Writer: C. A. E. Jones
1:04 PM 5/27/2010
[ EXT. SKY - DAY. : A jet floats through the air, though appears to be propelled by nothing in particular. ]
[ Pan down a good distance (nothing but the sky is visible for at least a second), until Wind, Gravitor and Aluben are visible, slowly falling through the air. ]
WIND:
Wow. It's... cold up here.
GRAVITOR:
Can you hold out long enough to get to the ground?
WIND:
I don't know...
GRAVITOR:
Well, we're high enough up that I'm not sure I can speed us up for a bit. Not that we'd want that...
WIND:
Hmm.
ALUBEN:
Wow. The lights... We're not falling...
GRAVITOR:
Not very quickly.
WIND:
It's... quiet.
GRAVITOR:
It'd be louder if there was more wind.
WIND:
One of me's enough.
GRAVITOR:
Hehe. I was kind of referring to the jetstream...
ALUBEN:
It's peaceful.
GRAVITOR:
It's dangerous. Not so much protection against all the stuff in space. Cosmic rays... radiation... Retanretla will be right at home.
WIND:
Do you ever come up here?
GRAVITOR:
Nah. Thought about it a time or two. It's kind of scary being so far from everything, knowing that if you slip up, there's a good chance you'll either fly into a place where you can't survive, or fall so fast you might burn up before breaking on the earth. And there's not much air, usually.
ALUBEN:
Where are we going to land?
GRAVITOR:
We'll find out when we get there. Hopefully we don't get blown to the ocean.
WIND:
Don't worry about that.
[ The sky visibly ripples, and Gravitor looks alarmed. ]
ALUBEN:
What happened?
[ The three fall off screen. ]
[ EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY. : There are several cars traveling at high speeds along the highway. ]
[ Focus on a taxi that drives along. ]
[ Wind, Aluben and Gravitor fall to the ground on the sidewalk ahead. Gravitor lies on his back, while Aluben catches himself on his hands and knees. Wind scrambles to her feet and moves to Gravitor. ]
[ The taxi suddenly slows, causing several cars to swerve and slow in the street behind it. ]
[ INT. TAXICAB - DAY. : The driver, Zach, looks out the passenger-side window in concern. A man in the passenger's seat looks as well. ]
PASSENGER:
What's that?
ZACH:
Looks like some superheroes lost their blimp, or something.
PASSENGER:
That looked rough.
ZACH:
Hmm. can you spare a few seconds?
PASSENGER:
Yeah; no problem.
[ EXT. SIDEWALK - NEAR HIGHWAY - DAY. : The taxi pulls over to stop next to the sidewalk where Wind, Gravitor and Aluben are. ]
[ the passenger-side window of the taxi slides open. ]
ZACH(Yelling out the window):
Hey, you guys all right?
[ Gravitor is somewhere between on his knees and his side, in apparent pain; Wind moves to try and help support him, while Aluben is still trying to steady himself. ]
ALUBEN:
Are you ok?
GRAVITOR(Clearly in pain):
Yeah... sure... Just... need a break...
WIND:
We should get you to a hospital.
GRAVITOR:
No, really... it's not any worse than it was this morning.
WIND(yelling toward the taxi):
Can you get us to the hospital?
ZACH(calling back):
Yeah.
PASSENGER:
I said I could spare a few seconds, not half an hour...
ZACH:
Your stop's on the way. (calling out the window) Can you get him in the back?
WIND(calling):
Yes. (quieter, to Aluben) Help me carry him.
GRAVITOR:
I said no.
WIND:
You said you need a break, so that means we're moving you.
GRAVITOR:
I'm not going to the hospital...
WIND:
Well, it'll make it easier for the others to find us. Now stop complaining.
[ Wind and Aluben pull Gravitor toward the taxi. ]
[ Fade to black. ]
[ EXT. LAVAPLANE - SEASIDE - DAY. : Zevrai and Theracy stand on the cooled lava slope leading into the ocean, mere steps from the waves. Zevrai looks upward, her face showing alarm. ]
ZEVRAI:
I can't sense Liquaro and Rani anymore.
THERACY:
What do you mean you can't sense them?
ZEVRAI:
I felt something... something like I've never felt before. Something powerful. Then they vanished. Them, the qi-arena, and everyone in it. They're all gone.
THERACY:
You don't think it came apart, do you?
[ Zevrai looks down. ]
ZEVRAI:
I don't know. If it did... they wouldn't be able to survive in space.
THERACY:
Maybe they used the Spirit Lift to go somewhere else.
ZEVRAI:
But if they did, why can't I sense them somewhere on Earth?
THERACY:
Maybe they're tired from the fight. They can't all be gone...
[ Zevrai sighs and looks down. The camera follows her gaze to a charred piece of an orange jewel (see episode 20) that lies on the ground. ]
ZEVRAI:
Well, there's nothing I can do for them now.
[ Theracy looks toward the charred gem-fragment. ]
THERACY:
When Sarai fell into the wave made by the giant, did Liquaro go after her?
ZEVRAI:
I don't know. Why do you ask?
THERACY:
Well, when what happened came up before everyone left for the fight, Liquaro ran off. I think he was bleeding.
[ Dissolve to... ]
[ EXT. ISLAND - DAY. : The edges of the scene are distorted, and all sound in this scene is muffled and features reverb. ]
THERACY:
Where is Sarai?
[ Liquaro looks down. ]
VEKIN:
She disappeared in the wave created by the giant that fell into the sea.
THERACY:
Oh. I'm sorry.
KAIRIN:
What are you appologizing for? You didn't do anything.
[ Liquaro turns and starts walking away. ]
RANI:
Liquaro! Doko e iku no!
[ Most everyone watches Liquaro walk off. Fierox stops near Liquaro and snifs at the air. ]
KEJEK:
He's bleeding.
[ Close on the back of Liquaro's legs. A thin trickle of blood comes from the back of his right pantleg. ]
[ Elanmak smirks. ]
ELANMAK:
He's not hurt. He's just being a girl.
[ Halei turns and slaps Elanmak in the face. Elanmak winces, and Halei turns to gaze back after Liquaro. ]
RANI:
Liquaro! Mate kudasai!
[ Rani runs after Liquaro. ]
[ Dissolve to... ]
[ EXT. LAVAPLANE - SEASIDE - DAY. : Zevrai and Theracy look at one another. ]
ZEVRAI:
Bleeding? Was it the back of his leg?
THERACY:
Yeah. Do you know what that could mean?
[ Zevrai puts a hand on her biceps, and moves her fingers over her skin a bit before moving them away. Zoom in to reveal a curled white mark on her skin. ]
THERACY:
What's that?
ZEVRAI:
It's a mark from the Tahea treatment.
[ Zevrai bends over and pulls up her right pantleg to the knee, then stands up, holding her leg up so that the back of her leg is visible. ]
[ Zoom in on the back of Zevrai's leg, where a pair of curling white marks converge on one whitened dot. There is a small dot of red in the middle of the white one. ]
THERACY:
Do those bleed?
[ Zevrai puts her leg down and lets her pantleg fall back into place. ]
ZEVRAI:
Mine haven't, and Liquaro and Rani were born Tahea, so I didn't think they had them. Sarai never saw the marks on them, anyway. But if Liquaro was bleeding from a Tahea mark...
THERACY:
How did you become Tahea?
ZEVRAI:
Sarai and her aunt, Liquaro and Rani's mother, were on a company cruise in the South Pacific. Sarai's father was a middle manager in a successful business, so his family got to go on the trip. But the ship was attacked by pirates. Sarai and the twins' mother escaped, thanks to Master Hyakuro.
THERACY:
A Tahea master?
ZEVRAI:
Yes. He helped heal the twins' mother, and then gave the treatments to Sarai, so that she could prevent such a thing from happening again.
THERACY:
What about the twins? Where were they?
ZEVRAI:
They weren't born yet. Not for a few more months. Maybe they were in their mother at the time. Master Hyakuro's healing might be how they were born Tahea. But for a mark to bleed...
THERACY:
What happened to Sarai's parents?
[ Zevrai smiles, though sadly. ]
ZEVRAI:
If you'd let me finish. The mark on the leg is the mark of freedom. You walk and swim by your legs, and when performing forms, qi is moved through the feet. For that mark to bleed, Liquaro must have felt powerless, or deeply incapable. You see, not too long ago, Sarai received a message from the pirates that her parents were alive. The pirates wanted a ransome for their return. Sarai decided to try and see her parents first, and Liquaro and Rani went with her.
