Chapter Text

EXT. UNITED REPUBLIC MOUNTAIN BORDER FORT - NIGHT -

A uniformed man, BORDER GUARD ONE, leans on the cement railing, looking out from the fort's perch down into the dark and misty mountain valley below. He yawns and takes another sip from the steaming thermos beside him. Another man opens a door behind him and comes out with the light that spills out.

BORDER GUARD ONE

Hey, did you ever get the radio to pick up more than that one music station?

BORD GUARD TWO

Nope, still just traditional folk songs and staticy Kuvira propaganda.

BORDER GUARD ONE

(sarcastic)

Great.

BORDER GUARD TWO

But anyway, the whole army's on high alert. Listening to music's probably not... you know.

BORDER GUARD ONE

(snorts)

Kuvira's army trains aren't sneaking through these mountains. It doesn't matter how fast her earth benders can lay down track, there's only so many flatish bits they can come at the country from. And that's down south where the rest of our army is waiting. The worst we've got to watch for here is spies and commando groups.

BORDER GUARD TWO

That still sounds bad.

(peers out, looks through binoculars)

Hey, is that a car coming up the road?

It is hard to make out the dark shape coming out of the mist down in the valley below.

BORDER GUARD ONE

Huh, maybe. Well, they'll still be waiting at the border crossing for a good three hours or so before Sing and them open up down there.

BORDER GUARD TWO

(still looking through binoculars)

It doesn't have headlights.

BORDER GUARD ONE

(shrugs)

Last one I saw come by didn't have a hood. We're out in the boonies here. Still, might as well wire Sing, see who's awake.

BORDER GUARD TWO

(binoculars)

Huh. Is that another...?

The view switches to his perspective through the binoculars. More shapes are advancing up the valley in the mist. There are more cars on the road, tanks on the flat land around it it and in the rougher areas battlesuits stomp over the rocks.

BORDER GUARD TWO

Ahh!

BORDER GUARD ONE

(grabs binoculars, sees army)

Telegraph Republic City command! Now!

(other guard exits to inside)

Major incursion up the pass! Earth Empire! Possibly a full force of up to...! What?

Down in the valley through the binoculars something else is moving in the mist. It's something behind the front vehicles and something much, much larger. It looks like a metal tower rising up out of the mist until it lifts up into the air like the giant leg of an equally giant mechanical device.

BORDER GUARD ONE

What in the...?

The distant mist begins to glow in a sinister purple color. In a distant side view of the border fort, a bright beam lances into it, ripping the building apart in the resulting explosion. A glowing smoking crater in the mountainside remains.

The only sound in night is the sound of engines and thudding metal feet.

INT. ASAMI'S OFFICE, REPUBLIC CITY - MORNING

ASAMI walks into her office but as she passes her plate glass window she hears distant sirens. As she looks out she sees five government airships hurrying off at full speed towards the south.

VARRICK and ZHULI have claimed most of two walls to cover with diagrams. BOLIN is dozing in a chair until the siren jerks him awake.

INT. AIRSHIP OVER COUNTRYSIDE

LIN stands in the open door of the airship looking out over the passing landscape below as they head south towards Nanfang. In the airship behind her, Republic City metal-benders are flexing and causing their metal armor to snap into place. The mood is somber.

INT. AIR TEMPLE ISLAND, OPAL'S ROOM

OPAL jerks up in her bed at the sound of a ringing bell. Other air-benders are running through the hallway outside her room.

INT. NANFANG POLICE HEADQUARTERS

WU yawns and looks around, confused, at the flurry of activity exploding around him. Ignored, he wanders into a radio operator's room.

RADIO OPERATOR

(into microphone)

Attention. This is a general evacuation order for Nanfang city. All non-essential civilians, proceed to your previously designated district assembly points. You will be taken north to Republic City and other areas until the military threat has been resolved. Attention. This is a general evacuation order for Nanfang city. All non-essential civilians...

EXT. NANFANG POLICE HEADQUARTERS

WU walks just outside the front door of the headquarters, expecting someone to stop him. No one pays him any attention. Outside, WU sees panic begin to spread through the streets as people take in the evacuation order.

