Rated TV-14 (DLSV)

Kotori: Hi, everyone! Showtime's underway! Remember to watch in a brightly-lit room, and don't sit too close to the monitor.



Narrator: In New York City's fight against crime, the dedicated detectives who pursue the most vicious criminals are members of an elite unit known as ACME Crime Net.

[Fraxinus EX, Saturday, September 7th, 10:10am]

Elliot: Spirit Soldiers, pay very close attention.

[Shido's group is shown footage of scientists preparing a fuel cell]

Elliot: This fuel cell is confidential, and extremely powerful. Scientists at Asgard Electronics have developed this to empower our next mecha. I should warn you, if the cell is exposed to high temperature, it'll explode. You must keep it away from the heat at any cost. This is only an sample of what'll happen if it does explode.

[A simulated explosion is shown in the video; the gang is shocked]

Elliot: You'll meet Dr. Louis Babcock of Asgard Electronics at the heliport. He'll have the fuel cell with him. Your duty is to make sure it gets back here safely.

Tohka: We'll make sure nothing happens to the fuel cell, Mr. Woodman. Let's go, guys.

[The gang heads out, except for Shido, who stops Kotori]

Shido: Not you, Kotori. Elliot?

[Elliot nods]

Kotori: What is it, bro?

Shido: Mom and Dad called and asked an old friend of theirs to stop by. Problem is, his eyesight's not what it used to be. I'd like for you to give him a ride. [hands Kotori an index card with the address] Here's the address. It shouldn't be too far from the warehouse. He's expecting you. Greatly appreciated. I gotta join the others.

Kotori: Big Brother, with all due respect, tell Mom and Dad to call their friend an Uber. You and the others need my help. You saw what could happen if the fuel cell--

Shido: Kotori, we have our assignment, and you have yours.

Kotori: You call this an assignment? This is more like babysitting! You and my parents can say you trust me. You can choose me to be Spirit Soldier Red. But at the end of the day, all Mom and Dad see me as is their little girl, and all you see me as is your baby sister.

[She storms off; Shido shrugs, then follows the others]

[Neo-DEM Industries HQ, 10:20am]

[Westcott and his Demonoids gather for a meeting]

Westcott: Ladies and gentlemen, our job is to acquire that fuel cell before the Spirit Soldiers do.

JB: And I have just the Wizard to bring it in.

[A Neo-DEM Wizard (played by Ariel Winter) enters]

JB: I give you ex-fire performer Billie Helms. Just weeks ago, she was released from prison after serving five years for attempted arson.

Helms: ACME Crime Net were the arresting officers, and now it's time to get back at them.

JB: Get to the East 34th Street Heliport and find us that fuel cell. It could prove useful for our arsenal in the future.

Helms: Yes, ma'am. Equip!

[She gets equipped with her CR-Unit and sets off]

[East 34th Street Heliport, 10:32am]

[An Asgard Electronics helicopter lands at the heliport; Dr. Louis Babcock comes out, carrying a heavy metal case cuffed to his right arm and approaches the Spirit Soldiers (minus Red) on their Spirit Cycles]

Shido: Dr. Babcock?

Dr. Babcock: Yes. Are you with Ratatoskr?

Tohka: Don't worry, Doc. You're in safe hands.

[Meanwhile, at 64 Grand Street, an Uber stops in front of the area; Kotori gets off]

Kotori: Thanks for the ride.

[The Uber drives off; out of the building comes a man (played by Kenan Thompson) carrying fishing equipment and a tackle box]

Kotori: Hi, I'm Kotori. Are you...?

Ray: Tatsuo and Haruko's daughter! [embraces Kotori] Great to finally meet ya, kiddo. Ray Kimble. [loads the equipment into his pickup truck] Let's get to it while they still bitin', girl.

Kotori: Hold on a minute. You're going fishing?

Ray: With my old pal El.

Kotori: You know Elliot Woodman?

Ray: Who don't? What, jealous? [holds out his keys] Tell ya what, since you're such a sweet girl, you can drive my truck.

[Kotori sighs, takes the keys, and the two get in the truck; Kotori sends a text to Elliot ("Got Ray. On the way to the warehouse."), then starts driving, slowly]

Kotori: It's only been about six months since I got my driver's license.

