The Saga of Seven Suns: Veiled Alliances (21 page)

1. DEREK

THERE’S MORE OF THEM!

2. JACOB

LET’S GET OUT OF HERE, DEREK!

PANEL 2

Frantic, the boys clamber out of the small cranny into the ruins.

PANEL 3

With the eerie Klikiss ruins in the background, the two boys run pell-mell away from the structures. They have had the full-blown fear of God struck into them.

PANEL 4

Back at the camp, the boys yell frantically as Madeleine’s shuttle lands. It is now twilight and the sky is colored, getting darker.

3. JACOB

MOM! MOM!

4. DEREK

WE FOUND SOME ROBOTS IN THE KLIKISS RUINS — STILL ACTIVE!

PANEL 5

The boys are jabbering about what they have seen, talking a mile a minute. Dialog balloons are overlapping to show that the boys are talking on top of each other.

5. DEREK

. . . LIKE GIANT BEETLES.

6. JACOB

REALLY SCARY!

7. DEREK

. . . AND IT DUG UP EVEN MORE OF THEM!

8. JACOB

. . . NO TELLING HOW MANY . . .

PANEL 6

Madeleine, concerned for herself and her family, looks around suspiciously, clutching tightly to her handgun.

9. MADELEINE

TOO DARK TO GO BACK THERE NOW . . .

[LINK]

WE’LL HAVE TO BE CAREFUL TONIGHT.

PAGE 54

Six panels

PANEL 1

Long, thin panel—the Llaro camp in the gathering dark, a few lanterns, tents light from inside . . .

PANEL 2

Long, thin panel—same as Panel 1, the Llaro camp at dawn . . .

PANEL 3

The compy TZ in our faces, waking Madeleine.

1. TZ

MADELEINE, PLEASE WAKE UP. SOMETHING URGENT HAS HAPPENED.

PANEL 4

Startled and tense, Madeleine wakes up, sits bolt upright on her cot. Her hand goes for the handgun, for reassurance.

2. MADELEINE

WHAT IS IT, TZ? ARE WE IN DANGER —

PANEL 5

TZ at the opening of the tent, waiting for Madeleine to come outside with him.

3. TZ

IT WOULD BE BETTER IF YOU SAW FOR YOURSELF.

PANEL 7

Madeleine and TZ standing at the tent opening, looking out at us. Madeleine’s expression is filled with surprise.

4. TZ

YOU SHOULD MAKE YOUR OWN ASSESSMENT.

5. MADELEINE (SMALL VOICE)

OH!

PAGE 55

Full page.

An awe-inspiring shot of the Robinsons’ camp surrounded by literally
hundreds
of the reawakened beetle-like Klikiss robots. One robot is in the right foreground. Madeleine and TZ look very small in the center, next to their tents.

1. MADELEINE

DEREK! JACOB!

[LINK]

I THINK WE’VE GOT A PROBLEM . . .

PAGE 56

Eight panels

PANEL 1

Close-up of one of the Klikiss robots, turning to look at Madeleine.

1. ROBOT

BZZZ! KKKCK ZTKKXX.

PANEL 2

Madeleine and TZ standing next to each other. Wide-eyed boys are also with them now.

2. MADELEINE

THEY’VE MADE NO HOSTILE MOVE . . . SO FAR.

PANEL 3

Close-up of the innocent-looking TZ.

3. TZ

I AM RECEIVING THEIR SIGNALS, MADELEINE. . . .

4. TZ

THEY ARE CURIOUS, ESPECIALLY INTRIGUED ABOUT ME.

PANEL 4

Surprisingly, a black Klikiss robot emerges from the Robinsons’ shuttle, scuttling down the ramp as if he owns it.

5. ROBOT

I HAVE ACCESSED ALL YOUR FILES, AND I CAN NOW COMMUNICATE.

PANEL 5

With the identical-looking Klikiss robots clustered in the foreground, Madeleine is talking to them, disturbed and angry.

6. MADELEINE

WHO ARE YOU? WHAT DO YOU WANT?

7. ROBOT

WE ARE ROBOTS, CREATED BY THE KLIKISS RACE.

PANEL 6

Madeleine, indignant, challenges the robots.

8. MADELEINE

WELL, WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM? WHY IS THIS PLANET DESERTED?

9. MADELEINE

IS THE RACE EXTINCT? WHY WERE YOU BURIED HERE?

PANEL 7

The group of silent robots, all standing together.

PANEL 8

Close-up of one robot’s head, scarlet optical sensors flashing.

10. ROBOT

WE DON’T REMEMBER.

PAGE 57

Across the top, green band with white letters: THEROC.

Four panels

PANEL 1

Big panel, in the treetops on Theroc, Thara Wen dominates the right foreground, holding onto a high branch/frond. Around the other branches, we see many other green priests sitting around and communing with the trees.

1. THARA

A HANDFUL OF SENSITIVE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE CHOSEN TO JOIN THEIR MNDS WITH THE WORLDTREES.

