Issue 32
October 15, 2007
Ray Gun Revival
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Table of Contents
2 Table of Contents 3 Overlords\u2019 Lair Venerable Staf: A.M. S\ue002ckel - Managing Copyeditor 5 The Secret Treasure of Dar-Zul Shannon McNear - Lord High Advisor, grammar consultant, listening ear/sanity saver for Overlord Lee A Jack Brand story Paul Chris\ue002an Glenn - PR, sounding board, strong right hand L. S. King - Lord High Editor, proofreader, beloved nag, muse, by John M. Whalen webmistress Johne Cook - art wrangler, desktop publishing, chief cook and bo\ue002le 13 RGR Interviews: Jewel Staite washer by Paul Christian Glenn 16 Featured Artist: Mike McCain Slushmasters (Submissions Editors): Sco\ue002 M. Sandridge 18 The Adventures of the Sky Pirate John M. Whalen David Wilhelms Chapter 16, The Message Shari L. Armstrong Jack Willard by Johne Cook Serial Authors: 24 The RGR Time Capsule Sean T. M. S\ue001ennon John M. Whalen October 1 - October 14, 2007 Ben Schumacher Overlords (Founders / Editors): Johne Cook, L. S. King, Paul Chris\ue001an Glenn
Lee S. King Paul Chris\ue001an Glenn Johne Cook
Cover Art: \u201cCarrier Assault\u201d by Mike McCain Visit us online at http://raygunrevival.com Without Whom... Bill Snodgrass, site host, Web-Net Solu\ue001ons, admin, webmaster, database admin, mentor, con\ue000All content copyright 2007 by Double-edged Publishing , dante, liaison \u2013 Double-edged Publishing a Memphis, Tennessee-based non-pro\ue000t publisher.
Special Thanks: Ray Gun Revival logo design by Hatchbox Creative
Ray Gun Revival magazine
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Issue 32, October 15, 2007
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Overlords\u2019 Lair W
Serenity ithout Joss Whedon\u2019s rousing space. opera, Firefly, there may well not be a Ray Gun Revival magazine. When Lee and Now, Paul please join me in enjoying the issue, and with and myself were in the very earliest stages of a nod to Jayne, for this issue, \u2018let\u2019s be Browncoats!\u2019 talking over what we\u2019d like to do with a space opera magazine, we spent a little time talking Johne Cook about the state of space opera and a lot of time Overlord, RGR talking about Firefly and what it meant to us, Breezeway, Wisconsin and how it would be to try to capture some of that vibe and deliver that to a new group of readers. It is impossible to overstate how important Firefly has been to each of the Overlords. We exulted over the production of Serenity, the Firefly film, and we geek out afresh over any new positive snippet of Firefly / Serenity news, and are wounded anew when these spurious tidbits are revealed to be nothing more than cruel gossip. And so, when I heard some time ago that Overlord fireflyfellow, aka Paul Christian Glenn, had a line on interviews with some from the Firefly cast, well, we all geek-swooned. We called each other on our cellphones and had our own little virtual shindig. A lot has happened between that day and this one, but the time has finally arrived\u2014Ray Gun Revival is proud to present the first of hopefully multiple interviews. Paul interviewed Jewel Staite, Kaylee, the earthy sweetheart mechanic on our favorite Firefly-class tramp freighter,
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 32, October 15, 2007
Pg. 4 The Secret Treasure of Zar-Dul, Part One, Ray A Gun Revival Interviews: Jewel Staite The Adventures of the Sky Pirate, Chapter 16: Jack Brand story, by John M. Whalen “The Message” by Johne Cook The cast of Serenity has since moved on, but A mysterious carnival seer reads Jack Brand’sJewel Staite, who played happy-go-lucky Cooper Flynn has his hands full with a burial at medalion and sees more than she bargained mechanic Kaylee Frye, took a few minutes sea, a lusty Amazon, a superstitious crew, and an indomitable, implacable enemy, the Riven. for, including the fate of Jack’s long-missing from her work on the set of Stargate: Atlantis sister. to talk with Ray Gun Revival about Firefly, the And that’s just before breakfast. film, and the future. “They say I have a gift,” Calystra said. “It’s “I killed that man,” I whispered, and my mug a curse. Do you know what it’s like to see RGR: Every actor wants to grow and find was shaking in my hand. things no one else can see, hear whatnew parts that inspire them. How do you nobody can hear. It can drive you insane!” feel about being associated with a show Mr.Pittgruntedindisagreement.“Chellsey that has thousands of fanatical followers wasalreadydead,”herumbled.“Youjust “Is there anything you can tell me thatwho will always see you as the smudgy, put a merciful end to his agony. That was would help me find my sister?” smiley mechanic? quick, compassionate thinking, and the message was not lost on the crew. Besides, “IsaidIdidn’tknowwhenthefirehappened,” JS: It’s kind of funny: I’ve met some fans it’s over now.” Calystra said. “But I know where it at certain events and conventions and happened.It’sinaplaceI’veseenbefore.” “Let’s hope so,” I said, softly. things who say I look “sooooo much better” with grease on my face and overalls on. “Let’s pray so,” said Bola, devoutly. Like, thanks. But at least she’s a likeable “Dar-Zul,” Calystra said, her eyelids slowly character!IneverimaginedwhenIsigned I wanted to throw the mug in her face, on to Firefly thatthiswouldhappen.Ithink drooping. “The ancient ruins.” but she was bigger than I was, and better we all knew from the very beginning that rested. “We need to talk sometime about “Dar-Zul? Where in Dar-Zul?” we were creating something quite special. not fraternizing with the crew,” I said. “You would never find the place that I saw Bola balled up her fists and stuck them on in my vision. Not even with a map. The her hips. “About what?!” mysteryofyoursister’swhereaboutsmay be discovered there.” “Another time, I said,” and walked away. I
“Where?”
“But how can I find it?”
“I will take you there,” the woman said.
Ray Gun Revival magazine
was still captain here, despite lust, love, Riven, or Cyl Himself. I just hoped Bola wasn’t following me.
