“I feel small when I am next to you I feel big when I forget you.” –Luscious Jackson, “Deep Shag” “Boss!” Ammer and Inna both called, as Inna ran at a full sprint after Loona and Pryvani, carrying Ammer in her breast pocket. “This needs to be quick, we’re meeting with the floor leader in….” …
Author: D.X. Machina
The Continuing Adventures: The Prince by D.X. Machina
Izzy paced on the console in the linguistics lab, making the turn along the edge without even looking. She’d paced it off more than a few times; usually, when Lauryna was this busy, she’d leave her friend alone…well, okay, that was a lie, but Izzy would at least try to leave Lauryna alone. But they …
Chapter Eighteen: Try On My Starry Crown Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“Your enemy is never a villain in his own eyes. Keep this in mind; it may offer a way to make him your friend. If not, you can kill him without hate–and quickly.” –Robert A. Heinlein “You can unshackle her,” Navarchos Bass said, as the tall young woman was led into the brig. “She’s my …
Tales of Avalon: Scar Tissue by D..X. Machina
I shot an arrow toward the sky, It hit a white cloud floating by. The clould fell dying to the shore, I don’t shoot arrows anymore. —Shel Silverstein, “Arrows” -1- “Sir, are you seeing this?” “You got the spyglass, Calamity. What’s ‘this?’ ” “Sorry, sir, ” Palemst Jain said. “The bandits aren’t retreating past that …
Chapter Seventeen: Finite Disappointment Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“A mistake is always forgivable, rarely excusable and always unacceptable.” –Robert Fripp Darren looked at his pad, trying his best to get a lock on someone, anyone, who was a friendly. This was necessarily going to be a human; the one salient part of being registered as someone’s pet is that you end up with …
Chapter Sixteen: Whom Ventured All to Save Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy.” –Sun Tzu, “The Art of War” Decanus Aigine Orgin had been a peacekeeper on four different stations, and had eleven years of experience dealing with criminals and thugs. He had once broken up a fight at Norvsekal Station that had involved six Insectoids, four Titans, and a …
Chapter Fifteen: ‘Cause We Don’t Know the Game Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“I have a thing. It’s like a plan, but with more greatness.” –The Eleventh Doctor “What on Archavia happened here?” Aertimus looked around the wreckage of the infirmary which had until very recently housed Hala Nejem. The two idiot guards were just coming around from being stunned; Dr. Geen was tending to Rixie, a nasty …
First Intermission Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“In this bright future you can’t forget your past.” –Bob Marley Tigoni Belfsec breathed in heavily as she stood over the woman who had been tormenting Maj. Nejem. To be fair, she hadn’t seen the woman torment Maj. Nejem, but the human was being held captive by giant aliens; near as Tig could figure, torment …
Chapter Fourteen: They Themselves the Traitor Crew Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“Against stupidity the very Gods themselves contend in vain.” –Friedrich Schiller, Die Jungfrau von Orleans “Rixie! What a surprise! Walk with me.” Rixie Tam had seen Aertimus coming around the corner with a full head of steam, and hoped that he would be too busy to note her presence; she’d been playing the part of …
Chapter Thirteen: Loosed the Fateful Lightning Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.” –Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “They’re too quick,” Yelena Bobrova said. “They’re reacting almost as soon as we act.” The Lem had acquitted herself quite nicely. She’d actually managed to surprise the Gyfjon more than once, which had …