I went to log into my blog today, and after the typical username and password, it asked me a final question: to prove my humanity.

My mind reeled with the possibilities: my love for my children, my wife and I’s first kiss, the tears at my father’s funeral, the sandwich I bought the homeless man down the street, the money I send to poor children in a country I’ve never been to who speak a language … Read More

A teaspoon. Just a teaspoon of Their “spice.” Something from Their home world that might cure him. They said it was safe. They said it would stop the visions. They said it would stop the pain.

First his hands curled and twisted into a shadow of their former selves. The man who had painted heavenly scenes, futuristic cities and serene space-scapes was reduced to a Jackson Pollock, throwing paint at a canvas. His feet and legs … Read More

Late one evening a red beast invaded our dwelling’s exhaust port, extinguishing our heat source. Bulging, red and grotesque, I had never seen such horrors even in the holographic pictures. Not wanting to draw the ire of the beast, I concealed myself in the lavatory and watched it’s progress.
It stood in the room scratching its top fur and muttering about the lack of both socks and a bedecked conifer. Finally, it tossed boxes on … Read More

The purple tree with purple leaves exploded in a shower of shards and splinters. Samuel holstered his plasma rifle and smirked.

“Yeh shouldn’t aggravate the trees, young-un,” said Shamus. His tone was more warning than disapproval. “Ah, stuff it, Shamus, I do what I want,” Samuel said.

“Have it your way, lad.” Shamus checked his pack to make sure the Gruuntheld was safe then hoisted it to his shoulder.

This planet had more of the substance than they knew what to … Read More

That was all the ransom message said. It came in on every radio station, newspaper, television channel and internet site. People were listening or watching or surfing and then boom they heard or saw or read “We now have Polaris.” No list of demands or reasons or anything. To make matters worse telescopes and infrared detectors could only see a dark spot where Polaris once shined so brightly.
People had kidnapped big things before: a … Read More

Kari flung herself onto the sofa. She had just enough time to enjoy the softness of the cushion before she felt the impact. Sonia, a three-year-old whirlwind, had vaulted over the sofa and landed on her mother’s back.

Kari resisted the urge to play dead and turned over to finish the tickle fight Sonia had started upon landing. Sonia devolved into a bucket of giggles and Kari raised her hands in victory.

*

When Kari’s eyes refocused Sonia was … Read More

Sarah looked at her brother, Chris, then jumped. She appeared out of thin air three hundred miles away in her apartment. She stepped to the book shelf, disabled the booby-trap and pulled out a book. It had been hollowed out to hold a long cylinder, an infinium disc. Clutching it she stepped back and jumped again. She appeared a few feet from Chris just out of range of the dampening field.

“No,” Chris said. “You can’t.” His … Read More

Hello, I’m Holly and I’m overjoyed to have you here. Welcome to your first class on Hraxinffdyshten. We’ll have you saying Glermish Krazno in a Dwiftard.

(This guided holo program is produced, copyrighted and trademarked by the Twingen Clan.)

First of all, congratulations on your seventeenth birthday and your selection. Your parents and the Hraxinffr are very proud of your service. Very few of us have the honor and privilege of seeing Hraxinffr daily, let alone learn … Read More