Elise

Author : Thomas Desrochers A little girl runs down the street in her bare feet, her vivid orange skirt prancing through the air behind her all the way. She is young, barely six, and more full of life because of it. She loves the flowers in her mama's garden, the cookies that ...

Commute

Author : Steve Smith, Staff Writer In Marco's experience, most catastrophic events start with a simple accident. This evening it was fatigue and hyperfocus, coupled with hot coffee and a snagged lab-coat sleeve. And the nanos. Marco's stool, momentarily balanced on two legs ...

In The Kingdom of the Gods

Author : Patricia Stewart, Staff Writer “Well, there it is Brothergod,” said Sistergod enthusiastically, “the space probe Voyager crossed the boundary of their solar system. By My reckoning, they did it in less than 20 revolutions around the galactic core. Therefore, I win ...

No One Was To Be Lonely Ever Again

Author : Clint Wilson, Staff Writer “Good evening sir, would you care for a bedtime companion?” Jenkins looked tiredly from the edge of his luxury mattress toward the glowing wall console. “I dunno, lemme have a look I guess.” Without answering, the household central ...

Train Train

Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer Thundering down the kaleidoscopic tunnel at point four light and all’s well. Got a cold vodka sliding down to join the steak and chips delivered from the catering car as I look over to where old Max is interfaced to the drive arrays. The ...

Confession

Author : Duncan Shields, Staff Writer The priest wheezed on the other side of the confessional screen. It wasn’t uncommon. Cryogenia malathusmia. Freezer lung, we called it. Or the holy cough. Most people that traveled by cryo in the sleepships ended up with it. That meant ...

Heat Sink

Author : Aldous Mercer Septu’s core-temperature rises as soon as he steps out of the wind. But he keeps his eyes to the ground. The trembling of his father’s hand has nothing to do with the heat and everything to do with gathering other Master-Miners every sevenday. "Greet ...

Rapture

Author : Dan Whitley My people called me a fool. They said it was impossible to leave the surface. That was why no beasts flew through the air. It mattered not if I could imagine a machine that could. My people offered me hollow aphorisms; what goes up must come down. My ...

Veni, Vidi, Victus sum

Author : Bob Newbell The Shallivak landing craft detached itself from its mothership and began its descent into Earth's atmosphere. Turrox, Subjugator of the Jor'demm Empire, Conqueror of the Rinnt Confederation, Destroyer of the Hegemony of the Hyojexxi Star System, Absolute ...

One Way Mission

Author : Darrin Drader I remember giving her one last kiss as I prepared to step into the elevator that led to the nine-stage rocket. “Please, don’t do this,” she said. “I love you.” I remembered laying out in the lawn looking up into the stars of the night sky as a child. ...

Run Like Hell

Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer How does hell run? If it’s moving as fast as your legs can carry you without thought for obstacles or turns, then I’m doing it. Bruised from hitting lamp posts, walls and other things that help you turn at full pelt. I’m bleeding and ...

Stop The Senseless Killing

Author : Clint Wilson, Staff Writer The chancellor stood at the front of the room and cleared his throat. The grand science delegation from all corners of the planet gathered before him and awaited his words. “Despite all our efforts at rectifying the situation The Almighty ...

Minimalism

Author : Steve Smith, Staff Writer The Captain stood just inside the doorway of the hut, regarding with amusement the figure sitting in the lotus position in the middle of the room. "It's over Thomas, we've come to take you back." The Captain scuffed his boot on the unusual ...

Lifespan

Author : Sheldon Kent Stepping out into the street, Stan looked up and closed his eyes as he felt the warm rays of the sun fall upon his face. It’s not as hot here as it is back on Earth, but he liked it that way. It had been nine months since he first arrived on Coson, and ...

Con Man

Author : Regina Clarke “Look. Here’s the deal. It’s a no-brainer. I do all the hard work. All you have to do is wait for my signal and then press this button to start the accelerator.” The old man listening had a worried expression on his face. “What if nothing ...

Puberty

Author : Duncan Shields, Staff Writer This was the day that Speth112 had been looking forward to for nearly three revolutions around the sun. She lay back on the table, reset button exposed towards the ceiling. The technician creaked his way over to her. As a nascent A.I. ...

The Supply Run

Author : Eric Flint "It's real simple, Butch. Just hold the button until you land." Butch wasn't sure who said that, but it was important. Wait. He said that to himself just then. Damn, it was starting. "Just hold the button. Hold the button." Butch whispered the mantra as ...

In Loving Memory

Author : Matthew Wells We watched her give her life for ours and we hated her for it. To be fair, when we learned someone would have to stay behind, no one else volunteered. And she’s not the type you might typically associate with bravery. That made it all the more painful. ...

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