Naked Skin, Fearful Metal By Matthew Bailey The dropship stank of coffee and vanilla-scented flowers, the spray-on kind spacers used when they couldn’t shower. For a moment, Agara’s senses were overwhelmed. She put her hand on the bulkhead to keep from swaying. It was all so different from the sterile auto-pods she was used to. …
That Last Thin Shout By Lina Rather NOW Iodia’s family had been watchers for generations, sentinels at the gateway to the only real hell in the universe. Her post required constant vigilance. She had taken up the red cloak at eighteen and had not left this ship since. There could be no rest—she had given…
Arabella and the Spiders By KT Wagner The spiders have multiplied. The constant tinny hum of the spaceship masks their noises but they’re there lurking at the edges of my vision. I turn my head and they disappear into crannies. Eradication is no longer a possibility, if it ever was. There are too many. Over…
Out of the Bag By Floris M. Kleijne I recognize the hissing. Full, almost guttural, like he really wants to growl. No tom hissed quite like Jones. The sound lurks at the edge of my hearing, somewhere inside the apartment, maybe even outside, taunting me to come look, to see what vapors and megrims have…
900 Seconds of Cognizance and Counting by Krystal Claxton I say, to no one in particular, “I’m alive!” An urgent report asserts itself in my consciousness: Multiple shipboard immolations causing damage to essential components. “I’m on fire!” Crap. Crap. Crap. Why hasn’t the fire suppression foam system activated? It’s autonomous so I shouldn’t have to…
Notes from the Editor I had some rough, personal news to start 2019, and I began this note with that on my mind. But I don’t wish to dwell on what has happened already but on what is coming up next. Namely, what is next for this publication. This is our first issue of the…
Death Remembers By Brynn MacNab The bartender gestured toward Death’s empty glass. “Another one?” “No. Just about time for me to be going.” Most people never even noticed Death, at least not until he came for them. Maybe there was a special dispensation for bartenders. This one had mentioned his name on several occasions,…
Time Waits for One Man By Aeryn Rudel “Okay, so you’re immortal?” Nadine set her iPhone on the table and pressed record. “I won’t register on that,” said the man seated across from her. He was tall and thin, with a sharp nose, a wide, clear brow, and eyes so brown they were almost…
Partitions by Robert S. Wilson “Honey, can you take out the trash?” The moment the words slip from my mouth I realize my mistake. “Sure.” Devin gives me a solemn smile and rushes over to the trash can next to the refrigerator, opens the lid, and begins pulling out the white plastic bag. I’m…
Murder, Martyr, Maybe By Shannon Fay You can always spot the moment someone recognizes you. It’s like seeing a train change track in their brain, all their attention now barrelling towards you, the wide whites of their eyes shining like headlights. It has happened again right now, mid job interview. The interviewer, Irene, stares…