Up above he can see airships and flying bison advancing towards the city. A siren begins to sound. He turns to look at the mountains to the east.

EXT. NANFANG ARMY COMMAND

The army is frantically shifting directions. There are forts and defenses off to the south but now Kuvira is advancing from a different direction. Troops, trucks, and mechatanks are all rumbling down the roads outside.

UR GENERAL

Kuvira's launching a sneak attack from the east mountains! Redeploy to meet it! Damn it, somehow they wiped out our early warning posts.

RADIO OPERATOR

Sir, Empire forces are mobilizing across the southern border also! It looks like a pincer attack!

EXT. FEILDS OUTSIDE NANFANG

UR weapons are being rolled into place as earth-benders hurriedly construct quick fortifications in the form of trenches and earth walls. Water benders suck up water to freeze into place as spikes and walls. General scenes of frantic preparation.

EXT. NANFANG SOUTHERN BORDER

UR soldiers rush around in their sturdy fortifications and pill boxes.

Across the border, the Empire soldiers gather behind hastily constructed fortifications as armor devisions roll up. The soldiers nervously cutch their crossbows and swords as the earth-benders load into protective tanks.

Then a whistle sounds and the empire soldiers charge as explosions begin.

EXT. FOOTHILL OUTSIDE NANFANG

KORRA swoops down from the sky using her glider staff. She lands in a swirling cushion of air on the top of the hill where she can see the valley which is to be the eastern battlefield, and the city beyond. To the south, explosions have already started. Dust is rising from up in the pass to the east where Kuvira's mountain army is descending. Flocks of birds rise from the trees. KORRA clenches her fist but then she forces herself to relax. She sits down and KORRA assumes a meditative posture.

KORRA

Army to the south. Army to the east. And somewhere Kuvira still has the weapon. She'll have hidden it.

(half closes eyes, slower speech)

The weapon. It's powered by spirit energy. There must be a way to sense it out there. I just need to know how. I just need to...find the peace.

The tint on the world around her changes slightly and ethereal steam begins to rise off her body as the distant fighting fades into the background. Then the smoke coalesces into a human shape, AVATAR AANG.

AVATAR AANG

Hello Korra. It's nice to speak with you again.

EXT. UNITED REPUBLIC BATTLESHIP

The United Republic fleet floats in the ocean out to the west of the southern border and Nanfang city.

ADMIRAL

The Earth Empire is attacking on both fronts! Ready point defense canons. Begin coastal bombardment. Hold the torpedoes. Let's see if they have anything that wants to challenge us on the sea.

Fire and earth benders congregate around canon launch tubes.

ADMIRlRAL

Fire!

EXT. HILLTOP

KORRA

Nice to see you too. I wasn't sure I would be able to.

AANG

(bows his head to Korra)

You have taken an important step towards inner peace.

Explosions echo in the distance to the south.

KORRA

Yeah, but now I need some outer peace. I need to stop two Earth Empire armies and destroy a secret spirit weapon when I have no idea where it is. There are thousands of people on each side and I don't see any way out that doesn't end with me... wiping them out. If I even can. If you or any of the other past Avatars have some advice for me I'd love to hear it.

AVATAR AANG blurs further and begins to expand into a long row of past Avatars including AVATAR KYOSHI, PAST FEMALE AVATAR, and ANCIENT MALE AVATAR.

AVATAR AANG

(nonjudgemental)

You are afraid. For yourself. For the lives you may be about take. For those you might not save.

AVATAR KYOSHI

Be judicious in your planning, but do not hold yourself in reserve for too long. Waiting for the perfect moment can mean needless sacrifice for many more. To be the Avatar is to absorb the cost of action, to our body and to our soul.

Around KORRA's meditative spot a few faint spirits begin to fade into sight. They watch KORRA and then turn their heads to look up the mountain pass.

KORRA

(slowly nods)

The armies come first. If I can defeat them quickly then the spirit cannon might never even get a chance to be used. The air-benders can lead the search for it.

