entrance is already gone; the only source of light is the flashlight in Wind's hand, which reveals the sand-covered floor and walls of a narrow passageway that splits in three directions ahead of the group. ]
WIND:
There are three tunnels ahead.
BLACK EAGLE:
There are three passageways where we are. Which should we take?
JEANJAMES (over radio):
The right path is a dead-end.
[ EXT. ABOVE RIDGE - DAY. ]
JEANJAMES:
The left was used by the builders, and the middle path hasn't been explored thoroughly, but--
[ A beeping sound comes from the jeep. Jeanjames looks toward it briefly. ]
JEANJAMES (cont'd):
... the middle path was probably a one-way path to the burial chamber. It should be next to impossible to get out of it without special equipment.
BLACK EAGLE (over radio):
What about flight?
[ Jeanjames chuckles loudly. ]
JEANJAMES:
Yes, one could fly out, if the boobytraps miss them.
[ The jeep beeps. Jeanjames sighs and stands, turns, and opens the door of the jeep to get in. He presses a button on the center console. ]
JEANJAMES:
Salut. C'est Jeanjames.
WOMAN (over jeep radio):
Jeanjames, Michael est tomb'e dans la rue!
JEANJAMES:
Pourquoi est-il tomb'e?
WOMAN (over jeep radio):
Je ne sais pas, mais il y a beaucoup de sang a` proche de lui!
[ Jeanjames's face becomes horrified, and he takes a seat in the jeep and closes the door. ]
JEANJAMES:
Je viens.
[ EXT. DIRT ROAD - DAY. Kamir, a darker-skinned man in an opened tan robe, and Kerahs, a taller man in gray and black armor with his head covered by a black, viking-like helmet, holding a large axe tightly in both hands, stand near a dry trench off the tire-track-covered road. ]
[ The sound of an engine can be heard, and Kerahs lowers his axe to his side. Jeanjames's jeep speeds past, trailed by a cloud of dust. ]
KAMIR:
That should clear the entrance.
[ Kerahs grunts, raises his axe slightly, then the two of them turn and walk the direction from which the jeep came. ]
[ Fade to black. ]
[ EXT. ROAD NEAR DOCKS - NIGHT. : A single light illuminates the pier, which is a large metal-and-concrete structure forming a combination walkway / box that leads from the asfalt road to the ocean. From this distance, the ocean is visible as a moving dark mass. ]
[ Theracy runs along the road, keeping her head down slightly and her gaze fixed on the road. As she passes through the light from the docks, sweat and tears are visible on her face. ]
[ Two figures walk out onto the pier in a hurry and stop on the left side. One of them raises a hand and activates a flashlight and slowly moves it from side to side, scanning from the water to the road. ]
[ The light falls on Theracy as she runs past, and she gives a gasp, then dives off of the road, rolling into a ball as she does. ]
COASTGUARD1 (calling):
Hey! Stay there!
[ One of the figures on the pier turns and heads in the direction of the road, though turns toward the docks upon reaching a corner. ]
[ Theracy lies on her side three meters from the road, her knees in her chest and her hands covering her face as she shakes uncontrollably. ]
COASTGUARD1 (calling, closer):
Just come back here; we're just here to help.
[ A uniformed man walks briskly along the road, wielding a flashlight. The light slowly sweeps along the road and the area near it, gradually getting closer to where Theracy lies shaking on the ground. ]
COASTGUARD1:
Hello? Do you speak English? Habla Espaņol?
[ The light falls on Theracy, and she jumps up convulsively, head jerking from left to right frantically. ]
COASTGUARD1:
Just relax.
[ Coastguard1 approaches Theracy, bringing the light up to her face. ]
COASTGUARD1 (cont'd):
Just stay there.
[ Coastguard1 stops just out of arms' reach of Theracy. ]
COASTGUARD1 (cont'd) (cont'd):
Can you tell me your name?
THERACY (frantic, urgent):
It's a trick! They don't know yet, but...
[ Theracy shrieks, covering her eyes with her hands. ]
COASTGUARD1:
Calm down, calm down. Are you hurt?
THERACY (shouting):
Vera Cruz! But it's a trick!
COASTGUARD1:
What's a trick?
[ Theracy breathes nigh hyperventavely for several seconds, slowly lowering her hands and clutching her sides. ]
COASTGUARD1:
You want to come with me to the dock?
THERACY (shaking, voice near to sobs):
Venus is too hot.
[ Coastguard1 steps forward and extends a hand, taking hold of Theracy's shoulder. ]
COASTGUARD1:
Come on up the docks; you can tell us all about it.