[ Dissolve to... ]
[ EXT. PIRATESHIP - MAIN DECK - DAY. : Two men--one with scraggly hair on his head as well as his face, the other with darker hair confined to the top of his head and holding a pistol, stand off to the right, while Liquaro, Rani and Sarai stand a little left of screen center, the railing of the deck and the ocean behind them. (Liquaro lacks his signature scar, though in this scene, Liquaro wears a dark purple T-shirt, and Rani a dark blue one.) ]
SARAI:
Where is Mr. Satora?
SCRAGGLES:
Go-Jap's fine. Who the--
SARAI:
I'm his daughter. I want him released.
SCRAGGLES:
Well you can't drop in uninvited and expect to get what you want. We're charging for the release of any of our assets.
SARAI:
How much?
SCRAGGLES:
No less than one hundred thousand in currency we can use in Manilla. You get nothing before then.
SARAI:
Where is Mr. Satora?
SCRAGGLES:
Where is our money?
LIQUARO:
Aunt-sis...
SARAI:
Quiet.
RANI:
We...
SARAI:
Quiet.
[ Sarai looks toward the men and speaks more loudly. ]
SARAI:
Which of you is the captain?
GUNMAN:
We don't have captains here. It's all for one, one for all on this ship.
SCRAGGLES:
Last guy fancied himself tyrant got a nasty meeting with the water.
SARAI:
Then why isn't the rest of the crew negotiating?
SCRAGGLES:
What kind of dog-fart is that?
GUNMAN:
Maybe we should call them. It'd desuade her from doing something stupid.
[ Scraggles glares at the gunman, then turns toward the foreground. ]
SCRAGGLES (calling):
All hands on deck! Foreigners aboard!
LIQUARO:
Was that a good idea?
SARAI:
You'll see.
RANI:
Do you have a plan?
[ A slow-moving group of figures emerges from the shadows to populate the deck. There is a burly, heavily tanned caucasion man whose lack of a shirt revealed various tatoos on the few parts of him not submerged in hair. A man with an ethnically southeast Asian appearance, in a tank-top, conceals most of his eyes with a broad hat that sits on his head. A somewhat pasty-looking dark-haired fellow stands with one hand reaching into his red-brown cape-like coat, not too far from a brown-awbern-haired girl in all red, other than a couple green stripes along her chest. ]
[ Sarai surveys the group on deck. ]
SARAI:
Who is with Mr. Satora, then?
SCRAGGLES:
Is it money before an answer?
[ All but the coated pirate raise their hands and let out a shout of agreement. The coated one nods. ]
SARAI:
How do I know you have Mr. Satora?
[ Liquaro and Rani exchange wary glances. ]
GUNMAN:
You are on our ship. The terms are ours.
[ The red-clad girl, Katar, crosses her arms. ]
KATAR:
He's in the brig. A bit bigger a brig than you'd expect.
HATMAN (heavy accent. Menacing):
Guarded.
SCRAGGLES:
Thought you'd get us all out here, did you? Deal's still the same. Show us the money, we show you Go-jappy. Give us the money, we might give him and his brat to you.
[ Sarai's face becomes shocked. ]
SARAI (quiet, surprised):
Brat?
LIQUARO:
Sarai?
SCRAGGLES:
If you ain't got the money, we'll be taking you and yours instead. A fair exchange, would you agree?
[ Most of the crewmembers nod. ]
[ Sarai's face grows pale. Liquaro and Rani look up at her. ]
RANI:
Sarai?
SCRAGGLES:
If you're just going to stand there, we'd be happy to escort you to your new quarters.
[ Sarai's right arm snaps forward, and a bolt of white light flies from her extended hand. ]
[ Past the crew, the bolt of light strikes a wooden archway leading into a dark space. The archway collapses, covering the opening. ]
[ Shot of the crew, all but Katar and the coated one wearing shocked expressions. ]
GUNMAN:
What the devil...
SCRAGGLES (shouting):
Get her! Have Jeorgo--
[ Sarai flies at Scraggles and punches him in the jaw. ]
[ The coated man removes his hand from his pocket, a fluid yellow foam in the hand. He reaches to his head and runs the hand through his hair, which stands up, now a bright yellow. The coated one, hereafter Yabu, moves his hand all the way to the back of his head; once he pulls it back into sight, there is no more of the yellow substance visible on it. ]
[ Mid shot. All of the crewmembers other than Yabu turn to face Sarai. Liquaro and Rani lunge, kicking the shirtless and hat-wearing men in their backs. They both fall forward. ]
[ The gunman raises his weapon, two shots firing from it. ]
[ Sarai spins and kicks the gunman in the stomach, and he collapses to the deck. Scraggles punches Sarai between the shoulderblades with one fist, bringing up his other with a long knife held in it. Sarai staggers as the knife comes toward her neck, holding up a glowing arm to push the blade away. She then recovers her balance and elbows the scraggly pirate with her glowing arm, and he falls back. ]
[ Yabu moves his hand quickly at Liquaro's side, and Liquaro staggers into Rani. The hatted man stands up, spins, and holds out his arm to aim a karate-chop at Liquaro's neck. Liquaro throws up a hand and catches the hatted-man's attacking hand, then pushes it into an unnatural position as the hatted man snarls. Rani steps forward and kicks at the hatted man's knees, and he stumbles as to fall. Sarai flies in and elbows the hatted man in the chest, and he falls to the ground as Sarai lands behind Liquaro and Rani. ]
[ The shirtless man punches at the side of Rani's head. As Rani falls to the deck, the shirtless man reaches into his pocket. Liquaro turns and lunges for the shirtless man, who pulls a switchblade knife from his pocket. ]
[ Side-shot: the blade comes out and slashes Liquaro's forehead, leaving a bloody cut. ]
[ Sarai pulls Liquaro out of the way, then kicks at the shirtless man below the belt. (Pan up and toward Sarai if the hit must be obscured). ]
[ Another angle, with the railing of the deck in the background. The Shirtless man staggers. Sarai elbows him in the face and draws back her other hand. Sarai's drawn hand glows white as she thrusts it into the shirtless man's chest, and he goes flying through the air, a faint streak of white light between Sarai's hand and where it struck him. The shirtless man flies over the railing, his arms flailing to either side as he yells, then falls below the waves and vanishes from sight. ]
[ The light fades from Sarai's still outstretched hand and the air. Katar jumps in behind Sarai, putting her in a full Nelson. ]
[ Yabu steps forward and behind Liquaro, restraining him by pulling his arms behind him, holding them in place with one of his own arms. ]
[ On the other end of the deck, Scraggles and the gunman have recovered. ]
SCRAGGLES:
You should have cooperated. I'm afraid after what you did to Dev, our price has doubled. Unless anyone disagrees?
[ Sarai glares at Scraggles defiantly. ]
SARAI:
I'll sink this ship, if that's what it takes!
SCRAGGLES:
Brave words. You'll have trouble with that. And you wouldn't want your merchandise to drown, would you?
[ Rani gets up and lunges, kicking Katar's legs and causing her to fall, pulling Sarai down with her. Rani turns and lunges for Yabu. ]
[ The gunman aims his pistol and fires. ]
[ Sarai throws up a hand, and a broad banner of white light grows from it. A bullet strikes the light and bounces off and out of sight before the light fades. ]
[ Yabu holds up his free hand, palm forward, and blocks Rani's lunge. Unless otherwise specified, Yabu speaks in a calm, smooth voice. ]
YABU:
Not the best strategy. I have another arm.
[ Yabu moves Liquaro as to slam him into Rani. Rani falls, then rolls backward across the deck. ]
[ Katar and Sarai struggle on the floor. ]
SCRAGGLES:
Is Keng awake?
KATAR (struggling):
You expect me to know?
