Writer: C. A. E. Jones
12:09PM 02/07/2010
[ INT. JET - NIGHT. : Gravitor sits by a window, with Wind beside him, Hydron on her other side. Hydron has earplugs in her ears. ]
PILOT (over speaker, British accent):
This is your captain speaking. We'll be arriving in Miami International in approximately fifteen minutes. We ask that you please fasten your seatbelts and make sure that all electronic devices are turned off.
GRAVITOR:
Free trip to Miami? I'd've thought they'd be a little sore that we didn't get the key out of the tomb.
WIND:
Kamir didn't get it, or if he did, it was broken.
GRAVITOR:
Yeah, that's right. Ah well; not complainin'.
[ EXT. MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - NIGHT. : A jet descends to the runway. ]
[ INT. HOTEL LOBBY - NIGHT. : The lobby is mostly empty of people; only the woman behind the desk and a man of about fifty are in the room, the latter sitting in an armchair in a set of three near to the door. ]
[ Taoe (sans Black Eagle) enters the door, all in street clothes, other than Glacier, who is in his customary pale blue spandex and blue gloves and boots. ]
GRAVITOR:
And they're even letting us stay the night.
HYDRON:
More like commanding.
GRAVITOR:
I'm still not complaining.
HYDRON:
It's still strange that they wouldn't send us home.
WIND:
It's too late. I'm tired of sitting in a plane for so long.
[ Gravitor approaches the desk. ]
CLERK:
Can I help you?
GRAVITOR:
We're checking in. We should have a reservation under Sam Izzy.
CLERK:
Two rooms?
GRAVITOR:
Sounds right.
CLERK:
All right.
[ Clerk hands a few keycards to Gravitor. ]
CLERK (cont'd):
You'll be in one-o-five and one-o-eight.
[ INT. HOTELROOM - DAY. : Gravitor lies covered by a blanket on one of two beds in the room; the other is empty. Gravitor's eyes are closed, and he lies on his left side, facing the inner wall, with sunlight from the window grazing the back of his head. ]
[ The silence in the room is broken by a phone ringing, and Gravitor's head snaps up from the pillow. He puts a bare hand to his face, then rolls over and reaches for the phone that sits on the table between the two beds. He picks up the phone as he pulls himself partly up, holding it to his head. ]
GRAVITOR (groggy):
'lo? This is Charles.
BLACK EAGLE (over phone):
Is Glacier in there?
[ Gravitor looks around. ]
GRAVITOR:
Not unless he's in the bathroom.
BLACK EAGLE (over phone):
Check.
GRAVITOR:
All right...
[ Gravitor sits up, rubs his eyes, then climbs out of bed, leaving the phone on the pillow. ]
[ EXT. POSTOFFICE - DAY. : Wind sits on a bench on the wall to the left of a line of windows, through which a line of people can be seen. ]
[ A man with long, faded hair, dressed in mud-splotched jeans, a tattered shirt and mud-caked sandals approaches the building. ]
WIND:
Calmo?
[ The man stops and looks toward Wind. ]
CALMO:
Are you...
[ Wind gets up and runs toward the man, throwing her arms around him in a hug. ]
WIND:
It's been years!
[ Calmo laughs. ]
CALMO:
I'll say! Sara, the last time I saw you, you were at least a foot shorter.
[ Wind releases Calmo and smiles up at him. ]
WIND:
You look about the same. Maybe a little less hair.
[ Calmo chuckles. ]
CALMO:
What brings you to Florida?
WIND:
Well, I can't exactly say... work.
CALMO:
Work?
[ Wind nods. ]
CALMO:
Does it have anything to do with that talent of yours?
WIND:
Well... I shouldn't say.
CALMO:
That's yes enough. Does that mean the plan to become a teacher is gone?
WIND:
No! I mean, it's harder to commit to the things I need to do to get an education degree with the job I have, but I'm still working on it. It'll just take a little longer than I thought.
CALMO:
Everything does. You remember all those talks about patience.
[ Wind nods. ]
WIND:
Yeah. I've been on a plane for like a whole day. And in the middle, I was... Well...
CALMO:
You can't say?
[ Wind nods. ]
CALMO (cont'd):
A job that requires secrecy can be dangerous, Sara.
WIND:
Believe me, I know. How are you, anyway?
CALMO:
Sometimes better, sometimes worse. There have been times it's felt like I'm wasting my time, hoping answers will fall out of the sky and into the swamps. But I feel like I'm being shown the way. Something dramatic might happen soon. I wonder if your being here has to do with that.
WIND:
Jee, I hope not.
HYDRON (OS):
Sara!
CALMO:
Is that Shanan?
WIND:
Yeah. Hey, Shanan! Look who I found!
[ Hydron runs up to Wind and Calmo. ]
CALMO:
Shanan. Do you remember me? The old preacher that ran off into the Everglades?
[ Hydron nods to Calmo, then looks at Wind hesitantly. ]
HYDRON:
I remember. I'm sorry; I came to tell Sara something.
CALMO:
I understand.
[ Calmo turns toward the door to the postoffice. ]
CALMO (cont'd):
I'll just check my mail.
WIND:
You don't have to leave!
CALMO:
It's none of my business.
[ Calmo enters the building. ]
WIND:
Well, what is it?
HYDRON:
I'm sorry. Black Eagle called. We stayed in Miami because they're sending us on our next mission this afternoon.
WIND:
What?
HYDRON:
They haven't told us much else, just that we need to stay in town.
WIND:
Why didn't they tell us this earlier?
HYDRON:
He didn't say.
WIND:
When are we leaving? Or... is it in town?
[ Theracy walks along the sidewalk, glancing toward the street every few steps. ]
HYDRON:
He said we all need to be at the hotel at three.
WIND:
Well, there's still time to talk to Calmo, then.
THERACY:
Excuse me, you haven't seen a guy in a black helmet run by here, have you?
HYDRON:
I haven't.
WIND:
No, sorry.
THERACY (half muttering):
I lost him. How did I lose him?
WIND:
Wait, it wasn't kind of... I mean, there weren't little horn things on it, were there?
THERACY:
Yeah. How long has it been since they called you?
WIND:
... What? But...
HYDRON:
Are you trying to go somewhere?
THERACY:
I... well... I heard you talking.
WIND:
From where? You just came down the sidewalk...
THERACY:
Well... I... can hear people from pretty far away. Did they call you in the past twenty minutes?
HYDRON:
It was about half an hour ago.
THERACY:
That's not good.
[ Calmo exits the building, holding an envelope. ]
CALMO:
Take a look at this, girls.