Issue 32, October 15, 2007
The Secret Treasure of Dar-Zul, by John M. Whalen
The Secret Treasure of Dar-Zul
Pg. 5
A Jack Brand story
by John M. Whalen Part One
wore a black satin gown, and she was beauti- she was ten she fell off a horse and broke her ful—as beautiful as any Earth woman, Brand arm.” fairly noisy crowd stomped and hollered had to admit. Her long, blue hair fell to her inside the Blue Sphynx, the only decent shoulders. A black scarf was tied over her eyes “That’s right!” the man shouted. “That’s watering hole in the small tank town known as a blindfold. She was good at what she did. amazing!” as Carsonville. A few off-worlders sat nursing But he couldn’t buy her act. He didn’t believe their drinks morosely, but mostly there were in psychics. The Kelorian with the microphone “She’s sixteen now,” Calystra said. “She has a boyfriend named Jimmy.” hands from the oil fields who lived and workedstepped down from the stage and started in Carsonville—tough loud-mouthed riggers, moving around the audience. “Right again,” the man said. “She told me hard-eyed drillers, drunken truck drivers, and about him on the vid-phone only yesterday.” “Ladies and gentlemen,” he said. “We’ll their women. need volunteers for this part of the show. “He is a fine boy,” Calystra said. “They will The raucous crowd applauded enthusiasti-Would anyone care to give me some personal marry one day and you will be a grandfather cally at what had just transpired on the little object, anything at all? I will take it to Calystra, three times before you are fifty. You better stage next to the bar. Jack Brand sat alone and from merely holding the object in her finish your work on Tulon and get home before at a table near the back of the club, a bottle hand, she will tell you things that will simply they start without you.” of Synth-Whiskey in front of him. He didn’t amaze you.” applaud. He knew it had to be a fake. He The crowd laughed. The Kelorian took A man held up a wristwatch and the Kelorian poured some Synth into his shot glass. the watch from the woman and returned it took it up to the stage. The woman took the to its owner. The crowd was totally in thrall, “And now, ladies and gentlemen,” a gold timepiece in her hand and clutched it but Brand shook his head. There may have Kelorian male in his mid-fifties said from the with long slender fingers, the blue enamel on been engravings on the watch that she was stage. He was not very tall and dressed in a her long nails flashing in the spotlight. clever enough to decipher with her fingertips black tuxedo-jump suit. He had the light blue that told her everything she needed to know. “It is a gift,” she said, in a low, vibrant voice. hair and eyes and high forehead that were the Perhaps the man who owned the watch was a “From a female. From a female who is not your distinctive traits of his kind. The microphone in secret accomplice. his hand amplified his voice through speakerswife.” The crowd sent up a ribald “Oh!” in the ceiling. “Who’s next?” the Kelorian said, walking “And she loves you very much.” Calystra around the tables. His blue eyes fell on Brand. continued, amidst more hoots from the “The amazing Calystra will now attempt to “How about you, sir?” he said, coming up to display her incredible psychic powers, as she audience. “She wishes you would return to him. “I don’t know why, but I sense skepticism your home on Earth very soon. She is your interprets the aural vibrations emanating from coming from this table. Perhaps you’d care to daughter.” objects taken from the audience.” test Calystra. Do you have some object you could provide?” “Aahhh!” the crowd said, The Kelorian waved a hand at the statuesque female Kelorian in her mid-thirties “Her name is Cynthia,” Calystra said. “When Brand didn’t respond. sitting on a stool next to him. The woman
A
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“Any object will do,” the Kelorian said. That was exactly right! The two of them the small dressing room at the end of the hall. “Some jewelry, perhaps. Keys? Anything at all?” served in the Tulon Security Force together. The bald-headed manager stood at the open How was she doing this? What was the trick? doorway. Brand was annoyed by the man’s persistence. All right, if he was so determined. He Suddenly the woman gasped. Her com“All right, folks,” he said. “Nothing to see. reached inside his shirt and carefully lifted plexion paled. The hand holding the medallionCalystra is just a little tired. She’ll be fine for out a small silver medallion that he wore on tightened its grip. Brand could see her knuckles the next show at 10:30. No cover for anyone a silver chain. He raised the chain up over his turning white. who wants to wait for the next performance. head and held it in his palm. It was a fairly plain Now just go on back to your seats.” “No!” the woman cried. “No! Shooting. medallion with the figure of a galloping horse A low rumble of conversation followed engraved in it. No other markings. He handedMany dead! Evil men. Your sister...” the dispersing crowd as they made their way it to the Kelorian. She jumped down from the stool, holding back to their tables. A small band played now “Thank you, sir,” the Kelorian said, walkingthe medallion out before her, her hand and people started dancing on the dance floor briskly to the stage. He handed the medalliontrembling. “No! Pain! Long captivity! No! No!in front of the stage. Brand remained in the to the blindfolded woman. She wrapped her Burning! Fire!” hallway after the others had gone. The manager fingers around it, the chain dangling down spotted him. Suddenly Calystra screamed and tore off between her fingers, and held the medallion the blindfold. Her blues eyes were bright and “Didn’t you hear what I said? You can’t stay out straight in front of her. glowing. She stared at the medallion in her back here.” “Another gift,” she said quietly, her head hand and crumpled to the floor. Her Kelorian “I need to see her,” Brand said. tilting to one side. This time the crowd remainedpartner ran up on stage and knelt down next silent, while the woman concentrated. “It is to her. “Look, why don’t you just go—” from your sister.” “Curtain!” he shouted. “Curtain!” “She has something that belongs to me.” Brand suddenly felt the hair on the back Brand stood up at his table, half numb, and of his neck stand up. How could she know saw the red curtain drop, obscuring the fortu- “What’s that? Oh, you’re the fellow with that? There were no engravings, no personal neteller and her assistant from view. Half the the medallion.” markings on it of any kind. audience was on its feet, shouting and milling “That’s right.” about. Brand tossed down the shot of whiskey “She gave it to you many years ago, when he’d just poured. He didn’t know what had you were both very young. In a place called “I’ll see that it’s returned to you. Just wait happened, but he was damn sure going to findat your table.” Utah. On Earth.” Brand suddenly realized he’d out. stopped breathing. “Her name is Terry.” A wave He started to close the door. Brand put his of emotion ran through him. How was this foot in the doorway. # possible? “I want to talk to her.” “She gave it to you on your fourteenth Brand pushed his way down the crowded birthday. You were very close. All through hallway. Some of the patrons and many of the “Hey, you can’t—” childhood. When you came to Tulon she backstage workers of the Blue Sphynx had followed you. The two of you worked together.followed the woman, her assistant and the “It’s okay, Farley.” It was the Kelorian. “I’ll I see you and her in paramilitary uniforms.”club manager as they half-carried her back tohandle it. Don’t you have a nightclub to run?”
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The Secret Treasure of Dar-Zul, by John M. Whalen
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The manager gave him a look. “You just The older man shook his head ruefully “A little less skeptical? But still not make sure she’s ready for the next show,” he and stepped back inside the dressing room. convinced.” said, and walked off down the hallway. He opened the door wider and let Brand in. “Let’s say, in my experience, there is usually The woman was half lying, half sitting, on an The Kelorian stood quietly for a moment, upholstered sofa, pillows stuffed behind her a logical, concrete explanation for everything looking at the tall, lean man in front of him. Heback and neck. She held a half-empty glass of that happens. In cases like this, there’s usually could see that years of exposure to sun and something in her hand as she watched Brand some kind of mental trick, some way of getting wind had darkened and leathered the man’s enter. Her blue-painted lips took a sip throughinformation out of the mark that he isn’t aware skin. He almost looked more like some deserta clear straw, and then she held the glass out of. If that’s what you did to me, I couldn’t see animal than a man. with one hand. Ziggy ran and took it from her. it.” “I’m Ziggy,” the Kelorian said. “Calystra calls “Are you sure?” he asked. “Remarkable, isn’t it?” He couldn’t avoid noticing the sarcasm in her tone. me her glue. She says sometimes I’m the only thing holding her together. That means I watch “Who’s sure of anything anymore,” she “Let’s say you have some sort of gift. What said. out for her. Make sure she gets what she needs. are the limits?” I keep away things she doesn’t need. And after what happened on stage tonight, my bet is one “Call me if you need me,” Ziggy said setting The woman’s eyes were suddenly frightthing she doesn’t need right now is to see you.the glass down on a mirrored vanity table. He ened looking. “I don’t know the limits,” she went out into the hallway and shut the door. So why don’t you beat it?” The woman pointed to a straight-backed chair.said. “I wish I did.” “She’s got something that belongs to me.” “What happened at the end?” Brand “Sit down, Mister—” asked. “What was it you saw that upset you so “You mean this?” Ziggy held the medallion “You can tell me my sister’s name just from much?” out. “Here take it. Take it and go.” holding that medallion, but you don’t know my She sat up and looked away for a moment. Brand took it and slipped it into his pocket. name?” Brand said. She smoothed the black satin dress over her “I’d like to talk to her,” he said. “I’m very tired,” she said. “Are you here to knee and looked up at him. “I’m not sure it “Sorry. No can do.” test me, or is there some other reason you would be wise to tell you, Mr. Brand.” wanted to see me?” “Listen,” Brand said. “I’ve got to know “Look,” Brand said. He took the medallion something. Some of the things she said. Was it He figured he’d guessed right about her age. out of his pocket and held it out between them. all a trick? How did she know what to say?” Mid-thirties, but she had a worn and weary “I’ve been on a search for my sister for quite a look that made her seem much older. long while. She was taken prisoner after she “Yeah, buddy,” Ziggy said. “That’s what it is. and I and three other members of our Security A trick. Now why don’t you—” “Brand,” he said. “Jack Brand.” Force team were ambushed by a gang of Tulon Nomads. The Wilkerson Gang. Bank robbers. I “But what happened at the end? Why did “What can I do for you, Mr. Brand?” was shot and left for dead. My sister Terry was she—” “That was quite a performance,” he said. taken prisoner. I think you saw all that.” “Ziggy!” It was the woman’s voice coming “When I came into the club I was pretty skeptical Calystra looked at him with no expression from inside the dressing room. “It’s all right. about you. But after the things you said, I’m—” at all in her blue eyes. Let him in.”
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The Secret Treasure of Dar-Zul, by John M. Whalen
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“Yes.”
