ZOIDS ASTRAY ACT 023

 ACT 023: INT. CHELONIA – MAIN HAB – AFTERNOON

Neku enters the room, Paige in tow. A large monitor flickers—the image paused on static. Danny leans on the console, his head hanging. Nyssa stands nearby, arms crossed, eye closed. Inu sits quietly with Tilly, her arms wrapped around her, tears rolling down their faces as they both sob.

NEKU (concerned)
Danny? What’s happened?

Danny turns, his eyes red, face flushed.

DANNY (welling up)
It’s Skarfi. (a pause) He’s been killed, Neku. He’s dead.

Neku’s arms go limp. Her face drops as tears begin to well in her eyes.

NEKU (wiping her eyes)
What… what happened?

DANNY
He was attacked by a huge Astray.

He turns and starts the recording from the drone. Neku’s eyes widen as she watches. The footage shows the fate of Skarfi and the König Wolf as it tries to escape.

Neku slumps into the seat next to Inu, wrapping her arms around her sister, who continues to sob into her shoulder. Paige stands awkwardly, struggling to understand the situation and her emotions.

Nyssa stares at Paige, her eyes narrow with anger.

NYSSA
That thing is after you.

The door opens with a hiss, startling everyone. Nicholla Cooter, leader of the Chelonian people, enters alongside her advisor, Irie Meilin. Nicholla moves gracefully, an air of calm authority surrounding her.

NICHOLLA (with concern)
I’m sorry I couldn’t be here when you returned yesterday. I’m also deeply sorry for the loss of Skarfi. He was a good man—and a friend. (she glances around the room) But I’m glad you’re all home and safe.

She looks up at the paused image of Virodahaka on the monitor.

NICHOLLA (looking at Neku, then Paige)
We need to discuss our next steps. We nee—

NEKU (interrupting)
We need to mourn our friend.

NYSSA (pushing off the wall, angry)
We might not have time to mourn. Not with her here.

Everyone looks at Paige. She steps closer to Neku, confused and overwhelmed by the scrutiny.

NEKU (standing)
Nyssa, that’s enough.

Nyssa balls her fists and steps forward, but Neku gently moves Paige behind her and meets Nyssa head-on. Irie quickly steps between them, raising a calming hand toward each woman.

NICHOLLA (firm but calm)
Please, Neku, Nyssa—this is not the time. (to Danny) Send that data to my console. Then the four of you—come to the command room.

Inu looks up, her cheeks stained with tears.

NICHOLLA (gentler)
I’m sorry, Inu, but I don’t think you’re in any fit state for this. Please get some rest. (she gestures toward the door) Irie will take you to your quarters.

Inu stands, hugs Neku tightly, and quietly leaves with Tilly.

Nicholla turns back to the others, her brow furrowed.

NICHOLLA (stern)
What is wrong with you two? Do you really think this will solve anything? CALM DOWN—and come to the command room. You have thirty minutes.

Nicholla turns and walks out, leaving the rest of the room in tense silence.

INT. CHELONIA – COMMAND ROOM – NIGHT

The room is quiet, tension hanging in the air. A large monitor replays footage from Drone 77—grainy, but unmistakable.

Virodahaka, towering, monstrous, dragging Zoids into its body.
And then—

GATS (from recording, distorted)
My daughter, Paige.

DANNY (quietly)
He’s heading here. Chelonia.

Silence.

NYSSA (flat)
He’s not after us. He’s after her.

PAIGE (confused, quietly)
I—I don’t know him. I don’t remember anything.

NEKU (softly)
What do you remember?

PAIGE
(beat)
All I remember is—

INT. UNKNOWN LOCATION – LAB AREA – FOUR WEEKS PRIOR

A man in a white lab coat – Houser Gates – stands staring at a large glass pod. Inside, Paige floats in a blue liquid, breathing apparatus covering her mouth and nose. Bubbles rise gently in time with her slow, steady breaths.

A large silver humanoid figure stands silently in the corner. It has no face, no features — just the shape of a man with 8.0.8 printed across its chest.

Gats holds a data slate, scanning through vital information. He adjusts his glasses and turns away from the pod.

GATS (walking across the lab)
System command: Gats, Houser. Subject 11b is well within satisfactory parameters.