[ Calmo hands the envelope to Wind. Wind looks at it. Calmo notices Theracy. ]
CALMO:
Ah, hello. Friends?
THERACY:
Um... I was just passing by. You... haven't seen anyone in a black helmet, have you?
CALMO:
No. You have though, haven't you?
[ Theracy and Calmo lock eyes, and Theracy steps back, a frightened look appearing on her face. ]
THERACY:
I'll... be going, then.
HYDRON:
Wait!
WIND:
Jury duty? You got jury duty!
CALMO:
That's how it looks. After sitting out in the swamps praying for fifteen years, I'm being called to judge someone.
[ Theracy turns and starts to walk away, but Hydron grabs her arm. ]
HYDRON:
Wait. Where are you going?
THERACY:
I'm... going...
HYDRON:
If you're looking for who I think you are, you're safer with us.
[ Theracy eyes Hydron quisicly. Wind and Calmo join in the confused gazes. ]
CALMO:
It's time I leave, I think.
WIND:
No; you don't have to leave.
[ Theracy looks at Calmo, and he watches her uncertainly. ]
CALMO:
Remember, Sara. Remember what I told you about your gift.
[ Calmo turns and starts walking down the sidewalk. ]
WIND:
Calmo, wait! You forgot your letter!
[ Wind runs after Calmo. ]
HYDRON:
What happened in the past twenty minutes?
THERACY:
I...
HYDRON:
Are they in the city?
THERACY:
I... think so.
HYDRON:
You could come with us to our hotel. We'll--
[ Theracy barks a moan and pulls free of Hydron, running to the bench and sitting on it, staring at her hands, one of which can now be seen to be reddened as though burned. ]
HYDRON:
If Kimal's people are after you... or...
THERACY:
Not... exactly.
[ Wind walks back to the bench, looking downtrodden. ]
WIND:
First time we see each other for years, and he runs off like he's surrounded by demons.
[ Theracy looks at the ground. ]
HYDRON:
I think Kimal's people are in the city.
THERACY:
Not... exactly.
HYDRON:
It would help if you would explain.
THERACY:
I don't know who to trust.
HYDRON:
Neither do I.
[ Theracy sighs. ]
THERACY:
I'm Theracy. I... I've been ... seeing things. Kimal has people working for him called the Kro. They've been hiding in Europe for a long time. They mostly use old weapons; the one I saw had a sword.
WIND:
A sword?
HYDRON:
So it wasn't the one... Kerahs, I think.
THERACY:
He's been on a boat for a while. He was with another guy; they're on their way to Mexico City. The Coastguard tried to catch them, but... Shentair ...
[ Theracy closes her eyes and shakes her head. ]
WIND:
You mean there's a crazy terrorist with a sword running through the city?
HYDRON:
Remember, we survived five of them not too long ago.
WIND:
Yeah, but they weren't running through a city!
HYDRON:
Jeanjames's friend would disagree.
WIND:
I guess you're right...
[ INT. HOTELROOM - DAY. : Gravitor sits on an unmade bed with the telephone against his ear. ]
GRAVITOR:
Yeah, I'm fine, Mom. We're back in the country. It went pretty well. (beat) Not right away. They have something else they didn't tell us about until we got back. I don't know how long it'll take. (beat) They'd better pay for both. (beat) ... No. They probably won't let me tell you when I find out. (beat) I'll try to call you before we leave. I'm not sure that ...
[ Someone knocks loudly on the door several times. ]
GRAVITOR (cont'd):
... Someone's here. If I don't call you back in the next two hours, we've probably left. (beat) I will. Bye.
[ Gravitor hangs up the phone, gets up and goes to the door. He turns the handle and pulls the door inward, revealing Black Eagle standing on the threshold (it can be seen that the room opens onto a ground-level sidewalk, with a parking lot beyond). Glacier stands on the sidewalk behind and to the left of Black Eagle. ]
GRAVITOR:
You're early, aren't--
BLACK EAGLE:
Close those curtains, Lemburen; do you want everyone to see you?
GRAVITOR:
Jees, fine.
[ Gravitor steps over to the window and pulls the curtains closed. Black Eagle steps into the room, followed by Glacier. Once Glacier is inside, Black Eagle turns and slams the door shut. Gravitor turns on a lamp to make up for the decrease in light now that the curtains are closed. ]
GRAVITOR:
I thought we still had a couple hours.
[ Black Eagle turns to a large cabinet on the wall nearest the feet of the beds and opens it, revealing a somewhat large television. He activates it with a push of a button on its bottom, then turns the volume up so that it nearly drowns out any subsequent sound. The image on the television is a clearly Japanese-style animation of preteen boy in yellow-orange ninja garb (distinct from Naruto or Scorpion) confronting a muscular man in blue, a young woman with black hair and a teenaged boy in red in a grassy plane surrounded by cherrytrees. ]
YUNG (on TV):
You aren't about to storm in on Oputei without a plan.
SHIBEN (on TV):
I'm not letting anyone kill my father, whether he wants my help or not.
GRAVITOR:
Didn't realize you were missing your shows.
BLACK EAGLE:
Anyone could be listening in here; the TV will make that tougher.
GRAVITOR:
So what's the occasion?
BLACK EAGLE:
The coastguard's been tracking some of Kimal's people. They were bringing someone that could help us into Miami, but Kimal's agents had a disagreement, and one of them made a mess of the convoy. For all we know, one of those armored nutcases is running around the city. I doubt it, but I'm not letting my guard down.
GRAVITOR:
And you're telling us this now?
BLACK EAGLE:
It happened in the past half hour. Hydron went out to find Wind just before I heard.
YUNG (on TV):
I've been training with them, but I ran away. And now you're getting involved...
GRAVITOR:
Well, we're going to go find them, right?
BLACK EAGLE:
You're going to wait for them here. Neither of you are to leave this room until instructed otherwise, is that clear?
GRAVITOR:
Ok. But...
BLACK EAGLE:
Is that clear?
GRAVITOR:
It is.
BLACK EAGLE:
If you see anything suspicious, report it to me.
[ Black Eagle throws an index card onto the bed. ]
BLACK EAGLE (cont'd):
And don't let anyone but your team see this card.
GRAVITOR:
And what are you going to do?
BLACK EAGLE:
I'm going to find the girls.
[ Black Eagle turns to the door and pulls it open to reveal Hydron standing beyond with her hand raised as though to knock. ]
GRAVITOR:
Woah, you're good.
XAI (on TV):
Well, what are we waiting for?
[ The TV cuts to a title card. ]
ANOUNCER (on TV):
Suuri Bunshoudai will be back in a moment!
BLACK EAGLE:
Come inside.
