We were in my office. The old dog lay in Simon’s lap. “She’s been with me twenty years,” he said. “Seems like forever.” He had been bringing her to my clinic for three years. “You got her while you were… Continue Reading
Ike Garrison staggered from his bunk to the small sink on the opposite wall of his cabin, awoken from a fitful sleep by an abrupt jerk of the ship. He grasped the sink to steady himself and felt the unmistakable… Continue Reading
Captain Lewis tapped the flashing button. “Captain, here.” He left the line open and reclined back. “C-captain,” it was Maintenance Officer Jones’ voice, “w-we’ve g-got a b-b-bit of a p-problem w-w-with line thrusters. T-they’ve b-b-burnt out.” His words sounded like… Continue Reading
“When did Napoleon die?” asked Brandy from across the library table. Jake couldn’t look up. His cheeks felt hot. “1821.” His fingers didn’t pause on the keys of his mini. “You had that memorized?” Jake hoped she wasn’t going to… Continue Reading
Johnny entered the dining hall for breakfast with his usual shudder. He sat down and the waitress handed him the native-food menu. He glanced at it, knowing perfectly well what was on it, and his stomach churned. Fried planchworms. Targleweed… Continue Reading
This time when Roo woke them up, some of the colonists began to cry. They looked around with eyes still bleary from deep sleep, at the medical robots that stood ready to check their status and Roo waiting to take… Continue Reading
“Okay, professor — the joists are all in place, so you don’t have to worry about the ceiling collapsing on your head.” The man in a hardhat stepped aside for the head archeologist. Professor Montague, small and bone-thin, wiped dust… Continue Reading
The barbarians are at the gate and I’ve locked myself outside. I’ve been trying to think of a good analogy for the situation I’ve gotten myself into, and the best I can come up with is this — you know… Continue Reading
Gwen was at her wits’ end. Mother was going in for a Modification… again. “Are you absolutely certain you want to do this, Mother? It’s so extreme.” Candace Chesterwood tossed a stack of silk handkerchiefs and a lavender pomade into… Continue Reading
“I don’t know, Krupper, these dwellings look pretty small for creatures as large as us.” “Everything’s fine.” “You said that last time.” “Come on, Jons. You know I had to do all my work before on that crappy old machine.… Continue Reading