He glances back at the pod — Paige floats inside, eyes closed, seemingly peaceful.

GATS (turning to Bob)
She’s technically your sister.

(he smiles)
Paige.

Bob looks at the pod.

GATS (continuing)
Not long now. Twelve, maybe twenty-four hours. Stay here — I need to check on the twins. I’ll be back shortly.

Bob nods. Gats leaves the room.

SILENCE.

Bob slowly approaches the pod. He looks it over, then places his hand gently against the glass.

Her eyes flick open.

Panic.

Paige claws at the breathing apparatus. Her hands shift from pulling at the mask to banging on the glass, her eyes wide and darting, consumed by fear and confusion.

In a single fluid motion, Bob smashes through the glass.
Blue liquid bursts outward, followed by Paige — limp and naked — collapsing into his arms.

With great care, he pulls the mask from her face. A thick tube slides from her throat. She coughs violently, gasping for air.
He tosses the discarded mask aside, then brushes her wet hair from her face.

He looks around the lab. Then bolts for the door — Paige still cradled in his arms.

EXT. UNKNOWN LOCATION – LAB BUILDING – NIGHT

Paige winces as the cold night air hits her skin. She’s dizzy, disoriented, overwhelmed.
Looking up, she sees only the silhouette of Bob as he bounds through the forest, carrying her with impossible speed.

Trees blur past. Wind stings her eyes. The air is full of motion.

EXT. FOREST EDGE – NIGHT

Bob gently sets Paige down on her feet.

A faint orange glow flickers through the trees. Voices. A fire.

She takes one step — then collapses, her legs unable to support her.
He steadies her, helps her up again. She wobbles but stays upright.

He places a hand against her back and gives a gentle push.

Branches snap under her awkward steps.

She stumbles forward into a clearing — firelight dancing across the ruined stone walls nearby. Two women stand near the flames, alerted by the noise.

Paige barely lifts her head.

Then collapses — unconscious.

INT. CHELONIA – COMMAND ROOM – PRESENT

The room is silent when Paige finishes. Her voice cracks. She hugs herself.

NYSSA (disbelieving)
What are saying?
You were grown… in a TANK?

NEKU (firm)
He might have made her. But that doesn't mean she’s his, it doesn’t mean she’s not Human.

NYSSA (snaps)
Doesn’t mean she’s ours, either!

Everyone turns to her.

NYSSA
We lost Skarfi. I lost My Darkhorn. You lost your god damn arm, Neku. And now this... thing is coming straight for her, HERE. Chelonia is full of civilians. Families. We can’t risk it—not for her.

NEKU (cold)
She’s a child.

NYSSA
She could be a weapon.

Nicholla finally speaks, voice low.

NICHOLLA
I’ve read the logs. I’ve seen the data. That thing... Virodahaka... it's not just chasing her. It seems to be connected to her. We don’t know how.

NYSSA (scoffs)
She’s not human.

NEKU (angrily)
We don’t know that.

NICHOLLA (quietly)
If she’s not human... what do we do with her?

Silence. Paige starts to tear up.

NEKU (stepping forward)
We have to protect her, she’s just a kid

NYSSA (firm)
I’m saying we send her away—not kill her. No one is safe while she stays here.

NICHOLLA (conflicted)
I lead this city... but what kind of leader am I if I can’t protect one little girl?

Suddenly, Irie steps forward from the shadows, calm and cold.

IRIE
Then let’s know what we’re protecting.

Without warning, she draws a blade and slashes Paige across the arm.

NEKU (screaming)
NO!

PAIGE
(screams, stumbles back)

NYSSA
Jesus—Irie!

DANNY (eyes wide)
She’s—she’s bleeding—

They rush to her. Neku catches Paige. Blood runs down her forearm.

DANNY
Wait—look. The wound—

Everyone watches in horrified awe as the blood stops... the skin seals. knitting back together like Velcro in reverse. The only thing left is a red smear.

PAIGE (shaking, terrified)
Wh-what’s wrong with me?

NEKU (holding her)
Nothing. Nothing’s wrong with you.

IRIE (softly, almost apologetic)
Now we know.

Everyone is stunned into silence.

NYSSA (softly, backing away)
We can’t keep IT here...

NICHOLLA (quietly, to herself)
Maybe... but we can’t just toss her out either.