Writer: C. A. E. Jones
12:32PM 2/27/2010
[ INT. ISDA BREAKROOM - DAY. : Spectro sits in the chair farthest from the door with a laptop open in his lap. A BB agent sits in the opposite chair; the television is on, showing a baseball game. ]
[ Spectro types quickly on his laptop's keyboard, though the screen cannot be seen from this angle. ]
BLACK EAGLE (OS):
I hope you aren't tampering with evidence.
[ Spectro looks up as Black Eagle walks into the room. ]
SPECTRO:
You already looked at it. Besides, if I wanted to erase anything...
BLACK EAGLE:
Yeah, yeah, you would've erased it a long time ago.
[ Black Eagle moves to and opens the refrigerator, pulling out an unmarked red bottle. He removes the cap of the bottle and drinks from it. Spectro returns to typing. Spectro's typing pauses with a pronounced press of a key (a larger key by the sound). After a moment, he sighs and continues typing. Black Eagle sets the bottle down on the table and faces Spectro. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
There's an operation that Fourteen wants your help with.
[ Spectro looks up, a mild look of frustration on his face. ]
SPECTRO:
What's that?
BLACK EAGLE:
How good are you at disguises?
SPECTRO:
Complicated holograms are a little difficult, but so long as I'm not doing much else I can usually manage.
BLACK EAGLE:
How about metal?
SPECTRO:
Metal... that one's kind of fun, really.
[ Spectro holds up his hand and a silver disk appears balanced on his finger. The disk appears to wobble a bit, catching the light from the ceiling. The disk morphs awkwardly into a dome, then fades away. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Good. We'll want you in the access tunnel in about an hour. I hope I don't have to give you a call.
[ Spectro shrugs. ]
SPECTRO:
I'll be there. I just hope there's a good reason for this.
BLACK EAGLE:
You'd get paid for it, so long as you watch the insubordination.
[ Spectro nods noncommittally and looks back at his laptop. ]
SPECTRO (muttering to himself):
I hate brace errors.
[ EXT. SNOWY FIELD - DAY. : The edges of the scene are distorted as though in a flashback. Nearby, a small building of cracked brick and wood is burning. Two men in Russian military uniforms pull a woman away from the burning building. Meanwhile, several other Russian soldiers stand in two lines--the front larger than the back. Everyone on the front line has weapons drawn, and the men on the ends of the back line are likewise wielding large guns. A large, wrecked tractor sits several meters from the Russian soldiers; several men in dark brown coats are gathered behind the tractor. Some of them carry handguns, though none have the same type as another. One of them appears to be Ibn, though the front of his mask isn't visible, a dagger's blade visible over his shoulder. ]
[ Two soldiers between the tractor and the two-line formation have restrained who appears to be Jienki, and drag him toward the back line. It can now be seen that Kamir is restrained in the back of the group, his arms held behind his back. ]
[ One of the men behind the tractor edges toward the corner of it, raising a pistol to aim for a soldier across the field. The gun fires (the sound is muffled, and echoes unnaturally). A soldier's gun takes aim, and another gunshot issues from his direction (likewise muffled and echoing). The man behind the tractor that fired his weapon falls back with a cry of pain. ]
[ Now restrained between two soldiers behind the main line, Jienki straightens his back. Nearly Transparent arms shimmer into visibility below his real arms. The translucent arms reach up, one of them twisting a soldier's hand away, the other punching the other soldier below the ribs. Jienki breaks free from his captors and spins, throwing them both aside. One of Jienki's victims falls into one of his comrades, and Kamir is able to pull an arm free and karate-chop the wrist of one of his captors. Kamir catches the man's weapon and turns it on his other captor. ]
[ Aerial shot: The lines of soldiers break into a semi circle, all but two turning to control Jienki and Kamir. Several soldiers fall around them, though from this altitude (and with the distortion of the image), it can only clearly be seen that Jienki's arms are striking at the soldiers, and flashes issue from the gun in Kamir's hand. The men behind the tractor split into two small groups, one running out from either side of the tractor. Two of them fall to shots from a soldier that faces them, but most of the men rush the soldiers and the field is filled with shouting. ]
[ Dissolve to... ]
[ EXT. SNOWY CAMP - EVENING. : A few of the non-soldiers from the previous scene, including Jienki, Ibn and Kamir, are gathered around a small fire outside two small canvas tents. (The edge of the scene is distorted.) ]
[ The men around the fire speak, though they can't be heard clearly. One of them looks at Jienki and starts laughing; several of the men join him. Ibn steps into one of the tents, followed by Kamir. As all but one of the men around the fire are watching Jienki and laughing, Jienki suddenly tears off his mask, revealing a furious expression on his face. He throws the mask into the fire. Two of the men stop laughing and glare at Jienki. Jienki gets up and jumps over the fire, tackling one of the men to the ground. The rest of the men all jump up and surround Jienki, and he begins punching them all away with ferocity. Ibn hurries out of the tent, his blue-gemmed bone-handled dagger in hand. A short man in a purple hood emerges from the tent and whispers to Ibn, then Ibn turns and shouts at the brawling men. ]
[ Dissolve to... ]
[ EXT. CANYON - DAY. : Ibn walks along side Guopin. Ibn has both his and Dark Bob's daggers in his hands. ]
GUOPIN (solemnly):
Jienki. He was always too eager to prove himself. Or to prove the value of our arts, at least. He would probably be alive now if he hadn't begged Kimal to let him fight the Russians.
IBN:
Because of him, I escaped with the dagger, and many Kro have been sent to their judgment. Those idolating traitors... they could be hiding more of Gatsuan Kalik's creations from us.
