Time to Orbit: Unknown

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Glossary] .......... Next> I resisted the urge to pull the laptop apart again to find out which way the current was supposed to go, because I already knew it wouldn’t tell me. Why would it? Instead I spent a couple of days, or at least I assume I did … Continue reading 20: The game of lies

First ---- Previous ---- Glossary ---- Archive ---- Next Smon steps back out of the egg. Kesan immediately hovers, clearly wanting to retreat but refusing to leave his daughter alone. Smon stops, stares at him a moment, repeats that mandibles-up gesture of hers, and retreats slowly back into the egg, watching Kesan settle back onto … Continue reading 5: The Echo Stone

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Glossary] .......... Next> Queen Tatik paced restlessly. This rogue Princess nonsense was getting out of hand. She should be well into consolidating more of the outlying regions of the Empire by now; there were several minor planets near the edge of her territory that contained valuable biological materials that … Continue reading 19: A failure of imagination

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