[ Hydron steps inside uneasily, and Black Eagle shuts the door behind her. ]
[ The television shows a woman getting her hair done sitting across from another woman with a lettuce-and-cheese sandwich. ]
WOMAN (on TV):
Why don't you order me one of those?
HYDRON:
Sara's in our room. We--
BLACK EAGLE:
Did you see anything suspicious while you were out?
HYDRON:
A girl was asking about Kimal's operatives. She said... well... she's in our room now. I think you'll want to talk to her.
BLACK EAGLE:
Good. At least Yellow got through. Glacier, Gravitor, come with me.
ANOUNCER2 (on TV):
Hair-and-Delly, convenience and quality in one.
GRAVITOR:
So we're not staying in here, then?
BLACK EAGLE:
We're all going to room one-o-eight, now.
[ INT. HOTELROOM - DAY. : The room is almost identical to the first, though the beds are both made, and Wind's uniform hangs over one of the TV Cabinet doors. The TV is on, showing a confrontation between the previously-seen anime characters and a tall man with a red headband and a katana.* ]
[ Wind (still in street clothes) sits on the inner-most bed beside Theracy. Hydron stands near the window. Gravitor sits on the other bed, and Glacier stands near the door; Black Eagle stands between the beds, partly obscuring the TV. ]
MASSU (on TV):
Geometry? Clever, but I have studied more than how to hold a sword!
THERACY:
And that's everything.
WIND:
Remote viewing. That's a scary power...
THERACY:
It's very scary.
GRAVITOR:
Hold up. Are we planning to go to Mexico City because this girl heard voices?
[ Wind gives Charles a shocked/annoyed look. ]
WIND:
She's sitting right here.
THERACY:
I was... wondering the same thing.
BLACK EAGLE:
I agree, but remember what we've been dealing with. We know the keys have some ... "special" qualities with what they did to Glacier and Hydron.
GRAVITOR:
It's awefully convenient, though, isn't it? Someone randomly pops up with these powers right where we'd need them?
BLACK EAGLE:
There are more convenient ways this could have happened.
GRAVITOR:
I'm just saying... how do we know this isn't a trap? I mean, look at what happened to her escort.
BLACK EAGLE:
All right then. Let's do a test.
THERACY:
Test?
BLACK EAGLE:
Charles, do you have what I gave you before we came over here?
GRAVITOR:
Yeah.
BLACK EAGLE:
Did you look at it?
GRAVITOR:
I didn't get a chance.
BLACK EAGLE:
All right. Theracy, tell me about it.
THERACY:
I... don't know what to look for.
BLACK EAGLE:
What do you need to know?
THERACY:
Just... where it is.
GRAVITOR:
My pocket.
[ Theracy looks uneasy, then closes her eyes. ]
THERACY:
A paper card with some writing on it.
BLACK EAGLE:
What does it say?
THERACY:
I... can't tell. I mean... there's not much light, but ... somehow I can't read it. I... could write it, I think.
[ Black Eagle produces a blank index card and pen. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Write it.
[ Theracy opens her eyes and looks at the card and pen nervously, then reaches out and takes them. She writes on the card (the results aren't visible). ]
XAI (on TV):
He got away.
SHIBEN (on TV):
All that work, and we didn't do a thing.
TANAKO (on TV):
We saw father again.
THERACY:
There.
[ Theracy holds up the card (back to the camera). Black Eagle takes it. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Lemburen, take a look.
[ Black Eagle hands the card to Gravitor, who pulls the other card from his pocket and looks at the two. ]
GRAVITOR:
Ok, I guess it works, so long as you didn't see it before I got it.
WIND:
Charles!
[ Gravitor puts one card in his pocket and throws the other to Wind. ]
GRAVITOR:
Relax. I don't think they'd stage anything that elaborate to convince us of something they weren't convinced of.
BLACK EAGLE:
That's just it. I'm not convinced. But it's all we've got right now.
THERACY:
I haven't been able to find Shentair. He could be in Mexico by now.
BLACK EAGLE:
Half an hour? I doubt it. We'll just have to catch him in Mexico City. He might get there before us. We might manage to head him off, if he's stuck with a slower means of transportation. In either case, we're going to Mexico. Today.
[ EXT. MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - DAY. : Calmo rests against a wall near an entrance. ]
[ Wind, Hydron, Gravitor and Theracy approach the entrance. Calmo waves, and Wind and Hydron look toward him. Theracy glances at him, then looks down. ]
WIND:
Hi!
[ Calmo signals, and Wind steps toward him. Gravitor looks at them in confusion, and Hydron shakes her head. ]
[ Calmo speaks quietly enough so that only Wind can hear. ]
CALMO:
If anything happens to your plane, I'm sure it won't be your fault.
WIND:
Calmo! Don't try to scare me.
CALMO:
I don't mean to, Sara, but I think you should pay attention.
WIND:
What's wrong, Calmo? Why did you run off earlier?
CALMO:
I saw something in that girl's eyes.
WIND:
You told me not to worry about how people thought about my powers. You even said that Shanan was ok, and you heard about the dream her mom had.
CALMO:
Sara, do you remember when we met?
SARA:
Of course.
CALMO:
And a few days earlier, evil visited me. It was light that sent it away, not my delusions of wisdom. The same light that let that devil find me. And after that, your plane went down in the Everglades.
WIND:
Yeah.
CALMO:
I haven't been visited so openly since then. I told you I thought something might be coming, and now I'm almost sure of it. The first time we meet since that day in nineteen ninety, and that girl shows up. I saw something in her eyes... almost as though there was a hatred there for me that wasn't her own. I think she's afraid of it. I've already told you that I think Shanan was touched, but not possessed. This girl... I'm not so sure.
WIND:
Do you think her powers come from demons?
CALMO:
Five seconds ago I didn't know she had powers. I confess, I can't even speculate with her. It is no coincidence that we met when we did, both the first time and today. Something will happen soon. I don't know how long it will be, but you will see it; only word from above could convince me otherwise. Be watchful, Sara. I will pray for you.
[ Wind bows her head. ]
WIND:
This is all so confusing, but... you'd know better than I would.
CALMO:
Don't talk like that. I'm older, sure, and I've spent fifteen years living in a swamp, but sometimes knowledge comes to those who don't expect it. Well, I had better leave if I don't want to wander in the dark. It was nice to see you again, despite these shadows. Write me when you get the chance.
[ Calmo turns and walks away. ]
WIND:
Goodbye!
[ Wind turns and walks back to the rest of the group, still standing at the door. ]
GRAVITOR:
Who was that?
WIND:
A friend.
