EXT SECRET PRISON - NIGHT
The two trios are in a stalemate in the courtyard. Voso has his hands behind his back while Alrund is protecting Zura. Inca is looking feral.
VOSO
We don't have to do any of this.
ALRUND
Your time of telling us what to do is over.
INCA
(to Injaya)
And what business does the Republic President have here?
INJAYA
Prisoner transfer.
ALRUND
(loudly)
Shii, what are you doing?
ZURA
(mumbling)
That's not Shii.
ALRUND
(whispering)
What do you mean?
Zura's eyes narrow.
ZURA
Nandy says his spirit is corrupted.
INCA
(growling)
It's Voso. He did the same thing to you, didn't he?
Alrund smiles at her sister, enjoying the confirmation of her sister's belief.
ALRUND
(mumbling)
Yeah, he did.
She and Inca drop into their battle-ready poses.
ALRUND
Stay behind us, Zee.
VOSO
Zura, please listen to me. I'm not here to hurt you, but you need to come with us. It's vital!
INCA
(growling)
Enough of this!
Inca blasts a pair of earthen double helixes through the air that twirl towards Shii and Injaya, isolating Voso as she sprints ahead. Inca swirls the ground into sand beneath Voso, spinning him as he whips water into a shield. She blasts him relentlessly until a gust of air from Shii sends her tumbling away.
Alrund ducks and pushes waves of rock towards Injaya while Zura keeps to her heel. Injaya is untouched, sweeping through the air while slinging arcs that smash against protective boulders. Alrund stomps hard and squat-raises her arms to bring up a massive row of blocks from the ground.
ZURA
(shouting)
Behind!
She quickly swings one of the blocks around and holds it against a current of air from Shii.
ALRUND
(loudly)
Stay here!
She takes off towards the block, crashing through it with her arms crossed in front of her face and emerging with a new set of stone armor on her body. She pushes through, but dodges back just in time to miss a piercing air blast from Injaya.
While Al is off-balance, Shii snatches at her arms using funnels of air, controlling them and holding her in place. Even so, she shuffles her feet to kick small boulders towards Injaya, who sweeps them out of the air.
Injaya comes closer with her hand loading up for another attack, but her eyes suddenly widen in pain. Her fists loosen, and her pupils shrink. Slowly, she looks down to see Zura at her ankle smiling.
ZURA
(loudly)
I'm going to tell everyone about your secret stuffed animal collection, Misses president.
Al smiles, shooting the rocks towards Shii to break the hold he has and driving a rock cage around Injaya's chest, stapling her to the ground.
CUT TO:
INT HOSPITAL SECURITY ROOM - NIGHT
The dark room holds a teenage security guard rubbing his arm at the door while Kota scrolls through security footage under the eyes of Abe and Adachi.
SECURITY
(whining)
You didn't have to punch me so hard.
KOTA
You didn't have to back talk a group of angry-walking officials, now did you?
SECURITY
(mumbling)
I didn't vote for you.
ABE
Hush, minion.
ADACHI
There, check the footage at night.
She slows down the dial to show a hallway. From the left-hand side comes Voso, sliding into Shii's room.
ABE
That's him!
KOTA
But why into Shii's room?
ABE
Maybe to take something from the poor guy.
They wait and watch with Voso coming back out with a small briefcase.
ADACHI
(growling)
That's my evidence.
KOTA
(quietly)
Does that mean...?
Adachi spins, pointing to the security agent.
ADACHI
(sternly)
By order of the Emperor's office, I need a copy of this tape now.
Kota rises while the boy sits. She and Abe meet Adachi by the door.
ABE
(quietly)
Please do not tell me Shii is one of those agents as well?
ADACHI
No, I don't...Voso's ability to control people-
KOTA
(sharply)
He's controlling Shii?
SECURITY
Uh, hey?
All three turn back to the screen, now showing a daytime recording.
SECURITY
Do you want this from earlier today too?
They watch the recording play with Voso, Injaya, and Shii walking out together. Shii is being led out by his arm by Voso.
ABE
(angrily)
That little parasite.
KOTA
(quietly)
Wait, what did Shii want to know? About where Al and Zura were?
All three look horrified.
ADACHI
(quickly)
Make me a copy of that too-
(to Kota and Abe)
You two, get to the prison on the west side of the island.
ABE
Where is it exactly?
