by Dann “Daddy…sing the song…” Amelia asked, tugging both on her fathers heart strings, and arm. “Well,” Darren mumbled, rubbing his hand over his scruffy chin, scratching his twelve o clock shadow. “I don’t know why you want him to sing that…he was never a Major General Emmy.” Abe snapped, setting the shovel …
Go West, Young Man (Part Three) By D.X. Machina
A few Imperial months later, an Avalonian shuttle was on a slow, cautious descent toward the square in front of the council building. This was a delicate maneuver, both because of the smallness of the square, the people on board the shuttle, and the people waiting on the ground. Two of the best pilots on …
Go West, Young Man (Part Two) by D.X. Machina
It was perhaps a half-hour of walking, all of them carrying Darren the whole way, with Thomas carrying both his and Darren’s pack. It was not easy going, but soon enough, they came to a small encampment set into the woods. A middle-aged woman was the first to spy them, and seeing both Darren and …
Chapter Forty-Six: So Long, and Thanks for All The Fish Titan: Birthright by D.X. Machina and Johnnyscribe
A fire crackled in the darkness, warming the cold winter air. By human scale, of course, it was a mighty conflagration, of the sort that might decimate a city or forest. But this was not a human world; by the scale of Sininentavas, the fire was large but not overwhelming, somewhere between campfire and bonfire. …
Go West, Young Man (Part One) by D.X. Machina
“So Tommy Boy, you regretting this yet?” Thomas Archer-Kramer finished re-tying his boot, hoisted his pack back onto his back, and said with a smile, “Of course not, Darren, why would I?” Darren Xanthopolous grinned back at his daughter’s fiancé. He had promised Lysis before they set out that he wouldn’t do more than lightly …
Chapter Forty-Five: Throw Yourself at the Ground and Miss Titan: Birthright by D.X. Machina and Johnnyscribe
“All right, almost there…one more meter…and there you go. Nice work, dad,” Ryan said, as Alex reached the end of the parallel bars. His father rested for a moment, and Ryan could see him briefly consider turning his neural stabilizer back on, but instead he took a couple more steps to the walker at the …
Chapter Forty-Four: We Apologize for the Inconvenience Titan: Birthright by D.X. Machina and Johnnyscribe
Aud held her infant son, feeding him and humming a song that she half-remembered from her childhood, trying to hold back her tears. Trying to be strong for him. It had been a few months since she’d been imprisoned in the palace, a few months since it had all fallen apart. Four days ago, she’d …
Chapter Forty-Three: At Any Rate, You Live Titan: Birthright by D.X. Machina and Johnnyscribe
A few days had passed, and one of those injured in the assassination attempt was finally leaving the hospital. “Sebb,” Rixie said, as he packed his things, “I cannot adequately express my appreciation for what you did. I know the Dronung has plans for something to honor you, and Pryvani has said that she paid …
Chapter Forty-Two: Life, the Universe, and Everything Titan: Birthright by D.X. Machina and Johnnyscribe
“Pulse is 72, blood pressure is 240 milats over 160,” said a familiar voice. “Reticular activating system is showing elevated activity. I think it’s time. Melysu, he’s your patient, do you want to do the honors?” “He’s your friend, Nick,” another voice said. “Besides, I want to keep an eye on the scans.” “All right, …
Interlude: The Smoke From a Distant Fire Titan: Birthright by D.X. Machina and Johnnyscribe
In many ways, Ryan Carey was relieved when Nom Zinter finally said, “Sir, Navarchos Gwenn is asking to speak to you.” Ryan got up from the command chair, and nodded to the officer behind him. (In point of fact, he and Zinter were on entirely different decks – Ryan was operating from the human-scale bridge, …