Snapzone – Desert Zone Act 1

(The scorching heat of the desert beats down relentlessly as Stanford Keos walks steadily across the vast, open landscape. The sun is high, and the endless stretch of sand feels like an infinite expanse. Every step is a battle, but his determination remains unshaken. His goal is Nexus, but it still seems far away, and supplies are running low.)

(Keos scans the horizon, looking for any sign of shelter, any indication that the next step is closer to his destination. The desert stretches out in every direction, and the only sound is the crunch of sand beneath his boots.)

---

SCENE 1 – Encounter with the Bandits

(As Keos continues through the desert, he spots a group of figures approaching from a distance. They are moving quickly, and he knows this is no coincidence. Bandits. Desert scavengers. Their intentions are clear.)

(The group stops a few meters away. The leader steps forward, sizing up Keos.)

Bandit Leader: (grinning) You lost, traveler?

Stanford: (calmly) Not interested in talking.

Bandit Leader: (laughing) Well, that’s too bad. We could’ve made this easy for you.

(The bandits start closing in on him, but Keos doesn’t move. His eyes are cold, calculating. He’s ready.)

Bandit Leader: What’s in it for you? You have anything worth taking?

Stanford: (flat tone) Not your concern.

(The leader raises a hand, signaling the others to surround Keos. The tension thickens as they take a step closer.)

Bandit Leader: (mocking) Think you can handle all of us? You don’t even know where you are.

Stanford: (with a cold glance) I know exactly where I am.

(Without warning, Keos moves quickly. He disarms the first bandit with a swift motion, knocking him down in one move. The others hesitate but are soon overwhelmed by his speed and precision. In a few moments, the group is on the ground, incapacitated, while Keos stands tall, his expression unchanged.)

Bandit Leader: (gritting his teeth) What... who are you?

Stanford: (without emotion) Just passing through.

(Keos walks past the bandits, leaving them behind. The desert is vast, and his journey continues.)

---

SCENE 2 – The Sandstorm

(As Keos moves further across the desert, the wind begins to pick up. The first signs of a sandstorm are upon him, and he pulls his cloak tightly around himself to shield his face. The temperature drops slightly, but the storm is coming fast.)

(He knows the storm will make navigation harder, but it could also mask his movements. With the storm looming, Keos pushes forward, determined to reach his destination before it’s too late.)

Stanford: (quietly, to himself) Almost there...

(Suddenly, his communicator buzzes to life. Keos stops in his tracks, pulling it from his belt.)

Keos: (to communicator) Go ahead.

(A distorted voice crackles through the static.)

Unknown Voice: Stanford Keos. We’ve located you. You’re getting too close. The Union's forces are heading your way.

Stanford: (coldly) I know. I’m dealing with it.

Unknown Voice: You’re alone out there. The desert isn’t the safest place. Get out of there before it’s too late. You need to move faster.

Stanford: (pauses, then mutters) I don’t have time for this.

(He closes the communicator and continues his path. The wind grows stronger, and the sandstorm becomes more intense. He knows he’s running out of time.)

---

(As the sandstorm approaches, Keos’s sense of urgency increases. The Union forces aren’t far behind, and there’s no time to waste. He pulls a small device from his belt—a sleek, metallic ring. The Phase Ring. He doesn’t hesitate.)

Stanford: (thinking to himself) Jungle... Yeah, 277.

(Keos throws the Phase Ring ahead of him. A pulse of light erupts from the device, and a swirling portal opens in front of him. The desert wind howls as the portal expands, and without a moment’s hesitation, Keos steps through.)

(The portal closes behind him as the sandstorm rages on the other side. Keos lands in a dense, humid environment—the Endless Jungle, World 277. The shift in atmosphere is immediate. The air is thick, filled with the scent of vegetation and the sounds of distant creatures.)

Stanford: (quietly, to himself) Perfect.

(He scans his new surroundings. The jungle is dense, filled with massive trees and vines, blocking out the sun. The Union patrol might have lost his trail for now, but Keos knows he can’t afford to rest. He’s still not safe.)

(He moves through the jungle cautiously, aware that danger could be lurking in every shadow.)

Stanford: (gritting his teeth) No time to waste.

(Keos continues deeper into the jungle, the weight of his mission heavy on his mind. The journey is far from over.)