[ Theracy looks at his hand. Her face grows deathly pale, just as coastguard1 turns the flashlight away from her face and back toward the road. ]
[ INT. LOBBY - NIGHT, FLUORESCENT LIGHT. : The room is a bit smaller than a gas station, with a bench on two walls and a darkened desk on the back. ]
[ Coastguard1 enters, leading Theracy by the shoulder. Coastguard1 clicks off his flashlight and directs Theracy to the bench on the left. ]
COASTGUARD1:
Just sit down. You need water?
THERACY:
No water...
[ Theracy puts her fists in her eyes and rubs hard. ]
THERACY (cont'd):
Too much water...
COASTGUARD1 (calling toward the desk):
Robert!
[ Theracy slowly lowers her hands and her breathing starts to calm. She closes her eyes and shakes her head. ]
COASTGUARD1 (to Theracy):
What's your name?
[ Theracy opens her eyes and blinks, looking at coastguard1 in confusion. ]
THERACY:
What?
COASTGUARD1:
What's your name?
THERACY:
Theracy. I... Theracy.
COASTGUARD1:
How old are you, Theracy?
THERACY:
Thirteen.
COASTGUARD1:
You're out awefully late.
THERACY:
I'm sorry. Some kids were making fun of me for never going out, so I went with them to watch the stars, and...
[ Another, balder man in a short-sleeved uniform enters from the direction of the desk. ]
ROBERT:
Word is they're turning toward...
[ Robert notices Theracy, and pauses. ]
ROBERT (cont'd):
Off the street?
COASTGUARD1:
She was running. Dove off the road when I put the light on her. Theracy, can you tell me what you were running from?
THERACY:
I don't know.
COASTGUARD1:
You don't know why you were running?
THERACY:
It just fell out of the sky...
[ Robert looks at Theracy's hands. ]
ROBERT:
What happened to your hand?
[ Theracy holds up her burned hand and looks at it in quiet shock. ]
COASTGUARD1:
That looks painful. Robert, can you get a burn kit?
[ Robert nods and turns to leave the room. ]
THERACY:
Vera Cruz is a trick.
[ Robert stops and turns back. ]
ROBERT:
What about Vera Cruz?
THERACY:
The men... welll... one of them is a man... in the boat. They're going toward Vera Cruz to trick you.
ROBERT:
How would you know something like that?
THERACY:
I don't know... I saw them...
[ Theracy strokes her ear with her unburned hand. ]
THERACY (cont'd):
And I heard them. They don't know that they're being followed, but they're following their plan anyway.
COASTGUARD1:
Where did you hear this?
THERACY:
I... ..
ROBERT:
I'll get that burn kit.
[ Robert turns and walks behind the desk and out of sight. ]
[ Slowly zoom in on Theracy's face. Focus on the pupil of her right eye, until the screen is all black. ]
[ INT. TOMB - DARK. : Wind stands atop a steep slope, Gravitor standing beside her as though to keep her from falling as she shines the flashlight down the tunnel. ]
WIND:
The whole thing is covered in sand.
BLACK EAGLE:
Jeanjames, are there any boobytraps on the tunnel to the burial chamber?
JEANJAMES (over radio, a lot of background noise):
The burial tunnel? I don't know. It could be designed to seal itself when someone walks through.
BLACK EAGLE:
You've got a lot of noise; what's going on?
JEANJAMES (over radio, noisy):
I'm driving. My friend is hurt.
GRAVITOR:
There isn't anything blocking the tunnel; it's just too dirty to see anything in the floor or the walls.
BLACK EAGLE:
Gravitor, can you cut the gravity on all of us?
GRAVITOR:
Maybe.
WIND:
Are we going down there?
BLACK EAGLE:
We at least need to look. Gravitor, can you look around down there?
GRAVITOR:
Wait, just me?
BLACK EAGLE:
You're least likely to trip any traps.
GRAVITOR:
Oh, all right.
[ Gravitor steps off the top of the slope, but rather than walking down it, continues to move forward. He starts to descend slowly just as he approaches the part of the tunnel where the ceiling is too low to continue without dropping; Wind keeps the flashlight on him as he descends to a flat area at the bottom of the slope. ]
GRAVITOR:
Can you put the light a little to the left?
[ The light moves off of Gravitor and shines on the corner of a wall leading into another tunnel to the left. ]
GRAVITOR:
There's another tunnel here. It's smaller than the others. I can't tell much else. ... Oh look, beetles.
BLACK EAGLE:
Jeanjames, we have a landing and another tunnel down here.
JEANJAMES (over bradio, noisy):
What size is it?
BLACK EAGLE:
Smaller than the other thunnels.
JEANJAMES (over radio, noisy):
Is there anything at the landing?
BLACK EAGLE:
Beetles. Gravitor! Is there anything else down there?
GRAVITOR:
The back wall looks different from the rest. No openings.
BLACK EAGLE:
A solid wall; that's all.
