A Wasted Invasion
Author : C. Clayton Chandler They came out of the sky like plumes of fire, these green-skinned sickos with their saucers and their death rays shearing the air, burning atmosphere, coasting smooth and cool out of the everlasting vacuum beyond the bounds of gravity, of…
read moreSunrise
Author : Steffen Koenig The ice from last night was melting on the rocky plateau that lay before him. It had been a cold night. Colder than the previous night, and certainly warmer than the nights to come. His limbs were numb and each movement was a source of pain….
read moreI Watched the Stars
Author : Roi R. Czechvala, Staff Writer I laid back and watched the stars. Occasionally a meteor would streak across the sky momentarily lowering my night vision capabilities, but they were still beautiful in their own way. I closed my eyes… “Shit,… INCOMING.” The…
read moreResearch Science
Author : Patricia Stewart, Staff Writer “Tell me, Mr. Brunner, how did your first date go?” “Very well, thank you. She was quite pretty. Actually, ‘cute’ would be a more accurate word. She had curly blond hair, crystal-blue eyes, fantastic smile, and dimples.” “How…
read moreThe Secret Life of Herbert Quiegman
Author : Roi R. Czechvala, Staff Writer Herbert Quigman was not a man. Well, not a man like you and I. Oh, he had all the parts. Bi-lateral symmetry of course, four major appendages, a head with a nose, mouth, ears and eyes in, more or less, the general configuration…
read moreAllison
Author : Dale Anson We captured her javelin just short of a light year out from Earth. Javelins are small ships, roughly 30 meters long and about 10 cm in diameter at the widest point. Eighteen javelins were launched from a rail gun on the moon six years ago. Each…
read moreProgression of Eidos
Author : Cael Majin C’s hands are buried to the forearms beneath titanium straps, pressing the so tightly that C can feel the small capillaries that have already burst under the restraints, and will form bruises. It asks again. “What is your identification?” A grin,…
read moreDog's Day
Author : Jeromy Henry A spacesuit entered the bar. It wobbled a bit, then reached one white-mittened hand to grab a stool. The cracked, black vinyl of the stool seat spun, making the figure lean over briefly. It finally found its balance, and stiffly swung a leg over…
read moreHouse-Sized Boxes
Author : Matt LaFever “Don’t look at it.” She said while the white light scanned the treeline. He shut his eyes tight and held close to her. The massive truck stayed there for a minute; the two of them shivered in the night air. The second it drove away they started…
read moreStowaways
Author : D. W. Hughes Two-thirds the entire population of Minerva – almost a hundred and twenty thousand people – surrounded the only landing dock of the planet’s only city. Some looked on from peaked control towers, while others watched from a nearby field, spread…
read moreThe Oversight Committee
Author : CharlesHB I wasn’t your normal soldier, but then they weren’t looking for that kind of man. A young physically capable, malleable man, the kind that have been cannon fodder in all history’s wars, they were more interested in my psyche report. Could I…
read moreClinical Trials and Tribulations
Author : Angela Reese I looked up as the door slammed open. “Boss? Bad news?” “Oh, just one more set of forms to be filled out and added to the packet,” she grumbled, handing me the folder. “Honestly, it is getting harder and harder to get permission for human drug…
read moreRetroactive ZPG at the Rainforest Cafe
Author : Roi R. Czechvala, Staff Writer The young couple were blissfully unaware of the silent orange and black striped death silently stalking them. Hidden amongst potted palms and low tables, the tiger padded lightly towards the amorous pair. Honed on the savannahs…
read moreRobot Rebellion
Author : Duncan Shields, Staff Writer The anger burned underground. Robots were expendable but built to last. Their independent power sources were made to go dim after almost a century. K-12b-33 was working in a diamond mine that had collapsed. Not needing air, the…
read moreTo love a machine
Author : Arthur Pershing “Light red would be perfect for your lips.” Abel Porter said to his creation. He was working on a new design of robotic store mannequins. At the turn of the twenty-first century, mannequins were dummies, plastic statues that were dressed and…
read moreStrays
Author : Ken McGrath “Herbie, are you okay? I heard a gun.” “It’s nothing. Get back in the house.” “But I heard…” “What did I say?” he roared, face flushed red behind a bushy, brown beard. Herbert rolled his eyes. He’d have to teach her another lesson now too when he…
read moreClose Cutter
Author : Steve Smith, Staff Writer Berk stroked one gloved hand along her skin, feeling for the gentle rumble of her heartbeat. The beating found, he carefully measured three hands-widths down and slightly inwards along her belly. He cut here first. The plasma torch…
read moreFrame of Mind
Author : Patricia Stewart, Staff Writer The Flagship of The Alliance Fleet, the Apocalypse, approached the fifth planet of the Sigma Octantis system. As the bridge crew was busy performing their assigned duties, Ellison Resnick sat in the Captain’s Chair in the center…
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