“Dar-Zul,” Calystra said, her eyelids slowly Darryl Farley, the owner and manager of the drooping. “The ancient ruins.” Blue Sphinx, flicked a switch off on an intercom “What else did you see? You said something that sat on his desk. He looked across the small about burning. What was burning? There “Dar-Zul? Where in Dar-Zul?” room that served as his office at a big, heavyset wasn’t any fire when she was kidnapped.” man who sat on a leather loveseat, smoking a “You would never find the place that I saw Darlanian cigar. “I saw a fire.” in my vision. Not even with a map. The mystery of your sister’s whereabouts may be discov“Did you hear that, Boone?” Farley said, “Where? When? Tell me, is my sister still ered there.” wiping a palm over his bald head. “They’re alive?” going to Dar-Zul.” “But how can I find it?” “I don’t know, Mr. Brand,” she said. “She was “I heard,” the big man said, blowing a long “I will take you there,” the woman said. alive at the time of the fire. But I don’t know blue stream of cigar smoke into the air. when the fire happened, or whether she’s still “You? Why would you want to go there? alive.” “Nobody’s ever been able to map that That’s not an easy place to get around.” place. Too full of labyrinths, tunnels, caves and “What do you mean?” “I have reasons of my own. There is secret passages. But Calystra said she could “I see images, hear sounds, smell odors,” something I saw in Dar-Zul that I wish to obtain lead Brand to the place where she saw his sister. She played it kind of cagey, but it sounds she said. “They swirl around inside my brain. for myself.” like she also knows where the Lost Treasure of My mind is crowded with these screaming, “What?” Dar-Zul is.” swirling images. It’s difficult to shut them off. Sometimes I lay awake all night with them “Something I saw in my vision,” she said.“You think so?” burning like ships on fire inside the sea of my “Something I need now more than life itself...” mind. It’s impossible sometimes even for me Her azure eyes were so tired, so weary. “You“Didn’t you hear her tell him she wanted to to understand what they mean.” She sank back must go. The drink I took has a strong narcotic go there to get something she saw in her vision? on the pillows and she looked at him with eyes that helps me rest. I must sleep before the nextSomething she needs more than life itself. What full of sadness. else could it be? People have searched for the performance.” treasure a long time. I’ve been meaning to take “They say I have a gift,” Calystra said. “It’s a Long blue eyelashes fell over dilated pupils. a shot at it myself. But a lot of men have gone curse. Do you know what it’s like to see things Her words trailed off into a whisper, and she into those ruins and never come out. I never no one else can see, hear what nobody can closed her eyes as the drug she’d ingested figured it was worth the risk. Until now.” hear. It can drive you insane!” rendered her unconscious. “What do you have in mind?” Boone tapped “Is there anything you can tell me that Brand stood up. His long, lean body cigar ash on the carpet. would help me find my sister?” towered over the Kelorian psychic who now lay “They’ll probably start out in the morning stretched out on the sofa, asleep and momen“I said I didn’t know when the fire happened,” for the ruins,” Farley said. “It’s a four-hour Calystra said. “But I know where it happened. tarily at peace with the world. flight by Strato-Sled. If we leave tonight, we It’s in a place I’ve seen before.” could get there ahead of them. Find a place to # stay out of sight, and follow them into the city. “Where?” When they find the goods, we move in.” On the other side of the dressing room wall,
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The Secret Treasure of Dar-Zul, by John M. Whalen
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“That easy? They’re not going to just stand “I believe there I may find peace. A way to vision?” there and hand it over to us,” the big man said. quiet my mind in the long dark hours of the “Especially that Brand. He’s not somebody younight.” She stood up. “I can’t go on taking Zofax Calystra smiled. “Is that what you think?” want to mess with. I tangled with him once in every night just so I can get a few hours’ sleep. I “I don’t know,” he said. “I can’t think of any ShyMan’s Bluff. Cost me two years in jail.” have to find a way to shut out the terrible, dark other reason someone would want to go to forces that are out there, trying to bore their The bald man grinned ruefully. “There are way into my brain so they can destroy me.” take the risk of going there.” a lot of people buried out there in those ruins,” “Can’t you?” “It’s that bad?” he said. “What’s a few more?” “I just want to warn you beforehand. I don’t “And Brand?” “Can’t you see it? I’m dying, Ziggy. This may believe there is any lost treasure. I’ve been be my only chance. I have to go.” there. There’s nothing but hard rock, empty “I’ve got a lot of confidence in you, Boone,” ruins, and the wind. I’m only going because I “All right,” Ziggy said. “Then I’m going too. Farley said. “Now’s your chance to get even. want to see if I can learn something about my I’m sure you can eliminate any threat Brand My bag’s already packed.” sister’s whereabouts. You say she was there at might pose. You can handle him any way you There was a knock at the door. Ziggy shut some time in the past. I have my doubts about want.” Calystra’s suitcase and went over to the door that, but I can’t afford to leave any leads unexBoone smashed the cigar stub down into and opened it. plored.” the ashtray on the table next to his chair. “It’ll “Are you ready to leave?” Brand asked, “I understand,” the woman said. be a pleasure.” coming into the room. “I just hope you understand why you’re # “We’re ready,” Calystra said. going.” “But why, Calystra?” Ziggy implored, as he “We ought to be able to get there by early “She said she did, Brand,” Ziggy said. “We all took a few articles of the psychic’s clothing afternoon,” Brand said. “I’ve got a Jeep to take of us have our own reasons. Now that’s settled, from the hotel room dresser and put them us to the airport. I’ve got an Air-Sled waiting.”can we get going?” into a small valise. “Why go there? You know “Then let’s go,” the woman said. what that kind of place will do to you. So many # ghosts. Voices. Echoes from the past. It could “There’s just one thing before we leave,” kill you.” It was a fifteen-minute ride to the airstrip in Brand said. “Dar-Zul is a dangerous place. the desert outside Carsonville. They piled out There are stories connected with it. Tales of “I saw something, Ziggy,” the woman said. of the Hover-Jeep and boarded the Strato-Sled She sat on the bed pulling on black leather lost treasure, hauntings. People have set out Brand had hired. Brand sat behind the controls, for Dar-Zul and not come back. Are you sure boots. She was dressed in a lavender shirt Calystra took the passenger seat, and Ziggy sat and blue jeans. “Something that may stop all you want to do this?” on one of the benches behind the cockpit that those voices. All those unwanted visitations. “I’ve never been more sure of anything,” ran along the walls of the ship on either side. Something that will free me from this torment Calystra said. that I call my life.” Ziggy took a small plastic vial out of his “Is it for the gold they say is buried there?” pocket and poured some small white tablets “What? What was it?” Brand asked. “Is that what you saw in your into his palm. “I get airsick,” he said, and tossed
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The Secret Treasure of Dar-Zul, by John M. Whalen
Pg. 10
the pills down the hatch.