Ray: Hey, you're doin' just fine. And I'll admit, this truck's a little run down. But it gets the job done.

[Meanwhile, on their way to the warehouse, the other Spirit Soldiers ride their Spirit Cycles, with Dr. Babcock riding with Shido; suddenly, shots are fired at them; they brake]

Dr. Babcock: What's happening?!

[Everyone gets off]

Origami: That's what we're about to find out!

[Helms and an army of Bandersnatch 2.0 units appear]

Miku: Look! Company!

Helms: Hand over the fuel cell, and no one gets hurt!

Mukuro: And let Westcott have it?! Never!

Helms: Then I'll have to force it off your hands!

Shido: Cover Dr. Babcock, guys! This one is mine!

[He fights Helms as the others fight the Bandersnatch while guarding Dr. Babcock over the next few minutes]

Tohka: This is too much! [to her Spirit Brace] Kotori! We need you, and fast!

[Cut back to Ray's truck; Kotori receives the call]

Kotori: I'm on my way! [makes a right turn]

Tohka: Please hurry!

[Split-screen to both locations]

Shido: [to his Spirit Brace] Kotori, no! Report to the warehouse immediately!

Kotori: But what about you?! Can't Elliot's fishing trip wait?

Shido: I won't tell you again, young lady. Warehouse, now! That's an order!

[Ray looks on, clutching his tackle box; exasperated, Kotori swerves and stops in the middle of the road]

Kotori: Hold on, Ray!

[She hits the pedal and drives as fast as she can down the road]

[Back at the scene of the fight, Dr. Babcock watches the Spirit Soldiers fight the Bandersnatch and tries to find a hiding place, only to be intercepted by Helms]

Helms: The box, Doc!

Dr. Babcock: Never!

Helms: You leave me no choice, then.

[Using her sword, she slices the box off its cuff and grabs it]

Helms: So long, suckers!

[She and the Bandersnatch vanish]

Kaguya: Crap! They got away!

Yuzuru: Gasp. And they took the box with them.

Yoshino: Doctor, are you all right?

Dr. Babcock: Yeah. I'm fine.

Shido: Let's get back to the warehouse.

Nia: And leave the Demonoids to use the fuel cell to destroy us all?!

Shido: Orders are orders, ladies. Let's go.

[They transport out, taking Dr. Babcock with them]

[Back at Neo-DEM HQ, Helms presents the Demonoid generals with the box]

LN: Well done, Miss Helms. The fuel cell is now ours.

Westcott: [enters] You fool!

Helms: Fool? Sir, I got the box!

JB: She grabbed it straight from the Asgard Electronics scientist!

Westcott: I know she got the box. Open it.

[JB opens the box; there is nothing inside it; Helms and the generals are shocked]

LN: Gone?!

JB: It's empty!

Helms: How did you know Babcock didn't have the fuel cell, sir?

Westcott: Didn't you notice that there were only 11 Spirit Soldiers out of the 12?

Helms: No.

Westcott: Spirit Soldier Red wasn't with them. Ratatoskr used the others as a decoy to lure us out.

ZIEG: You think maybe...?

Westcott: Yes.

Helms: I'll go after Red, sir.

Westcott: I've already sent Yu Fan and Yu Lan to intercept her after you grabbed the empty box. You have a different assignment. [hands Helms a remote] Take this. The Aamon robot will assist you.

Helms: Yes, sir. [vanishes]

Westcott: And now, ACME Crime Net, let's see if you can stand the heat.

[Midtown Manhattan, 10:56am]

[The giant demonic robot Aamon raises its arms to the sky]

Helms: [in the cockpit] Wherever that fuel cell is, the Demonoids will find it. In the meantime, it's time to turn up the heat!

[A transparent heat dome surrounds most of Manhattan]

[On the ground within the dome, thermometers rise up to over 100 degrees; people are collapsing from heat exhaustion; Spirit Soldiers Gold, White, and Violet reappear]

Shido: We gotta get these people to safety fast!

[He and the others help the citizens to shade]

Tohka: We'll get you some water, guys. Just hang on.

[Origami looks up]

Origami: Shido, Tohka, take a look at this.

[Shido and Tohka look up; the dome shoots bursts of flames from above to the ground]

Shido: It's gotta be another Demonoid.

