“Make me feel tiny if it makes you feel tall.” –Ben Folds, “Cooler than You” Sorcha arrived back in the Freemans’ suite with a new blouse and a bag in one arm, a tree in the other. “Okay,” Naskia said from the couch, where she was currently slumped, her husband asleep, curled up in her …
Author: D.X. Machina
Chapter Six TCA: Sojourner by D.X. Machina
Lauryna entered sickbay, and was slightly surprised to see that it had undergone refit. It looked like the Sandava’s, for the most part, far sleeker than it had appeared when last she’d been here. “Crewmate Gwenn. Welcome back, ma’am,” Geoff said, with a curt nod. Lauryna chuckled. “We have the same number of squares, Doctor.” …
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Till Earth and Heaven Ring Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” –Semisonic, “Closing Time” “Will the Representative yield to a query?” “Will the Representative yield?” the chair asked Loona, for what felt like the five millionth time in the past three hours. “Yes,” she replied evenly. “The Representative from Telemaki Three Rivers may proceed.” “Thank you, Madam …
Chapter Five Titan: Sojourner by D.X. Machina
Nine Imperial Days Later “Crewmate Gwenn, you have a second?” Lauryna sighed internally. It wasn’t that she didn’t have a second. She just didn’t want to spend it with him. It wasn’t that he was bad. In her brief time on the Sandava, he’d been very pleasant. Hospitable. Federation hospitality, she thought, ruefully. No, Commander …
Chapter Twenty-Six: Times Must a Man Look Up Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” –Robert A. Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land The chair struck the bell three times, and the Imperial House grew silent. “The House will be in order. The chair recognizes the Representative from Wedney.” “Thank you, madam chair,” Rodrec …
Chapter Four TCA: Sojourner by D.X. Machina
“All right,” Lauryna said, “so how long will this work for?” “With the power we’re using? About thirty minutes, forty-five, max. But that’s enough to confuse them,” Bres Gdiordo said. She was wiped out, and clearly exhausted, but she was still exhilarated by the idea that this might just work. The Captain’s idea was a …
Chapter Twenty-Five: Something Good Has Begun Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“There’s not a word yet For old friends who’ve just met.” –Kenny Ascher and Paul Williams, “I’m Going to Go Back There Someday” Tig sprinted through the corridors of Titan Station as fast as her legs could carry her, which in this case was approximately 300 miles per hour. She was heading to Hangar One, …
Chapter Three TCA: Sojourner by D.X. Machina
The explosion jarred Lauryna out of her seat and onto the ground. It sounded as if someone had dropped a building on the bridge, one laced with heat and light and sound and anguish and pain. Lauryna bounced off the floor of the bridge twice, and she felt very much like staying there, but she …
Second Intermission Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“We do spend too much time on the telephone, and you know something? We love it.” –Dr. Michio Kaku Admiral James Harwell sat in mission control, Houston, not wanting to leave his workstation. It was very late in Texas. In just an hour or two, he would have to begin calling the loved ones of …
Chapter Two TCA: Sojourner by D.X. Machina
One Month Later “Computer, run Program Gwenn Zeta-Three please, password…troublemaker,” Crewmate Gwenn said into the center console as she stood outside the unoccupied holosuite. She had just passed Commander Tam on the way, who by the looks of it was just coming off the high of a work out. If there was one thing that …