Hostages
[Scene begins as Nick and Brian arrive at headquarters. Kevin, AJ and Howie are standing by a vid-screen. The screen is full of static; Howie is bent over a keyboard.]
Written By Maggie
Nick: What’s going on?
Brian: What’s so urgent, Kev?
Kevin: We’ve been getting a signal, but haven’t been able to clear the static. High priority.
Nick: Any idea who it’s from?
Kevin: No, but—
Howie: I’ve got it!
[Screen clears of static]
All: Zator!
Zator: I know you hear me gentlemen, so listen well. These foolish games of yours to keep the amulets from me are growing tiresome. Return the amulets that my traitorous daughter stole from me and I’ll let you all live. In fact, [he grins] I will return a few things that you treasure.
AJ: What’s he talking about?
[Zator disappears and camera is now on a prison room, entirely metal. One large cell, sectioned off by a force field, holds Kristin Richardson, Leighanne and Baylee Littrell, and Aaron and Angel Carter.]
Zator: Return my amulets by midnight tomorrow [camera is back on Zator] or I’ll kill them all. [He laughs as the communications fills with static again]
Brian: [yelling] Get it back!
Howie: I can’t! It’s gone!
Brian: NO! [whirls and kicks a chair] He’s gone too far this time! [facing the others] I mean, taking my wife is bad enough, but he kidnapped my SON too! The boy isn’t even a year old yet!
Kevin: [yelling] Hey, he took my wife too!
Nick: HE’S GOT MY BROTHER AND SISTER!
Howie: What are we supposed to do?
Nick: Go rescue them, that’s what!
AJ: Without a plan?
Howie: Remember, he wants the amulets. Which is exactly what he shouldn’t get.
Brian: Are you saying we should sacrifice our families just to keep the amulets safe?!
Kevin: That’s not what he’s saying at all, Brian.
Nick: Well we’ve got to get them out somehow and I want my brother and sister back! [starts to leave]
Howie: Nick wait! We need to come up with a way to get your families out of there without risking anyone’s life or the amulets.
Nick:
Brian: NICK, NO! [He rushes to the garage in time to see Nick, already suited up as Ninja Man, zoom out the open door into the fading light. He starts to climb onto his own cycle when Kevin grabs his arm.]
Kevin: Brian, wait a minute.
Brian: You’re just gonna let him go? Kev, he could get into who knows what trouble!
Kevin: I know, Brian. But we can’t just roam the city looking for him, as much as I’d like to. We need to come up with some kind of plan in getting our families back.
[Brian gazes out of the garage door after Nick, who is no longer visible.]
Brian: [sighs] You’re right. [scowls] We’ll make Zator pay.
Kevin: We certainly will.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
[Scene cues following Nick as he races through town. He is going fifteen miles over the speed limit, but no police are around that area to catch him. It is dark now and streetlights are coming on all over.]
Nick: He’ll pay for this! I’m going to make him regret he ever messed with us. Aaron, Angel, just hang on. I’m coming. I won’t let him hurt you!
[The streetlights illuminate a large group of masked beings moving from alleyways into the street, blocking Nick’s journey. He slows to a stop when he recognizes that they belong to Zator.]
Nick: [getting off the cycle] Where are they? Give my brother and sister back!
Goon #1: Emperor Zator will return them when you return your amulet.
Nick: [draws his swords] You’ll have to fight me for it.
[Goons laugh]
Goon #2: You are outnumbered, human. You cannot win.
Nick: [defiant] I can take on all of you anytime.
[More laughter, the goons spread]
Goon #1: You want to fight all of us? [They draw weapons] So be it.
[Nick gives a cry of anger and lunges for the first goon. The fight is on. Nick downs a quarter of his enemy in the first two minutes without much effort. One goon strikes him from behind. His weapons clatter on the ground and he falls, unconscious.]
* * * * * * * * * * *
[Scene cues the next morning. AJ, on his motorcycle, rides through town in search of Nick. Turning a corner, he spots an overturned cycle and stops upon approach. Getting closer on foot, he discovers that it’s Nick’s. Desperately, he looks around for a sign of Nick.]
AJ: Nick! Nick! Where are you? [runs through surrounding area, continuing the call.] Nick! Nick! [His cell phone rings] Hello?
Howie: Any luck, AJ?
AJ: Well… yes and no.
Howie: Yes and no? What does that mean?
AJ: [glancing at Nick’s cycle] Well, I found Nick’s motorcycle… turned upside down, but he is missing. I’ve looked all over and no answer.
Howie: [groans] Oh no. Nick why were you so stupid?
AJ: I agree. But Brian came pretty close to following him.
Howie: Well we have to find him. Come on back to HQ; you’ve been searching for an hour now. Kev and Brian are looking real worried. After all, their families were taken too.
AJ: Yeah. I’m coming. [He hangs up, starts to climb on his motorcycle when he spots something by Nick’s cycle. He picks it up and realizes that it is a torn piece of Ninja Man’s cloak. He stuffs the fabric into his pocket and races off.]
* * * * * * * * * * *
[Scene cues back at headquarters. AJ enters to see Kevin and Howie standing by a window talking quietly. Brian is sitting apart from them with a picture in his hand. All look up as he enters.]
Brian: Did you find him?
AJ: [hesitant] ‘Fraid not. I only found his cycle, turned upside down. [He pulls the fabric from his pocket] And this…
[All move closer]
Kevin: What is it?
AJ: It’s… it’s a piece from Ninja Man’s cloak. He’s got Nick, too.
[Brian looks away, squeezing his eyes shut. Kevin’s hand rests on his shoulder.]
Kevin: We’ll find them, Brian. I promise.
Brian: [looking at Kevin] Without letting Zator get the amulets?
Kevin: We have to, Brian. The universe isn’t safe if he gets them.
* * * * * * * * * * *
[Scene cues in a dimly lit prison cell. Nick, no longer Ninja Man, is sprawled unconscious on one side. Scrapes and bruises line his arms, remnants of the lost battle on the street. He is just beginning to regain consciousness when a door hisses open and two guards lead Leighanne and Kristin inside. Leighanne’s scream as she is thrown to the ground wakes Nick. He sees Leighanne and looks up. He recognizes Zator through the window and scowls.]
Nick: This is your bright idea for getting our amulets?! Kidnapping our families?
Zator: Those amulets are mine, human. And you and your families will be freed only when my amulets are returned to me by midnight tonight.
Nick: Fat chance of that, you extra-terrestrial freak!
Zator: [laughs loud] You’re amusing, Ninja Man, very amusing.
Kristin: Nick, what’s he talking about? Why did he call you Ninja Man?
Zator: Ah, so you haven’t told them about the amulets. Such a shame, that could have made their retrieval so much easier.
Nick: [angry] We’ll die before handing them over to you just so you can destroy Earth!
[Zator laughs and Nick glares at him, getting to his feet.]
Zator: I’m afraid you have no choice in the matter, Nickolas.
[Smirking, he holds up Nick’s amulet. Nick’s eyes widen; his hand goes to his neck. Realizing that it really is gone, he stares at Zator.]
Zator: You will, however, help me retrieve the other amulets. All three of you.
Nick: NEVER!
[Zator chuckles, and motions to the guard next to him. The guard presses a button on the panel in front of him, the light changing from red to blue. Nick, Kristin and Leighanne whirl in fright as a gaseous substance begins to fill the room. They try holding their breath, but to no avail. They fall to their knees gasping and coughing. The gas clears from the room a minute later. All three rise and face Zator. Their eyes are glowing red. Zator grins.]
Zator: Welcome to my noble ranks, my Shadow Warriors.
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