ADACHI
Look for the spire just beside the gravel processing factory.
CUT TO:
EXT GRAVEL PROCESSING FACTORY - NIGHT
Voso slams hard into a pile of rocks, his body cocooned inside of tight stone. Inca tosses him through metal pipes, releasing steam into the air as he blasts through a silo.
ALRUND
(shouting)
Inca!
She spins to see Al being hammered by both air benders, Zura behind her ducking the onslaught.
Inca grunts, abandoning her abuse of Voso and bringing up several piles of sand as a pestilent cloud. Injaya shoots a concentrated air blast towards Inca, but the sand moves like a mindful hive, sweeping her up into the cloud itself. The front end of the cloud explodes forward with several hands.
Shii and Injaya dodge their way around the courtyard while Zura helps Al up. She yanks her hand down, trying to catch the air benders as they land. Shii lands for too long, his foot vacuumed into a hole.
ALRUND
(panting)
Run, Zura.
ZURA
What? No, I'm-
ALRUND
(panting)
We can handle these guys. You need to get somewhere safe.
ZURA
(panicking)
I-I-I don't know where that would be!
NANDAKA (O.S.)
(female echoing)
I can lead you. Hurry!
ALRUND
(panting)
Go, and thank you, Zura.
Zura hugs Alrund quickly before running off.
From the hole in the silo emerges Voso, his spirit friends helping him from the rock. He sees Zura running away just as his arms break free.
VOSO
Come here, you two.
He gently grabs his small hamster and cat-bat spirits, infusing them with his life energy.
VOSO
(sternly)
Find Zura and bring her back to me.
CUT TO:
EXT STREETS OF CAPITAL CITY - NIGHT
Zura runs for her life down the road, breathing heavily already with no clear direction. She's mostly alone on the quiet street, but the few homes have horrified faces peering out the window, looking high to spot the source of the large shadow.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
(female echoing)
No matter what happens, follow my directions.
ZURA
(panting)
All...ears.
Behind her in the night sweeps a large, dark shadow into the sky.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
Into the alleyway, quickly!
Just as she does, a large brick wall explodes outwards from the large hamster, fumbling over its many feet as it turns towards Zura.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
Up the ladder.
Zura looks up, hopping atop a dumpster's edge to get herself close enough. The hamster rumbles through just as she gets out of reach with a yelp.
CUT TO:
EXT GRAVEL PROCESSING FACTORY - NIGHT
Injaya and Inca are forcing one another out of their comfort zones. Inca closes the distance between them with her cloud of sand whipping and clawing at Injaya's skin while the leader continues to sweep for Inca's legs, breaking her roots.
In the background, Voso swings from a cable attached to a dripping pipe. He jumps up and down on the wire, the pipe coming loose from its coupling until water pours out freely. He uses the water to slide down to the ground just as Alrund comes in, ready for battle.
VOSO
(quickly)
Wait, Al! We can fix this!
ALRUND
(growing)
Stay still, Voso. Trust me - it will be easier if you just play along!
With that, she bursts forward with rock spikes around her hands.
CUT TO:
EXT STREETS OF CAPITAL CITY
Zura climbs higher and higher while the spirit animal gnashes its teeth and tries to climb the brick wall.
ZURA
(loudly)
What's the next step?
NANDAKA (O.S.)
Stop!
She freezes a moment before being scared by the cat-bat baring fangs and claws from above. It can't fit into the gap between the buildings while Zura clutches tightly to the fire escape.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
Look up, into the window.
She obeys, seeing a very shocked child tapping on the window with his parents behind, clutching a roll of bread and a rolling pin. The child beckons her inside, and Zura is quick to roll over the metal railing between the grasping claws.
The window slides open and Zura ducks inside.
INT FIRE NATION HOME - CONTINUOUS
CHILD
(excitedly)
Are those your pets!?
ZURA
Uh, no.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
Walk out of the room slowly.
She does, smiling and bowing to the freaked-out parents.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
(quickly)
Quickly, grab the bread and throw it out the window.
Zura snatches it, spins, and chucks the bread out the window. It hits against the hamster's head, sending it back down into the alleyway.
ZURA
(quietly)
Might want to close that now.
The child quickly hides under his blanket. The parents quickly join him.
CUT TO:
EXT GRAVEL PROCESSING FACTORY
Voso spins his arms, sending forward four streams of ice. Alrund draws rock into a ball around her, making herself a solid boulder that gains speed. She juts two spikes out, but he leaps over the piercing blow.
