Pirates? Aliens? Pah! It’s the Deep Black itself that is wholly unforgiving.
Like the mariners of old and their seas, those of us who explore the vast emptiness between worlds have an abiding respect for it. It’ll kill you quickly, but not so fast that you won't have time to scream your last agonised breath into the void. A rare few touch it and live.
I look at the cracks in the viewport - courtesy of an errant cargo cannister. They're growing; there's nothing I can do to stop them. Should've bought that escape pod...
Soon I’ll know the vacuum completely.
Sunday 25 August 2013
Sunday 18 August 2013
Ultra Mortem
His grandfather died first, followed a few years later by his grandmother. Inseparable in life, it was, at first, a mere curiosity that in his dreams they were never together. Indeed, for some time he did not dream of his grandfather at all.
But then he would wake, agitated, from the visions of her alone, and move through the day with a restless anxiety. When he did finally see Grandad (strangely distant and obscured), he tried to tell him, frantically yelling and waving, that Gran needed him.
He only saw them once more after that night; they were holding hands.
But then he would wake, agitated, from the visions of her alone, and move through the day with a restless anxiety. When he did finally see Grandad (strangely distant and obscured), he tried to tell him, frantically yelling and waving, that Gran needed him.
He only saw them once more after that night; they were holding hands.
Sunday 11 August 2013
Ouroboros
Timepoint 261.3:
The readings seem to indicate that I briefly crossed the Cauchy Horizon. That isn't even possible, though - must be an instrument glitch. Still, I think the last adjustment got screwed up somehow.
<<Activating>>
Timepoint 263.8:
Closer to home on that jump, but there's a lot of feedback entering from somewhere. Strange; I can't locate the source of it.
<<Activating>>
Timepoint 266.5:
Almost there. However, the portal's boundary is oscillating at its stabilisation limit. The margin is so tight that perhaps I should just terminate the experiment before something goes wrong.
<<Activating>>
Timepoint 261.3:
The readings seem to indicate...
The readings seem to indicate that I briefly crossed the Cauchy Horizon. That isn't even possible, though - must be an instrument glitch. Still, I think the last adjustment got screwed up somehow.
<<Activating>>
Timepoint 263.8:
Closer to home on that jump, but there's a lot of feedback entering from somewhere. Strange; I can't locate the source of it.
<<Activating>>
Timepoint 266.5:
Almost there. However, the portal's boundary is oscillating at its stabilisation limit. The margin is so tight that perhaps I should just terminate the experiment before something goes wrong.
<<Activating>>
Timepoint 261.3:
The readings seem to indicate...
Sunday 4 August 2013
Electric Dreams
High above us, the storm's fury crashed against the glass dome of the laboratory. The capacitor bank sung, dials leaping. Before us lay the ragged chunks of miscellaneous men, crudely stitched together with catgut and fishing hooks.
"Igor!" exclaimed the doctor (I’d always hated that nickname). "It is time!"
He threw the great switch; the imprisoned lightning surged into this parody of a corpse. It crackled immediately, blue flame wreathing its naked form. We both retched as the intestines ignited and burst.
The doctor gaped in bewilderment as the vile meat burned.
"Well," I said, "what did you bloody expect?"
"Igor!" exclaimed the doctor (I’d always hated that nickname). "It is time!"
He threw the great switch; the imprisoned lightning surged into this parody of a corpse. It crackled immediately, blue flame wreathing its naked form. We both retched as the intestines ignited and burst.
The doctor gaped in bewilderment as the vile meat burned.
"Well," I said, "what did you bloody expect?"
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