“StandBy from Quastroc” • by Katrina Johnston

From Pop Access Control, Pioneering, Quastroc Settlement, Subsect 12. Gestay success: Viable obtained at Quastroc. StandBy.... Settlement proclaims viab. Celebrate, merriment. Continue.... Seven day-units prev, Quastroc. Noted. Succ extract from materna cavity. Out-settler broadcast infoco conf single viab dubbed “Samdie762.” Breath. Mid-W healer plus obstric attend. Aid...

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“Shapes of Power” • by Lance J. Mushung

Zantoinell reclined in her bath pool, enjoying total contentment. The hot salt water was divine, and so was being the Supreme One of the Zarkindell Realm. A viewer overhead chirped and displayed the name Zixdell, her principal advisor. Total irritation replaced total contentment. Her eight feelers, which had been floating relaxed like seaweed on a calm ocean, went rigid,...

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“This Old Mare” • by Molly N. Moss

“Somebody probably though they were funny, calling this dump a sea.” Bentley and Nguyen were surrounded by salt-laced sand. They stood in an ancient seabed of a moon orbiting a gas giant, the red-and-orange planet dominating the dark sky. “It’s tradition.” Nguyen shrugged in her bulky envirosuit. “Mare Tranquillitatis on the Moon, Mare Erythraeum on Mars…” “This old mare...

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“The Insufferable Triteness of Beings” • by Christopher Allenby

The open doorway to the Jade Tortoise Room loomed before me, and I wanted to be anywhere but here. A State Security checkpoint was set up immediately to the left of the doorway, so I presented my passport for the third time since registering at the hotel desk the previous evening. Inside, a huge banner on the wall behind the small elevated stage proclaimed what everyone...

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“A Tradition is a Tradition” • by Laura Davy

It was the city’s tradition to put up a memorial wherever a hero died. It was an even bigger tradition to have the owner of the land pay for the memorial. But the biggest tradition was to talk about the traditions. Dotting the landscape were bronze statues of superheroes who had died fighting evil robots, plaques for firefighters who had heart attacks while rescuing kittens...

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“We Do Not Speak of the Not Speaking” • by David Steffen

 When Cassie stepped out of the general store, she saw a horseman galloping into town like he had the devil on his heels. “Now who do you suppose that is?” she asked. Jake stopped his rocking chair, but said nothing. “His business must be something mighty vital, to be carrying on like that.” The young man sawed at the reins and pulled his horse to a halt in front of...

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“Off the Hook” • by Richard J. Dowling

“Listen. This is going to sound unbelievable, but it’s absolutely true. I’m speaking to you from the future.” “Don’t be daft.” “You’re confused. That’s all right. Let me explain. Thanks to a killer time-travel phone app, I’m calling you from the year 2025.” “You’re calling me from daft-in-the-head is where you’re calling from, matey.” “You have to cancel the wedding.” “What?...

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