“Last night you didn’t seem so doubtful.”said, and he remembered the weird feeling, the hair rising on the back of his neck when she’d “There’s water in the canteens I packed on “I have to admit you had me going,” Brand told him his sister’s name. “Like I said, she’s got board,” Brand said, as he started the ship’s said. “But in the cold light of day I have to something. Something I’ve never seen before.” engines. “We’ve got several days’ provisions, wonder. I believe you may have some sort of everything we’ll need.” He turned to Calystra.a gift. I’m just not sure how reliable it is. For # The sound of the anti-gravity motor revving upexample, you said you saw my sister in Dar-Zul, whined outside the cockpit. “How about you? but you don’t know when she was there. You “There’s something about this place,” Darryl Do you get air sickness?” don’t know if she’s even still alive. It’s all kind Farley said, looking up at the ancient ruins in of vague. That’s more or less how you guys front of him. “I don’t know why, but I get the The woman smiled and shook her head. operate, isn’t it? Give little suggestions and let feeling I’m being watched.” “No.” somebody’s imagination fill in the rest?” “Then let’s go,” he said, and lifted the “He’s a regular Doubting Thomas,” Ziggy“Dar-Zul making you a little nervous, Farley?” Boone asked. He looked up at the crumbling Strato-Sled into the air. said. “Some people!” remains of the city rising up the side of a He kept the Sled at 10,000 feet and the mountain, step by step, in a series of plateau“It’s all right, Ziggy,” Calystra said. “It’s hard speed set at 400 mph. The harsh, unforgivingfor people like Mr. Brand to understand thingslike layers, and shook his head. “If there is landscape of desert and mountain country beyond the so-called normal word of concreteanything watching us, odds are it’s not human. rolled under them. There were no signs of lifereality. You can’t blame them.” She looked over Anyway, the people that lived here once are in the Tulon desert, only emptiness and more at Brand. “I envy you, Mr. Brand. To you, therelong gone and buried. I don’t think you have to emptiness. Brand reckoned if oil hadn’t been is only one reality, only three dimensions. Time worry about them.” discovered here a hundred years ago, when runs chronologically, one hour after the next. “It’s a big place,” Farley said. “I can see how the Terror War was in full swing, nobody fromLife is very simple, untroubling.” you could wander in there and never find your Earth would have bothered with this planet. It “I out.” His eyes traveled along the rising was hot, arid, and almost uninhabitable. But it She gazed out the cockpit windshield. way had Black Gold, and that was what kept the War have seen things that no normal human mind levels of the city, and noted the many caves Machine running back on Earth. Then when can expect to understand. Worlds colliding and tunnels that were visible. The building and Digital Atomic fuel was invented and nobody with worlds in thousands of dimensions. Timewalls of Dar-Zul seemed to have been carved needed crude oil anymore, the bottom fell outrunning backwards and forwards and collaps-out of the red rock face of the mountain itself. Time had turned the rock dark brown, and the of the oil market and Tulon was abandoned. ing into itself. I’ve seen ghosts rising from their The Big Shutdown came and those who could graves to take up swords and shields to wreaketernal wind had smoothed out all the sharp left. Some went back to Earth once the war vengeance on those who buried them. The edges of the buildings and abutments, giving ended. Others, like Brand, stayed. universe is crowded with forces you couldn’t the place the look of something that was slowly possibly conceive. Dark forces that seek to vanishing back into the mountain stone. “You said you had doubts, Mr. Brand,” destroy whatever civilization creates...” Boone started up a well-worn path that Calystra said. “Doubts about what I told you led “Calystra, stop,” Ziggy said. “Brand, do you up through what once must have been a about your sister being true. May I ask, then, mind? I don’t appreciate you upsetting her.”gateway. Farley followed, feeling the weight why you want to go to Dar-Zul?” of the backpack on his shoulders. He carried a “Like I said, I have to check out every pos-“Sorry,” Brand said. “Didn’t mean to.” Brand Ruger 575 Plasma Rifle and kept a Colt Electrosibility.” was somewhat astonished at what she’d just Pistol in a holster belted to his waist. Boone
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The Secret Treasure of Dar-Zul, by John M. Whalen
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carried a Sony Laser Rifle. A Smith & Wesson They entered the cave and dragged the “Looks like a big brown wedding cake,” Ziggy Plasma-Pistol was tied down on his leg. He was animal’s carcass back inside it. Boone turned said. “A wedding cake for zombies!” a big man and he barely noticed the weight of on his radium torch and shone the green light “Don’t mind him, Mr. Brand,” Calystra said. the pack on his back. around the cave’s interior. He walked several “About all Ziggy thinks about is food. Are you yards into the darkness. They made it to the first level, where a row getting hungry, Ziggy?” of buildings ran out to the left and right. There “Looks like that Jack-yena was here by “Well, now that you mention it, it’s been a was a small cave at the end of the path that ranhimself,” he said. He walked back to the cave long while since breakfast.” in front of the buildings. entrance. Farley stood there looking out at the city. Boone rested his rifle against the wall of “Chew on one of your energy bars,” Brand “That looks like a good spot,” Boone said. the cave, took off his pack, and sat down. said. “We’re not going to have time to eat right “Let’s wait in there. We can see them approachaway. I want to get well into the city, Calystra, “Might as well take the load off,” he said, ing from here. And it’ll be easy to follow them, and see if you can find the place where you taking one of his Darlanian cigars out of a case. once they start inside the city.” “Be a while before they get here I expect.” saw my sister, and get out before dark.” They started for the cave but froze in “That sounds like a good idea,” Ziggy said, their tracks after only a few steps. Something Farley slipped the pack off his shoulders jumped out of the darkness of the cave. A largeand sat down, resting his back on the oppositehis eyes taking in every detail of the ruins below. jack-yena stood there snarling and growling wall. at them. It bared its fangs and snapped its “I’m not sure we’ll be able to find what slavering jaws. Farley fired his plasma rifle. The “Are you sure our Sled won’t be seen, when we’re looking for so easily,” the woman said. “It bang of the explosion echoed loudly around they arrive?” might take more than one day. Do you think it the hollow walls and alleys of the lost city. The “Positive,” Boone said, lighting up. “They’ll is not safe to spend the night in Dar-Zul?” wild dog lay in a smoking heap. come the same way we did. The rocks give “Well, there have been stories,” Brand said. “Hey, what are you doing?” Boone asked. the ship plenty of cover. So relax. Care for a “Most likely just superstitious nonsense.” smoke?” He stood crouched with the Smith & Wesson in his hand. He looked back over the desert. “What about?” Ziggy asked. “No. Filthy habit.” “Good thing they’re not here yet. The sound of that shot could travel for miles. Should have let“Well, I sure hope you don’t mind if I indulge,” “People claim they’ve seen things in the me get him with this. It’s not so noisy.” Boone said with a toothy grin. He pursed his city at night. Most likely shadows. Maybe some lips and blew out a large cloud of smoke. “I’d animals in out of the desert. If we have to stay Farley looked over at him sheepishly. “I overnight, we stay. We’ve got weapons, in case hate to annoy you, Farley. I really would.” hadn’t thought of that.” there’s any trouble.” # “From now on, when it comes to shooting, “Sounds like a lovely place,” Ziggy said. He you better follow my lead,” Boone said. “A slip shot an anxious glance toward Calystra. “Not Brand dropped the sled down to 500 feet. too late to turn around and go home,” he said. like that is all a fella like Brand needs to get the Dar-Zul lay spread out in front of the Sled. He, edge.” Calystra’s indigo eyes were rapt in fascinaCalystra, and Ziggy gaped at it through the “Okay, okay,” Farley said. tion as she stared at Dar-Zul. cockpit windshield as they approached.
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 32, October 15, 2007
The Secret Treasure of Dar-Zul, by John M. Whalen
Pg. 12
“No, Ziggy,” she said. “We’ve traveled so far, voices whispering. They whispered words or the ceiling. There were faint traces of something you and I. From our home planet of Kelor, to sub-words in a language he couldn’t compre- that had been painted up there long ago. It was colonies and settlements on planets around the hend. He stopped, and unslung the Winchester now faded beyond recognition—just shadows galaxies. We thought we were just wanderers, from his shoulder. crawling across the darkened interior of the like birds living on the wing, that we could dome. As she turned, Calystra’s eyes grew “You can hear them?” Calystra asked. never land anywhere. But all the while, though wider, and her blue irises began to glow with we didn’t know it, we were really searching for a weird inner light. A look of fright came upon “I thought I heard something,” Brand said, this place. Dar-Zul. It is here we will find our her face. “Very primitive. A deity too hideous turning off the weapon’s safety. The whisperdestiny.” to comprehend.” ing had stopped. “It must have been the wind.” Ziggy grabbed her by the shoulders. “Maybe # “I didn’t hear anything,” Ziggy said. we better get out of here,” he said. Brand led them from the Strato-Sled toward “Do you have any idea which direction to “So many have died here!” Calystra said what appeared to be the main entrance to the start in?” Brand asked the woman. breathlessly. “The dark forces are very strong. city. He had a Winchester Electro-Rifle slung The shadows are everywhere!” She looked upwards. “We must go further over his shoulder, a Beretta Electro-pistol up. Keep going until I tell you.” The brightness in Calystra’s eyes had faded. strapped to his leg and a light pack on his back. He’d given Ziggy a small pistol that the Kelorian They climbed upwards several tiers and She started to say something to Brand, when wore in an awkwardly fitting holster. Calystra stopped. “We must go this way,” she suddenly the floor gave out under their feet. said. She pointed to the left and went on The stone slabs they had been standing on He looked up as they approached, and along the path they were standing on, taking swung open on secret hinges, and the three of marveled at the tier upon tier of buildings the lead. Brand followed alongside of her and them dropped down into darkness. rising up to the sky. That it was ancient went Ziggy behind. without saying, but he couldn’t help being impressed with the immensity of the place and Up ahead Brand saw a building much larger the ingenious engineering that went into its than the ones they had passed by so far. Most creation. These cliff dwellers, it was estimated,of those appeared to be dwellings, but this had lived 10,000 years before anyone from Earth the look of something more significant. There John M. Whalen had ever set foot on Tulon. Who they were were columns carved in the rock around the and where they came from, or if in fact they entrance and long high windows looked out were indigenous to the planet, no one really over the desert. They came to a flight of wide, knew. They were the first beings ever to live well-worn stone steps leading inside. CalystraJohn M. Whalen’s stories have appeared on Tulon, and why the entire race had disap- trod up the steps and the others followed. in the Flashing Swords E-zine, pulpandpeared without a trace was one of this world’s Inside the building, Brand was amazed at the dagger.com, and Universe Pathways greatest mysteries. height of the domed ceiling. It rose up at least magazine. His Jack Brand stories are a forty feet above them. As they passed through the worn down staple here at Ray Gun Revival magazine. remains of the main entrance, and started up “It was the king’s palace,” Calystra said. She the path to the first tier, Brand heard a weirdturned slowly, taking in the whole room. “He rushing sound, like the wind rustling leaves. was a cruel king. There was much evil practiced Contact the author here. Only it wasn’t the wind. He realized, withhere.” a She kept turning, her eyes looking up at chill down his back, that it was the sound of
