Crush Test
Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer
The bridge is quiet. That special kind of quiet when everyone is busily engaged in not paying attention to something. In this case, it’s the trio who stand in a tight group to the left of the command chair.
“I didn’t mean it like ...
Curtains
Author : David Henson
Bridget goes to the DBG keyscreen in the kitchen, taps in a detailed proposal for Frank and her to host Clarise Jenkins and Tremont West for dinner, then hits SEND.
"Please specify reason for engagement" appears on screen.
Bridget rolls her eyes ...
The Press-Conference of Dr Moreau
Author : David Barber
"Yes," answered Moreau. "A landmark legal verdict."
Absently he trailed a fingertip between the vorpal racer's eye-nacelles and down the streamlined wedge of her face. They had opened windows but the crowded room still sweltered beneath the lights. ...
The Empty And The Dark
Author : Phil Rejmer
Humanity and its lost tribe met, finally, in between the stars. We faced each other, the representatives of each clan, standing in the metal halls of each others' vessels.
It had been so long since humanity had abandoned Earth. Almost as long since ...
Identity Theft
Author : Jules Jensen
She needed a couple more voice samples. And then this would be the perfect catch, exactly what the buyer wanted.
She sidled up closer to him, and nodded to his wife as she browsed the wares for sale at the next booth in the bazaar.
“So, does your ...
Talented
Author : Janie Brunson
"Welcome to the Talent Exchange Office. You must have a talent you would like to trade?"
"Yes."
"What is it? Your talent?"
"I ... I can write poetry. In two languages. Puedo escribir en inglés y español. Sorry, English and Spanish."
"A poet! ...
Additional Benefits
Author : David C. Nutt
Major Janus took one last look at the soldier’s file. Rank & Name: PFC Johnny Benton Ralston. DOB: 12 SEP 2134. HOR: Southington, CT. Psi Aptitude: Off the charts. The accompanying progress reports told a familiar story. Phase I & II of ...
Newsflash
Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer
“I can see it from here, Duke, and it’s quite something, I can tell you. Let me give you and our other listeners what I see.
I’m on Parliament mound, facing south. The river Thames is a shallow umber trail flowing sluggishly from west ...
Clinching the Semi-Finals
Author : Anthony Rove
King Alexander—that was the name he had chosen for himself, anyway—leaned back on his throne. It wasn’t very comfortable. After a lifetime of resting his considerable girth on plush synthetic fabrics, the primitive wood-on-iron chair hurt his backside. ...
Orbit
Author : Andrea Friedenson
“Such an expressive planet,” Lana said. I watched the reflected light from her monitor flow reds, greens, and blues across her perfect face as she admired the image of Earth that floated before us. The data visualization made the planet seem to ...
Mighty Pet
Author : Jules Jensen
The gray fur was dry and dull. The small hollow horns on his head were curly and crooked. She stroked a finger over the horns. He closed his eyes, like he enjoyed the touch. The claws on his four paws were long. They needed to be trimmed at least once ...
Father
Author : Matthieu C. R. Cartron
“And why is it that you wish to explore deep space?” said Allen, the director of the space program.
It felt like an obvious question to Gyron. Why did anyone wish to explore the unknown? For the same reason no doubt.
“Exploration is the ...
Reality
Author : Jules Jensen
I stopped and sighed, and then crossed my arms. This wasn’t a normal game animation, but there was no one out this far, so I didn't have to pretend. A field of short grass met up with a lake. It was peaceful.
And it was hot. I hated the heat, but so ...
The Cow
Author : Charles Paul Wallace
Ashura contorted her body, thrust her arm through the jagged rip in the ship's inner hull and aimed the flash-driver at the stuck bolt.
Which, as ever, refused to turn.
She slumped back down to the shrapnel-strewn floor and considered her ...
The Waiting Mist
Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer
The rolling glens of Morglanwe sweep gracefully down, their bases hidden by the long grasses that gird them. From this side of the gently waving grass sweeps a scattering of low dunes that back the beach on which we stand. In the sunset, ...
Remember
Author : Liam Hogan
“What do you remember?”
It was what they asked. Teacher, Scientist, Mother. The same testing question, always.
Heads bowed, we stared at our desks. We didn’t understand why, but we knew the question was dangerous.
“I... I remember...” a voice crept ...
Sun Piercer
Author : Philip Gustavus Hostetler
It wasn't enough that we could destroy the world with ICBMs. Underground bunkers utilizing solar, wind and tidal power. Seed banks, stem cell grown proteins, aquaponics. It all makes life very liveable in the human, civilized ...
Teaching a Frog Calculus
Author : Matthieu C. R. Cartron
It was after several hours, and, several brief outbursts, that Henry came to a most significant conclusion: A frog simply cannot learn calculus.
Henry was a very smart nine-year-old. So smart, in fact, that he was already taking college ...
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