AVATAR: EMPIRE OF ICE
BOOK 1: FAMILY
CHAPTER 10: KNOWLEDGE SEEKERS
We fade in on a snowy winter sky.
The camera pans down and we see an 8 year old boy from behind, flailing his hands around in the air. We cut to his hands. The camera follows as he raises them up, then turns them in a swirling motion, desperately, before he drops them to his sides.
The boy sits down on the rim of a pond and starts quietly crying. We cut to his face and see that the boy is Kato.
He clutches his knees. Then suddenly, an 8 year old Batua walks up to Kato and sits down next to him.
Batua bends a stream of water out of the pond. We follow the stream and Batua moves it around joyfully.
Batua
You heard what dad said. Maybe you're just a late bloomer.
Batua bends the water into a ball, and then explodes the ball outwards, soaking both of them, then he giggles. Kato angrily pushes Batua and runs away.
We see a younger Jang, sitting on a lounge chair, smoking from his pipe outside the palace. He watches as Kato runs past, followed by Batua, who is chasing after him. Jang rubs his beard in thought.
We cut to Kato running through a back alley behind the palace. The alley leads to an unfinished construction site. Kato looks around, and then he finds a strange tunnel leading out to the ocean.
Kato walks into the tunnel with fascination. He sees a stone statue over to the left, covered in snow. Kato goes over to the statue and wipes the snow off. As the statue is revealed, we see that it depicts a monk, sitting cross legged.
Kato stares at the statue, narrowing his eyes. We see some text written on the pedestal, but it's in a strange script that Kato doesn't understand. Then his eyes are drawn to a stone pendant which is attached to the statue's neck. There is a large crack, nearly separating the pendant from the rest of the statue.
Kato grabs it and breaks it off.
He stares down at the pendant. The camera slowly zooms in on it as mysterious music swells in the background. Then the moment is cut short.
Batua
Kato?
Kato looks up at Batua, who walks in, looking around.
Batua
What is this place?
Kato looks around.
Kato
I don't know…
Batua looks at the monk statue.
Batua
It's creepy. Come on, let's get out of here.
Kato looks down and shakes his head.
Kato
No, I think I'll just stay here forever...
Batua
Kato… Stop it.
Kato
No, you stop it! Leave me alone.
Batua sighs.
Batua
So what if you can't bend? It doesn't matter.
Kato
It does matter! You know what it means? It means I'm broken. It means I can't be the Emperor!
Batua looks down, thinking.
Batua
Ok, so I'll be the emperor for you!
Kato smiles.
Kato
Really?
Batua
Yeah. You can be the little brother. You're the smart one anyway.
Kato giggles and wipes his cheeks.
Batua
And if anyone doesn't like it, I'll poke their eyes out.
Kato laughs.
Kato
That's a really good plan.
Batua
Thanks. Whaddya got there?
Kato walks over to him and shows him the pendant.
Batua grabs it, but fumbles, and the pendant falls out of his hand. As it hits the ground, it splits into two equal halves.
We cut back to the present. Batua is in front of the mirror. He's tying his hair up formally and straightening his coat.
Batua
(Muttering to himself) Be respectable. Respectable.
Batua turns to Ta, who is putting on her shoes.
Batua
O, wife of mine? Would you like to take a stroll around the royal market?
Ta
(Fake smile) I would love to, but I'm getting breakfast with Lao.
Batua
Oh… Lao? Really?
Ta
You can join us if you like.
Batua grimaces.
Batua
You know she's in the servant class, right?
Ta
Yeah, I know.
Batua shakes his head, looking back in the mirror.
Batua
I really don't understand you.
Ta smiles to herself and walks towards the door.
Ta
(Quietly) You will.
We cut to Jang, Yamani, and Kato on the camelephant. A new guest is in their carriage. A man named Chen.
Chen
So, I says to Mikai, I says, you don't know the whole story! It only looks like I'm having an affair, but the truth is, the broad is teaching me how to dance! So I can dance with you at your brother's wedding! Anyway, long story short, the wedding came and I still didn't know how to dance. So she kicked my butt to the curb! Now I got this weird bald kid following me around telling me he can see my future! I can't get rid of him! Anyway, thanks for letting me hide out with you guys.
