Black Thunder: Giant Robot Kidnapping (Part 3)

Cater has Simon pinned against the control booth panel.

Carter: Black Thunder!

He sees her lying on the bridge on the monitor in the room. Shut it down before it kills her!

Carter: Shut it down before it kills her!

Black Thunder stands wobbly and takes off flying. She steps in front of the giant robot as it loads another missile. She bends the robot’s hand so that the missile can’t fire.

In the control room in front of the screen Carter forces Simon to watch.

Carter: You don’t want to be remembered as a murder. Shut it off!

The robot fires with a loud Ka-boom! On the screen Carter and Simon see only the smoke and flying robot debris. Carter is downcast and Simon starts laughing manically. Carter bangs the chuckling boy’s head on the desk and allows him to fall limply to the ground unconscious.

The smoke clears as the debris lands on the ground. A defeated Carter emerges from the tunnel leading under the dam. He sees Black Thunder still in the sky.

Carter: Black Thunder!

She lands, now invisible, two feet in front of him.

Carter: How did you survive?

Flashback of the robot explosion. Black Thunder held her gloves out creating sound waves to negate the explosion creating a force field to protect her.

Black Thunder: I used soundwaves to counteract the force of the explosion.

He leans forward to hug her and sticks his hand in her mouth.

Black Thunder: That’s my mouth.

She puts his arms around her shoulders and hugs him.

Black Thunder: Let’s get back to the suburbs.

She takes off flying and he presses close to her to keep from falling.

Carter: Black Thunder?

Black Thunder: Yes?

Carter: If you’re wearing a mask, why are you invisible?

Black Thunder: I recently came into my powers. I can’t always control them. My thunder powers were the worst.

Carter has a quizzical look on his face.

Carter: Really, how so?

Black Thunder: Sometimes, I have to wear special gloves to dampen them.

Carter looks down at the houses.

Carter: This is my street. My house has the blue tiles.

She lands so that his feet are on the ground.

Black Thunder: You probably should get that checked. You hit your head pretty hard.

He touches his head and nods. She starts to fly away.

Carter: Black Thunder!

(She stops and turns around.)

Carter: Thanks.

Black Thunder: You’re welcome, kid.

Carter: Uh—Carter.

Black Thunder: You’re welcome, Carter.

She flew away leaving the wind blowing on his face, revealing the scar on his forehead.

Now clearly after dark Lei comes back to his house and sits in a tree overlooking his bedroom window.

Katie stands below the tree.

Katie: Black Thunder!

Lei becomes visible. She is not dressed as Black Thunder.

Katie: Lei! I’m coming up!

She climbs up so that her hands are on the branch that Lei’s sitting on.

Katie (Panicking): Lei, I’m slipping.

Lei reaches down and with a gloved hand grabs her friend’s wrist. Lei stands up and pulls her friend on to the tree branch easily.

Katie sits against the tree and Lei sits next to her.

Katie: What are you doing up here?

Lei: Carter hit his head and passed out.

Katie: We both know you’re not here worried about a concussion.

Lei (Sighing): Fine. When that happened I realized I’ve been doing this for all the wrong reasons.

Katie: What are you talking about? You selflessly save people.

Lei: It’s been selfishly about my dad. But when I saw him lying there, I knew this was bigger than me and my problems.

Katie remembers Lei’s book that she has.

Katie: (Thinking): I want to ask her, but she’s been through enough today. I’ll wait.

Lei is asleep leaning on Katie, pinning her to the tree.

Lei: (Snoring) ZZZZZZZ.

Katie: She fell asleep. Now we’re both stuck here.

Black Thunder: Giant Robot Kidnapping (Part 2)

Downtown Black Thunder lays on the ground at the base of a skyscraper. She starts to sit up.

Black Thunder: Not gonna lie that hurt.

She looks downcast as she gets up.

Black Thunder: And the robot still has Carter.

Katie and Lei are in Lei’s bedroom talking.

Lei: I have to find Carter, but where do I start?

Katie: Where do you keep a giant robot? Animals can be found where there is food and shelter. What does a giant robot need?

Lei: A giant robot would need lots of power, and a big place to be stored. Some place secluded.

Katie is looking down at her phone.

Katie: What about a holo—high—um this.

She holds the phone out showing a picture of a dam.

Lei: A hydroelectric dam! That’s perfect! Big, secluded, and a continuous power source provided by the water flowing through. How’d you think of that?

Katie: I was thinking big, secluded.

Lei: I’ll fly over there. One little problem.

Katie: What?