JEANJAMES (over radio, noisy):
The solid wall probably leads to the tomb. The smaller tunnel could have been for construction of the traps.
BLACK EAGLE:
So which way do we go?
JEANJAMES (over radio, noisy):
Anything valuable will either be in the tomb, or in a chamber adjacent to it. The small tunnel might get you there, but I'm not certain.
[ Black Eagle sighs. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Take the smaller tunnel.
[ Gravitor edges toward the opening. Wind hesitantly steps off the top of the slope, stirring up dust in the moving air that keeps her aloft until the landing below. Behind Black Eagle, Hydron takes water form and flows down the tunnel. ]
[ INT. TOMB - MAINTENANCE TUNNEL - DARK. : The tunnel is bearly big enough for Gravitor to fit through it, though it is considerably less filled with sand than the previous tunnels. The light from the flashlight in Wind's hand falls on some beetles that scurry along the walls and disappear in the darkness. ]
[ Gravitor pulls himself along the tunnel and begins to float along it. Wind follows more slowly. ]
GRAVITOR:
Sara, can you find the opening?
WIND:
I'm having ahard enough time moving through here.
[ Wind pauses, then aims the light up the tunnel. ]
WIND (cont'd):
I think I see ... something different.
GRAVITOR:
There's a landing, with something built in the wall.
BLACK EAGLE:
This tunnel's too tight. Glacier, can I get some oil?
[ Gravitor snickers. In the back of the group, Black Eagle pulls himself forcefully up the tunnel, pushing his hands into the walls as a stream of oil flows down the tunnel toward him. He slides more easily over the oil and continues to pull his way up the tunnel. ]
[ Gravitor straightens to a standing position at another landing, but quickly ducks as a loud click echoes through the tunnels. ]
WIND:
What did you do now?
[ spikes drop from the ceiling, and Gravitor backs into the tunnel in time to dodge them. ]
GRAVITOR:
I found a boobytrap.
WIND:
Those will block the path.
[ Water-Hydron flows up the tunnel, passing over Wind in the process. ]
WIND:
Hey! Shanan...
[ Water-Hydron flows between the spikes and takes human form in the center of them; there isn't room enough to escape, but she can at least stand. ]
HYDRON:
There is a dead-end branching off of this tunnel. There's something on the walls, though. I can't see it clearly.
BLACK EAGLE:
Jeanjames, we're stuck behind some spikes.
[ INT. JEEP - DAY. : Jeanjames sits at the wheel, watching the road ahead intently. ]
JEANJAMES:
Spikes?
BLACK EAGLE (over radio):
Yes. At the top of the maintenance tunnel.
JEANJAMES:
The only way those sorts of traps can be unlocked is by hidden blocks, but then, you'd have to be able to move them.
[ INT. TOMB - MAINTENANCE TUNNEL - DARK. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Secret blocks?
HYDRON:
Sara, can you shine the light on the wall?
[ The light hits the wall, though there is no obvious distinction between the blocks, and the wall is out of Hydron's reach from between the spikes. ]
GRAVITOR:
They all look the same.
HYDRON:
If the trap were activated by accident in construction, the workers would have to reset it, and they wouldn't want robbers to be able to do it. So it must be somewhere nearby, but not somewhere easy to reach. Like...
[ Hydron looks upward, and suddenly thrusts her hand up and forward. Her arm transforms into water, which flies to the wall. The silhouette of Hydron's glove appears in the water as it strikes the wall, and there is a loud click from above. Gravitor reaches out and nudges one of the spikes upward, and it slowly floats out of the way. He gets to his feet and reaches for the other spike as the water-arm returns to Hydron's shoulder and returns to a human arm. ]
GRAVITOR:
Got it!
BLACK EAGLE:
Try to stay off the floor. We don't need any more of those going off.
GRAVITOR:
I've got it. Just take it slowly when you get up here.
[ Wind cautiously pulls herself up to stand near Gravitor, stepping cautiously. ]
HYDRON:
There could be more traps. We should scout ahead.
[ Wind waves the flashlight off to the right. ]
WIND:
There are a bunch of symbols on the wall in that.. is that a room?
GRAVITOR:
It's either a trap, or a safe.
HYDRON:
Or both.
[ Gravitor steps toward the light, drifting above the ground a bit as he goes. ]
WIND:
Charles...
HYDRON:
There's something in the floor that way.
GRAVITOR:
Not touching the floor...
WIND:
Be careful!
[ Hydron takes water form and flows after Gravitor. Glacier comes to stand near Wind, and Black Eagle slowly pulls himself up to the landing, but doesn't stand yet. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Gravitor, what are you doing?
GRAVITOR:
Looking at this hall.
[ Water-Hydron returns to human form near Gravitor. ]
HYDRON:
You can land about two feet ahead.
