Streetcars
"#Knocker two seven this is Stretch, orbital bombardment had ceased. Push given vector to sector seven three two nine and secure atmosphere.#" "Copy Stretch," Book said, the pilot and captain of our small interceptor. "Knocker flight two seven...
Wet Cement: Chapter 13
The sun made Rika squint as she stepped into the unit's parking lot, despite being low in the sky. [Thank god,] Gamun said, the door to airframes banging shut behind them. "You said it," Rika said. "I was starting to worry about what we would do...
Wet Cement: Chapter 12-2: Sleep
"After you," Echo said, holding the door open. "I still can't believe he made you give them your key. Now I'm paranoid. What do you think they're going to come in here and do?" She collapsed into an easy chair. "I don't know. They live upstairs....
You Are Mine
You are Mine Sleet stung my face every time the breeze blew it under the overhang. I leaned back against the wall and slid down to sit on the tiny patch of dry concrete that ran along its length. I watched the pellets of ice bounce off the concrete...
Wet Cement: Chapter 14
Shepard stared at the ground as she walked back towards the hanger, helmet bag in hand. She'd have to speak with Mallet and Flatface tonight. They kept pushing. It was unintentional and she couldn't blame them, but even from her silence they were...
Wet Cement, Ch. 15: Lines Blurred
They had been put on alert the evening Flick announced the koaku assault had been squashed, and continued their 12-on, 12-off schedule for the next two days (FLI-682 did not) until someone finally set some big brass straight and they were told to...
Streetcars 7: Winter
It's been three days since Crunch and Elizabeth had what Boomer calls a "Holycomto Jesus meeting". I don't get it, but the others think it's funny. Anyway, last night we had snow. Real snow. As in a foot of it, not the little...
Wet Cement: Chapter 12-3: Calculus
There was a jostle and he opened his eyes. The lights were on, the red circle was gone, and he could move again. Mallet was standing and stretching. "Awake, sunshine?" "Yeah," Pearson mumbled, sliding out of the bunk and scooting to the side in...
Wet Cement: Chapter 11
There was a light bump as the skids touched down onto the bay's deck. The massive doors closed and there was a pause as the bay depressurized. A light above the personnel hatch into the rest of the ship turned green, indicating safe pressure and it...
Kitchen
The Kitchen He used to stand right here. I would sit like this next to him and play while he made and shaped the dough. At least that's what I'm told. My brother said he died in the defense of Belgrade while I was still very young, and though I...
Wet Cement: Chapter 12-1: The Bigot
Rika set the test unit behind her and plunged back into the open panel, straining down until her waist was against the edge of the hole. She reached down, attempting to grab the probe while her weight shifted, threatening to send her tumbling into the...
Poem: Flameout
It all goes quiet That's when you know It's happening again The nose pitches forward, So you haul back on the stick For a moment a response But it's gone all too quick Your heart, like your head, Knows what's below Knows what is...