Issue 33
November 01, 2007
Ray Gun Revival
Pg. 2
Table of Contents
Overlords (Founders / Editors): Johne Cook, L. S. King, Paul Chris an Glenn Venerable Staf: A.M. S ckel - Managing Copyeditor Shannon McNear - Lord High Advisor, grammar consultant, listening ear/sanity saver for Overlord Lee Paul Chris an Glenn - PR, sounding board, strong right hand L. S. King - Lord High Editor, proofreader, beloved nag, muse, webmistress Johne Cook - art wrangler, desktop publishing, chief cook and bo le washer Slushmasters (Submissions Editors): Sco M. Sandridge John M. Whalen David Wilhelms Shari L. Armstrong Jack Willard Serial Authors: Sean T. M. S ennon John M. Whalen Ben Schumacher Lee S. King Paul Chris an Glenn Johne Cook
2 Table of Contents 3 Overlords’ Lair 5 Little White Truths, An Aston West Tale 5 by T. M. Hunter 10 The Wastelander by Robert Mancebo 20 Featured Artist: Martin Bland 24 The Pasadena Rule by Ben Schumacher 33 Deuces Wild,
Chapter 17, Strange Bedfellows, Part Four
by L. S. King 40 The RGR Time Capsule October 15 - October 31, 2007
Cover Art: “bearingwitness...” by Mar n Bland Visit us online at http://raygunrevival.com Without Whom... Bill Snodgrass, site host, Web-Net Solu ons, admin, webmaster, database admin, mentor, con All content copyright 2007 by Double-edged Publishing , dante, liaison – Double-edged Publishing a Memphis, Tennessee-based non-pro t publisher.
Special Thanks: Ray Gun Revival logo design by Hatchbox Creative
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Rev: 20071101c
Issue 33, November 01, 2007
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Overlords’ Lair F
of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the implacable with pain and sorrow, regret and disappointment, replication of The Thing, the utterly inhuman and endless strings of lonely nights. Our marriage had As I write this, it is that time of year again, the timeunstoppable of dread of Ridley Scott’s Alien. become one of convenience and habit, but neither year I think about various things. The physical cues are of us had the willpower to call it o . all there, from the fleeing warmth and the deepeningI like how they phrased it in “Men In Black”: “A person is cold to the shortening of the light and the lengthening smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals andI gazed into the pool of liquid as it waited pa ently, of the dark. you know it. Everything they’ve ever ‘known’ has been smooth as an iced-over pond. Then, I tossed the proven to be wrong. A thousand years ago everybody glass back and most of the sour drink slid down my It all starts so innocently, but there is an inexorable knew as a fact, that the earth was the center of the throat. slide. I think of hayrides and the autumn harvest. universe. I Five hundred years ago, everybody knew that think of the sharing of community on Halloween andthe Earth was flat, and fifteen minutes ago, you knew “You must be a space pilot.” the playfully macabre. that humans were alone on it. Imagine what you’ll k now “Must be,” I mu ered. tomorrow.“ But lurking behind the scenes, I feel something else, genuine evil, and it is every day on the front page of the There it is—what we take for granted today could be I placed the near-empty glass on the table and news, and it isn’t. I fear both. completely changed at any moment, our lives upset, looked up as a tall, slender female eased out of the smoke. the illusion of our shallow confidences shattered. Like many things, fear is a complex thing. Some things are really obvious—the unexplained noise in the What is fear for you? Lack of control? Pain? Loss of aHer pale blue skin glowed in the dim light and her hips swayed as she made her way to my table. A darkness, sudden motion out of the corner of your eye, loved one? Looming dread? The threat of things outside skimpy white skirt barely covered her long legs and unexpected pain. However, some fears require moreyour ability to prevent or change? Death? Life? matching fabric patches were not enough to leave thought, which seems like a cruel joke. The more you any por on of her ample breasts to my imagina on. know, the more things there are to fear—notification of In this issue, fear comes in different forms. Her long hair was bleached blonde and hung all the a sexual predator living in your area, a wave of unsolved In our first story, fear comes in the form of addiction. way down her back. home invasions, identity theft, soaring inflation, global warming or cooling, as-yet-unknown superbugs. Her occupa on was as obvious as mine. Little White Truths: an Aston West Tale by T.M.Hunter The classic monsters of Hollywood’s Golden Age always Our second story is about the fear of an interstellar fascinated more than frightened me. They were so Addictions can be hard to break, especially when they’re pioneer in the face of a brutal alien invasion. rich in characterization, from Dr. Frankenstein and the so much fun. pathos of his misunderstood monster to the enigmatic The Wastelander Count, to the tragedy of the wolfman. They were There was no way to deny my addic on. I made by Robert Mancebo creatures who threatened other people in other places. no e ort to work myself out of it, either. Instead, There was a wealth of story there, tragic love given and A murderous alien raid shows a young pioneer that we kept each other company like an old married lost, even a measure of adventure. sometimes human beings can be too civilized. couple.
