Animal X: Natural Mystery Unit Season 3 part 1

Episode 6: The Nandi Bear Necessities

Featured Cryptid: Nandi bear

We open up with a flashback to Nile's childhood growing up in the village of the Nandi people in Kenya. we then see a pair of Nandi Bears storming into the village and attacking the villagers, including Nile's parents. young Nile picks up his dead father's spear and impales one Nandi bear off-screen (to keep things PG) avenging his parents deaths while the other one flees. We then cut to a helicopter landing in the African plains and out steps a younger-looking Dingo along with a platoon of Pack members who enter the Nandi village and step over the corpses of dead villagers. Dingo turns to see the carcass of the Nandi bear with a spear embedded in the side before looking down at the African child who's hands are covered in blood, asking him "You did this?" the child tells him "yes, that beast killed my parents, along with the rest of my people, so I avenged their deaths" followed by Dingo offering his hands for the child to join the Pack, giving him the codename "Nile". we then cut to the present day where we see Nile, Agent N, Dingo, and Gator aboard the chopper that hovers above the African plains. Dingo asks Nile "I thought you already killed the Nandi bear when I first found you as a child". Nile tells him "There were two that attacked my village, the other one's still out there". Dingo asks Nile how he knows which Nandi bear is the right one, and Nile explains that each Nandi Bear's spots are distinct, no two are alike. that's how they know if they find the one that massacred his people. Gator interrupts their conversation, asking why they're bringing Agent N along for the ride since she's not a member of the pack. Nile explains to Gator that her superior technology will allow them to track the Nandi bear faster making her an invaluable asset to the mission. after that, we cut to Daniel and Robert trekking through the African Grasslands of Kenya, little Rodney zipping around herds of Giraffes, Zebras, Wildebeest, etc. while Daniel asks his father why he asked the Wildlife Warriors to drop them off here. Robert explains to his son that there's a cryptid that lives here called the Nandi Bear and Marcus suspected that The Pack are after it. Daniel tells his father that he and Natalie have tangoed with the Pack before, they've faced two of its members: Nile and Dingo. Robert pulls out a pair of binoculars to see a Nandi Bear drinking from a stream, saying that he spotted one of these bears. Daniel pulls out the cryptozoologicon and reads an excerpt saying that the Nandi Bear, genus Hyaenursus Nandi or "Hyaena-Bear of the Nandi" referring to its hyena-like spots is one of the only two African bear species to survive into modern times along with the now-extinct Atlas bear. it's closest relative believe it or not is the Asian sun bear, and its size and weight exceeds even the largest Polar Bear. It uses its large size to bully smaller predators such as lions and leopards into giving up their kills. Rodney turns around to see one of Agent N's drones taking aim at the little skyfish and hides behind Daniel who fires his grappling hook at the drone to stop it from escaping, saying "oh no you don't!" before slamming it into the ground destroying it. Rodney sticks his little tongue out while Daniel tells his father "one of Agent N's drones tracked us, this can't be good". Robert then tells Daniel "Are you saying that she's working with the pack now?" Followed by Daniel saying "If that's the case, then this is worse than we thought. We need to call Marcus and the Wildlife Warriors for backup" and tries to contact Marcus who understands saying that he and his team will be there shortly. meanwhile Nile sneaks around in the bushes and takes aim at the Nandi bear with his sniper rifle, saying "this is for my people" and fires a bullet only for Marcus to show up and deflect the bullet with his Tanto blade allowing the Nandi bear to escape. Nile then attacks with his Cybernetic hand, firing his claws out as chains that wrap around Marcus only for Kira to free Marcus by cutting the chains with her katana while Tanya fires arrows at Nile who dodges out of the way. Nile then transforms his cybernetic hand into a cannon and fires blasts at Tanya only for Mindy to block them with her energy shield gauntlets. Tanya thanks Mindy for the save, with Mindy telling her girlfriend "anything for you, love" followed by Dingo and Gator showing up, Dingo attacking with his spear and shield while Gator attacks with his knives, however Delgado shows up to attack Dingo with his macahuitl while Anton attacks Gator with his electrified brass knuckles. Agent N shows up and tells the Wildlife Warriors "Surprise!" and summons her drones to open fire on the Wildlife Warriors, however they are saved by Jack who takes out the drones one-by-one with his boomerang. meanwhile Tanya readies her bow aiming at Nile who tells her "Stay out of this Sister, for our father to rest in peace that beast must be slain" Tanya tells him "I won't let you, revenge isn't the answer Azari" Nile then tells her "That name means nothing to me, I only answer to Nile, the name the pack gave me when they took me in" as he catches her arrow with his cybernetic hand and breaks it, all the while the other Wildlife Warriors are in shock of this revelation. Nile tells Tanya "We'll finish this later, sister. I've got a bear to kill" followed by the pack retreating. Daniel and Robert both arrive on the scene, Daniel hugging Marcus happy to see him again while Rodney nuzzles up against Kira happy to see her again. Robert looks at Marcus and tells him "So I heard you and your team have had a run-in with the pack, I knew they were up to no good". Tanya opens up to her teammates, telling everyone "The stakes are now more personal, there's something that I need to tell you all: Nile is Azari, my half-brother". Mindy asks Tanya why she never told anyone up until now, and Tanya tells her that it was her family's darkest secret, saying that she felt embarrassed to be related to a cold-blooded killer like him. Tanya explains that when she was but a small child, her father who was an Animal X agent at the time left for Kenya to research the Cryptid known as the Nandi Bear, there he stayed at the Nandi village and lived among its people, he never came back to her and her mother because during his time there he fell in love with a young woman from the tribe, and they had a son together named Azari. However both he and his new love were killed in a Nandi Bear attack, leaving young Azari to fend for himself and with a heart filled with vengeance, being christened the name "Nile" by the pack. Daniel is shocked to hear this, saying "I had no idea". Tanya tells Daniel and her teammates "you all can go after the other members of the pack, but Nile is mine" before walking off while little Rodney cocks his head. Mindy tells her "wait" and chases after Tanya, standing in her way. Tanya tells Mindy "Out of the way, Mindy. Nile is my brother, so this is my fight" Mindy holds Tanya's hand, telling her "It may be your fight, but wherever you go I'll follow to the ends of the Earth". Mindy turns her head, telling the others "the rest of you go on ahead, we'll catch up later". Marcus and Daniel both nod their heads, Marcus saying "Understood". Daniel tells Marcus "quite the couple those two are, they're practically inseparable. kinda like me and Natalie". after that, we cut to the Pack arriving at the ruins of the ravaged Nandi village, Nile looking at the place reminiscing on his traumatic childhood. he looks down to see the skeleton of the Nandi bear (minus the top of the skull) lying on the ground he killed all those years ago. Dingo and Gator look in confusion, Gator asking "why's it missing the head?" Dingo tells Gator "because it's on his shoulder. Nile wears the skull and pelt of the Nandi Bear as a trophy to remind himself of his first successful kill". Agent N tells the members of the pack "sorry to interrupt your little trip down memory lane but I put a tracking device on the Nandi Bear's back when you all were distracted fighting those pesky Animal X agents. my watch says it hasn't travelled far from here". Nile looks at her saying "Good. we will travel to its location at once" only for Rodney to show up and use his super-speed to knock all four of them off their feet followed by Daniel, Robert, Marcus, Kira, Anton, Delgado, and Jack all arriving on the scene. Nile tells Dingo and Gator to hold them off while he and Agent N go after the Nandi Bear. Agent N then summons a swarm of attack drones while she and Nile make their escape. Daniel fights Dingo using his grappling hook to grab onto Dingo's spear while Robert has a fist-fight with Gator. meanwhile Marcus, Delgado, Kira, Anton, and Jack take out the drones