As he lands, Inca comes down with a sharpened sword on her arm and a look of pure hatred. Before the hit can land, a blast of air from Shii blows her off course.
He lands in front of Voso, who grabs his shoulder.
VOSO
(sternly)
Find Zura and take her to the docks.
With that, Shii is off into the sky as Alrund turns her boulder around, but is blasted hard by Injaya as soon as it starts rolling. The rocks fly and Al hits the ground.
CUT TO:
EXT STREETS OF CAPITAL CITY
Zura pedals quickly on a very small bicycle, making her way to a downhill glide.
ZURA
(exhausted)
Next time, get me somewhere with a bigger bike!
NANDAKA (O.S.)
(male echoing)
I do not wish for there to be a next time.
They hit the apex of the hill and her feet come off the pedals as the two animals nearly catch her. Then, she is gone at speed, creating great distance as she nears the bridge over the channel.
She looks back with her tongue out.
ZURA
(shouting)
Tell Voso how much he sucks for me!
NANDAKA (O.S.)
Get ready.
She spins forward.
ZURA
Whoa, wait, ready for what?
From above, the shadow of the creatures passes to her front. From the clutches of the cat-bat falls the hamster, slamming to the road to cut her off.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
Drift towards the left...
She does while her eyes grow large.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
Now - into the water!
She leaps from the bike over the guardrail as the hamster snaps through the metal. Her splash comes while the cat-bat hovers down, joining its spirit brother in waiting for her to resurface.
CUT TO:
EXT GRAVEL PROCESSING FACTORY
Voso expands mist throughout Inca's sand cloud, then freezes the granules to the ground. Alrund has her shoulder grazed hard by one of Injaya's blasts. The sisters are spun into a corner.
Injaya and Voso close in as Alrund and Inca recover.
ALRUND
Ready?
INCA
Now!
Al shoots forward a barrage of earthen fodder. Inca ducks beneath Al's strike, their bodies crossing to catch their opponents off-guard. Voso slides back beneath an ice shield while Injaya brings a tornado to form, the rock swirling inside the wind.
Inca rolls forward, shifting the ground beneath Voso again as she sprints forward, gathering gravel to her front. By time she and Voso collide, she has tremendous force that sends him flying through the air and into another metal pipe, this one full of hot pavement.
He builds more and more water above his head to protect him from the heated rock, but Inca's hands keep it concentrated upon his head.
INCA
(shouting)
Didn't you tell me once how good you were under pressure?
Her hands jolt down again, pushing him to his knees as steam bellows out from around him. Voso can only hold tight, screaming in agony.
CUT TO:
EXT CAPITAL CITY CANAL
Beneath the bridge, Zura quietly surfaces, looking around to make sure the coast is clear. The spirits are nowhere to be seen in the gently sloshing waters, but she can hear their echoing steps above her head.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
Stay here for now.
ZURA
(shivering)
Th-the water's...cold.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
I do not wish them to find you, Zee or Zura.
ZURA
(teeth chattering)
Y-y-yeah, I k-know.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
Discomfort...nearing dangerous levels. I will try to find us another way. Can you grab those bars and hang from them?
ZURA
(teeth chattering)
I-I-I can try.
As she reaches up, a claw comes crashing through the cement, nearly snatching at her and sending her underwater.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
Swim! Swim out to the ocean!
She turns in the water and pushes as fast as she can.
CUT TO:
EXT GRAVEL PROCESSING FACTORY
Inca has Voso pushed nearly into the ground beneath his evaporating barrier of water.
INCA
(growling)
Long live the Emperor.
Voso's focus sharpens, and in a split second, he sends out a blast of the raging steam into Inca's face.
She screams in pain and relinquishes her hold, half of her face in bright red agony.
He fights his way out while Alrund sinks her sister into the ground before Injaya pulls her focus back. Voso gathers his own giant ice spike, jamming it into the ground over and over, growing angrier as he does.
VOSO
(angrily)
C'mon! Come back up here! Come teach me a lesson!
An earthen spike drives up from the ground and slices across his cheek. He stumbles forward, standing atop his ice spike as a pair of earthen teeth crunch together where he just was. Jaws open again as he leaps to a walkway, shattering his ice platform as they close.
