Author: Mark Budman The Scrabble board and the box fell apart first, but my wife and I soldiered on. We glued the board together with a homemade glue, and the letter pieces made of real wood were still alive. Scrabble was our best way of killing time. What else could you do ...

Author: Thomas Henry Newell “Who?” They wondered. “Bring him?! Bring who?” Adam was the first to voice the thought. The others looked at him. The glowing orb continued to shine in throbs. “No no no,” said Jayce. “Breed him – that’s what it’s saying.” “It’s an ...

Author: Emily Kinsey I sway side-to-side in the back of the beat-up van. My hands, which are zip-tied in front of me, went numb somewhere between Boston and Portland. I struggled to free myself in the beginning, but I gave up well before the snow began to fall. We’re ...

Author: Luca Ricchi Vernon Liu snapped awake as his pod shot up through the bunker hatch into the ashen dusk. ‘Navigation initiated. Destination: Xingjing Earth Federation Great Hall"’ He stretched his olive-hued arms – numb after many hours of induced coma – and squinted ...

Author: Robert Gilchrist “I don’t think this is the way we’re supposed to go,” said Peter. “This is the Celestial Orienteering Championships, Pete,” said Johnson as he picked the last lock on the door. “They’re not gonna make it easy on us.” Tiny plumes of dust ...

Author: Majoki “Get a job! You need to work!” “That’s all I ever do. Work.” “You sit around all day, consuming media and eating junk food. How’s that work?” “I’m dissipating heat energy. It’s vital work and my avowed purpose. It’s life’s true justification: to ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer The two women stand within a wide, white circle. The ground under their feet is powdery. Stalks of bleached grass crumble at the slightest disturbance. Vicki’s unimpressed. “Is this all?” Sharon shakes her head. “This is what the ...

Author: Colin Jeffrey It’s not that I have anything against our new alien companions, especially considering the technology they’ve given us. They just give me the creeps. It’s their eyes - opaque white, motionless orbs that never blink. And their voices! Like rocks dropped ...

Author: Michael Lanni The first thing Captain Elias Korrin felt was the cold, not the crisp sting of cryo-sleep, but a damp chill that clung to his skin. He opened his eyes to a soft amber glow as the Argus Reach’s emergency lights pulsed in time with the ship’s heartbeat. ...

Author: Kenny O'Donnell He had cured the galaxy. Disease eradicated, famine a distant memory, even death itself was no longer a concern. All his doing. And now they wanted his head. Civilians and defected military alike stormed the temple. The siege had lasted several ...

Author: Doug Lambdin Lewis Flaherty opened a cryobox drawer and pulled out the container with the head labeled CB-9, belonging to one Deborah Beale, steam rising out as the inner container became exposed to room temperature. Lewis inspected the case, her head, and the ...

Author: Taylor Pittman They moved around the room, their bodies jerking at odd moments, their voices slipping into mechanical ranges as they served beverages. She could not stop her eyes from trapping the waiters in her periphery. If she looked close enough, she could see ...

Author: Majoki To hell with pleasant dreams. Long live nightmares! Marcus looked at the motto writ large on the smart panel of DreamOn’s boardroom. The corporation’s board was gathered to solicit his opinion. They were going to want his approval. They were going to seek ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer "Where the fook now?" "Jobsheet says left of the second moon and can't miss it." "Yeah yeah. Every bloody time they take the amateur finders word instead of asking for location data. Not like it’s a difficult ask: it’s on the display ...

Author: David Sydney It was a Friday night poker game, with only three left in the hand—Mel, Otto, and Ralph. Ralph, losing all night, was down to his last few pathetic chips. He couldn't believe it. Mel had dealt him four aces. His problems were over. Finally, he was about ...

Author: David Dumouriez “Good afternoon, Zak,” the voice said. “Alright?” Zak replied. “Had a good day?” “Ah, you know. The usual. Bor-ing!” There was a tinkly laugh. “Got any homework?” “Homework? Just a minute … Yeah. Some crap on the digestive ...

Author: Larson Holm He splashed the cold water up into his face and looked at himself in the mirror. It would have to do. Why did she want to talk now? It had been five years, and she’d been the one to break it off. It hadn’t made sense then, what could’ve changed? Did she ...

Author: Brian Ball She wouldn’t look him in the eye. He rattled off questions, but she ignored his ridiculous whimpering. She punctured the vitamin drip, tightened the chest straps and locked his neck in place. Too bad she couldn’t be bothered. She was the last person he’d ...