Chapter 7 By Kari and Khadaj At 0600 the comm dinged, and Zlanta's voice came out. "Sive, time fer breakfast an' tha tour of tha ship. Capt'n's already in the cahmon room. You awake, chile?" At Sive's answer the comm clicked off. When Sive heard the comm ding, she jumped up. Pressing the comm button she replied. “I'll be right there Zlanta.” Having one last look in the tiny mirror, she saw something she hadn't seen in mon...

Chapter 6 By Kari and Khadaj Jason thought for a few minutes before answering, "Actually, I do. You found that pendant on your desk just before you had to disappear, eh? That in itself is suspicious, not to mention you've said a couple of times how whomever is chasing you has been able to stay on your trail." Jason stroked his chin, staring at the pendant which was framed by her small breasts. "I think Donny should have a...

Chapter 5 By Kari and Khadaj Rubbing her bruised wrists, Sive turned as she looked up at Jason. “How can I ever thank you for risking your lives for me just now?” Her eyes widened as Jason's last words finally sank in giving Sive some hope. “Wait....did you just say what I thought you did? Are you sure you want me aboard your ship, now that you know my history? And what about the other crew members? Their lives will be in...

Chapter 4 by Kari and Khadaji Watching Jason as he speaks about her test results makes Sive wanted to shout, (I've never cheated on a test in my entire life you Dumb Ass Spacer!) She could feel her temper rising, but stops herself by biting her lip. He moves like a cat watching his prey until he is sitting in front of her, continuing in a different vein, his words reaching her like no one had been able to in years. Sive l...

Chapter 3. by Kari and Khadaji Sive could only watch dumbfounded as Jason left the portmasters. Fuming she went after him, practically skipping along side him she breathlessly added, “Look my friend, I didn't mean to offend you back there, I really do need this job, you saw those goons, they won't stop coming after me until I either pay up or they get their credits some other way.” She shuddered as she finally realized th...

Chapter 2 by Kari and Khadaji While the men confronted each other, Sive had the time to assess her would-be saviour. He had the look of no nonsense about him. She put her knife back in her boot, trying to decide how to put herself in the best possible light.If I play my cards right this might just be my ticket out of this hell hole. Damsel in distress? No, he would see right through that one...hey, I could be just a helpl...

By Kari and Khadaji Chapter 1. Jason DeBois watched the last of the cargo off-load onto the dock for the client's inspection. Now came the moment of truth. Was this one honest or would he try to cheat? Jason had already ordered the steward into the dorsal turret with instructions to have it pointed near the client's vehicle. Not at it, no need to be rude. But close enough to blast it into next week if something went wrong...

Chapter 38 Moro and Zumi I dream of being back in Deikeren, and riding fast through the woods and fields until I arrive to a city of Kaure in the nearby province of Orontein. There I get into a fight on the street with Iris (the logic of our dreams!). He attacks me, but then some woman pulls out a big sword and defends me. She takes me to her home, full of strange things she said she invented. A lot of events happen, unti...

“We’re being followed.” Mama pretends not to hear me. She cranks up the volume on the radio. Sings aloud with Aretha. Belts along with the Queen of Soul about R-E-S-P-E-C-T. I have a headache. I want to turn off the radio and go to sleep. I want her to shut up. But Mama’s face shuts me up. Her fat purpling eye shut me up. Her bruised swollen cheeks shut me up. Her cracked bleeding lips shut me up. Battle scars she calls t...

Chapter 1 September 11th 2001 8:46 a.m. An explosion of sound blasted through the building. It lurched violently to one side. Two people in the express elevator with me gripped the handrail as we continued our ascent. One was a twenty-something woman wearing tan pants, a white blouse, and an embroidered red scarf. I’d seen her many times having lunch at The Odeon on West Broadway where I worked. The other, a man, was tall...

Abel and Kane “I will not ask you again Miss Gatewood.” The interrogator said. “What did you see down there?” Gatewood stamped out her cigarette on the tAbel . “I already told you. Freedom.” The interrogator snarled. “What does that supposed to mean?” Gatewood glanced to the tall man and folded her left hand on top of her right. “It means that Abel gave us total freedom. We had tracked Kane to a cave in the outer regions....

Liam was beyond hearing me, trapped in a world of touch, scent and taste, but the liquid sloshing around in the stoneware jar I carried was just a temporary state for him. Each touch of the misty air and dew on the grass drew a faint glow from my skin and awakened my senses. Moonlight, bright enough to cast shadows, glinted off the river up ahead where she wound through the valley in tight, sweeping curves. Over the bubbl...

Squashed between my two hulking brothers in the back of my father’s coupe on a two thousand mile trip was not the way I wanted to start my summer vacation. The summer after the first year of college is a crucial time for a young adult. You need to be available to strengthen the relationships you just forged at school and you need to be around to reinforce your friendships with the people who live in your town and went to...

The Agent Chapter Four After returning to base I hoped to get a little down time, not that I was really tired, but the tension of the last weeks had me feeling a little hang dog. So I was leery when Simon sent for me. I hoped there wasn't a critical event on the horizon that I'd have to jump on. I knocked on Simon's door and entered when he clicked the lock open from his desk. Entering, I saw, besides Simon, Jennifer and...

These stories are meant to be read serially. I went around doing my mundane tasks for months, doing little actions, at times wondering if I were doing any good. I did ascertain there were other agents besides Jennifer and myself, who were not trained to the extent we were, but not enough to keep me from my everyday simple tasks. But then, Simon told me I had access to the records of what we were trying to avert and if my...