[ EXT. MOUNTAINTOP - SUNSET. : Though the altitude is high, there are plenty of trees, and a small, worn road is visible through them, though it is bathed in a layer of snow. Snow hangs on many of the trees, and the only sign of animal life is a man--Kaeln (reference episode 5) who stands near a large tree with a snow-splotched brown paper sack under his arm. ]
KAELN:
Fools. They will get their dues, in this world or the next.
[ He shoves the sack under his shirt and reaches a hand up to the only branch of the tree in reach. He pulls himself up, some snow shaking from the branch in the process. After a brief struggle, Kaeln crouches on the branch peering up through the umbrella of snow above. He cautiously makes his way higher through the branches, disturbing more snow as he does, until his head and shoulders rise above the cap of the snow--though by now he is covered in it. ]
KAELN:
If this works, it will not be by my power.
[ The sound of an aircraft breaks the silence of the mountaintop, and a small point of light appears in the sky. Kaeln pulls a gray tube out from beneath the snow with one hand, a match with the other. He strikes the match on the inside of the end of the tube nearest him, and smoke begins to drift up from it as Kaeln takes aimat the wandering light. ]
KAELN:
They are too high.
[ There is a flare of sound and a loud whistling noise as a fiery object shoots from the tube and into the sky. Sparks drip from both ends of the tube, and Kaeln tosses the match into the snow. Kaeln suddenly flinches as though losing his balance, and the snow cascades downward, carrying Kaeln with it. ]
[ Kaeln crashes to the ground with a shout, just before the snow buries him. ]
[ INT. JET - EVENING. : Gravitor sits near a window, with Wind beside him. Across the isle, Hydron sits by the window, leaning back with her eyes closed, and Theracy has the seat near the isle, looking pale. ]
[ Out the window near Gravitor, a brief flare can be seen passing below the jet. ]
GRAVITOR:
What was that?
WIND:
What?
GRAVITOR:
It looked like something fiery just tried to hit us.
WIND:
It must have been your imagination.
[ Theracy looks toward them; she looks like she might be sick. ]
THERACY:
I saw it, too.
WIND:
Did you see where it came from?
THERACY:
I've been looking around outside the plane. I tried looking at home... but it's already dark there, and...
[ Theracy looks down. ]
GRAVITOR:
Well, what was it that just flew past us?
THERACY:
I don't know. It looked like a rocket. I think it came from below.
GRAVITOR:
Oh, so someone's shooting at us?
[ Theracy puts her hand over her mouth and lurches forward, but pulls back and lifts her head with her lips pressed tightly together. ]
WIND:
Can you find who did it?
THERACY:
I think I'll be sick.
[ EXT. FIELD - TWILIGHT. : The field is mostly bare, other than sparce, stiff grass with a light frost to it. A small house is visible in the distance, though it isn't lit. ]
[ The previously-seen fiery object whistles through the sky and finally strikes the field, sending up a small plume of smoke. There is a brief ball of flame around the site of impact, but it soon dies, leaving the charred remains of a cone-tipped tube lying on the ground. ]
[ EXT. HILLTOP - TWILIGHT. : a mountain is visible to the background, and trees sparcely fill the land behind the hill. A thin cloud of smoke drifts up into the air and disperses to the distance. Shentair and two men stand atop the hill, watching the mountain. ]
[ One of the men raises a hand, and Shentair and the other hurry down the hill and toward the mountain, obscured by the trees after a short distance. ]
[ INT. MEXICO CITY AIRPORT - EVENING. : There is a somewhat large crowd moving through a broad hall toward an open area with an escalater on one end. In the crowd, Taoe (all but Glacier in street clothes, Black Eagle absent) and previously-seen BB agents can be seen. ]
BB10:
Before we reach the escalaters, we split into smaller groups that all leave the airport individually. Each group will check in at the location on page three of the brochure that Black Eagle will leave in the men's room.
WIND:
That might be difficult for some of us.
BB10:
Each group will consist of at least one Buff Brigade agent and one Agent of Erosion.
GRAVITOR:
I think Shanan's idea got out.
THERACY:
What about me?
BB18:
You're with me and Wind.
BB10:
Glacier, Black Eagle will be waiting for us at luggage.
[ Glacier slipe along the side of the moving crowd and quickly breaks free toward the escalater; BB10 makes his way after him. ]
BB14:
Charles Lemburen, you'll be following me out of here.
GRAVITOR:
Hey, weren't you the guy at the police station last summer?
BB14:
That's right. Ern tells me that despite your mouth, you have the makings of a decent leader.
GRAVITOR:
Who?
BB14:
Black Eagle never told you his name?
GRAVITOR:
I always kinda thought of him as "that big guy that's always at the base".
BB14:
You clearly have a lot to learn about loose ends.
[ BB14 starts walking toward the escalater. Gravitor hesitantly follows. ]
BB14 (cont'd):
Running into anything blindly is asking for death. Maybe you should take a long look at that brochure; the more we know about or surroundings, the more prepared we can be.
[ EXT. AIRPORT PARKING LOT - NIGHT. ]
[ Black Eagle, Glacier and BB10 walk off along the side of the road leaving the airport to the left. ]
[ BB14 and Gravitor walk out of the airport and across the parking lot. As they speak, the camera moves toward the door, losing track of them. ]
GRAVITOR:
We aren't getting a cab?
BB14:
You tired?
GRAVITOR:
No, but I wasn't expecting to start tonight.
BB14:
You've had a whole day to rest.
[ Hydron and BB12 exit the building side by side. BB12 keeps looking ahead, while Hydron glances at him uneasily. They make their way to the right and out of sight. ]
[ INT. SUBWAY - NIGHT. : Wind, Theracy and BB14 are seated on a row of seats along the side of the train, which is both dark and filled with people. ]
THERACY:
I've never been riding something as long as I have today.
BB18:
It's not over yet.
WIND:
Ki--
[ BB18 growls. ]
WIND:
... They haven't gotten here yet, have they? Maybe he have a little time to get back into shape.
BB18:
We don't know where they are.
WIND:
As much traveling as we've been doing, we'll be too jet-lagged to be any help.
BB18:
Well, maybe you should start doing manual labor every morning a couple hours before dawn.
[ Theracy gives a brief gasp, and there is a noise as though something strikes the train from the outside. ]
WIND:
What was that?
[ Theracy moans in exasperation and closes her eyes. ]
[ Flash through white to... ]
[ INT. SUBWAY TUNNEL - NIGHT (blurry). : A man-shaped body drops from above and lands in a motionless heap near the train as it passes. ]
[ Flash through white to... ]
[ INT. SUBWAY - NIGHT. ]
THERACY:
Someone fell into the tunnel.