GUOPIN:
If not for them, we wouldn't know who Kalik was. But Kimal agrees that they must be dealt with in time.
[ There are several large cracks in the rocky slope along which Guopin and Ibn walk. Guopin gracefully leaps atop a boulder, and from it to another. Ibn follows, though with visibly more effort. Guopin disappears between two large boulders, and Ibn follows. ]
[ INT. CAVE - DIM. : The darkened space is sempty, save apile of ashes in one corner, and what appears to be a humanoid shape under a green sheet near one rock wall. ]
[ Guopin walks to the center of the room, Ibn following. ]
GUOPIN:
Keep your distance.
[ Guopin reaches for the edge of the sheet and lifts it (though not enough that what is beneath can be seen from this angle). Ibn looks under the sheet. ]
IBN:
Is that one of the scouts?
GUOPIN:
No. He is one that examined the bodies of the scouts.
[ Guopin lowers the sheet. ]
IBN:
Then surely they died of a disease. It is dangerous for us to be near this body.
GUOPIN:
Kimal believes it to be radiation poisoning. I think it is either that, or something similar.
IBN:
Radiation? Then someone has nuclear weapons, or at least nuclear waste.
GUOPIN:
We found no traces of an explosion or nuclear waste. Ibn, place one of the daggers on the sheet.
IBN:
Radiation or disease, it is dangerous to get close to that body.
GUOPIN:
Then drop the dagger.
[ Ibn sighs and tosses Dark Bob's dagger atop the sheet. The red-violet gem in the base of the handle slowly begins to glow, though dimly. ]
GUOPIN:
It seems that I was right. It is safe to pick up the dagger, Ibn; the radiation is too weak to harm you.
[ Ibn looks at the dagger, hesitates, then steps forward and quickly scoops it up before stepping back to the opposite wall. The glow from the gem fades. ]
IBN:
How could these men have been killed by radiation without something radioactive near them?
GUOPIN:
I don't know. I only know that these mountains aren't as safe as we believed.
[ Fade to black. ]
[ INT. PRISON - DAY. : Hoita Nono, looking thinner and paler than before, sits with her knees to her face behind bars. ]
[ The sound of approaching footsteps can be heard, though Hoita doesn't seem to notice. The metal-covered shape of Eoce steps into view, and Hoita's head snaps up. She suddenly gets to her feet, looking at Eoce in fearful astonishment. ]
HOITA:
Eoce? But...
[ Hoita frowns. ]
HOITA (cont'd):
No. I didn't hear...
[ Eoce steps to the bars and faces into the cell. He holds up a hand and claws extend from his arm, striking the spot where the bars meet the wall. Hoita steps back, shaking. ]
HOITA:
But... this means...
[ Hoita shakes her head, then looks at Eoce coldly. ]
HOITA:
Eoce, which countries are tightest?
[ Eoce gives the bars a tug, and they slide back slightly, though not enough to permit passage. ]
HOITA:
Aren't you going to talk? No, of course not; then I'd be able to tell by the voice that you're a fake. Not that Eoce talked much, but his claws never sounded identical to the keys in the lock, either. And I didn't hear the footsteps that go with that suit, and there wasn't a portal.
[ "Eoce" Forces the gate all the way open and steps into the cell. ]
HOITA:
And Eoce would have had less trouble moving those bars. Is it Fourteen, again? No, your steps are different. Smaller feet, but less control.
BB14 (OS):
Well well well, what do we have here?
[ BB14 and a prison guard walk into view outside the cell. ]
HOITA:
I was wondering when you'd show up.
BB14:
Let's shut the cell, shall we?
[ The guard pulls the gate shut. ]
HOITA:
What are you trying to accomplish?
[ Hoita sighs. ]
HOITA (exasperated):
Never mind. I've given up trying to think of you as reasonably intelligent.
[ She suddenly lunges for Eoce. Eoce's image flickers momentarily as he steps back. Hoita falls to the floor. ]
HOITA:
A hologram! You have fully cunctioning holograms!
BB14:
What, you don't?
HOITA:
But there's nothing there to direct the light. The room would have to be rigged for...
[ Hoita draws back and stands up at her full height. ]
HOITA:
What do you want?
BB14:
Answers.
HOITA:
Take the hologram out of here.
BB14:
Answers, first.
HOITA (shouting):
I've told you everything! Everything!
SPECTRO:
Which countries are the tightest?
[ Hoita glares at "Eoce" with a wild, murderous expression. ]
HOITA:
Scotland. England. Japan. China. Go die.
BB14:
What does that mean, I wonder?
HOITA:
The places where connections to Eoce's... place were easiest to detect.
BB14:
It sounds like you haven't told us everything.
HOITA:
Trivial; I never thought of it. Get out of here.
BB14:
Still giving orders? A year behind bars, and you still think yourself a lord?
HOITA:
What do you want from me!
BB14:
Still don't want to talk about Fieron?
HOITA:
I told you everything I know about him the day you brought me in here! You want to know what else I know about Fieron? I know that after what you've put me through over him, I'll have him on a platter the day I'm out of here.
BB14:
You want Fieron on a platter, but not me?
HOITA:
Oh, no. I'll take my time with you. A year, three, however long I have to put up with you, you'll have to put up with me.
BB14:
Spectro, go ahead and come out.
[ "Eoce" Turns and pulls the gate open, stepping through. Hoita glares at his back until he turns and pulls the gate shut. The image of Eoce ripples and disappears, replaced with the image of Spectro, though his helmet covers all of his face now. ]
HOITA:
And if you throw any more holograms at me...
BB14:
What will you do? Throw feces at me?
