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James Brighton Society, Chapter 8: Pages 13-14

Page 13, 7 Panels- Mona's Laboratory/Sky, Jeddah Saudi Arabia

Panel 1: We move to a shot of the back of Grem holding the sword to his side, looking on at the frozen creature inside the cage with a sense of admiration at the display (though we don't see his face at the moment). The foreground he's looking at is similar to what we saw in the background at the end of the last page.

GREM [shaking his head]: That it cannot...on a separate note, will you marry me? MONA [chuckling, Off-Panel]: Not my type, my friend. Though if we ever contemplate a polyamorous arrangement, I'll give you a call.

Panel 2-3: Cut back to a visibly smirking Ms. Ahmaddi moments later, summoning the juice of electricity by the time we get to Panel 3. You can see a little section of the lab behind her in both panels, showing over her right shoulder what appears to be an ornate carpet hanging on ceiling hooks.

MONA [Cont. to Grem, Panel 3]: Now...let's take a ride and test out those new toys.

Panel 4: We move to a shot of the three of them sitting on the same carpet, all but revealing that is in fact a flying carpet, as it crosses the mid-afternoon sky. Mona (steering with the two tassels) and Fatima are seated in the front edge of the carpet with Mona looking down in search of some unseen location at the moment. Grem, meanwhile, is feeling out the fabric of the carpet. His bag, the sword and shield are seen laid out on his lap between him and the ladies in front.

GREM [to himself]: A flying carpet...always nice to get surprised, at my age!

Panel 5: Close-up on Mr. Allen a few moments later, looking up from the carpet in the direction of the two in front, shifting his bag and the weapons on his lap as he speaks. There's a look of curiousity visibly on his face; the crystal blue of the sky behind him is visible in the background.

GREM [Cont. curious, to Mona]: I'm wondering, Mo- how does this thing keep airborne without a combustion engine?

Panel 6-7: We move to a shot of the front of the carpet, split in focus with Mona taking the focus in Panel 6 and Fatima in Panel 7. You can see parts of the town below them in each panel and the same gray-blue sky in the background that we saw in the previous panel.

MONA [to Grem, Panel 6]: A series of grav discs I weaved into the base of the carpet. They emit a series of invisible soundwaves that lift us off the ground. The tassels here act as the steering column, going left and right as well as skyward if necessary. In short, it's... FATIMA [to Mona, smirking; Panel 7]: "Well-made magic?" MONA [chuckles, to Fatima; Panel 6, Bubble 2]: ...Indeed, yes.

Page 14, 5 Panels- Sky/Fireland, Jeddah Saudi Arabia

Panel 1: Same setting/layout as the last pair of panels from the previous page. Instead of split though, it's combined into one single panel. Mona looks over in the direction of her mechanical mate and flashes a smile, which is shared to the left of the panel view by Fatima, steering the carpet to the right as the destination comes into view for them. You can see the top of Grem's head in the background looking down in thought as they speak.

MONA [Cont. lovingly, to Fatima]: Just like we are! FATIMA [slight chuckle, to Mona]: That is both true, and considerably corny... MONA [Bubble 2]: Which is why we work so well together.

Panel 2: Cut to a side shot of Grem a few moments later. He's looking over the side of the carpet when he notices where they're going. His eyes go wide in excitement upon the setting that is off-panel at this point, remembering a previous experience he had attached to the area.

GREM [to Mona, respectfully]: Ah, the Fireland...It always amazes me how you've been able to keep this off the kingdom's radar, or the ulema for that matter.

Panel 3: We move back to Mona leaning over her shoulder to address the immortal Irishman a moment later. The carpet is making its proper descent to the ground once more, showing off in the foreground a little section of the aforementioned Fireland- an open-air Terrordome-like structure with a pair of metallic pillars on either side.

MONA [confident, to Grem]: That's the beauty of being a "neutral" nation, Gremlin. There isn't a great concern in the monarchy what people do with barren pits of land, as long as they don't puncture the bubble of neutrality.

Panel 4: Cut back to Grem in a similar setting and layout to Panel 2. He has his right arm place behind him, leaning back in a relaxed pose as the carpet drifts down to a landing pose. You can see a mountain of metal in the background behind him as he speaks.

GREM [curious]: What happens if someone sees it and squeals to the authorities?

Panel 5: Cut to Mona in a side shot of the carpet as it comes to a full stop a few feet from the ground. As she speaks, while Fatima steps off, you can hear a faint"THUMP!" signifying that full stop to the reader. In the background, you can see a little more of the edge of another mountain of metal nearby.

MONA [letting go of the steering tassels]: That I leave to the security system such as the memory wipe embedded in the cloaking spell I set if anyone approaches the front gate. GREM [intrigued]: What if someone tries to attack from a distance? MONA [Bubble 2]: I have...other ways that should take them down. GREM [Bubble 2]: Excellent!

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