2. THARA

THE RANKS OF THE GREEN PRIESTS CONTINUE TO GROW. . . .

PANEL 2

Close-up, two new green priests at work in the trees. One is touching the tree and communing with the forest. Another priest in the background is playing a flute, communicating with the trees through music.

3. CAPTION

“THE WORLDFOREST IS VORACIOUS TO LEARN FROM US—OUR THOUGHTS, OUR MUSIC . . . ”

PANEL 3

Two green priests reading aloud from texts and data pads.

4. CAPTION

“OUR HISTORY, OUR SCIENCE, OUR LEGENDS . . .”

PANEL 4

Larger panel. Thara Wen climbs down the thick trunk—very agile—heading toward the roof of the huge fungus reef city.

5. THARA

I FEEL AS IF I LIVE BETWEEN TWO WORLDS. . . .

PAGE 58

Five panels

PANEL 1

On the balcony of the fungus reef city, Thara stands before the leader.

1. LEADER

WE’VE RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM THE HANSEATIC LEAGUE.

2. LEADER

KING BEN HAS REQUESTED A REPORT FROM THEROC.

PANEL 2

Thara, close-up

3. THARA

WHY THE SUDDEN INTEREST? AREN’T WE AN INDEPENDENT COLONY?

PANEL 3

Leader, close-up.

4. LEADER

WE ARE THE FIRST HUMAN COLONY THE ILDIRANS HELPED TO ESTABLISH. . . .

PANEL 4

In the foreground, catching our attention, is a large weird alien-looking butterfly flitting around. In the background, below us, Thara and the leader continue their conversation.

5. LEADER

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MAINTAINING RELATIONS WITH OUR HOME WORLD . . .

PANEL 5

Therons cleaning and tuning and prepping their small ship. Obviously, they haven’t used it much. Some of the people are clearing vines and weeds from the lander feet. Other people are bringing supplies aboard.

6. CAPTION

“A DIPLOMATIC MISSION IS ABOUT TO DEPART FOR EARTH. WE ARE PREPARING OUR SHIP NOW . . . ”

PAGE 59

Seven panels

PANEL 1

Leader talks with Thara.

1. LEADER

BECAUSE OF YOUR CONNECTION TO THE WORLDFOREST, THARA, I WOULD LIKE
YOU
TO GO ON THE EXPEDITION.

[LINK]

AS OUR OFFICIAL THERON AMBASSADOR TO EARTH.

PANEL 2

Thara very surprised.

2. THARA

AN AMBASSADOR?

PANEL 3

Thara turns aside, touching the bark of a worldtree.

3. THARA

LET ME THINK . . . ASK . . .

PANEL 4

Thara close-up, her eyes closed, communing.

PANEL 5

Thara gets her message from the trees and wakes up.

4. THARA

ALL RIGHT. THE TREES ARE VERY CURIOUS ABOUT EARTH.

PANEL 6

Thara bends over a treeling in the forest floor.

5. THARA

BUT I MUST BRING A SPECIAL GIFT FOR THE KING . . .

PANEL 7

Thara proudly holds the uprooted treeling, showing it to us.

6. THARA

A SMALL PIECE OF THE WORLDFOREST TO PLANT ON EARTH.

PAGE 60

Across the top, brown band with white letters: DOBRO.

Six panels

PANEL 1

Silhouettes at sunset, the Dobro Designate and Chrysta Logan stand very close to each other, looking out at the burgeoning new human and Ildiran camps.

1. CHRYSTA

THIS SETTLEMENT IS BECOMING EVERYTHING WE’VE DREAMED OF.

PANEL 2

Tight shot of Chrysta touching her very swollen, very pregnant belly.

PANEL 3

Close-up, Chrysta and the Designate making eyes at each other.

2. DESIGNATE

I HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR OUR CHILD . . . AND SO DOES THE MAGE-IMPERATOR.

PANEL 4

Out in one of the fields (weird alien plants) we see a human male and an Ildiran worker female, obviously comfortable working side by side.

3. CAPTION

“WE HAVE ENCOURAGED HUMAN INTERBREEDING WITH ILDIRANS. ”

4. CAPTION

“MIXING OUR KITHS AND HUMAN DNA WILL BENEFIT BOTH GROUPS.”

PANEL 5

In contrast with Panel 4, we see several humans standing under an overhang in their human colony buildings, looking up at the Ildiran settlement, with either suspicion or fear in their eyes.

5. CAPTION

“UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS STILL SOME UNEASINESS AND RESISTANCE AMONG THE
BURTON
COLONISTS . . . ”

PANEL 6

In the Ildiran colony, Ildiran workers on a rooftop glancing down at the newfangled human settlements, also with suspicion and a little scorn.

6. CAPTION

“ . . . AND ILDIRANS.”

7. CAPTION

“BUT IF EVEN A FEW SUBMIT, THEN OTHERS WILL FOLLOW MORE EASILY.”

PAGE 61

Eight panels

PANEL 1

Chrysta looking grim, calculating, obviously with a plan.