HOITA:
If I see them enough, I'll learn to make my own. And I will. And you won't like what happens once I have holograms.
BB14:
I probably won't. I'll see you later, Doctor Nono.
[ BB14 walks out of sight. Spectro follows. The guard shoves a key into the junction of bars and wall ]
INT. ISDA HALLWAY - DAY. :
Spectro walks down the hall with a cel phone in his hand. Theracy and BB15 pass him from the opposite direction.
BB15:
You can't get a signal in here.
SPECTRO:
I like ring tones.
[ A song plays from the phone. Theracy looks toward Spectro. BB15 chuckles, and he and Theracy walk out of sight. Spectro sighs and holds the phone to his ear; a ring can be heard from it. ]
SPECTRO:
Clearest non-signal ever.
WIND (over phone):
Hi! You've reached Shanan and Sara. We can't come to the phone right now, but if you leave a message--
[ Spectro presses a button and lowers the phone. ]
SPECTRO:
Naturally. I guess Glacier's around here somewhere.
[ INT. ISDA MEETINGROOM - DAY. : The ISDA Chairman sits as usual. ]
[ BB15 and Theracy enter and take their usual positions. ]
ISDACHAIRMAN:
We need you to examine this area.
[ The wall opposite the chairman suddenly lights up, revealing a map of the Earth. A yellow circle flashes over the midwestern United States of America, then moves across the map. The map zooms in on Central Asia, and the circle stops near the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. After a moment, the image blinks away, and is replaced with an aerial view of some mountains (the view is from a great height above the mountains). ]
ISDACHAIRMAN:
You'll be looking for a small temple in these mountains. There is a high probability that there will be gamma rays in the area.
THERACY:
Starting across the world...
[ Theracy closes her eyes. Cut through white to... ]
[ INT. TEMPLE - NIGHT. : The clearest portions of the floor are covered in the burned remains of a large rug. The closer to the center of the room, the more burned the walls appear to be; some areas are obscured by rubble, though most of the room seems untouched, as though a small explosion occurred in the center of the room. Two men lie face down on the least burned portion of the rug; the necks and heads are visible enough that the skin can be seen to be filled with bubbles and blisters; though the skin is mostly pale, some of the blisters are discolored. ]
[ Some of the rubble toward the center of the room shifts, and a tanned hand emerges from it. ]
[ Pan to and zoom in on the hand. It reaches out and gropes for something. ]
[ The room disappears in a spiral of white light; the hand turns black, and the whole screen becomes a black-and-white spiral. ]
THERACY (voice-over):
A hole... Won't fall in again...
[ Cut through white to... ]
[ INT. ISDA MEETINGROOM - DAY. ]
[ Theracy takes a couple deep breaths, opens her eyes and looks toward the ISDA Chairman. ]
BB15:
Again?
THERACY:
This was different. I can keep looking. But... not at that body.
[ EXT. ALLEYWAY - DAY. : A pair of thin ice-rods lean against the side of a concrete-colored wall, slowly dripping water. ]
[ Spectro appears in the alleyway with a shimmer. He holds out a hand and moves it around in a slow circle, his eyes following it. Each section of wall he points at becomes transparent so long as it is in his sights, only revealing a darkened room, some filled with boxes, some home to rats. ]
SPECTRO:
Noone's listening, unless they're up there with you.
[ Spectro looks up; Glacier slides down along the ice-rods, holding onto one with each hand. His boots land loudly on the pavement, and he looks to Spectro blankly. ]
SPECTRO:
I guess that's a no.
GLACIER:
I didn't see or hear anyone.
SPECTRO:
I just wanted to ask about something.
[ There is an awkward silence for a few seconds. ]
SPECTRO:
They showed me a picture of a guy and had me use a hologram of him to try and help question someone. They didn't tell me anything about the guy, though. What do you know about Eoce?
GLACIER:
He has a facility in another realm. He's built many weapons that use electricity and radiation. He wears armor that we couldn't penetrate.
SPECTRO:
So you've fought him? All of you, unless you're a multiple. The prisoner said something about places where it's easier to reach his realm. Do you think that means anything?
GLACIER:
Is one of them in northeast Asia?
SPECTRO:
She mentioned China and Japan. Why?
[ Glacier looks to the sky. ]
GLACIER:
His portals affected my and Hydron's powers.
SPECTRO:
Hmm.
[ BB22 enters the alley. Spectro looks toward him; Glacier's gaze wanders toward him in relative disinterest. ]
BB22:
Are you alone?
SPECTRO:
I checked; it's just us.
BB22:
You've been called to meeting room A.
[ Spectro looks to Glacier, whose expression is unchanged. Spectro looks back to BB22 and starts walking toward him; BB22 turns and exits the alley. Glacier walks after them. ]
[ INT. ISDA MEETINGROOM - DAY. : The ISDAChairman, BB15 and Theracy are positioned as usual. Black Eagle stands across the room from the Chairman, Gravitor, Wind and Hydron to his left, Spectro and Glacier to his right. ]
ISDACHAIRMAN:
Spectro, can your abilities enable a team to enter a radiated area?
SPECTRO:
I haven't tried it, but I think it can be done.
ISDACHAIRMAN:
You are to report to the access tunnel upon your dismissal from this briefing. You will be taken to an aircraft that will transport you to a military outpost in Afghanistan. From there, you will be transported to a mountain near the Pakistan border. You will find a small, isolated temple there. This temple was recently struck by a high concentration of gamma rays from an undetermined source. While there are traces of an explosion from within the temple, it cannot be confirmed if this explosion was related to the cause of the gamma rays. Yellow's scans of the area have suggested that there may be an intity of unknown ability in the temple, which she described as a hole in the universe.
