ZOIDS ASTRAY ACT 011

 ACT 011: EXT – THE GREAT VALLEY

The modified Gustav pulls its four large trailers through the rocky canyon, steep cliffs looming on either side. A large crane arm is mounted on its shell, nestled in for transport.

• Trailer 1: A cabin with a comms dish and whip aerials that bounce with the terrain.

• Trailer 2: The damaged Aqua Fox, its cockpit open. Danny is tinkering with the internals while Paige kneels beside the Zoid.

• Trailer 3: A Sea Panther, modified with large cannons. Nyssa sits in its open cockpit.

• Trailer 4: The powered-down Fire Fox. 8.0.8 stands beside it, still, staring into space.

The Gustav moves silently, flanked by Skarfi’s König Wolf, its weapons on full auto. The Zoid follows calmly.

INT – GUSTAV CABIN

Neku’s eyes snap open. She bolts upright from the bunk.

NEKU
Paige!

Inu rushes in, placing her hands gently on Neku’s shoulders.

INU
Neku—

NEKU
Inu… is Paige—?

INU
She’s fine. She’s with Danny.

Relief floods Neku’s face.

NEKU
Danny… Nyssa?

INU
All fine, Neku. You all made it.

Neku exhales, visibly deflating.

INT – CABIN MESS AREA

Everyone is seated. Tilly—the Gustav's pilot — prepares food for the group. She acts as a maternal figure to Danny.

PAIGE
Who’s piloting the Gustav?

TILLY (smiling)
She’s an old girl. She knows the way home.

DANNY
Some Zoids don’t always need a pilot to handle basic stuff. Skarfi’s Wolf will happily follow the Gustav all day without a worry— (pointing at Skarfi with his fork) even if a blonde brute has butchered it.

SKARFI (grinning)
Me and Blue don’t need targeting systems. Instinct is key.

Danny snorts and turns his attention to the food. Tilly gently shoos him.

Inu watches Neku from across the table. Neku holds her side, her missing arm heavily bandaged. A tear runs down her face.

INU
You okay, sis?

NEKU (startled)
Yeah… just… you know. A lot.

NYSSA (appearing in the doorway)
We all made it, Neku. We’re safe.

Neku turns to look. Nyssa is bruised but alive.

NEKU
The Dark Horn?

NYSSA (quietly)
Gone…

DANNY
After I got to Nyssa, I managed to eject the memory module. We saved the mind—but lost the soul.

NEKU
You got Nyssa out?

DANNY
Yeah.

— CUT TO —

EXT – DARK HORN COCKPIT (FLASHBACK)

Danny stands shirtless, his bronzed muscles gleaming in the sun.

DANNY
Fear not, my lady! I will save you!

With a mighty grunt, he rips the cockpit clean off the Zoid. Inside, Nyssa reclines gracefully, a glowing summer gown flowing around her. Light emanating from her beauty, reflecting off of Danny’s toned torso.

DANNY (offering a hand)
Take my hand.

NYSSA (admiring)
My hero…

Danny lifts her into his arms, holding her tight to his chest as he swings away.

— CUT BACK TO —

INT – GUSTAV MESS AREA

Skarfi roars with laughter. Tilly chuckles softly.

NYSSA
He hacked the pit and popped the hood.

DANNY (grinning)
My version’s better.

Smiles all around as Tilly begins serving food.

Everyone is now seated. Tilly sits beside Danny, Nyssa next to Neku.

DANNY
I cloned the memory module, like I said, and popped the Rail and Gatling mounts before the turn. We modded the Sea Panther we swiped and popped the Rail and Gat on it —but it’s just too damn heavy…

TILLY (nudging Danny)
Don’t speak with your mouth full.

DANNY (swallows)
It’s like a slug now. That’s why it’s hitching a ride. Pretty much useless, but it’s a weapons platform at least.

TILLY (wiping Danny’s mouth with a napkin)
Honestly…

Skarfi laughs again. Neku struggles to manage her food with one hand. Nyssa leans in, quietly cutting it for her.

NEKU
I can—

NYSSA (gently)
Let me.

Neku hesitates, and then allows it. A small smile crosses her face. Nyssa meets her eyes, serious.

NEKU (softly)
Thank you.

Inu watches them both.

INU
We should be back at Chelonia in a couple of days.

SKARFI
Comfy beds. I hate these bunks. Too narrow.

DANNY (mocking)
Wah wah, my shoulders are too big for these tiny beds.

Laughter.

NEKU
What happened to the android guy? The one that saved me?

INU
He… it… (She ponders for a moment) It’s still with us. Just been standing by the Fire Fox, looking back the way we came. Hasn’t moved in hours.

NEKU
Danny, is it the thing from the mission?

DANNY: Yeah. BOB, Definitely the same. But it seems to be on our side. After it stopped Kaster, it got Paige down and helped stabilise the Aqua Fox.

A pause settles over the table.

NEKU
Bob?

INU
Its got 8 0 8 stamped on its chest.

DANNY (continuing with a smile)
Other than that, it’s just… waiting.

NYSSA
Waiting for what…?

INU
I tried talking to it. Nothing. Didn’t respond. Just… stands there.

DANNY (mouth full)
Who knows. The size of it, I’m not gonna ask it to leave.

TILLY (gently smacking the back of Danny’s head)
Mouth. Full!

Laughter ripples across the table again, but the mood carries a quiet tension beneath it all.

FADE OUT.