Kato, Jang and Yamani are all processing what they just heard. Yamani is fiddling with a sand melon, then she looks up.
Yamani
Tell us more.
Kato and Jang facepalm.
We cut to Ta and Lao in the cramped supply shed. Lao is facing the other way while Ta finishes putting on her airbender disguise.
Ta
You can turn around now.
Lao turns around and faces Ta.
Lao
Okay, so what I was saying was, Inuk has the key to the armory and the key to various public buildings, including the dungeon, but it doesn't open any of the cells.
Ta
I see...
Lao
What we need is the master key, which is only issued to members of the city guard.
Ta
Okay. Have any ideas?
Lao
Unfortunately… I do.
We cut to a closeup of a key ring spinning around an index finger in slow motion. The camera zooms out and we see that it's Kido, the guard, standing outside of the dungeon. Lao walks past him and he whispers something in her ear.
We cut back to the shed. Lao looks like she's making a very difficult decision.
Lao
(Sighs) ...Remember Kido? The guard who let us into the dungeon the other day? He's conveyed an… Interest in me.
Ta
You're not thinking that he can be persuaded, are you?
Lao
No, of course not… But think about it. Those are his work keys, not his personal keys. Say he goes out on the town with someone tonight. Do you think he's going to bring those keys with him?
Ta
Probably not…
Lao
No. He's probably going to leave them in his apartment. If he does indeed go out.
Ta nods.
Lao
So... All we have to do… Is make sure that he does.
Ta
Okay. How do we- (Eyes widen) Oh. (Looks sympathetic) Oh…
Lao looks down.
Lao
Yeah…
We cut to a close up of Yamani sticking her lips to the hole at the end of her sand melon. She blows forcefully and the melon guts shoot out of a hole at the other end and splatter on the sand below.
She's been sticking her head out of the carriage window. She sits back down and looks at Jang, Kato and Chen, who are staring at her in confusion.
Yamani
What?
Chen
You just wasted a perfectly good sand melon.
Jang
No such thing.
Chen crosses his arms, Jang also crosses his. Kato looks at Yamani, who is cutting holes in the melon rind with a wooden peg.
Beat.
Yamani
Oh, by the way, we're here.
Jang, Kato and Chen crowd around the opening and look out. We see the Great Library from an oblique angle, as the sun begins to set behind it. Kato looks at the library with amazement. Jang looks determined.
Yamani takes her melon rind and puts the final hole in it, then brings it to her mouth. She reveals she's been making a flute this whole time and plays a lick on it.
We cut to the camelephant stopping at a wooden station. The driver jumps out and leashes it. The 3 carriages on top empty out, including the gang's. Chen then tries to huddle behind them as they climb down to the sand below.
Chen
Guys, you gotta hide me, alright?
The gang ignores him and looks around at the place.
The library at this time is fully above ground, near an enormous oasis. There are palm trees, and an entire market and town surrounding the enormous building.
We cut to a strange bald kid in the crowd. He's wearing old robes and has a tattoo of the sun on his forehead.
Kid
Chen?
The kid spots Chen amongst the gang and walks over to him. Chen tilts his head back in annoyance.
Kid
Ah, fellow travelers, thank you for keeping an eye on my good friend.
Jang, Kato, and Yamani glance at the kid, not paying him much attention.
Chen
Whaddya want, kid?
Kid
I see a woman. She has long, dark hair and a freckle on her right cheek. She's standing on the edge of a cliff... Pierced by the fangs of betrayal...
Chen looks at the kid with wide eyes.
Chen
Mikai?
We cut to the gang walking towards the library. In the background, we see various shops. One of them is selling owl memorabilia, glass owl heads, etc. Another one is selling cactus juice, it'll quench ya!
They arrive at the door, which is guarded by two foxes. Jang walks up to the foxes.
Jang
Four corners make the whole world round.
The foxes look at each other and nod. Jang opens the door to the library. Kato and Yamani gaze with wonder and excitement at the grandeur of the library. The place is hustling and bustling, full of people walking around, reading, talking, smoking.