GRAVITOR:
If you say so.
[ Gravitor moves forward a bit before stopping. ]
[ Black Eagle gets to his feet. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Jeanjames, we've found a short side-tunnel with symbols on the walls.
JEANJAMES (over radio, noisy):
A wall of symbols?
BLACK EAGLE:
Yes.
JEANJAMES (over radio, noisy):
Can you tell me what the symbols are?
BLACK EAGLE:
We're not close enough yet. Gravitor, can you get us over there?
GRAVITOR:
Maybe...
HYDRON:
Carry someone.
BLACK EAGLE:
What?
HYDRON:
It'll be quicker that way.
[ Black Eagle sighs. ]
[ Dissolve to... ]
[ INT. TOMB - SYMBOL HALL - DARK. : Taoe (Black Eagle included) are gathered, though awkwardly spaced, facing a wall that, by the light of the flashlight that Wind holds, can be seen to be covered in tiles embossed with various symbols resembling animals, some of which appear to be mythical. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Jeanjames?
[ The radio emits static for several seconds, then goes silent. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Jeanjames?
[ There are several seconds of silence. ]
WIND:
What a time to lose a signal.
GRAVITOR:
So what is this; some kin of ancient security system?
BLACK EAGLE:
We'd better keep looking. Touching those might set off more traps.
HYDRON:
If the key is here, would the snake mean anything?
BLACK EAGLE:
We're looking around more first.
[ Glacier reaches out and presses a tile with a snake on it. There is a loud stone-on-stone grinding sound, and the floor drops several inches. Several blocks in the floor stay up, however. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
What did I just say?
[ Hydron reaches for a tile with a flaming bird embossed on it and pushes it; there is a series of clicks and sliding sounds before three spiked shafts bar the entrance to the symbol hall. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Listen, people; we'll get killed if you don't stop being so careless!
[ Glacier presses the snake again. The end of the floor that meets a dead end drops two feet, and everyone but Glacier stumbles. Gravitor digs a heel into the floor and floats upward slowly, and Hydron drops to one knee. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
For your sakes, that'd better be the entrance to wherever the key is!
[ EXT. OCEAN - NIGHT. : The previously-seen two-person boat is caught in the waves, though manages to stay on a controlled course. ]
SHENTAIR:
They are following us.
KAELN:
It doesn't matter. We already diverted; they won't suspect anything.
SHENTAIR:
This is a waste of time. We should have gone to Florida first; it would still be a diversion.
KAELN:
Silence, Kro; don't forget your people's agreement with Kimal.
[ Cut through white... ]
[ INT. DOCK LOBBY - NIGHT - FLUORESCENT LIGHTING. : Theracy still sits on the bench, with her arm off to the side, her hand hidden by Robert, who appears to be examining something--where her hand would be. Coastguard1 stands a few steps back. ]
THERACY:
They know they're being followed, now.
[ Theracy Shakes her head. ]
THERACY (cont'd):
I don't want to watch anymore.
[ Theracy suddenly puts her hands to her temples, inhaling sharply. ]
THERACY (cont'd) (cont'd):
What...
ROBERT:
Can you explain a little more? Start from the beginning.
THERACY:
I was by the school. Something fell out of the sky... it looked like a block of ice, but steam was coming out of the hole it made.
COASTGUARD1:
About how pig was it?
THERACY:
I don't know, maybe a couple feet cube?
COASTGUARD1:
We got several calls about a loud sound near the school. There's a chance it could have been a small meteorite.
ROBERT:
What burned your hand?
THERACY:
I'm not sure. I started feeling weird and ... and that's when I saw the people in the boat. The next thing I knew, my hand was burning, and I felt like... like I had to get away from ... Venus. But that was the ice. It's... I don't understand it.
ROBERT:
Your hand looks like it was in some intense steam. How close were you to the ice when you saw the boat?
THERACY:
I wasn't close enough to touch it, but... I cthink it set some grass on fire, and the wind blew a piece into my pants, and... I don't remember after that.
COASTGUARD1:
If the wind blew grass, it could have blown the steam.
ROBERT:
Probably. Did you smell anything strange?
THERACY:
I don't remember smelling anything.
ROBERT:
Just a minute ago, did you see something?
THERACY:
Two men. Well, I'm not sure about one of them; he was wearing a helmet and... I think ... like, armor. They were still in the boat, and they were arguing. Well, sort of.
ROBERT:
What were they saying?
THERACY:
The one in the helmet was saying they were wasting their time, but the other told him to be quiet, and to remember an agreement...
ROBERT:
Did you hear any names?
THERACY:
Something like "Crow"? And... Kimal, I think. Yeah... The man said "Silence, Kro. Remember your agreement with Kimal.". He had some kind of accent I couldn't recognize.