ear.
But sci-fi has given us a whole new realm of things to In the same vein, we had traveled a road fear, and they are more globally threatening. I think
Ray Gun Revival magazine
“What’s happening?” Jason’s pudgy face was pale in lled the emergency back-up illuminators.
Issue 33, November 01, 2007
Pg. 4 smoothing and folding the heated suit and squaringSlap grinned at his brother-in-law as he took the Emma ignored her brother’s ques on as she donned a ballis c helmet and ac vated its away the breathing equipment. comm from his ear. “Word is, Be s hasn’t stopped targe ng system. She prudently pulled on her old screaming since she found out, and MacCay walked black jacket instead of the blazing orange parkaMy eyes kept straying to my hotsuit, hanging in out on her. They’re making bets on whether she the next compartment over. A hotsuit could keep that hung by the exit. kicks him out before he gets rid of her. They’re a human being alive and safe on the surface of in chaos, not knowing which way to jump.” Sean “We’re being a acked. Now be quiet and let Venus for hours on end. Katya’s had managed to laughed with him, then Slap added, “And, get this— me—there.” She managed to arm her blaster with get her back to the lander a er being damaged in there’s been some sort of bank problems. Some shaking hands and he ed the awkward weapon in the landslide. But it could not take her back out tosay a collapse, some say embezzlement, some say a manner that showed some familiarity. free the fans and bring her home safely. an electronic bank robbery. But it’s frozen the rich, and they’re scrambling to recover.” And why does “The comm screens are all s ll down,” he argued.That was the worst of it. The lander itself, as farthat situa on have such a familiar ring to it? Slap “How do you know we’re being a acked?” as we could tell, was serviceable. Katya was hurtwould bet Tristan was behind it... but could probably y it. We would pass over the “All the power’s o ! What do you think that siren landing site for a rendezvous in a few hours, and “Wow. So, what now?” echoing through the corridors is?” the Delta ship would be along a half-day later. We had a lot of things going for us. But the debris With a sigh, Slap shook his head. “I’m not sure. If “Don’t leave,” he begged when she moved toward blocking the aerofans made it all pointless. I knew what MacCay was really up to, it would be the door. easy.” It would be so easy to x, if only someone were “Jason, there’s no me for this! I’m going out to around to move some rocks out of the way. Damn it, “You got to know him pre y well, didn’t you? Were protect the compound; you get down and help a trained chimp could do it, if it were on the scene you friends?” take care of the children.” and had a hotsuit. I had a hotsuit, but I wasn’t on Only Shallah’s family knew MacCay’s name was the scene, and there wasn’t any way to get there. “But there are others who can—” he began, but she really Tristan, although everyone knew he was cut him o savagely. There was only one landing cra , Virgil, and it laySlap’s companion from his jaunt in space. “We... stranded on the surface. No other piloted spacecra helped each other out of a few scrapes, and yeah, “This isn’t one of your stupid video games! You’re ever built could stand the heat and pressure of theI considered him a friend. But I can’t say where his old enough to know the di erence. The Vigron loyal es are.” I wish I could! Tristan, what’s going lower atmosphere of Venus. wiped out Benton Sta on and I’m not le ng that on? happen here! I have a job to do and so do you, now That le exactly nothing. I couldn’t very well y let’s go!” down there, or jump, could I? Whatever you fear, you don’t face it alone. Sometimes, sharing your fear is enough to conquer. And sometimes, Ben Schumacher’s continued novella wrestles with the Finally, in L. S. King’s Deuces Wild serial, long-time it can be fun to revel in your fear, just a little. fear of death—not for yourself, but for a dear loved friends Slap and Tristan face the betrayal of one’s closest one. friends. What could cause that? What friendship could Just pray it doesn’t get away from you, for that way lies real horror. survive that? The Pasadena Rule by Ben Schumacher Johne Cook Deuces Wild, “Strange Bedfellows, Part Four”