[The Aamon marches into the scene]

Tohka: Or maybe it's that giant robot!

Helms: [from the Aamon] It is!

Origami: The perpetrator! Give us back the fuel cell!

Helms: Sorry to burst your bubble, guys, but the box I stole was empty.

Tohka and Origami: Empty?!

Helms: We were tricked. And if burning you all down is what it takes to find it, then so be it!

Shido: Not if we stop you first!

Shido, Tohka, and Origami: Send in the Sephira Voyagers!

[Their Sephira Voyagers fly into the scene; the Spirit Soldiers jump aboard]

Helms: It's too bad you can't use your Sephira Robo without the cutie in Red.

Tohka: At least we can keep you busy!

[The Sephira Voyagers open fire on the Aamon, hitting it; the Aamon whips out a machine gun and fires upon the Sephira Voyagers, who repel the bullets with their shields]

[Back on the road, Kotori continues driving Ray]

Ray: How much longer, kid?

Kotori: Shouldn't be more than three minutes away. [fans herself with her right hand] It's getting pretty hot, though.

Ray: Yeah, too hot. Lemme turn up the air con.

[He turns up the air conditioning; suddenly, bursts of flames from the dome strike the ground near the truck, causing Kotori to swerve out of control and crash the truck into a pile of cardboard boxes; Kotori stops the truck; inside the car, upon impact, Ray drops his tackle box, causing it to break open; out of the box comes ice]

Kotori: Are you okay, Ray?

Ray: Yeah, I'm fine.

[Kotori gets out of the truck and looks around; unknown to her, Ray grabs the box and its contents and spots an ice machine nearby]

Ray: Oh, thank God.

[He rushes out of the truck and toward the machine; Kotori notices him]

Kotori: Hey! Where are you going?!

[Ray opens the machine door and scoops ice into the tackle box; Kotori runs up to him]

Kotori: Ray, what are you doing?

Ray: I need ice!

Kotori: I know it's super hot, but... [looks into the tackle box] Huh?!

[Inside Ray's box with the ice is the fuel cell; Kotori is surprised]

Kotori: The fuel cell.

Ray: Yeah. We'd hoped nothing would happen to it, but just in case, your parents called and insisted that if you were with me, I'd get the cell to Elliot safely, no matter what.

Kotori: Mom and Dad said that?

Ray: Yeah.

Kotori: And my brother knew all along?

Ray: Everything. Your family couldn't believe in you more, Kotori. Take my word for it.

Kotori: Thanks, Ray.

[She and Ray shake hands; suddenly, shots are fired at them; they duck for cover; the shots came from the Xia twins (in their CR-Units)]

Kotori: You two!

Yu Fan: We'll be taking that fuel cell.

Yu Lan: How dare you trick us with that scientist!

Kotori: You'll have to get past me first! Sephira, GO!

[She gets suited up and whips out her lance]

Kotori: The cell's coming back with us!

[She fights the twins; Ray watches]

Ray: Tatsuo was right. She really is a Spirit Soldier.

Yu Fan: Don't think I'm gonna let you off easy after you burned my sister!

Kotori: She attacked a kid!

Yu Fan: He attacked me!

Yu Lan: Never mind that!

[The twins strike Kotori with their swords; Kotori strikes back with her lance, then fires at them with her Spirit Pistol, hitting them]

Kotori: Sephira Cycle!

[Her Sephira Cycle appears]

Kotori: Ray, hop on!

[She and Ray (still holding the box) jump onto the cycle and drive off]

Yu Lan: Damn!

Yu Fan: We'll catch up to her.

[She snaps her finger; a crimson-red motorcycle appears]

Yu Fan: Our Yuezhi should be fast enough.

[The twins jump onto the Yuezhi and take off at high speed]

[Back with Kotori and Ray]

Kotori: Sorry about your truck.

Ray: Don't worry. It's insured. I'll take Uber from now on.

Kotori: I'm surprised you didn't jump at the fact that I'm a Spirit Soldier.

Ray: C'mon, kid. Everyone at Asgard knows who the Spirit Soldiers are.

Kotori: You mean you used to work at Asgard Electronics?

Ray: Yep. Problem is, once my eyesight started to go bad, I retired to become a fisherman. But I still keep in touch with everyone at Asgard.

Kotori: Wow.

