Return to Imperium/Transcript

(In the Crossroads junkyard, Rapton and the Claws of Imperium attack Jiro.)
Rapton: Don't let it escape! You clown. Watch— (He is hit.) Ugh. Get after it! I'll cut it off. (He manages to latch onto Jiro.) Stubborn breeder. Hold the beast!
(Just then, the ninja arrive one by one and fight off the Claw Hunters.)
Arin: Coming through!
Lloyd: We interrupting something?
Rapton: (He growls.) Deploy the drones!
Lloyd: Let's free that dragon!
Kai: (To Arin) Not bad, kid! You really ... (Arin tries to punch an Imperium Drone, but hits himself on the face.) ... should probably work on that.
Sora: (She approaches Jiro.) Shh. It's going to be okay.
Rapton: Hmm. (He activates a device, which forms a beast. Sora looks on in horror.)
Kai: It's just a hologram.
Sora: No, it's not!
(Kai is sent flying by the beast. The others attack it to no avail.)
Kai: Is this thing indestructible? Not fair, buddy. Not fair!
Arin: What even is it?
Sora: It's a Photac. A digitally generated, weaponized techno beast, comprised of hard light.
Arin: How do you know that?
Sora: Because when I lived in Imperium, I invented it.
----
(In a flashback, Sora as a child, then known as Ana, tinkers with a device in an Imperium classroom. She activates the device, which creates a light show. A girl scowls in the background.)
Past Sora: I call it, the Photac! This is just the prototype. When I'm done —
Past Mr. Koenig: Ana, this is already far more advanced than any of the other science fair projects. Is this some kind of a ... a hard light? How did you do this?
Past Sora: I just kinda threw it together, sensing what would work. And I've stayed up til midnight the last eight weeks researching and refining my designs until I got it just right! Wanna see my plans for V2?
Past Mr. Koenig: As intriguing as this is, we mustn't deviate from the mandated curriculum, as dictated by the decree of the Empress Beatrix.
Everyone: All hail the Good Empress!
(Outside, a hologram advertisement plays.)
Male voice: ... keeping your family secure and productive, nothing compares to the dragon energy of Imperium. Clean, safe, powerful, and infinite! All thanks to the Good Empress.
(The students step onto a conveyor one by one.)
Past Sora: (To a boy) Do you think Mr. Koenig would let me stay behind and keep working on my Photac device?
Past boy: Um, this is our allocated recreation hour. We have to go ... recreate.
Past Sora: Of course, of course. I'm just excited about getting back to my work is all, but love allotted recreation hour.
Past boy: Me too. We are so fortunate it's been allotted by the Empress.
(Sora goes to her room and sets the Photac on her table.)
Past Sora: (To her poster) I know everyone loves the Empress, but without your inventions, Imperium would be nothing, Dr. LaRow. Clean energy? Carbonless transportation? Anti-gravity hover vehicles? Poof! And someday, I swear, I'm gonna come work for you at the Advanced Systems Lab. (She starts to work on her Photac.)
(At the science fair, the scientists judge Sora's project.)
Past Sora: Like I promised, my Photac version 2 takes it to the next level. You thought a light show was cool?
(She activates the Photac and summons a hard light fish. The students around her murmur in amazement.)
Past Sora: How about a hard light animal? And a fish is only the beginning. Ever wanted your own puppy?
Past student: Aw, look at the puppy.
Past Sora: The Photac animal is cuddly, doesn't require food, and is hypoallergenic. And the best part, the hard light never deteriorates. In fact, the hard light is totally indestructible, so it can't be hurt, or die. It's the perfect companion for anyone that might ... be lonely. There's no limit to the beauty the Photac can create.
Past scientist: Congratulations, Ana! Your plans are hard to follow, but the results? Astonishing. Your indestructible hard light technology is more than deserving of this. (He gives Sora a medal.)
(The students cheer.)
----
(In the junkyard, the Photac Beast continues to attack.)
Arin: We can fight it if we stick together. Come on!
(The ninja attack, but they only glance off the beast, the Claw Hunters carry Jiro away in the distraction.)
Sora: No!