We see Kato scanning his eyes over the enormous room, as the camera pans across it, intercutting between them. Then from behind a column, Wan Shi Tong, the owl spirit casually glides forward. Kato does a double take. Yamani looks in amazement. Jang facepalms.
Jang
The offering…
Wan Shi Tong glides over to the group and stops right in front of them. Kato is scared.
Yamani
(Whispering) What, you've never seen a spirit before?
WST
Welcome, knowledge seekers, to my library. Before we begin, may I ask who referred you here? Was it a friend? A colleague? Perhaps an institution of learning?
Jang
I've been here before. A few times, actually.
WST
Oh, splendid! Then you're already aware of my policy, but I shall repeat it for the sake of your two companions. (Turns to Kato and Yamani) In order to access my vast collection, I must ask that each of you offer up some knowledge of your own. And no, it cannot be a joke or an anecdote. Don't even ask.
Jang checks his pockets. Yamani walks up to WST and takes out her melon rind. WST tilts his head with intrigue. Yamani plays a quick tune on it.
Yamani
I left my flute at home, so-
WST
How fascinating. (He takes the flute and inspects it, then shows it to a fox) Look Kiki, she turned a fruit into a flute. Delightful. You may enter.
Yamani
(Under her breath) Easy come, easy go...
Yamani walks past. Jang unfolds a piece of paper from his pocket and hands it to WST, who reads it.
WST
A recipe for spiced tea. Not as fun, but I suppose it still counts. You may enter.
Before he walks, Jang hands Kato another piece of paper.
WST
I'm afraid the boy must produce his own trinket. No sharesies.
Jang shrugs at Kato and walks past. Kato rifles through his own pockets, and then he finds something.
He takes it out and realizes it's his half of the pendant.
He stares down at it, letting the emotion wash over him. We hear a rumbling sound build up as the camera zooms in on Kato.
Then he closes his eyes. The rumbling stops, and he outstretches his hand. WST takes the pendant and inspects it.
WST
Now, what do we have here? ...Oh, my. This stonework is immaculate, and the inscription… (Raises his eyebrow) Tell me, where did you happen upon this?
Kato
Um… I don't remember...
WST
It is rare that I encounter a script which I do not recognize. Very rare indeed. You may enter.
Kato walks past the owl, and takes one last look at the pendant before the gang heads off.
WST
(Staring at the amulet) Mortals are so unpredictable.
We cut to Lao and Kido in the capital, walking down a city street.
Kido
I knew my persistence would pay off. That's what my dad told me, you know. If a girl says no, you keep asking her over and over and over until she says yes.
Lao
(Fake laughing) Yeah… So, where are you taking me?
Kido
Well, I can't take you to any real places for obvious reasons… But I know this quiet little hole where we can get a drink. No judgement.
Lao
Terrific…
We cut to a shot of the full moon in the night sky. Then we pan down to see Ta, in disguise, standing outside of Kido's apartment. She looks around and sees that the coast is clear, then jumps up to his window.
We cut to his apartment from inside. Ta pulls herself through the thin opening and falls on the floor, making a noise. She quickly stands up and waits for a moment, before she starts looking around.
She bends some water into a mirror and bounces moonlight off of it, creating a flashlight of sorts. This reveals that Kido's place is filthy. Ta shudders.
We cut to a montage of Ta looking through various places, under the bed, under piles of clothes, in his desk, etc.
We cut to Ta rifling through his closet, but she finds nothing. She closes the closet door in frustration, and sits down on his bed. Then she hears a noise.
Tak
(From another room) Kido?
Ta freezes and looks at the hallway. She sees a candle-light approaching. She gets up off the bed and looks for somewhere to hide, but it's too late. Tak comes around the corner and sees her.
Tak
You're not Kido. (Narrows his eyes) ...You're that airbender.
Ta stares at him. Tak begins yelling.
Tak
Somebody hel-
Then Tak clinches up. We cut to Ta, who is bloodbending him. Tak is basically choking.
Ta
(Quietly) I'm sorry! Well, I'm not sorry… Look, I'll let you breathe. You just have to promise me that you won't scream again. Ok?
Tak looks at her in fear and nods his head. Ta lets him go. Tak coughs and breathes in, and then immediately screams again.
Tak
Help!
