Animal X: Natural Mystery Unit the Complete Season 1

Episode 8: A Line in the Sand

Featured Cryptid: Mongolian Death Worm

Our episode opens up in the Gobi Desert where we see a bunch of Black Dot grunts trekking through the dunes only for them to get attacked by a Mongolian Death Worm that erupts out of the sand and attacks the Black Dot grunts with its venom until the two that are left capture it with a net launcher. the grunts then carry the worm to a giant drilling vehicle in the sand known as the spiral tank, followed by them placing it in a cage with several other death worms. Domino then congratulates the grunts on a job well done, telling them to make sure that Animal X never finds out about this operation. Domino is then contacted by Marcus on the screen who informs his father that he is still alive. Domino then asks his son where he's been, and Marcus explains to his father that he was attacked by a Thunderbird in Texas and almost got eaten, but he managed to escape. Domino then tells his son to come to his location in Mongolia saying that he could use him to help with his operation to harvest the Mongolian Death Worms. after that, we cut to Animal X HQ where we see Daniel in his living quarters looking at his hands, remembering how he was able to tame Bigfoot, the Mngwa, a Bunyip, and now a Thunderbird through touch wondering how he was able to do it while Rodney hovers above him watching with concern. Rodney then cocks his head curious about what's gotten into his human friend followed by Daniel telling Rodney that this is none of his concern. however his thoughts are interrupted by Natalie entering the room to inform Daniel that Bill has a mission for them. we then cut to Daniel and Natalie sitting in Bill's office where Bill explains to the two that Black Dot activity has been detected in the Gobi Desert, home of the Mongolian Death Worm and that it's up to them to put a stop to whatever their latest dastardly scheme may be. we then cut to the X-Jeep flying over the Gobi Desert, Daniel looking down and commenting how all he sees is desert, desert, and more desert. Natalie tells him to be patient and hands him the cryptozoologicon, Daniel opening the book and turning to the page on Mongolian Death Worms. Daniel is terrified to learn that Mongolian death worms spit acidic venom, which makes him scared to death. Natalie then explains to Daniel that the Mongolian death worm (otherwise known as the olgoi-khorkhoi) is a large Amphisbaenid that inhabits the Gobi Desert that preys on large mammals like camels and horses and is an ambush predator, lurking underground like a crocodile in the sand before attacking its prey. she then informs Daniel that aside from their venom they also emit electricity from their bodies to paralyze their prey, which makes Daniel gulp terrified at the thought of encountering one of these beasts. Rodney then nuzzles up against Daniel trying to comfort him Daniel thanking Rodney for making him feel slightly better. the X-Jeep then lands in the desert and ejects Daniel and Natalie on ATVs, Daniel asking Natalie how to steer this thing. Natalie then tells Daniel to just hold on before speeding past Daniel blasting sand in his face while Rodney laughs at his humiliation. Daniel then asks Rodney who's side he's on before Daniel notices ripples in the sand which causes him to freak out. Daniel then tells Rodney to stay back and whips out his grappling gun and fires it at the ripples in the sand only for Daniel to get dragged into the sand. Natalie then realizes Daniel's in danger and turns her ATV around to go rescue him only to see a large Mongolian Death Worm erupt out of the sand with Daniel's grappling hook tied around its body and poor Daniel holding on for dear life. Natalie then tells Daniel not to worry as she'll help him, however Daniel grabs onto the worm's head the touch causing the beast to suddenly become docile and stop struggling much to the shock of Natalie. Daniel then lets the creature go followed by it crawling back into the sand before Daniel turns his head his eyes glowing a bright icy blue staring right back at Natalie while a frightened Rodney hides behind Natalie's back. Daniel's eyes then turn back to normal, Natalie asking Daniel what that was right there. Daniel then looks at his hands before telling Natalie that he doesn't know himself, however before he can elaborate the two are confronted by Marcus who unsheathes his katana, asking Daniel "remember me?" before Daniel and Natalie whip out their weapons ready to battle Marcus. Daniel then fires his grappling hook at Marcus which wraps around his katana and pulls it out of Marcus's hand and into Daniel's. Marcus then whips out his twin pistols and starts firing at Daniel only for Daniel to deflect the bullets with Marcus's katana while Natalie puts her twin electric batons together to form a bo staff and leaps off of Daniel's shoulders to smack Marcus in the head with her staff knocking his mask off. Marcus then grabs Daniel by the arms and pins him down pointing a gun at his head threatening to kill him if Natalie doesn't tell him where the Mongolian death worm went. Natalie then tells Marcus that it got away and that she doesn't know where it went which makes Marcus all the angrier however Daniel's