[ Spectro glances at Glacier; Wind glances at Hydron. ]
ISDACHAIRMAN (cont'd):
Your mission is to retrieve matter from the temple and return it to the United States to be examined. You are to report any information you can find regarding either the cause of the radiation or the phenomenon reported by Yellow. Be aware that the area you will be searching has been used as a hideout for terrorists, possibly to the present. Questions.
WIND:
Could the radiation be from the Nornish?
GRAVITOR:
We destroyed the keys; Kimal can't release the plagues without them.
WIND:
He might have found another way.
THERACY:
He did have people get the dagger back from the Kro.
ISDACHAIRMAN:
We have no reason to believe that the Nornish was involved, though it cannot be ruled out as a possibility.
HYDRON:
Theracy, was the hole you found at all like the keys?
THERACY:
No. It's strange, but it reminds me of something. For a second I thought I knew what it was, but... I don't remember now.
[ Spectro shakes his head. ]
[ Wipe to EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE - DAWN. : As the view moves overhead, the temple can be seen built into a terris-like area below the mountain's peak. A good hundred yards down the slope, Taoe--Black Eagle and Spectro included--trudge up the mountain. Spectro is in the front of the group, with Gravitor, Wind and Hydron in a row behind him; Glacier and Black Eagle bring up the rear. ]
[ Dissolve to the group standing in front of the temple, whose large wooden doors stand partly open. ]
SPECTRO:
Here we are.
[ He raises a hand, and there is a blue shimmer in the air around and within the temple. ]
GRAVITOR:
What's that?
SPECTRO:
Just testing to see how much radiation we're talking about. This looks like it'll be tough, but I think I can handle it. Just stick close to me.
[ Spectro holds his hand a little higher and a faint glow appears around it, fading from red to blue and back. He shoulders through the door, leaving Gravitor to pull it the rest of the way open as the rest of the group follows. ]
[ INT. TEMPLE - DAY. : The room is in similar condition as previously seen, though the bodies on the floor have been moved, and much of the debris has been shifted. ]
[ With Spectro in the lead, hand still raised and glowing, Taoe enters. ]
WIND:
Something blew up in here, all right.
BLACK EAGLE:
Someone, or something has been in here since then.
WIND:
How can you tell?
BLACK EAGLE:
Look at the debris. It's been disturbed. You can tell some of it has been swept off of that rug. Not sure what the point is, with how burned it is.
HYDRON:
There are smudge marks on the rug.
[ A closer shot of the rug reveals an area where two almost parallel lines of sut are visible, with two smaller marks within two feet of each streak. ]
GRAVITOR:
Black Eagle, what do you think?
BLACK EAGLE:
I think I want you to show us what you think.
GRAVITOR:
I was just asking.
BLACK EAGLE:
Because you already know.
[ Gravitor sighs and kneels over the smudges, placing his elbows in the smaller ones and his legs along the longer marks. ]
WIND:
Someone was kneeling there?
HYDRON:
And after the explosion, otherwise there wouldn't be any sut.
[ There is a distant sound of footsteps that suddenly goes silent. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Someone else is here.
[ Gravitor gets to his feet. ]
GRAVITOR:
How can that be? The radiation in here should kill anyone that spends more than a second in here.
SPECTRO:
Does anyone know anything about spectral lines?
WIND:
What?
HYDRON:
I know a little.
SPECTRO:
Look that way.
[ He extends his hand, and bands of red, green and blue-violet light appear across the room. ]
HYDRON:
Hydrogen?
SPECTRO:
Interesting.
WIND:
What does that mean?
BLACK EAGLE:
It means that this explosion was caused by hydrogen igniting, not by radiation.
[ The lines fade. More sounds of movement come from off screen. ]
SPECTRO:
I think it's time the walls became invisible.
[ A portion of the back wall shimmers and becomes transparent, revealing a male of anywhere from seventeen to twenty years old, wearing white pants beneath a gray cloak. He is bent over, leaning against the wall, his ear pressed against it. ]
WIND (quietly):
Should we try to reach him?
BLACK EAGLE:
We should be careful. (loudly) Hey! We know you're here. Just come out.
[ Wind glances at Black Eagle with slight uncertainty. ]
[ The person behind the wall slowly pulls away and slips out of view. ]
GRAVITOR:
Is that what we wanted?
ALUBEN (OS):
Who are you?
[ Everyone but Glacier looks around; the previously-seen person steps into the room across the debris-pile. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Relax. We're just trying to figure out what happened here.
SPECTRO:
You're being hit by a lot of gamma rays. How are you still standing?
ALUBEN:
I don't know. I am the only that lives in this place.
SPECTRO:
Hmm.
[ Briefly, the previously-seen colored bars of light flash in front of the newcomer, hereafter Aluben. ]
HYDRON:
Hydrogen.
[ Spectro tilts his hand toward Aluben and it glows bright blue for a moment. The lights around Aluben intensify briefly. ]
SPECTRO:
That's something.
ALUBEN:
What?
SPECTRO:
I threw some X-rays at you. They just made more hydrogen appear around you.
ALUBEN:
X-rays? How...
[ Aluben looks at Spectro with a determined glare. ]
ALUBEN:
You did this!
SPECTRO:
What? No, that... wasn't me. Unless ...
ALUBEN:
What?
SPECTRO (muttering):
Unless I did it in my sleep.
BLACK EAGLE:
Have you ever nuked anything in your sleep before?
SPECTRO:
Not that I know of. But...
ALUBEN:
Everyone I ever knew is dead; if not you, then who?
