ZOIDS ASTRAY ACT 020

 ACT 020: EXT. GUSTAV – ROAD TO CHELONIA

The Gustav travels quickly down the hardened road, a main route to the city of Chelonia; the ground has become a firm and solid surface due to the amount of traffic it sees.

Chelonia — vast and immovable, a fortress-city the size of a mountain. At rest it looks less like a Zoid and more like a living island. Its armoured shell, hollow and open to the sky, creates a protective wall in which the city rests. Layered with towers, hangars, and terraces, the citadel bristles with life. Salamanders patrol the skies above while cranes shift cargo along its edges. From a distance the legs are invisible, hidden beneath the earth, leaving only the impression of a city grown out of the ground itself. Its head lies still, mouth wide open — the entrance to the city.

Danny hangs from a harness, a wielding torch in hand as he patches up the damage to the side of the Gustav, Nyssa stands above him on top of the shell, checking on Danny and lowering needed tools and Sheets of Polymer to the Young man.

NYSSA (leaning over the edge, holding her own harness)
You OK?

ZOIDS ASTRAY ACT 019

 ACT 019: INT. GUSTAV – MEDICAL BAY – MORNING

The Gustav hums steadily. Soft, warm light filters through the windows against the cold interior. Paige lies unconscious on the med-bed, breathing steady, her face peaceful. No bandages, no blood—just calm.

TILLY sits beside her, checking vitals. A med-scanner buzzes faintly nearby. She doesn’t speak, her eyes occasionally flicking to the others.

In the corner of the bay, NEKU, NYSSA, and DANNY stand in a tight cluster. Bob is not present.

DANNY (quietly)
I applied pressure. She was bleeding—heavily. I wrapped it as best I could. When Tilly got here… I took it off, and...

(gestures toward the bed)
Nothing. Not even a scar.

ZOIDS ASTRAY ACT 018

 ACT 018: GUSTAV – ROCKY PASS – CONTINUOUS

The Sea Panther lies on its side, smoke hissing from torn panels. Inside, Nyssa grits her teeth, blood trailing from a split lip, face lit by sparking wires. Her shoulder hangs unnaturally—injured—but her eyes burn with defiance.

NYSSA
Come on... we’re not done yet.

The Gatling Cannon creaks, grinding as she manoeuvres it with one working arm, wedging the barrel against a boulder. Using it as a brace, she hauls the Panther’s Rail Cannon into position. It screeches into alignment, just enough for a shot.

Across the pass, the Zeke Dober looms over the Gustav, its blade humming as it rises for a second strike.

NYSSA (over comms)
CATCH!

She fires.

The Rail Cannon screams. A white-hot slug erupts from the barrel, punching straight through the Dober’s flank. Armour ruptures. One of its back cannons twists, sparking madly—then explodes, sending the Zoid crashing to the dirt in a heap of flame and smoke.

Inside the Gustav, a low hum builds.

Bob stands still—then he snaps forward, like a puppet yanked by its strings. His visor bursts to life, glowing a harsh red beam. Spikes hiss from his back, limbs elongating, glowing crimson at the edges.