(her expression darkens)

But... Kuvira's weapon. I've felt it. The spirits can too. Its echo, its power. It's out there now. No one has ever faced anything like this before.

(wan smile)

I'm just saying I might be joining all you past avatars in a moment.

AVATAR AANG

(turns and looks out)

Every new day is something that has never been seen before. There was a time when I stood on a hill like this and faced the very first airship.

PAST FEMALE AVATAR

I remember the first crossbow.

ANCIENT MALE AVATAR

I remember the invention of bronze. Now that was a surprise. This is just another conquering army. You've met that a thousand times before.

KORRA stands. The spirits fade back out of sight but the Avatar shadows remain.

KORRA

Thank you. And now, I need your help.

PAST FEMALE AVATAR

(bows her head)

No matter what must be done, we are always with you.

AVATAR AANG

As you are with us. You are the Avatar, and we are one.

(voice melds into the multitudinous Avatar voice)

The Empire airships from the south are getting closer as they cross over the border. They begin to drop bombs on UR positions below. KORRA breaths deeply and closes her eyes. Then she opens them into blazing points of light.

EXT. MID AIR BISON FORMATION

The Air Nation bison are converging from high altitude flights over the Earth Empire back-lines and are heading back towards Nanfang.

JINORA

(shouting over the wind)

Still no sign of the weapon on the south tracks! New orders! We'll board and incapacitate the empire airships! Just watch out for-

KAI

(points at a light in the distance)

Wait! What's that? Is that...Korra?

EXT. FOOTHILL OUTSIDE NANFANG

KORRA stands on the hill in the Avatar state. With a gentle sweep of her hand she summons up a mighty wind across the entire landscape which sweeps from across the sea, through the sky, to crash against the empire airships. The airships are slowly but surely driven back, out of control against this gale, and head towards the mountain side. Several of them are blown up and over but one clips the mountain and begins to crumple and break against it.

Then she turns to face the empire advance down from the mountain pass, eyes still shining.

EXT. EARTH EMPIRE ARMY POSITION, VALLEY

Empire soldiers in a truck, clutch their crossbows and swords as their vehicle brakes and they jump out. On each side of them, battlesuits and tanks charge forward down hill through the forest. The United Republic defensive positions are in front of them in the lower fields . Off to the side is Korra's hill summit, a few miles away.

The Empire soldiers join up with other truckloads of troops and begin to march forward to attack. Then the ground below them trembles. They look around, searching for enemy earth-benders. There are none nearby.

EXT. FOOTHILL OUTSIDE NANFANG

KORRA plants her feet, crouches and thrusts out her fists in an earth-bending form as she focuses on the forested pass. Her eyes are still filled with light.

EXT. EMPIRE ARMY POSITION

Empire soldiers panic as over a mile of landscape begins to crack and shatter in an advancing wave. Small cliffs rise and rifts open as Korra's earth-bending cuts off the empire's path of advance with a wide barrier of twisted ground. Some earth-benders try to fight it but it is hopeless to resist.

Then the rumbling ceases and the army begins to regroup. Earth-benders get to work slowly forming a new path through the shattered land. Then they look back at Korra's hill.

An entire nearby lake is gently flowing up that hillside. The water is surging up the slope, before gathering together and building energy, ready to crash down. The Empire soldiers freeze in fear.

EXT. FOOTHILL

KORRA, in the Avatar State, holds up her hands in water-bending stance keeping the massive amount of water in place. Then she thrusts forward and the wave goes crashing forward across the landscape like a concentrated tsunami blade. It is aimed at the empire army.

EXT. LANDSCAPE VIEW OF BATTLE

A beam of purple energy from the mountains slices into Korra's hill just beneath the summit. The hilltop erupts into a massive explosion. The water wave loses its cohesion and melts into an undirected surge of water spreading out across the land.

EXT. EARTH EMPIRE POSITION

A knee high surge of water buffets the army but they weather it. They look up at the smoking ruin of the hilltop.

