SF Drabble #67 “Spare Parts”

At first everything was a warm soothing glow. All he could feel was the mask tight across his mouth and nose. Later he became vaguely aware of bubbles rising through the tank, brushing his skin as they passed.

Now and then he would hear low distant murmurs. He opened his eyes only rarely. Once for a moment he thought he could see his own face peering through the glass, lips moving as if talking casually, but he couldn’t be sure.

The first thing he experienced with any real clarity or definition was when they came and took his left arm.

Fantasy Drabble #38 “Bargain”

The demon peered at him, red eyes piercing through white smoke. “Well?”

“I’m thinking.” Not a bad deal, really: wealth, sex, power, everything he had ever wanted. In return, his immortal soul, whatever the hell that was. “How long?”

“You get to live as long as you otherwise would have. Die naturally.” The demon took a long pull on his cigarette. “This isn’t a catchy kind of deal.”

“But then… what happens?”

“What do you care? You were going to hell anyway. At least this way you get to enjoy yourself.”

The pen felt heavy in his hands. He signed.

SF Drabble #66 “Bunker Mentality”

We all stand, watch the clock count down. We’re not sure how long it’s been counting down, but there are eight decimal places already wound down to zero. Only three places left, and they will be zeroes soon. Our ancestors knew they wouldn’t live to see it.

The immense doors have been there all our lives but are only now important: they will open whatever has become of the outside to us.

What if that world is a blackened cinder? Or, what if we have left it too long, and it belongs to someone else?

What if they don’t open?

SF Drabble #65 “Jersey Guerilla”

He peered out from behind what used to be a car. “There, on the right.”

“I see ‘em.” she confirmed, watching the Combat Assistant screen. There were four of them, those horrific weapons in hand, lumbering down the broad avenue. “Keep your heads down until you hear the bang.”

She had planted bouncing betties just under the asphalt. If the aliens got close enough…

“They’re too far apart.”

“I know. We might still get three.”

“Even one of those can kill all of us.”

“We’re attacking. You can run if you want,” she observed, “but this is still my planet.”

SF Drabble #64 “Travel Guide”

When you get to Crobrang, there are five things you have to see. The first is the ocean surface spaceport, and you’re gonna see that no matter what. The second is the enormous multihulled sailing ferries, and you’ve got to take one of those to get to the other three things.

The third is the City. There’s only one. it stretches across three big islands, it’s magnificent. The fourth is the Opera House on the big island. They don’t really have opera per se, it’s just a name. The fifth? There’s a really great Tandoori joint next door. Al’s. Seriously.