Chris and Doug smiled happily as I held on to them for the picture. I tried my best to smile too, but I had found that my smile frightens most people, so I always tone it down for pictures. Doug’s mom snapped the photo with her phone, then Doug ran off to the left. In […]
Tag: Science Fiction
Fifteen Percent! A Vignette by Torn MacAlester
Fifteen Percent!By Torn MacAlester Photo by Anna Nekrashevich from Pexels Deputy Miller smiled. It was that smile of hers, Nils realized, the one that led to certain disaster. “Okay Miller,” Nils attempted to gain the initiative. “What do you want?” “What makes you think I want anything?” “Dammit, Miller!” Why do you answer a question with a question? […]
Rejection: A Vignette by Torn MacAlester
RejectionBy Torn MacAlester Photo by Life Of Pix from Pexels “Deputy Miller, a serious situation has risen.” Alex said, cleaning a lunar beer mug as he spoke. “Like what?” Miller answered, clearly disinterested in the Conrad Station barkeep’s current crisis. She checked her watch. Miller knew Nils Carmike’s schedule like the back of her hand. He would soon […]
Lunadyne Incident: A Short Story by Torn MacAlester
Lunadyne IncidentY+28, Day 1: “You, in the jail,” the voice said over the intercom. Sheriff Del Anderson stood and switched on the voice channel. Del watched the warped video of the shady figure in the hallway outside the Sheriff’s office. The facial recognition software failed to place the individual. Either the man wasn’t in the […]
Directors and Malcontents: A New Vignette by Torn MacAlester
“I’ll say it one more time. Johnson and Carmike are not coming back!” the Director said. “They left the space agency. It’s over. Why are we even having this conversation about them? I can’t believe I will spend my Saturday making a case for us to try luring back two malcontents that have no desire […]
Morgan’s Road: A Short Story by Torn MacAlester
Morgan’s Road a short story by Torn MacAlesterMorgan’s Road, a short story by Torn MacAlester Graphic by Shannan Albright Making a living on the Moon is not for everyone, but Nelson Carmike actually preferred the airless basalt plains over Earth’s windy prairies. Unfortunately, three years of Moon prospecting left him penniless, and without funds for […]
Clash of Titans: a Vignette by Torn MacAlester
Clash of TitansPhoto by Valeria Boltneva from Pexels Clash of Titans by Torn MacAlester . “I see you’ve bought K‑Systems,” said Morris Mason to his son Mark as he raised a glass in a mocking toast. “I thought this was a casual dinner, not a business meeting.” Mark growled, wiping his scarred chin with a […]
874: A New Vignette by Torn MacAlester
I headed along the beach. It had been at least ten hours since we had run aground. We had agreed that going into the interior of the island was unlikely to be useful. The jungle would hide things too well for us to find. The beach, however, would eventually reveal signs of civilization somewhere on […]
Decisions: A Vignette by Torn MacAlester
Another Plot: A New Vignette by Torn MacAlester
“Milt,” said Mary, tired of the conversation. “You didn’t really want to be an astronaut?” “No, it was a means to an end. Nothing more.” “I wish you wouldn’t antagonize our brother. He scares me.” “Morris is a fool,” Milt said. “A dangerous one. “True, we cannot underestimate him.” “Then why all this messing around […]