[ The hatted man lies motionless on the deck. Rani rolls toward him, jumps up and lands on his chest. Rani jumps off of the hatted man, at least seven feet into the air. ]
[ The gunman takes aim and fires. ]
[ Rani flies higher, then dives for the gunman. ]
[ Rani headbutts the gunman in the chest. The gunman falls back and strikes the railing. Rani lands and reaches for the gun, which is still in the gunman's hand. Scraggles comes up behind Rani, bringing his knife at the lowest black hair on the back of Rani's head. ]
[ Sarai struggles against Katar's hold and aims her hand up and toward Scraggles, a beam of light blasting from her hand. ]
[ The beam strikes Scraggles in the back, and he growls. ]
[ The gunman gets up and swings his weapon at Rani's head. Rani ducks, and the gun strikes Scraggles in the shoulder. Rani jumps and backkicks Scraggles in the head. As Scraggles staggers back, Rani lands on his shoulders and kicks the gun out of the gunman's hand. ]
[ The gun flies over the railing and falls into the water. ]
[ Rani kicks hard as he jumps off of Scraggles, sending the man to fall to the deck. Rani rises into the air, spins, and dives toward Yabu. Yabu holds up two fingers. ]
[ As Rani approaches Yabu, he draws back a fist to punch. Yabu blocks the punch with his raised fingers, and there is a small burst of flame at the point of contact. Yabu moves his hand to push his two raised fingers just under Rani's sternum, and Rani flies back. ]
[ Liquaro twists his arm enough to aim his hand at Yabu's forearm. ]
LIQUARO:
Tahea Laser!
[ A beam of light blasts from Liquaro's hand, pushing Yabu's arm aside. Yabu looks down at Liquaro, though his expression doesn't change. Liquaro pulls free of Yabu's hold and elbows him in the chest. Yabu doesn't react, though Liquaro jumps away from him. ]
[ Liquaro dives toward Katar. ]
SARAI:
Be careful, Liquaro!
[ Liquaro grabs Katar's arm and pulls. Katar pushes herself up and slams her head into Liquaro's. Liquaro falls back. Sarai forces off Katar's arm and gets to her feet, Katar still holding her with her other arm. Sarai bends forward, throwing Katar over her. Katar releases her hold on Sarai and rolls across the deck, getting to her feet a couple yards away. ]
[ Liquaro rubs his head as Rani moves to him, looking from Yabu to Liquaro to Sarai. ]
YABU:
Impressive. But careless.
[ Yabu holds up both hands, making a gun-like shape with his index finger and thumb of each hand. Liquaro and Rani turn to face him. ]
SARAI:
Liquaro, Rani, move away from him!
[ Yabu moves both of his hands forward. Liquaro and Rani each catch one of the hands with both of their own, a faint white glow obscuring the points of contact as sparks fall from the struggles. Liquaro and Rani jump back, and Yabu lowers his hands. ]
[ Sarai holds out one hand toward Katar, and the other toward Yabu, aiming above and between Liquaro and Rani's heads. ]
SARAI:
This ends now. Release my mother and father!
KATAR:
So I can keep the boy, then?
[ Sarai's hands lower slightly. ]
SARAI:
No. No!
[ Sarai thrusts her hand toward Katar, and a beam of light flies from it. Katar jumps out of the way of the beam. Sarai turns and runs in Yabu's direction. ]
[ Yabu holds up two fingers of his left hand. Sarai jumps into the air, flying above Yabu's head. Yabu raises his hand. ]
[ Close and Liquaro and Rani, who look on with awed expressions. A bit of blood flows from the cut on Liquaro's forehead and over his eye. ]
[ Above, Sarai aims one hand down at Yabu. Her hand glows, and there is a short-lived explosion below her. The explosion hurls Sarai away from Yabu and toward the collapsed archway. ]
[ Katar looks toward Sarai. ]
KATAR:
What do you plan to do once you're in there?
[ Sarai lands, picks up a chunk of the fallen archway, turns, and throws it at Yabu before diving into the opening beyond. ]
SARAI (calling):
Liquaro, Rani, fly away!
[ Elsewhere, Scraggles and the gunman get to their feet. ]
SCRAGGLES:
What are these kids?
GUNMAN:
They're no match for Yabu.
SCRAGGLES:
But they sure knocked the scent outa everyone else!
[ The boat rocks violently. ]
SCRAGGLES:
Awe, great! We're hittin' rough waters!
[ EXT. ABOVE BOAT - DAY. : The boat rocks as the waves beneath it become larger. ]
[ INT. HALLWAY - DAY. : Sarai runs through a relatively dark coridor whose walls are gray and scratched up sheetrock. The entire scene periodicly rocks due to the motion of the ship. ]
SARAI:
Hutari wa tonde nakucha ikenai yo!
[ A large man wearing a hairnet and wielding a bowieknife steps into Sarai's path. Sarai jump-kicks the man in the chest, and he drops the knife as he falls back. Sarai runs past him. ]
[ INT. PIRATESHIP - BRIG - DIM. : Satora, a black-haired Japanese man of about forty (though his imprisonment may have him look a bit older), sits, looking down sullenly from a crate beside a sheetrock wall. His wife, Mizumi, kneels in the middle of the floor--though there is little room across the room--with a black-haired boy in an oversized T-shirt leaning into her. The boy could be anywhere from three to seven, and occasionally quivers as his mother holds onto him. ]
MIZUMI:
Mou-warui ni naru to omoimasu yo...
[ Satora shakes his head. ]
SATORA:
Aku no kaizoku de... mo--
[ There is a sudden clatter, and Satora and Mizumi look foregroundward, startled. The boy weakly lifts his head and looks to the foreground as well. ]
[ From another angle, a narrow doorway can be seen, with the door swung open and Sarai standing just beyond it. ]
SARAI:
Otousan!
[ Sarai runs into the room. ]
[ Side-view. Satora slips off of the crate and stands on one knee, staring at Sarai in amazement as she runs toward him. Sarai throws her arms around Satora and embraces him tightly. ]
[ The boy looks at Sarai, then turns to look at Mizumi. ]
HAIRA:
Anee-san desu ka?
MIZUMI (voice wavering as though near tears):
Hai. Sou da. Sarai...
[ Sarai releases Satora and straightens. ]
SARAI:
Kite! Jikan ja nai!
[ Satora gets to his feet. Mizumi stands as well, picking up the boy and holding him in her arms. ]
[ Sarai leads the way to the door, and the others follow closely, taking a single file formation to fit through the door. ]
[ Zoom in on the back wall. ]
DEV (OS, muffled):
Seven all together! Are you gonna get me outa here or not?
VLADAVIN (OS, muffled):
I will let you go to the nether realm!
[ Close on Mizumi and the boy as they reach the door. The boy looks back. A distant, muffled yell (the voice is Dev's) can be heard. ]
HAIRA:
On ga nan desu ka?
MIZUMI:
Sui da. Shizuka.
[ Once everyone is out of the room, the room shutters violently. ]
[ EXT. PIRATESHIP - MAIN DECK - DAY. : Liquaro and Rani stand, with the Hatted Man still passed out on the deck a few feet away, Yabu to the foreground and a bit to screen left, and Katar facing them from off to the right. Scraggles and the gun-less man are visible close to the railing at screen's edge. ]
SCRAGGLES:
Yabu, Katar, what are you standin' around for? Grab 'em!
[ Yabu shrugs. Katar runs toward Liquaro and Rani, both of whom jump into the air, too high for Katar to reach. The boat rocks violently, and Katar stumbles and falls, catching herself on the deck with her forearms. Yabu looks toward the ocean. ]
[ Above, Liquaro and Rani hover side by side. Liquaro wipes his face with the back of his hand. ]
RANI:
Hitai ga itai ka?
LIQUARO:
Iten. Daijoubu yo.
[ On the deck, Yabu continues to watch the water. Katar gets to her feet, though the boat continues to rock. ]
YABU:
The water is only acting odd close to the ship.
KATAR:
You make it sound like it's targeting us.
YABU:
Perhaps it is.
[ INT. PIRATESHIP - HALLWAY - DAY. : Sarai runs through the hallway, followed by Mizumi (carrying the boy, hereafter Haira), and finally Satora. ]
[ Further down the corridor, the previously-seen knife-wielding man in a hairnet staggers to his feet and turns around. ]
[ Sarai and her family continue running. ]
MIZUMI:
Dareka ga mamukai ni iru!
[ As Sarai approaches, the man draws back his hand as though to throw the knife. Sarai jumps into the air and reaches the man in a flash, kicking him twice in the chest before punching him in the face; he falls to the ground, and Sarai lands beside him and kicks him out of the path. ]
HAIRA:
Kakoi!
