Busy
Author : Callum Wallace
The heavy perfume of roses assaults my nostrils; the smell of youthful summers spent in glittering woodlands, diamond rivers, fields of grass blowing in the wind. I barely remember now.
I stink of my work; darkness, shit and fear. The rank taste sits ...
Dry
Author : Beck Dacus
The organic machine hobbled unsteadily on the shoreline, leaving wet tracks in the sand. The gelatinous-lensed camera gazed up and the blue sky, and noticed a strange crescent, apparently far above, lit by the Sun. This was a surprise to the remote ...
The Decider
Author : Gray Blix
It had been nearly a year since he'd brought a girl home, and his heart raced as he fumbled in his pocket for keys.
"Need help?" she asked, groping in the general area of his pocket.
Her face so close, he couldn't help but say, "You're beautiful."
"You don't have ...
ADSE
Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer
The metallic grey blob shot across the cavern and landed with a wet ‘splat’ in the circular tub of turquoise gel. The conical lid had an aperture the exact size to admit the blob, and a length of cone precisely calculated to prevent any gel ...
Ten Gs
Author : Olivia Black, Featured Writer
“Some things are too good to be true.” That’s what my mom would say if she were here. Of course, if she were here she’d also be telling me to tuck in my shirt and watch my language, so thank god she’s not. No, it’s just me here, trying to figure ...
Collision Course
Author : Rick Tobin
“You, Mister…” The pause came as the micro servers moved quietly in the administrator, shiny and stoic, with a mere chest and head. Minute flashes drifted over hardened aluminum oxide in ever flitting artificial eyes. Arms were unnecessary. Improved perforated ...
The Lingering Evacuation
Author : Christopher Ferri
“Wait, just one more look,” Mary said to Arthur before heading back into the house. Having just gotten seated in the car, he put the key into the ignition and let out a sigh before running his hands back through his hair.
Arthur gave a small pound on ...
Real Heroes
Author : Callum Wallace
Ain’t even the puppets that’re the problem, you know?
It’s the heroes.
Useless, mate. Zoomin’ in with their lasers, their super strength. Christ, gimme a rifle and a scope any day, never mind that bollocks.
Shit.
Goes to show, bein’ the world’s ...
It Must Be A Wonderful Place
Author : Sharon Molloy
Every night, a man would look up at the moon and stars.
Astronomy had been his boyhood hobby. He knew about the ice volcanoes on Neptune, and Saturn’s diamond rain. Even more amazing worlds surely existed in outer space. “It must be a wonderful place,” he ...
Can’t Live With ‘Em
Author : Callum Wallace
"They're disgusting."
"Nah. I think they're kind of cute." Loden scratched her nose. "Besides, they're useful."
Donaal sniffed. "As a resource."
One approached them now. Soft and pink in the bulky atmos-suit, thick lips spread over stained ivory in ...
Caught One
Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer
A breeze blows down the alley, sweeping past the small crowd, ruffling the blonde hair that lies across the tarmac like a discarded wig. Detective Blake wished it was just that, and not flowing locks attached to a beautiful corpse.
“Did ...
In the Dark Areas
Author : Olivia Black, Featured Writer
“Hey Ed? What’s this light mean?” Maureen said, tapping the bulb with her index finger. The panel she examined covered the entire wall with its indicators and switches. The whole thing was dead except for that one blinking red light.
“What ...
The Social Integer
Author : Phil Berry
Fen Larsen entered the office of the Colonial Governor. He was too nervous to take a chair.
“A disaster, Larsen! The first outright social implosion to occur in the colonies for three hundred years. I want an explanation.”
“I can explain.”
“Proceed, ...
Plasma Roulette
Author : Joseph S. Pete
The detective demanded to know why Kyle’s friend offed himself with the plasma blaster.
“He was playing Russian roulette,” Kyle stammered. “We had just seen it, in a movie.”
“What kind of movie?”
“An analogue movie, that he was streaming from some ...
Paralysis
Author : Beck Dacus
“I assume you already know why the planet is called Trigger.” The tour guide had put too much faith in me.
“No, actually. I've been wondering.”
He let out a strained sigh. He then began to recite something scripted. At least I assume it was.
“From ...
Cryptic Increments
Author : Terry J. Golob
I ride the slow rails on the trashed echelon in a dying sector of the multi-city; the rotting, moss-covered penthouses glow fuzzy green in an opalescent fog. Crusty, white-scaled pipes of flimsy scaffolding demarcate progress not made, improvements not ...
Like Magic
Author : Samuel Stapleton
She shuts the door hurriedly behind her. Gently sets her pack on the floor.
“Raey, you were supposed to be back hours ago. Why wouldn’t you answer your comm?”
She freezes, too caught up in whatever she’d been doing to have remembered to craft a ...
The Wreck of the Varangio
Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer
First we got lost. Then we got ambushed. If we hadn’t got lost, I’m sure that wouldn’t have happened. Which would have saved the lives of sixty-eight beings, and let me avoid drifting through uncharted space in a Terlestraian escape pod: not ...
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