Lei: How do I save him if I can’t even control my invisibility around him?

Katie: Lei, you’ve saved dozens of people and stopped several badies. Just think of him as just another person.

Lei stands in front of her bedroom window now fully dressed in her Black Thunder costume.

Black Thunder: Wish me luck.

Katie: You don’t need luck. You’re a kick butt superhero.

As Black Thunder flies towards the dam she sees it and the giant robot still holding Carter on the edge of the dam. Carter squirms, trying to wriggle free of its grasp. Black Thunder turns invisible. Hoping maybe she can do a sneak attack. The robot looks in her direction.

Robotic voice: Infrared, Black Thunder.

The robot sends a missile towards her from its freehand. She dodges. Throwing a thunder-burst towards the missile. With a boom it detonates. The explosion propels her back towards the robot, flipping in midair she flies straight towards the robot’s head. At the speed of sound she flies into it. It shuts down to reboot. The giant’s grasp on Carter releases. He begins to fall to the ground screaming.

Carter: AHHHHHHHHHHH!

Black Thunder looks panicked and determined as she races to catch him before he hits the rapids below the dam. He’s only yards above the water when she gets below him. She catches him in her invisible outstretched arms.

Black Thunder: I’ve got you.

Carter: You’ve got me. Who’s got me?

She sets him down on the dam.

Black Thunder: Run to safety or hide!

She takes off flying to get inside the dam. She stops and lands visible. Once she is inside she is surrounded by water pipes and the space is dark, not very big. She walks inside farther. She sees a flashback to the dark alley when her father died in her mind.

Back Thunder (Thinking): This isn’t real.

A loud clang comes from behind her. Still visible she jumps startled. Then throws a thunder-burst towards the noise. Carter jumped out of the way just in time to avoid getting hit.

Black Thunder gets mad and turns invisible. She walks over to him. All he can see is the ground disturbed by her footsteps. She gets in his face so he can feel her breath.

Black Thunder: Don’t ever sneak up on me!

Carter slinks back.

Carter: Yes, ma’am.

Black Thunder (Still yelling): I could have killed you!

He sees how serious she is as she turns to walk away. Standing several feet behind her he speaks.

Carter (Calling): Black Thunder!  I’m not scared of you.

She turns around even though he can’t see her.

Black Thunder: Maybe you…

Debris begins to fall from the roof.

Black Thunder: ...look out!

She jumps on top of him just in time to shield him from falling debris. Debris falls around them but not on them as she creates a force field emitting soundwaves from her hands. He hits his head on the ground. After the debris has settled, panicking she lifts her mask even though she is still invisible. She shakes him to wake him up.

Black Thunder: Carter! Carter!

He wakes up groggy.

Carter: How—how do you know my name?

She doesn’t know how to answer.

Black Thunder: I—uh—AHHHHH!

She is grabbed by a giant robot’s hand. Her mask falls off and becomes visible on the ground.

Carter lays on the ground stretching out his hands toward her.

Cater: Black Thunder!

She tries to wriggle out of the giant’s hand.

He stands up and runs off the find the robot’s controller.

Black Thunder punches the robot. It creates a dint but doesn’t stop it. She puts her hands on the bot’s hand and sends her thunder-waves through it. It releases her and she drops to the ground.

Cater rams his shoulder into a door in a dark hall inside the dam. Inside a boy sits at a control booth. On a screen behind them is Black Thunder fully-visible, facing away from the robot’s camera.

The boy operating the robot: Carter!

Carter: Sam!

The boy (Getting Annoyed): It’s Simon!

Carter: Simon! Shut it down!

Carter rushes at Simon. Simon pushes a few keys than hits a big red button as Carter slams into him, knocking him out of his chair.

Robot: Target locked! Missiles engaged!

Black Thunder looks up at the robot with its arm extended.

Black Thunder: Uh Oh!

Carter and Simon are wrestling in the control booth behind them on the monitor is Black Thunder looking up at the robot, fully-visible, no mask, clearly identifiable as Lei Song. Cater rolls on the ground as he nearly has Simon pinned under him. Simon wriggles out and tries to kick Carter.

The robot fires a missile. Lei flies at the speed of sound to grab her mask. She picks it up and puts it on. The missile it about to hit her she flies towards the sky, and instead it hits the dam.

Black Thunder (Thinking): I can’t let the missiles damage the bridge.

The robot fires another. This one follows her through the sky.

The control room is shaken. Carter and Simon stand fists up.

Carter: Shut it down!

Simon tries to punch Carter, but he catches it in his hand.

