Time to Orbit: Unknown

First ---- Previous ---- Glossary ---- Archive ---- Next She’s the ugliest thing that Tyk has ever seen. Tyk was right to be concerned that the early hatching might indicate problems. The larval star that stumbles out is similar to a person in some ways and different in others; she’s much darker in colour than … Continue reading 4: A Star Is Born

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Glossary] .......... Next> Judging by how many photos and videos Charlie took on the Stardancer, I had expected her to have more footage of human voices from before she joined the crew. She didn’t; it was just the one birthday video. I watched it. The video wasn’t surprising; I … Continue reading 18: We can only try

First ---- Previous ---- Glossary ---- Archive ---- Next The hum of dozens of wings wakes Tyk. It takes her a moment to remember why she’s outside and why the sky is full of men. Right; the tremor. Ayan. Most of the men flock, of course, to Ayan, fussing over the new layer and assuring … Continue reading 3: A Simple Walk

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Glossary] .......... Next> I sat in the driver’s seat of my trusty little car, brushing a stray floating camera lens out of the way to get a better look at Kate, who was sulking. Actually sulking, arms crossed, slumped forward, pouting. Everything. “I’m sorry I got abducted and left … Continue reading 17: Alive, apparently

First ---- Previous ---- Glossary ---- Archive ---- Next Tyk feels her body slow down in automatic response to the dirt pressing in on all sides. There’s no particular danger in their situation, she knows; she’s been buried before, as a training exercise, and knows perfectly well that there’s enough oxygen in the soil for … Continue reading 2: Escape Route

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Glossary] .......... Next> Ugh. The last time I was this hungover I woke up without eyebrows. I’d fucked up the calculations somewhere. Or just drank way more than I thought. Since it was simple arithmetic and I was supposed to be keeping a spaceship running, I really hoped it … Continue reading 16: Blatant disrespect for the electromagnetic spectrum

First ---- Previous ---- Glossary ---- Archive ---- Next You’re not supposed to do it, of course, but it’s not unheard of for parents to try to ensure good destinies for their daughters by timing their conception carefully. Most hatchings take place under somewhat clear skies, so the gods that bear witness to the young … Continue reading 1: Rotting Rhizomes

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Glossary] .......... Next> The problem with space is that there’s a limited supply of everything. Not that we’re necessarily short on things. Just limited. Everything has to be recycled – water, air, organics. Recycling efficiency is time; any loss puts a limit on how long before you need to … Continue reading 15: Hold my beer

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] It’s movie night. It’s a very special movie night. A half-day marathon of all of my favourites, one year since our return to the Courageous, and the three hundred strong population of the ship necessitate the use of a proper projector to make sure that everyone can see the movie. … Continue reading 183: LAUNCH

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Glossary] .......... Next> I told myself that I could afford the luxury of feeling sorry for myself while my body finished healing, and then it was right back to work on Project: Get Home. In actual fact I didn’t even have that long, because the thing about trying to … Continue reading 14: This is my crew