James Brighton Society, Chapter 8: Pages 9-10
Page 9, 6 Panels- Dining Room, Mona's House, Jeddah Saudi Arabia
Panel 1: Same setting as the last panel of the previous page. The layout widens slightly to take in Fatima as she comes into view, standing behind Mona to her right with a look of mild confusion in regards to Sir Jones and what he meant before.
FATIMA [to Mona and Grem, seeking clarification]: Mr. Davis would be well into his 70s at this point. Isn't it entirely possible that he doesn't pose that great of a threat? MONA [to Fatima, touching her wrist]: Dearest, you weren't online during his younger years when the Nova was disbanded. Whatever he may have planned, even in an advanced geriatric state, he's not someone to underestimate. GREM [Off-Panel]: Aye, especially if he isn't that "geriatric," or has help from the demon Magog. MONA [Bubble 2]: Magog? GREM [Off-Panel, Bubble 2]: Aye...
Panel 2: Cut to a shot of Grem in the same type of setting and layout that we saw at the second-to-last panel of the previous page, along with roughly the same background as before. This time, he's leaned back slightly in the chair, stretching his lower back as he speaks. You can see a little pool of light to the right starting to come in from a window off-panel in the distance.
GREM [Cont.]: There's also plenty of artifacts with life extension properties floating around out there that can make him just as deadly to take on as when you looked as young as I.
Panel 3: Back to Mona in an action shot of her carving up another piece of the chicken (1/4 of which is still left on the plate. The layout of the panel is focused more on her with Fatima partially visible to the right of the panel view.
MONA [nods, to Grem]: Namely, the one currently swimming around in that bloodstream of yours.
Panel 4: We move back to Grem in the same setting and layout as Panel 2. He reaches out and grabs the mug of cinnamon tea that lays off-panel near the plate, raising an eyebrow at the statement she made.
GREM: You're still thinking about recreating the Elixir? My friend, that is a hard slope to climb, even for you. The last of the original burned up on a tarmac in Egypt many moons ago.
Panel 5-6: Back to Mona in the same setting and layout as Panel 3. She looks back at Grem with a good degree of confidence on the answer, cutting up the piece of the chicken with her knife as she speaks. In Panel 6, as Mona's about to put it in her mouth, you can hear the rumble of an explosion off-panel in the distance from where they've been.
MONA [Panel 5]: Right now it's on my list of pet projects. One I'd love to complete one day- not to use on myself, of course. No offense my friend, but I do not know if my mind can handle that type of isolation. GREM [Off-Panel, Panel 5]: No worries, it's why I consider you a good friend. MONA [Cont.; Panel 5, Bubble 2]: But the regenerative properties behind the Elixir, if I can isolate them from your bloodstream, it could be a boon for the GIs who lost limbs in combat, maybe even for those with mental scars-- SOUND EFFECT [Panel 6]: WABOOM!
Page 10, 5 Panels- Dining Room, Mona's House, Jeddah Saudi Arabia
Panel 1: Same setting/layout as the last panel of the previous page. She looks over to the left of the panel, chewing her food as she speaks and the commotion continues on off-panel. You can see her fork touching the outer edge of the plate in the bottom of the panel view.
MONA [dismissive]: That's the Helabeast trying to escape again.
Panel 2: Cut back to Grem in the same setting and layout as the fourth panel of the previous page. We see him lowering the glass of tea after taking a sip earlier back to its previous place. He's a bit less surprised than what we heard off-panel at the end of Page 8, though still cautious about other explanations in regards to the explosion.
GREM [willing to help]: You need the assist getting the stupid thing in line?
Panel 3-4: A two-part set of panels that moves back to Mona in the same setting and layout as before. In Panel 3, she turns to Grem and shakes her head at the question, reaching for her tea glass as the commotion reaches its crescendo. Moments later, in Panel 4, Mona takes a sip of her tea as the commotion stops by a sudden "FWOOSH!" from off-panel.
MONA [to Grem, Panel 3]: Not at all, Gremlin, I've got everything in order. The emergency security system should be activated before it even breaks out of the door again.
GREM [Off-Panel, Panel 4]: Ah...I'm guessing you're using liquified dry ice for it. MONA [nods, Panel 4]: Mmm-hmm.
Panel 5: Close-up on Ms. Ahmaddi's face a few moments later after she has taken another drink and placed her glass on top of the plate. At this point, satisfied by the food and drink in her belly, she readies herself to the business upcoming.
MONA [Cont.]: Now...what kind of weapon do you fancy?