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 32, October 15, 2007
RGR Interviews: Jewel Staite by Paul Christian Glenn
Pg. 13
RGR Interviews: Jewel Staite by Paul Christian Glenn
A
RGR: Let’s begin with the Collector’s that Joss was pretty specific in wanting to nyone who knows anything about RGR knows that Joss Whedon’s Firefly is aEdition DVD of Serenity. To the chagrin ofsee me read. Once I had the part and we program close to our hearts. The inspiration many fans, you were absent from the comstarted to shoot, it was a bit unclear how for this ‘zine came, if not directly, at least mentary track. This was due to a massive, bubbly Kaylee was supposed to be. Is she indirectly from the adventures of Captain ugly falling out you had with Joss, Nathan, just happy or is she more manic? Is she Adam and Ron, right? Mal and his ragamuffin crew, and for that, Summer, I hiding something and that’s why she puts will always be grateful. on the happy facade, or is she just drunk? JS: Not so much massive and ugly Ibut figured the best route to go was to play Last month, Universal released a Col- more like large and homely. Seriously, I was up her innocence, her frankness, and her lector’s Edition of Serenity, the big-screen filming Stargate until midnight the night warmth more than anything. “Out of Gas” sequel to our beloved series. The film is a before my flight was supposed to leave, and put me straight on the whole innocence brilliant, sometimes brutal denouement my passport was in the middle of getting thing, so after that I added horny flirt to that doesn’t just capture the spirit of the renewed and hadn’t come in the mail yet. her repertoire. series, but expands its universe and takesI wish it was juicier than that, but there is RGR: One thing we never got to see on the characters to places, both literally andno juice with us Firefly people. We all get figuratively, that we’ve never seen before.along and love each other and it’s really the series was Kaylee’s life before Serenity. Serenity is the rarest of specimens: an old- boring. Did you ever imagine her previous life, and if so, how did you integrate those elements fashioned adventure story that manages to RGR: How did Joss originally pitch the into your performance? be both frightening and funny, both heartbreaking and heartwarming, both thrillingcharacter of Kaylee to you, and how did JS: I did a bit of imagining, but I also and thought-provoking. You know—every-that original concept evolve as you brought trusted Joss with any kind of backstory her to life? thing that Star Wars used to be. questions I had. I knew she had a great The cast of Serenity has since moved on, JS: I read a small synopsis on Kaylee family, maybe not such a well-off one, but before I auditioned that basically said she but Jewel Staite, who played happy-go-lucky a family that was supportive of her and her mechanic Kaylee Frye, took a few minutes was a warm, bubbly, chubby, lovely little abilities, otherwise why would they have individual, and I immediately realized from her work on the set of Stargate: let her go with someone like Mal? That’s Atlantis to talk with Ray Gun Revival aboutthat they would want me to eat copious one of the things that was most disappointamounts of cheeseburgers once I got this ing for me when the series got canceled so Firefly, the film, and the future. part, so I made it my goal to be as impres- prematurely; I would have loved to learn sive as possible. I honestly thought I was more about her life off the ship. a bit wrong for it at first and I actually wanted to audition for River, but I was told RGR: On the series, you played Kaylee
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 32, October 15, 2007
RGR Interviews: Jewel Staite by Paul Christian Glenn
Pg. 14
to finally sleep with who, so I thought that been a really great mom. with a sort of childlike innocence; she was an optimist who saw the best in everyone. while our moments were important, they In the film, however, she seems to have were also relatively light and sweet, which RGR: Honesty time: how creeped out are you by the more salacious fan fiction reached a darker place—doubting the gave everything a bit of balance. that appears online, and how do you feel captain, shutting Simon out before he RGR: Every actor wants to grow and find about “fanfic” in general? could apologize for leaving, etc. Were these new parts that inspire them. How do you simply functions of the script, or did you JS: I don’t really read the “fanfic. make a conscious effort to put Kaylee in an feel about being associated with a show Someone gave me a link to a particular short that has thousands of fanatical followers edgier place? who will always see you as the smudgy, story involving Kaylee and Jayne getting it on... and then Kaylee and River getting it JS: It was pretty much spelled out in the mechanic? smiley on....and then Kaylee and Inara (not such script what kind of mindframe everyone JS: It’s kind of funny: I’ve met some a huge stretch I guess, considering they’re was in. The crew has reached a dark time, fans at certain events and conventions both ridiculous flirts) getting it on... and they’re sick of being poor and on the run, and things who say I look “s ooooo much I just thought, “What does this say about and because of that, they’re not getting better” with grease on my face and overalls me?” There sure are some creative minds along. Joss writes great dialogue; it’s easy on. Like, thanks. But at least she’s a likeable out there, but anything involving me and, to take a character into a different place. character! I never imagined when I signedwell, Jayne getting together is just barfRGR: On the new commentary track, on to Firefly that this would happen. I thinkworthy. Adam’s like my dad. Joss notes that Morena felt she got “lost”we all knew from the very beginning that in the final cut. With the romance between we were creating something quite special, RGR: Switching gears, what can you Kaylee and Simon being such an important so when I meet people that understand tell us about your new role as Dr. Jennifer part of the series, were you disappointed and appreciate it, it feels really nice. The Keller on the upcoming season of Stargate: that it didn’t get more time in the feature whole experience holds a lot of wonderful Atlantis? film? memories for me. Like when Nathan put JS: I’m having a lot of fun with this one hand lotion under the door handles of my Keller’s such a juxtapositon of so many JS: Morena’s always lost, so that’s no and laughed at me when I fell down trailer things; she’s this amazingly brilliant doctor, big surprise. Honestly, that did kind of suck the stairs. Other than that, I love all those way ahead in her field, well-respected and for her, because she and Nathan had some guys, and I miss them a lot. perfectly capable of dealing with almost any really amazing, really beautiful scenes. But the movie was too long, so a lot of stuff that RGR: If the series had succeeded, how medical emergency, but she’s a scaredy-cat who hates guns, violence, heights. wasn’t totally integral to the plot had to be would you have liked to see Kaylee evolve? axed, and it’s a shame, because there’s one JS: I would have loved to meet herShe’s really out of her element in the moment they had in particular that always family, like I said before, but I’ve always hadworld of Atlantis. But she’s holding her own, made me cry. In contrast, I think the amount and becoming braver all the time. She’s got of romance seen on screen between Kayleethis desire to see Kaylee become a mother. a great sense of humor too, and a natural and Simon was just enough; the movie She’s child-like in a lot of ways, but also ease with people. But she’s very different was about so much more than who gets loving and maternal. I think she would havefrom Kaylee. Kaylee’s a lot more confident
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 32, October 15, 2007
RGR Interviews: Jewel Staite by Paul Christian Glenn
Pg. 15
in herself, while Keller’s a lot more grown Much thanks to Jewel for taking the up and practical. It’s been really fun getting time to talk with Ray Gun Revival! And for to know this person and figuring out wherethose fans who have not yet heard, the Colshe’s going to go and how she’s going lector’s Edition of Serenity has been selling to evolve. This season’s going to be a lot so well that, according to cast member Alan different from other seasons, with lots of Tudyk, Universal is now exploring the possurprises, but I’m really excited for it to sibility of a sequel. You all know what that start airing so I can finally talk about it! means: if you haven’t yet picked up your copy of the DVD, run to your nearest retail RGR: Finally, the upcoming film The outlet and do so! And if you have picked up Tribe will mark your first foray into the a copy, why not buy a few more? You know, horror genre. How has the experience beenfor archival purposes. You never know what different from all the sci-fi you’ve been might happen. involved with over the last few years? JS: TheTribe’s not a horror movie! I’m
not a fan of horror in general, unless it’s done really intelligently, but even then all the guts and gore and cheap scares kind of annoy me. The reason why I signed on to The Tribe was because it was a story about letting go of your fears and being able to take care of yourself. I loved the character of “Liz”; she starts out as such a meek, nervous little person and grows into so much more. I’d call it an action/suspense/thriller rather than a horror movie. And yeah, it’s definitely been a different experience—lots of Paul Christian Glenn action, lots of conquering of my own fears, and becoming my own person. I learned a lot about myself on this one. I feel like I canPaul Chris an Glenn is an Overlord (Codo anything... I feel like Wonder Woman! founder and Editor) of Ray Gun Revival (They’re still casting that damn thing? Youmagazine, and has been wri ng for as long listening out there?) as he can remember. It should be noted, however, that he has a notoriously short memory.