CUT TO:
INT CAPITAL CITY OFFICIALS BUILDING
A long table of generals and other leaders look perplexed, disgusted, and terrified at Adachi at the head of the table. He is putting down a remote with the open balcony behind him.
ADACHI
I know this information is a lot to process, but I think you'll all agree that this is something that must be dealt with immediately. Our Emperor has been in league with an unknown foreign assailant, and has not worked in the best interests of our empire. I move that this table of leaders enacts a vote of Jishin Ga Nai.
COMMANDER
This has never been done, Adachi. Not in the entirety of the Fire Nation's existence.
ADACHI
These are outstanding times that require a traitor to be stopped by you - the ones meant to keep him in check. Who will vote in favor?
He looks down the table as no one raises their hand.
ADACHI
None of you has the courage to second this motion?
All of them look up with a green sheen coming over their eyes, then they all turn towards Adachi with terrifying smirks.
COMMANDER
(Fuu-Ki's voice)
You have been such a thorn in my side, Adachi.
Adachi backs up from the table with his hands coiling at his sides.
COMMANDER
Always seeking to undermine Sui-Ki. Always underestimating just how strong the boy truly is.
ADACHI
(surprise)
Fuu-Ki?
COMMANDER
Have a seat, Adachi. Wait here until the will of destiny comes to pass.
ADACHI
You cannot be everywhere at once. You, Voso, and Toyo will pay for what you've done.
The table all rise and turn towards Adachi.
ALL
(in unison)
My friends and I have paid our entire lives for this moment. Do not try to stop the inevitable.
He spins and rushes out the open balcony doors.
EXT CAPITAL CITY OFFICIALS BUILDING - CONTINUOUS
Adachi leaps off the balcony and blasts flames from his feet to thrust himself into the night sky.
CUT TO:
EXT CAPITAL CITY COASTLINE
The waves crash hard against the low gravel beach. Zura rides one of them in, sliding up the gravels in a shiver. She curls into her own body, rubbing at her arms.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
You must move, Zura or Zee.
ZURA
(shivering)
M-m-my legs-s-s are nu-numb.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
Please, you must try.
Zura moves slowly, clawing herself upright with the help of a short wall. She steps over the short wall.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
Move away from the water.
She freezes as Shii lands in front of her, snatching her wrists quickly.
ZURA
(shivering)
N-no!
CUT TO:
EXT GRAVEL PROCESSING FACTORY
Beneath a metal walkway, Injaya dodges rock balls that bowl towards her as she lands. One of them opens, snatching at her ankle and trapping her to the ground.
Alrund looks up at the walkway where Voso runs away. She shoots a column upwards, helping her land in front of him.
He skids to a halt, falling down to his butt.
ALRUND
(angrily)
The pain you've caused me, my sister, Makami - everyone your poisonous hands have ever touched!
He scrambles to his feet.
ALRUND
(angrily)
This is for all of us.
As she closes in with a stone scythe, a gust of air from below cuts the walkway, causing them both to tumble from on high. Alrund forms a stone ramp to roll herself down unevenly, landing hard. Voso forms water into a tube that he slides through, using his momentum to land on his feet and rush towards the exit.
A stone serpent erupts out of the ground in front of the opening in the wall. The mouth opens wide to show Inca, filled with hatred beneath her swollen, scarred eye.
INCA
(angrily)
This is over!
CUT TO:
EXT STREETS OF CAPITAL CITY
A police officer is flirting, showing off his car to a group of tourists. Adachi walks from the shadows, not bothering to hide his approach.
OFFICER
(smoothly)
Yeah, this here is a top-o'-the-line model with really comfortable cushions in the back.
He pops it open, showing a round bed that is clearly used to pick-up partners in practiced fashion.
OFFICER
(smoothly)
Who wants to test it out?
Adachi rips open the front door and slides in, starting the engine and driving away. The officer is being laughed at as he shouts after the car.
OFFICER
(loudly)
Hey, my sandwich was in there!
CUT TO:
INT OFFICER'S CAR
Adachi looks in all of the mirrors, making sure he's not yet being followed. He readjusts to the radio, snatching the handset.
ADACHI
Dispatch, I need back-up at the Uchigawa Processing Plant - violent criminal on the loose. I repeat, violent criminal attacking the Uchigawa Processing Plant.
With that, he drops the handset and turns on the lights and siren.
