Send in the Clowns

Author : Roi R. Czechvala, Staff Writer They had been walking for weeks. They could easily pick their destination at night, or rather avoid a destination from the bluish glow low on the horizon that signalled a radioactive crater where a city once lived. They were hungry, ...

Where, When and Why?

Author : David Bastin “Why,” asked the Captain, “have the engines all stopped?” The Chief Engineer grinned. “You never were a man to ask an easy question?” he said. The Captain raised his hand and repeated himself. “Why, he asked, “have the engines all stopped?” The ...

Incarnate

Author : Ian Rennie It was the last day of the forty third reign of the Enduring Prophet, and all was right with the world. The prophet was now bed-bound, and it was widely expected that soon his spirit would leave behind this mortal form, and appear incarnate in his ...

Someday

Author : Erik Goranson Jane and Ellis floated parallel to one another across the vast canvas of space, eyeing the marble-like planets that slowly crept past them. Their skin reflected the starlight with a dull orange sheen. Ellis had called it 'planet gazing,' an activity he ...

Blue Beams

Author : Duncan Shields, Staff Writer Anyone or anything that enters the blue beams are sucked up into the ships and never seen or heard from again. The ships populated the sky in one rush of deceleration all around the world. The night side of the planet suddenly gained ...

Who’s life is it anyway?

Author : Brian Varcas It takes two to tango, so the old saying goes. Nathanial Rogers was doing just fine alone, thanks to the wonderful people at LifeChange Inc. who’s strapline was, “Who will you be today?” Lifesharing™ technology, the company said, was a natural, if ...

Starry Night

Author : Roi R. Czechvala, Staff Writer “Hell? Hell is what you carry in your heart. All your regrets. Things you should have done but didn’t. Things you did but shouldn’t have. That’s Hell. You carry Hell with you.” Without another word he stood and walked out beyond the ...

Visitation Rights

Author : Andrew DiMatteo “Hey there Col! I haven’t seen you in a while. How have you been?” “Honestly? Things have been pretty crazy.” “Come to think about it, I seem to remember Bill saying something happened between you and Deb… is everything ok?” “Not really man. ...

Ego Loss

Author : Damien Krsteski The receptionist was tapping her pudgy fingers impatiently on the desk. Leaning on one hand, her pale face hid momentarily behind an inflating chewing gum bubble until a loud pop revealed a familiar expression of utter boredom and listlessness. She ...

First…and last contact

Author : Brian Varcas There was no doubt about it. That was definitely Hendrix! Brad had every recording the legendary guitarist had ever made, including every bootleg live performance. He could easily tell the difference between the real thing and the myriad of guitarists ...

The Quantum Mind

Author : James Rhodes “Do you know why you keep making the same mistakes over and over?” Susan asked. Daniel shrugged, he didn't really care. “It's because you're forgetful.” “OK.” “Well, what are you going to do about it?” Daniel didn't really feel like talking, least ...

Furniture Music

Author : Jason Frank "Would you drop it already?" not really a question, not the way he said it. "They are not alive. A little self repair, a little self preservation, and occasional self replacement do not make things alive. They make them some damn good products that cost ...

Childcare

Author : Julian Miles "Dear Tara, If you're reading this, then I have just died again. I am sorry that I will miss Luke's sixth birthday and even more grieved over missing our eighth anniversary. That brings me to evens now, I promise to try and make the ninth. Never forget ...

Hand Out

Author : James Orbesen My comfort worn wooden chair stands at attention in the city glow of a midnight rainstorm. Droplets patter, tapping on the glass of my three floor-to-ceiling windows as I sit six floors above the sidewalk and peer down at umbrellas weaving a complex ...

Contenders

Author : A. S. Andrews Reboot. You’re only a runner up. There’s no box office fame in your future. Come on now. Remember how, in preschool, they gave everyone medals, so no one felt left out? And how, in grade school, they had graduations for all the grades, so everyone ...

Ride the Lightwave Home

Author : Damien Krsteski "So, will you finally tell me why we're here?" The ice cubes rattled as Jane drank the remaining drops of her orange juice and vodka cocktail. "I hate it when you're so secretive." Nick smiled and slurped his vodka. Krylania was a wondrous place. ...

The Inner Frontier

Author : Jason Verch Fred sat quietly as they finished attaching the myriad of sensors to him. Dr. Samuels, the man in charge of the experiment, fitted an oxygen mask over his face and said, “That’s everything.” “Don’t worry,” Dr. Samuels said, “we’ve got everything covered. ...

Ruffles and Flourishes

Author : Roi R. Czechvala, Staff Writer “… as well as outstanding valour…” He stood unmoving before the division. His dress blues, marking him as a Master Gunnery Sergeant of the Northern Confederacy’s elite Marine Corps, stood out under the brilliant lights against the ...

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