[ A ring of darkness briefly fades into sight around Aluben, then vanishes. ]
[ EXT. CANYON - DAY. : Two men in blue uniforms sit in a parked jeep. One of them has a gun across his lap with the chamber open. ]
[ Pan toward a nearby boulder. Ibn can be seen crouched behind it, the blue-gemmed dagger in his hand. ]
IBN:
I knew they'd be here.
[ Ibn raises the dagger and peers over the boulder. He suddenly hurls the dagger toward the jeep, then runs out from behind the boulder and circles the jeep. ]
[ The dagger strikes the gun in the man's lap, sending up sparks. Both men jump; the other pulls a gun out from below the seat. Smoke rises from the open gun, and the gem in the dagger glows brightly. ]
[ Ibn runs behind the jeep as a loud BANG accompanies the flash of the passenger's side of the jeep exploding. The dagger flies out of the jeep and to the ground, where Ibn picks it up. He stabs at the back of the jeep and flips off the cover of the gas tank, then strikes the jeep again, scattering sparks into the air. He flips the dagger so that the glowing gem aims into the tank, and the jeep shutters. Ibn turns and runs up the mountain with the dagger in hand. ]
[ INT. TEMPLE - DAY. ]
SPECTRO:
Just... calm down. I ... don't think I did this.
ALUBEN:
How are you standing, if noone else can?
[ A dim blue-violet glow is visible along a wall, outlining the faint image of a human figure; it quickly fades. ]
SPECTRO:
I can push back the radiation. I didn't create it.
[ Glacier looks toward the wall. ]
ALUBEN:
Are there others who can create the radiation?
[ The faint outline of a man is visible moving along the wall, though it quickly vanishes in the shadows. ]
SPECTRO:
I haven't met any.
BLACK EAGLE:
Why don't you tell us what happened here?
ALUBEN:
It was... sudden. People began to feel pain, and then...
[ Glacier thrusts out a hand and a sphere of ice flies from it, striking a spot on the wall and shattering. ]
WIND:
What are you doing?
[ Glacier holds ice-spheres in each hand. ]
GLACIER:
Someone else is here.
[ Spectro holds up his hand and looks around. ]
ALUBEN:
The thief.
BLACK EAGLE:
Thief?
ALUBEN:
Things have been disappearing since the radiation came. I've heard footsteps, but never saw anyone.
[ Glacier throws another ice-ball. This one strikes what sounds like a body, and a human figure briefly appears near the wall. It fades to the color of the wall. ]
WIND:
A chameleon?
SPECTRO:
Let's find out.
[ The room goes dark, other than the wall-colored humanoid figure. ]
RETANRETLA:
Interesting. But it won't work.
[ The figure's color changes to blue, then becomes transparent. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
What the devil is he doing?
SPECTRO:
I... don't...
[ Spectro thrusts his hand forward and the whole room, other than Taoe and Aluben, goes black. ]
RETANRETLA:
A light bender that can create darkness? Rare indeed.
BLACK EAGLE:
Who are you?
RETANRETLA:
Who are you?
BLACK EAGLE:
I'm Black Eagle. Who are you?
RETANRETLA:
Just a man collecting his dues.
ALUBEN:
Dues?
RETANRETLA:
Yeah. Your altar-bowing friends have plenty in here that they never used.
WIND:
Hey, that's not cool!
SPECTRO:
Did you attack this place?
RETANRETLA:
Attack is such a loaded term.
ALUBEN:
Why? You are a thief and a murderer!
[ Aluben yells; there is the sound of someone hitting the ground. Aluben makes sounds as though struggling. ]
[ We see Aluben held down in the debris-pile, with Retanretla, a man in ragged brown, purple and gray clothes with a black outline of a skull on his chest, standing over him with a knee on Aluben's chest and a hand holding down Aluben's arm. ]
RETANRETLA:
At first I thought this kid was a light bender, but you showed me otherwise. Now, I'll be going, and you won't follow me.
[ An ice-sphere strikes Retanretla in the head and he draws back, snarling. Water-Hydron slams into him and he falls back. Aluben stares upward in bewilderment, then gets up, his cloak slipping off and revealing his white shirt with a large red star on the front. ]
[ The lighting returns to normal. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Are you saying there are more people that can mess with light like you and Spectro?
[ Retanretla gets to his feet. ]
RETANRETLA:
I haven't met any. It looks like my powers differ from yours, though.
[ All of the color in the room fades to blue. ]
SPECTRO:
I see.
[ The room goes dark again, other than Taoe. ]
SPECTRO (cont'd):
You can only change the frequency of light. That's too bad for you; I can control all aspects of light, radio waves, you name it.
RETANRETLA:
I thought so. But what's your range?
SPECTRO:
Range?
BLACK EAGLE:
He's messed with radio transmissions from miles away.
RETANRETLA:
I could turn the sky over this half of the world to xrays. Can you handle that?
[ An ice-spear flies into the darkness. ]
[ The darkness lifts. Retanretla staggers as an ice-spear strikes his shoulder. Water-Hydron shoots up from the floor and throws Retanretla into a wall. The water takes human shape. ]
ALUBEN:
A water spirit?
BLACK EAGLE:
Glacier, Gravitor, rig up a way to get some of this stuff out of here.
GRAVITOR:
Now?
BLACK EAGLE:
We need to be ready to leave quickly.
ALUBEN:
Take things? You are just thieves like him!
BLACK EAGLE:
We're going to need to study some of this to figure out just what he's capable of.
RETANRETLA:
You're going to try to leash me?
WIND:
That's not what he said, but that'd be kind to a monster like you.
RETANRETLA:
Do monsters put monsters on leashes?
[ Retanretla dives to the ground. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Stop him!