Black Thunder turns to face the missile. She claps her hands together, sending a sound wave which detonates the missile. The blast throws her towards the robot. It swats her to the ground. She lies still.

Black Thunder: Giant Robot Kidnapping (Part 1)

Towards downtown in Lei’s hometown a giant robot attacks the city as the sun rises. Black Thunder is flying around town when she spots the robot. She begins fighting by throwing a flying punch into it. It throws her back. Sending her tumbling through the sky.

Black Thunder (to herself): It’s too early and I’m too tired for this.

She claps her hands together and the robot starts to fall. It snatches her out of the air and knocks her to the ground with it. The robot crashes and Black Thunder rolls on the ground out of its grasp. She stumbles to her feet grunting. She flies to the head.

Black Thunder: I don’t know who built you, but I’m dismantling you.

At school Katie stands by her locker waiting anxiously for Lei. Cater waver to her and comes over.

Carter: Katie, have you…

Katie: Seen Lei? No.

Carter (Looking at Katie): Is Lei avoiding me? Doing that passive aggressive thing girls do?

Katie (Laughing): No, Lei wouldn’t do that to you.

The bell rings, signaling it is time to go to class. Cater walks passed some athletes leaning on the lockers. He exchanges handshakes and a greeting with some guys.

Inside a locker, looking out, is a small boy Carter’s age. He looks nerdy. He sees Carter high-fiving the bullies locking him in the locker. The boy begins pounding the locker.

Cater (to the guys): What’s that noise?

One of the bullies bounces against the lockers.

Bully: Just the lockers.

Carter (leaving): Kay, cool, see you dudes.

The boy inside the locker (Thinking): Everyone notices Cater. I bet Black Thunder even notices him.

Black Thunder flies towards the school. She starts to fall asleep. She closes her eyes and sees the horrifying image of her father’s body being stabbed to death. She begins to fall and is awaken by that. She rights herself just before crashing into the ground. She sees the time.

Black Thunder: I’m going to be late again.

She arrives at the school dressed in normal clothes just the class bell rings.

She sits behind Katie in homeroom.

Katie: Carter was looking for you again. He thinks you’re being, ‘passive aggressive’.

Lei: What? What did you tell him?

Katie: I said you would never do that to him. You should talk to him.

Lei: Tried that, I turned invisible.

Katie: He’s still trying to talk to you.

Lei: If I look at him I turn invisible.

The bell rings again signaling the start of class.

After school Katie and Lei are walking though the city. They had just picked up Lei’s little cousins, ages six and four. The boys greet Lei excitedly.

The four year old: Lei! Are you leaving today?

Lei: No, I’m not leaving today.

The six year old: Dummy, Lei’s living with us forever.

Lei: Don’t call your bother dummy. Not forever but certainly for a long time.

The four year old (He gives her a hug.): Yay! I love having you Lei.

Lei holds the four years old’s hand as they walk. The six year old stays close to them.

Katie: Is this normal?

Lei: Every day when I pick them up from school.

A loud crash from nearby in the city. A giant robot stands among skyscrapers. Lei stands tall ready to protect her cousins and friend. Lei kneels down to be eyelevel with her cousins.

Lei: Katie is going to take you boys home. You are going to stay there and listen to her until I get there.

The boys nod in agreement.

Lei: Katie, can you take the boys to my aunt’s house and stay with them until I get done?

Katie: Sure, Lei!

Lei pulls her rolled up costume out of her backpack and a book falls out.

Lei: Take my bag too. Thanks Katie.

Lei runs off towards the robot.

The six year old: Where is Lei going?

Katie: She has to take care of something.

The four year old picks up the book and hands it to Katie.

The four year old: Lei dropped it. What is it?

Katie: It’s a book.

She notices the title, something like “living with post-traumatic stress disorder” She’s shocked.

Katie: Come on let’s get you boys home.

She puts the book back in her bag.

Black Thunder flies at the robot about to punch at the head. She stops when the giant robot hand holds up a squiring boy. Lei recognizes the boy.

Lei (Thinking): Carter!

Black Thunder turns invisible.

Robot like voice: Guys like this everybody notices them. Even you, Black Thunder.

Black Thunder: Don’t flatter yourself. I saw the robot before I saw him. Put him down! We can talk about this.

Black Thunder flies around the root looking for a way to shut it down without hurting Carter. The robot kicks Black Thunder into a building. She becomes visible again. Behind her the windows are cracked. She falls and lays still on the ground.

The robot leaves and takes Carter with it.