by L. S. King ThePasadenaRulesayswhen you’rescrewed,youdo yourjob,andthenyousignoff.Unless,ofcourse,you Tristan’s new alliance with Slap’s old enemy sets the ignore the Rule. former friends at odds.
Overlord, RGR Breezeway, Wisconsin October 31, 2007
I wandered into the ready room to take care of “So, what’s going on?” Sean asked. my high al tude gear. I sat in front of the locker,
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 33, November 01, 2007
Li le White Truths: An Aston West Tale by T. M. Hunter
Little White Truths An Aston West Tale
Pg. 5
by T. M. Hunter
I
made no effort to work myself out of it, either. table. Instead, we kept each other company like an She sat with a smile. “So, been to Loehs old married couple. Looking back, it was inevitable, with my before?” long trips alone in a cramped spaceship. It In the same vein, we had traveled a road “Can’t say I have.” leads to boredom, which doesn’t have a lot filled with pain and sorrow, regret and disapof cures. There was no clear moment in time pointment, endless strings of lonely nights. “Then you’ll be happy to know you qualify I could point to when the solution turned to Our marriage had become one of convenience for my two-for-one special. Pay for one tonight, full-blown addiction. Instead, it was more and habit, but neither of us had the willpower and get your next visit free.” gradual and sinister, until the realization to call it off. became obvious. I smirked and shook my head. “Sorry, not I gazed into the pool of liquid as it waited interested.” “Would you like another, sir?” patiently, smooth as an iced-over pond. Then, I tossed the glass back and most of the sour “Ah, not interested in attractive women.” I looked up at the light brown man in a drink slid down my throat. stiff, white shirt as he stood next to my table. I stifled a laugh. “Not in paying for them, “You must be a space pilot.” I glanced down at the pale green remnants of no.” some drink I’d forgotten the name of. “Must be,” I muttered. “Can’t blame a girl for trying.” Without a word, I gave a slight nod and he I placed the near-empty glass on the table I knocked back the remainder of my drink walked off into the thick, smoky cloud. and looked up as a tall, slender female eased and set the empty glass on the table. How many glasses had I downed? I out of the smoke. couldn’t even remember. They arrived full and “I can’t imagine any girl could stay in Her pale, blue skin glowed in the dim light business long out here.” I liked to stay clear of left empty, and at some point the distinction and her hips swayed as she made her way to high traffic locations, and this city fit the bill. faded. my table. A skimpy, white skirt barely covered “Here you are, sir.” Loehs was barely even a mark on the naviher long legs, and matching fabric patches were not enough to leave any portion of her gation charts. Shipping lanes were so empty Glasses were exchanged as I tossed a pair ample breasts to my imagination. Her long out here; it had been tough even finding a of credits onto the table. space dock with refueling facilities. Drinking hair was bleached blonde and hung all the establishments, on the other hand, were in way down her back. “Thanks,” I mumbled. vast supply. Her occupation was as obvious as mine. “You’re welcome, sir.” He pocketed the “Which is why I do it for the enjoyment and money and left. “Mind if I take a seat?” not for my livelihood.” She winked at me.
never thought I would one day become an addict.
