Sci Fi
The Last Frozen Pond
First we lost streams. Water that gurgled over rocks and splashed against earth banks, their ancient source dried up and vanished forever. Birds swallowed their coos and critters scurried to nowhere, never to be seen again. Numb, we turned away from the news as each day it announced another species extinct. We lived in the remains of another time, reaping what we did not sew.
By Tamala Shelton4 years ago in Fiction
The Nook Over Lake Kalandan
The light waned as shadows pulled taut pushing snowflakes around bended air as wind whistled and whined. Atoms formed molecules to cells to tissues to organs and finally a system. A figure that clicked and coalesced; twitching matter and refracting light. A transmitted man. Solid and intent he braved the snow laden forest wasting nary a second for collecting himself. His footfall was regular and fast as he indented snow before crossing Lake Kalandan. It’s surface was frozen and solid but fissure was impending. The figure sent minute ripples and breaches through the ice. Unseen promises of rupture. The walk was careful but brisk as the lake crunched and cracked beneath steps. A break of stability and change of face that came with the approaching stranger. A stranger who tread in the vast shadow of the looming estate. Never ceasing in his ascent.
By Adam W. Graham4 years ago in Fiction
The Ice Box
Only a select few braved a chilled New York City on a day like that. These New Yorkers came in two hours earlier to beat the normal in and out crowd, and felt it was well worth it. This was a special breed of worker, who would not call themselves workers, they would say producers, entrepreneurs, innovators, or game changers. What they labored for would change humanity and that alone made them stand above the rest.
By Zee Dempster4 years ago in Fiction
The Treatment
I’m the Doctor’s assistant—one of many. The water we are using today is on Hokkaido. It’s beautiful here. I arrived last night from Finland, greeted by the exact bitter cold the Doctor loves. He chooses his locations well. As I could see from the plane, there’s lots of viable water here.
By Lexie Harrell4 years ago in Fiction
The Beginnings of a Hoax
The crack in the pond, frozen over from the lowering temperatures the night before, unsettles everyone. It is almost the full diameter of the pond long, shy only a few inches from the edges, ebbing out from a hole in the center like a spiderweb, catching the fleeting attention of passer-bys.
By Muchtar Suryawan4 years ago in Fiction
Pod
“Morning, my loves!” Ultramarine said brightly. It was 6:35 am Earth time, she observed as she pottered about the pods, checking vitals, adding a little fluid here, reducing feed there, initialising an auto groom in another pod. She had no idea how to tell the time in the expanse of space, so having an atomic clock that told Greenwich Mean Time was a bit of a comfort.
By Ajogun Marindoti4 years ago in Fiction
The Time Share
We drove up the snowy, winding road towards the cozy A-frame cabin. Gerald was waiting for us outside, a steaming cup of coffee held between his hands. As we parked, he stepped forward. I expected him to offer to help unpack, but instead he took a swig of his drink and said:
By Ethan J Bearden4 years ago in Fiction
Stone of The Fierce Chapter 1
Thundering cries could be heard all throughout Denares stadium as Xander, the Valiant sat patiently in his personal chamber. This would be his third and final battle for the week and, if he'd managed to make it out in one piece, a weekend of drinking and luxury awaited him. The gladiator rose to his sandaled feet and brandished the battered saber's blade before him. It was still slightly chipped from the preceding battle, but would nonetheless, suffice to weather the next. He stared back at himself in the reflection of the weapon, his chopped brunette hair looked slightly unkempt, but matched his persona perfectly. Hazel eyes sat beneath a pierced brow, a reward for winning one of his previous matches in the crown city. Over the past several months his physique had improved drastically; his once frail arms now bulged with definition beneath his slightly scratched iron chest plate and his legs that at one point could hardly carry his own frame, had expanded to the point of hardly fitting under his weapon's belt. As he observed himself, he pursed his lips, eyeing the scar that rested vertically amongst them and trailed up past his brow. That was the one scar on his body he'd received before he even stepped foot in the Colosseum. He was discovered two years ago, facedown in a pit of muddy water and blood; his small country of Cinder had just been brought to its knees by its neighboring powers. The war had taken his mother, his brother, and father all in a single day, that alone hardened the painful fall of his one and only home and all its land. Xander was alone, starving, and too weak to push himself any farther away from the burning city, so he collapsed there completely content with death. He awoke to the stomping of hooves around him and rose to see four men clad in imperial armor, surrounding him like some foul messengers of death. "You look lost, little boy." One spoke. "He looks weak." Said another in a gravely, raucous tone. "We ought to end his suffering." With an instantaneous flick of the wrist, he drew a spiked Lance from his side and aimed it at the frail form below. "I don't know, he's kinda handsome." Spoke a female voice. Long, violet hair cascaded from beneath her garnet helm, and from between its slits, Xander could see two eyes burning with a blazing yellow hue like that of the sun. "I agree, it'd be a waste to kill such an intriguing being." this voice was definitely a male's, but it was lighthearted and devoid of malcontent. The first one that spoke dismounted his horse and knelt beside the fallen boy. He removed his ornate, golden helm, revealing a set of amethyst eyes against a face with soft features, but it was clear those eyes had seen much blood in their time. "I have a proposition for you, boy. Come and fight for me in my tournament, represent my name and honor. You shall be greatly rewarded." A confident yet young voice was accompanied by a clap of thunder from above. Commander Argus was answered with a bloody spit to the face. "I'll never serve... Imperial garbage!" Xander coughed out between rough and ragged breaths. The commander chuckled and ran a gloved hand through his jet black hair. In a flash, his sword was drawn and Xander was gushing from the slit in his face. His cries were drowned out by the rain and thunder that surrounded them. "You don't know it yet, but I'm saving your life, boy." The young man turned to his comrades as he straddled his horse once again. "Bring him with us." And so, that was the day Xander lost everything. His family, his home, his freedom, even his own name. "Loss!" One of the imperial guards called from the door of his chamber. "It's time for your next battle." Loss donned his tempered bronze headpiece and exited the dimly lit room into the sunlight at the center of the Colosseum. The crowd was thrown into unrest at the sight of their favorite champion entering the fray. As he stepped closer towards the center, his opponent became visible. A man who was almost as tall as Loss himself, but nowhere near as toned. He brandished a hooked Sabre and a crude wooden shield. Tattooed arms disappeared beneath an onyx colored chest-piece and his trousers were tattered at the legs. He let out a battle cry and beat the blade against his shield. "Citizens of Acadia," the announcer began his usual spiel. "We are so pleased that you could bear audience to this tremendous display of mettle... " Loss had long since drowned out the words of the pompous announcer, instead opting to engage in an unbreakable staring contest with his opponent. In fact, he hadn't heard anything until the battle horn sounded, signaling the beginning of the bloodshed.
By Malcolm Perry4 years ago in Fiction
Future of AI
Similar to AI-enabled capabilities, the provision of resources includes AI model training data, cloud and computer storage, software development, secure communications and performance, and basic digital infrastructure to support AI-enabled applications and technologies.
By Zack Mcall4 years ago in Fiction
The Changelings
They first appeared after an avalanche at Mt. Credence. It’s believed that they were somehow trapped under the snow on the mountains and the avalanche uncovered them. They were first spotted by a park ranger on of the trails that many hikers frequented. During this time of year, there weren’t many park visitors because of how cold it gets near the mountain and likelihood of getting lost increased.
By Jameeka Douglas4 years ago in Fiction