[ Retanretla turns blue-violet. Black Eagle holds out a hand and a blue spark-and-light beam strikes the ground as Retanretla rolls aside. Retanretla grabs the fallen ice-spear and rolls to his feet. He hurls the spear toward Spectro. ]
WIND:
Spectro, look out!
[ Wind holds out her hands and a gust of wind blows the spear off course enough that it slips past Spectro and hits the floor. another ice-spear flies from Glacier's hand toward Retanretla, who already moves aside. ]
RETANRETLA:
Aren't shadows fun?
[ Retanretla flexes his shoulders and slides to the side as his color fades to resemble that of the background, while the colors on either side of him mirror his normal appearance. ]
SPECTRO:
You'll have to do better than that!
RETANRETLA:
You don't think I'm trying to escape with that, do you?
[ Aluben staggers. The illusions return to normal, and Retanretla holds Aluben by the throat. ]
RETANRETLA:
I'll be leaving now.
[ Retanretla turns Aluben between him and Taoe. ]
RETANRETLA (cont'd):
You can try the water thing if you'd like, but that won't loosen my grip.
SPECTRO:
That's a mistake.
[ Spectro aims a hand at Aluben, and it glows bright blue. ]
RETANRETLA:
I wouldn't try radiation on me; I'll just stretch it to visible light.
SPECTRO:
Black Eagle, Wind, follow my lead.
RETANRETLA:
Nuh-uh...
BLACK EAGLE:
What are you talking about?
[ Black Eagle looks down and sees a translucent, glowing arrow in the air, pointing at a torn piece of the rug. Black Eagle bends down and picks it up. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
We don't have time for this.
RETANRETLA:
Neither do I.
[ Retanretla steps forward, pushing Aluben along with him. ]
[ Black Eagle looks toward Spectro, and the letter "H" flashes in the air. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
That better mean what I think it means.
[ Black Eagle turns the hand holding the rug fragment palm up, and sparks crackle over it; the fragment starts to burn. ]
RETANRETLA:
Burn me, and my hand will tighten.
BLACK EAGLE:
Wind!
[ Black Eagle throws the burning fragment into the air. ]
WIND:
But...
[ Spectro gestures, and a glowing arrow appears, pointing toward Aluben. ]
WIND:
Ok...
[ Wind holds out her hands and the burning rug-fragment is caught in the wind and thrown toward Aluben. Before it reaches him, the air around him ignites, throwing Retanretla to the ground. Aluben holds up his hands, one to his neck, the other to his face. ]
ALUBEN:
Just like before...
SPECTRO:
I thought so.
RETANRETLA:
All right...
[ All visible things begin to turn blue. Spectro holds up a hand and all goes black, other than Taoe and Aluben, who return to their original colors. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Gravitor, try to hold him down.
RETANRETLA:
Not so fast.
[ Retanretla lunges, tackling Spectro. The scene flashes to full brightness, then fades to black before flashing to full and repeating; this happens several times, each iteration taking one to two seconds. Spectro can be heard struggling against Retanretla. ]
RETANRETLA:
You've got the advantage at controlling light, but I'll bet I'm stronger than you. And with you out of the way, nothing will protect your dogcatcher friends.
[ EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE - DAY. : Ibn runs up the mountainside. The temple is visible in the distance, and the footprints of Taoe can be seen leading toward it.* ]
IBN:
Arrogant fools! They didn't even cover their tracks! Now I will discover their radiation weapon, and make them pay for what they've done!
[ INT. TEMPLE - DAY. : The scene continues to flash to full brightness, then fade to black in one-to-two-second cycles. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
If Spectro can't keep it up, we're all nuked.
WIND:
Get him off of him, then!
SPECTRO (struggling):
No... run! I don't know if... I can keep it up...
HYDRON:
I'll be safe as water. I'll help him; the rest of you should leave.
[ Black Eagle sigh/growls. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
I hope you're right. All right, let's get out of here!
WIND (shocked):
What!?
BLACK EAGLE:
You heard Spectro! We can't help him if we all wind up radioactive.
GRAVITOR:
There might be another exit; we can block it off to keep Chameleon-guy from escaping.
BLACK EAGLE:
Move!
[ Glacier creates a thick ring of ice and lifts the rug from the floor, draping it over the ice. Glacier then turns and walks out, followed by Gravitor. Wind throws an indignant glare at Black Eagle, then follows Gravitor and Glacier out of the room. Black Eagle exits last. ]
ALUBEN:
Wait! I need that!
[ Hydron becomes water; the fading-flashing stops, and the room remains at roughly 75% brightness. Water-Hydron flows for where Spectro and Retanretla grapple on the ground. Both are thrown into a wall by the flowing water. ]
[ Water-Hydron forms a claw-shaped wall of water over Retanretla, who struggles to collect himself, reaching for Spectro, who pulls back into a low crouch. ]
RETANRETLA:
Think it's so easy, do you? And why haven't you tried to drown me, yet?
SPECTRO:
We don't kill to get what we want.
RETANRETLA:
But you leesh? Why don't you kill? With power like yours, why should you fear anyone? Well, besides me.
SPECTRO:
It's not getting thrown into jail that I'm afraid of. It's becoming a monster like you!
RETANRETLA:
And why should you fear that? Noone tells me what to do; I am my own man. Whose are you?
[ EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE - DAY. : Taoe, sans Spectro and Hydron, emerge from the temple; Glacier carries the remains of the burned rug over an ice-ring. ]
WIND:
I can't believe we're running out on him! There's got to be something we can do!
BLACK EAGLE:
He's got Hydron with him. If he's busy trying to protect us, then we'll just get in the way.
