ZOIDS ASTRAY ACT 015

 ACT 015: EXT – RESERVATION RANCH – EARLY MORNING

The alarm rips through the silence, lights flickering to life. Startled cows bolt into the dark. Simon is the first to react, making his way to the Iguan before anyone else emerges from their bunks.

JORAN (running towards the Iguan)
We have a breach?

SIMON
Pylons 18 through 21 are down.

Neku, Paige, Danny, and Skarfi join Joran as a Double Sworder flies overhead toward the breach.

NEKU
What’s happening?

JORAN (mounting his Blitz Hornet)
We have a couple of pylons down—possible breach. Simon’s heading over now.

The Iguan disappears into the darkness as Joran, on his Blitz Hornet, starts to follow.

NEKU
Skarfi, let’s back them up.
Paige—go wait with Tilly and the others.

Paige runs back inside as Inu comes out of the guest quarters, hair a mess and bleary-eyed.
Neku gives her a nod, which she returns, and then heads to the Fire Fox.

Skarfi gets into the König Wolf and Neku jumps in behind him. Inu runs to her Fire Fox, followed by Danny.

 
SKARFI (patting the dash with a smile)
Good morning, Blue.

The Zoids roar into a sprint, following the Iguan.

EXT – RESERVATION RANCH – PYLON 19 – EARLY MORNING

The Iguan stands poised, its shield in front, its spear-like prod threaded through.
A hovering Double Sworder’s spotlights fill the area with light.
The wrecks of several Molga—mixed, twisted, and fused—form a mass of writhing Zoid wreckage, its innards glowing green through cracks in its stony grey plates.

JORAN (shocked)
I’ve never seen anything like this...

The Fire Fox and König Wolf arrive, pausing next to the Blitz Hornet.

NEKU
Is that an Astray?

DANNY (checking the monitors in the Fire Fox)
Confirmed—but not like anything I’ve seen before. Looks to be several Molga mixed together.

The Astray Zoid lurches back.
A mouth full of blunt teeth splits across one of its heads, opening to roar in defiance.

NEKU (leaning forward, putting her hand on Skarfi’s shoulder)
End it first—questions later.

 
Skarfi reacts without thinking, firing several shots from the Wolf’s cannons—each hitting one of the many cores inside the Astray monster.

DANNY (checking the readings on the monitor)
I count seven cores... two remaining.

Inu surges forward in the Fire Fox, its low howl echoing as a blast of flame erupts from its back cannon.
The twisted Molga bursts into blue-green flame, writhing and rolling as it tries to douse the fire.
Skarfi fires another two shots. The monstrosity slumps to the floor, still.

NEKU (watching through the cockpit glass)
Is it down?

DANNY
Confirmed. Signal stopped. No sign of life.

The Molga lay motionless, flames still flickering across its many bodies.
Joran slowly dismounts from his Blitz Hornet, his mouth open, shocked by the sight.

JORAN
What is this? Can they even do that?

Danny walks up beside him, his laptop open, resting on one hand while the other taps away at the keys.

DANNY (looking confused)
Nope. Never seen this—and there’s no recorded sightings of fused Astray Zoids.
This is something new.

Neku and Inu join them.

NEKU
Take notes, Danny. Prep a drone and get the info to Chelonia.

INU (looking shocked)
Seven Molga?

EXT – RESERVATION RANCH – PYLON 19 – MORNING

The sun now in the sky, Neku, Joran, and Skarfi remain behind.
The full extent of the damage to the pylons—and the Astray Zoid—now clear.
Joran focuses his attention on one of the pylons, his hand on his chin, a frown on his face.

NEKU
You okay?

JORAN (turning to face Neku)
The pylon... it wasn’t damaged by the Astray.
(Points at the damage)
It looks like it’s been shot.

Skarfi gets closer to inspect.

SKARFI
Joran’s right. A high-calibre round did this. Probably a sniper-type weapon.

NEKU
Has there been signs of anyone in the area?

JORAN (looking over to the near tree line)
Not that I know of.

The Double Sworder lifts into the air.
Thick ropes wrapped around the wreck tighten as the Zoid flies overhead.
Its heavy wings beat the air like rolling thunder.
Slowly, the fused Astray Zoid is lifted off the ground and carried toward the valley.

NYSSA (over comms)
Neku, is Paige with you?

NEKU (looking surprised)
No—she returned to the compound.

NYSSA
That’s what Danny said.
She’s not here.

EXT – RESERVATION RANCH – MAIN COMPOUND – MORNING

The Blitz Hornet, with Joran and Neku riding, touches down outside the compound.
Danny runs out to meet them.

DANNY
We’ve gone over the whole compound—No sign.

JORAN
A distraction?

NEKU (looking worried)
Paige...
(Shouting)
PAIGE!

EXT – RESERVATION RANCH – NORTHERN PADDOCK – MORNING

Paige stands with her arms out in front of her, her palms cupped with some grass across them. Tor stands in front of her, its huge form swallowing Paige in its shadow.
The Blitz Hornet in the distance is heading toward her, flanked by the Fire Fox.

JORAN
What is she doing? Tor could crush her without thinking!

NEKU
Inu—get ready to stun Tor.

The huge Zoid looks down at the tiny girl.
It grunts, then lowers its head.
Paige reaches up her hands, tiptoeing to meet Tor’s snout.
The Zoid nuzzles into her tiny palms, as if smelling her.

 
Paige beams, happy.

The Blitz Hornet lands close by. Neku jumps from it and stands in awe.

JORAN
Well I’ll be...

NEKU (slowly reaching out a hand)
Paige...

PAIGE (turning her head toward Neku)
He’s not angry.
(Looks up at the huge Zoid)
He’s just tired.

EXT – RESERVATION RANCH – MAIN COMPOUND – EVENING

The Gustav, with the Fire Fox, a repaired Aqua Fox, and the Sea Panther loaded on its trailers, chugs quietly, ready to get on its way.
Tilly and Danny make their way aboard.
Neku, Paige, Skarfi, and Inu stand with Joran beside the transport Zoid.

JORAN (smiling)
Never a dull moment with you guys around—
(laughs)
—but it was great to see you all. Including you, Paige. It was lovely to meet you.

Paige nods with a smile and follows Danny onto the Gustav.

NEKU
It was great to see you, Joran. Say goodbye to Simon for us—
I know he has his hands full.

SKARFI (arms folded, chest puffed out)
I’ve spoken to Joran.
I’m gonna stay here a while, at least until they have the pylons repaired.

NEKU
That’s a good idea. We’re only three days out from Chelonia. Catch us up.

Skarfi nods, gives Inu a quick hug, and then wanders back toward the buildings.
Inu waves and then boards the Gustav.

NEKU
Take care of yourself, Joran. And thank you.

JORAN (as he hugs Neku)
You too. Don’t be a stranger.

Neku jumps on board the Gustav, and the transport Zoid starts to pull away, its four trailers following behind it.
Joran waves as the Zoid leaves the compound, then follows Skarfi inside.

EXT – CLIFFSIDE OVERLOOKING RANCH – EVENING

A man stands on a small ledge, binoculars against his eyes.
He watches the Gustav leave the compound.

VORHEAS (a smirk on his face)
One stayed—just like you said.
Vanessa, you are so much like your father.

A silver-haired woman, a smug look on her face, walks between two large Zoids and joins him.
She stares down at the compound below.

 
VANESSA (smiling)
Divided they fall.