Writer: C. A. E. Jones
11:34 AM 6/1/2010
[ EXT. WASTELAND - NEAR PURPLE SHIP - DAY. : Wind and Vekin stand a few meters from the ship, Gravitor off to the side. Elanmak and Liquaro stand near the side of the ship, Elanmak with his arms crossed and the sickle at his waist. Fierox cautiously walks along side the ship. ]
WIND:
I don't believe this day. So many coincidences, and a crazy guy trying to merge two whole universes? And on top of all of that, it's me, some friends, and a guy that tried to kill us not even a day ago that are going to stop him?
VEKIN:
Life takes us to strange places.
[ Dissolve to... ]
[ EXT. NICKATODEO HIGHLAND - DAY. : Liquaro and Rani sit up, though still appear tired. Kejek looks out over the slope (off screen). ]
[ Kairin and Fierox run up and stop near Kejek. ]
KAIRIN:
They're running away.
KEJEK:
Look.
[ Kejek points with the thorn-staff, into the air and in the direction of the gorge. Kairin looks in the indicated direction. ]
[ In the distance, Elanmak can be seen running toward the gorge. ]
[ Vekin walks to stand amid the boys. ]
KAIRIN:
Elanmak?
VEKIN:
I fear he will try to follow them. We overwhelmed them with surprise, and the highground helped us. They are a trained army, however, and will not be so careless next time.
KAIRIN:
That's not a great way to greet strangers.
VEKIN:
The vehicles those soldiers used were not made for this terrain. I believe they are not from this region, perhaps an invading force. The four-armed creatures appear better equipped for a tropical environment.
[ Kejek looks into the sky. ]
KEJEK:
From the look of the sky, this could be pretty close to tropical for this place.
KAIRIN:
They could be aliens.
[ Kejek looks toward Kairin. ]
KEJEK:
Well, yeah.
KAIRIN:
I mean, from a different planet than this one.
KEJEK:
That means there's another planet besides this one and Earth we should be able to survive on. It could happen. I'd kinda like to get back to ours soon, though.
VEKIN:
Only the Tahea Spirit Lift can get us back to Earth, now.
[ Liquaro gets to his feet, and Rani follows suit. ]
LIQUARO:
It was... difficult.
RANI:
That was the first time we did it.
VEKIN:
You're still tired from your fight with Taharhin, and we are much safer if a more experienced user of the technique takes us home.
KEJEK:
Taharhin will want to continue the fight before we leave.
VEKIN:
Perhaps. But even if Liquaro and Rani could get us to the earth, we shouldn't leave Taharhin and Elanmak behind.
KAIRIN:
So we're going to follow him?
VEKIN:
Unless a better alternative presents itself.
[ EXT. NICKATODEO - ABOVE FORTRESS - DAY. : within one hundred feet of the gorge lies another, both leading into sand-colored drops several dozen feet deep. The land between the gorges is grassy, and several mowercraft-mounted soldiers perform maneuvers across it, with a small shack in the middle of the area. Sitting across the far gorge is a small, purple-tinted metal fort, with three towers rising from it, the center one being the tallest and biggest in diameter. ]
[ Zoom in on the fortress. ]
[ INT. FORTRESS - DAY. : The room is large and cylindrical, with the floor dark and purplish, and the walls likewise. In the center of the room stands a bipedal creature that is large and relatively round, its limbs short. Its head is something of a hill rising from its shoulders, and its skin is a bright blue. It is clad in a gray outfit that covers most of its body, yellow gloves and dark brown boots covering its hands and feet. The creature's mouth is wide, but moves in a relatively tight, humanoid manner. Its eyes are pale with gray irisses, though the general shape is somewhat frog-like. While there are large nostrils between the eyes and the mouth, there isn't a protrusive nose. Standing to the blue one's right (screen left) stands a shorter, more slender creature covered in offwhite scales and clad in the same red outfit as the four-arms. Its body structure is almost perfectly humanoid, though its joints are more sharply defined, and its hands end in claws, a long tail reaching the ground behind it. Its head is somewhat oblong to the back, with an indigo patch covering the top; its face is somewhat lizard-like. To the blue one's left (screen right) stands what could pass for a seven foot tall, dark-skinned man, with braded white hair hanging from the center of its scalp, likewise wearing red. Dauq kneels in front of the blue creature. ]
[ When characters speak in this scene, their voices are chorused and their words do not match the movement of their mouths unless otherwise noted. ]
DAUQ:
Sir. X, we return disgraced.
SIR. X:
In that case, Dauq, crouch as do your people in the jungles of Filanzia.
[ Dauq moves into a monkey-like crouch, though appears very unhappy. ]
SIR. X:
Tell me of your disgrace, and perhaps I will not send you back to your savage cousins.
DAUQ:
Great Sir. X, we approached the highland from which the strangers took flight. There were several of them; we count six. Four of them are small and shaped like the Altudos, though paler. Another was like these, but larger, and expert at commanding forces near it. The other moved on all fours, but seemed more alive with fire than mine. They have far more impressive powers than the natives we have encountered, but only the big one and the fire creature should have threatened us. We were unprepared when we attacked them, and they humiliated us.
[ The smaller, scaly figure, hereafter Eborana, glares and makes a hissing sound. ]
EBORANA:
The humiliation is yours, Dauq, not the army of Sir. X.
SIR. X:
Peace, Eborana. Though you are correct. Dauq, you have brought me information on these strangers. As punishment, you shall be escorted by Eborana to take them. Take more troops, this time. Kill the big one, but save one of the small ones, and capture the fire creature if you can. They will already be against us, so it is better to turn them once they are subdued. If that fails, then we will study them. Now go.
DAUQ:
Yes, Lord.
[ Eborana steps forward. ]
EBORANA:
I will do as you ask, Lord.
