A youngling cast eyes skyward upon birth. Energies entered its being, strengthened its mind, its heart. That youngling grew, phased, loved, laughed. Built together a house-family, welcomed partners and friends, life happy and full. Years on, now-grown, they lay ready. Every village eagerly awaiting the next youngling's birth on the morrow. Eyes closed now, their... Continue Reading →
Strength in Peace
Leaves swayed at the ship’s landing. Its team stepped out onto the alien world, fully suited, protected from its thick atmosphere. Deep violet vegetation sprawled toward the horizons ahead. Behind, an ocean of scarlet brine swelled and oozed. “Mission here is to survey, we need to claim this world before the enemy,” the commander said.... Continue Reading →
Raven
> 2237 - 03 - 07 Starship Raven. Departing Earth orbit. Onboard systems reduced. Power rerouted to propulsion system. Maximum acceleration. Destination arrival time: 42,327 Earth years. > 44,564 - 07 - 23 Destination reached. Asteroid mining drones dispatched. Planetary entry sequence complete. Metamorphosis protocol activated. Generational fleet arrival: 27,424 EY. > 57,309 - 04... Continue Reading →
Carrot Cake
“Scanning; water, sand. Beach.” “Correct. This?” “Turbine engines, winged structures. Aircraft.” “This?” “Two humans. Arms around eachother. Content. Hugging.” “What else?” The human watched the Android ponder. “Unable to ascertain without further details.” “Guess.” “Scenarios with highest probabilities are a need for warmth, or pressure to ease physical discomfort.” “Anything else?” “Physical fatigue; a need... Continue Reading →
Ice
“It’s ready. Transferring now,” says the VR technician. “Thanks,” I say, studying the new data floating in my vision. I equip a well-worn headset. Ripples of code give way to a silent darkness, only a lone light shines from behind onto icy ground. I’m pulled along by a gradual acceleration, subtle but present. A chunk... Continue Reading →
Boots
I searched his spaceship quarters for his favourite brown pair amongst the futuristic interior. But I wasn’t supposed to be here, authorities had my signal logged. My team gained access to locked drawers via external game code changes. Highly illegal. I sped up my search. Proximity alarms sounded as I found the pair beneath some... Continue Reading →
Balloon
“Parcels, games, entertainment. Done. Got the coding for decorations? I still couldn’t find it in the system.” “Found something better. But I’ll need help.” We finished everything just as guests arrived, entry pad scanning in each individual. The VIP was en-route, guided by my partner. We all hid. When they arrived, the room scanned my... Continue Reading →
Fireweed
My private aug showed ages beside every face in the room, but maintained each digitally overlaid, customisable appearance. “Miss-“ the one hundred and forty-three earth-year old who didn’t look a day over twenty. “Doctor,” I corrected. Doubt flashed across all faces. “Project Fireweed will be swift and precise,” I announced to the group, “replacing current... Continue Reading →
Black and White
“Rise in adulthood aggression and medieval pre-twenty-third century Earthen ideals.” “Thought we coded them out?” My research partner and I watched the latest group of toddlers through the window. A parent entered, giving their child a new battalion spacecraft toy in place of its baby doll. “You’ll be stronger than the last,” the parent said,... Continue Reading →