GRAVITOR:
Hey, looks like we have company!
[ Ibn runs up the mountain, both daggers--red-violet-gemmed and blue-gemmed--in hand. ]
IBN:
Surrender, infidels!
[ Wind throws out her arms and a gust of wind throws Ibn a good distance down the mountain; he hits the ground and rolls off screen. ]
GRAVITOR:
Nice.
WIND:
Those daggers... they look like the one Dark Bob had!
[ Further down the slope, Ibn jabs a dagger into the ground and stops his rolling. He gets to his feet and glares up the slope. ]
IBN:
So these are the abominations? Then I shall show them no mercy!
[ Ibn runs up the mountain. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
One of them could be the same, for all we know.
GRAVITOR:
He's coming back...
[ Wind aims her palms toward Ibn as he approaches. ]
WIND:
Stay down this time!
[ Ibn dives into a roll, jabbing the blue-gemmed dagger into the ground as the wind picks up, throwing much dust into the air. ]
GRAVITOR:
Persistent. I'd lighten him, but I don't think weight's holding him down.
BLACK EAGLE:
We should try to disarm him. He might have useful information.
[ Black Eagle holds out a hand and takes aim, and a spark-beam blasts from his hand. ]
[ The beam strikes the hand that is on the dagger that is lodged in the mountainside. Ibn grunts in pain, but laughs despite it; the gem in the handle of the dagger glows brightly. The glow persists once the beam fades, though the light slowly begins to fade. Ibn jabs the other dagger into the ground and pulls the other out. He digs his feet into the ground and aims the glowing gem up at Taoe. ]
GRAVITOR:
Now what?
BLACK EAGLE:
It must be some kind of weapon! Don't let the light hit you!
[ Wind staggers as smoke rises from her uniform; the blue light shines on her chest, making its way up toward her face, which she covers with a gloved hand; the wind is calm. ]
[ Ibn gets to his feet, pulling both daggers free. He leaps up the mountainside. ]
GRAVITOR:
What goes up...
[ Ibn's ascent slows, but rather than falling, he keeps rising. ]
GRAVITOR (cont'd):
... only falls if affected by gravity.
WIND:
Really, the one-liners have to stop.
GRAVITOR:
Hey, do they do any harm?
[ Ibn hurls the red-and-violet-gemmed dagger at Gravitor. Gravitor's eyes widen as the dagger approaches him; Wind sweeps her hand toward him, and the dagger is caught in the Wind. Gravitor jumps into the air, and the dagger misses, stabbing into the ground. ]
WIND:
Now, how did he know to throw it at you?
[ Ibn lands and charges. ]
GRAVITOR:
Ok, no more one-liners! ... Today.
[ Gravitor picks up the fallen dagger. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Stop, or I fire!
[ Ibn turns toward Black Eagle and waves the blue-gemmed dagger in front of him. ]
IBN:
Fire away!
[ Ibn lunges at Black Eagle. Black Eagle holds up a fist that is surrounded in a blue glow. He aims his other hand at Ibn's legs. A blast comes from Black Eagle's lowered hand, but Ibn leaps over the blast, slashing at the beam with the dagger; the beam fades before the blade reaches it, and another comes from Black Eagle's raised hand, striking Ibn in the shoulder and forcing him to the ground. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Stay down. The next one won't be so gentle.
[ INT. TEMPLE - DAY. ]
[ The air around Aluben glows faintly. The roughly sphere-shaped haze gathers into a smaller ball in front of Aluben, who raises his hand toward the ball; the glow brightens as the ball shrinks. ]
ALUBEN:
There has been too much violence in this place!
RETANRETLA:
If it hadn't been me, it would've been Kimal, or the Russians. Just be glad you're alive.
[ The glowing ball flies at Retanretla and strikes his head; he looks around as it disperses around him. ]
RETANRETLA:
What was that supposed to be?
[ Spectro lunges while Retanretla is turned away from him. Spectro grabs Retanretla's collar from behind with both hands, pulling tightly in a choke-hold. ]
SPECTRO:
It's time to go to sleep.
ALUBEN:
No! I said enough!
[ Another ball forms in front of Aluben and flies toward Spectro and Retanretla. Retanretla claws at Spectro's hands. ]
SPECTRO:
I'll let him go once he's unconscious.
RETANRETLA:
By then, this whole country will feel like an atomic bomb went off in the sky.
SPECTRO:
You're bluffing.
RETANRETLA:
You don't like killing. I can make sure that a few thousand people, maybe a few million... maybe even a billion are growing tentacles before you take me down. Whose fault will that be?
[ Spectro loosens his grip on Retanretla. ]
RETANRETLA:
Let me go.
[ Spectro pulls his hands away. Retanretla spins and elbows Spectro in the head. Spectro falls back; Retanretla gets to his feet. Water-Hydron rushes between Retanretla and Spectro, but Retanretla runs into the depths of the temple. Hydron takes human form, breathing as though on the verge of drowning. Spectro rubs his head as he gets to his feet. ]
SPECTRO:
Are you ok?
HYDRON (out of breath):
I'm fine. What about you?
SPECTRO:
Head hurts. I'll live.
[ EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE - DAY. ]
[ Ibn tries to roll over so that the dagger is above him. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Don't think about it.
IBN:
Do you think I fear death more than falling into your hands?
[ Black Eagle aims one hand at Ibn's shoulder, the other at his leg. ]
[ Glacier, Wind and Gravitor approach, surrounding Ibn. Gravitor holds the red-and-violet-gemmed dagger. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Put the dagger down, and come quietly.
[ Spectro and Hydron emerge from the temple, followed by Aluben. ]
SPECTRO:
Awe, what now?