There was no way to deny my addiction. I I motioned toward the seat across the
Ray Gun Revival magazine
The waiter returned with two glasses,
Issue 33, November 01, 2007
Little White Truths: An Aston West Tale by T. M. Hunter
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placed one full of clear liquid in front of my acquaintance.” homework.” guest and took another green drink off his tray. She lifted her glass and drank it dry. “I “Delurux B might not be as profitable as He cocked his head to one side. “Sir?” prefer special cargo, something that makes itoutlawed weapons, but still valuable.” I always I nodded and he set it down. worth my while in resale.” thought it odd more value was placed on devices that kill than life itself. Once he left with my empty glass, I turned “You’d probably prefer no evidence of the “And where did you get it?” back to the woman opposite me. “So, what’s transaction, either.” your name?” “Of course.” “You don’t want to know.” I frowned. “Angelika.” She lifted the drink to her lips It was hard to picture this attractive vixen Scavenging was a touchy business, which and sipped. as a black market dealer, but I’d had enough bordered on thievery depending on the system “Well, Angelika, what do you do for a living, experience to know anything was possible. I was in. I never stole from anyone, the way I if not this?” I was also glad to find a potential outlet for saw it. If someone abandoned their cargo cargo I planned to unload. I hadn’t expected before I came across it, it became fair game. “That depends.” She clicked the fingernails an opportunity to present itself when I landed of her free hand on the tabletop. “How much are you asking?” here. “On?”
“I might have something of interest to you.”This was where I always hated the scavenging business. At least with scheduled cargo, pay “What’s your name?” “I’m listening.” was set before I even took the job. There wasn’t this annoying negotiation to go through. “Aston.” “I stumbled across a cargo container of Delurux B.” “Ten thousand.” “Well, Aston, what is it you do for a living?” Angelika shook her head. “Not much call She laughed. “For one container?” “I asked you first.” for pharmaceuticals.” I shrugged as the waiter returned with two “That you did.” “Are you serious? A drug that can prevent more refills. He sat Angelika’s in front of her and then tried the same on me, but I waved Silence fell over us until I realized she radiation poisoning and you don’t think there’s him off. I didn’t plan to stick around much wasn’t going to spill more information beforea market for it?” longer. He walked off. I did. I took a drink. “Not really, no.” “Major medical facilities are the only ones “Haul cargo.” “You ever heard of Rosin?” authorized to even purchase it from the drug “For yourself or for others?” companies.” “They have the galaxy’s largest unharvested platinum fields.” I smirked. “That depends.” She scowled, but as a black market dealer, she knew she’d lose out if she didn’t snag this She chuckled. “And if I wanted to buy some I moved my glass. “Because the planet emits shipment. so much radiation, extraction is too costly.” cargo?” “Seven.” “Then I’d say I’m pleased to make your She smirked. “I see you’ve done some
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 33, November 01, 2007
Little White Truths: An Aston West Tale by T. M. Hunter
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“Ten is as low as I’ll go.” I’d already figuredstairs and turned to Angelika. warnings about storage and shipping. out a happy medium where everyone could “If you don’t mind, we can inspect the “Impressive.” Her teeth chattered as she make adequate profit. shipment inside my hold.” climbed down and folded her arms across her She weighed it over. “I have to see the merchest. “I’d rather inspect it out here.” chandise first.” “Need to examine it some more?” Angelika uncrossed and crossed her legs for “Sorry, nothing personal but I don’t hold She shook her head, so I re-latched the my benefit, which was a useless move on her much trust for black market dealers.” container and jumped down to the floor. We part. I didn’t mix business and pleasure. “A wise choice, but I hold the same trust for went back out into my much warmer living “My ship’s in dock.” I stood from the table space pirates.” quarters. and started for the exit. She left her glass on “Fair enough.” I continued inside without“So, are you interested in a purchase?” the table and followed me out. another word. Hesitantly, she followed. She nodded. “Ready whenever you are.” The smoke cloud parted as we walked My living quarters were a disaster area, through. Moments later, we stepped out into with clothes, belongings and empty bottles of “Let’s step outside.” the muggy darkness and made our way down a