Vanser took a sip from his mug of kaf, letting the warm liquid slide down his throat. He hoped the stimulating effects of the drink would offset the terrible night’s sleep he’d gotten. He and Molly had arrived on Azatlia several hours earlier, after which Vanser had arranged for lodging in a hotel for use …
Chapter Thirty-Three: What’s Up There Beyond the Sky Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“All journeys eventually end in the same place – home.” –Chris Geiger “Okay, I think that’s the last of the big stuff,” Naskia said, looking over the suite that had briefly served as their headquarters at Titan Station. “Just personal effects, some small gear, and so forth. Pryvani, anything that shouldn’t be loaded on the …
Chapter Thirty-Two: Take My Hand, Come Along Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” –Mark Twain Depending on where you’d grown up and how you marked your calendar, either a week or eighteen days had passed since the Gyfjon had captured the Stanisław Lem. The Minatar had departed the station three Earth days before, the same day they’d moved the Lem …
Background Chatter: Vorsha ’02 by D.X. Machina
This covers the Tol-Bot competition of 2102, the year Iron Maiden retired, and The Marionette reached his first final. Rixie cursed as the door buzzed for the second time. “Alex, can you get that?” she called, finally winning the battle to close her pack. “I’m the size of your thumb,” he reminded her. “Right. Well, …
Chapter Thirty-One: And the Time’s Comin’ Near Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I?” –Hillel the Elder It took a good five minutes before any of the people on Titan Station could find their voice. Xú, alone among her crew, was not crying. Not because she did …
Chapter 1: Ad Victori Spolia The One Who Lived by Dann
“Hey Moms!” Feronica exclaimed as she burst into the kitchen from the main foyer of the spacious suburban domestic residence. Feronica Yots was of course speaking to either one of her two mothers, both of whom were in the room, both of whom had an intuitive sense as to who was being addressed and for …
Chapter Thirty: By the Dim and Flaring Lamps Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who …
Epilogue 3: Time Heals All Wounds Titan: Nomad by Openhighhat
Aisell trudged into her bedroom, dumping her bags unceremoniously to the floor, slipping off her plimsolls and with a weary sigh rolled on to her bed. She managed to keep her eyes open for a few seconds before they closed of their own accord due to exhaustion. It had been a long few years. She’d …
Epilogue 2: Some Time Later…. Titan: Nomad by Dann and D.X. Machina
Some time later…. “Cute, gok’ma, but I’m not fooled,” Yamma said, scrolling through his mail. “Mmm?” Gae yawned, carefully repositioning herself to look at the man leaning against her side. “Quarter of a million credits. Why didn’t you just say you were gonna send a bazillion credits?” “What are you talking about?” Yamma sighed. “You …
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Hand in Hand Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“Let us all meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” –Blessed Teresa of Calcutta “Got’dang council. I was savin’ Atlantis back when half of ‘em were in diapers, and this is the thanks I get,” Darren muttered, sipping an Avalonian whiskey at a table in the restaurant, waiting …