EXT. SKY, EXPLOSION DEBRIS

KORRA is flung backwards through the sky on the fragment of ground intact she was standing on, struggling to hold together a swirling air-shield around her and that earth mote. It just barely protected her from the explosions which hit the hill under her. Then the exertion gets to her and the light of the Avatar state fades from her. The air-shield dissipates and the ground mote starts to disintegrate but KORRA, though now tumbling, manages to grab onto her glider staff and start to soar off.

She is bruised and battered but mostly ok. However, she is clearly exhausted even as she flies off on the glider.

She looks back to see the spirit gun stepping down the slope of the mountain pass. The gun is mounted on something that is still only partially visible through ridges, trees, dust, and smoke. It is a metal fortress on legs and nothing, not trees or uneven terrain, seems to slow its progress in the slightest.

EXT. FLYING BISON FORMATION

JINORA

(yells in shock)

Korra!

KAI

(indicating to colossus)

What is that?!

TENZIN

The spirit weapon! We have to stop it now, before it reaches the city!

OPAL

Dive, dive!

The bison and the Air Nation converge and swoop down from their high altitude towards the smoke-shrouded walking fortress. But gears turn, hydraulics pulse, and the spirit gun swivels up to face their charge.

JINORA

Scatter!

The gun fires again, now unto the sky. The beam just barely misses all the bison but even a near miss produces buffeting waves of air that send them briefly tumbling. The bison turn back.

EXT. UR ARMY COMMAND

From here they can see the smoke and dust in the distance.

UR GENERAL

Forward positions fall back! The spirit weapon is in play! What's the Avatar's position?! If our airships could get above that machine then maybe bombs can-

INT. COLOSSUS INNARDS

The sound of thudding metal footsteps reverberate through the compartments as Earth Empire technicians tend to valves and readouts as Empire metal-benders lend their power to the operation of massive metal pistons, gears and fulcrums. The huge machine continues to chug on. Down one hallway there is the distant light of crackling purple electricity.

EXT. BATTLE PASS, VARIOUS LOCATIONS

The legs of the walking fortress continues to step forward through the smoke of burning trees. Now its massive armored feet smash through the broken ground Korra created as a barrier. We still have not seen a full clear view of the colossus Then it fires the main gun again, but this time far into the distance at the ocean beyond the city. The beam sweeps in an arc and traces across several of the United Republic battleships. Then the explosions follow.

EXT. UNITED REPUBLIC BATTLESHIP

The deck is sloped and getting worse as the devastated ship starts to sink, billowing streams of black smoke and fire. It is raining from the places where the beam hit the water. In the distance, other UR ships are also burning. The ADMIRAL clings to a railing, looking out in disbelief.

EXT. FEILDS OUTSIDE NANFANG

Front line United Republic soldiers are fleeing back past the reinforced positions of the rear guard who are still holding their posts. The ground shudders in rhythmic impacts. Before them, the walking fortress strides across bright sunny fields.

The colossus stops in front of the UR army positions and steadily aims the spirit cannon down at them.

INT. COLOSSUS COMMAND ROOM

Uniformed Earth Empire technicians work at controls and information banks around the circular room. Then KUVIRA steps into the shot, facing the single large window, only in shot from her nose to her shoulders. She smiles, then lifts a radio microphone to her mouth.

KUVIRA

Attention, people of the United Republic. I am Kuvira, Leader of the Earth Empire. This land was stolen from our ancestors, occupied, changed and twisted into something new and unnatural. Now I will return it to the rightful owners.

EXT. NANFANG CITY

Evacuees are continuing to flee city, looking back at the colossus just visible between the buildings.

KUVIRA

(on radio)

People of the earth nation, rejoice. Your pride as a people will be restored. Those of other ethnicities, do not despair. You will be repatriated to your ancestral homelands. I will restore balance to the world. I have no wish to harm anyone, but I will not be denied.

EXT. UR ARMY COMMAND

The UR GENERAL clenches his fist as he looks up at the colossus. Some of his solders rush up to hurry him out of here.