COASTGUARD1:
Did you inhale any of the steam?
THERACY:
What? I don't know.
ROBERT:
Her face would be burned like her hand if she had.
COASTGUARD1:
I guess you're right.
ROBERT:
Can you see them now?
THERACY:
No. I don't want to.
ROBERT:
Has it just been happening randomly?
THERACY:
Yes. Except...
ROBERT:
Except what?
THERACY:
When... I told it to stop a minute ago... it feels different now.
ROBERT:
Did you hear anything else?
THERACY:
Something about Florida. The helmet person said they should have gone to Florida first, that it would still be a diversion.
COASTGUARD1:
Are you sure you don't need a glass of water or anything?
THERACY:
I... want to go home.
[ Theracy's eyes go wide, and reflections of her face can be seen in them. ]
EYE-THERACIES (VO):
I don't want to go to a schoolgirl's life. Especially one so dull that this has been the only night of excitement since she was born...
[ Theracy gasps, and quickly closes her eyes. When she reopens them, the reflections are gone; neither Coastguard1 nor Robert show signs of having noticed. ]
COASTGUARD1:
We have a phone, if you need to call someone.
[ Theracy closes her eyes again. ]
THERACY (muttering to herself):
Are they awake?
[ The image of a middle-aged man lying next to a dark-haired woman in a bed covered in blankets flashes into view; both are lying face up, eyes closed. A brief snoring sound reverberates in the background before the image flashes away. ]
[ Theracy slowly opens her eyes. ]
THERACY:
I can get there on my own.
ROBERT:
Did you see something else?
[ The reflections of Theracy's face appear in her eyes again. ]
EYE-THERACIES (VO):
Tell him. He suspects something already; maybe he can help.
[ The reflections vanish. Theracy shakes her head and closes her eyes again. ]
ROBERT:
Well, we can't keep you here.
[ There is another flash, and the image of Shentair and Kaeln in their boat appears again before flashing out of existence. ]
THERACY:
They aren't talking anymore. Just riding the boat. And...
[ Flash of a group of men on a darkened deck atop a larger ship; one of the men whispers something to another, and the image vanishes. ]
THERACY:
Whoever's following them doesn't know that the people they're chasing noticed them.
[ Coastguard1 looks at Robert expectantly. Robert meets his gaze. ]
[ INT. TOMB - SYMBOLHALL - DARK. ]
[ Sand cascades down the sloping floor, forming small drifts against the blocks that remain higher. Half a dozen beetles fly around Taoe, some from below, others from the direction of the hall. Wind ducks, dropping the flashlight in the process. It strikes the ground and immediately dies, leaving the hall in total darkness (though the sound of the flashlight bouncing and rolling off into the opening at the bottom of the slope continues). ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Just... great! Is everyone still here?
GRAVITOR:
I'm here.
HYDRON:
Present.
WIND:
Ah! I'm sorry...
BLACK EAGLE:
It's too late to worry about it now. Glacier?
[ A flicker of light appears from the opening at the bottom of the slope, though it is just enough to illumenate Black Eagle and Gravitor's feet. ]
GRAVITOR:
I hope that's him.
BLACK EAGLE:
I appreciate the enthusiasm, but we're surrounded by boobytraps; don't move any further. That's an order.
[ The light rises toward the opening, and Glacier's hand is visible holding the flashlight, though the light coming from it looks more like that of a lantern, giving off a bit of smoke. ]
GRAVITOR:
What is that?
GLACIER:
Oil.
HYDRON:
That won't burn cleanly, will it?
BLACK EAGLE:
It's light. What do you see?
GLACIER:
I see the key.
[ INT. TREASURE ROOM - DARK (LAMP-LIT). : Glacier stands near the entrance, holding the remains of the flashlight aloft as the oil-firelight shines from it. The room is filled with sand, though a slight glimmar is visible from a waist-high pedastal across the room, where a small, golden disk is visible with a faint image of a snake curled across it, holding a bone in its jaws.* ]
BLACK EAGLE (OS):
Wait for us.
[ Water-Hydron pours into the chamber and takes human form beside Glacier. ]
HYDRON:
There's something in the floor.
[ Hydron looks upward. ]
HYDRON (cont'd):
I think it'll seal the room.
[ Black Eagle drops to the ground beside Glacier. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Gravitor, Wind, stay up there for now. That's the key, all right.
HYDRON:
I might be able to reach it without setting off any traps in the floor. Moving the key might set something off, though.
BLACK EAGLE:
Gravitor, can you hold up a slab?
GRAVITOR (OS):
Maybe.
[ Glacier hands the light to Hydron. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
What are you--
[ Glacier leaps across the room, landing with his feet apart in front of the pedastle. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Hey! Stop that!
