Author: James Moran In the days when Earth was small the other planets eyed it hungrily and argued over how they would split it up. Like a mother protecting her young, the Moon circled Earth, a wary eye on each of the planets. She visited the ears of Venus and Mercury ...

Author: David Barber Rumour had it that Mother would soon order them to quit the planet, so Six rose early, trying not to wake her sisters as she donned her mask and breather. Outside, dust swirled around remotes abandoned the previous day by her siblings, who gloved ...

Author: Tom Neuschafer William was not a man of science, which would make traveling through time far more difficult than if he were. But what he lacked in scientific genius, he made up for with practical knowledge and perseverance. And he was now a man of tremendous ...

Author: Majoki *It was obvious the indigenous creature was in an expiring condition,* wrdlgrp expressed matter-of-factly to the processing agent handling his arrival. *Not the issue, wrdlgrp-sln,* the processing agent xtsm shunted back reviewing wrdlgrp’s record of ...

Author: Joey Fazzone "Make it red, make it orange, make it purple, yellow, pink," he sang, twirled, and danced. "Make it brown, magenta, and any shade you think." He winked. His assistant was about to speak before he whirled again, proclaiming dramatically, "So don't ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer Seventeen hours. My backside went numb so long ago it’s taken my legs with it. I’m going to be walking like a geriatric, which is ironic considering I’m unlikely to reach any age close to that if I keep pulling sessions like this. “Have ...

Author: Sasha Wolff See The Sea Jewel zip around the cosmos like a theater bus that know no bounds; see it pop up in the remote corners of this glittering universe like Mary Poppins’ stuffed purse of many surprises; like a magical, mischief-making lunch basket of lipstick, ...

Author: Ken Poyner The replicators have decided we should all eat peanut butter and crackers; for a month the machines have been spitting out endless batches of peanut butter and crackers. Not bad peanut butter, and truly delicate crackers. But it has been a month. Damn ...

Author: Victor Beigelman You get out of bed at the same time you always do: 7:45 a.m. Your alarm was actually set for 7:30, but it’s been years since you got up right when it goes off. You putter into the kitchen and fill the water boiler up to .5 liters with cold water ...

Author: Bill Cox ‘Welcome to HAVOC. Chaos is just next door.’ It’s a great line and Jacob uses it every time a new research team shows up. The newcomers all smile with polite amusement. They have arrived onboard the High-Altitude Venus Operational Concept; a massive ...

Author: John Arterbury I hereby affirm I am not making this statement under duress. This is an accurate account to the best of my knowledge regarding all details surrounding the Eruption Experience, for which, as owner and sole proprietor of Tempus Fugit Travels, I take ...

Author: Hari Navarro, Staff Writer The man thought, and his ideas sieved through his orange stalked teeth and rode upon and into the shit swept place that was his brain. “If this is the end then it’s pretty bloody pathetic”, said this man. “If this is the end then I ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer The door swings shut without a sound. “Axel. Music.” “Recommencing Greatest Hits of the Twentieth Century.” “Switch to Bad Day playlist. Stream to all rooms.” “‘Titan Walks’ have released a new song. Shall I commence with ...

Author: Majoki Currents have always pulled me. When I was a kid, I used to run endless circles inside our three-foot-high, above-ground pool. When I finally felt the tug of the current I'd created, I'd fall back and float in soothing circles. I could do that all day. As a ...

Author: Ruby Zehnder The last thing I see is her face. I don’t recall what she says at that instant, but I remember her shocked expression. I catch her in my arms as she falls forward. She tries to speak, but her mouth is filled with blood. I turn my head away. “’What’s ...

Author: JM Advent Water filled the crevice of tan soil left in the wake of PC749’s hand. The Planetary Cultivator’s visual receptors reeled in scan of the rich tan soil in its palm. It’s masculine lips widened to the test results. After a year of meticulous manipulation ...

Author: Arabella McClendon It's a sleepy, heavy kind of hot. The kind of hot that drives people inside to take their chances with box fans rather than face the sun. My bicycle is rattling in its usual concerning manner. The handlebars got knocked out of alignment years ago ...

Author: Majoki Akeisha could see her breath in little puffs against the pale dawn. Cold. Cold. It was definitely autumn now. The brittle brown leaves crunched beneath her feet as she took her place on the lip of the big grassy bowl where they gathered most ...