Vincent lay in his unfamiliar bunk staring at Shelby’s familiar ceiling. The briefing was over. The boarding action was yet to begin. For now, all there was left to do was wait for the journey to be over. This mission was a proof of concept, it turned out. In the past, boarding a human ship … Continue reading Year 353 A.E., Rotation 134: Proof of Concept →

Vincent adjusted the cuffs of his new uniform. He’d had to get it specially made, as he was the only human who’d ever volunteered for the Human Extraction Corps. The sleeves were still a little short. He rolled his shoulders, which was enough to set his bunk creaking. The HEC was not the most well-funded … Continue reading Year 353 A.E., Rotation 133: Partners →

Giana Coastrunner knelt in the dirt next to a tomato plant, pulling weeds from the soil. Gardening was the latest pastime she’d tried to take up, and it was terrible--she’d rather have oil under her fingernails than dirt any day--but at least Rell made nice things with the vegetables she grew, and it helped stretch … Continue reading Year 353 A.E., Rotation 65: Desperation →

Vincent sat in the bar in the human section of town, staring into a half-finished privateer without enthusiasm. An older woman in an ill-fitting four colored suit clearly crafted by an alien tailor sat next to him. Her name was Lillian and she’d discovered a rare species of carnivorous fern on the outer edge of … Continue reading Year 353 A.E., Rotation 63: Nothing But Stars and Street Lamps →

Shelby sat inside Journey’s bay, looking out at the stars framing the thin jet of green light spiralling into the night. They rarely spoke over their speakers now. Instead, they wired into each other’s networks every night, communicating with each other at speeds Shelby had only ever experienced with Desperate, the poor abused crawler from … Continue reading Year 353 A.E., Rotation 60: Encryption →

Shelby’s legs clanked across the stone streets, the sound clanging like bells in the failing light. It was strange, the little things that brought her joy now. It was amazing that she could walk down this street in a busy town of her own volition and without fear, green magic washing over the buildings she … Continue reading Year 353 A.E., Rotation 43: Fitting In →

The pillar in the center of the temple blinked and beeped and the green light swirled in the sky above the glass roof like a nebula. The devotees of the Giver sat all around him, muttering their prayers, eyes shut or turned reverently to the sky. The priestess sat three seats to his left, her … Continue reading Year 353 A.E., Rotation 43: How To Listen →

Michael pushed himself out from under the shuttle, grease on his hand and arms, and a streak smeared across his forehead. It was done. His escape shuttle was a real, functioning escape shuttle. He’d even been slowly squirreling away water and food rations to fill it’s tiny cargo bay. Now he just had to figure … Continue reading Year 351, Rotation 34: A Minor Alert →

“Happy birthday, Vinny!!!” Aluna set off an essence popper that exploded with a bout of flute music and purple light that, for a moment, overpowered the ambient green glow of Shelby’s interior. Toaster chimed excitedly by his thigh next to where he sat cross-legged on the metal floor. Dominique produced a cake box and set … Continue reading Year 353 A.E., Rotation 4: Stale →

“And here we are, our last stop of the tour!” Vincent’s voice boomed out over Shelby’s intercom system to the passengers in what used to be the cargo compartment. “Please enjoy your complimentary souvenir bags--complete with energy drinks and ginger wasabi chips straight from the Perfectorate! And don’t forget, if you enjoyed today’s authentic human … Continue reading Year 352 A.E., Rotation 328: Her Own Ship →