Vladirian liquor spread all over. I kicked a path small sidewalk in complete silence. We exited down the entry hatch stairs, back clear to the aft wall, where an open hatch led out to the dark, dingy space dock. The pungent to the cargo hold. A short distance down the path, we crossed air burned inside my nostrils. Pinpoints of light a long footbridge over a near-dormant stream. We walked down the dimly lit corridor to shone in the distance as buildings towered I tried to hold my breath to avoid the rancid the second bay on our right. I entered the codeagainst the skyline. stench, but it polluted my lungs enough to to open the internal hatch into a keypad. It cause a coughing fit. Angelika waved both arms above her head creaked its objection and slid aside. and a pair of headlights flashed on nearby. My ship was one of only three vessels in I stepped in and rubbed my hands togetherAn internal combustion engine roared to life the space dock as we stepped off the other end while my breath formed a misty cloud. “To let before a tracked vehicle rolled into view with of the bridge. It was the smallest of the three, you know, this stuff has to be refrigerated.” its trailer. It made a quick u-turn, then came where the largest ship looked abandoned and to a stop next to my ship. The windows were the other had arrived after me. I walked toward “Understood.” tinted so I couldn’t see the driver inside the my transport off by itself in the dim light. compact cab. I didn’t figure she’d last long inside the bay, I lifted the left sleeve of my dark, heavy dressed as she was, so I hurried the process Angelika glared at me. “We’re ready for the jacket and spoke into the embedded transmit-along. Two sets of levers rotated at the corners transfer whenever you are.” ter. “Jeanie, I have a guest who wants to inspect of the rectangular container, which allowed some merchandise.” “Nothing personal, but I prefer payment me to pull down the upper side hatch. The container almost filled the bay, so we climbed first.” A female voice, my ship’s computer, up on the wall’s support structure and looked responded. “Acknowledged.” “You might prefer it, but I demand the inside at thousands of cylindrical medical goods first.” cartridges. Each one had a sticker slapped on The entry hatch opened and folded down it, which listed the drug name and normal to the ground. I stepped up on the embedded
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Issue 33, November 01, 2007
Little White Truths: An Aston West Tale by T. M. Hunter
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I mulled over my options in silence. I couldits place with a blast rifle pointed at me. in my captain’s chair. “Get us out of here.” be a stickler for pre-payment and lose the She smiled. “I’m afraid our transaction is While we lifted off, I reached down into the entire deal. Personally, it surprised me she complete.” side pocket of my chair and pulled out a halfhadn’t been more forceful in her negotiation. empty bottle of Vladirian liquor. I lifted my sleeve. “Jeanie, unload bay two.” I cursed. “Law enforcement?” I took a drink of the sweet yellow liquid as She nodded. “They know better than to get “Acknowledged.” Jeanie started in again. “Aston, why did you ask involved.” me to unload bay two when you showed your I turned to my guest. “So, do a lot of this guest bay four?” “You won’t get away with this.” type of business out here?” “Just a hunch that paid off.” I smiled and “You might as well cut your losses and leave, External bay doors on the other side of took another drink. my ship opened and the sound echoed in the before you do something you regret. I’d hate to “Won’t they be upset when they find out emptiness. She looked over at me. “More than shoot you.” you left them with an empty cargo container?” the other.” I stood there a moment and tried to come up with a way to remedy the situation, but “Not a lot of law enforcement in this neck of “Probably.” knew I had no options. It wasn’t completely the woods then?” I chuckled as my aft engines shot us toward unexpected. Black market dealers were Her face no longer sported the pleasant criminals, and a great number of them couldn’t the upper atmosphere. I was sure I could find seductive smile she had when I was first be trusted. A good gut feeling came in handy in a mining company willing to make a deal. approached. “We have some agreements in cases like these. Everyone wanted to be the first to crack open place with the authorities.” those platinum mines. “What goes around comes around, “They take a percentage?” Angelika.” “And are you worried they may try to find you?” “A little more complicated than that.” “Perhaps.” “Possible, but unlikely. I don’t plan to come She motioned to my entry hatch with her I looked over at the cargo