[ Dauq stands and turns, and he and Eborana exit to the foreground. ]
SIR. X:
Elxum, make sure the artillery is ready.
ELXUM:
Lord?
SIR. X:
The strangers could easily have spotted this base. I will not allow them to take it, if they have any ambition.
ELXUM:
Yes, Lord.
[ EXT. NICKATODEO - BETWEEN GORGES - DAY. : Dauq and Eborana lead three lines of mounted soldiers toward the fort-less gorge. ]
[ Zoom in on the gorge. Elanmak and Taharhin hover just below the top of the gorge, looking up. Taharhin is wearing his armor. ]
ELANMAK:
They're going back.
TAHARHIN:
They believe so. Don't be as deceived.
[ Taharhin holds up a hand. ]
[ As Dauq and Eborana approach the gorge, a beam of white light rises from it and strikes the mowercraft on which Eborana rides, sending it into Dauq's. The mowercraft's collide, and Eborana jumps off, flipping to land a few feet away. The troops behind stop, and Dauq cartwheels across the ground as the colliding mowercrafts explode. ]
EBORANA:
Shwahk? Ke-faht heh wesh haka!
[ EXT. NICKATODEO - SLOPE BOTTOM - DAY. : From (screen) left to right, Fierox, Kairin, Kejek, Vekin, Liquaro and Rani stand at the bottom of the slope. Kejek holds binoculars to his eyes while the thorn-staff leans against his leg. ]
KEJEK:
There's another gorge not far from this one. And...
LIQUARO:
Taharhin!
VEKIN:
That was a Tahea attack.
[ Kejek lowers the binoculars and connects them to his belt. ]
KAIRIN:
Can we get close enough to spirit-lift them out of here?
VEKIN:
No.
[ EXT. OVER GORGE - DAY. : Eborana and Dauq approach the gorge and look down ]
EBORANA:
Ra-faht! Wesh heh lao hufeh!
[ Eborana steps to the very edge and turns, letting his (?) tail slip down along the wall of the gorge. ]
[ Below, Taharhin pushes Elanmak downward as Eborana's tail whips past where Elanmak's head was, striking Taharhin's armor instead. ]
TAHARHIN:
Whatever you are, you won't defeat me so easily!
[ Taharhin rises, and Elanmak follows. ]
[ Eborana looks down in the gorge as he draws his tail back up. Taharhin flies up and uppercuts Eborana, who backflips away from the edge as Taharhin lands. ]
[ Dauq approaches Taharhin and Eborana, and Elanmak flies in and lands in front of him. ]
ELANMAK:
Going somewhere?
[ Elanmak holds his sickle to the side in a ready position. Dauq holds up his top arms and points the lower two downward as a fiery aura forms around him. ]
[ EXT. NICKATODEO - SLOPE BOTTOM - DAY. ]
KEJEK:
Well, I guess we have to help them.
KAIRIN:
Do you have an idea on how to get us across that gorge?
KEJEK:
Well, sure, if Fierox goes first.
[ Fierox walks toward Kejek. Kejek picks up the thorn-staff and points it toward the gorge (off screen). ]
KEJEK:
Why don't you deal with them for us?
[ EXT. NICKATODEO - BETWEEN GORGES - DAY. : Taharhin holds out a hand, aiming past Eborana. A beam of light fires from Taharhin's hand, striking a mounted soldier in the chest and knocking him back, where he is obscured by his comrades. ]
[ Elanmak steps forward and swings his sickle at Dauq. A wall of fire flies from dauq, striking the sickle and throwing Elanmak back. There is an abrupt explosion, and Dauq falls off screen. ]
[ As Elanmak falls into the gorge, Fierox flies past him, surrounded in fire. Vekin dives in from above and catches Elanmak, while fire stretches out behind Fierox, creating an arc over the gorge. ]
ELANMAK:
I can handle myself.
VEKIN:
Save your strength.
[ Vekin flies up with Elanmak in tow. ]
[ On the other side of the gorge, Kejek holds the thorn-staff over the arch of fire. ]
KEJEK:
All right. Hurry!
KAIRIN:
And that won't burn us?
KEJEK:
That's why you're hurrying.
[ Rani approaches the arch and jumps over it, flying across the gorge. Liquaro follows. Kairin steps up and runs toward the arch, jumps, and begins to fall toward it. Kejek taps the flames with the thorn-staff, and Kairin flies over the arch, yelling as he goes. Kejeksteps forward, keeping the thorn-staff low, and jumps across the arch. ]
[ Fierox flies into the front of the block of mounted soldiers. Sparks fly from Fierox's paws and into the shafts of one of the mowercrafts, and flow down the shafts. The mowercraft shutters and falls as smoke pours from it; its rider falls over as Fierox flies over the handbar and into him. Nearby, Taharhin floats over Eborana's tail as it whips across the ground. Taharhin flies at Eborana and punches the alien in the face. Eborana slashes at Taharhin's arm with a claw. ]
[ Liquaro and Rani land in front of the block of soldiers. ]
RANI:
All right, let's do it!
[ Liquaro and Rani join hands. ]
LIQUARO/RANI:
Tahea Spirit Attack!
[ Liquaro and Rani's hands glow and a sphere of light expands outward from them. ]
[ From above, the sphere can be seen growing, obscuring Liquaro and Rani from sight, until it consumes several of the mounted soldiers. Taharhin flies up and away from the sphere, looking down at it. ]
[ Close on Taharhin's face, which wears an expression of satisfaction. ]
TAHARHIN:
So they can do the spirit attack.
[ Close on Liquaro and Rani as the white light fades and they let their hands separate. Kairin and Kejek land behind Liquaro and Rani, and Vekin and Elanmak rise from the gorge to join them. ]
KEJEK:
Nice one.