[ Glacier reaches out and places a hand on the key. He holds his other hand palm up, and an identical key, formed of ice appears. ]
[ Hydron becomes water and moves toward the pedastle, landing on it like a fountain. Glacier drops the ice-key into the water, then turns and jumps back across the room with his arms in front of his face. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Don't ever do that again.
[ A six-inch-thick collumn of ice grows from Glacier's hand, fitting between the ground and the ceiling. ]
[ The silhouette of Hydron's Glove appears in the water and grabs the key, while another takes the ice-key. The ke is removed from the pedastle, and a series of clicks echoes around the chamber. The ice-key is forced into the slot, halting several spikes that protrude from the walls, leaving only one of them to shoot across the front of the pedastle. Water-Hydron takes position beside the spike and takes human shape. ]
WIND:
What happened?
BLACK EAGLE:
Hydron has the key.
GRAVITOR:
I think I hear something.
[ Glacier jumps up to the opening of the chamber. ]
[ INT. TOMB - SYMBOLHALL - DARK. : The only source of light is the glimmar of the oil-light from the opening at the bottom of the slope. A red dot of light appears on Wind's shoulder. ]
[ Glacier runs up the slope, and a wall of ice grows outward from him between Wind and the top of the slope. ]
WIND:
What are you--
[ She turns, at the same time that a gunshot fills the tunnel. A hole blows through the ice, and Wind gives a yelp as a smoking tear appears in the shoulder of her outfit. ]
GRAVITOR:
Nice time for your powers to come back.
KERAHS (OS):
Move!
[ Kerahs steps to the top of the slope with his axe raised. He swings it and it splits the spikes barring the hall and the ice-wall, sending fragments to shower the hall. Wind jumps back, slipping and falling toward the opening to the treasureroom. Gravitor falls after her and boosts her off of the ground; they both hit the wall near the ceiling that divides the symbolhall from the treasureroom and hang there weightlessly. ]
[ Kamir steps into view beside Kerahs, followed by another figure in armor identical to Kerahs's, holding a short broadsword. A man with curly blond hair steps into view, holding a flashlight, and the group is completed by a tall woman with dark hair in a dark leather vest, wielding a large gun. Kamir holds a pistol, and the man with the flashlight holds a large knife in his other hand. ]
KAMIR:
If you hadn't done that, Kerahs, we might have managed to shoot one of them.
[ An ice-spear flies from Glacier's hand, aimed at Kamir. Kerahs strikes it out of the air with his axe. Kamir takes aim at Glacier. ]
[ Sand flies up the hall as a gust of wind pushes Kamir back to the wall. ]
[ INT. TREASUREROOM - DARK. : Black Eagle holds the oil-light, though it is growing dim. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Can you carry the key as water?
HYDRON:
I dropped it before the gunshot.
BLACK EAGLE:
Find it!
[ Black Eagle jumps up onto the slope of the symbolhall floor. ]
[ INT. TOMB - SYMBOLLHALL - DARK. : The knife-man, the gun-woman and the swordsman advance into the hall. ]
GRAVITOR:
You want to play, huh?
[ Gravitor kicks off of the wall and glides toward the sword-wielder. ]
GRAVITOR (cont'd):
All right, then!
[ The woman aims at Gravitor, and her gun emits a flash of light as it fires. Gravitor drops to the floor, and one of the symbol-tiles on the wall cracks as a bullet falls to the floor. The swordsman lunges for Gravitor, who dodges as the sword-wielder flies off of his feet and falls into the wall above the entrance to the treasureroom. ]
[ Wind flies up the hall and lands beside Gravitor. An ice-shield forms around Glacier's arms as he throws it up to block a swing from Kerahs's axe. Kerahs attacks several times, continuing to cut through Glacier's ice as quickly as he replaces it. ]
KAMIR:
Ignore them! Find the key!
[ The gunwoman hurries down the coridor. The knifeman moves to follow, but Wind holds out her arms and he is blown off of his feet. ]
GRAVITOR:
You want the key, huh?
[ Gravitor falls toward Kamir. ]
GRAVITOR (cont'd):
Well come get it!
KAMIR:
Land on bullets, infidel!
[ Kamir's pistol fires. Gravitor spins to the ground, but Kamir suddenly stumbles and falls, dropping his gun as he struggles to stand. ]
GRAVITOR:
Hard to stand up at twice your normal weight, isn't it?
[ Black Eagle blocks the gunwoman's path. She aims, but Black Eagle holds out his hand and a blue-white beam strikes her arm; she staggers, her gun falling to the floor and exploding. The woman falls back. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Watch who you pull a gun on.