SARAI:
Kite! Kare ga tatereru yo!
[ EXT. PIRATESHIP - MAIN DECK - DAY. : The ship continues to rock. Liquaro and Rani hover above the deck, out of arm's reach. ]
[ The hatted man stirs and struggles to sit up. ]
[ From above, it can be seen that a whirlpool surrounds the ship as it rocks. ]
[ Focus on Scraggles and the gunman. ]
GUNMAN:
Yabu's right. We're stuck in a whirlpool.
SCRAGGLES:
A whirlpool? Where the blazes are we?
[ Sarai bursts out of the opening in the collapsed archway. Mizumi (carrying Haira) follows, and Satora is last to emerge. ]
SARAI:
Liquaro! Rani! Iko-yo!
SATORA:
How are we going to get off of this ship?
SARAI:
I can get us out, so long as those boys are with us.
[ Yabu turns to face Sarai and her family. ]
YABU:
Do not be so confident.
[ Sarai holds up a hand that glows white. ]
SARAI:
I'm taking my family and leaving! Liquaro, Rani, hurry!
[ Above, Liquaro and Rani look down, and drop toward the ship. ]
[ Katar steps toward Sarai, and Yabu holds up both of his hands. ]
YABU:
The sea is your enemy now. If you can escape us, will you be able to escape the ocean?
[ Liquaro and Rani land on either side of Sarai. ]
SARAI:
Mother, father, you must want to leave with us.
SATORA:
We do.
SARAI:
Tahea... Spirit...
[ Yabu suddenly turns around and aims his hands toward the railing. The ship shutters, then tilts. Sarai stumbles, the glow fading from her hand. ]
[ The hatted man struggles to get to his elbows, but as the ship tilts, he slips and slides to the railing. ]
[ Mizumi stumbles. Liquaro jumps up and catches her as Haira falls from her arms. Haira clings to Liquaro's leg as Satora takes hold of Mizumi, though they both begin to slip. ]
[ A wave of water washes onto the deck; the Hatted Man disappears beneath it. The gunman and Scraggles stumble toward the railing. They both hold onto it for dear life as the water continues to pour onto the deck. ]
SCRAGGLES:
Bloody fish! We can't even get to the lifeboat, now!
[ The ship jerks upward. Scraggles loses balance as he is tossed off of his feet. The ship lurches again, and another wave washes over the railing, then receeds, taking Scraggles overboard as he yells. ]
[ Yabu continues to stand despite how far the deck is tilting, walking calmly toward the edge of the water. Katar struggles to maintain her footing as the water washes over her feet. ]
YABU:
This is different from last time.
KATAR:
You mean besides us losing people?
YABU:
Last time it was the fighting. This time, the water is the problem.
KATAR:
Why are you walking toward it, then? The lifeboat's the other way!
YABU:
The water will take that if its target is in it.
[ Close on Rani. ]
RANI:
Did you hear that?
[ Close on Sarai. ]
SARAI:
Yes. Liquaro, Rani, try to find the lifeboat!
[ Satora and Mizumi lose their footing and slide along the deck. Sarai spins and catches Satora, hovering inches above the deck with him in tow, though she seems to be visibly struggling to carry him. Rani jumps forward and catches Mizumi, hovering above the deck as well. ]
SARAI:
Come on!
[ Sarai struggles to rise into the air, and Liquaro and Rani follow suit. Water washes over the deck beneath them. ]
[ EXT. PIRATESHIP - LIFEBOAT HOLD - DAY. : The lifeboat is roughly fifteen feet long and formed of metal with faded white paint along it, with a wooden ring at the top of it. It is secured by ropes just above a section of railing, and swings a bit as the boat continues to lean. ]
[ The man in the hairnet runs into view, staggering from the motion of the ship. He raises his knife over his head and runs at the lifeboat, swinging the knife at a rope that holds it. He slips, but the knife connects, severing the rope. One end of the boat falls and strikes the deck. The man reaches out and grabs the edge of the boat, pulling himself up into it. He swings at another rope, striking it twice before it snaps. ]
RANI (OS):
I found it!
[ The man looks up as Sarai, Rani and Liquaro, carrying Satora, Mizumi and Haira (respectively), descend toward the lifeboat. ]
[ The man turns and stumbles toward the other end of the lifeboat, just as Sarai lands in it, letting Satora to the floor. ]
SATORA:
If you want to live, you'll cut is free, Jeorgo.
[ The man in the hairnet remains silent, swinging his knife at one of the two remaining ropes. The rope snaps, and the boat slides dangerously. Rani lands in the boat, releasing Mizumi. ]
SARAI:
The boat's falling the wrong way!
[ Liquaro flies toward the outside of the boat and holds Haira tightly with one arm, aiming the other at the boat. Haira's face shows that Liquaro's grip is uncomfortably tight. A beam of white light comes from Liquaro's outstretched hand, pushing the lifeboat back up toward the edge of the ship. The man in the boat cuts the final rope, and the lifeboat slips off of the deck. ]
[ EXT. OCEAN - ABOVE PIRATESHIP - DAY. : The pirateship leans almost forty-five degrees toward the water, which swirls violently around it, a wall of mist rising in the background. ]
[ From the raised back corner of the ship, the lifeboat slips over the edge and falls toward the water. ]
[ Close on the lifeboat. It strikes the water, though the water continues to churn violently, tossing the boat about chaoticly. Liquaro, carrying Haira (in both arms now) flies from above toward the lifeboat. ]
SARAI:
Liquaro! Come on!
[ Liquaro flies low toward the lifeboat, at the same instant that the waves suddenly jump high. The water catches Liquaro's legs, but he keeps Haira above the wave. The lifeboat bobs out of his reach, as the pirateship flips behind him, a loose board from it popping out of the water. Liquaro kicks at the water and rises out of the reach of the board before the waves consume the board. ]
[ From above, the water can be seen whirling with more intensity. The wall of mist joins the whirling, and the sinking pirateship is obscured by the mist. ]
[ Close on Liquaro and Haira, with mist, rain, and waves swirling around them. ]
HAIRA:
Tasuke!
LIQUARO:
Rani! Sarai! Doko ga iru ka?!
[ A wall of water rises behind Liquaro. Haira screams as Liquaro flies out of the path of the wave just before it crashes into the wrest of the ocean below. ]
[ EXT. ISLAND - TWILIGHT. : From the sandy shore of the island, the violent cloud of mist and raging water can be seen a short distance away. ]
[ Liquaro flies out of the mist, carrying Haira. Liquaro lands on the island, setting Haira down on the sand. ]
HAIRA:
Otousan! Okaasan! Oneesan!
LIQUARO:
Boku-tachi wa tsukande 'ru'n da.
[ Liquaro turns and faces the ocean. Haira looks out at the cloud of mist. ]
HAIRA:
Doko? Ikanakucha! Tobe!
LIQUARO:
Boku wa tobu. Minakucha.
[ Close on Liquaro's face, as stray drops of water and sweat drip down it. He wears an expression of concentration. ]
LIQUARO:
Asoko da.
[ Mid shot. Liquaro turns and reaches for Haira. A large wave rises from the water, and Haira jumps back. Liquaro turns in time to see the wave, which comes up to his knees. Liquaro steps back and reaches for Haira again. ]
[ Haira jumps toward Liquaro. ]
[ The water rises from below, and a gust of wind blows much water and sand through the air. ]
[ Haira screams and tumbles out of Liquaro's reach, falling into the water. ]
LIQUARO:
Dame!
[ Liquaro turns and runs into the water, arms extended. Haira appears at the surface of the water, coughing and flailing his arms. Liquaro dives for him. The wave rises higher, and drags both Liquaro and Haira out to sea. ]
[ EXT. OCEAN - TWILIGHT. : The mist parts, revealing the lifeboat, still rocking violently. ]
[ Zoom in on the lifeboat. Rani, Sarai, Mizumi, Satora and the knife-wielding man stand within, looking out to the water. ]
RANI:
Liquaro...
MIZUMI:
Haira!
[ Wide shot. Liquaro rises from the water and turns toward the lifeboat. ]
RANI (calling):
Liquaro!
[ Rani jumps out of the boat and flies toward Liquaro. ]
SARAI:
Rani! Mate!
