NARRATOR (V.O.) They said light never lies. But in Lumerra… it did. A single bolt of lightning fractures the night, slamming into the old clocktower in the heart of town. Blue light spills across the cobblestones, illuminating the rain-slick streets and washing over trembling houses. Power lines buzz dangerously; streetlights flare and then burst in rapid succession, the sound echoing like distant applause. Somewhere in the chaos, babies wail, their cries rising above the storm’s fury. As the electric haze fades, the shot zooms toward a single, modest house where a newborn boy lies swaddled in shadow. His eyes flicker electric blue for the briefest moment—Nico is born.
Nico (12) sits hunched over a wind-up robot, its tin-foil helmet gleaming under the shifting light. Leo (12), easygoing and relaxed, sips juice from a battered thermos, feet propped up on a paint can. Skye (11), always in motion, rollerblades smooth, lazy circles around the scene, while Rin (12) stands ready with a fire extinguisher, eyes vigilant. "So what’s it do again?" "It converts static into stored energy. Basically… lightning in a lunchbox." "Basically an accident waiting to happen." "Relax. What’s the worst—" ZAP! The robot bursts into a spray of blue sparks, making everyone jump. "—that! That’s the worst!" The garage lights flicker violently, and outside, every streetlight on the block blinks in perfect rhythm—like the town itself just hiccupped. Nico whispers to himself, "Did I do that?"
"You sure it’s safe to bring that robot here?" "I disarmed it. Probably." "You probably set half the town blinking." As they bicker, the hallway lights start to blink—one by one—until, for two heartbeats, everything plummets into darkness. When the lights snap back on, the world resumes as if nothing happened. Only Nico notices a quick-moving shadow hand gliding across the lockers, vanishing before he can react. "What was that…?" he murmurs, but no one else seems to notice.
Ms. Blint, the cheerful science teacher, gestures enthusiastically while Nico’s robot waits on the desk like a prize exhibit. "Remember, kids—electricity follows the path of least resistance." "Same as me with homework," Skye mutters, drawing a snicker from Rin. Nico connects two wires and, instantly, the robot’s eyes flood bright blue. Lights surge, then blow out—plunging the room into velvet darkness. KIDS shout: "Whoa! / Cool! / Ew, who touched me?!" When the power returns, a black scorch mark in the shape of a spiral symbol—eerily familiar—smokes on the ceiling. "Nico Volt!" "It… wasn’t me?"
Leo huddles with the group under the metal bars, glancing nervously outward. "So your gizmo talks to streetlights now?" "Maybe you invented Wi-Fi 2.0!" "Or he opened a door to something." Thunder trembles in the distance. Suddenly, a strange, echoing voice swirls around them: Voice, "Find the others." The group freezes. "Please tell me that was you doing ventriloquism." "…Not this time." A gust of wind whirls up, leaves and dust spinning into glowing blue patterns. Skye steps forward—her sneakers leaving swirling air trails, and then, impossibly, she lifts off the ground in a spinning tornado. Rin yells, and twin jets of flame burst from her palms; she panics, dousing them in puddle water that instantly freezes solid around Leo's shoes. "Uh… guys? I think I froze my socks." They stare at each other, realization dawning. "No way. The storm… it did something to us."
"It’s the same mark from the ceiling." "It’s following us." "Or calling us." Nico reaches down, fingertips brushing the shimmering symbol. Lightning splits the sky, and for an instant, a silhouette—a kid made of pure shadow—stands at the playground’s edge, eyes luminous and watching. "Who’s that?!" Thunder rolls, and the figure dissolves into nothingness as the rain falls harder, leaving the kids changed, uncertain, and drawn together by the storm’s secret.