KUVIRA

(on radio)

President Chang, order your army to stand down or it will be destroyed. Relinquish rule over your cities or they will be destroyed. Some of your soldiers will want to resist this, to continue fighting. That is honorable, but impossible.

EXT. COAST SOUTH OF NANFANG

UR soldiers are rushing around, dealing with wounded and the lifeboats of the sinking battleships in the bay. Earth Empire soldier and battlesuits march up over a nearby hill. A radio is on in this UR command post.

KUVIRA

(on radio)

This machine, this colossus, is the ultimate triumph of modernity. It is a true embodiment of the Earth Empire; technology, resources, and tireless obedience working in perfect harmony to a single unified goal. It is without weakness and its power is unstoppable. No army can resist it, no bender can pierce its hull, and not even the Avatar herself can stand before its weapon. President Chang, sign the terms of your surrender and bring peace to this land. The only alternative is annihilation.

INT. PRESIDENT CHANG'S OFFICE

PRESIDENT CHANG presses his fist against his desk as he struggles against impotent rage. Then he sighs in defeat. He moves towards his aid who has a radio microphone.

PRESIDENT CHANG

(to his aids)

Continue to evacuate all civilians near that colossus. Get them away from Nanfang City, somewhere safe and prepare to defend Republic City if necessary.

(takes microphone)

This is President Chang. All United Republic military personnel are to cease hostilities and stand down. I will meet with Kuvira to discuss terms.

EXT. COASTAL MOUNTAIN BETWEEN NANFANG AND REPUBLIC CITY

The air-benders' bison have settled here on the low peak near a shrine, along with LIN's police airship tied on the far side of the mountain. KORRA soars down to them on her glider. People rush forward to check on her but she waves them off. The rest are gathered around a radio. Off to the south smoke rises from Nanfang.

PRESIDENT CHANG

(on radio)

I do this so that the ideals of unity and tolerance that built the United Republic of Nations might survive.

ASAMI drives up with BOLIN in the car. They rush out to meet with KORRA.

OPAL

So that's it? Just like that Kuvira wins everything?

TENZIN

President Chang is doing the only thing he can do to prevent the deaths of more people. Kuvira could fire the weapon at the evacuees and kill thousands in seconds.

KAI

(angry)

There's no justice.

KORRA

(tired but determined)

Maybe not, but there's us. Chang ordered all United Republic military to surrender, but I'm not in any army, are you?

OPAL

(grim smile)

No, we're not.

TENZIN

The Air Nation stands with you, Avatar Korra.

LIN

(smirks)

Orders to the military don't apply to police. My sworn duty is to protect the public and keep the peace no matter what a politician says on the radio.

(to her officers)

How about you guys?

The Metal-bender cops all salute KORRA.

BOLIN

(joking)

Well, I'm officially a traitor to the Earth Empire so might as well!

KORRA looks at ASAMI who just smiles back.

ASAMI

I'm always here for you.

(causal tone)

Besides, I own 51% of Varrick's company and all derivative spirit energy technologies.

(points to far off colossus)

Legally, that's mine.

JINORA

So, what next?

KORRA

(points at distant colossus)

We destroy that unstoppable battle fortress before it blasts us all into oblivion.

There is a moment of silence.

LIN

(sarcastic)

Well, as long a there's a plan.

ASAMI

(guiltily)

Actually, I may have an idea. About a weakness Kuvira might not have considered. I just hope that it's the right thing to do.

EXT. NANFANG STREETS

Anxious people listen to the radio as some are hurriedly packing belongings. In the distance the colossus looms as crowd flee through the streets. Empire soldiers patrol in squads. One of them pushes an angry woman down and strikes her.

WU

(on Radio)

People of Nanfang City, Once again this is the voice of your new friendly evacuation advisor, Wu Huoting the Earth King. Now, Kuvira's army is trying to set up a roadblock against you as you flee north towards Republic City but they're all stretched out at the moment so if you just use the country roads instead you'll be fine getting out of the empire's current reach. There are also civilian boats ferrying people out of the harbor and always be on the look out for those air nation bison zipping around.

