Author: David Penn On this planet in the Emerson V system, sardonically named Jacob’s Ladder by its first explorers, the dominant species looks superficially like an Earth stick insect. However, these creatures are as large as our blue whales, have ten minutely-jointed ...

Author: Allyson Foley His breathing was deafening in the confines of the helmet as he clung to the wreckage of the Palindrought. That thing had looked like one of theirs. Its clearance codes had checked out. Its hull, the call sign, even its frequency and flight ...

Author: James Kelbert There was a tuna casserole baking in the oven as X forked its human to death. The timer went off just as the half-crusty blood oozed from the pale corpse onto the Formica countertop. In a vain expression of regret, X repeatedly smacked its trapezoidal ...

Author: Majoki In the dappled sunlight she felt the late afternoon breeze turn the tide against the day’s heat. So pleasant, so perfect, like so many hundreds of summer evenings before in her back garden. She brimmed, feeling the privilege of contentment. But how to say ...

Author: J David Singer Alex hummed as she crossed the desert. Not with any kind of tune, just a prolonged contented sigh; almost a purr. In her arms, she held a small, rectangular, steel container with ridges on two sides. These ridges, she knew from long experience, should ...

Author: Dave Ludford He reached the brow of the steep hill just before noon with the blazing sun at its apex making him feel drowsy and slightly nauseous. He dismounted from the equus and the sure-footed but cumbersome beast grunted in relief. The sense of unease he’d felt ...

Author: David C. Nutt “Excellency, the Chair of the Preservist department is here as requested.” “Very good, send him in.” The Chair of the The Preservist Department, formally The Office for the Preservation and Purity of Galactic Standard Language, floated in, his formal ...

Author: Mina ALENA'S ADOPTED MOTHER, CAROL: We consider ourselves blessed with our adopted daughter. It hasn’t always been easy – we had to teach her not to stand out. It’s hard to dim your light, but she understood by the age of three that she would be taken away from us ...

Author: Daniel Aceituna The new AI phone app used the latest research in non-linear regression to predict the future. Local data combined with GPS and relevant global data was all it took to give a remarkably accurate prediction of what would happen within the next ...

Author: Philip G Hostetler Maggie's been gone for a while now. But not into a black hole this time. Normally she'd discorporate into the metaphysical unknown but this time, she's just been… …happily traveling. I miss her, like a solar system misses it's rogue ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer The clearing lies deserted in the last light of the moon. Amidst the silver glow, two indistinct figures flicker into view, sat on the weathered altar stone at the centre. Of the two, the smaller is clearer, appearing as a pale woman with ...

Author: David Dumouriez THIS IS NOT A DRILL! REPEAT: THIS IS NOT A DRILL! Lieutenant-Commander Rane had received the warning minutes before the alarm sounded. The destiny that nobody wanted was hers. It was happening on her watch. Eight distinct generations ...

Author: Ruby Zehnder “It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, mom. I can't pass it up.” Rachel didn't reply. She had heard these words before. When Naomi moved to India to live with her father, Rachel didn't stop her. When she moved to Cambridge to attend MIT, she encouraged ...

Author: David Barber The generation ship Pilgrim was the first to set out for the worlds of Centauri. A century into the voyage, faint messages spoke of problems and conflict. After that, nothing. A subsequent mission by the c-ship Unity revealed no trace of Pilgrim. In ...

Author: Alia Tyner Suddenly, Astyn heard the alarm go off. He had gone too far, and now the red lights flashing around him told him it would be over soon. He leaned back against the cold metal of the lab walls. He just needed to catch his breath. He was too far from the ...

Author: Daniel Aceituna After the existence of multiple universes was verified, It only took two years to figure out how to peek into them. “History-wise, planet 19002 in universe 156A looks exactly like ours.” Paul Smith, the CIA director, said. “However, their timeline ...

Author: Majoki Maggie stepped through the door and joined them on the Porch. Her dress swayed in the uncanny breeze of arrival and the others smiled without smiling. They spoke without movement. “You here to watch?” “Love to. If that’s okay.” “You’re welcome. ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer She slowly places her hand on his shoulder, then digs her thumb into the back of it where the Patrolman can’t see. One last attempt to get her son to calm down. He shifts uncomfortably, but continues to glower at the uniformed man they ...