[ Close on Liquaro and Rani as they meet in the air. Tears flow from Liquaro's eyes, though they are hard to distinguish from the seawater covering him. ]
RANI:
Liquaro, kite.
LIQUARO:
Tasukenakatta. Tasukenakatta...
[ Liquaro begins to fall. Rani reaches out and catches him. ]
[ Dissolve to... ]
[ EXT. LAVAPLANE - SEASIDE - DAY. : Zevrai and Theracy stand, both wearing somber expressions. ]
ZEVRAI:
So you see, Liquaro probably feels like he lost Sarai and her only brother.
THERACY:
I'm sure that whatever happened in Taharhin's arena, Liquaro won't let anyone be lost again. Rani, either.
ZEVRAI:
I hope so.
[ Zevrai chuckles and smirks. ]
ZEVRAI:
Hmf. Zevrat wouldn't care.
THERACY:
But you said yourself that you aren't Zevrat, or Sarai.
[ Zevrai sighs. ]
ZEVRAI:
Memories... I wonder what point there is in trying to understand the worlds beyond this one, now.
THERACY:
Well, don't you think there's something odd about those demons?
[ Zevrai turns toward the charred fragment of orange on the ground. She kicks it, and it skids across the ground, sparks flying from the ground as it passes. When it stops, there is a faint burst of flame around it. ]
ZEVRAI:
This world is bizarre enough. I think it's time we learned more about what's happening. Maybe that will lead us to Liquaro and Rani in the end.
THERACY:
Maybe we should talk to that scientist, Dr. Hoita Nono. She seems to have figured out a lot about how universes interact.
[ Zevrai turns toward Theracy. ]
ZEVRAI:
Do you know where she is?
THERACY:
Yeah. She's in a prison.
ZEVRAI:
Ok.
[ Zevrai clasps her hands over her head. ]
ZEVRAI (cont'd):
Keep that place in mind.
[ Theracy's expression becomes a bit anxious, but she nods. ]
ZEVRAI:
Tahea Spirit Lift!
[ White light expands from Zevrai's hands and fills the screen. The light shrinks away, leaving the scene as it was, but with Theracy and Zevrai absent. ]
[ Fade to black. ]
WIND:
Thank you so much.
ZACH:
Thanks for letting me help.
ALUBEN:
Why hasn't anyone called yet?
WIND:
I don't know...
ZACH:
Sometimes I lose cel reception back there.
WIND:
Hmm.
ALUBEN:
I don't think that's it.
WIND:
Why not?
GRAVITOR:
Well, we do know a guy whose good with getting around that...
ALUBEN:
And someone who can make it worse.
WIND:
Retanretla had to have passed out by now...
PASSENGER:
My phone isn't getting a signal.
[ Wind holds her gloved hand close to her face. ]
WIND:
Hello? Is anyone there?
[ The sound of static can be heard. ]
ZACH:
Might just be the weather.
PASSENGER:
It's pretty clear out, th--
[ The passenger looks out the window more uneasily, suddenly confused. ]
[ The cab slows as Zach looks out the window. ]
ZACH:
... It ... still kinda looks clear. But ... the sun's...
[ EXT. SKY - DAY. : An otherworldly pale-indigo haze seems to be splashing a strange light into the sky while the sun looks as though it's really a reflection in water with sharply-divided currents causing a little less than a third of it to waver and refract strangely. ]
[ INT. TAXICAB - DAY. : Everyone now looks out the windows, all in the same general direction. ]
PASSENGER:
... That's not pretty.
ZACH:
Eclipse?
WIND:
With our luck it'd be aliens.
PASSENGER:
Looks like some kind of lake in the sky.
ZACH:
Some kind of comit?
WIND:
Venus?
ZACH:
Nah. Definitely not Venus. Next tranzit isn't for months.
WIND:
I knew a guy that kept up with those... I never could follow it.
ALUBEN:
If it's not Retanretla...
PASSENGER:
Maybe we should turn on the radio?
[ Tornado sirens can be heard. ]
ZACH:
That's new.
[ Zach reaches for a knob in the center console, and the sound of static fills the cab. ]
WIND:
I definitely didn't do it... And I don't see anything...
[ Muffled radio voices can be heard, but words aren't very clear; the words "along the coast" and "no word on..." can be discerned, but the static keeps getting worse. ]
ZACH:
So, you still want to get out up here?
PASSENGER:
Yes, please. If the end of the world's coming, the people I'm here to see'll be better off not worrying about me getting lost in it.
GRAVITOR:
Definitely not a tornado.
[ Gravitor suppresses a grunt of pain. Wind and Aluben look at Gravitor. ]
WIND:
What are you doing?
GRAVITOR:
... Something's ... strange with the gravity.
ALUBEN:
How is that?
GRAVITOR:
I don't know. Keeping myself light hasn't felt like this before... it's not right.
WIND:
Stop that; you'll just hurt yourself more.
ZACH:
Here we are.
[ The cab slows to a stop. The passenger reaches into his pocket and pulls out a wad of cash and hands it to Zach, then pushes open the passenger-side door and climbs out. A faint haze drifts in from the door and fills the cab. ]
WIND:
That's...
[ The door slams shut and the cab starts moving again. ]
ALUBEN:
What?
WIND:
The air... it's different, somehow. Like... well, I guess like... the Everglades?
ZACH:
Maybe Brazil?
WIND:
No, not--
[ Wind's voice and face suddenly show surprise. ]
WIND (surprised):
Wait! ... Zach?
ZACH:
Thought it was you. What brings you out here?
WIND:
Some guy was... but...
GRAVITOR:
Work.
WIND:
Yeah.
ZACH:
I didn't expect to run into you on the other side of the country.
WIND:
Well, I didn't expect to find you driving a taxi. Weren't you going to do geology or something?
ZACH:
Well, at first. Then I switched to economics, then Mark Branche... Egh, messy.
[ The radio speakers pop with what sounds like urgent warnings, but the static makes it difficult to hear more than "immediately". ]
[ static pops over the communicator in Wind's glove. ]
WIND:
Did you learn anything that can explain this mess?
ZACH:
Unless the sun got an audit for tax evasion.
SPECTRO(com, breaking in and out, sometimes audible from the radio speakers):
... Fist's trying... signal... Shanan's freaking ou... Glacier's... (Noise) ... And now he'... somewhere...
[ The sound of an airplane grows loud as a small commercial aircraft zooms close enough overhead to cast a shadow over the cab and most of the road ]
ZACH:
Awe, great.
WIND:
Stop the car...
ZACH:
Why?
WIND:
Hurry!
GRAVITOR:
You're not doing what I think you're doing without me.
[ EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY. : The plane flies low and in an uncontrolled path over the road. ]
[ The cab slows, but before it has stopped, one of the back doors bursts open and Wind flies out, following the plane. ]
GRAVITOR:
Hey!
[ The door of the taxi slams shut. The taxi starts accelerating. ]
[ INT. TAXICAB - DAY. ]
ALUBEN:
Is she trying to stop the plane alone?
ZACH:
I... hope not.
GRAVITOR:
And why the--
ZACH:
If she can't stop it... I don't know what she'll do. Did she tell you about when she was in a plane that crashed in the Everglades?
GRAVITOR:
No.
ZACH:
Well, I wasn't sure about the wind thing before now... I kind of suspected something, though. Anyway, in like fifth grade, she got sick on a flight back from Brazil, and the plane went down. She probably thinks she caused it.
ALUBEN:
Did she?
ZACH:
Heck if I know. ... Oh, more bad news...
ALUBEN:
Wha--
[ There is a loud crash and explosion up ahead, intense enough that the cab shutters. ]
ZACH:
The plane went toward the hospital.
[ EXT. HOSPITAL - DAY. : A large, burning heap of rubble stands against the side of the building, which now has a flaming hole in one side, with the building shuttering unstably. ]
[ Wind falls onto a pile of broken concrete and collapses, covering her head as she cries into the ground. ]
[ Nearby, the taxi parks and the doors fly open. Aluben, Gravitor and Zach are out pretty quickly, Gravitor lagging behind, fighting to stay standing as he does. ]
ZACH:
Sara!
[ Gravitorfalls in and collapses onto an exposed section of sidewalk. ]
GRAVITOR:
Whoever started this is getting his back broken.
[ Gravitor struggles to crawl toward where Wind is; Wind is now trying to raise herself, but visibly shaking as she does. ]
[ Zach runs to Wind, and pulls her to her feet. ]
ZACH:
Are you ok?