Ta bloodbends him again.
Ta
(Whisper screaming) What did I just say?
There is a knock at the door.
Man
(From outside the apartment) Is everything okay in there? I heard someone calling for help.
Ta thinks quickly.
Ta
...All good! We're just… Making love! ...And we like it weird!
Beat.
Man
Enjoy!
Ta looks over at Tak, who is grabbing his throat and gasping. She groans.
We cut to Lao and Kido sitting in a dingy warehouse with a bunch of miscreants. Kido is drunk.
Kido
I always knew you had a beautiful soul, as soon as I saw you. And it's like… Why can't I find a waterbender like you? My dad was right. Waterbenders are just… So cold, (Hiccup) And you're so warm.
We cut to Lao, who is quite disinterested in this conversation. While he's not looking, she tosses the contents of her cup behind her shoulder.
Kido
You want to take this back to my place?
Lao
Um… I'm not sure.
Kido shrugs.
Kido
Or I could just bring you to the council. But you don't want that, right? That's a bad time. Wouldn't you rather have a good time with me? Back at my place?
Lao looks down. Then she nods.
Kido
I have a roommate. I hope you don't mind. (Turns) Oh, you've met him, actually.
Lao looks up, her eyes widen slightly.
We cut to Ta, sitting on the bed, looking awkward. She hears Kido's door being unlocked and stands up. Kido opens the door and he sees Tak, tied up on the ground with a sock stuffed in his mouth. Tak looks at Kido and makes some muffled screams.
Kido looks over at Ta, drunkenly trying to make sense of this.
Kido
Sarai? (He turns to Lao) What is going-
Lao casually smashes the door into Kido's face, and he collapses on the floor. Lao closes the door behind her and looks at Ta with panic.
Lao
No luck?
Ta shakes her head. Lao narrows her eyes and thinks. Tak is still trying to shimmy out of his ties.
We cut to a fox leading the gang towards the Imperial Genealogy room. Kato has a sour look on his face. They get to the door and the fox bounces.
Jang
Well, here we are.
Kato looks up and sees the sign leading them in. He inhales and then exhales.
Jang
I hope you find what you're looking for.
Jang begins to walk off.
Kato
Wait, you're not staying?
Jang
No, unfortunately, I have to take care of something while we're here.
Kato
Seriously? (Rolls his eyes) Fine. Whatever, just go.
Jang
(As he walks away backwards) The mission. (Winks)
Yamani watches Jang go and turns to Kato. Kato looks pissed off. Yamani chuckles to herself.
Kato
What?
Yamani
Oh… Classic Jang.
We cut to a close up of the end of a rolled up scroll. The circle is emblazoned with the Kamakoi insignia, and then another symbol underneath. We see that it means 'Kamakoi Royal Bloodline'.
Kato yanks the scroll out of its slot and aggressively opens it up. He lays it on the reading table and clamps it down at both ends.
Yamani
Ok, what's going on? You were doing fine when we got here. Now you're in one of your little storm sessions again.
Kato pauses.
Kato
You know what? You're right. We're here to learn, not to pout. So let's learn.
Yamani
Now you're speakin' my language.
Kato and Yamani start at the bottom of the scroll.
Yamani
Hey! There you are.
We see 'Kato' and 'Batua' next to each other near the bottom. Kato's name bears the crown symbol. Kato narrows his eyes.
Kato
I guess they haven't updated this yet...
Yamani
(Smirks) Huh… So that's your brother's name. Batua.
Kato
(Terse) Yep.
Yamani
Oof. Okay. Let's not get into all that.
Kato
Let's not.
Yamani moves her finger up from their two names to the previous generation.
Yamani
Atakui. Kyana. The parents. (Kato nods, then the camera traces Yamani's finger up further) Wait, Your Mom and Dad are second cousins?
Kato
(Raises his eyebrow) Yeah.
Yamani
Oh, so that's normal. Gotcha.
Kato
...It was a royal marriage. That's how you keep the bloodline pure.
Yamani
(Throws her hands up) Hey, far be it from me to question your uh… Purity.
Kato gives Yamani a glance. Yamani traces the line upwards.
Yamani
So they both go back to this guy.
