Brick Bradford and Sandy Sanderson pursue the components of a powerful ray across the Moon, the past, and modern Earth while opposing hostile forces.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
The Weapon Draws Attention
Brick is assigned to support the Interceptor Ray project. Its lethal secondary function attracts the foreign spy Laydron.
Key Events
Government Assignment — Brick is assigned by the government to aid development of the Interceptor Ray. Characters: Brick BradfordLocation: Earth
Ray Defense Purpose — The device is intended to destroy incoming rockets. Characters: Brick BradfordLocation: Earth
Death Ray Discovery — The defensive ray is revealed to have lethal death-ray potential. Characters: Brick BradfordLocation: Earth
Laydron Targets Weapon — Foreign spy agent Laydron becomes interested in the dangerous device. Characters: Brick Bradford, LaydronLocation: Earth
Fifth-Dimension Door — A door into the fifth dimension provides an escape route from criminals.
Location: Earth
Exile On The Moon
A fifth-dimensional escape route leads to the Moon, where the scientist is captured by Queen Khana. The threat of absolute-zero execution raises the stakes.
Key Events
Fifth-Dimension Door — A door into the fifth dimension provides an escape route from criminals.
Location: Earth
Moonward Escape — The escape route leads to the far side of the Moon.
Location: Far side of the Moon
Lunar Capture — The lunar ruler captures the scientist after rejecting his claim of Earth origin. Characters: Queen KhanaLocation: Far side of the Moon
Absolute-Zero Sentence — Queen Khana sentences the captive to death by freezing at absolute zero. Characters: Queen KhanaLocation: Far side of the Moon
Lunarium Requirement — The Interceptor Ray is found to require the rare element Lunarium. Characters: Brick BradfordLocation: Moon
The Lunar Rebellion
The heroes learn that the ray requires rare Lunarium. They join lunar exiles and overthrow Queen Khana before returning with the element.
Key Events
Lunarium Requirement — The Interceptor Ray is found to require the rare element Lunarium. Characters: Brick BradfordLocation: Moon
Meteorite Source — Lunarium, with atomic mass 200, was previously known only from a meteorite. Characters: Brick BradfordLocation: Moon
Alliance With Exiles — Brick and Sandy work with exiles in the lunar wasteland. Characters: Brick Bradford, Sandy SandersonLocation: Lunar wasteland
Lunarium Recovered — Brick and Sandy return from the lunar mission with Lunarium. Characters: Brick Bradford, Sandy SandersonLocation: Moon
A Formula Lost In Time
Lunarium alone is insufficient because the ray also needs a hidden formula. Brick and Sandy use the Time Top to reach an island two hundred years in the past.
Key Events
Lunarium Recovered — Brick and Sandy return from the lunar mission with Lunarium. Characters: Brick Bradford, Sandy SandersonLocation: Moon
Formula Shortage — The device still cannot function because a necessary formula is missing. Characters: Brick Bradford, Sandy SandersonLocation: Earth
Uncharted Island — The missing formula is hidden on an uncharted island two hundred years in the past. Characters: Brick Bradford, Sandy SandersonLocation: Uncharted island
Time Top Departure — Brick and Sandy use the Time Top to travel into the distant past. Characters: Brick Bradford, Sandy SandersonLocation: Earth
Formula Retrieval — The two heroes retrieve the formula hidden on the island. Characters: Brick Bradford, Sandy SandersonLocation: Uncharted island
The Spy Returns
Brick and Sandy retrieve the formula and return to modern-day Earth. Laydron creates further trouble during the final phase of the mission.
Key Events
Formula Retrieval — The two heroes retrieve the formula hidden on the island. Characters: Brick Bradford, Sandy SandersonLocation: Uncharted island
Return To Present — Brick and Sandy return to modern-day Earth with the recovered formula. Characters: Brick Bradford, Sandy SandersonLocation: Modern-day Earth
Modern Earth Trouble — Laydron creates further trouble for the heroes after their return. Characters: Brick Bradford, Sandy Sanderson, LaydronLocation: Modern-day Earth
Final Weapon Crisis — The serial closes its final section with the heroes facing Laydron's continuing threat. Characters: Brick Bradford, Sandy Sanderson, LaydronLocation: Modern-day Earth
Story Breakdown
Government Mission — Brick begins a government-backed effort to support the Interceptor Ray.
Assigned To Scientist — Brick is ordered to aid the scientist developing the ray.
Weapon Duality — The defensive device can also operate as a death ray.
Laydron Pursues Ray — The weapon's destructive potential draws foreign espionage attention.
Spy Interest — Laydron becomes interested in obtaining or exploiting the ray.
Continuing Trouble — Laydron causes additional problems after the heroes return to Earth.
Moonward Displacement — A fifth-dimensional escape route moves the scientific conflict to the Moon.
Dimensional Door — The door is used to escape criminals.
Lunar Capture — The escaped scientist is captured on the far side of the Moon.
Khana's Lunar Rule — Queen Khana's authority creates a deadly obstacle for the heroes.
Freezing Sentence — The captive is sentenced to freezing at absolute zero.
Despot Overthrown — The heroes and lunar exiles overthrow Queen Khana.
Lunarium Quest — The heroes seek the rare element required by the Interceptor Ray.
Rare Element — The ray requires Lunarium with atomic mass 200.
Lunar Exiles — Brick and Sandy cooperate with exiles in the lunar wasteland.
Time-Bound Formula — After recovering Lunarium, the heroes must locate a formula hidden in the distant past.
Time Top Journey — Brick and Sandy travel two hundred years into the past.
Island Retrieval — They retrieve the formula from an uncharted island.
Brick Bradford, soldier-of-fortune and time-machine traveler, is hired to protect the Interceptor Ray, an anti-guided missile weapon. His task takes him to the Moon, where he is captured by subjects of Queen Khana, but is spared because Queen Khana kinda likes him. Back on earth, Brick, Sandy and June get into The Time To (Brick's spinning time-machine) and spin back to the 18th Century where they have to fight off pirates and island natives.