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 32, October 15, 2007
Featured Ar st: Mike McCain
Pg. 16
Featured Ar st Mike McCain
Name: Mike McCain Age: 21 Favorite Book / Author: George R. R. Mar n, Neil Gaiman, Tolkien, Heinlein, Douglas Adams Favorite Ar st: Lots: Sparth, Goro Fujita, Craig Mullins, Paper Blue...
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 32, October 15, 2007
Featured Ar st: Mike McCain
Pg. 17
What media do you work in? Mostly digital and sketches Where your work has been featured?
cgsociety.org, ImagineFX magazine, deviantART
Where should someone go if they wanted to view / buy some of your works? http://mdbworks.net/mike or http://moljnir.cgsociety.org What are your current in uences? I spend a ton of me browsing art on cgsociety.org and conceptart.org. Both are great online forums for viewing and cri quing concept, commercial and 3D art. What inspired the art for the cover? A speed-pain ng challenge Where do you get your inspira on / what inspires you? I don’t get inspired very much to be honest... I wish that happened more! What are your favorite tools / equipment for producing your art? Photoshop, Wacom tablet, pencil and paper
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 32, October 15, 2007
The Adventures of the Sky Pirate, Chapter 16, The Message by Johne Cook
The Adventures of the Sky Pirate
Pg. 18
Chapter 16, The Message by Johne Cook
perform, but we didn’t have a cleric, and given After we finished, Dr. Prentiss touched my upbringing at the all-male abbey on the my shoulder wordlessly and then went to the AlacritytakesoncrewfromaHaddirronmedical remote island of Patience Bay, that was fine galley. I didn’t know whether the gesture was ship, including a doctor, Mr. Pitt’s estranged by me. However, sailors’ superstitions might meant to convey mercy or grace. She didn’t say wife, Deena Prentiss. wrest that preference right out of my hands. and I wasn’t about to ask, and it hurt my head to think about all that anyway, so I took a walk When introducing the new crew, a being And here I thought being captain had all up on deck to clear my head. disguised as a man, the Riven, killed one man inthe perks. It rankled. gruesome fashion and effortlessly resisted the I saw Mr. Humble and went to where he others. Bola shot it and it toppled overboard I pulled the twine tight with a brusque stood overseeing work up in the rigging. “Any into the ocean. snap, burning the skin on my fingers on the trouble integrating the new sailors into the rough material. watch routine?” Mr. Pitt dealt with the emotional tumult of having his estranged wife onboard the ship. I felt a feminine hand on mine. Was it “I thought we might, but they seem taken rebuke? Was it caution? I didn’t meet her eyeswith Miss Bola, Captain.” Or tried to. for fear of what she might see, but accepted I smiled. “That’s bad, and that’s good, the gesture in the spirit intended. although, if I were you, I’d go easy on the ‘Miss’ Dr. Deena Prentiss assisted me with the part.” ar. corpse despite her anger with me on HMS The story so far:
W
Florence. Perhaps it was because she felt the Mr. Gillings overheard us and stepped It could be widely expansive, including entire nations or hemispheres or planets for physician should be there for that task, and over. “Indeed. She seems oblivious to her own, reasons of greed or survival or power. Or it perhaps she just didn’t want to return to her uh, charms.” He bobbed his head up in Bola’s could be as intensely personal as the senselesscabin because it reminded her too much of direction. Mr. Humble looked like he might death of one sailor whose only mistake was her estranged husband, my first officer, Mr. ask a question but changed his mind, nodded standing next to the wrong killer at the wrong Pitt. Regardless of which it was, I decided that in agreement, tipped an invisible hat in my I probably wouldn’t want to be left alone in general direction, and started climbing the time. his former room so soon after coming aboard, rigging to help. I resolved to ask him about it After the attack of the Riven and the sub- either. later. sequent battle, brief but costly, I spent the Therefore, we worked without speaking, Bola and the new sailors were furling sails early evening musing on these things as I, myself, prepared Chellsey’s body for burial and it went about as well as possible, all on the yardarm directly above us. Bola was at sea. There were others who could do that, things considered. It was as if we’d prepared discussing the idea of having another woman but this one was my responsibility. Early on, I dead people for burial together for years. onboard. “I don’t like it,” she said. “Women determined to lead by example, even in how I That thought was depressing enough, but wasdon’t belong onboard fighting ships.” nothing compared to what I knew I would have handled death. That’s the Bola I know and love, stepping to deal with at dawn on the morrow. firmly where celestial messengers fear to This was the kind of work that a cleric might
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Issue 32, October 15, 2007
The Adventures of the Sky Pirate, Chapter 16, The Message by Johne Cook tread.
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armory. At Mr. Humble’s order, they snapped to salute. Bola handed one musket each to Mr. She walked barefoot along the rope, Satisfied, Bola returned to her own work, Pitt and Mr. Gillings. On her word, they raised oblivious to the incredulous looks she was whistling tunelessly to herself. them, and on another, they fired them into the getting from the new sailors behind her back. air in unison. Bola was slick with sweat despite the altitude, Mr. Humble saw me eavesdropping on the and the flickering light from the various pots conversation. He smiled sagely from the rigging Then it was time for some words. I knew and pitched in on the yardarm. what I was going to say, but Bola, of all Cyl’s on deck caught her wild hair. children, beat me to the harpoon. Mr. Pitt approached and stood at my elbow. She grasped the rope with her glove, “Where’s our cleric?” she asked, brightly, leaned back for a moment, and threw back herI sighed and followed him below, silently looking around as naïvely as a child. head, closing her eyes as she worked out somebidding farewell to Bola’s chest and those poor, kinks in her neck. She let her back take the unwitting sailors who neither knew nor loved “We don’t have a cleric on board at this strain, which unintentionally drew attention Bola as of yet, although both of those things to her chest. It was clear that, like the other were beginning to look like foregone conclu- time,” I said, hoping that would end the discussion. I patted my jacket and my breeches sions if I didn’t say something quick. sailors, she wore no additional undergarments pockets for the parchment with my scratchunder her shirt, and the new sailors were Cyl help me. ings, but she clattered on. wide-eyed. Her breasts were a little flatter than a full-bosomed woman might be in the She struck a pose, hands on hips. “How are # way of fit athletes. If anything, her apparent we going to send this man to his Rest without lack of regard for her endowments just served I spelled Eggplant at the wheel overnight a cleric?” to emphasize her rakish tomcat appeal. and spent a great deal of time with the charts, “Quickly,” I growled, wondering how many Bola certainly had a rapt audience for scratching notes in a log, making calculations, men she had sent to their Rest without worrying her show, although she seemed completely and generally avoiding thinking about what I about ‘holy’ men, but holding my tongue. I oblivious to the effect she had on the new knew was coming. found the parchment in my right inside jacket sailors. It was clear to me that the fastest way I put it off for as long as I could, but dawn pocket and launched into my prepared words. to achieve a full mutiny would be to remove waits for no man. At first light, I dropped the Bola from her duties among the sails. “I,” I started, and my voiced cracked just a ship twenty feet above calm seas and opened little. That was enough to bring tears to eyes. “Women just bring emotional baggage with the port plank rail. With the help of Mr. I tried again with greater effort. “I spoke at them and complicate what should be simple.” Pitt—who looked as if he’d spent a similarly length yesterday about the things that we Bola wiped the healthy sheen of sweat off her sleepless night—we put the wrapped body on stand for on this ship. I spoke about the things brow, an athletic, energetic Amazon, the very the plank. we stand against, but actions speak louder picture of sexy female competence. She turned I thought I might get away with it forthan a words, and you now know the level of evil and saw the nearby sailors hanging onto the that is out there. These are the sorts of things rope and staring at her as if transfixed. “Don’tmoment, but that’s when it happened. we will fight against...” you think?” One by one, the members of the crew “...and defeat,” said Bola, reverently, head Taken by surprise, the tongue-tied sailors appeared from below until they were all there, bowed. even Bola, the sailors in their best naval dress nervously agreed, “Oh, yes, yes...” and averted their eyes, pretending very hard to be seen uniforms, Bola carrying three muskets from the
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Issue 32, October 15, 2007
The Adventures of the Sky Pirate, Chapter 16, The Message by Johne Cook
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“Yes. Yes. These are the sorts of things we will fight against and defeat as we progress on our journey together.”
