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One Stone

By submission | July 1, 2012
Author : Thomas Desrochers “Are you sure this is what you want to do, captain?” First Mate Smith didn't sound like she thought it was the best course of action, and Ellie had to wonder if she wasn't right. “It's not what I want to do,” she said resignedly, shoulders slumping. ...
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On the Rail

By submission | June 30, 2012
Author : Cheryl A. Warner I have two minutes to live. That’s a short time to sort out the sum of your life, but it will have to do. Up here, the only currency is air, and I’ve already run out. They start calling you a “short-termer” when you reach the two-week mark. Both the ...
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Loss and Gain

By submission | June 29, 2012
Author : Andrew Bale Bezoragamaradat stared at the gleaming stacks before him, and again questioned the educational preparation of junior officers. “I do not understand, sir – something must have gone wrong!” Understatement. Even such a simple task as this… “Worajak – how ...
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The Traveller

By Stephen R. Smith | June 28, 2012
Author : Steve Smith, Staff Writer Rosa jumped, spilling her latte as the man dropped heavily into the seat across from her, long hair mussed, his face a shadow in the halo cast by the late afternoon sun at his back. "Lovely place this, yes?" His accent almost ...
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No Further My Blood

By Julian Miles | June 27, 2012
Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer The morning breeze is so refreshing here in the heights overlooking the Gordet Pass. We had to stop the Persimma getting through to the Femberul plainsland and this is the choke point. It was going to take old-fashioned grit to hold the ...
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Fortune Teller

By Clint Wilson | June 26, 2012
Author : Clint Wilson, Staff Writer Falkland brushed past the patrons in the smoky bar. He had not visited such a place as this in decades. But he heard that they were back, and he had to see for himself. Glancing around one last time he advanced on the booth. He looked down ...
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Causality

By Duncan Shields | June 25, 2012
Author : Duncan Shields, Staff Writer Infinite branching universes exist. What a drag. The first time I went back in time to change the story of my life, I was really happy. I knew that I’d be able to go back in time, tell my younger self to make better decisions, and then ...
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King of the World Specialty Relocation Services

By submission | June 24, 2012
Author : Andrew Bale “Your three o-clock is here to see you, sir.” “Show him in, Reggie.” The door opened barely enough for the mousy little figure to slide through. Short, skinny, pale, and balding, his physical appearance only reinforced the image of a timid man afraid of ...
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In the Corner

By submission | June 23, 2012
Author : Dan Whitley I am forced once again to stare at the tortured profile of my master as he slaves away under the glow of his bargain-bin computer monitor. The crags in his face cast long shadows as he works. He's trying to write again. He's so gaunt. He doesn't eat ...
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Fresh Inventory

By Stephen R. Smith | June 22, 2012
Author : Steve Smith, Staff Writer The walkway stretched along either side of the manufacturing line beneath it, expanded metal flooring paired with railings of aircraft cable under tension. Beneath them, nestled snug inside a transparent tube, a spherical rig trundled ...
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The Vitruvian Vivisector

By submission | June 21, 2012
Author : Dan Whitley “Detective...” began the Chief as he shook a file folder choked with papers in front of himself. “I give you six months, and you hand me this?” The Detective swallowed hard. “Sir, I am well aware – perhaps more than anyone else on this case – that our ...
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The Best of the USS Essex

By Patricia Stewart | June 20, 2012
Author : Patricia Stewart, Staff Writer “Sir, it’s either artificial, or a new form of celestial object,” reported the Essex’s science officer. “Explain,” probed the captain. “It has about one quarter of Earth’s mass, squeezed into one-sixteenth of its volume. Its average ...
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Dark Watch

By submission | June 19, 2012
Author : Andrew Bale It’s the worst watch in the ship. Kitchen, reactor, sanitary – anything is better than staring out this damn window. It’s so bad you have to pass a psych check before they let you do it, and everyone keeps trying to fail. This job is worse than being ...
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Analogue Vacation

By Duncan Shields | June 18, 2012
Author : Duncan Shields, Staff Writer I blinked twice to fast-forward the counter-person to the ticket purchase but nothing happened. She still stood there behind the counter, asking me again if I had packed my bags myself. I blinked again. Nothing. I sighed. They were using ...
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Floogbags and Rim-holes

By submission | June 17, 2012
Author : Brian McDermott “What's the market?” “68.23 bid for a hundred thousand.” Joh said. The price of Iridium was rising. And out here in the farthest sector, a place the whole galaxy said was populated by floogbags and rim-holes, my little collective was one of the only ...
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The Proceeding

By submission | June 16, 2012
Author : Brian McDermott The hall was cavernous and dark. At one end, standing on a ledge, were the two high ranking Gondrian Council members. Doxenag, an elder, and young Watuu, newly appointed to his position. Doxenag called out. “Come forward.” A light flashed and an ...
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Metatemporal Intervention Bureau

By Julian Miles | June 15, 2012
Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer He’s sitting in the car waving without a clue as to what’s about to happen. Below me, the repository window opens and a man who only wants to make a point by scaring the most powerful man in the world is about to make history. I manifest ...
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Hitching A Ride

By Clint Wilson | June 14, 2012
Author : Clint Wilson, Staff Writer We had endured the slum for generations now. I came from a long line of survivors. Here behind the tattered patchwork fence of our family compound we had fought off countless invaders. But we wouldn’t have to worry about such things ...
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