[ Wind doesn't speak, just extends her hand distressedly toward the destruction. ]
ZACH:
Are you ok?
[ Aluben runs up and stops beside Zach and Wind. ]
ALUBEN:
There are still people in there.
ZACH:
You can save them. You can put out the fires, and move stuff, and...
WIND:
What's the point?
[ Gravitor beats on the ground until he is almost upright. ]
GRAVITOR:
Kicking circumstance in the face, that's what! We can't win all the time, but we can still do something!
ZACH:
Dude, should you be up like that?
GRAVITOR:
I'm not giving up over it.
ZACH:
Sara, did you hear that?
WIND:
... Mm.
[ Wind tears off her gloves, then wipes her bear hands across her eyes.. ]
WIND:
Broken bones aren't as debilitating as a broken heart.
[ Wind suddenly runs and leaps toward the destruction, starting to fly as she goes. ]
[ EXT. EMPTY INTERSECTION - DAY. : Clouds swirl iradicly overhead, while the sun and the sky still exhibit their unusual visual qualities. ]
[ Pan down to where Captain Fist, Black Eagle, Spectro and Hydron are gathered on a sidewalk. ]
CAPTAIN FIST:
Retanretla... has to be...
BLACK EAGLE:
He's been up there long enough to be more than unconscious. And last I checked, he couldn't send a blasted tidal wave down the east coast.
CAPTAIN FIST:
You left him up there with that jet, and then this starts? He had enough time to rest.
BLACK EAGLE:
You were denying the guy even existed a few months ago. And now you're saying throwing him into a low-oxygen environment far from civilization with a broken arm and a bunch of holes in him turns him into the horsemen of the apocalypse?
CAPTAIN FIST:
It's too big a coincidence.
[ Black Eagle groans frustratedly and turns to Spectro. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Spectro, where the devil is Glacier?
[ Spectro looks at his hand, opening and closing it as though with difficulty. ]
SPECTRO:
I can't track him. I can hardly do anything.
CAPTAIN FIST:
And you had to go and lose our jet! Spectro, where's your plane?
SPECTRO:
No way am I trying to fly that when space is being warped enough to screw with my powers.
CAPTAIN FIST:
I asked a question.
[ Hydron clutches her head. ]
HYDRON (in pain):
Glacier's... in danger.
BLACK EAGLE:
What?
[ Hydron screams and falls to one knee as water poors from her mouth and nose. ]
CAPTAIN FIST:
Radiation sickness?
SPECTRO:
... that's her water form!
[ Hydron's voice is reduced to screams of agony, and bubbles seem to form and burst on her skin as blood and clear water both leak from her. Spectro and Black Eagle run to either side of her. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
No, no, no! Hydron, push it back!
[ Spectro kneels beside Hydron, moving his hand around as though to find something in space to stop the torture. ]
RETANRETLA(over radio, distorted):
... space... planet... fortress... machines ... doing something ... sky...
CAPTAIN FIST:
I knew it!
SPECTRO:
Shut up!
[ Spectro holds up one hand and speaks into the communicator ]
SPECTRO (cont'd):
Repeat! Where are you?
[ Hydron coughs. ]
HYDRON (in pain):
I... can't...
[ Hydron doubles over and makes choking noises. ]
RETANRETLA(over radio, distorted):
Pret... -round the big... spot!
SPECTRO:
Keep sending!
HYDRON (in pain, coughing throughout):
It's... ... so... light...
[ INT. BOXCAR - DIM. : The room is empty and dark. ]
[ A slit of light appears to one side of the back wall as a chunk of ice pokes through. Light is visible while the opening expands. Once the opening is wide enough, Glacier jumps into the car, then collapses to the floor, tensing in pain. ]
[ INT. TAXICAB - DAY. : The doors of the taxi remain open, and noone is within it. ]
SPECTRO(Over radio speakers, distorted):
...Sara... Charles... Aluben.. Shanan's ... trouble... tanretla...
[ EXT. HOSPITAL WRECKAGE - DAY. : Wind, Aluben, Gravitor and Zach, along with several nurses and doctors, run about in the collapsing opening in the wall, moving rubble aside and pulling people out of it and carrying them off screen. ]
[ Zach and Aluben struggle to lift a slab of concrete. Gravitor Drifts near them and tenses, and the slab suddenly rises with ease. Zach and Aluben carry the slab away. Gravitor drifts back and leans against a wall, panting. ]
[ A nurse walks up to Gravitor. ]
NURSE:
Excuse me, are you hurt?
GRAVITOR:
I'll live.
WIND (OS):
Charles, there's a big wall over here we might need help with...
GRAVITOR:
I'm on it.
[ Gravitor pushes himself upright against the wall with his arm. ]
NURSE:
Was that Sara, by any chance?
GRAVITOR:
Did everyone she knew in gradeschool move out here?
NURSE:
I don't know about that, but there's been someone yelling on the radio about Sara and Charles and Al... something.
CHARLES:
Yeah? Did he say anything else?
NURSE:
Something about trouble, and ... some ... tan red in space. I can't make sense of it, but it sounded important.
[ EXT. EMPTY INTERSECTION - DAY. ]
CAPTAIN FIST:
Why do we keep acknowledging him?
SPECTRO:
It's helping control what's going on with Shanan. And maybe you didn't notice, but we have no idea what to do, so having something to follow is an improvement.
CAPTAIN FIST:
Follow into a trap.
BLACK EAGLE:
We either stand here and let the world fall apart, or we try to do something about it.
RETANRETLA(over radio, distorted):
... get it yet? ... hurry... ming. If not... me so I c... omething... .. ductive...
SPECTRO:
I could find him if we had Sara and Charles.
CAPTAIN FIST:
That jet was caught on radar.
SPECTRO:
Radar? Whatever's happening up there, it's distorting plenty of things. I can't do much with radio down here; radar's going to find him in that?
[ Spectro points to the celestial desolation that was once the sky. ]
[ EXT. HOSPITAL RUINS - DAY. : Gravitor, Wind, Aluben and Zach stand together. ]
ZACH:
Yeah, I can get there, but do you think getting out of here is anywhere near easy? More's going wrong out there than this one crash we're cleaning up.
GRAVITOR:
Yeah. More stuff's going crazy, all right. More will happen until someone stops it.
ZACH:
And that's going to be us?
GRAVITOR:
Who else will it be? No spaceshuttle's getting launched in this chaos.
ZACH:
I can't get up there, either.
GRAVITOR:
No, but you know the way to where we can regroup.
WIND:
You can show us the way. Maybe we can get there the same way we got here...
[ Zach sighs. ]
ZACH:
You'll need to breathe between now and then. I'll drive.
[ INT. TAXICAB - DAY. : The doors are shut, and Zach, Wind, Aluben and Gravitor are seated as before. ]
ALUBEN:
If Retanretla could do this, why did he wait?
GRAVITOR:
He didn't.
ZACH:
I don't know how we're going to get out of here. Guess it's good this isn't my car.
WIND:
Zachariah...
ZACH:
Hey, I'm taking care of her. Company can cover damages though, and I haven't found many like mine that still work.
[ EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY. : The traffic is terrible, with many vehicles traveling in the wrong direction, and a few vehicles already in wrecks on the side of the road. ]
[ Zach's taxi swerves through the chaotic traffic in dramatic fashion. ]
[ EXT. SIDEROAD - DAY. : The taxi emerges from a T-intersection and speeds along the relatively unpopulated road. ]
[ EXT. JUNKYARD - DAY. : From the road, a few chunks of ice can be seen scattered across the junkyard, along with various car-parts, and an open boxcar sitting in the middle of it all. ]
[ The taxi drives into view in the foreground. ]
[ INT. TAXICAB - DAY. ]
ZACH:
Looks like a junkyard froze...
ALUBEN:
Wait, what is that?
ZACH:
You want me to stop?
WIND:
... Yes.
[ Wind speaks into the back of her glove. ]
WIND (cont'd):
Spectro?