BB18:
How?
THERACY:
I can't see the past...
BB18:
Can you see where he fell from?
[ Flash through white to... ]
[ EXT. STREET - NIGHT. : Two shadowy figures walk away from a hole between two buildings a few meters from the road. ]
[ Flash through white to... ]
[ INT. SUBWAY - NIGHT. ]
THERACY:
There are two people walking away from a hole.
BB18:
Can you follow them?
THERACY:
I think so.
[ EXT. SUBWAY STATION - NIGHT. : BB18, Wind and Theracy walk out onto a sidewalk. Wind is leading Theracy by the arm while her eyes are closed. ]
THERACY:
There's a big building nearby. It looks like a castle.
BB18:
Are they walking toward it?
[ There is a long silence. ]
THERACY:
They're just passing it. Now they're crossing the street... now they're going left.
WIND:
Are we following them?
BB18:
We're checking in with the others first, if Yellow can keep track of them.
WIND:
Yellow?
THERACY:
Venus is yellow.
WIND:
What does that have to do with...
BB18:
Details, details. Don't fall behind.
[ Wind sighs, then pulls Theracy closer and speeds up her walk. ]
[ Theracy gasps and opens her eyes. ]
BB18:
What is it?
THERACY:
They see us.
[ BB18 stops walking and looks around, and catches sight of the silhouette of a castle in the distance; two figures are coming from that direction, both wearing large coats with the hoods up. ]
BB18:
Is that them?
THERACY:
Yes.
[ Theracy steps back a bit; Wind tightens her grip on her arm. ]
BB18:
We've already drawn too much attention. Step to the side of the path.
[ Wind, Theracy and BB18 all step toward the inner edge of the sidewalk. The hooded figures keep walking without reacting. As they approach, BB18 steps toward them and holds out his arm, blocking one and grabbing the shoulder of the other. Both jump and try to turn and run. BB18 grabs the coat of one, and the person slips out of it, revealing a hispanic man who starts running. ]
BB18:
Hold it!
[ BB18 drops the coat and runs after the men, tackling the coatless one to the sidewalk. Wind turns toward the still-running coated one, releasing Theracy as she extends her arms. The wind blows toward Wind and Theracy (Wind's hair blows back), and the coated one's coat is caught in the wind as he slows, then flies backward and lands on the sidewalk. ]
THERACY:
Did you do that?
WIND:
You're not the only one with weird powers.
[ The coated man gets back up, but the wind returns and throws him back again, bringing him just out of reach of BB18. ]
BB18:
Hold still.
THERACY:
Basta!
COATLESS:
No hice nada!
[ BB18 edges forward and grabs the coat of the coated man. ]
BB18:
Habla ingl'es?
COATLESS:
No, no!
THERACY:
Le vi.
COATLESS:
Él nos amenazó! Él iba a matarnos!
BB18:
Wind, get the other guy and let's take them between those buildings. We need to question them before the police arrive.
[ EXT. ROOFTOP - NIGHT. : Taoe, sans Wind, and BB10, 12 and 14 all stand on the roof of a two-story building with quiet streets below (though there is much noise in the distance). Hydron's arms are held tightly over her chest as though she is uncomfortably cold. ]
BLACK EAGLE (Frustrated):
Where are they? We've been standing up here for ten minutes.
BB18 (over radio):
BB Eighteen to Black Eagle.
BLACK EAGLE:
This is Black Eagle. Where are you?
BB18(over radio):
Sorry for the wait. We crossed paths with some murderers.
BLACK EAGLE:
Murderers? Is anyone injured?
BB18 (over radio):
We're all fine. They didn't put up much of a fight. I'll explain when we reach your location.
BLACK EAGLE:
Everyone else is here. How long will you be?
BB18 (over radio):
Just a few minutes.
[ Dissolve to the same location, from above; Wind, Theracy and BB18 have joined the group on the roof. ]
BB18:
They said it was personal. They didn't say anything about the key, but they did say something that might help us.
BLACK EAGLE:
What's that?
BB18:
If Yellow's translating holds up, they got the idea because they saw someone else dumping a foreigner into the subway.
GRAVITOR:
Oh, so more information from the same source.
[ Black Eagle and Wind both glare at Gravitor, who shrugs. ]
BB14:
We did look into reports of criminal activity before we left Miami. There was an Iranian man found in the subway with a slith throat and a stab wound to the leg a few days ago.
BLACK EAGLE:
Do we know anything about him?
BB14:
He'd been living in the city for several years. He'd been paying some debts with personal property, but the police couldn't get any information out of the people he paid. And no, they didn't report who these people were. But they did report which burrow the victim was from.
BB12:
There are millions of people in this city; a burrow doesn't narrow it down by much.
GRAVITOR:
We don't know if this guy had anything to do with the keys. Is there any point in trying to find his home?
BLACK EAGLE:
It's the closest thing we've got to a lead, unless Theracy has something else to tell us.
THERACY:
I... don't know anything else.
BLACK EAGLE:
All right. How many of us know Spanish?
BB14:
I'm proficient in it.
BLACK EAGLE:
Anyone else?
WIND:
I took a year of Spanish in Highschool, but I couldn't question anybody.
HYDRON:
Same here.
BLACK EAGLE:
All right, then. We'll break into the same groups and start investigating the victim's neighborhood. Better sooner than later.
[ EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT. : A man and woman are walking along a sidewalk. Hydron and BB12 walk at a distance behind them. ]
WOMAN (American accent):
I still think she expects too much.
MAN (Mexican accent):
It works for her! I tell them to make her work for it, but they don't listen.
HYDRON(Quietly, to BB12):
Should we talk to them?
BB12:
Probably.
[ BB12 starts walking faster, and Hydron tries to keep up. ]
BB12:
Excuse me!
[ The man and woman slow, stop, and look around as BB12 and Hydron approach them. ]
BB12:
I'm sorry to trouble you. I'm investigating a murder.
[ The man holds up his hands. ]
MAN:
Oh, no. I talk to you people, and a couple hours later another man disappears.
BB12:
Another? Who?
MAN:
No more. I don't know what Akhim had, but it's gone now.
BB12:
Did he have a debt with the man that went missing?
MAN:
I don't know nothing.
BB12:
Can you tell me where he lives?
MAN:
Nothing.
BB12:
His job?
MAN:
Construction. He pours cement. That's all I know.
BB12:
Was he working on anything today?
MAN:
I don't know nothing.
BB12:
Ok. Thank you; you can go.
