ZOIDS ASTRAY ACT 017

 ACT 017: EXT. GUSTAV – ROCKY PASS – EVENING

The mist is thick, twisting in the air like smoke from a dying fire.
Vanessa stands in the King Liger’s open cockpit, her entire body radiating hatred and the raw need for revenge.

A sudden fizzle of energy crackles through the air—
The Aqua Fox de-cloaks mid-charge, claws raised, aiming straight for the Liger’s head.

Vanessa drops effortlessly into her seat as the canopy seals shut, a smile already forming on her lips.
The impact is brutal. Sparks fly as the claws strike, sending the Liger stumbling sideways, off balance.

NEKU (over comms)
You talk too much.

VANESSA (with an excited smile)
I wasn’t expecting that.

The King Liger twists, regaining balance. With a savage lurch, it retaliates—mouth open, fangs bared—

It grabs the Aqua Fox by the neck and uses its own momentum to slam it hard into the ground.

Neku jolts inside the cockpit as her Zoid crashes onto the dusty road. The Liger looms over her, claw raised, poised to strike.

VANESSA (over comms)
Nice try… but you’re a little slow.

INU (over comms)
And you’re a little outnumbered.

The Fire Fox bursts in, slamming its full weight into the King Liger’s side.
The Liger loses its grip, the Aqua Fox vanishing in a blink.

Rebounding back, the Fire Fox’s rear cannon erupts—
A wave of searing blue flame floods over the Liger, mist evaporating with a hiss as heat floods the scene.

VANESSA (frustrated)
God damn it...

As the flames die back, the Liger stands untouched, protected behind a shimmering energy shield.
Hexagonal panels ripple across its body, then vanish with a series of pops as they retract.

NEKU
That thing has shields?

DANNY (over comms)
Yeah, that’s a King Liger. It’s got ’em—
But they’re a massive drain on its energy. She probably only has a couple bursts left.

The battle continues.
The two Foxes weave and strike, but the King Liger—while unable to land a hit—manages to evade every assault.
The Fire Fox rushes forward, the Aqua Fox flanking tight. The two split mid-charge, a pincer attack closing from both sides—

But the Liger stops dead.
It lurches backwards with unnatural precision—
The Foxes collide in a violent burst of sparks.

The Fire Fox stumbles, its right foreleg snapping with a metallic crack.

INU (shocked)
What? How did it do that?

NEKU (over comms)
Inu, are you OK?

INU
Front right leg’s buckled… but I can continue.

NEKU (over comms)
Its movements are insane. How is she even piloting that thing?

DANNY (over comms)
She’s using the shield segments like anchors.
She’s throwing the Liger around like it’s a toy.

The Liger leaps, smashing into the Fire Fox’s back—
Inu’s Zoid crashes down, pinned.

The Aqua Fox halts, frozen, as the King Liger plants a foot on her sister’s Zoid.

VANESSA (over comms, calm and blunt)
Neku…
Let’s not be responsible for the death of a loved one.
Dismount your Fox—
And I’ll let her go.

INU (over comms)
I don’t think so.

With a hiss, vents on the Fire Fox’s shoulders snap open—
A thick fog blasts outward, engulfing the King Liger.

Before it can react—
The mist ignites.

A massive blue fireball erupts, launching the Liger through the air.

In an instant, Neku is over her sister’s Zoid. The Aqua Fox sprays thick vapour across the area, dousing flames and cooling the Fire Fox’s smouldering armour.

NEKU
You OK, sis?

INU (over comms)
I’m fine.
The Fox is built for this.

The King Liger staggers upright—
Armour glowing red-hot, cockpit dented, sparks erupting from deep fissures in its plating.

VANESSA (rage-fuelled)
HOW DARE YOU—!

EXT. GUSTAV – ROCKY PASS – ROADSIDE

The Gustav reverses slowly from the chaos ahead, its trailers locking together in a defensive formation. Inside the Sea Panther, Nyssa tracks the battle on her monitors — crosshairs flicking between targets as the Foxes clash with the King Liger.

INT. GUSTAV – COMMS ROOM

Danny stands sat the monitor, keyboard at hand, eyes fixed on the fight. Beside him, Paige watches quietly. She senses the tension but doesn’t speak — instead, watching how they all move in sync. Danny feeds intel to the pilots. The girls don’t need orders. They just know what to do.

A small smile crosses her face.

EXT. SEA PANTHER – COCKPIT

Target lock.

NYSSA
I’ve got the shot.

Her finger curls around the trigger — then the Sea Panther lurches violently. Sparks fly. A screeching tear rips through the hull.

EXT. SEA PANTHER

The Zeke Dober barrels into the side, claws shredding armour. The Sea Panther crashes onto its side, alarms blaring.

INT. SEA PANTHER - COCKPIT

NYSSA
What—another—?

A second strike hits. The console explodes in front of her, pelting her with sparks and shrapnel.

VORHEAS (over comms, calmly)
Panther down.

EXT. BATTLEFIELD

The Zeke Dober pivots toward the Gustav. Its back cannons roar to life, unleashing a salvo. The shells pound into the Gustav’s plating — harmless against the heavy armour but shaking the entire transport.

 
Vorheas grunts in annoyance, flicking a switch. A long, slender blade extends from the Dober’s flank, vibrating with a sickening hum.

The Dober lunges.

INT. GUSTAV – COMMS ROOM

Tilly tries to steer away — but too late. The vibrating blade punches into the Gustav’s side, carving through armour like paper.

Inside, Danny barely reacts in time — grabbing Paige and throwing her to the floor just as the console detonates. Glass and shrapnel burst across the room.

Smoke. Screams.

Danny coughs, lifting himself over her.

DANNY (panting)
Paige? You okay?

She doesn’t respond.

Danny’s hand supports her head — and comes away wet. Blood. A deep gash splits her forehead, trailing crimson down her face. His expression hardens.

DANNY (yelling)
Medic! Comms room — now!

He tears his shirt, presses it to her wound, and tries to steady his hands.

Bob steps in.

The air shifts.

Static crackles.

A red glow ignites as a visor slit spreads across Bob’s face. His body trembles as it darkens, steam venting through ports as his back splits open, spines hissing upright. His limbs stretch unnaturally — long bladed arms unfolding like a predator unsheathing claws.

Blades hiss into form—long, red-glowing, hooked like mantis scythes.

Bob turns.

He walks out.

The Static follows.