The Saga of Seven Suns: Veiled Alliances (23 page)

SFX

FFWSHHHHH

PANEL 4

While the two boys struggle to strap themselves into their seats, Madeleine frantically works the controls.

3. JACOB

YOU GOT ‘EM, MOM!

4. MADELEINE

I DOUBT I DAMAGED THOSE ROBOTS, THOUGH. . . .

PAGE 77

Five panels

PANEL 1

The ship lurches up into the air, leaving the ground behind, with the swarm of Klikiss robots and the weird termite-mound ruins far below, looking like ants.

1 SHIP (MADELEINE)

AFTER ALL, THEY WERE BURIED IN THE ROCKS FOR WHO-KNOWS-HOW-MANY CENTURIES.

PANEL 2

The shuttle reaches orbit, leaving a trail of fire as it streaks around the limb of the planet.

2. SHIP (MADELEINE)

NOW THAT WE’RE IN ORBIT, WE’VE GOT LIFE SUPPORT AND SUPPLIES FOR . . . DAYS, AT LEAST.

PANEL 3

The two boys and TZ all together in the cabin, looking much relieved.

3. DEREK

NO MATTER WHAT, I’D RATHER BE UP HERE.

PANEL 4

Madeleine leans back in the pilot seat, slumping with lost adrenaline and heaving a big sigh.

4. MADELEINE

ADAR BALI’NH IS DUE TO BRING HIS WARLINER BACK TO PICK US UP—SOON.

PANEL 5

Margaret close-up, looking pensive.

5. MADELEINE

HOW LONG COULD IT POSSIBLY TAKE?

PAGE 78

Three panels

PANEL 1

The big Ildiran warliner arrives in high orbit, with just a thin curve of the planet covering the bottom of the panel. The shuttle looks like a tiny bug approaching.

1. SHUTTLE

BOY ARE WE GLAD TO SEE YOU!

2. WARLINER

SHUTTLE, PREPARE TO ENTER DOCKING BAY.

PANEL 2

The shuttle enters the warliner’s big open docking bay.

PANEL 3

The Robinson family steps out.

3. MADELEINE

IF YOU ILDIRANS LIKE STORIES, WE’VE GOT A GOOD ONE FOR YOU!

4. JACOB

OLD ALIEN RUINS, AND BIG BLACK ROBOTS AND —

PAGE 79

Six panels

PANEL 1

The Adar listens, not at all alarmed.

1. ADAR

YES, WE HAVE UNCOVERED KLIKISS ROBOTS ELSEWHERE.

[LINK]

THEY ARE THE ONLY REMNANTS OF A LOST RACE.

PANEL 2

Madeleine, surprised that the Adar can be so blasé about it.

2. ADAR (OUT OF PANEL)

THEY TEND TO KEEP TO THEMSELVES, THOUGH THEY HAVE ASSISTED US AT SOME DIFFICULT CONSTRUCTION SITES.

PANEL 3

Margaret and Adar Bali’nh two-shot.

3. MADELEINE

WHY DIDN’T YOU WARN US ABOUT THEM?!

4. ADAR

THEY ARE PART OF A DIFFERENT STORY. NOT OURS.

PANEL 4

Wider panel. Back in their cabin, Margaret sits on her bunk and looks at her two boys, all of them wondering what they’re going to do now.

5. DEREK

HAS THIS WHOLE EXPEDITION BEEN A FLOP?

6. MADELEINE

NO, OUR DREAMS AREN’T LOST.

7. MADELEINE

OUR DISCOVERIES WILL BE VALUABLE TO ARCHAEOLOGISTS, AT LEAST.

PANEL 5

Madeleine, pensive.

8. MADELEINE

WITH ALL THOSE RUINS, SCRAPS OF ALIEN TECHNOLOGY, EVEN THE ROBOTS . . .

9. MADELEINE

SOMEBODY’S
GOTTA PAY US A HEFTY FINDERS’ FEE.

PANEL 6

Together, all of them stand with their backs to us, looking out the warliner’s window, staring at the open stars.

10. MADELEINE

MAYBE WE’LL EVEN EARN ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKE ANOTHER TRY AT THIS.

PAGE 80

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

Five panels

PANEL 1

A grave mound surrounded by flowers growing. Two crude crosses protrude from the head of the grave. The largest one has words etched across it,

“CHRYSTA LOGAN 2218–2250”

The smaller cross is poignantly unmarked.

1. DESIGNATE (OUT OF PANEL)

I HAVE STUDIED YOUR CULTURE, CHRYSTA. . . .

2. DESIGNATE (OUT OF PANEL)

I THINK THIS IS WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE WANTED. . . .

PANEL 2

Pulling back, we see the Dobro Designate on his knees, grieving, beside the grave.

3. DESIGNATE

BUT WHAT I WANTED MOST WAS TO SPEND MORE OF MY LIFE WITH YOU . . .

PANEL 3

Close-up of the Designate, his face showing his anguish,

4. DESIGNATE

. . . AND OUR CHILD.