[ Nearly a third of the amassed soldiers show signs of pain, doubling over, leaning on the handbars of their mowercrafts, some fallen from their vehicles. ]
[ Vekin steps forward. ]
VEKIN:
Taharhin! We must leave this place!
[ Taharhin lands, the gorge to his right. ]
TAHARHIN:
Leave? We seem to be doing well enough.
[ Eborana steps into view, facing Taharhin. ]
EBORANA:
Ra-faht!
SIR. X (OS):
Eborana, mafa.
[ Eborana looks off to screen right. ]
[ Close on Sir. X as he walks forward. ]
SIR. X:
Gai-faht. Lao Shahk?
[ Taharhin turns with his back to the gorge. Sir. X stands a few feet away, facing Taharhin. ]
TAHARHIN:
I don't speak that tongue, creature.
[ Sir. X smiles. ]
SIR. X:
Eborana, haka.
[ Eborana lunges for Taharhin. Taharhin bats Eborana aside with one arm. ]
[ The other Earthlings look on. ]
KAIRIN:
I think he's a little busy.
[ Dauq jumps into frame. ]
DAUQ:
Ra-faht! Triin!
[ Dauq lunges at Liquaro and Rani. Liquaro puts up a hand to block, and Rani ducks, headbutting Dauq's fist out of the way. Dauq's lower left arm strikes Rani, knocking him back. Vekin steps forward and thrusts a hand toward Dauq, and Dauq jumps backward. ]
KEJEK:
If we keep our backs to this gorge, we're in trouble.
[ Sir. X points at Taharhin. ]
[ Taharhin flies back, a shocked expression on his face. ]
[ Eborana laughs. ]
EBORANA:
Sir. X heh lao trifeh!
[ Taharhin struggles to hover over the gorge. ]
[ Eborana steps toward the gorge. The taller, more human-like of those seen in the fortress, hereafter Elxum, steps up along side Sir. X. ]
ELXUM:
Rahm, mesh kah lao ka-faht trifeh?
SIR. X:
Boro. Elxum, Eborana, trifeh.
[ Eborana and Elxum both step toward the edge. ]
[ Taharhin floats above the gorge, though struggles as though held against his power. ]
TAHARHIN (struggling):
Cowards.
[ Elxum holds out his fists, and both glow red. Eborana leaps at Taharhin and whips his tail toward him, slashing Taharhin across the legs. Red light shines on Taharhin's face, and he yells in pain before he falls into the gorge. ]
[ From above, the soldiers can be seen moving forward toward the group at the edge of the gorge, while Vekin and Liquaro guard against Dauq. Elanmak turns and leaps into the gorge. ]
[ Kejek looks toward Elanmak. ]
KEJEK:
What the...
[ EXT. NICKATODEO - GORGE - DAY. ]
[ Taharhin falls past the camera. ]
[ Elanmak flies toward the bottom of the gorge, sickle held over his head. ]
[ Elanmak lands and runs until he comes upon Taharhin, who lies sprawled and motionless on the ground. ]
ELANMAK:
Taharhin? Taharhin!
[ Elanmak stands over Taharhin and brings the sickle down so that the end of it hovers over Taharhin's chest. ]
ELANMAK:
Are you going to get up, old man?
[ There is a second of silence, then Elanmak lifts the sickle slightly. ]
ELANMAK:
Fine.
[ Elanmak brings the sickle down into Taharhin's chest, and a yellow-brown cloud appears, obscuring them both from sight. ]
[ EXT. NICKATODEO - BETWEEN RIDGES - DAY. ]
[ Sir. X turns to look toward the larger battle between Vekin, Fierox, the boys and the soldiers. Eborana and Elxum come to stand beside Sir. X, looking toward the battle as well. ]
[ Close on Rani as he gets to his feet. Several mowercrafts with gray-faced soldiers on them fly toward him. ]
RANI:
Ikee!
[ Rani jumps up and extends a hand toward the nearest soldier. A beam of light flows from Rani's hand and strikes the soldier, who stumbles. Rani lands atop the handbar of the mowercraft and kicks the soldier off of it, then jumps into the air and flies out of the reach of the soldiers, who direct their vehicles into wide circles to turn and follow. ]
[ Kejek runs toward where Fierox sits on an abandonned mowercraft, fiery aura intense. Eborana, Sir. X and Dauq watch from the background. ]
KEJEK:
I'll bet the big one is the leader.
[ Mounted soldiers move toward Kejek and Fierox. Fierox leaps toward the line of soldiers. Kejek steps between two mowercrafts and aims the thorn-staff at Fierox's tail, then pulls it around in an arc, a thin stream of fire following the thorn-staff toward Sir. X. ]
[ Close on Sir. X, Eborana and Elxum. ]
EBORANA:
Ra-faht! Lao heh Sir. X haka nefant!
[ Sir. X points at the oncoming fire, and it spirals into the shape of an orb spiderweb. ]
SIR. X:
Ra-haka. Mehu deh.
[ The flames fade. ]
[ Over the gorge, Elanmak can be seen flying up, grim-faced, gripping his sickle with both hands and holding it over his head. ]
ELANMAK:
Sir. X. Is that what they call you, lard-butt?
[ Elanmak lands on the edge of the gorge. ]
ELANMAK:
You'll regret that.
[ Close on Sir. X. ]
SIR. X (voice-over):
That one can fly. We need but one.
[ Sir. X holds up a hand. ]
[ Elanmak rises into the air. ]
ELANMAK:
Oh, no you don't!
[ Elanmak struggles to bring the sickle down in front of him. ]
[ Sir. X lowers his hand. ]
[ Elanmak flies over the battlefield and falls into the side of the previously-seen shack. Four mounted soldiers move toward Elanmak, as he gets to his feet and turns to face them. ]
ELANMAK:
You, too? Bring it!