“We are agreed,” they intoned in unison.side-passions, the things you like doing in your free time.” “May his soul be at peace,” I said. “Why is that, Captain,” said Smyth, “if you They slowly and reverently pushed his don’t mind me asking.” My voice rose. wrapped body out until it slid down the board “I did not know Mr. Chellsey, but if he was and slipped beneath the waves. “For two reasons, Mr. Smyth, is it? We want anything like you men, I would have liked him to get to know you as sailors, yes, but we also “We are agreed,” I said. The crew starred very much. I don’t know what he liked, or what want to get to know you as men, what you like he didn’t like. I do know that he was serving histhemselves and prepared for the day. and what you dislike. We also want to get a nation, putting himself in harm’s way so as to handle on the extra talents each of you bring As they filed past, each of the remaining make a difference with his time on the world. to the table. sailors—Smyth, Murfree, Donkins, and Yhen— I know that he didn’t deserve to go like that. I stopped and quietly shook my hand, all looking “Take Mr. Gillings here. I understand that know that he deserves our very best effort, our me in the eye. That meant a great deal to me, he is quite good on the violin. Or take Mr. Pitt most committed unity, our cleverest invention although I wouldn’t come out and say so out here—he knits.” of ideas and energy, and our deepest convicloud. tions. He deserves our heartiest laughs and This drew a laugh that cut through the our bitterest tears.” Bola was last. “That wasn’t too bad,” she mood of the morning. said, shaking my hand. Then she leaned in close I spoke strongly now, letting the parchment and whispered in my ear. “...but if we’re going Murfree showed some interest in the in my hand drop to my side. to be doing this with any regularity, the crew controls of the ship and was a pilot at New “He represented innocent life snuffed out will need a dedicated holy man, or there will Hemston harbor, so Eggplant took him to the for no other reason than being in the wrong be unrest.” She playfully cuffed my shoulder, wheelhouse and showed him how to return to cruising altitude. He then started showing him place at the wrong time. We will hunt down which did no more than rattle my teeth. the controls of the ship. I gave him a single, and defeat the Riven, and those who reaved “Have a nice day,” she said, and winked. grateful nod. them. We will carry the spark of life to the dark corners of the world and shatter the darkness And I was undone, just like that. I needed Heading downstairs, I saw Bola in the with that holy light.” a cleric like I needed a paddle up side of my galley and prepared a simple breakfast of head, the very thing I’d tried so hard to stave biscuits, sausage, and black kava for us. While Now I was thundering, and the people were off. Blast. the particular characteristics of the flotation with me! process provides hot and cold elements (which # “I am not a holy man, but if there is a god of were specifically junctioned in the galley, thus providing both baking / freezing conditions), the air and of the sea, Cyl-willing, Mr. Chellsey After breakfast, I took the opportunity to it just seemed the sort of morning for kava, will be avenged! quickly address the new sailors, instructing black. “We commend this man’s body to the deep them to really get to know Mr. Humble, telling and call for his spirit to go free.” “Captain,” asked Bola, “ you mind if I ask him their specific talents onboard. you something?” “In the name of Cyl...” said Bola, head “I’d like you each to also confide something bowed. to Mr. Humble about what you’re good at, your I nodded, trying to spread a frozen chunk
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Issue 32, October 15, 2007
The Adventures of the Sky Pirate, Chapter 16, The Message by Johne Cook
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of butter on a biscuit, but mostly destroying I took them aside and waved Bola to join us.probably better to err on the side of caution the biscuit in the process. “Bola and I were talking in the galley and I need and assume that it can get around in the water, to ricochet what I’m thinking off somebody. just in case.” “I have questions about what happened Setting aside for now the questions of what yesterday,” said Bola. “Many questions.” “If that’s the case,” said Gillings, “where the Riven is, where it’s from, and how it got aboard the HMS Florence—we’ll come back towould it go? When it fell into the ocean, we “Such as what, for instance?” I answered, that in a bit—let me ask you this: where was it were miles from everything.” wearily. I really wanted nothing more than to going?” “Not everything,” mused Bola mostly to dash some water on my face and fall into my herself. bed, but I didn’t see that happening anytime “Before or after you sliced its palm with soon. your sword and I shot it in the back of the head The three of us looked over at her and then with my muzzle-loaded pistol?” said Bola, at each other. “Such as, where did you learn all that with brightly. the sword? I’ve seen some fancy sword work “Oh, bilge,” said Mr. Gillings. but that’s not the sort of thing you learn in Mr. Pitt looked at her and then up and Her Majesty’s academy. It’s not the sort of to the right, thinking. Then he said, “She’s “Turn the ship around,” I said. “Gillings, thing they use on the street, even. I’ve never right. That’s really two different questions. find Mr. Humble and tell him to prepare. We’re seen the like. Also, how did you know that thatWhere was it going when it was on the HMS going back. I’ll go notify Eggplant.” I turned thing was Riven and not a sailor? How long Florence...” and sprinted to the Wheelhouse, my breakfast have you known about the Riven, where is it sitting like a lump in my stomach. “...and where is it going now that it’s back from, where was it going, what is its source of energy, who did it work for, how many of themdown in the water,” said Mr. Gillings, finishing # are there, and are we going to have to fight the thought with a distraught look on his face. them again?” “Do we even know it can swim?” asked We spread charts out all over the place. Something she said rang oddly in my sleep-Bola, more anxiously than usual. The fact that deprived head. I looked up at her, trying to Bola was unnerved hit me hard—I wasn’t used “Where was the Florence when we boarded her?” work it out in his head. “What was that again?”to seeing her afraid of anything. And then I had it. “Here, Captain,” said Eggplant. I said, “It has at least some metal under “The sword or the Riven?” she asked, but I actual flesh and blood. That should make it “I want you to chart two courses, one for was already heading for the door, looking for Mr. much heavier than a normal man given the if she turned around like the captain said, and Pitt and Lieutenant Gillings. “Many questions,” same body frame size. It’s possible that it one if she kept going as she was.” she finished to herself, and then trundled along couldn’t swim even if it wanted to.” after me, deep in thought herself. It looked like “Yes, Ven.” “Are you comfortable making that assumpit pained her. I fought back a smile as I left the tion, Captain?” asked Mr. Pitt. “Assuming you want us to intersect her galley. course, which one should I make for first?” “Mr. Pitt! Mr. Gillings!” They turned around I shook my head slowly. “No. You’re right. If it was too heavy to swim and fell to the from what they were doing, talking with Mr. “Lay in a course as if she’d doubled back to bottom of the ocean, it’s out of our jurisdic- port. If we don’t find her there, we can track Humble and his sailors. tion and off our collective minds. However, it’s forward from there.”
