Author : Nicholas Ilacqua Bill asks, “What’s the other thing?” Then putting down the glass of synthetic whiskey, he runs his hands through his greasy long hair, staring straight ahead. Pete looks at Jason with a squint and listens, scratching his stubbly salt and ginger ...

Author : Janet Shell Anderson I don’t like the severed heads. Well, nobody does. I like evenings along the Potomac, down near where my father worked; a civil engineer in the White House, he designed the new deep shelter and the tunnels. But I mostly stay in Silver ...

Author : Beck Dacus From Earth, the lie was invisible. Looking up would present you with a deep blue sky, maybe some clouds sometimes, and a bright yellow sun (white from Low Earth Orbit). But I was on the Moon; nothing was the same. Here there was stark grey ground, a ...

Author : Angela McQuay “Flickenborge?” Jason asks. I hand him the remote. Like most couples who really get each other, Jason and I have developed a language of our own. “Grinkenlarger.” “You’re welcome.” You have to hand it to Jason, the man is damn attractive. ...

Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer Stan punches my shoulder as I use part of a Glenniser weapon to fix his rifle. “Is there anything you can’t do?” I grin and cuff him toward the battle. Things I can’t do? Her father knew - I can still hear his words: “You fought ...

Author : Liana Mir The surgeon was laying out her scalpels in the tray when she dropped one, stopped cold. The pulse of the city washed through her beneath her skin, a sensation itching through her brain and mind, the power a sudden shock. She hadn't started the operation ...

Author : David K Scholes “He’s on the Universe list,” said the enigmatic entity. “My son only lived for 2 days,” I replied astonished. “Though he survived my wife who died soon after giving birth to him.” “Oh, he’s on the list all right, as is everyone who ever knew ...

Author : Morrow Brady The reward for being the first nanobot to give itself a name was a frontal attack by the world’s tiniest army. Scid, as it so called itself, didn't hesitate. As nanobot brethren surged forward, Scid ran a preloaded defensive manoeuvre - titled - ...

Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer Doctor Jessup is terribly polite. We’re stirring our coffees before he asks his first question. “What started it?” I smile: “Why do they all add up to six?” “Pardon?” “You asked what started it. That question is the answer. I ...

Author : Robin Husen She stood on a cliff above the city and watched it burn. Buildings flared, flamed and disappeared into smoke, silent in the seconds before the sound reached her. She remembered plucking dandelion clocks, and blasting them apart with a puff of air. You ...

Author : Sheryl Normandeau “See these skyscrapers here?” he says, jabbing a finger at the pile of photographs splayed out on the tabletop. “I made ‘em all.” I stare up into the red-rimmed eyes of Phillipe L’Oiseau, and frown. The man is staggeringly drunk, and the worn, ...

Author : Russell Bert Waters My name is Alex. Today is Saturday, September 24, 2016. It’s a bit overcast outside. There’s a nice breeze. The trees are beginning to drop their leaves, and Autumn is right around the corner. I hope this letter finds you well. There are ...

Author : Leanne A. Styles I woke, squinting through the harsh dawn light; the girl’s bloodied face emblazoned on my brain. It was always the same girl, from the Whirlpool galaxy. I couldn’t remember which planet. They all blurred into one. Like the battles. The ...

Author : Steve Smith, Staff Writer The elevator descended to the hospital basement, and she followed the orderly through the open doors and down a pale green hallway. He was speaking, but she listened instead to the hum of the overhead fluorescent lights, and her heels ...

Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer “Have you seen what they do? Have you?” He’s right in my face, so I priv-jolt him and uplink for a Poliz. To my surprise, he drops to one knee and bows his head: “Ow! Chica, you didn’t have to zap me.” I take a step back: “Too much ...

Author : Olivia Black, Staff Writer “What is wrong with that cat?” Jacob grumbled under his breath what was easily the millionth time. All morning the furry creature had been meowing like something was very wrong in the world. He didn’t get it. The thing had food, fresh ...

Author : Aaron Koelker Two Cardinalis cardinalis, the northern cardinal. Five Zenaida macroura, the mourning dove. One Toxostoma rufum, the brown thrasher. And the highlight of the excursion – one Pandion haliaetus, an osprey! I couldn’t wait to tell Maria, but for now I ...

Author : Mark Cowling I had Dad drop me off at the rear of the complex. Last time I didn't know better and rolled up to the front, got swarmed by the news-crews and the paps and like a thousand screaming fanboys. It was super embarrassing to be driven there by my parents, ...