Rapton: Let's go! Wow, that Photac is incredible!
Kai: Great. What do we do now?
Sora: I don't know about we, but I know what I've gotta do. I created that thing. I have to be the one to destroy it.
Arin: But, how ...
Sora: I have to go back to Imperium.
----(After the science fair, Sora's parents take pictures of her.)
Past Sora's father: We are quite proud of you, Ana.
Past Sora's mother: I know we don't say that much.
Past Sora: Or ever.
Past Sora's mother: But we see now that your ... passion for your studies was all in service of Imperium.
Past Sora's father: All hail the Good Empress!
Past Sora: Sure, so, I really am hoping to help the people of Imperium. The way Dr. LaRow —
Past Dr. LaRow: Pardon me. My name is Dr. LaRow of the Advanced Systems Lab.
Past Sora's father: Oh, we, uh ... know who you are, of course.
Past Dr. LaRow: And you must be Ana.
Past Sora: You know my name!
Past Dr. LaRow: I have been hearing about some of your designs. They appear to be quite ... how shall I say? Unconventional.
Past Sora's mother: Unconventional? Perhaps you can forgive her. She's just a child. She didn't know what she was doing.
Past Dr. LaRow: Oh, but I think she did. I think you knew quite well. And I must say, I am very impressed.
(Sora and her parents breathe a sigh of relief.)
Past Dr. LaRow: I want you to come to the Advanced Systems Lab.
Past Sora: You want me to tour your lab?
Past Dr. LaRow: No. I want you to work in my lab.
(Sora looks around excitedly.)
----
(Sora goes to her room in the monastery and packs her things.)
Arin: Sora, I can't let you go —
Sora: Excuse me?
Arin: Alone. We're a team! Ever since the Merge, it's been you and me. (Riyu tackles Sora to the ground.) And Riyu. We stick together! We're coming to Imperium with you.
Lloyd: I do not feel good about this. You're both still training! And who knows who you're gonna run into in Imperium.
Arin: We can do this, Lloyd.
Lloyd: You punched yourself in the face this morning.
(Kai laughs.)
Arin: Uh, you saw that? But we've come so far in our training! And remember what you told us Master Wu always said?
Kai: Uh, (He imitates Wu's voice.) "stop playing video games and go clean your room"?
Arin: "Ninja sharpens ninja." We're stronger when we work together.
Lloyd: Uh —
Kai: Oh, you just got Master Wu'd! Hard.
Lloyd: Point taken, Arin. You can go, but I'm coming with you.
Kai: Nice! Group trip! Packing my bags.
Lloyd: No. We need you to protect the Monastery and Ninjago. What if there are more MergeQuakes?
Kai: Fine. You go have all the fun.
Arin: So we're going?
Lloyd: Against my better judgment, we're going.
Arin: Yeah! Going to be — (He punches himself in the face again.) Ow!
----
(Past Sora is taken to the Advanced Systems Lab by Dr. LaRow.)
Past Dr. LaRow: (To a scientist) Hmm. Perhaps try the new mass-printed circuit boards.
Past scientist: All hail the Good Empress.
Past Sora: (She gasps.) A dragon! A real dragon! I can't believe you have one here in the lab! This place is ... it's magical! (She tries to touch the dragon, but is stopped by a force field.)
Past Dr. LaRow: Oops, sorry. Let me deactivate the protective force field. This dragon has long since accepted its role in our lab. It won't be dangerous.
Past Sora: (She laughs as she makes contact with the dragon.) Aw. You sweet thing. What's her name?
Past Dr. LaRow: Subject 152 stroke 9A. But some of the lab techs have taken to calling her "Sora".
Past Sora: "Sora"? The ancient Imperium word for "orphan"? (To Sora) Did something happen to your family, Sora?
Past Dr. LaRow: (She clears her throat.) Please step back. (She reactivates the forcefield.) Ana, I must say that I see a great deal of potential in your digital pet device. And in you. You remind me a bit of myself at your age.
Past Sora: I do?
Past Dr. LaRow: With my guidance, I think we could take your simple Photac and make it much more powerful.