[ At the edge of the gorge, two gray-faced soldiers, now on foot, stand on either side of Dauq, aiming their fists at Vekin and Liquaro. Kairin slips behind the soldier closest to Liquaro, slashing the fanblade at the back of its leg. Liquaro leaps and headbutts the soldier, and he falls backward, Kairin jumping out of the way. ]
[ As the gray-faced soldier closer to Vekin's fists glow, Vekin staggers backward. Dauq holds his arms in the pose for his fire attack. ]
VEKIN:
Enough!
[ Vekin rises into the air and holds both of his hands toward the sky. ]
[ Sir. X, Elxum and Eborana look on. ]
EBORANA:
Ka-faht heh shwahk fah?
[ Sir. X holds up a hand. ]
[ Above Vekin's head, a sphere of sparks begins to form. ]
VEKIN:
I am aware of you, and your power.
[ Vekin drops toward the gorge. The sphere of sparks flies downward. ]
[ Dauq, surrounded in an aura of fire, looks on in confusion. ]
DAUQ:
Shwahk?
[ The sparking sphere strikes Dauq in the chest, and he falls back, the fire around him collapsing into a ball of flame around him. ]
[ Sir. X lowers his hand. Elxum smirks, and Eborana laughs. ]
SIR. X (voice-over):
It knows I am the stronger. I can see how it humiliates Dauq with such ease.
EBORANA:
Hah! Ka-ra-faht heh trift!
SIR. X:
Noi. Atresh. Trifeh.
[ Elxum and Eborana appear surprised. ]
EBORANA:
Rahm?
SIR. X:
Atresh!
EBORANA:
Ei, Sir. X.
[ Eborana turns and runs to the gorge, then jumps into it, flips so that he is upside down, and clings to the wall with his claws, then begins quickly climbing down into the gorge. ]
[ The larger group of soldiers is focusing on Fierox, who continues to plow through them, while Kejek stands behind Fierox, drawing flames out of Fierox's path with the thorn-staff and creating lines of fire to keep fallen soldiers down. ]
[ Kairin walks carefully along the edge of the ranks of soldiers. Upon reaching the back, he turns and slashes the fanblade at the back of one of the soldier's legs. The soldier staggers,and Kairin thrusts his hand up at him. There is a flash of light, and while the soldier growls, Kairin jumps up and slams the flat of the fanblade into the soldier's side, sending him to fall. Kairin stands on the mowercraft, shoving the fanblade into the waist of his pants as he reaches for the handbar. ]
KAIRIN:
Let's see....
[ The mowercraft suddenly accelerates forward, crashing into the one ahead of it, sending its rider falling. Kairin leans hard and forces the mowercraft to turn, crashing into another and sending its rider to fall into the soldier beside him. Kairin jumps backward off of the mowercraft as it flies over its neighbor, knocking another soldier aside before it collides with another mowercraft, and both explode, scattering soldiers in the cloud of smoke that follows. ]
[ Kairin runs away from the block of soldiers. ]
KAIRIN:
A little too easy...
[ Kairin approaches the fortress and stops, looking up at it. ]
KAIRIN:
I wonder if anyone's watching that.
[ Three gray-faced soldiers step out of the shadow of the fortress and approach Kairin. ]
KAIRIN:
Oh. I ... guess someone is.
[ The soldiers aim their fists at Kairin. As the fists glow red, Kairin turns and runs. ]
[ EXT. NICKATODEO - FAR GORGE - DAY. : Kairin runs along side the farthest gorge, his back to the fortress. ]
[ The three soldiers follow, keeping up without running due to their longer strides. ]
[ Kairin stops, pulls out the quad blade and turns. ]
KAIRIN:
Ok, try this on for size!
[ Kairin raises the fanblade toward the sky and spins it rapidly. ]
KAIRIN:
Metallic Flash!
[ Kairin stops spinning the fanblade as he aims it at the soldier closest to the edge. The blade flashes brightly, and light shines on the soldier and he staggers. ]
[ The soldier closest to the inside turns toward the other two, and aims a fist at each of them. His fists flash red, and the soldier on the edge falls over the edge and into the gorge. The middle soldier staggers and turns toward his companion in confusion. The inside soldier kicks the remaining one, and he falls back and into the gorge. The still-standing soldier turns to face Kairin. ]
KAIRIN:
O....k....
[ The soldier begins to shrink, his clothes turning black. After a moment, the soldier has transformed into a chalky-skinned humanoid dressed in a gray-and-black tunic and sleeveless top. The being's face is mostly humanoid, though its skin from the eyebrows up is red, and it has a head of black hair. ]
LICHENQUE:
Nice trick. I've got some of my own.
KAIRIN:
Thanks, but who are you?
LICHENQUE:
Name's Lichenque. That was a pretty nice move you pulled back there, but Sir. X's soldiers are going to come after us for sure, now.
KAIRIN:
So is Sir. X the big blue guy?
LICHENQUE:
Yes. His ships landed on Nickatodeo not too long ago, and they've already conquered the nearby villages. We've been trying to hold them back, but haven't done so well. I was sent to try and infiltrate Sir. X's base, since I can get in unnoticed thanks to my power. And then you showed up.
[ Three mounted soldiers approach from the direction of the bulk of the battle. ]
KAIRIN:
Looks like we got company.
[ EXT. NICKATODEO - NEAR SHACK - DAY. : Elanmak faces several gray-faced soldiers. ]
[ The soldiers aim their fists at Elanmak, who swings his sickle defensively, but staggers back and doubles over, taking one hand from the handle of the sickle to clutch his abdomen. ]
ELANMAK:
Stupid aliens and your stupid fake blasts...!