Kato
Kanakui the wise. My great grandfather. And then his father, Atakami the blessed.
Yamani
Mhmm. (The camera follows her tracing back further.) Hey, look! Kato the proud.
Kato
Yep… Yep, yep, yep.
Yamani keeps tracing the line upwards, and then gets to the top of the scroll.
Yamani
Emperor Lakui the third.
Kato
Wait. The third? (He turns the scroll over, finding nothing) That's it? This only goes back two hundred years. The Empire is way older than that…
Yamani
I guess your people got here after all...
Kato sighs.
Yamani
'Those who burn books do it so that the words may stop ringing in their ears.' Guru Han.
Yamani rolls the scroll back up and places it back into its slot, then she pauses. She takes the scroll out and looks inside the slot.
We cut to a close up of the slot and see something hiding out, way in the back.
Yamani
Huh...
Kato
What?
Yamani sticks her arm all the way in and tries to grab it, but she can't reach. Then she inhales and blows a gust of wind inside the slot. The object pops out and hits Yamani in the face, then it falls into her hands. They both look at it and see that it's another scroll. A very small one with no label.
Kato
Whoa. Open it up.
Yamani unfurls the scroll, Kato walks next to her to look at it.
Kato
'The past is not dead, but hidden away where a true knowledge seeker can always find it.' What?
They look down and see that this text is followed by a few more symbols.
Kato
And those aren't even words. (Sighs) I knew this whole thing was a waste of time...
Kato walks away, disappointed. Yamani looks at the symbols.
Yamani
Not so fast… This is a white lotus cipher.
Kato
A what?
Yamani smiles.
Yamani
Don't you get it? It's a code, begging us to solve it. And if someone went through the trouble of hiding something like this…
Kato
It means there's something worth hiding… Yamani, you're a genius!
Yamani
Maybe it leads to the rest of your ancestry. Though, even if it doesn't, I would solve one of these bad boys just for fun.
Kato
How long will it take you to solve it?
Yamani
(Excitedly grabbing parchment and a pencil) This is a big one, it'll probably take me all night.
Kato
You're loving this, aren't you?
Yamani is already working the code out on a piece of parchment.
Yamani
Huh?
Kato looks at Yamani with a smile.
We cut to a close up of Kido. He slowly opens his eyes. The camera zooms out to reveal that he's been tied up next to Tak and gagged with a sock. He looks around and then looks at Ta and Lao, who are standing up, whispering to each other.
Lao
You know this only ends one way.
Ta
I know… (Sighs) I'll do it.
Lao puts her arm around Ta.
Lao hears something, then looks at Kido. She nudges Ta, who looks as well. They both walk over to him as he looks up at them with fearful eyes.
Lao
Listen up. We're going to take the sock out of your mouth. If you scream for help or do anything else stupid, we're going to put the sock back in. Got it?
Kido nods.
Lao takes the sock out of his mouth. Kido spits a couple of times and looks up.
Kido
That sock was dirty! (Spits again, then snarls) I hope you two are prepared for a public execution! (Looks at Lao) My dad always said you couldn't trust an airbender. I guess he was right.
Lao
Shut up about your dad. We're looking for your master key. Where is it?
Kido smiles.
Kido
Oh, now I see what this is. You're not just a criminal and a tease, you're a conspirator to boot.
Lao smirks and shakes her head.
Ta
We don't want to hurt you, but we will if we have to.
Kido
Am I supposed to be afraid of a couple of airbending girls? You're pacifists, and you're bluffing. Nice try, though.
Ta walks over and takes out a ceremonial container of water. She opens it and slowly bends a stream of water around Kido, making sure that it cuts his cheek as it passes. Then she brings it back into the container. Kido looks at Ta.
Kido
You're a waterbender… But… But why? I'm the city guard, I protect you! She's your enemy, not me!
Ta narrows her eyes and then bends down to his eye level.
Ta
Did she lay siege to my city? Did she kidnap me from my home and bring me to this hellhole? (Ta gets up really close and pulls Kido by his hair so he's facing up at her, then speaks very quietly) Did she rape me on the trip over here? No. That was all you guys. So, why don't you tell me again how she's my enemy.
Kido looks at Ta defiantly.