Ray: I wanted to tell you about the fuel cell, but I had to make sure the Demonoids didn't get in the way.

[The twins are close to them]

Yu Lan: There they are!

Yu Fan: Firing missiles!

[The Yuezhi fires missiles at Kotori and Ray]

Kotori: [looks back] Uh-oh!

[She swerves to dodge each missile]

Yu Fan: That fuel cell will do you no good!

Yu Lan: Throw it over to us!

Ray: Never!

Yu Fan: [whips out a chain] Then you leave me no choice.

[She swings the chain, then tosses it at the box; she catches the box with it and pulls it away from Ray and toward her; she grabs the box]

Yu Lan: Let's get out of here!

[They turn around and drive away]

Kotori: Ray, how could you let them get away with the fuel cell?!

Ray: Wait!

[He watches as the twins drive out of sight; Kotori is close to the warehouse]

Ray: Okay, pull over.

[Kotori stops in front of the warehouse]

Kotori: Now will you tell me why you let the twins steal the fuel cell?

[Ray reveals he is holding his fisherman's hat against his stomach; inside the hat is the fuel cell and ice]

Ray: I hid it in my hat while you fought the twins.

Kotori: [laughs] Ray, you think of everything!

[She looks up]

Kotori: Oh! Here we are!

[They get off the cycle and approach Elliot, who is waiting outside on his wheelchair with fishing equipment and Dr. Babcock, as well as the Fraxinus crew]

Elliot: Ah, Ray.

Ray: Hey, El. I got the fuel cell.

[He hands it to Minowa, who, with the rest of the crew, takes it inside]

Elliot: [shakes hands with Ray] I knew you'd make it.

Ray: Thanks to Kotori.

Kotori: Dr. Babcock, we're sorry we had to put you through all this, but we had to make sure the fuel cell was safe.

Dr. Babcock: Think nothing of it, Kotori.

Ray: Go, kid. Your brother and your friends need you.

Kotori: You got it, Ray! [gets on her cycle and takes off] See ya 'round!

Ray: Good luck, Spirit Soldier Red!

Dr. Babcock: Godspeed!

Elliot: Come on, guys. We've got some fish to catch.

[An Uber pulls up; they get inside]

[Back at the twins' location, the twins stop their motorcycle]

Yu Lan: Sis, that fight really made me hungry.

Yu Fan: Me, too. I promise, after we get this fuel cell back to Westcott, we'll pick up Burger King.

[She opens the box, only to find nothing but melted ice]

Yu Fan: [sighs] Empty.

[She tosses the box aside]

Yu Lan: They tricked us again.

[Yu Fan calls Westcott]

Westcott: Do you have the fuel cell?

Yu Fan: We had it, but Spirit Soldier Red gave us the slip. The fuel cell might already be at the warehouse by now.

Westcott: Return home now. There's nothing more we can do about the cell.

Yu Fan: Yes, sir. [hangs up] Lunch time.

[She and her twin drive off]

[Midtown Manhattan, 11:03am]

[The Aamon robot continues its attack on Sephira Voyagers Gold, White, and Violet]

Helms: How do you like this?!

[The Aamon shoots fire from its arm-mounted flamethrower at the voyagers]

Shido: We don't!

Helms: You can't fight fire. I'm gonna snuff you three out like candles!

[Suddenly, the Aamon gets struck by lasers; the Aamon turns around to notice Sephira Voyager Red flying into the scene]

Kotori: You didn't think about having a barbecue without inviting me, did you?

Shido: Kotori!

Tohka: Boy, are we ever glad to see you!

Origami: Now let's see who really feels the heat.

Helms: Tell me where the fuel cell is!

Kotori: Even if we could, you're too late.

Helms: Even so, you've jumped out of the frying pan and right into the fire!

[The dome shoots more fireballs at the Sephira Voyagers, hitting them]

Kotori: [to her Spirit Brace] Miku, Yoshino, report to Midtown immediately!

Miku: We're on our way!

[Sephira Voyagers Fuchsia and Blue fly into the scene]

All six Spirit Soldiers: Sephira Voyagers, combine!

[Their Sephira Voyagers combine to form the Sephira Robo]

[Cut to the cockpit with Spirit Soldiers Gold, White, Blue, Red, Fuchsia, and Violet]

Spirit Soldiers: Sephira Robo, ready!