[ Elanmak kicks hard on the ground and jumps, flying at the soldiers. He puts both hands on the sickle and swings it, striking the back of a soldier's fist. The soldier punches the sickle aside and aims his other fist at Elanmak's chest. The soldier suddenly falls forward, a beam of white light fading behind it. Rani jumps to where the soldier stood and sidekicks one of the others. Another turns to face Rani, and Elanmak lunges, catching the soldier full in the back with the inside of the sickle's curve. The soldier collapses, his red outfit torn up the back to reveal wrinkly gray flesh. Two soldiers on mowercraft move in from Elanmak's left, and both aim their fists at Rani and Elanmak. Rani turns to aim his hand at the soldiers, but the soldier's fists flash red, and Rani and Elanmak both go flying. ]
[ EXT. NICKATODEO - FAR GORGE - DAY. : Kairin and Lichenque run as a line of mounted soldiers pursues them. ]
[ Rani and Elanmak land off to the right (screen left) of their path. Kairin turns and runs to Rani, and Lichenque stops to watch. ]
LICHENQUE:
They're gaining on us!
[ Kairin helps Rani to his feet. ]
KAIRIN:
Are you ok?
[ Rani nods. Elanmak gets up and looks toward the advancing line of soldiers. Another group of three approaches from the direction that Elanmak and Rani came. ]
LICHENQUE:
Quick, this way!
[ Lichenque turns and keeps running. The earthlings follow him. ]
[ EXT. NICKATODEO - BEHIND SHACK - DAY. : From this side, an opening only about a meter smaller than the wall of the shack can be seen, with enough light coming through to reveal that there is another, similar opening on the other side. If the ground inside the shack can be seen, it is covered in what resembles variously-colored whire-strippings. ]
[ Lichenque runs to the opening of the shack and ducks into it, followed by Kairin, Elanmak and Rani. ]
[ INT. SHACK - DAY. : The ceiling is low, and everyone ducks inside and stops. ]
ELANMAK:
They can surround us from in here.
LICHENQUE:
We have enough cover to get out, and put some distance between us and them. And it's a good time for me to disappear.
KAIRIN:
What's that supposed to--
[ The ceiling begins to fall. ]
ELANMAK:
The ceiling's falling!
[ Elanmak pushes past Kairin and Lichenque and out the other side of the shack. Lichenque follows him. The ceiling is within three feet of the ground. Kairin stumbles, and hurries on all fours after them. Rani leaps forward, and falls onto the ground, panting, as the ceiling falls to inches above him. ]
[ EXT. NICKATODEO - BETWEEN GORGE AND SHACK - DAY. : This side of the shack is farthest from the fortress (off screen). The shack is effectively a platform just over a foot from the ground. Elanmak and Lichenque stand a few feet from it. ]
[ Kairin scrambles away from the collapsing shack and gets to his feet. ]
KAIRIN:
Rani's still in there!
[ Elanmak turns, clutches the sickle with both hands, and raises it over his head as he runs and leaps for the shack. ]
[ Rani can be heard screaming. Elanmak brings the sickle down in the middle of the platform, and Rani goes silent as a cloud of yellowish gas escapes the remainder of the opening in the remains of the shack. The platform sinks quickly to a few inches above the ground, and Elanmak stumbles back from it, looking down at the sickle in his hand. ]
[ EXT. NICKATODEO - GORGE - DAY. : Vekin walks casually along the floor of the gorge in long strides. ]
[ Eborana leaps down from the wall and toward Vekin. Vekin simply keeps walking, and Eborana misses, striking the ground an inch behind. Eborana flips off of the ground, his tail whipping at Vekin's neck. Vekin holds up an arm and catches the attack, then begins rising into the air, still walking forward. ]
[ Close on Vekin's face, with his hand visible to the side, clutching Eborana's tail. Vekin's face shows that, though he caught Eborana's tail, the attack still caused him pain. ]
VEKIN (quietly):
This one is strong. Hopefully, it can't fly.
[ From above, Vekin can be seen rising from the gorge, carrying Eborana by the tail. Eborana twists and flips around, kicking and slashing toward Vekin's head, though Vekin manages to move his head and lean his body enough to dodge Eborana's attacks, until Eborana manages to dig a claw into Vekin's shoulder. Vekin grunts in pain, three deep cuts visible across his shoulder as Eborana draws back for another attack. ]
[ Focus on Eborana. ]
EBORANA:
Mea Triiin!
[ Eborana throws himself forward, claws raised to attack. ]
[ Mid shot. Vekin leans forward and releases Eborana's tail. Eborana goes flying over Vekin and into the gorge. ]
[ Eborana yells in rage as he disappears in the distance. ]
[ Close on Vekin, whose shoulder is bleeding. Vekin slowly turns and descends to land on the edge of the gorge. ]
[ EXT. NICKATODEO - NEAR GORGE - DAY. : Two mounted soldiers confront Liquaro. Liquaro ducks as their fists glow red and leaps between them, throwing out his arms as he does to push them both aside. ]
[ Fierox flies on screen, surrounded in flames. Fierox lands on one of the soldiers and snaps at its side. A wave of fire flows from Fierox's snout and into the mowercraft, and it bursts into flames as it flies into the other, which flies into its fallen rider before exploding, obscuring the fallen soldier in a cloud of smoke and fire. ]
[ Fierox's aura fades, and Fierox lies down, wining faintly. ]
[ Kejek runs up beside Fierox, and Vekin lands on the fox's other side. Liquaro looks off to screen right and into the foreground. Kejek holds up the thorn-staff and waves it in an arc, and the smoke moves in an arc to block the group from sight from the background and to the right. ]
KEJEK:
That should keep them confused for a few seconds.
LIQUARO:
Rani...
[ Vekin nods. ]
[ Lichenque, Elanmak and Kairin run into view, facing the others. ]
KAIRIN:
What did you do?
ELANMAK:
What did you want me to do?
LICHENQUE:
I saw the attack the two of them did earlier.