eyes suddenly start glowing again followed by the Mongolian death worm erupting out of the sand to attack Marcus freeing Daniel before Natalie grabs him by the hand and drags him to safety. Marcus then calls in backup and a platoon of Black dot grunts manage to capture and subdue the Mongolian death worm. Daniel and Natalie demand the black dot to release the poor creature, however Marcus tells Daniel and Natalie that it's just business before the spiral tank erupts out of the sand and Marcus and the black dot grunts hop aboard before the spiral tank drills back into the ground escaping with the death worm. Daniel's eyes then turn back to normal and notices Natalie on her knees stricken with grief over how they were unable to stop the black dot from getting away while Daniel looks at his hands wondering how he was able to control the death worm. Daniel places his hand on her shoulder and assures her that they'll be able to put a stop to the black dot. the two then hop back on their ATVs and drive through the desert with Rodney following them from the sky Natalie using a tracking device to track the spiral tank's location. Natalie and Daniel stop their ATVs Daniel asking Natalie why they stopped, Natalie turning her head to tell Daniel that the spiral tank is right below them. the ground then starts shaking underneath their feet followed by the spiral tank rising out of the sand scaring poor Rodney. Daniel then falls off the spiral tank before whipping out his grappling gun and firing the grappling hook only for Rodney to catch the cable in his mouth and pull Daniel back up. Daniel thanks the little skyfish for saving him followed by Natalie whipping out a laser cutter to cut a hole in the tank. Daniel, Natalie, and Rodney then hop in and sneak around the interior only for them to come across a room with several Mongolian death worms in containers. Natalie is horrified, realizing that they're using the worms as a power source to fuel the spiral tank. Daniel then whips out the cryptozoologicon and remembers the part where they explain that the Mongolian death worms emit electric charges from their bodies and comes to the conclusion that the black dot are rounding up the worms to harvest them for their electricity. the two are then found by a platoon of Black dot grunts who have the two surrounded and point their guns at our heroes holding them hostage while poor Rodney hides behind Daniel's back. Domino then enters the room with Marcus by his side Domino applauding our heroes for figuring out his plan to use the death worms as a power source for his spiral tank. Natalie then calls out Domino telling him that using living creatures as batteries is cruel, followed by Domino telling Natalie that he doesn't care as long as he can make a decent profit off of it all the while Daniel's eyes start glowing again. Daniel then takes control of the Mongolian death worms causing them to break out of their containers and attack the black dot grunts. Domino is shocked to learn that Daniel has this ability while Marcus stands in front of Domino katana in hand ready to protect his father, Daniel commanding the Mongolian death worms to attack Domino. Natalie then grabs Daniel begging for him to stop saying that he's taking this too far however Daniel ignores her pleas telling her that Domino has abused and exploited innocent cryptids for blood money and that there's no reason why he should still be alive. it is then Natalie realizes that Daniel isn't himself, followed by Daniel smacking her across the face knocking her down. Daniel then looks at the sad look in Natalie's eyes and realizes what he's done and his eyes turn back to normal losing control of the death worms causing them to then spare Domino and Marcus. Daniel then helps Natalie back up followed by Domino telling Daniel and Natalie that he has no clue why they protect creatures lower than themselves, revealing that it was a cryptid that took his eye before escaping along with Marcus much to the frustration of Natalie, however Daniel assures her that they'll get them next time. after that, the floor of the spiral tank starts shaking Daniel asking what the heck is going on while Rodney starts panicking. Natalie then tells Daniel that without the death worms powering the vehicle it's starting to slowly sink back into the sand. Daniel then closes his eyes and tries to communicate with the death worms again Natalie telling Daniel to be careful reminding him of how dangerous they are, however Daniel assures Natalie that he managed to tame them once he can tame them again, all the while Rodney closes his eyes not wanting to watch. Daniel then closes his eyes and places his hand on one worm's forehead to communicate with them. Daniel then tells the worms that they have to escape and kicks the door open allowing the worms to escape into the sand below. Natalie then presses a button on her communicator calling the X-jeep towards them. Daniel and Natalie along with Rodney all hop aboard the X-jeep and fly off, all the while Domino watches the X-jeep streak across the sky from the comfortable view of his airship. our episode then ends with Domino promising that he WILL find a way to get Daniel to join the black dot, as he believes that his power could be useful to them.