one by one with their individual weapons. after that, we cut to the Nandi Bear returning to its den and scratches behind its ear with its paw causing the tracking device to fall off before entering its den to sleep. Nile and Agent N both come across the fallen tracking device, all the while both Tanya and Mindy watch from within the tall grass. however the Nandi Bear hears their footsteps and wakes up, stepping out of its den to let out a large roar. Nile then fires the claws of his cybernetic arm as chains that wrap around the Nandi bear, Nile saying "Remember me?" as the beast struggled to free itself from its shackles. Nile then pulls a knife out of his pocket and holds it up to the bear's neck, saying "I'm gonna savor this moment" only for Tanya and Mindy to arrive on the scene and ready their weapons, Tanya saying "Step away from the bear, Azari!" followed by Nile telling her "I told you, my name is Nile! why do you protect the beast who killed our father?" followed by Tanya telling him "Because it is my duty as a Wildlife Warrior to protect all innocent creatures from those who wish to harm them!" Nile then tells her "This creature is far from innocent, it is a man eater can't you see that?" tightening the chains causing the Nandi Bear to roar in agony. Tanya then says "then you really are lost, brother" and fires her arrow at Nile only for Mindy to block it with one of her energy shield gauntlets as she stands between the two feuding siblings while the others arrive on the scene and watch. Mindy tries to be diplomatic, telling Nile "Maybe because human settlement encroaching on the bear's habitat that drove it to being a man-eater! ever thought of that? it happens with a lot of apex predators". Tanya tells Mindy to move, however Mindy continues her speech saying "Revenge is a poison for your heart, and before you know it turns us into something ugly. that goes for both of you, this sibling rivalry has gotten far too out of hand. whatever happened in the past, no longer matters in the present. you're not the only one who's lost a loved one, me and my brother Jack lost our father who sacrificed himself to save humanity from near-extinction" followed by Agent N whipping out her electro-whip, saying "ENOUGH!" and whips Mindy causing her to get electrocuted. Jack and Tanya both rush to Mindy's aid, saying "you'll pay for this!" throwing his boomerang only for Agent N to cut it in half with her energy whip. Agent N turns her head to Nile, telling him "Now Nile, kill the beast!" while Nile looks up to see Dingo and Gator both looking down on him disapprovingly. Nile then drops the knife, making our heroes breathe a sigh of relief. Agent N gets angry shouting "Traitor! your sister has made you go soft!" whipping Nile with her energy whip causing his chain-claws to loosen freeing the Nandi bear in the process. the Nandi bear then bites Nile on the shoulder causing him to scream in agony as he is being dragged off into the Nandi Bear's den to be mauled off-screen, Tanya screaming "AZARI!" all the while Agent N, Gator, and Dingo take advantage of the situation and escape. Jack helps Mindy back on her feet followed by Tanya hugging Mindy while Rodney happily zips around both of them. Tanya tells Mindy "thank goodness you're okay, you're such an idiot" followed by Mindy saying "Sorry about your brother". Tanya tells her "It's okay, it was Nile's choice to follow down the path of vengeance that ultimately led to his demise". Daniel then interrupts the couple, telling them "sorry to interrupt this tender moment, but I think it's best we get going". Robert says "Agreed, son. where to next, Wildlife Warriors?" followed by Marcus telling the Searles "Wherever the next stop to find the Cryptid Guru is I guess" followed by all of our heroes boarding the X-copter followed by our heroes taking off. we then cut to the Pack where we see Dingo and Gator talking to Agent N, Dingo saying "With Nile gone we're now short one member, how's about you take his place by joining the pack for real?" Agent N tells them "Sure". Dingo tells her "You're gonna need a codename. so what tribe are you from girl?" Agent N tells him "I have no tribe, I was made in a lab by a scientist. but I was cloned from the daughter of a Lost World native". Dingo then tells her "Then it's settled, kid. from here on you shall be known as Raptor" ending our episode on a cliffhanger.

To be continued in Season 3 part 2.....