[ Glacier slides down the slope, his foot catching on a raised block as he continues to hold off Kerahs's attacks. Black Eagle turns and tries to aim his hand at Kerahs, but the woman on the ground jumps up and kicks him in the abdomen. A large fragment of ice goes flying from one of Kerahs's blows, striking the woman in the head and sending her to the floor once again, and she slides out of sight. ]
[ The knifeman moves to attack Wind again, but the sand swirls around him and he struggles to stand. He finally flies off of his feet and goes falling down the slope, crashing into the opening below. ]
[ Kerahs makes a heavy downward strike with his axe. Glacier holds up a thick dome of ice to catch the blow. The strike sends Glacier onto his back, splitting the ice in half. Kerahs leaps over him, thrusting a foot into Glacier's chest as he does. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Hold it right there!
[ Black Eagle aims both hands at Kerahs, and twin beams of sparks and light fire from them and join into one larger beam. Kerahs spins and blocks the blast with the flat of his axe until he is pushed through the opening into the treasureroom. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Hydron! You have company!
[ At the top of the slope, Kamir manages to lift his gun from the floor and take aim at Gravitor, who is crouched two feet away. ]
GRAVITOR:
That won't work.
KAMIR:
Your sorcery will not stop us. I will not return to my father without the key.
GRAVITOR:
Father?
KAMIR:
Yes. I am Kamir, son of Kimal, fairyman for the keys of the Nornish!
[ Kamir points the pistol at Gravitor's chest. ]
KAMIR (cont'd):
You will join those who who have stood in the way of our great works!
WIND:
Charles! Make him weightless!
GRAVITOR:
What?
[ Kamir looks up to see Wind standing mid-way up the slope below. ]
KAMIR:
Not only do you show your face and your hair, but you give orders? I will teach you to fea--!
[ Kamir suddenly flies off of the ground, carried down the coridor in a flood of air and sand. ]
[ INT. TREASUREROOM - DARK. : Light comes from the knifeman's flashlight, which lies on its side on the ground. Hydron picks it up and turns it to scan the floor, moving a foot to hold down the knifeman's wrist beside her.* ]
[ The light falls on the key, still glinting in the sand that covers the floor in the middle of the room. ]
HYDRON:
There it is!
[ The gun-less woman springs from the shadows, reaching a hand to close over the key. When she speaks, it is with a British accent. ]
GUNWOMAN:
Thanks for the assistance.
[ Gunwoman gets to her knees, rubbing her head with her free hand. ]
GUNWOMAN (cont'd):
Please step away from our dutch friend.
HYDRON:
What do you want with that key?
[ The air is broken with the sound of an axe in motion, and Hydron ducks, transforming into water just in time to avoid a killing blow from Kerahs. Kerahs steps toward the woman, and the knifeman reaches through the water to grab the flashlight as it falls to the ground. ]
KERAHS:
The key.
GUNWOMAN:
It's ours now, Kro. It doesn't matter who carries it.
[ Water-Hydron rushes up around the woman and throws her off of her feet; the key flies out of her hand and strikes the floor near the entrance. Water-Hydron flows onto the bottom of the slope and takes human form. ]
[ INT. TOMB - SYMBOLHALL - DARK. : Black Eagle stands near the bottom of the slope, hand extended toward the treasureroom below. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
You aren't going anywhere.
[ A beam of sparks and light blasts from Black Eagle's outstretched hand, striking the ice-key in the pedastle in the treasureroom. The ice-key vanishes in a cloud of steam, and spikes fly across the room as a large stone slab drops from above, sealing Kerahs, the woman, the knifeman and the swordsman within. ]
[ INT. TREASUREROOM - DARK. : The slab slams onto the key, and it disappears beneath. ]
[ The woman and the knifeman are both already on the ground, just below the spikes that now criss-cross the room. Kerahs is the only one standing, his axe blocking several spikes from his chest and abdomen. ]
KERAHS:
Fool; I told you to give me the key.
[ Kerahs strikes the spikes around him and they fall; he begins hacking a path toward the slab, but when his axe strikes the slab, the only result is a shower of sparks. ]
[ INT. TOMB - SYMBOLHALL - DARK. : There is virtually no light, though the outlines of Taoe can be seen. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Glacier, I don't suppose you have any more oil?
GLACIER:
No.
HYDRON:
Touching the key reversed the effect of Eoce's portals?
GLACIER:
It seems that way.
HYDRON:
That explains why I lost my grip on it.
BLACK EAGLE:
What?
HYDRON:
When I came through the portal back to Earth, it felt like I'd been turned around. Like I couldn't tell which way led to water and which way to home. It made it easier to use my hands even when they were water.
BLACK EAGLE:
Did the key change that, too?
HYDRON:
Partly. I'm still all turned around.
WIND:
Hey! I can't find that guy that was up here.
GRAVITOR:
Kamir. It looks like he ran off.
BLACK EAGLE:
Hydron, did you get the key?
