Ryle was a powerful force, to say the least. He provided an impetus, an undeniable single-minded focus on the task at hand that defied setbacks, distractions and complications. He would have been a superb operator in any scenario.

What I brought to the p…

Newkirk understood all too well. Everyone who had any sort of relevant experience pre-war had become drawn into that grand project, just as he was now being drawn to this one. Any successful continuing insight into the enemy's strategic decision-making wo…

The wizard was shaken out of his reverie by Ellesmere, who led them into a large room filled with teleprinters. The rapid-fire rattle of inked metal on paper was everywhere, though it faded a little as they made their way over to a large map table further…

A round-faced man who might have looked more at home in a butcher's or a grocer's shouldered his way in to talk to Newkirk. No divination required; the wizard remembered him from the past. He was an Ultra liason.

"Broadview. How are things at Bletchley?"…

Story is marked as mature

Jacqueline signaled the bartender for another mojito. “It's not obvious to me.”

“Since your attack on Isla Quiribi, F.A.C.E. has split and some enterprising splinters are exploring a kind of freedom that didn't exist under Dr. Whitman.”

“You need me to …

I took a long drag off my cigarette as we passed a sign saying "insert city" population "insert number."

At this point they all blended together.

I flicked the butt out the window at nothing in particular.

"Nothing in particular" could have been this t…

I drag a finger along a wall as I walk around the room. I can feel the grainy surface of drywall and paint. Approaching the corner, my fingertips lift off the surface slightly, pulling further away as I draw closer to the junction of the adjoining wall.

…

Shy child in tatters

Winter's ward

Too weak and cold

To lift her sword

How hast thou come here?

Stumble toward

My outstretched arms, dear waif!

.

Sweet sprite of whimsy!

Tumbling round

The fairy circles

On the ground,

Be'est fille or faery,

Thou hast foun…

There are no new planets

Any more than there are new kinds of people

.

These planets around Trappist-1

Have been there, perhaps waiting for someone

.

To notice them, to be excited, rewarded in their hopes

That they would somehow exist

.

In the great dark …

I acted without thought, and It was not at full power; my death matters not.

Burrowing tenderly with my hands, I could but adore this beast that had summoned me.

Sundown, NM - Authorities report that a 180 metric ton blue whale fell from the sky last night and crushed longtime resident Maggie Mae (89) as she slept.

Chief Mike Bartlett, of the Sundown Police Department, states that no credible explanation for the …

"The bargain is this," I began. "A truce. An end to this petty war that began with my ancestors, that has led to so much death."

"NEVER!" the god roared, cutting me off. "WE WILL HAVE OUR VENG--"

I held up my blade again and said nothing. The god's mout…

He could feel her tenuous caress across his skin, cool and teasing. He turned slowly but never saw her except perhaps as a brief flicker of motion in his peripheral vision. In the diffuse and dim light, shapes at the limits of his vision often turned out …

Well turns out it wasn't no cop anyhow, it was my uncle bloff and he just wanted me to sign the christmas cards, like who ever heard of an avunclular member of my extended family wanting me to sign off on a christmas card in feburary? Sure wasn't normal, …

As I lie comfortable in my cosy yellow-orange bed I listen Anna and little angel are downstairs

chatting and giggling, laughing and playing, generally having fun I just lie here sandwiched between my silky duvet and bed melting my worries away. F…

Story is marked as mature

I spoke to her in direct neural interface. A text or audio message might have sufficed, but there could be no mistakes today, no misunderstandings. I refused to analyse my motivations further.

The link pushed dark chunks of conceptual meaning between our…

Well, it's hard to stay chipper, to keep up my hope.

Such dark thoughts crowd my mind in a throng!

As bad news piles like snowdrifts upon the steep slope,

I don't think the descent will take long...

.

As a child, full of life, I had power to spare

Ah, wha…

I hurry back home with the other half of the loaf. I need to get home before the screaming starts and the nosy neighbours start asking questions again. She is asleep on the stained red velvet settee. She has been asleep for the whole day. Her breath is sh…

Northern Territory, January 1933

Hot lazy arvo here in outpost 606. The Dust Cloud looming on the horizion. It hasn't moved since our arrival. It might move at any second but. That's why we're here.

The men are running out of patience and grog. I wond…

I felt around the sides of my neck. She was right. The skin there was sore, tender to the touch. My suspicion of her seemed justified and came flooding back. I was choked recently and she finds me, leash in hand? I don't know if it was guilt or what that …

"So that's what that does," I said as the stars went out, "I'd always wondered."

I kept looking at my cell phone, but it lay silent and black. Let her make the first move. It was always me before, texting, finding the right ice-breaker comment or picture to share. It was a show of love, but it was beginning to feel one-sided. Was I a …