Decommissioned

Author : Michael Herbaugh a.k.a. "Freeman"

I’m sitting

That’s my first thought

I can’t move my hands

That’s the next thought. Then like a lightning bolt, I’m fully conscious. I know where I am and I know why I am here.

“WAIT! I ...

Robbie's Repair

Author : Selena Thomason

Robbie woke to find himself in a strange room.

A man appeared at his side. "How are you feeling?" he asked, placing a hand on Robbie's metal shoulder.

"Strange," Robbie replied slowly.

"Do you know who I am?"

"No."

"It's ...

The Sounds of Music

Author : Kaj Sotala

On the remote planet of Niere IV, countless minds were constantly being played for a vast audience of listeners. Deep within the planet's crust, the brains were enclosed in immense suprasteel vaults, floating in vast chambers of nutrient liquid. Protected day ...

Homecoming

Author : Debbie Mac Rory

Daniel fell to the grass so that the air from his lungs exited with a whoosh. He closed his eyes and let the cool of the earth leach the tension from his shoulders. When he opened them again, clouds drifted serenely by, lit by the twin moons and the gentle ...

Hey, Rube!

Author : Steve Smith, Staff Writer "You know, puny human, you're about to die?" The voice reverberated off the store fronts, assailing the ears like broken glass. "You think you're faster? That you can outgun me?" The biped stood stoic, unusually tall and peculiarly ...

Quiet

Author : Pyai

She tapped me on the shoulder as I placed the rubber lid over the last of the macaroni casserole. I didn’t turn around.

“You’re quiet,” she said. She knew. I nodded.

One of the caterers came over to me and took the dishes away from in front of ...

Player Two

Author : Duncan Shields

I wake up. It’s dark. I’m in chains.

I’m in a prison cell. Like in a castle. Like in the middle ages.

Straw on the floor, mortared brick stonework, metal door, the whole bit. My lenses adjust. Clearly this is a construct. Incongruously, ...

Transformation

Author : Sarah Klein

He was getting another body. Again.

Always something new, though. Many people got almost the same body again - erase my scars, make me look younger, but I want to keep my fingerprints, they'd say. Smooth out the wrinkles, get rid of my freckles - that ...

Ian Gets Involved

Author : Selena Thomason

Ian knew he shouldn’t get involved. Still, he set down his drink, tapped on the towering back next to him and said, "Look, why don't you leave her alone? Clearly the lady is not interested."

The hulk turned towards him, which is when Ian noticed ...

Corewoman

Author : Sad Sama

"What's it like?"

The pale-haired wispy woman that is Alicia stares up at Brian as he asks his question. From the observation deck behind the engine complex the two of them could view the planet below. It is a humbling sight, but Brian's attention is on ...

Alternate 6633KE

Author : Joshua Reynolds

The dead moved on surprisingly swift legs, despite muscles that had to be mostly composed of rot. So he ran faster.

It had been a meteor, carrying a star-sickness. That was what had caused it. It wouldn't have mattered if he hadn't been here when it ...

Yar

Author : TJMoore

Simon checked his course and speed against his charts. He was still only marginally ahead of the others but he hoped to be well ahead at the far buoy. He checked his lines and glanced at his sail which was full and tight. He relaxed and went below to fix some ...

Apology

Author : Rusty

People of the earth, I am sorry.

Mostly, I am sorry for the weapon pointed at me head, which you cannot see on your screen. But I think I am not as sorry as the person holding that weapon, who is hopefully debating wildly whether or not he should shoot me as ...

Blown Cover

Author : Duncan Shields

It’s Sao Paolo all over again. I’ve got three bullets left in the low-tech and half a charge left in the high. I have six pencil holes straight through me that are cauterized from the setting on the sniper’s gun. They want this to be extreme cat and ...

Signal Strength

Author : Joshua Reynolds

"I'm glad you're here." Tom looked up at her, a smile on his face. It didn't reach his eyes. Jane sat heavily, her belly swollen, brushing a strand of hair out of her face as she returned his smile with one of her own. It was weak though. Six months ...

A Perfect Alibi

Author : J. S. Kachelries

Peter Drommel’s plan was flawless. He needed to kill Sebastian Keer, and make it look like suicide. And today would be the day. They were both presenting papers at The Fifth Annual Conference of Temporal Physics. Keer was presenting at 1:00. ...

Sam Spade

Author : TJMoore

It was a Thursday. I’d just finished a little job for the landlord and I was looking through my latest copy of Dames when the bell rang. I looked at the monitor and saw a sultry blonde dish in a fancy red dress waiting at my door. Not being one to pass up a ...

Lost to the Music

Author : Kate Thornborough

“It’s ready, sir. Right this way.” said the visibly nervous neuroscientist, guiding the heavily decorated general to the sterile testing chambers. The rooms were small and each contained a test subject, a bed, and a small stereo. The subject paced ...

Random Story :

  • Dreamcrafter

    Author: Roger L. Wang Erik fumbled about in the bed …