Diversity

Prologue

When getting dressed, most people choose their clothes based on what looks good. When going to bed, most people feel safe as long as their front door is locked. Most people don’t keep a list of people that might want them dead. Conmer wasn’t most people. He kept a list of enemies in his head, …[continue reading]

Diversity

Chapter 1

Conmer took a deep breath, cautiously walking into the office of Zaken Drake. There were two things that were obvious to him. The first thing was that Zaken’s name was clearly fake, and the second was that everything would go smoothly as long as everyone acted rationally. What was best for Conmer was best for …[continue reading]

Diversity

Chapter 2

“You know, I don’t think you realize how shortsighted this plan is.” Conmer struggled to retain a calm exterior as he stared down the barrel of Zaken’s gun. “Sure, if everything goes according to plan you’ll have your penny saved and your penny earned, but things rarely ever go according to plan. In all likelihood, …[continue reading]

Diversity

Chapter 3

Conmer slowly walked through the halls of Zaken’s satellite base, keeping his finger on the trigger of his empty gun. He could tell from the nervous looks on their faces that all the workers watching him pass were civilians, but it wouldn’t be long before one of them mustered up some courage and tried to …[continue reading]

Diversity

Chapter 4

Conmer glanced out the front monitor of his shuttle, watching as the side of a large frigate drew closer. The spectacle lost a little something in digital format, but windows really weren’t an option for interplanetary vehicles. Not that the TS Long Con was much of a spectacle to begin with. It was so old …[continue reading]

Diversity

Chapter 5

Conmer wandered through the maze of steam, wires, and circuit boards that made up the Long Con’s engine room. “Renz! I got news! You down here?” A voice rang out from around the next corner. “No! I’m vacationing in the lush tropics of Junga-jungo!” Conmer turned the corner to find a frazzled looking homgen man …[continue reading]

Diversity

Chapter 6

Conmer gazed up into the mess of rope and furniture, tangled up into an expansive web that was much sturdier than it looked. “Manri! Manri! Get your primate hindquarters down here, I’ve got work!” A dazed mumble came from on top of an old tattered mattress. “Nnn… Don li werk…” A thin figure rolled off …[continue reading]

Diversity

Chapter 7

“Just to make sure everyone’s clear, the plan is to loop around sector G-13 and fly through soryier territory. This should buy us enough time to get out of radar range. Most importantly, Larren will be duct taped to a chair for the entire procedure, because if I launch him out the trash chute it …[continue reading]

Diversity

Chapter 8

Manri bounced into the hangar, radiating so much excitement it was almost visible. She’d been stuck in the cramped corridors of the Long Con for weeks. The closest comfort she’d gotten to the wide open, vine filled jungle had been the nest she’d made in the engine room. Finally, finally, finally, she could get out …[continue reading]

Diversity

Chapter 9

Conmer glanced toward one of the Happy Mango’s back monitors, watching as the stars spun around and the TS Long Con flitted in and out of view. It was a good thing the ship came with inertia separators, because Manri’s… enthusiastic flight patterns would have knocked him around like A-Block distracting beans. “It’s been ten …[continue reading]