Mud coated my exosuit boots as I moved toward the day's co-ordinates. My breath replaced the once-rhythmic wash of waves. "Water levels still decreasing, decided when you're returning?" "Another season won't hurt," I glanced at the data, deep activity readings implied microscopic life, "hate to lose ground." The receding waters left behind new questions previous... Continue Reading →
Timeless
Despite countless weeks spent on coding and design, she'd almost forgotten the outfit. School notification; dance-hall activated. Eyes closed, chest tight, time to upload. Other students uploaded too, filling the dark virtual dance-hall with a chaos of colour. The guests contrasting with timber decor meant for long-lost tuxedos and ballgowns. She took a moment to... Continue Reading →
Learning
Girl peers at alien, watches its smooth movements, long white hair shimmering in the sunset. Hens in the coop cluck wild like their party's gone wrong. Alien shows Girl how to lock the gate. There's a hen out though, and another. "Chickens," Girl points. "Ch-ck," Alien tries to form the word, it's been learning. "No,... Continue Reading →
Irreplaceable
"Hanniah likes lego for fractions," he said, packing a bag to leave. "Of course," she said. Of all the teachers, he could trust her. She'd take care of the kids. He knew this. "And Kione needs to ask lots of questions. Answer them all, please," he scanned the room for remaining valuables. "Always." Sirens blared... Continue Reading →
Swift Passage
The alien planet hung like a pool of blue. Their only stop on a one-way journey. Their vessel's final dregs of energy concealed them in orbit while their shuttle fell into the alien atmosphere. The violent entry rattled the shuttle, pilot and crew breathed deep lungfuls, fighting to clear their minds, to imagine a paradise... Continue Reading →
February 2021
The Incident Friday 12th Feb 2021 So we're now two weeks into the month, the kiddos have been back at school and I've been smashing out them words, doing a few workouts a week, joining in for the twice-weekly Create-Alongs run by Sarah Rhea Werner, sleeping enough, eating well, drinking lots and so on, so... Continue Reading →
Twenty-Fifth
Routine suit-up. Routine airlock cycle. Routine tether anchorage. Her crew-mate let her step out first. The field of stars took her breath away, as always, even on her twenty-fifth spacewalk. Everyone left her in silence, letting her enjoy it as they said she should. Someday, it will be her last. Then she spotted her tether,... Continue Reading →
Spring Howls
Colours bombarded his senses. Everywhere the spring sun reached, blooms thrived.Th-thump, th-thump.He caught yelps and a myriad of birdsong drifting on the crisp winds as he ran.Th-thump, th-thump.Green shoots pushed through snow still clinging to the base of trees; branches hanging as shields against the warm sun.Th-thump.Ducking his head as he wove through the forest,... Continue Reading →
New Life
She lay there cold, with legs exposed, as they spoke. Backs turned to her; she caught few words."A mess. . .”“No more feeling. . .”“Stiches."They looked over at her and she held their gaze, wanting answers. The doctor approached, mouth moving in silent speech as he searched for the right words. “Ma’am, there have been…some... Continue Reading →