KEJEK:
Hey, what happened?
KAIRIN:
We ran through a trap. Rani didn't make it out.
[ Vekin turns to face into the background. ]
VEKIN:
Kejek, help me form the fire into a baricade.
KEJEK:
O... k.
[ Kejek points the thorn-staff at the burning remains of the mowercrafts and slowly draws it around, Vekin holding out his arms to guide the fire as well, the flames rising to form a wall of smoke and fire behind the group. ]
[ Close on Lichenque. ]
LICHENQUE:
If it takes both of them...
[ Lichenque's features rapidly change until he is identical to Liquaro. ]
LICHENQUE (in Liquaro's voice):
Hutari ga imasu.
[ EXT. NICKATODEO - BETWEEN GORGES - DAY. : Sir. X and Elxum look on. Elxum frowns. ]
ELXUM:
Ka-raht heh Eborana feht hufa?
SIR. X:
Ei. Mea tii hen.
[ Sir. X slowly rises and hovers. Elxum steps back, looking shocked. ]
ELXUM:
Sir. X, lao feht na...
[ A brown-and-gray tank, at least twice the size of Sir. X, rolls in from screen right and stops under Sir. X. Sir. X drops into the roof of the tank. ]
[ From above, the tank can be seen rolling through the now thick barier of fire and smoke. ]
[ EXT. NICKATODEO - BETWEEN GORGE AND SHACK - DAY. : Lichenque and the Earthlings jump back as Sir. X's tank approaches, still partly obscured behind the wall of flames. Fierox struggles to stand and runs back behind Kairin. ]
LIQUARO:
Dare. Kisama wa dare!
[ Liquaro leaps into the air and flies toward Sir. X's tank, a white aura flaring up around him. ]
KEJEK:
Liquaro! Wait!
[ Close on Sir. X. ]
SIR. X:
Sir. X, rahm ko chaiten!
[ Close on Liquaro, white light flashing behind him. Liquaro cups his hands together in front of him. ]
[ Close on the gun on Sir. X's tank as it glows red. ]
SIR. X:
TRIIN!
[ Close on Liquaro. ]
LIQUARO (yelling):
HAAAH!!!
[ Liquaro thrusts his hands forward, and a massive beam of light, fading from white near the center to blue at the edges, erupts from them. ]
[ A red-tinted ray blasts from the gun of Sir. X's tank. ]
[ Mid shot. Liquaro's beam, a large similarly-colored wave at its front, passes beneath Sir. X's ray. Sir. X's ray strikes Liquaro full in the chest, and Liquaro flies back and off screen, while Liquaro's beam flows into the bottom of Sir. X's tank, which stops moving. ]
[ Close on Liquaro as he falls through the air and lands on his back in the grass. ]
[ Kairin and Kejek runb toward Liquaro. ]
KAIRIN:
Liquaro!
[ Kairin and Kejek stop beside Liquaro. Lichenque, still in Liquaro form, runs up beside them, and Elanmak walks quickly to Liquaro's other side. ]
KAIRIN:
Is he... Ok?
[ Lichenque looks down at Liquaro, and his forehead furrows in concentration. Then he looks up. ]
LICHENQUE (in Liquaro's voice):
No. I can only change to and from the living.
[ Fierox walks up and sniffs at Liquaro's leg. Elanmak raises the sickle over his head. ]
KEJEK:
What are you doing?
[ There is an explosion from off screen, and Kairin, Kejek, Lichenque and Fierox turn toward the source. ]
[ Close on Sir. X's tank, from which smoke pours as the bottom half of it glows red. ]
[ Wide shot. Sir. X's tank explodes in a red-and-white fireball. A pillar of smoke rises from the heart of the explosion before it fades away. ]
[ Close on Kairin, Kejek and Lichenque. ]
KAIRIN:
Sir. X is gone!
[ There is a whooshing sound, and a yellowish gas flows past the boys on screen. ]
[ Elanmak stands over a cloud of gas where Liquaro previously lied, his sickle dug into the ground. Vekin walks up, and Fierox growls. ]
VEKIN:
Where is Taharhin?
ELANMAK:
Gone.
[ Kairin, Kejek and Lichenque (in Liquaro form and using Liquaro's voice until otherwise specified) stare at Elanmak. ]
KEJEK:
Where did you get that sickle? And don't say "an island" this time.
ELANMAK:
An old guy gave it to me when I told him that Taharhin and the twins were going to fight. He said to cut anyone who was near death with it.
LICHENQUE:
Near? I can't return to my normal body.
ELANMAK:
That's what he told me.
KEJEK:
Is that all that you told him?
ELANMAK:
I told him I was training with Taharhin, and that we found some gateways. Jees.
KAIRIN:
Is that all?
ELANMAK:
Yes, that's all! Well... he did ask how many of us there were.
ELXUM (OS):
Rahm! Rahm Sir. X!
[ Everyone turns. ]
VEKIN:
It is time for us to leave.
KEJEK:
We lost everyone that could have used the Spirit Lift.
LICHENQUE:
Sir. X has vehicles nearby. I can show you to them.
[ Dissolve to... ]
[ EXT. WASTELAND - NEAR SHIP - DAY. ]
VEKIN:
I never expected to leave the Earth in body while I live. But is it a coincidence that paths so close to begin with converge climactically?
WIND:
I guess not. But...
VEKIN:
We've been found.
WIND:
What?
[ Vekin flies in front of the spaceship, in time to get blown back by a blast of golden sparks. ]
GRAVITOR:
Not the deathray again...
[ Vekin pushes toward the source of the sparks with both hands, then moves to the side with the sparks following him, enough to keep the beam away from the ship. ]
WIND:
Where's it coming from?
GRAVITOR:
Well, that way.