container held back to Loehs again.” firm in my mechanical claw’s grasp. It eased blast rifle. I huffed and climbed the stairs. Criminals were evil, but most were lazy. It down until six large latches on the trailer “Jeanie, close the hatch.” would take work to track me down, and that snapped and locked the shipment down. would be more effort than Angelika wanted to Angelika walked around the container and As it lifted, I turned and watched Angelika spend. double-checked the latches were secure. Shesprint off into the darkness after the trailer. “Why did you attempt to sell her the cargo opened the far side cab door and made some The hatch slammed. “Set a course for the in the first place?” comments in a language I didn’t recognize. Rosin system.” I became antsy. “I’m ready for payment.” “I’m not sure.” I took another drink. Jeanie responded moments later. “Course laid in.” The transport sped off and I yelled my I never thought I would one day become an objection. A moment later, Angelika stood in addict. Boredom set in long ago and there were I walked up to the bridge and slumped down
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 33, November 01, 2007
Little White Truths: An Aston West Tale by T. M. Hunter
Pg. 9
few ways to cure it. There was a certain thrill to dealing with the black market. It was addicting, and the marriage would probably last until one of us was dead and gone. I only hoped I was old and grey by then.
T. M. Hunter T.M. Hunter is a new and upcoming author with a heavy emphasis on space opera, mostly based in the Aston West universe. His rst Aston West novella, Heroes Die Young , is slated for publicaon by Champagne Press in 2008.
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 33, November 01, 2007
The Wastelander by Robert Mancebo
Pg. 10
The Wastelander
by Robert Mancebo
“W
“But there are others who can—” he began, brown eyes she’d ever seen. hat’s happening?” Jason’s pudgy face was pale in the emergency back-up but she cut him off savagely. “No! Lionel, not you!” she gasped. illuminators. “This isn’t one of your stupid video games! Emma ignored her brother’s question as You’re old enough to know the difference. The “I told you he was a traitor!” Jason shouted from the floor. “He’s an animal!” she donned a ballistic helmet and activated its Vigron wiped out Benton Station and I’m not targeting system. She prudently pulled on herletting that happen here! I have a job to do and The slim wastelander shifted his archaic old black jacket instead of the blazing orangeso do you, now let’s go!” shotgun to the crook of his arm and tugged the parka that hung by the exit. She hit the button and the access way slid small tablecloth off an end table. He tossed it “What’s happening?” he demanded again, open. The familiar corridor should’ve been lit,at Jason saying, “Your nose is bleeding, kid.” his voice tinged with panic. but it was like a gaping black pit. She stepped The big dog who’d followed them into the out and was reaching to switch on her helmet room looked toward the doorway and gave “We’re being attacked, just like he warned!” illuminators when something struck her hand another low growl. she snapped. “Now be quiet and let me—there.” down violently. She managed to arm her blaster with shaking “I hear him,” Lionel said in a hushed tone. hands and hefted the awkward weapon in a She began a protest but her weapon was Outside the frantic pounding of feet echoed manner that showed some familiarity. knocked from her grasp by a heavy blow, and and a familiar voice gave a strident call, “Emma? she was thrown back against the concrete wall. “The comm screens are all still down,” Breathless, only her helmet saved her from Emma? Get your blaster! That wastelander’s he argued. “How do you know we’re being being rendered unconscious. As she tried to blown the main power feed. The Sentinels are all destroyed. The Vigron are inside the attacked?” gather her dazed wits, the helmet was yanked compound!” off and pitched to roll echoing down the “All the power’s off! What do you think that corridor. “Ben, lookout, he’s here—” Jason screamed siren echoing through the corridors is?” she defiantly. Ben Artha came around the corner, demanded. “Now I want you to go to the main An animal growl preceded a crushing grip rec room and help take care of the children on her arm that forced her back through the weapon ready, but the slim wastelander was too quick for him. He slammed the blaster’s and non-combatants.” access way and into the family chambers. barrel up with the butt of his shotgun so it “Don’t leave,” he begged when she moved “Get away from my sister!” She heard discharged a bolt of plasma into the ceiling; toward the door. Jason’s outraged yell followed by the sound then he dropped his gun to execute a cunning of a blow, and her teenaged brother lay dazeddisarm that left Ben looking stupidly down the “Jason, there’s no time for this! I’m going barrel of his own weapon. upon the carpet. out to protect the compound; you get down and help take care of the children.” She shook her hair out of her face and The wastelander deactivated the blaster found herself looking into the coldest pair and of tossed it out into the hall. He placed his