PANEL 4

Grim concentration-camp scene. Ildiran guards stand outside a crudely erected fence, holding weapons. Frightened-looking humans are crowded behind the fence, looking out.

5. CAPTION

“BUT NOW EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED.”

PANEL 5

Ildirans throw confiscated human weapons (as well as sharp tools, anything that could have been used in a fight) into a big pile.

6. ILDIRAN

THE LAST OF THE HUMAN WEAPONS, DESIGNATE.

7. ILDIRAN 2

INCLUDING ALL TOOLS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED AGAINST US.

PAGE 81

Six panels

PANEL 1

Ildiran workers throw all of the
Burton
personal possessions into a big heap. We see boxes, tumbled clothing, a teddy bear, games, balls, all sort of happy things. Everything is piled high, ready for the bonfire.

1. CAPTION

“ . . . ALL PERSONAL POSSESSIONS . . . ALL MEMENTOES . . . ”

PANEL 2

Tiny panel, can be skewed instead of a straight rectangle. A torch (or a more alien-looking ignitor) is lit, the flame burning hot.

PANEL 3

The Dobro Designate stands like a statue, silhouetted against the furious blaze of the bonfire.

2. DESIGNATE

EVERY LAST TRACE . . .

PANEL 4

Two forlorn-looking kids stare at the loss of everything they know, the flames reflected in their eyes, the orange light splashing on their faces.

PANEL 5

Furious, distraught, vengeful, the Designate rails at the people, facing out at us.

3. DESIGNATE

HUMANS, NO ONE KNOWS YOU ARE ON DOBRO.

[LINK]

NO ONE FROM EARTH WILL EVER LOOK FOR YOU HERE!

PANEL 6

The Designate looks in despair down at his hands, which have curled into claws.

4. DESIGNATE

WE COULD HAVE BEEN FRIENDS, ALLIES . . .

5. DESIGNATE

BUT YOUR OWN VIOLENCE RIPPED IT FROM MY FINGERS. . . .

PAGE 82

Four panels

PANEL 1

Seen from a high vantage, we look down at several burly guards separating the crowded colonists into groups.

1. CAPTION

“HENCEFORTH, YOU WILL SERVE THE MAGE-IMPERATOR’S INTERESTS.”

PANEL 2

Guards pull apart a terrified man and woman, yanking them away from each other.

2. CAPTION

“ALL OF YOU ARE NOW MATERIAL FOR OUR NEW BREEDING EXPERIMENTS.”

PANEL 3

Small inset. Through it all, the Designate watches, not moving, deaf to their pleas.

3. DESIGNATE

YOU WILL INTERBREED WITH ILDIRAN KITHS, AS
I
CHOOSE.

PANEL 4

Out in space, Ildiran ships tow the darkened derelict
Burton
.

4. CAPTION

“EARTH BELIEVES THE
BURTON
WAS LOST ON ITS VOYAGE.”

5. CAPTION

“I HAVE ORDERED YOUR DERELICT SHIP TO BE TOWED OUT TO THE FRINGE OF THE DOBRO SYSTEM . . . ”

PAGE 83

Six panels

PANEL 1

Surrounded by broken, drifting asteroids, the
Burton
is left behind in the rock field, with all the other debris and space garbage.

1. CAPTION

“ . . . WHERE IT WILL REMAIN HIDDEN FOREVER IN THE COMETARY RUBBLE.”

PANEL 2

(doesn’t show up well on sketch). Inset panel showing a close-up of the pitted and corroded masthead of the generation ship, reading (all or in part) BURTON.

PANEL 3

(Note, switched order from sketch.)
The Designate hangs his head sadly, while in the background we see a ghostly image of a happy Chrysta in his memories.

2. DESIGNATE

THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH DIFFERENT BETWEEN OUR RACES . . .

PANEL 4

Several human faces together, all looking frightened as they listen to the Designate’s wrath.

3. DESIGNATE (OUT OF PANEL)

BUT NOW YOU AND ALL OF YOUR DESCENDANTS MUST PAY THE PRICE FOR THIS TERRIBLE CRIME.

PANEL 5

The Designate, close-up, his face furious and vengeful.

4. DESIGNATE

BY ORDER OF MY FATHER, YOU MUST BE NOTHING MORE THAN FODDER TO ME.

[LINK]

THE MAGE-IMPERATOR HAS PLANS FOR YOU . . . ALL OF YOU.

PANEL 6

The dark and sinister camp, hopeless, with ominous guards standing at either side of the panel, while scrawny, tattered humans mill about behind the fences. There is no end in sight to this nightmare.

5. CAPTION

“WE WILL HAVE GENERATIONS TO DETERMINE YOUR USEFULNESS TO THE EMPIRE.”

PAGE 84

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

Six panels

PANEL 1

The two remaining Daym skymines converge in the clouds, searching . . .

1. CAPTION

“WE’RE NEAR THE COORDINATES WHERE OUR SISTER SKYMINE SANK . . .

PANEL 2

Small scout ships crisscross the cloud layers, also searching.

2. CAPTION

“ALL SEARCH CREWS DISPATCHED . . . ”

PANEL 3

Flyer in the cockpit of one of the scout ships.

