Clockwork Angels: Comic Script by Kevin J. Anderson

College. The big building looms there, filling much of the view. See Hugh’s painting on p. 179 of the novel for the building, but choose a different view; Nick, you will be redoing much of the p. 179 painting on page 12 of this issue. The Anarchist carries a briefcase.
    CAPTION (ANARCHIST)
    The Watchmaker’s Alchemy College. Good times.
    CAPTION (ANARCHIST)
    Bad times.
    PANEL 2
    Small inset panel showing the Anarchist’s burned, scarred hand clutching the handle of the valise.
    CAPTION (ANARCHIST)
    They left a permanent mark.
    PANEL 3
    With the College in view, the Anarchist crouches in another dark alley, the briefcase open on the ground, as he pulls out his new disguise, a white alchemist-priest’s robe.
    CAPTION (ALCHEMIST)
    Scrambling all the clocks in Crown City caused great turmoil, but not nearly enough. To have the right effect, I have to think bigger …
    PANEL 4
    The Anarchist emerges from the alley dressed as an impressive, officious-looking alchemist-priest.
    CAPTION (ANARCHIST)
    The bomb at the coldfire nexus in Chronos Square failed. My would-be protégé Owen Hardy was unpredictable.

    I can respect unpredictability.
    PANEL 5
    The Anarchist walks through the big stone gates of the Alchemy College while a red-guard Regulator stands there at attention, acknowledging him.
    CAPTION (ANARCHIST)
    That’s the nature of chaos. Oh well.
    REGULATOR GUARD
    Welcome, Philosopher-Professor. Do you need a class schedule?
    ANARCHIST
    Schedules have not changed in more than a century, Captain. I have my work well in hand. All is for the best.
    PAGE 10
    PANEL 1
    The disguised Anarchist walks through the looming, empty halls of the Alchemy College. There are numerous clocks on the walls (with alchemy symbols instead of numbers on the clock faces); the classroom doors are closed. The closed doors have large alchemy symbols on them.
    CAPTION (ANARCHIST)
    I want to create a new world order, an Instability as a cure to the Watchmaker’s paralyzing Stability.

    Only turmoil can strengthen human hearts and minds, cure them of deadly apathy.
    PANEL 2
    The Anarchist stops at a big vault door sealed with gears, pistons, locking mechanisms. Another red-uniformed Regulator stands there like a guard at Buckingham Palace. The vault door has the honeybee symbol emblazoned in the middle. The Anarchist extends a document.
    CAPTION (ANARCHIST)
    Complete and total freedom! Even if the sheep don’t know what to do with it.
    ANARCHIST
    I have orders from the Watchmaker. He suspects certain irregularities in alchemical supplies shipped from the Atlantis mines.

    I must have access to the alchemy storage vault—and complete privacy.
    GUARD
    Yes, Philosopher-Professor! As the Watchmaker commands.
    CAPTION (ANARCHIST)
    Well and truly blessed, indeed …
    PANEL 3
    Small panel, close-up, focusing on the guard’s hands. The guard works a complex locking mechanism that glows blue with coldfire in the circuits.
    SFX
    Snikkk whrrrrrrrrrrrr
    GUARD
    There you are, sir.
    PANEL 4
    The Anarchist is smiling as the guard opens the looming vault doors (which cuts the honeybee symbol in half)
    ANARCHIST
    Thank you. That will be all. Go guard some other door …
    CAPTION (ANARCHIST)
    But bringing down civilization is difficult work.
    PANEL 5
    Big panel: the Anarchist stands in the vault, and it’s like Ali Baba in the treasure vault of the 40 thieves. Shelves everywhere, sacks of powders, sealed kegs, jugs, bottles, vials. All lit by floating coldfire globes.
    CAPTION (ANARCHIST)
    I wish I had an apprentice … but Owen Hardy is gone now, across the sea. I have to trust that harsh experience will shape him into an ally.

    I have faith in entropy.
    ANARCHIST
    Ah … it’s been a long time.
    PAGE 11
    PANEL 1
    The Anarchist grabs supplies from the shelves, loading his arms with packages, bottles, jars of chemicals.
    CAPTION (ANARCHIST)
    The smell of the chemicals, the ingredients of the universe

    Elemental salts … mixed acids

    Chemical symbols of my