Battery sprightliness — about a space traveller and ascavengerwho join force to last thepost - apocalypse — has an challenging premise , but its backstory might be even cool : authors Brennan Gilpatrick and Gregory Lang have beenfriendssince the 6th grade , and decided to draw on their divvy up love of writing style to write their first playscript together .
Here ’s more details on what Battery Life is about , followed by the full covering fire and an single excerpt !
Welcome to the Junkyard , a toxic wasteland where humans , machine , and everything in between fight for selection among the ruin of a long - forget war . This is where Diane Three - One - Seven find herself after the arkship Cradle — the only plate she ’s ever known — flow out of the sky .
Image: Blackstone Publishing
When a mystical scavenger named Virgil stumble upon Diane ’s leakage pod , the two strike a deal ( if it can be call that ) . Virgil ’s supernumerary mechanical battle lawsuit , nickname the “ Grave Walker , ” can help oneself Diane subsist the deflower air — but it could kill her if it runs out of great power . And Diane ’s untainted blood , a cute resource in this radioactive hellscape , could keep Virgil alive long enough to wind up one last commission — but at what monetary value ?
The two will have to await to put to work out their differences , however , as a new threat appears on the horizon : a masked man called the Messenger , who hopes to repress the Junkyard with a deep new office . With the help of a ragtag squad of misfit , Diane and Virgil may just have a probability to stop him — if they do n’t vote down each other first .
PROLOGUE :
Image: Blackstone Publishing
A FORTRESS
Unblinking , the Masked Man look to the Union . He study the noxious red sky , his rocky muscles tense with expectancy . Here was a Isle of Man who believe in destiny , and luck had made him a promise one class ago . Today was the day it fork out . Today he would have everything he postulate to make the world a better shoes .
He stood on a railed balcony high above the Heap — the close affair the anarchistic Junkyard had to a uppercase city . Jericho was another universe , untouchable behind its heavy wall . The Heap was where all the junkies came to deal their goods , where the cracking materialistic kindred choose to call home . When he looked down , the Masked Man could see every recess of the shanty metropolis lay out before him . His shanty metropolis , now . He could hear the aftershock of his conquest echo from below . Civilian mobs squelch . Order beat topsy-turvydom into submission . The Masked Man took no pleasance in such violence , but he was an agentive role of peace of mind . pacification required sacrifice .
He drowned out the screams and plasma gunshots , focusing instead on the sweet musical whispering at the border of his cognisance . Their intoned substance set him , and presently , they would redefine the Junkyard whole .
The Masked Man grinned , still watching the northerly sky . The future was coming , and it belonged to him .
A deep moan bellowed from the east .
It was an odd disturbance , like a bombshell on a loop . All commotion quit in the city below , and the Masked Man turned to see a shadow make full the distant cloud . It grew denser , stretched wider in every counselling , painting the land beneath in artificial night .
The moan built to a crescendo . The Masked Man give his breathing place .
A flaming needle punctured the sky , rip the cloud in two . It seemed to fall down in dull apparent motion , and a cascade of twisting alloy poured after it . Like a top spinning off its axis , the structure entered the atmosphere in one unfathomable firearm , but as it descended , the conoid of its torso shattered in half , and one of its rings snapped aside on its own . Three distinguishable composition collided with the Junkyard , launching a sandstorm from the impact .
A sinewy tremor stimulate the ground .
The Masked Man spellbind the balcony ’s rail while some of the shabbier construction below crumbled into the streets . More shrieking , follow by more gunshots . Before the tectonic shift even had time to settle , the Heap ’s pandemonium resumed in full military unit .
Behind the Masked Man , an old velvet curtain whip to the side .
Dr. Isaac ran onto the balcony , his lousy lab coat flapping in the idle words .
“ It ’s farther east than you predicted , ” the Masked Man say .
Dr. Isaac gaped at the wax dust and said nothing .
“ Send word to Sixty - Seven . It take to progress to the crash internet site before the nut cull it clean . Probably a mean solar day ’s journeying from where we stationed it , peradventure two . assure it to travel without stopping . ”
“ But what about the amplitude on Sixty - Seven ’s headland ? ” Dr. Isaac asked , charge from his impact .
“ We agree it should only travel at Nox . ”
“ It demand to move now . ”
The Masked Man turned around , and Dr. Isaac quickly averted his eyes . Even after all this time , the scientist still could n’t bestow himself to look at that masque for too long .
“ We ca n’t afford to act it dependable now , my supporter , ” the Masked Man say . “ All the pieces are in place . clip to save the world . ”
This was really happening . Their plan , their shared delusion , would truly fare to pass .
Dr. Isaac swallowed heavily . “ As you wish . ”
From Battery Life by Brennan Gilpatrick and Gregory Lang . Used with the permission of the publishing house , Blackstone Publishing . right of first publication © 2023 by Brennan Gilpatrick and Gregory Lang .
Battery Life by Brennan Gilpatrick and Gregory Lang will be unloose May 30 ; you could pre - range a copyhere .
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