[ The taxi quickly slows, everyone in the back seat being thrown a bit forward. ]
[ EXT. JUNKYARD - DAY. : The taxi parks on the side of the road, and Wind, Aluben, Gravitor and Zach quickly emerge from the open driver's-side doors. Zach looks around in confusion; Aluben and Gravitor move toward the boxcar. ]
[ INT. BOXCAR - DAY. : Glacier lies on the floor, his right hand invisible behind a sphere of ice, with frost in splotches all over his body. ]
[ Aluben, Gravitor, Wind and Zach appear in the opening and peer inside. ]
ALUBEN:
It's Glacier.
ZACH:
Friend of yours?
GRAVITOR:
That doesn't look right. Hey, you... conscious?
[ Glacier lifts his head. ]
ALUBEN:
What happened to your hand?
GLACIER:
I don't know.
GRAVITOR:
I hate to sound unconcerned, but do you know how far we are from the others?
GLACIER:
Not far.
[ EXT. EMPTY INTERSECTION - DAY. ]
SPECTRO:
I don't know if I can do both at once...
CAPTAIN FIST:
What now?
SPECTRO:
Sara's not far. I think.
BLACK EAGLE:
Which way?
[ Spectro points foregroundward. ]
SPECTRO:
Over there, but...
BLACK EAGLE:
Hydron, can you move?
HYDRON (struggling to breathe):
... No...
CAPTAIN FIST:
What are you up to?
BLACK EAGLE:
We should regroup. All of us. Glacier went that way. If Wind and Gravitor are there, we can get moving.
CAPTAIN FIST:
Get moving? Where?
BLACK EAGLE:
Wherever we need to go. You're in charge, right?
[ Captain Fist sighs. ]
CAPTAIN FIST:
All right, let's go. At least then they can tell us what's been going on.
BLACK EAGLE:
Spectro, can you keep her from dissolving while we move?
SPECTRO:
I can't tell what I can do standing here.
HYDRON:
Go.... find them....
BLACK EAGLE:
I don't want to go ahead if there's something I need to do here.
SPECTRO:
At this point, time might be what we need.
BLACK EAGLE:
All right.
[ Black Eagle steps out of arm's reach of the others and his wings ignite before he flies into the air. ]
[ INT. BOXCAR - DAY. : Wind and Aluben are now inside the boxcar, crouched beside Glacier. Glacier quivers as though struggling with something internal. ]
WIND:
What's happening?
GLACIER (struggling):
Something's pushing the ice into me.
WIND:
What?
GLACIER:
The space where I am, and the space where the ice is... they're becoming one.
WIND:
Shanan! That must be what Spectro was trying to tell us!
[ Wind gets up and jumps out of the boxcar. ]
GRAVITOR:
Sara?
[ EXT. JUNKYARD - DAY. : Wind runs toward the road. ]
WIND:
I can't believe this is happening..
[ Zach sprints after Wind. ]
ZACH:
Sara, what are you--
WIND:
This wackiness is messing with Glacier. It's probably messing with Shanan, too. She could be hurt...
[ Wind and Zach stop beside the parked taxi. ]
ZACH:
... Shanan? Watergirl Shanan?
WIND:
How long would it take to get there?
ZACH:
I don't know; depends how the roads are. If it's that bad, we should go ahead and go. What about the others?
WIND:
I don't know.
[ Zach looks further down the road. ]
ZACH:
Well, if we need to hurry...
[ Zach takes on a confused expression and tone of voice. ]
ZACH (cont'd):
What is that?
WIND:
What?
[ Wind turns to follow Zach's gaze. Zach points into the sky down the road. ]
ZACH:
There; down the road.
WIND:
Black Eagle?
ZACH:
More friends of yours?
WIND:
Yeah, something like that. I'll be back.
[ Wind takes flight down the road, as Zach looks on in bewilderment. ]
[ EXT. OVER ROAD - DAY. : Wind and Black Eagle fly toward one another and stop, hovering, facing one another. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Where are Gravitor and Aluben?
WIND:
They're with Glacier. Where are Shanan and Spectro?
BLACK EAGLE:
Shanan's water is trying to force itself out of her body or... I don't know what, but it's bad. Spectro's trying to help control it, but whatever's messing with the sky is messing with his powers. Did you get his message?
WIND:
Part of it.
BLACK EAGLE:
Retanretla's been sending signals, but they're just as distorted as everything else. Spectro says we can follow it, but it'll take you and Charles. I think he means to have us fly into that cloud, or whatever the devil it is.
WIND:
Where are they?
BLACK EAGLE:
Unless they're following me, still where we last saw you.
RETANRETLA(over radio, distorted, but less so than before):
... Waiting... is getting old. If you're not...ng you ca... ell me.
[ The ground below begins to shake. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
that's about what we know.
[ Wind looks down. ]
WIND:
Am I bouncing?
BLACK EAGLE:
What?
WIND:
No, unless... look at the ground.
[ Black Eagle looks down. ]
[ The shaking grows more intense, and the noise of it can be heard. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Just what we need. An Earthquake.
WIND:
Do they get Earthquakes here?
BLACK EAGLE:
I don't think it matters today.
[ Spectro comes running up the now trembling street, though slowed by having to carry Hydron. ]
[ Wind flies down toward them, landing on the road. ]
SPECTRO:
Is anything happening with Glacier?
WIND:
He says his ice and body are trying to fit in the same space. Shanan?
[ Hydron can't talk at the moment; too busy gasping for air while various parts of her pulsate as though struggling not to burst. ]
[ Zach runs up and stops near Wind. ]
SPECTRO:
He's not this bad, is he?
WIND:
No. How long has this been happening?
SPECTRO:
A few minutes after we heard about the tidal waves.
WIND:
Tidal waves?
SPECTRO:
Whatever's doing all this has messed up the tides, so a lot of water is moving really fast.
ZACH:
Oh, man...
SPECTRO:
Who's this?
WIND:
A friend.
ZACH:
How bad is it?
HYDRON (coughing):
-- - -- I ... - - -
SPECTRO:
She could talk more before we headed this way.
[ Black Eagle lands, though his wings remain. ]
ZACH:
Shanan, remember Zach? Middleschool? Hey, hang in there...
BLACK EAGLE:
Can we tell where the signals are coming from?
SPECTRO:
I'm not sure.
ZACH:
Do you want me to take her?
SPECTRO:
No; I think I can keep it a little under control.
BLACK EAGLE:
Let's get to the others.
[ Black Eagle turns to face up the road. ]
[ INT. BOXCAR - DAY. : Glacier has managed to get into a crouch, while Gravitor--now inside the boxcar--has finally resorted to lying on his back, a bit out of the way.* ]
[ Black Eagle (wings inactive) approaches the car from outside and ducks his head as he climbs in. Zach and Wind stop outside; Spectro arrives, supporting Hydron. ]
ALUBEN:
Black Eagle...
BLACK EAGLE:
What problems do we have here?
ALUBEN:
Look at his hand.
BLACK EAGLE:
Lemburen, are you injured?
GRAVITOR:
My powers aren't working as well as they did on the way up.
SPECTRO:
Shanan, if you can ...
[ Hydron turns around, Spectro still helping her to stay up. Spectro tries to boost Hydron into the box-car, and Wind and Zach approach to try and help. Hydron falls free and crawls toward Gravitor, gasping for air. ]
GRAVITOR:
What's going on?
SPECTRO:
Try doing something to her with your powers.
GRAVITOR:
Like what?
SPECTRO:
I don't know; just something...
[ Gravitor pushes himself into a sitting position and faces Hydron as his shoulders tense. ]
HYDRON(between gasps):
It's... help---ing... a little....
BLACK EAGLE:
Spectro, can you telll us where to go, now?
SPECTRO:
I'm not sure that's safe. Looks like... well, I have a bit of a direction.
BLACK EAGLE:
Space?
SPECTRO:
Looks like it. That goes with what he said and where he was left.
BLACK EAGLE:
All right. In that case, get in and close the door.
SPECTRO:
What?
[ Black Eagle looks toward Zach. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
I'm afraid you'll have to leave.
ZACH:
What about Shanan? I don't want to walk away from this...
BLACK EAGLE:
I understand. But time's important, and things are about to get dangerous. Maybe more dangerous than ever. We can't have civilians getting caught up in it. Sorry.
[ Spectro climbs into the boxcar. Wind looks around uncertainly. ]
ZACH:
You're taking her with you like this?
BLACK EAGLE:
It looks like she'll die if we leave her behind. If anything happens, you're free to blame me.
WIND:
What? But...