IBN:
Give me the other dagger.
BLACK EAGLE:
I'm afraid you don't seem to understand who's in control, here.
[ Ibn lies back against the ground, but keeps his knees raised. He slides his dagger-arm across the ground, releasing the dagger; it slides across the ground and strikes Black Eagle in the ankle. Black Eagle stumbles, and Ibn rolls out of the way of the not-so-well-aimed blast that fires from Black Eagle's hand as he struggles for balance. Ibn jumps up toward Gravitor, who stabs at his oncoming hand with the red-violet-gemmed dagger. A streak of blood appears across Ibn's knuckles, but he grabs for Gravitor's wrist. The gem in the dagger glows softly, and Ibn and Gravitor struggle as Ibn slowly forces his wrist to turn so that the gem aims toward Gravitor. ]
[ Wind holds her hand toward Ibn, and a gust lifts him from the ground; he still holds onto Gravitor's wrist. Black Eagle reaches for the fallen dagger. Ibn, still in the air, let's go of Gravitor's wrist and flies through the air, flipping to kick Black Eagle in the head, knocking him off of his feet. Ibn quickly recovers the blue-gemmed dagger and moves for Black Eagle. Water-Hydron rushes into view and knocks Ibn off of his feet. Ibn rolls on the ground, then gets to a crouch and circles back toward Gravitor. ]
WIND:
Not again...
[ Gravitor and Wind both hold out their hands, and a gust takes Ibn into the air, flinging him over the mountainside. He doesn't fall for several seconds, until the slope beneath him has dropped several feet, then he falls at an accelerated rate, hitting the ground hard and rolling further down the slope. ]
[ Spectro, Hydron and Aluben join the rest of Taoe. ]
SPECTRO:
What did we miss?
WIND:
Just that nutcase coming after us with Dark Bob's dagger.
BLACK EAGLE:
What happened to the chameleon freak?
SPECTRO:
He said he'd nuke the whole country if I didn't let him go.
BLACK EAGLE:
And you couldn't stop him?
SPECTRO:
I can play with small things from a distance. I can't block out the sky over whole country.
GRAVITOR:
Pfft, he was probably bluffing.
BLACK EAGLE:
We shouldn't take risks with people like that. With that kind of power, he's more dangerous than Kimal could ever hope to be.
[ Ibn makes his way back up the mountain. ]
WIND:
The dagger guy is coming back.
ALUBEN:
Excuse me, but that rug is for the temple.
BLACK EAGLE:
Now isn't the best time.
[ The sky takes on a glassy appearance. The red-violet gem in the handle of the dagger in Gravitor's hand begins to glow brightly. ]
GRAVITOR:
This thing is glowing.
[ The glow falls on Gravitor's wrrist, and smoke rises from his arm as he drops the dagger. ]
SPECTRO:
He's not gone!
[ Spectro throws up his hand, and the sky darkens. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
What?
[ The light from the red-violet gem becomes more blueish. ]
SPECTRO:
He just won't quit!
[ The whole area becomes nigh black. Ibn runs into the darkness and dives; he emerges with the red-violet-gemmed dagger. ]
[ An ice-spear flies out of the darkness, striking Ibn in the leg. He falls to one knee as he yells in pain. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Get that guy in here; we can't have him getting nuked before we can question him!
IBN:
I will never be captured! Never!
[ Ibn turns and dives down the mountainside, rolling down it in an awkward position. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Spectro: cover us! Gravitor, Glacier, get him in the air!
[ Black Eagle flies out of the darkness, fire-wings ignited. ]
[ A dome of darkness forms over Black Eagle, and Wind and Gravitor rise into it; Gravitor drifts after Black Eagle, while Wind flies of her own. Glacier follows, a slope of ice growing from his feet. Spectro follows on foot. Aluben races down the ice-slope, slipping as he does and sliding after them. Water-Hydron flows between Glacier and Aluben, takes human shape, and helps Aluben to his feet. ]
[ EXT. MOUNTAIN BOTTOM - NEAR JEEP - DAY. : The jeep still emits smoke. A man in uniform, no weapons visible in his possession, sits on the ground a few feet away. One of his legs is blackened with burns. ]
[ Black Eagle descends to land near the man, his wings dissolving as he touches down. Gravitor and Wind land beside him. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Are you ok?
SOLDIER:
My leg is messed up. I don't think I can get very far. Johnny... didn't make it.
[ Black Eagle stares at the burning jeep, clenching his fists. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
How did this happen?
SOLDIER:
It was all pretty fast. Some kinda knife flew into the jeep, Johnny's gun exploded, then the whole thing was going up in smoke.
[ Glacier, Spectro, Hydron and Aluben arrive. ]
SPECTRO:
So much for our ride.
BLACK EAGLE:
Did you call for help?
SOLDIER:
Lost my radio in the explosion.
SPECTRO:
I'll handle it.
BLACK EAGLE:
You did a good job, soldier. There were six of us, and two men got away from us.
[ Black Eagle shakes his head. ]
BLACK EAGLE (cont'd):
Shameful.
ALUBEN:
Excuse me...
[ Everyone looks toward Aluben. ]
WIND:
Just... let him have the rug back.
BLACK EAGLE:
You're our only witness to what happened up there. We'll need to ask you some questions.
ALUBEN:
You all have... power. I think I do, too.. My home of eighteen years has been destroyed.
[ Aluben bows his head. ]
ALUBEN (cont'd):
Keep the rug. I will follow it.
[ Pan up. The color of the sky flickers a bit toward green, then purple, then it becomes a typical blue. ]
[ Fade to black. ]
6:13PM 3/2/2010