[ The man turns and taps the woman's arm anxiously, and the two of them start walking quickly along the sidewalk. ]
HYDRON:
What do we do?
BB12:
Tell the others.
[ EXT. APARTMENT BALCONY - NIGHT. : Gravitor and BB14 stand on the balcony as a man hurries through a glass door and pulls the curtains shut behind him. ]
BB14:
This is pastluck. Saw what might have been a construction site on the way in. It was closer to the subway terminal.
[ EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT. : Black Eagle, Glacier and BB10 stand in the shadows between two buildings. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Supper, Pastluck, head for the construction site. Eighteen and I will try to track down someone with information. Radio as soon as something happens.
[ EXT. CITYSTREET - NIGHT. : Gravitor and BB14 are sprinting along a sidewalk. ]
GRAVITOR:
You know, we could go a lot faster if we went weightless.
BB14:
Everyone on the street would notice someone flying through the air.
[ EXT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - NIGHT. : The area is large and half covered in fresh concrete, with a high linked-wire fence surrounding it; a large "CONSTRUCTION" sign hangs over one corner of the fence. There is one region of the fence where several links have been cut unevenly, and are bent awkwardly as though something was forced through. The hole is just big enough for a thin adult to pass through. ]
[ BB12 and Hydron approach the fence. ]
BB12:
I think the fence is damaged up ahead.
[ They reach the area where the fence has been broken. ]
BB12:
It's been cut. Whatever went in probably hasn't come out yet, since the broken links are all bent inward.
HYDRON:
It's strange that noone is watching.
[ EXT. APARTMENT STAIRWELL - NIGHT. : BB18 walks up the stairs, followed by Wind, who is leading Theracy by the arm; Theracy's eyes are closed. ]
THERACY:
I think I've found them.
WIND:
Is anyone there?
THERACY:
Your friend and the agent with her.
BB18:
Are they alone?
THERACY:
I'm still looking.
[ EXT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - NIGHT. : BB12, now alone, pushes his way through the fence with some effort. ]
[ Water-Hydron flows over the concrete slowly, sending out and retracting smaller puddles to search cracks in the concrete. The concrete is mostly smooth, however. ]
[ BB12 draws a small hand gun. ]
BB12 (quietly):
Supper. I'm in the construction site. The fence was cut and forced in. There are no signs of life so far.
[ Water-Hydron approaches a slight bulge in the concrete with a broad ridge on one side. The concrete near the base of the ridge has a dusty crack near it, as though struck with something sharp and heavy. The water surrounds the bulge and fills the crack. ]
THERACY (Voice-over):
It looks like someone's tried to tear up the concrete.
[ Zoom in on the crack. A few small chunks of concrete float aside as the water forces its way into the crack, which is several inches deep. A golden key is on its side, visible through the crack. The water reaches it; upon touching it, the volume of water in the crack rapidly expands, stripping away several thin chips of concrete. ]
[ Flash through white to... ]
[ EXT. FOREST - NIGHT. : A figure in dark robes and a black cloak, its features hidden beneath a black hood, lifts its head. Its hands cannot be clearly seen, but something glows silver between its sleeves. ]
[ The sound of Theracy screaming plays over the scene. ]
[ Flash through white to... ]
[ EXT. APARTMENT STAIRWELL - NIGHT. : Theracy's scream carries into this scene. ]
[ Theracy's eyes are opened as she screams, her hands moving for her head (Wind' is still holding her arm). She sinks to her knees, and Wind stumbles as though she will fall down the stairs. BB18 turns and watches Theracy closely. ]
WIND:
Theracy! What's wrong?!
[ Theracy stops screaming and starts panting. ]
THERACY (breathing heavily):
Cold power... wants to ... devour me...!
[ EXT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - NIGHT. : Water-Hydron has become a vortex of water over the crack. BB12 stands on the edge of the whirlpool, gazing into it. ]
BB12:
There's a crack in the concrete. Hydron's whirling over it. I see something shiny...
[ There is a glint of silver from the shadows and a slight sound as Shentair leaps toward BB12, sword in hand. BB12 spins to face the sound. A shot issues from his gun, but he slips into the edge of the whirlpool and misses. Shentair thrusts his sword at BB12's face, but BB12 brings up his gun and catches the blow. The gun flies out of his hand, and Shentair brings his blade down for BB12's stomach. ]
[ Fade to black as BB12 screams. ]
[ EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT. : This area of the street passes in front of a subway station. BB14 and Gravitor are running along the street. ]
BB14:
That was Supper!
GRAVITOR:
Forget secrecy; I'm weightlessing it!
[ Gravitor leaps off of the sidewalk and keeps rising as he moves forward. ]
[ EXT CONSTRUCTION SITE - NIGHT. : Focus on the Whirlpool. Shentair's reflection is visible; a drop of blood falls from his sword into the water. ]
[ Shentair dives into the pool, striking the crack in the conrete with his sword. He strikes it twice more before it is big enough for him to thrust his hand into it. The whirlpool tightens around him, but Shentair withdraws his hand with the key, and he spins and jumps out of the water, running for the fence. ]
[ The water rises to human height and becomes Hydron, who is out of breath. She runs to where BB12 is on the ground, bent over with his hands beneath him; there is blood on the ground. ]
HYDRON:
Are you ok?
BB12 (gasping in pain):
Stop him!
HYDRON:
I can't leave you here.
BB12:
We're here to stop him; leave me!
[ EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT. : Shentair runs with the key in one hand, his sword in the other. A man in sunglasses stands on the sidewalk ahead, watching Shentair expectantly. ]
TERRORIST1:
You have it!
SHENTAIR:
We are not alone.
[ There is the sound of a gunshot, and the man near Shhentair falls to the ground. Shentair keeps running. ]
[ BB14 and Gravitor block the sidewalk ahead. BB14 wields a large handgun. ]
BB14:
Freeze!
[ Another man jumps out from behind a pole wielding a machinegun; he opens fire, and BB14 ducks under his shots and returns fire. ]
GRAVITOR:
That's not what freeze means!
[ Shentair's sword drops slightly, though he keeps his grip on it as he approaches Gravitor, slowing as he gets closer. ]
GRAVITOR:
Go for it. See how that works out for you.
[ Shentair makes a heavy swing at Gravitor, who jumps over the strike, then falls toward Shentair from no less than two meters above. ]
[ orange light in the shape of wings appears over the street. ]
BLACK EAGLE (OS):
Out of the way, Lemburen!