[ Gravitor points toward the source of the sparks. ]
[ Several meters from the nose of the ship sits a machine resembling a cylindrical, mobile vacuum-cleaner with a large metal coil mounted to it, rotating as the flood of sparks flows from it. ]
WIND:
... This one moves?
GRAVITOR:
I really hope there aren't more robots with these on them.
[ Gravitor falls toward the machine. ]
WIND:
Don't do that! You know it won't work!
[ The deathray turns toward Gravitor, and Vekin flies in close, swiping a hand at the machine as it suddenly uncoils into a violent tendril of sparking metal! ]
[ Gravitor slows and falls back a bit as a spark-trailed metal whip snaps through the air only a foot ahead of him. ]
GRAVITOR:
Woah! Yeah, no closeness...
[ Close on Wind as she holds out her arms. ]
[ Pan toward the machine as the wind picks up in a powerful gust. The wind catches the flailing un-coiled tendril, forcing it back toward the machine. When the tendril touches the rest of the machine, the entire machine is suddenly bathed in sparks, then explodes in a burst of smoke, flames and sparks, sending smoldering metal fragments in all directions. ]
[ Gravitor falls backward. Wind runs up to him and catches him. ]
WIND:
Charles? Are you ok?
GRAVITOR:
Yeah. What about Vekin?
[ Vekin steps out from a vail of smoke, a few marks on his left arm, his hair a frazzly mess. ]
VEKIN:
Some minor burns. My hair is now impressive.
BLACK EAGLE (OS):
Nice show, but I'd suggest making it cleaner next time.
[ Mid shot. Black Eagle and Fieron approach from screen right, while Aluben, Kairin and Kejek hurry into view from screen left. ]
[ Shot of the group, with the ship in the background and to screen right, Spectro, Glacier and Retanretla standing in the back to the left. Fierox runs through the group and toward Fieron. ]
FIERON:
Fierox? So, you escaped Dark Bob after all.
[ Fierox holds up a paw. Fieron places a hand on Fierox's head, taking the raised paw in his other, as gold and blue sparks flow freely between the two. ]
ALUBEN:
Eoce knows we're here.
GRAVITOR:
Wow, wouldn't have guessed...!
WIND:
Where's Shanan?
ALUBEN:
Examining his dishes.
WIND:
His...
KEJEK:
Antennae.
WIND:
Oh!
ALUBEN:
His robots found us. I climbed one of the antenna in the fight.
[ Black Eagle sighs. ]
SPECTRO:
That probably means he isn't sending messages.
ALUBEN:
Shanan thinks he was, but stopped.
FIERON:
He's already done starting his experiment. He was probably finishing when we found him.
SPECTRO:
So all of those antennae have to be there for something. Either he's adjusting something inside--
KAIRIN:
She said he was mostly watching.
SPECTRO:
... or he's started other machines.
BLACK EAGLE:
If those machines are keeping the universes confused, then we have to stop them before they tear the Earth apart.
WIND:
But how do we find them?
SPECTRO:
Follow the antennae.
ALUBEN:
That's what Shanan is trying to do.
BLACK EAGLE:
Well, our cover's shot. We shouldn't leave that ship in the open. Could we fly it out of here?
VEKIN:
So far as I know, yes.
[ Water-Hydron flows into view and rises beside Aluben before returning to human form. ]
WIND:
How'd it go?
HYDRON:
Not so well. I'm pretty sure he has at least one satellite above this planet, and I'm thinking there's another station somewhere ...
[ Hydron indicates the direction toward the back of the ship. ]
HYDRON (cont'd):
that way. I couldn't tell much else.
BLACK EAGLE:
Great.
KAIRIN:
What about just destroying his controls?
SPECTRO:
As complicated as this must be, he couldn't have done it all on his own from there. Even if he's alone, the machines would probably have a lot of independence.
ELANMAK:
Then what are we waiting for?
SPECTRO:
A better idea of where to look, for starters.
BLACK EAGLE:
I'll get that. Someone will have to cover me.
SPECTRO:
I can cloak you.
BLACK EAGLE:
Don't bother. You record as much as you can. This'll be a lot of trig finding where these things go. Someone will have to keep his defenses off of me, though.
[ Fieron straightens, taking his hands away from Fierox. ]
FIERON:
Leave that to me.
GRAVITOR:
Well, that means I'm coming.
WIND:
And me.
FIERON:
If you insist.
BLACK EAGLE:
All right. Meanwhile, we need to get that ship ready for use. I hope you can handle that?
ALUBEN:
Yes.
[ Black Eagle takes a step back and turns so that when his fiery wings ignite, they don't hit anyone. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
All right. Let's move!
[ EXT. EOCE'S COMPOUND - DAY. : Fieron and Black Eagle fly toward the towers, Wind and Gravitor behind them. ]
[ Metal poles rise from the ground near the circle of towers, with smaller versions of the previously-seen coils mounted on them. The coils are rotated to aim at the group, and beams of golden sparks blast from them. ]
GRAVITOR:
Looks like backup was a good idea.
[ A field of blue sparks appears around Fieron, and he flies into one of the spark-beams, while Black Eagle, Wind and Gravitor dodge. The golden sparks flow over Fieron and mingle with the blue sparks around him. ]
[ Fieron flies toward another spark-beam, bending the one that is already hitting him as he goes and it remains in contact with him. Fieron holds out a hand and catches the next beam, and it too bends as Fieron keeps flying. ]
[ From above, a larger coil can be seen rising from the edge of the building and aiming at Fieron, who flies higher and toward it. ]
[ A massive beam of sparks blasts from the roof-mounted coil and strikes Fieron. ]
[ Close on Fieron, who winces and makes sounds to indicate that he is struggling. ]
[ Fieron slowly moves for the last pole-mounted beam and touches it with his hand, then turns, the beams that are now touching him wrapping and overlapping as they pulsate and vibrate violently. ]
FIERON:
Now we test Eoce's feedback protection.
