Andie stepped out of the mindscape and back into the physical world. She called it that because referring to it as “reality” implied mindscapes weren’t real – mindscapes that were built out of a person’s hopes, dreams, fears, love, and hate – everything that mattered to them. Andie couldn’t think of anything more real than …[continue reading]
Chapter 46
Conmer strode into the TS Long Con’s laboratory and med-bay, Renz in tow. The whole place was a surprisingly sanitary mess; every single thing was maintained with the absolute minimum cost in effort and resources required to insure safety. This was standard for a dugaren. Their species prized life as the greatest and only virtue, …[continue reading]
Chapter 7
Dyllan scaled his way up toward the ground above, falling a few stories as soon as gravity returned to its normal downward state. It took him a few seconds to reorient himself. “You alright, Andie?” “I was just about to ask you the same question.” Andie flickered into vision as Dyllan’s eyes blinked open. Her …[continue reading]
Chapter 45
Conmer opened the lower port bow door to the TS Long Con, hoping to head straight for his cabin without stopping to talk to any morons. “He-heey… Hi. Hiii, Conmer.” Well there went that plan. Renz was usually pleasant company, but with his mental faculties… impaired, it was unlikely he had anything interesting or important …[continue reading]
Chapter 6
Dyllan let out a sigh and scratched the back of his neck impatiently. “Geh… I hate this part. I always feel like such a coward, just sitting around waiting for Andie to finish doing all the actual fighting.” “We’ve talked about this. Whether or not charging in like a brain dead lunatic ‘feels’ like the …[continue reading]
Chapter 44
Conmer strolled back into Treyhan’s shipyard, feigning interest in several plastic plants to stall for time as he passed through the lobby. Every second of civility he could maintain before his inevitable return to the TS Long Con was precious. “Oh, Conmer. You’re back.” Treyhan wandered into the room holding a few dozen pages of …[continue reading]
Chapter 5
Andie charged down her road of flames – ever increasing terror weighing down on her. Normally, she’d keep the looming fear at bay with jokes and a smile, but she was long past that point. Not-panic was no longer an option, now was the time to start panicking productively. First things first, though, Andie needed …[continue reading]
Chapter 43
Conmer stepped back out into the busy streets, packed tightly with hundreds of rosearn swimming in their own plans and schemes. He really didn’t want to go back to the ship yet. Maybe he could visit that restaurant Treyhan had recommended. Ponzi’s, it was called. No, that wasn’t an option. Tenra’s teeth were proof that …[continue reading]
Chapter 4
“Much better. Thanks.” Andie shook her head and took a deep breath. It was nice to have her Will to Live back – she really hated the depression born in its absence. It was a nasty little paradox of emotional energy swirling inside a shell of apathy. Pain and pleasure alike pulled into a black …[continue reading]
Chapter 42
Conmer wiped some of the blood off his ear. He hated this sort of wound, the actual damage to his body was minimal but it just would not stop bleeding. “What a waste of a perfectly good bullet. If anything, resorting to violence made you appear less threatening.” He hesitated. “…but you’ve made the point …[continue reading]