Kido
I see… Well, then you should know that us guys are trained to withstand any interrogation, and I'm not telling you a thing.
Ta looks him in the eyes for a moment.
Ta
Any interrogation?
Lao raises her eyebrow. Ta lets go of Kido's hair, and then grabs his cheeks, staring at him. They share a fraught, intimate moment.
Ta then slowly slides her hands up to his temples, placing her index and middle fingers on his skin. Kido suddenly looks worried.
Kido
Wait, what are you doing?
Ta
By the look on your face, I'd say you already know.
Kido
Wait. Stop. Hold on, now.
Lao
...Sarai? What's happening?
Ta's tone of voice changes. She goes from an attempt at intimidation to something much more resigned.
Ta
Oh, Lao... Please don't hate me for what I'm about to do...
Lao
(Nervous) What are you about to do?
Ta
Something really bad... (Inhale, exhale) You know that rumor about how General Kamui earned his nickname? (Lao nods and then her eyes widen, Ta looks back at Kido) I'm thinking... If he can do it… (Gulp) Why can't I?
Kido
Wait, no, no, no, stop! You don't know how it works! Please!-
Ta cringes with guilt, and then looks away.
An eerie blue light starts emanating from Kido's apartment. We see it from outside the window. We also hear the soft, electrical hum.
We cut back to Ta's face, holding onto Kido's head as he squirms. We hear him groaning and twitching.
Ta
(Slightly manic) I mean, we're both waterbenders, right? It's not like Kamui has some... Special provision from Nuaka-sia! No! He's just a man with a trick. And I can use that trick! It's just a matter of cutting off the blood flow to a certain part of the brain...
Lao
Okay, I guess that makes sense...
Ta
Yeah! It makes sense, right? There's just one tiny, little problem. (We cut to Kido's forehead. His brain is lighting up chaotically behind it) I don't exactly know where that part is...
The camera now pans down to Kido's twitching, sputtering expression. We cut to Lao, who's watching this through her fingers.
Lao
If you find it, how will you even know?
We see the blue light reflecting in Ta's eyes.
Ta
That's a really good question, Lao…
Ta takes one last look at Kido's struggling face, before she closes her eyes. The camera slowly zooms in on her face as she searches. For a while we hear Kido struggling, then he goes silent.
Ta slowly opens her eyes.
With a pang of malevolent percussion, we cut to Kido, whose eyes have rolled back in his head. Drool is hanging from his open mouth. Ta looks at Kido with muted horror, then she lets his head go and he slumps over.
Ta stands up, her hands over her mouth.
Ta
(Shakily) What have I done?
Lao looks at Ta with sympathy. Ta takes a few steps back, feeling overwhelmed, and then she steps on something which jangles.
She pauses, and then looks down.
We cut to Ta's foot. She slowly lifts it up, revealing the master key ring lying on the floor.
We cut to a low angle shot looking up at Ta. She stares down at the key, tilting her head with a look of stunned serenity.
We cut to the library. It's the middle of the night, and several foxes are sleeping. We cut to Yamani, who's filled up several pages of parchment working out the cipher, and continues to furiously decode.
We cut to Kato, who's wandering around the Northern Cities room.
Kato browses through some shelves. Then he stumbles upon one labeled 'Aikira'. He takes a scroll out and opens it. The scroll unfurls to show an illustration of the city of Aikira as it was several years ago.
The Aikira cityscape is majestic, yet understated, whimsical even. Kato stares in wonder at the illustration. He puts the scroll down and opens another.
This one is titled. 'The Aikira public assembly'. The architecture is sculpted and molded into fantastic forms, lacking the Imperial flavor of Kamakoi architecture. Kato sighs and keeps browsing. Then, he comes across a scroll labeled 'The Royal Family of Aikira'.
He opens it up, and we see his face suddenly look sad.
We see the illustration of Kobo, the King. The camera pans over to Tara, the Queen. We cut to Kato, looking at the illustration with tears welling up in his eyes.
We cut back to Tara, then the camera finally pans down to Ta, the Princess. She looks about 8 years old.
The camera lingers on this image for a moment before a tear falls onto the illustration.
TO BE CONTINUED...