1. CHRYSTA

I KNOW SOMEONE WHO’D BE A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW.

PANEL 2

Two burly Ildiran guards, their backs to us on either side of the panel, ominously approaching Dario, who looks very small. He looks up, startled.

2. CAPTION

“AFTER ALL, THE WEAK-WILLED ONES HAVE DONE FAR WORSE THINGS AT HIS ENCOURAGEMENT.”

PANEL 3

Close-up of Dario, looking a bit frightened now and confused.

3. DARIO

WHAT? WHAT DO YOU WANT?

PANEL 4

[Note, 4 & 5 are switched in my sketch.]
Burly guards drag a struggling and frightened Dario in front of cool-looking Chrysta and the Designate.

4. DARIO

I HAVEN’T DONE ANYTHING!

5. DARIO

CAPTAIN LOGAN—TELL THEM TO LET ME GO!

PANEL 5

A pair of very ugly, muscular, bestial-looking Ildiran soldier females, looking sneeringly down.
NOTE: they are carrying nasty energy pistols, which we will see again on the next page.

6. CHRYSTA (OUT OF PANEL)

THESE TWO SOLDIER-KITH FEMALES ARE YOUR NEW MATES, DARIO.

PANEL 6

Small inset, Dario is horrified and disgusted at the prospect of mating with them.

7. DARIO

UGH!

PANEL 7

Following orders, the two Ildiran soldier females drag a struggling and panicked Dario away.

8. DESIGNATE (OUT OF PANEL)

DO WITH HIM WHAT YOU WILL.

MORE:

9. DESIGNATE

ENJOY YOURSELVES . . . BUT BE SURE YOU GET PREGNANT.

PANEL 8

Chrysta and the Designate stand looking content and smug.

10. CHRYSTA

A FITTING ENOUGH PUNISHMENT FOR A MUTINEER, I’D SAY.

PAGE 62

Five panels

PANEL 1

Long panel. Designate and Chrysta walk happily down one of the colony town streets.

1. CAPTION

TWO WEEKS LATER . . .

2. CHRYSTA

SEE, THE HUMANS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO ENLARGE THEIR SETTLEMENT.

PANEL 2

Down the street a small figure starts yelling and gesticulating wildly.

3. DARIO

DAMN YOU, CAPTAIN LOGAN!

PANEL 3

Dario close-up, his eyes wide and bloodshot, his face haggard, drawn. He grips a weird energy pistol (the same as one we saw the soldier females carrying on previous page).

4. DARIO (WOBBLY VOICE)

I’VE BEEN . . .
LOOKING
FOR YOU . . .

PANEL 4

As two burly Ildiran guards close in on wild Dario, trying to stop him, Dario scrambles forward and breaks free.

5. GUARD

STOP!

PAGE 63

Five panels

PANEL 1

Chrysta tries to use her leadership skills, standing firm, looking angry, not really feeling any threat from Dario.

1. CHRYSTA

RAMIREZ, STOP THIS NONSENSE! YOU HAVE NO —

PANEL 2

Dario fires at her, letting loose a big energy blast.

2. DARIO

I HAVE
EVERY
RIGHT!

PANEL 3

Big panel. As a frantic Designate dives forward, shouting, he cannot arrive in time to block the shot. Chrysta is blasted with the deadly weapon.

3. DESIGNATE

NOOOOO!

SFX

BBZZZZZRRRRRRR

PANEL 4

The Ildiran guards finally get to DARIO and, using wicked-looking crystal-bladed knives, they strike down DARIO. He is seen in silhouette (decapitated? cleaved in half?)

SFX

THHRRKKKK!

PANEL 5

The blood-spattered Dario Ramirez falls to the ground.

PAGE 64

Four panels

PANEL 1

The Designate, stricken, kneels to cradle a gasping, dying Chrysta in his arms.

1. DESIGNATE

CHRYSTA!
CHRYSTA!!!

2. DESIGNATE

FIND ONE OF THE HUMAN DOCTORS!

PANEL 2

Close-up of agonized, horrorstruck Designate’s face.

3. DESIGNATE

MY LOVE . . . AND MY CHILD!

PANEL 3

With both his hands, the Designate clasps Chrysta’s bloody hands.

PANEL 4

Big, heart-rending panel as the Designate howls his grief and rage toward the sky, Chrysta lying dead in his lap.

4. DESIGNATE
(MAYBE USE SFX LETTERS INSTEAD OF BALLOON)

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!

PAGE 65

Across the top, purple band with white letters: DAYM.

Seven panels

PANEL 1

The damaged skymine continues to plunge deeper and deeper into the thickening atmosphere of Daym.

1. SKYMINE

REACHING CRITICAL DEPTH!

2. SKYMINE

STILL NO LUCK ON THE LEVITATION ENGINES!

PANEL 2

Crowded, panicked engine room. Engineers shouting, frantically working. On the right side of the panel, Corey scrambles down the ladder to see what’s going on.