BLACK EAGLE:
Glacier, will it hurt you to seal the door?
GLACIER:
I don't know.
[ Zach sighs. ]
ZACH:
Come back safely.
[ Wind faces Zach. ]
WIND:
I'm sorry this is what happens when we meet for the first time in forever.
ZACH:
Hmm. Well, good luck.
[ Zach steps aside and walks off screen. Wind sighs, then climbs into the boxcar. ]
[ Black Eagle pushes the door shut forcefully, leaving the boxcar in total darkness. ]
SPECTRO:
Giving light would be difficult right now.
[ The scene is lit just enough to make out the colors and positions of everyone. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
We don't need light from in here.
ALUBEN:
What are we doing?
BLACK EAGLE:
We're going up there to see what Retanretla wants. Wind, we'll need atmosphere control.
WIND:
But...
BLACK EAGLE:
And quickly. Gravitor, we'll want to travel up and fast. Can you manage that?
GRAVITOR:
I can keep us from falling, I think. I'm not so sure.
BLACK EAGLE:
Find out.
[ Black Eagle jumps and pushes up on the ceiling of the car ]
BLACK EAGLE (cont'd):
and quickly!
[ EXT. JUNKYARD - DAY. : Zach stands beside the parked taxi, looking back at the boxcar. ]
[ There is a dull "thud", and the boxcar begins to rise into the air. ]
ZACH:
Wow.
[ INT. BOXCAR - DIM. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Spectro, we'll need you to find things. Send us Retanretla's messages if need be.
SPECTRO:
I'll see what I can do.
BLACK EAGLE:
Unless you have to jump in for Shanan or Glacier, my order is to show us where to go. Let us see through the walls, make us invisible, whatever. Aluben,
[ Spectro faces the smaller front wall of the boxcar, which becomes transparent, permitting a view of the sky and horizon beyond; the car is already well above the skyline of the city below. ]
ALUBEN:
Yes...?
BLACK EAGLE:
If Spectro has his hands full and we need a radiation shield, you're the next best. So You'll need to stay near the front, and move if necessary. Glacier, if you can, stand by to cover holes in the car. And Hydron, sorry to yell at you at a time like this, but if you have it under control, we might need you to slip into small places, do reconnaissance...
[ Hydron nods, not as ill-off as before. Aluben moves to the transparent front of the car. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Any ideas how we can speed up?
GRAVITOR:
If we get in sight of something to fall toward. Right now...
WIND:
I can't do much without an open door.
BLACK EAGLE:
It'll take an hour to get up there at this rate.
SPECTRO:
Probably more.
GLACIER:
Can you shift two objects at once?
BLACK EAGLE:
What?
GLACIER:
Make something fall to the ceiling.
GRAVITOR:
Maybe. Does momentum work that way?
SPECTRO:
... Maybe it'll be faster after all.
BLACK EAGLE:
Why's that?
SPECTRO:
Charles, can you tell?
HYDRON(Crackly):
Distorted gravity.
GRAVITOR:
I'm not sure. Are you saying there's another source of gravity in this?
SPECTRO:
Could you tell if there was?
GRAVITOR:
Maybe. I'm not sure.
[ Something faint, resembling a ball of smoke, flies up past the transparent wall of the boxcar. Aluben looks toward it, holding out a hand. ]
ALUBEN:
What's that?
SPECTRO/WIND:
Huh?
ALUBEN:
I thought something flew up in the distance.
[ EXT. SKY - DAY. : The box-car floats upward through the still-distorted sky. ]
[ Part of the sky seems to move like a long thin rope that grows taut. It seems distant from the floating box-car, but the car still seems to be eaccelerated, and starts to pitch and roll as it does. ]
[ INT. BOXCAR - DAY. : The entire scene jerks, rocks and rotates while Gravitor holds onto Hydron and Wind covers her head. ]
GRAVITOR:
Guess it was something...
BLACK EAGLE:
Let's not break anything before we get there.
[ EXT. SKY - DAY. : The image of the sun splits off as though seen through crystals, though the rest of the sky appears as a swirl of blue and gray. The box-car flies toward the center of it at great speeds, beginning to glow bright red. ]
[ INT. BOXCAR - DAY. : Out the transparent wall, the blue-gray swirl of a sky is visible, with red flames licking at the edges of the view. ]
SPECTRO:
Umm, I'm guessing that landing is going to hurt, with how fast we're going.
BLACK EAGLE:
Ok. Let's open the door and ...
SPECTRO:
And get disintegrated?
BLACK EAGLE:
Where are we going... we know so little.
GRAVITOR:
Oh, umm... I think I figured out our phantom gravity problem...
HYDRON:
Can you slow us down?
GRAVITOR:
Don't know.
SPECTRO:
You lost me. But... wait, what direction are we even going?
[ Glacier holds up his visible hand, and a miniature tree of ice grows from it. ]
[ Wind, Spectro and Black Eagle look at the ice-tree in Glacier's hand, then look toward Hydron. The blue in the sky beyond the transparent wall begins to fade. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
No more water exploding?
HYDRON:
No.
GRAVITOR:
Someone's trying to... well, I'm not sure what, exactly.
HYDRON:
Merge the universe with another.
[ The flames at the edges of the transparent wall subside. ]
SPECTRO:
Woah. Ok, so... how's that?
GRAVITOR:
That makes sense, I ... wait, no. Merging universes doesn't make sense... but it'd explain what's been happening.
WIND:
How?
SPECTRO:
Um, I think we should be worried about not crashing.
GRAVITOR:
We're not speeding up... does that help?
SPECTRO:
We don't have to worry about burning up. We'll still crash.
BLACK EAGLE:
Is the air out there safe enough for us to bail?
SPECTRO:
Your guess is as good as mine.
HYDRON:
It is.
WIND:
But...
BLACK EAGLE:
Then let's get out of here. Glacier?
[ Glacier stands and faces the door side of the boxcar as a foil-shaped shield of ice forms in front of him. ]
[ Black Eagle grabs the edge of the door and pulls it open, while Glacier forces the ice-shield into the growing opening. ]
WIND:
Umm, this is...
BLACK EAGLE:
Do you have the air under control?
WIND:
I... think... so.
SPECTRO:
I hope so...
[ The ice-shield falls through the opening and vanishes from sight. ]
GRAVITOR:
We'll have to stay close.
BLACK EAGLE:
Then do it. I'll lighten things.
[ Black Eagle steps to the edge of the boxcar. ]
[ EXT. GRAY SKY - DAY. : Black Eagle jumps out of the open side of the boxcar, his wings igniting as he flies through the air. ]
[ INT. BOXCAR - DAY. ]
HYDRON:
Hmm.
[ Wind looks toward Hydron. ]
WIND:
Shanan, you aren't...
[ Hydron transforms into water that flows out of the opening in the boxcar. ]
WIND:
But...
SPECTRO:
Time.
[ Wind sighs, turns, and runs and jumps out of the opening. ]
[ EXT. GRAY SKY - DAY. : Wind flies out of the boxcar. Gravitor follows, with Spectro and Aluben holding onto either of his arms. ]
[ Wind and the other three meet up, now away from the box-car, descending. ]
[ EXT. WASTELAND - DAY. : The sky is gray, and the ground is barren. ]
[ the boxcar spirals toward the ground and finally crashes into it, breaking into a pile of fragments. Glacier lands, several feet away, standing still in a way that suggests he is struggling to maintain balance. ]
[ Rain falls over Glacier, then collects beside him, taking human shape and finally becoming Human-Hydron. ]
HYDRON(somewhat out of breath):
It's stopped.
GLACIER:
Yes.
[ Hydron looks at Glacier's ice-covered hand, takes hold of his wrist and brings it up around chest height. ]
HYDRON:
Your hand...
GLACIER:
I can't feel it.
[ Spectro, Black Eagle, Aluben, Gravitor and Wind reach the ground around them. ]
GRAVITOR:
This place looks familiar.
RETANRETLA (OS):
Well, then, good thing you're here.
[ Retanretla stands a few feet away. Zoom in. ]
[ Side shot as Black Eagle approaches Retanretla. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
You have ten seconds to explain.
RETANRETLA:
It wasn't my idea. I'd just have nuked the guy in the suit and been done with it. But then we couldn't get back, or so Fieron says.
[ Fade to black. ]
11:36 AM 5/28/2010