Past Sora: Why ... why would you need to make it more powerful?
Past Dr. LaRow: Child, the Photac could be so much more than a mere pet. May I? (She takes the Photac from Sora and attaches it to a machine.)
Past Sora: What are you doing?
Past Dr. LaRow: Demonstrating the possibilities. (She turns up the power. The dragon roars in pain.)
Past Sora: What? No! No, stop!
Past Dr. LaRow: Wait. (She activates the Photac and summons a giant beast.)
Past Sora: You're hurting her! (She turns down the power.)
Past Dr. LaRow: Really now, Ana? Surely a girl as smart as you understands where Imperium's energy comes from. Our dragons power our homes, our schools.
Past Sora: Sure, everyone knows that. But our whole lives, we were always told our energy is safe!
Past Dr. LaRow: It is safe, for us. Now, imagine what we could do with an army of these. For Imperium to remain the glorious kingdom it is, we need power. The power only dragons can provide.
Past Sora: What are you saying?
Past Dr. LaRow: An indestructible Photac army could hunt down every dragon in existence. It would provide Imperium with a never-ending source of energy. Our glory would be unparalleled.
Past Sora: But that's not what I —
Past Dr. LaRow: This is why I've brought you here, Ana. This is exactly what the Good Empress Beatrix created the Advanced Science Lab for!
Past Sora: I don't want any part of this! You're as much of a monster as that ... that thing! (She points at the Photac Beast.)
(Sora turns off the Photac, breaks it, and runs home.)
Past Sora: Mom, Dad, I need your help! I can't go back to Dr. LaRow's lab.
Past Sora's father: Dr. LaRow just called.
Past Sora's mother: We are very disappointed in you, Ana. You have a chance to help the Empress Beatrix. To help Imperium!
Past Sora: They're torturing dragons!
Past Sora's father: Dragons are just mindless beasts, Ana. A resource!
Past Sora: If you had seen the dragon suffering, you'd know how wrong this is!
Past Sora's mother: Are you really going to put some creature above your own family?
Past Sora: I ...
Past Sora's father: We are ashamed to call you our daughter.
(Sora goes about her life grimly, but is isolated by everyone. Her parents take her workbench away.)
Past Sora: (She gasps.) My workbench!
Past Sora's mother: If you won't use your scientific studies to support Imperium ...
Past Sora's father: And all that we stand for ...
Past Sora's mother: Then you'll just have to find a new interest. (They leave.)
Past Sora: (To her Dr. LaRow poster) I believed in you! I thought you were making Imperium a better place! For every living thing! (She tears down the poster.)
----(In the monastery, Arin, Sora, and Lloyd make plans.)
Sora: So we can't just walk into Imperium.
Arin: Why not? It's how we go to most places.
Sora: I'm guessing we're wanted criminals there. I once knew someone who was arrested for singing off-key, so I think actively fighting the Claw Hunters puts us on their "Do Not Enter" list.
Lloyd: It's a highly secure kingdom. There are guards at every checkpoint, making sure only the right people are allowed in.
Arin: But who's checking what comes out of Imperium?
Lloyd: Huh?
Arin: Waste. Garbage. There's gotta be a sewage system that they aren't checking.
Sora: That's brilliant, Arin! I guarantee the sewers won't have any security.
(The scene cuts to the three running from Imperium Drones.)
Sora: I was wrong! (They finally evade the drones and arrive at a room.) Shh. Like I was hoping, this tunnel led right into the Security Station. I'll hack into the system, make us ID cards, gain access to the Advanced Systems Lab, and boom! Destroy the Photac. Come on!
(They reach the Security Station. Sora starts to hack it, but they see someone arriving.)
Sora: Someone's coming. Hurry. I need your fake names for the IDs.
Arin: Fake names? Um ... Doctor ... Lampshade ... Floortile!
Sora: Your undercover name is Dr. Lampshade Floortile?
Arin: Yeah.
Lloyd: Call me Doyll Donmagar.
Sora: That's with two L's?
Lloyd: Obviously.
(She finishes the IDs and hands them to Lloyd.)
Lloyd: "Sora"? You used your real name?