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Issue 33, November 01, 2007
The Wastelander by Robert Mancebo
Pg. 11
fists upon his hips so that the long fringe of back. his “We’re only going out to see what sort“I’ve of got an engineering certificate. I could get smoky buckskin jacket dangled flamboyantly. trash the wind blew in.” a good job on any civilized planet. I shouldn’t have to settle for some egocentric want-to-be “Seems like,” he looked up at Ben Artha’s “Don’t be rude! Mom and Dad—” she playboy like Ben.” glowering face, “we all need to have a little began. “Yeah,” he dared to reply. “But we’re not talk.” “—won’t know a thing if you don’t tell on a civilized planet. We’re on Uton, two years them!” he cut her off. “I’m not a baby, you from any civilized planet. That’s why Mom # know! I can dress my own—damn—self!” and Dad had to travel by ground car for three It had all begun with the arrival of the “Fine. Freeze your ears off,” she replied. “Ihundred miles to get to a hospital to take care of a simple appendicitis.” strange man a few scant hours before. could care less.” She knew better than to argue with him when he was in a defiant mood. Even “Well, maybe I’ll go into business for myself “Jason,” Emma had shouted down the her mother and father had trouble dealing with then,” Emma told him as she turned back to echoing concrete hall. “Beth says there’s a him when he got like that. the exit door. She added, under her breath, wastelander at the gate!” “Anything to avoid becoming, ‘Emma Artha.’” They went down the wide common corridor “I’m playing Echoes of Abandon!” he called that linked their home with a hundred others The wind was howling when they went back. She could hear the rumble of synthetic and climbed the steps of the nearest exit. outside. The wind howled a good deal of the blaster fire with a background of dynamic time on Uton. The sky was a leaden gray and music from his bedroom. “Throw it on the “When are they ever going to finish installoccasional bolts of lightning arced across it. comm screen, and I’ll watch it from here.” ing the power lift,” Jason huffed as he climbed. Uton was a planet of extremes. The colonists “These stairs are murder.” “We’ve been on this rock for six months lived and worked in complexes dredged down now, dork. You still don’t know all the links “A dozen steps wouldn’t bother you if you below the planetary surface. The newest wave are scrambled whenever there’s a storm?” she ever got off your lard-butt and went outside,” of colonists did anyway. Decades ago, the first shouted back. “If you want to see him, you’ll Emma snapped. “You’re fourteen years old wave had been frozen out in the long winters have to crawl out of your hole!” now. You could do something besides play or broiled away in the scorching summers. There were only a handful of them left now, video games all day and night.” “Stupid electrical storms,” she heard him living out in the wilds on their own. Wastelandgrumble as he paused the game and came “That’s what I need,” he huffed, “advice ers, the newcomers called them. Sometimes down the hall. He looked like nothing so muchfrom a spinster sister. Why don’t you marry they showed up to offer advice or help. Mostly as an owl woken in the bright sun of midday, Ben Artha and go live with him.” they kept to themselves. They were a strange, mussy hair surrounding a round face, big eyes lonely breed, traveling with their big dogs and “Because he’s a pig!” She wheeled on him blinking at the illuminators. the archaic weapons they made by hand. at the suggestion. “He doesn’t want to marry He kicked into a pair of insulated boots and me; he just wants someone to feed him and There were people in the colony who pulled on a light jacket that hung by the exit clean up after him.” listened to their stories and advice, but most way. found them to be an oddity. They lived without Jason cringed from her anger as though hemodern technology and wore clothing of “Thermal parka,” she reminded him. thought she might hit him, which, of course, tanned animal skins so no amount of bathing was against the law. She backed him against would remove the musky smell that followed “I don’t need a stupid parka,” he snapped the wall with a threatening finger and said,
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 33, November 01, 2007
The Wastelander by Robert Mancebo them.