[ A small orb flies at Gravitor, who kicks off of Shentair's helmet to dodge. Gravitor floats higher, and Shentair bats the orb aside and continues running. The orb strikes the sidewalk between Shentair and BB14,and explodes; BB14 rolls out of the range of the explosion. ]
[ Black Eagle flies over head with wings ignited, another sunglasses-wearing man standing behind a pole across the street, holding another grenade. Black Eagle takes aim with his hands and a beam of blue sparks and light blasts from Black Eagle's hand, striking the grenade out of the man's hand. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Don't let him get away with the key!
GRAVITOR:
I got 'im.
[ Gravitor falls toward Shentair. A car drives slowly down the road, slowing to a stop as it comes closed to the action. Shentair dives for the car, slashing at its back tire with his sword before running around it. Gravitor crashes into the top of the car and remains there for a moment, dazed. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
You aren't Fieron; you won't spark your way away from me!
[ Black Eagle turns in mid air and dives for Shentair. Another blast from Black Eagle's hands strikes Shentair in the back, throwing him to the ground. Black Eagle lands, wings fading. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Hand over the key.
[ Shentair gets to his knees and pivots to face Black Eagle. He raises his sword and makes a swing for Black Eagle's thigh, but Black Eagle sidesteps and blasts Shentair to the ground again. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Fine; I'll take it.
GRAVITOR (OS):
Black Eagle! Look out!
[ Black Eagle looks up, then staggers to his knees just before a gunshot rings through the night. Standing under the eves of a darkened building on the streetcorner is Kamal, a darker-skinned man whose face resembles Kamir's, dressed in jeans and a dark turtleneck. He holds an AK47 in one hand, and a grenade in the other. ]
KAMAL:
What are you waiting for, Kro? Take the key and leave!
[ Shentair gets to one knee and turns away from Black Eagle. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
No you don't!
[ Kamal fires his gun again, and the bullet strikes the pavement between Black Eagle and Shentair, nearly bouncing into Black Eagle's side. ]
KAMAL:
You stay where you are, interloper.
[ Kamal rolls the grenade in his hand, pulls the pen, and throws it. ]
KAMAL (cont'd):
Take a gift from my father!
[ Black Eagle holds out a hand to aim for the grenade, but it changes direction and falls toward Shentair. ]
KAMAL:
What? Shentair!
[ Shentair jumps into the air, and the grenade explodes a foot above the road. ]
[ Gravitor stands on top of the idolling car, a hand outstretched. ]
GRAVITOR:
Tell Kimal that if he wants to blow us up, he should do it himself!
[ Gravitor jumps off of the car and falls toward Kamal. Kamal aims his gun at Gravitor. ]
KAMAL:
You dare attack Kamal, son of Kimal? Die!
[ At the instant that Kamal fires, a spear of ice strikes the gun in his hand and the shot goes wide. Gravitor falls closer and kicks Kamal's arm, knocking the gun out of his hand. Gravitor stands sideways on Kamal's chest. ]
GRAVITOR:
Wow, Kimal sends his sons to do his dirty work, does he?
[ Gravitor kicks at Kamal's face. Kamal flinches and dodges the attack. ]
KAMAL:
What are you going to do, infidel? It will take all of you to capture me!
[ EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT. : Glacier stands at the edge of a building, a spear of ice in one hand, the other sheathed in ice. BB10 aims a handgun into the alley. ]
[ Shentair runs into view. BB10 fires his gun; Shenatair ducks,though the shot still takes off one of the horns from his helmet. BB10 fires again, and sparks and smoke fly from the side of Shentair's armor; Shentair keeps running, though no bullet strikes the ground. Glacier turns and throws his ice-spear at Shentair's back. Shentair spins and strikes the spear away with his sword. BB10 fires again, and the remaining horn is gone from Shentair's helmet. Shentair spins again and keeps running. Police sirens are audible in the distance. ]
BB10:
That armor can't be bullet-proof. A couple more shots should drop him.
[ Ice flows outward from Glacier's feet, pushing him toward Shentair as an ice-lance forms around his free forearm. ]
[ EXT. APARTMENT STAIRWAY - NIGHT. : Wind pulls Theracy to her feet. ]
WIND:
Theracy, come on. You're ok.
THERACY (panting):
I've never... seen... felt anything ... like that.
WIND:
The key?
THERACY:
Not the key. What it led to...
BB18:
What about Hydron and Twelve?
THERACY:
I don't know. I lost them when I touched the key. It sent me somewhere... dark.
[ Flash through white to... ]
[ EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - DAWN. : A cloaked figure in black emerges from a line of trees, moving swiftly across the land; its feet cannot be seen. ]
THERACY (Voice-over, cont'd):
Someone was there, but I don't even know if it was human. All I know is... I was sure it was going to consume my soul...
[ Dissolve to... ]
[ EXT. APARTMENT STAIRWELL - NIGHT. : A plump woman looks at Wind, Theracy and BB18 from above; her face shows curiocity. Theracy is visibly shaking. ]
WIND:
It's gone now, right?
THERACY:
I don't know. I ... want to go home.
BB18:
Can you find them again?
THERACY:
I don't want to see that... shadow thing again.
BB18:
Don't touch the key. Just find Hydron and Twelve.
THERACY:
I'll... try.
[ Theracy closes her eyes. ]
[ EXT. STREETCORNER - NIGHT. : Gravitor still stands sideways on Kamal's chest. ]
GRAVITOR:
I'd say I've got you right now. Disarmed with a gravity-shifter on your chest... I think you're beaten.
[ Black Eagle walks toward Kamal. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
We can't let them get away with the key. I'll--
HYDRON (over radio):
We need help; an agent is injured!
KAMAL:
Aren't you going to help your friend? Or is defiling the great works your only goal?
[ Black Eagle kicks Kamal's legs out from under him and he falls; Gravitor flips over him and kicks him in the back, and Kamal is face down on the ground with Gravitor standing on his back. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Hold him.
[ Sirens grow louder; a policecar drives into view. ]
GRAVITOR:
Do they know we're here?
BLACK EAGLE (reluctant):
No.
GRAVITOR:
So do you have a plan?
[ The policecar stops in the middle of the intersection and an officer gets out of both driver and passenger doors. ]
OFFICER1:
Basta!
KAMAL:
You are too busy fighting yourselves to ever crush our great works.
GRAVITOR:
Plan, boss?
BLACK EAGLE:
We can't let them interfere. Get out of sight.
GRAVITOR:
What about Kamal?
[ The officers run toward them, weapons drawn. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
We're going to have to bale. Hopefully the police will hold him for us.