Kotori: Let's cool her jets, guys!

[Outside, the two giant robots fight each other]

Helms: [from the Aamon] I intend to destroy ACME Crime Net after I do away with you. They cost me my career as a fire performer.

Kotori: [from the Sephira Robo] From what I read, you threw out your own career the moment you burned down a drug store. You were lucky there were no casualties, or you'd still be in jail.

Helms: I used to work at that store as a side job, but they wouldn't give me a raise, so I quit and set the place on fire overnight.

Kotori: All this over a raise? You greedy bitch!

[The Sephira Robo punches the Aamon on the head, puncturing its nose]

Helms: Ever since then, no one would hire me. If I can't have a good paying job around here, no one can!

[The Aamon fires its machine gun at the Sephira Robo, hitting it and knocking it to the ground]

Helms: It's been fun, but now it's time to send you all straight to Hell!

[Multiple fireballs from the dome rain down on the Sephira Robo]

Kotori: NOW!

[The Sephira Robo quickly gets back on its feet and use the Aamon as a shield against the fireballs; Helms screams as the Aamon takes every single hit; the cockpit is on fire; Helms shields herself]

Helms: This can't be happening to me! Damn you, Spirit Soldiers!

[The Sephira Robo gets equipped with its saber, which glows; the burning Aamon charges at it]

Helms: DIE, SPIRIT SOLDIERS!!

Spirit Soldiers: Spiritual Strike! FINAL ATTACK!

[The Sephira Robo raises its saber and strikes the Aamon hard with it; inside the cockpit, Helms screams as sparks fly; outside, the Aamon falls to the ground, and a massive explosion is shown; the dome dissipates, causing the temperature to drop fast]

Kotori: Termination complete! Sephira Squadron...!

All six: Spirit Soldiers!

[The Spirit Soldiers jump out of the Sephira Robo's cockpit and dig Helms (her CR-Unit destroyed) out of the ruins of the Aamon]

Shido: Trying to melt the city over money? You're a sick woman.

Helms: [coughs] Screw you.

[NYPD squad cars enter the scene; police come out and take Helms away]

Miku: Who was that woman, anyway?

[Origami whips out her smartphone and looks up Helms' rap sheet]

Origami: Billie Helms, ex-fire performer and ex-drug store employee, served five years in Bedford Hills for arson.

Tohka: Well, her inmates are sure gonna be glad to see her again, only this time, she's never leaving.

Kotori: Arson, multiple attempted murders, attempted grand larceny, assault, etc.

Shido: Hey, Kotori, nice work with the fuel cell.

Kotori: You knew Ray had it all the time, didn't you, bro?

Shido: I'm sorry, but I had to make sure Westcott didn't find out.

Kotori: Don't worry. We'll talk about it later. Let's get back to the warehouse.

[Back at Neo-DEM HQ, JB slams her fist to the ground]

JB: Spirit Soldiers, you'll pay for this! I don't care what you plan to do with that fuel cell. [clenches her fist] We'll destroy you, no matter what!

[132 Madison Street, 11:37am]

[In the game room, Kotori plays Contra III: The Alien Wars on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, but is having a hard time]

Kotori: The Japanese Super Famicom version was much easier than this.

[Shido enters]

Shido: You can thank Konami for that.

Kotori: Hey, bro. [pauses the game] Listen, I owe you an apology for what I said earlier. It's just that sometimes I wonder if you still think of me as just your little sister, and Mom and Dad think of me as their little girl, not a Spirit Soldier or the commander of Ratatoskr.

Shido: For years, Mom and Dad have been training you to become Ratatoskr's commander and a Spirit Soldier, and I know they couldn't have been more right. And I agree with them. But for all those years, you've also been their little girl and my little sister. I guess there's something inside us that doesn't want it to change.

Kotori: I'm proud to be a commander, a Spirit, and a Spirit Soldier, but no matter what, Big Brother, nothing beats being Mom and Dad's little girl, or your little sister.

[They embrace]

Kotori: I love you so much, bro.

Shido: I love you, too, Kotori.



Yoshino: Next time on ACME Crime Net: Yoshino's Lantern.

Yoshinon: Vigilance, dedication, courage!

Last edited by TVLubber (8/31/2022 7:35 pm)