A Matter of Interpretation

Author : Steve Smith, Staff Writer "I'm sorry, if I'd have realized you were coming tonight, I'd have prepared a more substantial demonstration." The Professor addressed the Investor nervously, moving piles of notes and abandoned test equipment out of his way. "Your message stated ...

It’s Pirate Season

Author : Patricia Stewart, Staff Writer

The sound of a bugle woke me up. Damn, reveille. I hate that sound. I swore an oath to myself that I’d fix that one day. I unzip my “bunk” and float out. As I began to put on my uniform, I smiled again at the poster on the far ...

The Return

Author : Grady Hendrix

“Wait!” he said. “Look at that!”

“What the hell is it?” she asked, slamming on the hovercar brakes.

“You’ve never seen one?” he asked.

She shook her head.

“You’re in for a treat,” he said, bouncing up and ...

Sheer Irony

Author : Sarah Klein

"You must think yourself pretty clever, Mr. Culler," Parkinson said, snickering. "Look at all these devices you've rigged up to catch an intruder. Do you notice how I've been able to avoid every single one without losing a drop of blood?" He ...

Ancestors

Author : J.R.Blackwell, Staff Writer Maja's ancestors conferred in her head before the date. "Wear a dress!" said her great grandmother. "Not that one!" cried her great grandfather "He will think you are a whore, and will offer you money for sex." "Old man, you are behind the ...

Making Up For Lost Time

Author : Duncan Shields, Staff Writer The correctional facility did not work for me.

I left the building with the need to make up for lost time.

I waited exactly one day and sixteen hours before I grabbed someone and dragged him into an alley to resume work on cleaning the ...

If I Could Do It Again

Author : Sam Clough, Staff Writer ...I'd do all the same things. Just faster. There's so much to see, so much to do. When I stop and think of how much time I've wasted - sleeping, procrastinating, unemployed and misemployed, it makes me want to cry. There are all the things I've seen ...

Special Delivery

Author : Kathy Kachelries, Staff Writer "I think mine is a girl," Anju said as she stretched her legs out over the sofa in the resting room. Her hands crossed over her round stomach, which was covered by the stork-printed flannel shirt Special Delivery issued to everyone in the ...

Leisure Time on a Starship

Author : Patricia Stewart

“Honey, I’m home,” I yelled as I entered our spacious 241 square foot twin occupancy cabin. Being married, and serving on the same spaceliner together, entitled us to that extra 103 square feet of living space. But more importantly, it also ...

Tail

Author : Duncan Shields

It's how you react to your life going wrong that defines you.

When you win, you smile like everyone else. It's how you react to obstacles, changes of fortune and sudden lane changes in your life that reveals a true aspect of your ...

Perfect World

Author : Geoffrey Cashmore

The unit amended its status from idle to active and moved from the rest position to its allocated docking bay. Immediately the previous night’s traffic from distant units in different time-zones came into view as a long string of pulsating alert buttons ...

The Dreaming

Author : J.R.Blackwell, Staff Writer Dear Harold, I’m so pleased that you are considering uploading! It would be very nice to have my nephew with me here on the other side. I would be happy to be your sponsor if you decide to cross over. The experience can be confusing at times, ...

For The Cause

Author : J.Loseth, Staff Writer Am I ready for tomorrow? Of course I am. It's the biggest day the movement's ever seen. This rally is going to go down in history, and it's going to change everything. Have a drink? I know I need one. Tomorrow's daunting, but you know what? We need it, ...

Beacon

Author : TJMoore

Captain Reynolds gave the order to swing the ship around for another pass. This was turning out to be more lucrative than anyone had imagined. He kept a close eye on the element survey statistics as they began the next run through the densest part of the emission ...

Counterpoint

Author : Michael Herbaugh a.k.a. "Freeman" Her name is Maria, and I love her with every fiber of my being. She isn't really a Maria, that's just the name I gave her, as naming is a terrestrial custom, and she isn't. Terrestrial that is. She arrived in our system with her brother, whom ...

King of Kings

Author : Grady Hendrix

Stevenson walked down Corridor J-12 and a rustle went through the living quarters. Stevenson was coming! Stevenson was on his way! Stevenson! Stevenson! He turned the corner at Junction J-12/J-13 and the first thing that hit him was the marshy smell of ...

Hollow

Author : Andrew D. Hudson

The night breathes quietly beneath the world. Everything glints and shimmers off the water-smooth curves of ‘tites and ‘mites, catching the half-light of pale glowing fungi in ways our eyes never evolved to expect. Who knew the earth would be so ...

On A Runner

Author : James Smith

She started hallucinating yesterday, and now the center line floats three feet above the blacktop and glows in neon rainbows. Exhaustion makes her slippery in time, and she doesn't know if she's remembering-- or actually seeing-- the sparks she left behind on ...

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