[ Gravitor sighs, then kicks off of Kamal's back, rising high into the sky. Black Eagle's wings ignite and he flies into the sky. The policemen gaze up at the airborn figures in bewilderment. While the police look away, Kamal scrambles to his feet and runs into the shadows. ]
[ EXT. SIDEROAD - NIGHT. : Shentair is running on foot, with Glacier close behind him, propelled by ice from his feet, ice-lance afixed to his right arm, the left sheathed in an ice gauntlet. ]
[ BB10 runs along side the ice-trails left by Glacier. ]
BB10:
The police are in the area. If we don't stop him quickly, they might get in the way.
[ Shentair runs across an intersection. As Glacier follows, a car speeds through; Glacier is thrown from his ice-trail. He thrusts his ice-lance into the road, throwing himself above the car long enough to land on the road behind it. Shentair runs out of sight as Glacier struggles to collect himself from the road in time to dodge another car. Fragments of the ice-lance fly across the road as the first car strikes it. ]
[ BB10 runs to Glacier, peering across the street through the sight of his gun. ]
BB10:
Are you all right?
GLACIER:
I can still walk.
BB10:
I don't think I can hit him at this distance.
[ Another car speeds by. Fade to black. ]
[ Fade in to INT. CAVE - DAY - LAMPLIGHT. : A safe sits open against one limestone wall. On a wooden chair beside it sits Kimal, an older man with a gray-black beard. In the safe sits a green-and-black-tarnished bronze statue of a dragon with twin scythes protruding from the sides of its head. The width of its head and the shape of its lower jaw implies that the dragon is built over a human skull. Kamir (reference episode 5) stands with his head bowed on the other side of the room, and men with their heads veiled stand beside both Kamir and Kimal. ]
KIMAL (Arabic subtitled):
Report, Kamir.
KAMIR (Arabic subtitled):
Kamal successfully salvaged the operation in Mexico, father. Five keys are ours, and there are no reports that the enemy knows of the sixth. The sixth may already be ours.
KIMAL (Arabic subtitled):
This is good. If the Kro have not lied about the key of Egypt, we will unlock the Nornish before the equinox.
KAMIR (Arabic subtitled):
The same ddjin-powered infidels that fought us in Egypt were in Mexico. I do not know how they knew, or how they got there so quickly.
KIMAL (Arabic subtitled):
There is something evil about them. If they are human, the plagues within the Nornish will kill them once we have the seven keys. If they are ddjin, they might withstand the plagues. I believe them to be human. They are abomenations of the infidels, and will be the first to taste the plagues of the Nornish.
KAMIR (Arabic subtitled):
If we cannot control the plagues, turning them on the abomenations will cost us the chance to destroy all of our enemies.
KIMAL (Arabic subtitled):
If all the keymasters work as one, the Nornish will do what we desire. Prepare to collect the seventh key.
KAMIR (Arabic subtitled):
It is as you command, father.
[ Dissolve to... ]
[ INT. ISDA CONFERENCEROOM - DAY. : Theracy sits in one of the chairs against the wall, eyes closed and hands on her knees. Black Eagle stands in the middle of the room, watching Theracy intently. The ISDAChairman sits in his customary seat. Wind, Hydron, Gravitor and Glacier stand along the wall opposite the ISDAChairman. ]
WIND (quietly):
Plagues?
GRAVITOR:
This all sounds pretty ridiculous, if you ask me.
BLACK EAGLE:
Noone did.
WIND:
Chairman, could this Nornish thing really control plagues like that?
ISDACHAIRMAN:
We do not have the intelligence to confirm or deny the existence of such a device.
THERACY:
It's real. It's right there... It's...
[ Theracy covers her mouth as she lets out a yelp, opening her eyes and straightening up. ]
WIND:
Are you ok?
THERACY:
I tried to look inside of it, but there's something about it that ... it's like that thing the key showed me. It's like a metal dragon built around a skull. I think it's real, but... I couldn't touch it.
ISDACHAIRMAN:
It is imperative that you follow Kamir. While we cannot confirm the validity of any of this, we must keep the seventh key out of Kimal's hands.
BLACK EAGLE:
Sir, would it be advantageous to strike at Kimal now that we know where he is? We could at least get the Nornish away from him.
ISDACHAIRMAN:
This will be considered. For now, all of you must keep everything you have heard in this room confidential. Kimal is confident that with the keys, he can destroy all of his enemies, and he has millions of enemies. What he has done to achieve this goal has proven successful despite your efforts. If you fail to keep the seventh key from Kimal, it will cost this agency, and could result in the termination of your contracts. If the Nornish exists and has power, the consequences of failure will be far less acceptable. Dismissed.
[ Gravitor slowly shakes his head. Theracy makes a move as though to get up. ]
ISDACHAIRMAN:
Yellow, you are to remain here and relay any information you can find on the location of the key.
[ Theracy slumps into her chair, looking downward with a deep frown. Wind sighs. ]
WIND:
Shanan... let's go.
[ Black Eagle turns to face Hydron and Wind. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Not so fast.
WIND:
We were dismissed.
BLACK EAGLE:
I'm sure BB twelve appreciates you staying to help him, but that might have been what allowed Shentair to escape with the key. This is war. Twelve did his part; you were supposed to do yours.
[ Hydron lowers her head. A tear drops from her eye to the floor. ]
BLACK EAGLE (cont'd):
If you stop in a war, the enemy will take advantage of that. Don't let it happen again.
[ Wind takes Hydron by the arm. ]
WIND:
Come on, Shanan.
[ Wind pulls Hydron toward the door and out. ]
[ INT. HALLWAY - DAY. : Wind pulls Hydron through the hall, which is otherwise empty. ]
WIND:
They ship us to Mexico without warning, and then lecture us.
HYDRON:
I couldn't stop him.
WIND:
What?
HYDRON:
Shentair reached through me and grabbed the key.
WIND:
Why couldn't you stop him?
HYDRON:
When I touched the key... it turned everything around. It weakened me. I thought I would be trapped in water... I couldn't get out until he left with the key.
WIND:
Are your powers back to normal, then?
HYDRON:
I think so. But they weren't broken like Glacier's. All that correcting them accomplished was getting people hurt, and giving that madman another key.
[ Wind puts an arm around Hydron's shoulder. ]
WIND:
That wasn't your fault. You're lucky things didn't turn out any worse. Besides, Shentair led Theracy to Kimal; we'll stop them for sure now.
[ Hydron looks at her hands. ]
HYDRON:
I don't know. There's more to this than a terrorist trying to unlock plagues. There's something dark about the keys... something not even they would touch if they knew even the little that we know.
[ Pan back toward the end of the hall opposite Wind and Hydron as they keep walking. Glacier stands at the end of the hall, watching them from behind. Fade to black. ]
3:54PM 2/11/2010
