Time to Orbit: Unknown

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Glossary] .......... Next> “It’s the carbon dioxide,” I lied. “It’ll suffocate us all if we’re not careful.” I pointed at the part of my tangled twig map that, according to Harlen, was supposed to represent the tunnels near the water we’d crossed. Water would seep through the sand and … Continue reading 8: Dream Team

First ---- Previous ---- Glossary ---- Archive ---- Next “We’ll come with you,” San tells Tyk as the family head out of their residential chamber that morning. “Aren’t you needed in the tunnels?” Tyk asks. “The collapse – ” “It’s mostly handled. And I’m sure that the rest of the girls can handle the dirt … Continue reading 16: Dangers of the Sky

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Glossary] .......... Next> It was two days later when I looked up from a complicated pile of twigs to see Ain walking past on his way to the surface. “Hey! Ain!” I jogged over. Ain shrank back at the sight of a human yelling and running toward him. I … Continue reading 7: Best-laid plans

First ---- Previous ---- Glossary ---- Archive ---- Next Tyk doesn’t have time to worry about Smon right now. The hive needs her more. If Smon does anything particularly alarming, the pair guarding her egg will let the hive know; until then, there’s work to be done. Tyk has been in cave-ins before, and knows … Continue reading 15: Pollen Storm

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Glossary] .......... Next> We found an unconscious Kerlin not too far from where Kit had dragged me out of the water. He was lying half in the water, but through some miracle, his face wasn’t submerged. I dashed over and put a hand to his side to check if … Continue reading 6: Home

First ---- Previous ---- Glossary ---- Archive ---- Next “Smon Earth make forty three Javlyn, Smon kind inside, eggs inside, food inside. All go to other suns, other Earths.” “Do all the sentinels have people on them?” Tyk asks. “No. Smon people see no other people. Only Smon people on Smon star.” “People on Tyk … Continue reading 14: Broken Brakes

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Glossary] .......... Next> Things seemed to be going well. The waves were low and gentle even as the shore disappeared behind us, and the call of the nest grew stronger and stronger as I rowed. There had been a couple of reasons why I’d split up the teams as … Continue reading 5: A-sailing we shall go

First ---- Previous ---- Glossary ---- Archive ---- Next Well, there’s one way to get more details on Smon – ask Smon. Smon had certainly wanted some time alone when she’d left, so rushing over to her egg (not egg… cart?) immediately is probably not a great idea. She returns to the hive to pass … Continue reading 13: Smon’s Earth

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Glossary] .......... Next> No way. No way. There had to be another explanation. He couldn’t… he couldn’t actually be alive? I’d been trying for this, I’d been planning for this, but… I scooped up a few spiders and moved them a little way away from the pile. Not too … Continue reading 4: The parable of the Child

First ---- Previous ---- Glossary ---- Archive ---- Next Smon is fascinated by the communication tower. As the pair approach the hive, she points up at it. “You see other star from there?” “Stargazers see stars from up there, yes.” “Stargazers.” “Men, with job to see stars. We see some stars from ground. Easier to … Continue reading 12: Baby Blues