CUT TO:
EXT GRAVEL PROCESSING FACTORY
Voso churns water into a small maelstrom atop the stones. The water braids around itself, coiling together and springing forth with a powerful blast that takes the head off the serpent.
In the silence of the moment, he and Injaya both turn an ear to the air and hear the sirens coming closer.
She turns to Voso.
INJAYA
I can't be seen here.
VOSO
Wait!
She runs away, but Al catches her toes, slamming Injaya's knees to the ground. Then, she clamps more and more of her body until she is completely encased.
Voso tries to attack her, but the water is redirected into a mud puddle.
KOTA (O.S.)
(shouting)
Voso!
Kota and Abe land in front of Alrund, shocking Voso.
ABE
(sternly)
You're about to see a lot of new enemies, Voso.
VOSO
(quietly)
You don't understand...
He swings around with water in a ball.
VOSO
(loudly)
You're all in the way!
The ball is intercepted by Abe before several earth spikes break against Voso's back from Inca, who is shaking with the continued effort.
Voso tries to counter a strike at his legs from Abe, but Kota's infamous arm tosses Abe's old steering wheel, striking Voso in the back. He turns with fury towards Kota, but another spike smacks hard against his face.
Wobbling, he ends up facing Inca, his eyes ablaze. Just behind her, several police cars screech to a halt with their red and white lights illuminating the horror on Voso's face.
ADACHI
(shouting)
Voso!
Adachi comes forward, standing with a few police near the entrance.
ADACHI
(shouting)
There's nowhere to go! Give up!
Voso looks around with wide, feral eyes.
VOSO
(whispering)
I...I need help, Fuu-Ki.
FUU-KI (O.S.)
(echoing)
I can barely hear you Sui-Ki - are you pleading? Are you crawling back into my good graces?
VOSO
(whispering)
If you want this done, you need to help me NOW!
FUU-KI (O.S.)
(echoing)
I will do what I can.
The lights from the cars and the streets go dark. Even the sirens slowly groan into silence.
FUU-KI (O.S.)
(echoing)
Do not fail me now.
The shuffling of feet fades away under the flapping of wings. The screech of a spirit begs everyone to attack the center at once, but the creature has already carried him off into the speckled night sky.
CUT TO:
EXT CAPITAL CITY DOCKS
Shii stands, swaying to the motion of the waves beneath the dock. Zura tries to pull herself free from his tied cape that binds her ankles to her wrists. The only other things around them are small boats and closed shops.
ZURA
(grunting)
Let me go, Shii! I know he's controlled you! You're a good old guy that loves fruit on his eyelids!
NANDAKA (O.S.)
(child echoing)
Struggle harder.
ZURA
(grunting)
I'm trying, he's got a strong grip!
NANDAKA (O.S.)
Perhaps I can attempt.
ZURA
(annoyed)
Oh, jeez, could you!?
She stops struggling, going limp with her eyes closed. There they stay for a little while.
ZURA
(annoyed)
Any time now!
NANDAKA (O.S.)
I am having trouble reading his emotional core. It feels as though...his true heart is locked away.
ZURA
You're saying you can't reach him?
NANDAKA (O.S.)
Not with my neutral energy. Perhaps yours could. If you were to share some of your memories with him, he may respond.
ZURA
Are you saying my energy isn't neutral?
NANDAKA (O.S.)
Yes, I am intimating exactly that, Zura or Zee.
ZURA
(grunting)
Hm, well, get me up to the front door of his emotions and I'll try.
Zura closes her eyes.
INT ZURA'S SPIRITUAL REALM - CONTINUOUS
Zura is standing at the edge of a colorful meadow where a white barrier covers everything to the horizon. She looks left and right before tossing her hands up.
ZURA
(mumbling)
Yeah, okay then, memories with me and Shii...
She sits down with her back against the barrier.
ZURA
(loudly)
Hope you can hear me in there! In your big bubble!
(mumbling)
You and I don't really have too many positive memories to pull from, do we champ? Very first time I ever met you, you took my sister away from me.
Around her head are floating puffs of memory, sticking themselves to the sides of the barrier.
ZURA
But I hadn't seen her eyes light up like that since Dad left. She looks up to you. It'd break her heart to see you like this, and that'd break my heart, I guess. So...
She looks over her shoulder at one of the fluffs on the barrier.
ZURA
So, I need you now. So does Nandy. You've just gotta come back.