Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer Tendrils of smoke rise from the ancient bridge, but it stands strong. Atop it’s singed arch, two men stand, their powered-down armour dulled by dirt and char. The tension between them is palpable, even to the concealed observers, far back ...

Author : Sarah Rankin Gordon Fighting his arthritis, Professor Fitzsimmons carefully rolled his stool to the corner of his laboratory. In front of him sat three large sealed coolers. After slicing the duct tape, he pulled out and inspected the first pressure vessel, a ...

Author : Andrew Evans Dane was in a panic. He breathed in a short rhythmic tempo. Cold blue desert surrounded him, as vast as the Sahara and just as deadly. The mercenary’s breath shown in the slight dawn light. The only hope, a small outpost, lay visibly in the distance, ...

Author : David Henson Hurry, Trixie, I say to our Yorkie. As she squats behind me, I notice a bright light above the horizon. I figure it must be a freighter coming back from the mines, but something doesn't look right. Lilly, I say to my wife, let's go out back. I want ...

Author : Mark Thomas The blues singer hung his head, sad and mystified. “But the oscillator confirms perfect pitch.” He looked directly into his band leader’s eyes, and noted a slight dilation in Bob’s pupils, but no sympathy. “Perhaps,” the singer suggested meekly, “if I adjusted the ...

Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer The fist that passes over my noggin ain't much smaller than my skull. The knuckles are ridged with bony plates. I see them facts register with the moke who was threatenin’ me just before his face disappears from view with a sound like a sledgehammer ...

Author : Steve Smith, Staff Writer Dez pulled the bike up to the edge of the tree-line, the electrics going quiet automatically. In the distance, mile-high lamp standards flooded the distribution center with artificial daylight, even in these early hours. Long haulers, ...

Author : Olivia Black, Staff Writer “All you need to do is lie back and when you wake up, the imprint will take over.” Something is wrong. So very, very wrong. The thought blares through my mind over and over, sounding alarms through every synapse and nerve ending. This ...

Author : Beck Dacus My eyechip surprised me while I was eating breakfast by telling me about the traffic on Bernadette. There was a parade blocking the street, and I needed to use Bernadette to get to the grocery store. “Oh.” My wife looked up from her eggs. She’d just ...

Author : Tony Sandy 'Get out and stay out!' Robert looked out of his window. His neighbor was in his drive, surrounded by suitcases and other personal paraphernalia. He leaned out of the window. 'Thrown you out again?' He said, not so much as a question but as a ...

Author : John Pedersen I do beg your pardon, sir. Please forgive the inconvenience. Oh, no sir, I assure you we are not out of anything. Well, sir, the National Weather Service has issued an atomic advisory, and we must insist all our customers move away from the ...

Author : Eric Spery 27 December, 2033 A thin sunbeam streamed through a crack in the blinds. It lit John Kohl’s pregnant wife Angie as she snored quietly in bed. He sat at his desk drinking coffee. Watching her. His pack leaned against the door. Yet another ...

Author : Russell Bert Waters It's not easy being a psychopath. I don't care about others, but I also don't care about myself. I've never felt a connection, and I've always been curious about what would happen if I did certain things to people or animals. So, I did ...

Author : Rollin T. Gentry "Argh! You...you hammerhead-shark-looking son of a bitch!" I yelled aloud for the first time since I'd started playing this alien's stupid game. "You took the cows. You took all the cows?!" Steaks ... gone. Butter ... gone. And nothing to ...

Author : Neil Floyd We don't like to use that word. It sounds negative, don't you think? The whole procedure is much safer now. Please, try the caviar. It's real. No, I insist. Our motto explains it all: "Freedom From Form." Nobody uses their brain's full processing power. ...

Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer Just another day at the office, sitting on my ladybird, chatting with my blue owl friend. I named him Percy, and he’s smarter than your average owl. Which he should be, being that up until 09:16:32 this morning, he was the icon for my ...

Author : Russell Bert Waters Road-weary we pulled in and parked outside the motel office. This was our first time in the North East, and we weren't even sure exactly where we were. Somewhere outside Maine, I think. I looked out at the horizon, and it lit up twice, ...

Author : J.D. Rice My hand shakes as I desperately try to keep myself from pulling the trigger. I stare at the man who wears my husband’s face, my eyes filled with tears. He looks hurt. Concerned. Maybe even betrayed. So convincing. “Sarah, put the gun down. Please, ...