[ Close on the first pole-mounted coil, as a large wave of sparks flows back down the beam and into the coil. The coil explodes, and the pole splits in half, smoke and burning fragments of metal flying through the air. ]
[ Pan to each pole-mounted coil in turn, which repeats the exploding process. ]
[ Focus on Fieron as he turns to face into the single, large beam that still pours into him, holding out both of his hands. A thin aura of orange flames ignites around Fieron as blue sparks flow down the beam. ]
[ Close on the roof-mounted coil. Blue sparks flow down the golden beam and into the coil. The coil explodes and the beam dissolves into a shower of sparks. ]
[ Fieron drops to the ground, staggering as he lands, though he stays standing, rubbing his hands together as though to relieve a sore. ]
[ Close on Wind and Gravitor, still hovering. ]
GRAVITOR:
That can't be all.
[ From above, the antennae and associated dishes can be seen beginning to rotate. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
Great! Now we can't tell anything...
[ Close on the area between two of the antennae, where Retanretla stands. ]
RETANRETLA:
Well, we can tell that I'm doing you a favor by taking the lethal out of some of those wavelengths coming from those dishes. I think you owe me, now.
[ Close on Black Eagle, who growls and descends toward the ground. ]
[ Wind, Gravitor and Black Eagle land behind Fieron, Black Eagle's wings fading in a cloud of flame. ]
[ EXT. WASTELAND - NEAR SHIP - DAY. : Everyone seen previously is gathered once again. ]
WIND:
So now what?
HYDRON:
If he's willing to move his tranceivers, he either doesn't need them, or has another way...
VEKIN:
Something else moved while that was happening.
SPECTRO:
I didn't notice.
VEKIN:
Underground.
BLACK EAGLE:
Can you follow that?
VEKIN:
I can't tell. I know which direction it went. We may be able to track it further.
SPECTRO:
And I think we have an idea on a satellite, with what we've managed to learn.
BLACK EAGLE:
This calls for splitting up. We'll need Gravitor, Wind and Spectro if we look for satellites.
[ Pan across the faces of Wind, Gravitor, and Spectro in turn, each looking uneasy and grave. ]
[ EXT. SPACE - ABOVE PLANET - DAY. : The planet below appears gray and brown, with green patches, whispy clouds obscuring some regions of it from view, though it does appear to have polar icecaps. ]
[ The jet looks crippled, but still floats like some dark shape against the darkness at the brink of the gray atmosphere. The rotating metal object that it approaches has a strangely life-like appearance, its various dishes and disks and mirrors held together by rods and joints and cables and boxes that all seem to move and rotate like a dancing puppet, and all with a slight halo of red and gold that spins and pflickers and thins and thickens to and from invisibility as it pleases. ]
[ INT. JET - DAY. : Black Eagle and Spectro sit in the cockpit. Through the barier behind them, Wind and Gravitor can be seen, though both are standing, Wind with her hands raised. ]
[ Black Eagle presses a button, and the barier slowly slides away. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
This looks too easy.
SPECTRO:
Probably is.
BLACK EAGLE:
Can you do something to it?
SPECTRO:
Could try, but my hand's been cramping on the way up here.
GRAVITOR:
Yeah, it's messing with my powers just like on Earth. We'll have to be quick.
BLACK EAGLE:
All right.
[ Black Eagle reaches up, and pulls an oxygen mask from off screen. ]
BLACK EAGLE (cont'd):
There's a first time for everything.
WIND:
Be... careful.
[ EXT. SPACE - ABOVE PLANET - DAY. ]
[ the hatch of the jet opens, but no air rushes out. Black Eagle steps into the opening, the oxygen mask over his face. ]
[ Black Eagle extends both hands, and beams of blue light and sparks blast from them and strike the silver machine, and suddenly part of it spins out in the form of some sort of snake, apparently a mix of metal and green and red and black matter. It seems to dance and coil before aiming its head--whose eyes look like rubies in black lenses--toward the jet, as an array of blue, green and yellow sparks dance around it and the air within the jet starts to glow as though with fluorescence. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
What the...
[ Black Eagle blasts at the snake, but most of the blast is caught and spread into the field around the opening, only making it thicker before it starts to pop and send sparks into the jet, knocking Black Eagle backward. ]
WIND:
This... is painful.
SPECTRO:
Weird.
BLACK EAGLE:
Can you nuke it?
SPECTRO:
I can't tell. Whatever it's doing is causing a lot of radiation in that field.
[ Wind moves to the opening. ]
BLACK EAGLE:
What are you doing?
[ The air inside the jet stirs, and causes everyone but Wind to move as though attacked. The field of sparks pops like a balloon as a jet of air rushes out toward the snake-thing. The air glows and sparks gather around it, pushing the snake and the jet apart. ]
SPECTRO:
I'm not sure that...
[ Wind pulls back an arm, and the extended air pulls back as though tugged. The air forms into the shape of a whip, which slashes the snake across the neck, sending it to fall into the atmosphere below in two pieces. ]
GRAVITOR:
Nice.
BLACK EAGLE:
Now before we run out of air...
[ Black Eagle steps forward and uses both hands to launch a larger blast at the satellite. The satellite is engulfed in blue sparks, spins around rather quickly, then dissolves as though sliced into even thirds. ]
GRAVITOR:
One for pointless security.
BLACK EAGLE:
Let's land this thing.
GRAVITOR:
Umm...
SPECTRO:
Yeah, quickly.
[ A blast of white-blue-violet light bissects space above the jet, and the top of it is clipped as it is sent flying, at such an angle as to spiral into the atmosphere moving more laterally than downward. ]
[ Fade to black. ]
1:00 PM 6/1/2010