HYDRON:
No. That woman took it. I got it away from her, but couldn't take it myself. I think it landed under the slab.
[ Black Eagle breathes frustratedly. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
At least they can't get it out and use it.
[ EXT. GULF OF MEXICO - DAY. : Zoom in on the Florida penensula. Two large ships sit in the water in sight of the coast, while a smaller boat bobs in the waves. ]
[ Zoom in on the smaller boat, where Kaeln and Shentair sit; Kaeln's hair is greasy and messy, and his clothes are splotched with mud. ]
SHENTAIR:
They're waiting for us.
KAELN:
They couldn't know we were coming here. Even if they caught our hosts in Vera Cruz, they didn't know where we were going.
SHENTAIR:
We can make it back to Mexico without landing in Florida.
KAELN:
I am in charge here, Shentair.
SHENTAIR:
Do you think you can find the key without me?
KAELN:
I can reach Mexico City without you. Backup will be waiting.
SHENTAIR:
The key is more important than a stop on the beach.
KAELN:
We stay to the plan, Kro.
[ Shentair stands up and draws a sword, holding it over his head. ]
KAELN:
Sit down; you'll turn over the boat.
SHENTAIR:
Turn this boat around, now.
[ Kaeln aims a gun at Shentair's chest. ]
KAELN:
Sit down. Kimal will let me shoot you if it saves us the key.
SHENTAIR:
And I will strike you down if you get us killed.
KAELN:
You've spent too much time in your mines. There will be three bullets through you before that sword can touch me. Now sit down!
[ Quick fade to white. ]
[ EXT. PIER - DAY. : Theracy leans on the railing over the water as a beed of sweat rolls down her forehead. Robert stands beside her with sunglasses and a small device over his ear. ]
THERACY:
Back out, back out!
ROBERT:
What happened?
THERACY:
I don't know. They were about to fight; I don't want to watch.
ROBERT:
You were talking this time.
THERACY:
You heard what they were saying?
ROBERT:
I heard Shentair fighting with one of Kimal's gunmen.
THERACY:
What's happening to me?
ROBERT:
We call it remote viewing. You're seeing things that are happening somewhere other than where you are.
THERACY:
Can other people do it?
ROBERT:
Most people that claim to do it keep to themselves, or work with federal agencies. I've never met any of them, though.
THERACY:
I always thought that psychics were all ...
ROBERT:
Fakes? What do you think now?
THERACY:
I think... I think my parents should know that I'm not at school.
ROBERT:
I'll give them a call.
THERACY:
What was I seeing?
ROBERT:
That's a matter of security.
THERACY:
Who's Kimal?
ROBERT:
A terrorist.
THERACY:
Terrorist...?
ROBERT:
I can't tell you much.
[ Theracy looks down at the water. A fish jumps out of the water, and the view follows it into the water, passing many similar fish, before finally descending into dark water. ]
[ Dissolve to INT. TREASUREROOM - DARK. ]
[ An explosion blows a four-foot hole in the slab that blocks the entrance. Kamir peers in from outside. ]
GUNWOMAN:
Are the Americans gone?
KAMIR:
Yes. Where is the key?
GUNWOMAN:
It was crushed under the slab.
[ Kerahs steps to the slab and kicks some debris aside, revealing a smashed mass of gold. ]
KAMIR:
What! It's been smashed!
[ Kerahs turns to the knifeman. ]
KERAHS:
You! Pick it up!
[ The knifeman shakily steps forward and kneels to pick up the smashed key. ]
KAMIR:
Don't order my men around, Kerahs.
[ Kerahs strikes the slab with his axe, and sparks flie from it. The knifeman covers his head with his knife-hand. Sparks fall on the smashed key, dance around its surface, then jump into the air and vanish. ]
KERAHS:
It will still work.
KAMIR:
What do you mean? We can't unlock the Nornish without all seven keys at once; a smashed key can't fit into a lock.
KERAHS:
This key will still function. I am certain.
[ EXT. AIRPORT - EVENING. : Taoe (all but Glacier wearing street clothes) stand on the curb, with Jeanjames standing near a taxi. Black Eagle wears a large hat, and his back is to the camera. ]
JEANJAMES:
I am sorry I had to leave.
WIND:
If that axe got to your friend, then you would have been horrible to stay with us.
JEANJAMES:
There is still no word of the people that you trapped in the tomb. The only gold that was found was a bracelet and a cup.
BLACK EAGLE:
It'll be fine. Thanks for all the help, Jeanjames.
JEANJAMES:
It was my pleasure.
BLACK EAGLE:
We have a flight to catch. Goodbye.
JEANJAMES:
Goodbye.
[ EXT. SKY - DAY. : A jet flies through the air, in the direction of the setting sun. ]
[ Fade to black. ]
11:51 AM 02/07/2010