Sora: Uh, we gotta go! (They sneak around. Sora finds some clothes in a locker.) Hurry up and put these on. We need to look like real Imperian citizens.
Arin: You are a real Imperian.
Sora: We need to fit in. That's all people in Imperium care about.
Lloyd: (He returns in costume.) Absolutely. Stealth is key. (Sora looks at his large hat.) It was in the locker, so I imagine the Empress approved it?
Sora: Ugh. She never had good taste.
Arin: Riyu, maybe we should just keep you hidden in here. (Riyu leaps into a backpack, which Arin struggles to carry.) Perfect.
Sora: Okay, Lampshade. That looks totally normal. Guess we're ready. Come on.
(Arin, Sora, and Lloyd exit a room, the latter two whistling. They pass an Imperium Guard.)
Imperium Guard: Halt!
Lloyd: What seems to be the problem, officer?
Imperium Guard: Gonna need to see your ID badges. (Lloyd hands them over.) Oh, yeah. Yep. You're free to go, Mr. Floortile.
Arin: (He clears his throat.) That's Doctor Floortile.
Imperium Guard: Uh, you too, Mr. Donmigar. And ... Sora? Weird name. But okay. All hail the Good Empress!
Lloyd: Yeah, all hail! (They turn to leave.)
Imperium Guard: Stop! You really thought you could get away with it, didn't you?
Sora: I didn't ...
Imperium Guard: Not wearing shoulder pads on a Tuesday? (He sighs.) The Empress has declared shoulder pads are a must-have accessory for all citizens on weekdays! And this is not the weekend.
Sora: Um, that's new. And weird.
Imperium Guard: Well, I have no choice but to take you to ... the Public Shaming Platform. (He takes their bag.) Ugh. What are you carrying in here, gold bricks? It weighs a ton.
Lloyd: What's a Public Shaming Platform?
Sora: Only the worst form of punishment in Imperium. Anyone who commits any anti-Empress sentiment is publicly shamed in a livestream video feed.
Lloyd: Huh, doesn't sound so bad. I've put up with Kai's mocking for years.
Sora: You don't understand. The livestream is broadcast to everyone in Imperium. Our faces are gonna be on gigantic screens throughout the city! The Claw Hunters, that weird tiger guy, my parents? Everyone will see us. We're toast!
Lloyd: Oh...
(The three are taken to a platform.)
Arin: What are we gonna do?
Sora: I don't know. You're the doctor. We need some kind of distraction.
(Riyu bursts out of the backpack and attacks the Imperium Guard.)
Imperium Guard 1: A dragon? I need backup!
Imperium Guard 2: Get him!
Arin: We'll keep him safe. Now's your chance. Go get the Photac!
(Sora leaves to get the Photac. The others fight the Imperium Guards, but they are separated. Arin sees an Imperium Guard punch themself in the face.)
Arin: Oh, okay, so it's not just me.
Lloyd: Arin? Riyu? (He sees blasts of fire coming from around the corner.)
Imperium Guard: Watch out. The new prisoner is dangerous!
Lloyd: Prisoner? Kai? (He runs towards the source of the fire blasts.) Kai, you were supposed to stay at the monastery. You never listen! (He opens the cell door and gasps in surprise.) You're not Kai. (He is hit by fire.)
(Outside, Sora runs through the streets.)
----(A young Sora stares out her bedroom window.)
Past Sora: I wish I was anywhere but here.
(Suddenly, the Merge happens and the world quakes violently. Sora turns to see a new city outside.)
Past Sora: What is that place? I know you wish I was a dutiful Imperian, Mom and Dad. But I'll never be the daughter you want me to be, that Empress Beatrix wants me to be. (She takes her things and runs away.)
----(At the Advanced Systems Lab, Sora sneaks her way to the main lab.)
Sora: (She sneaks past some scientists and grabs the Photac.) Gotcha. Now to shut you down permanently.
Dr. LaRow: Ana. Welcome home. We've been expecting you.
(End of the episode. For more information, click here.)
Category:Transcript
Category:2023
Category:Season 1 (Dragons Rising)