Beyond Salvage - A graphic novel

Dr L.Prakash

Cover of Tamil Translation of this novel!

A Tamil translation of this novel has been published in August 2009 and has sold 50,000 copies in its first print itself.

Beyond Salvage is the world’s first free, complete, full-length, graphic novel.

This novel was written by Dr L.Prakash in 2008. It is the story of the unnamed hero escaping his home planet after a mega heist; with the galactic security close on tow. This novel came about as an accident. Dr L.Prakash was planning to write a science fiction novella, and as he wrote the story, he felt that it would come out a lot better if it were presented in the form of a graphic novel. A professional artist was commissioned who agreed to do the pictures at 500 Rs a piece (approx 10 $ per picture), and promised deliveries in three months. However at the end of three months, it transpired that the artist had been so busy that he had not found time to do more than ten drawings.

Dr Prakash is no artist and in the fifty one years of his life, had never attempted art. A few drawing books, a couple of ‘How to Draw” books and artists material were procured and over three weeks , three hundred water colors were drawn. A hundred and fifty needed re-drawing and the end result was quite satisfactory at least in the author’s opinion.

GA publications published a Tamil Translation in August 2009, which sold fifty thousand copies in its first print itself.

The print copy of the English version is expected to hit the market in the beginning of 2011. In the meanwhile, for our online readers, the novel is presented herewith. For ease of reading and ultra quick loading, these pages have been done in micro HTML format, and the story is split into three parts.

Please send your valuable comments and suggestions to drlprakash@gmail.com.

Wish you a happy reading

Part Two


“What is this” “It is a Gok sir! People say that goks are almost as intelligent as men” “Isn’t he to small?” “He is a full grown adult sir”	“Some people say that Goks even read minds and communicate with people. I however don’t believe in this bullshit!”

“He is wrong, but there is no way that I would let this moron know of my true worth!”	I was shocked. It was a voice spoken directly into my mind. But it was clear that the shabby man opposite me had not heard a word. The other surprise was that, in my mind, it sounded like my own voice.

“Please don’t display any emotions and alert this clown that I am in communication with you!”	It was decidedly difficult to maintain a blank expression, but somehow I managed. “What does he do apart from looking clumsy and sad?”

“Well sir! Goks make wonderful pets. Eat little, keep clean and are excellent company. Quite easy to keep and carry in your pocket. People find that the Gok’s presence exerts a strangely soothing influence on the owner’s mind!”	“To me he does not look so soothing!” “Excellent sir! Now he will start bargaining. Don’t pay more than two hundred credits for me, though I am worth ten times that!” “How much do you want for it? Not that I m really interested in it!” “Only five hundred credits for this wonderful specimen sir!”

“A hundred and my octadisk is ready” “Sorry sir, my bottom-line is three hundred”	“OK, I will pay you three hundred” “Can I order a plate of meat chunks for him? It is his weekly feeding day!” “Go ahead”

“Oh, thank you sir, both for the food and becoming my master!”	“Is sir new to the city?” “Yes, a tourist. You know of a good place to stay? Spacious, clean and not too expensive?” “Sirrus eleven is just the place sir!”

“Walk out, first left, second right, half a kilometer beyond. You can walk. Too short a distance for a gravohover!	I slid the disk across and the transaction was over.

He did not offer to shake hands. Even if he had, it was doubtful if I would have touched him. He was so dirty. Nevertheless, he saved me of embarrassment and walked away.	Even before I could press my codes, Trixomu walked in with my second drink.

My eyes widened in surprise. Not at the extreme bow, generous cleavage, or the mole on the right breast, but at the physical tickle of my breast!	Only then did I realize that the Gok was in my pocket, settling himself!

She reminded me once again that her shift would finish in less than a hour and a half. “We can go to my flat and there I would surely join you in alcoholic drinks” “Where do you live” “Not too far away. Walking distance”	The Gok jumped back on the table almost the instant her back was turned. I was sure that the exaggerated lurch in her buttocks was entirely for my benefit. “Please don’t trust her master. You will walk into a trap if you go with her!”

Well Mr. Gok! Why do you say so? I read her mind and got the images. She has just spoken on her com console. They are waiting in her flat to pounce on you the moment you land. She is imagining all the money that she would get after handing you over to them!	Who is them? And why are they interested in me? All I have is an octadisk with meager balances.

"Please sir! Don’t lie to me. After all I can not only read minds but am also a privy to your innermost thoughts. I know all about your past and also about your enemies. Not the full details, but as far as my preliminary readings would allow me to know!"	“Can I trust you?” “Try me boss! You are my new master!” “So you suggest that I give her a wide berth?” “Yes sir. It is best if we vacate the place and be quickly on our way!

My octadisk slotted in one final time and completed the transaction. I added a generous twenty five percent tip.	I walked towards the counter and Gok slid back into the pocket, the instant we were in sight of the bar girl!

“It is still half an hour for the end of your shift. I will stroll out for a breath of fresh air.” “Just wait around the corner and I will find you!”	“I shall certainly wait.” “We will surely have a good time honey!”

It was a very crowded street in an extremely busy locality. I tried to imagine what she had meant by good time.	The area reminded me of the concrete slums of my home town.

Crowd, dirt, filth, humans, robots, androids, pollution and cops. I did not expect galactic security to be around!	I could recognize Galactic Security from a mile off, in or out of uniform. “What is this galactic security boss?”

“Well Gok! Don’t trouble yourself with things that don’t concern you. Galactic Security consists of modified men and women” “And now I suppose I mustn’t ask what modification means?”	“Yes Mr. Gok. Let us get back to things of more immediate concern. I wonder what sort of a place “Sirrus eleven” would be?” “Certainly not a healthy place for you sir!”

“What do you mean” “Well sir, Faxigin is lying in wait with his cronies!”	“Who is Faxigin?” “My erstwhile master. He has already sold me six times! You are the seventh customer!”

“Can you give details please Mr. Gok?” “It is so simple. Faxigin targets tourists and those new in town. Your portadisk now has half a billion local credits. At least a hundred million Galactic Standard credits. Probably one of the biggest coups for Faxigin!” My portadisk had a lot lot more, but I was in no mood to illuminate Gok!	He and his friends are already waiting in the room, which his friend at the reception counter will allot to you. They intend to pounce on you the moment you enter!

“Why did you not warn your earlier customers?” “Oh sir! I cant let everyone know about my abilities. Only to my real master can I disclose such important secrets” “I consider myself fortunate that you take me to be so Mr. Gok” “Oh, thank you sir!”	“So what do you suggest” “If you take a left in the opposite direction, you would fin a lot of reasonably priced dwellings. I am sure that you will find something suitable sir!”

The narrow lane widened to a crowded street. On a hunch I took a left.	I was surprised that my “thought reading” Gok did not warn me, because this turned out to be an injudicious choice.

If they had pounced on me without warning, they could well have caused some damage.	But I could clearly see the signals pass between the Android, body builder and the rough looking character.

My mental antennae tingled and in a fraction of a second, I could well understand their plan of wanting to converge on me all together!	My hand went to the back, pressed the button, my lips silently mumbled the sixteen digit code, I felt the hormones rush into my body and I activated!

No no dear reader! Don’t let you imagination take a wild flight of fancy. Too much has been shown on satellite docu-dramas about modified men, Galactic Security and modification! Most of it is false.	An activated man doesn’t suddenly develop claws, fangs and vampire teeth. Nor does he spring and sprout six arms and eight legs.

In any case four protruding teeth and ten twisty pointed claws could hardly help you during a fight! Modification was something entirely else!	But to the un-modified it does appear as if he has multiplied himself.