3. PILOT

STILL NO SIGN, NO WRECKAGE . . .

[LINK]

NOTHING.

PANEL 4

On the busy control deck of one of the skymines, workers continue the search and also to organize all the refugees. One of the men is the chief of this skymine (we’ll continue to see him in the next few pages).

4. CHIEF

OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM RIGHT NOW IS WHAT TO DO WITH ALL THE REFUGEES.

PANEL 5

Tense faces, worried about the people who went down with Corey’s skymine.

5. CHIEF

AFTER ALL OUR HARDSHIPS ON THE
KANAKA
, AND THE FAILED COLONY ON IAWA . . .

[LINK]

. . . WE’LL FIND A WAY.

PANEL 6

Refugees from the lost skymine are crowded on the decks, looking out.

6. CAPTION

“WE WILL ALWAYS FIND A WAY.”

PAGE 85

Seven panels

PANEL 1

One of the scout ships spots the escape pod, looking tiny in the clouds.

1. SCOUT

THERE! I’M DETECTING SOMETHING.

PANEL 2

Approaching closer, we see the pod drifting, with a tiny figure of Corey waving. (Think of NASA rescue helicopters tracking down the Apollo capsules after splashdown.)

PANEL 3

Closer, Corey is half out of the hatch, waving, trying to get attention.

PANEL 4

Rescuers come down on cables, hooking anchors to the drifting pod, helping to lift Corey to safety.

2. RESCUER 1

HERE, WE’VE GOT YOU!

3. RESCUER 2

ANYONE ELSE?

4. COREY

NO, JUST ME . . . ONLY ME.

PANEL 5

Two rescue ships zoom back toward the nearest skymine.

5. SCOUT 1

SKYMINE, WE’LL NEED A MEDICAL TEAM. WE’VE SNAGGED ONE SURVIVOR.

6. SKYMINE

ONE??? DID YOU SAY ONLY ONE?

7. SCOUT 2

YES, AND IT’S COREY KELLUM.

PANEL 6

Medics help to remove an agitated Corey from the scout ship.

8. COREY

AH, THE TERRIBLE THINGS I’VE SEEN!

9. COREY

MONSTERS . . . DEEP BELOW . . .

PAGE 86

Six panels

PANEL 1

Corey struggling, still terrified.

1. COREY

AND CITIES OR . . . SHIPS?

PANEL 2

Close-up of Corey’s distraught face as he rants and yells.

2. COREY

GIANT SPIKED SPHERES!

PANEL 3

Doctors hold him down while other concerned Roamers watch, looking sad.

3. DOCTOR 1

NOW, JUST CALM DOWN . . .

4. DOCTOR 2

YOU’RE ALL RIGHT NOW.

5. COREY

ALIEN SHIPS . . . OPENED FIRE—THEY DESTROYED THE SKYMINE!

PANEL 4

On the deck, later, the chief and one other skyminer stand together, troubled, looking out at the clouds which rise up like plumes and thunderheads. (Could have a fluffy, Maxfield Parrish look.)

CAPTION

LATER. . .

6. CHIEF

AFTER ALL COREY’S BEEN THROUGH, IT’S NO WONDER HE’S PARANOID . . . OR MAD.

7. SKYMINER

YOU DON’T THINK HE REALLY SAW ANYTHING DOWN THERE?

PANEL 5

Higher shot, bigger panel, looking down on the two men on the skymine deck. Weird flashing lights and glows are shining from deep, deep down in the clouds.

8. SKYMINER

LOOK AT THOSE WEIRD LIGHTS DEEP BELOW. SWIRLING COLORS.

[LINK]

NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.

9. CHIEF

I CAN’T HELP THINKING WE MIGHT BE BETTER OFF WORKING SKYMINES ON OTHER GAS GIANTS.

PANEL 6

Small inset, tight shot of man’s concerned face. Balloon can extend outside of panel.

10. CHIEF

MAYBE FROM NOW ON WE SHOULD JUST LEAVE DAYM
ALONE
. . . .

PAGE 87

Across the top, blue band with white letters: EARTH.

Three panels

PANEL 1

The Whisper Palace, somewhat shadowed in a colorful dawn.

PANEL 2

A frantic looking courier runs down the hall yelling.

1. COURIER

THE KING IS DEAD! THE KING IS DEAD!

PANEL 3

Big panel, King Ben is lying in state in his big plush bed, his arms are on top of the covers. He looks very peaceful . . . in striking contrast to the last time we saw him. Obviously, some hefty cleanup has gone on here. In the bottom left corner we see Malcolm Stannis standing next to one of his cronies; the compy OX is also there.

2. MALCOLM

AS YOU CAN SEE—AS
EVERYONE
CAN SEE—KING BEN DIED PEACEFULLY IN HIS SLEEP.

3. CRONY

YES, HE LOOKS SO CALM. . . .

PAGE 88

Six panels

PANEL 1

Malcolm hangs his head, looking suitably bereaved, though we know he’s faking it.

1. MALCOLM

WE ARE ALL SUITABLY SADDENED . . .