James Brighton Society, Chapter 8: Pages 17-18
Page 17, 5 Panels- Fireland, Jeddah Saudi Arabia
Panel 1: Same setting/layout as the last panel of the previous page. In great pain, Grem drops the sword on the ground, using the free hand to push himself out of the bind of the broken piece of metal. His eyes look toward the right in Mona's direction, speaking through gritted teeth as the blood trickles down his right shoulder.
MONA [Off-Panel, to Grem]: It hit anything important, Gremlin? GREM [through gritted teeth, to Mona]: Nah, just a few bones...and some veins. Rightie's a bit numb, but still...think I'm good to go. MONA [Off-Panel, Bubble 2]: Told you it was gonna hurt, Gremlin. GREM [Bubble 2]: Yeah, yeah...WOOF!
Panel 2: Cut to a shot of Mona at the console looking on a moment later, poking over to the left of the gray metal pillar that takes up most of the panel view. She smirks at the immortal Irishman, slightly enjoying the level of humility being thrown at him.
MONA [playful goading]: What, ya need a rest, old man? GREM [Off-Panel]: Ha! Like hells I do, Mo...
Panel 3: Back to an action shot of Mr. Allen, now in a standing position. He uses the energy base at the center of the shield to repel one of the other HA minotaur. The blood continues to trickle down his shoulder, though the wound that is visible somewhat through the torn shirt has started to repair itself.
GREM [Cont., with equal bravado]: All I need's a little nip of Irish nectar and I'll--
Panel 4: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. A second after the heroic shot in Panel 3, he stops and turns his head to the side upon hearing a mysterious explosion off-panel in the distance. His body tenses up upon the similar sounding explosion to what happened back in Mona's house.
MONA [Off-Panel]: What is it? GREM [cautious]: Heard an explosion, not too far from here...usually portends a horrible situation on the horizon. MONA [Off-Panel, Bubble 2]: How do you know? GREM [Bubble 2]: Past experience.
Panel 5: Cut to a shot of Mona and Fatima standing at the console. Mona turns toward Fatima who is looking over to the left in the direction of the explosion. Her mechanical face exhibits the same level of concern and fear that Gremlin displayed in the previous panel.
FATIMA [to Mona]: Gremlin's correct, darling. An aircraft touched down a half-meter north from our location. Ten life signs are exiting from the rear.
Page 18, 6 Panels- Street/Fireland, Jeddah Saudi Arabia
Panel 1: We move to a shot of a pair of muscular gentlemen standing in the foreground of the shot blocks away from the Fireland compound. You can see behind them the rest of the contingent, dressed in a dark green uniform with a "TN" insignia to the right of their lapel. The rest of their contingents gather behind them as a large cargo jet ascends from where they landed. All equally as well-armed as the commanders in front, from those we see.
FATIMA [Cont., caption]: "Each of them are well-armed and physically heightened."
Panel 2: Cut to an action shot of Grem quickly running out of the metal dome, holding both shield and sword as he runs. His gaze is over to the right in the direction of Mona and Fatima addressing them. You can see the holographic image of the minotaur disappear as he speaks.
GREM [to Mona]: "Physically heightened...?" What do you mean- genetic modification, testosterone injections?
Panel 3: Back to a shot of Mona's face as she closes up the console that was behind the HAs. She nods her head quickly in response to the question. Her eyes already looking from the periphery to the right toward the carpet, readying to move in a second's notice.
MONA [to Grem]: Likely the former, though the latter's not out of the question. We've known the Troia Nova have tried before to create super soldiers for the glory of the Empire.
Panel 4: Cut to Grem as he properly steps out of the metal Fireland dome the same way he had entered in earlier. He shudders slightly in remembrance of what exactly she was referring to. You could see a little bit of the second pillar to the left of the panel view's background, along with the sky at the top of the panel.
GREM [to himself]: Project Zeus....By the gods, that was a fun (and painful) time!
Panel 5: Action shot of the immortal Irishman moments later, running in the direction of the carpet. The sword by his side upstage, while the shield stays elevated while he runs. You can see a little bit of the metal mountains in the background that we saw a few pages earlier.
GREM [Cont., to Mona]: What do you got for a contingency plan, if/when these guys break through?
Panel 6: Back to Mona at the carpet, just sitting down next to Fatima who is already in the seated position at this point with the first aid kit. She has a knowing look on her face, chuckling at the insinuation from Grem.
MONA: To use a bit of American parlance, it's very much "a doozy!"