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 32, October 15, 2007
The Adventures of the Sky Pirate, Chapter 16, The Message by Johne Cook
Pg. 22
“Aye, Captain.”
out into the world. And nobody ever suggested bored, one was tired, one was furious that that these...things...were masquerading as he was onboard a ‘pirate’ ship. However, one I left the Wheelhouse and made my way human again.” followed my every move, my every word, my back down to the Galley for some hot kava. I every slightest motion. It was satisfying at first, noticed Bola hanging around. “How about it, I stared into my coffee mug, looking for and then unnerving, until it became the sort of Bola? Did you get answers to all your questions a sign in the depths of the liquid. “There’s hunch that you’ll never expect to pay off. His earlier?” no telling how many of these things are out eyes not only never left me, they were flitting there even now. There hadn’t been an actual about ever so slightly, like those of a bird. He “Hm? Oh. Well, there is one more, I guess. confirmed sighting of Riven in their native missed nothing. He...” How did you know that Krewes was...was... form, much less caught in the role of a normal How did you know?” I trailed off. “Bottom line, all I can say human sailor. Until now. Just think if one of those things snuck onboard the wrong ship. is that it was intuitive, the niggling thought Mr. Pitt walked in, and I wordlessly handed that it might be something, even though my Just think if one gained entrace to Her Majesty’s him a kava mug, wider on the bottom than the conscious brain informed me that it was a court.” top to keep it from sliding around on pitching ridiculous question.” galley tables. I thought about her question for “But what are they,” asked Bola. awhile and then answered her in this way: “I’ve It’s not clear what Bola saw then, but she spent the better part of the night avoiding that “The stories I’ve heard are that they’re said, “What is it, Captain?” humans who volunteer to become machines. question, but it kept coming up. Finally, I could She was good, more perceptive than I Metal is grafted to their bones and they are duck it no longer.” given nutrients to quickly regrow their flesh would have thought, given...well, you know. I took a healthy hit from the mug. “We again over the top. The pain of the process is “I’ve been thinking all night, wondering if that used to hear horror stories of the Riven when so great that they are said to literally lose theirman would still be alive if I hadn’t challenged I was in the fleet in the line of work where I minds in the process, thus, the Riven. Think him?” was. The stories were treated like ghost tales, about it—the speed of the one we saw, the “Coop, if you hadn’t noticed and forced the nameless, shapeless horrors with no real metal palm he had under his flesh, the incredpurpose. Some said they were ghosts. Some ible strength he had, bowling the sailors over, issue, just think—he would have been free on said they were animals. Some said they were the absolute cunning and lack of remorse. our ship to kill us all. You did the right thing.” machines. Nobody ever suggested that they Bola, you nailed him point blank at the base of “I killed that man,” I whispered, and my were human.” his skull with a musket blast, and all it did was mug was shaking in my hand. tear off the flesh by his head—it didn’t actually “Or used to be,” said Mr. Pitt. damage him, just knocked him overboard into Mr. Pitt grunted in disagreement. “Chellsey “Exactly.” I cradled the mug to give my the sea. With that much metal, let’s hope he was already dead,” he rumbled. “You just put a restless hands something to do. “There’s sank like a stone.” merciful end to his agony. That was quick, comalways the stories of a mad genius working for passionate thinking, and the message was not “But Captain, how did you know what it the Steamdrivers, conducting horrible experilost on the crew. Besides, it’s over now.” was? Where do they come from? Where do ments, engineering nightmarish devices to be they go to?” “Let’s hope so,” I said, softly. used to conquer Menorra, and then the world. Nobody ever suggested that they were experiI looked up at her, eye-to-eye. “It occurred “Let’s pray so,” said Bola, devoutly. menting on human subjects. Nobody ever to me while I was speaking. One sailor was suggested that they were sending these agentsnearly sick but stood his ground. One was I wanted to throw the mug in her face, but
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 32, October 15, 2007
The Adventures of the Sky Pirate, Chapter 16, The Message by Johne Cook
Pg. 23
she was bigger than I was, and better rested. “Why do you suppose it fired the ship? I drew my sword and held it aloft. “We go “We need to talk sometime about not fraterWouldn’t that just alert everyone that to war!” nizing with the crew,” I said. something was wrong and draw attention to itself?” Bola balled up her fists and stuck them on her hips. “About what?!” “That’s what it wanted,” said Gillings, almost to himself. “Another time, I said,” and walked away. I was still captain here, despite lust, love, Riven, “What do you mean,” asked Mr. Humble. End of Chapter 16 or Cyl Himself. I walked to the railing and regarded the The Adventures of the Sky Pirate continue next I just hoped Bola wasn’t following me. ship’s death throes, dread coursing through my month. veins. “It’s sending us a message. ‘You didn’t kill me—I’ll be back. I’m killing innocents that # you failed to save. I’m still alive, still wreaking We found the Florence two days later whenhavoc, and there’s nothing you can do to stop eight bells tolled after midnight. It wasn’t hard,me.’” I turned and looked at those assembled. seeing that she was on fire and visible from “Of course, that’s where it’s wrong.” Johne Cook miles away across the open ocean. “You know how to stop this thing?” Bola said, skeptically. She was roughly on the same course she’d Johne is a technical writer, help author, been when we’d boarded her. Maybe the “Not yet,” I said, thinking, “but somethingcreative writer, and editor. captain of the Florence was bluffing, maybe his will occur to us, just you watch.” I turned to sense of duty won out over practicality, maybe face them. I thought of the cursed holy man Helikesprogrock,spaceopera,filmnoir, he was just willful. being jammed down my throat. “The weight of and racquetball. We’d never know the exact reason. All we the Riven’s wickedness will be his undoing. If did know was that the ship was engulfed in there is a god, I’ll be there to deliver the mercy flames when we arrived. There was no point blow to the Riven this time instead of some in putting down or sending a boarding party, innocent bystander.” I was rather proud of that so we just tried to make ourselves as useful as statement. I even managed to keep a straight face. Perhaps that’s how holy men do it, too. possible from the safety of the deck. By lying. “A boat is missing,” said Mr. Humble, looking Bola asked, “What do we do now?” at the burning ship through the spyglass. I looked around thoughtfully. “Dawn waits for no man. We set our course for Sylvan waters “Yes, Captain—that’s how it appears.” to make our presence felt,” I said. “Riven alive or dead, holy man here or not, it’s time for us “Keep a sharp lookout for the next couple to start to fulfill the promise of a unique vessel of days. If it’s out on the surface in a rowboat,like this. The only way to end a war is to finish I want to know about it.” it ourselves. It’s time we started that process.” “Just one?” I asked.
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 32, October 15, 2007
Pg. 24
The RGR Time Capsule
October 1 - October 14, 2007
Sci-Fi news from the Ray Gun Revival forums RGR Date: October 03, 2007
Because you can never have enough Theremin
h p://www.cinemablend.com/new/Serenity- RGR Date: October 02, 2007 Twenty sci- wri ng mistakes (we all make) 2-May-Happen-6547.html
http://raygunrevival.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1479
http://raygunrevival.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1475
Quote: h p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi7GvRE-ivU According to the guys over at Moviehole, Tudyk told them that a sequel could be hapRGR Date: October 04, 2007 pening. Alan says, “They had to put [the new The Space Age Began Today— DVD] out because they’ve been selling out of 50th Anniversary of Sputnik http://raygunrevival.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1483the other one and so Universal’s like ‘So, let’s do another one’. And now… there’s now a Fi yyearsago,theSovietUnionlaunched chance there’s going to be another movie.” the rstar cialsatellite,Sputnik,andthe That’s great news if you’re a Browncoat or, Space Age began. like me, a sensible person who simply loves a “We take a righ ul pride in the fact that it great science c on movie. was our na on which opened the way to the stars for humanity.”
- President Vladimir Pu n Here’s a great Russian-style song and video to celebrate this historic day: h p://kosmos ot.blogspot.com/2007/10/ surprise-sputnik-sails-giggling-through.html Happy Birthday Sputnik!
RGR Date: October 05, 2007 Alan Tudyk talks Serenity 2 http://raygunrevival.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1408
We’ve heard this rumor before—that strong Serenity CE sales could lead to a Serenity 2. I don’t care if it’s big screen or straight to DVD—I want more Fire y. Oh, and I dispute the ‘Serenity opped in theaters’ bit—it’s just not true.
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Sci- author E. E. Knight put together a list of things you shouldn’t do in SF wri ng, and breaks out a tasty Shaun of the Dead reference in the process. Quote: #5: Non-comedy of manners: Commonplaces subs tuted for dialog. Polite interchanges, gree ngs, exchanges of compliments, goodbyes (unless it’s the villain saying goodbye to James Bond as he’s strapped under the laser) -- usually these can be discarded. Now somemes you can get some characteriza on out of it, as with Leeland Gaunt’s charm and elaborate pleasantries to his customers in King’sNeedfulThings,butifyou’vealready gotKing’schopsyou’reprobablyonlyreading this blog to snicker at me.
Then there’s #5’s corollary, meaningless acon. Mystery Science Theater is fond of making fun of directors who always show their actors pulling into a driveway, parking their car, ge ng out of the car, going to the door... same thing appears in abby wri ng. Unless there’s something interes ng going on in the character’s head, or there’s a zombie apocalypse raging on in the street and the character is too hung-over to no ce (stole that from Shaun of the Dead), or we know there’s a crazed killer wai ng inside the now lightbulb-free house, don’t weigh me down with this.
Issue 32, October 15, 2007