mazianni's Stories

First Day on the New Planet

2007-04-02T17:59:03Z

I stretched as well as I was able in my hazardous environment suit, desperately wishing I could scratch my nose.

Reminding myself for the umpteenth time that what could not be cured must be endured, I set to work verifying the inventory. After I scanned each bar code, a bot carried the crate to a nearby storage shed. The boxes contained the surveying gear we needed for our work, and the supplies we needed to survive the next six months on New Harmony.

An hour later the job was finished and I cycled through the habitat’s airlock, scratching my nose as soon as my helmet was off.

Inside, I found the rest of the crew waiting in the common area, expressions ranging from shock to anger.

“What’s wrong?”

Sofie replied, “There’s only a month’s supply of food, if we ration. The crates were mislabeled. It’s all kitchen equipment.” She sat down and sobbed, “There’s no more food within two months of this place.”

As I looked around at my companions, I slowly realized that Sofie’s assessment was not precisely true.

Ivory Rose pt 1

2007-04-02T17:22:08Z

Ivory Rose watched Murray and Ogre slide into the booth across the aisle. Ogre winked at her and she smiled back at him, then ducked her head to avoid Murray’s gaze.

Murray scared Rose, but not because he was a skin. Rose shared a squat with a couple of skins. Murray scared her because he never made a sound, rarely spoke, and had the deadest, flattest eyes she had ever seen. Just being in the same room always gave Rose a chill.

One night she had gotten drunk with Jinx, and the gutterpunk had told her that Murray had been a hitman for some militant Zionists. Rose believed him, until Jinx also told her that Dooley was a leprechaun. After that, Rose guessed it was the cheap wine talking.

Hired assassin or not, Murray got respect. Rose had seen violent drunks go out of their way to avoid confronting him.

Rose finished her coffee, put a bill under the mug, then with a nod to Ogre she left. Outside the sunlight warmed her, and with a slight grin she considered how to spend the rest of her day.

start and finish

2007-04-02T00:55:04Z

The beginning.

nothing.

A word appears.

Simple, alone, devoid of context and meaning. This is how all universes begin.

More words, some falling slowly into place, others coming quickly, filling the void. A shape begins to form. This is how all stories are told. Only the details differ.

At some point, there are no more words. This is how the world ends.