INT. RADIO BROADCAST ROOM

WU

(speaking into microphone)

Now I know many of you are afraid and just want to hunker down with your family and stay in your home but please trust me. Evacuate now, get away from the colossus, it's much safer. Don't think that will make you a target. You'll be fine. Just look at me! Imagine how much Kuvira must want to kill me, even before I started doing these broadcasts!

EXT. NANFANG STREETS

A truck full of Earth Empire troops race along.

WU

(on radio)

I've managed to avoid her army and her giant robot and I've never worked a day in my life! If a spoiled young king can do it you'll all be peachy.

INT. DECOY RADIO BROADCAST ROOM

Soldiers break down the door to see a speaker set up to the microphone and a lot of wires.

WU

(on radio)

Of course I have to thank my brave police escort, Office Mako, who came up with this clever decoy broadcast system. I think he copied it from an old case he worked.

INT. COLOSSUS COMAND ROOM

KUVIRA is furious at Wu, among other things.

WU

(On radio)

What's that? ... Oh, I guess I shouldn't have said it was a trick. But oh well, they have to search each relay transmitter anyway. After all, eventually one of them will be where I really am. ... Oh, don't be like that Mako. Aw, come back!

BAATAR

(to Kuvira)

You need to go meet with President Chang, accept the surrender.

KUVIRA

(preoccupied)

Avatar Korra is still out there. People spotted her flying away from the explosion. She's planning a counter attack, I know it. I have to be ready to fight her.

BAATAR

(nods)

You stay here and command the colossus. I'll meet with Chang.

KUVIRA

(worried)

It's not safe.

BAATAR

(smiles)

But it was for you, the leader of our entire empire? I'm going. After all, service to the state is the greatest virtue.

He gives her a quick kiss goodby.

EXT. NANFANG CITY VARIOUS LOCATIONS

An Earth Empire airship takes off from the main empire army camp. It heads north. At the same time, the colossus walks through the broad streets of Nanfang city, slowly making its way towards the sea.

From inside the Colossus command room, KUVIRA watches the airship until she glimpses several air bison swooping through the buildings of the city, always staying just out of direct sight. KUVIRA calls out locations but before the spirit cannon can be brought around to aim they are gone. She quickly gives up and just scowls.

The Empire Airship is soaring towards the north. Crowds of fleeing refugees can be seen on the ground below. Republic City is starting to become visible in the distance up the coast. A single high wisp of cloud briefly casts a shadow on the airship.

Above the cloud, several air bison circle in an open bowl in the center of this artificial created cloud. KORRA stands up in one of the saddles as she stops the water bending hand motions to maintain the cloud so that she may grab her glider staff. Then KORRA and several other air benders jump off the beasts and plummet down to the airship.

EXT. REPUBLIC CITY

PRESIDENT CHANG is awaiting BAATAR's arrival. The Empire airship descends and is latched up, the ramp is lowered and empire soldiers file out to line up as a honor guard.

EMPIRE SOLDIER

All hail Baatar, husband of Kuvira, Chancellor of the Earth Empire!

Nothing happens. No one exits the airship.

PRESIDENT CHANG

(impatient)

Well? Where is he?

EMPIRE SOLDIER

Um...

A guard, AIRSHIP SOLDIER, runs out of the airship.

AIRSHIP SOLDIER

He's gone! His cabin's empty!

EMPIRE SOLDIER

What? How...?

(turns to Chang)

You! Order all your forces to assist in hunting down whoever did this!

PRESIDENT CHANG

Excuse me? I think not. I haven't surrendered to anyone yet. And until someone who isn't afraid to come meet me shows up, that means we're still at war.

Chang's guards suddenly all raise their weapons or fists. The Empire soldiers suddenly look very nervous.

PRESIDENT CHANG

(pleasant)

Have a good trip back, and the best of luck to you when you explain this incident to Kuvira. You'll need it.

The Empire soldiers scramble back onto their airship.

PRESIDENT CHANG

(calling after the Empire soldiers)

Remember, the United Republic always welcomes people of any nation!

(to his advisors)

That was fun. Now, find out what the hell is actually happening.