Pg. 12 must feel at the display of firepower.
“Not during an electrical storm,” Emma reminded them. “They could’ve kept a raiding Emma and Jason leaned into the wind and “Anyone got some water?” the wastelandership in the shadow of the moon until the pushed on toward the wide gate in the wall that asked. He was breathing heavily. “I’ve just run sensor array at Prime Station was blinded by surrounded the many access ways to the livingfrom Benton Station.” the storm.” complex. From the surface, the underground “Benton Station,” one of the surround- “But Benton Station had sentinels, just city looked like nothing more than a massive like we do,” another colonist exclaimed. “No walled forest with small covered doorways ing colonist’s snorted. “Why that’s ten miles! Nobody could—” Vigrons could’ve taken out sentinels!” nestled between the trees. The fiery glare of the wastelander silenced “No one left,” the wastelander told them. A group of citizens was already gathered his disbelief. Wastelanders were known to be “No sentinels, no colonists.” about the open gate, dressed in insulated prickly about people accusing them of lying. parkas, anonymous with their faces lost in the “How would you know?” Emma recognized big hoods. The visitor was obvious. He was Emma bumped Jason’s arm and bobbed the acidic voice of Ben Artha from the bulky a lean man, a man not raised upon heavily her head back toward the entrance. parka to her left. processed foods packed full of salt, sugar, fat, and synthetic flavor enhancers. He wore a “But the stairs—” he whined. “The colonists armed themselves,” the man wide-brimmed hat to ward off the rain and sun, explained. “They tried to break free and make it “Get him some water!” she hissed. and below his dust goggles, his cheeks were a running fight. They didn’t make it. The Vigron darkened by a close-cropped beard that made were still cutting down the last survivors when his age indeterminate. He could’ve been a year Jason made a grouchy noise but went back I got there.” or so older than her own twenty, or he could’veto get water for the man. been as much as thirty; Emma couldn’t tell. His “And you did nothing?” Ben demanded. “Why would a man run all the way from dark buckskins with their dangling fringe and Benton Station?” one of the other colonists “I took a good, hard look, then Bennie and I smudged knees and elbows looked horribly asked. hightailed it over here.” He patted the panting out of place surrounded by the bright orange dog. “You’re the closest settlement. I figured parkas of the residents. He had a coat of some “Seemed like the thing to do,” the man said. thick furry hide bound up on a pack upon his “Wasn’t anyone there I could help. Thought I you folks needed warning more than the dead back and a huge, shaggy dog pressed close to might try to warn you folks before the same needed burying.” his leg. thing happened here.” There was a general grumbling but Don Win, Emma also noted the two armored the colony mayor stepped forward and clapped “What same thing?” Someone asked. sentinels standing nearby. They were the most a hand upon the man’s shoulder, saying, “Thank “Wiped out,” the man reported coolly. you for your warning. We’ll be prepared if they up-to-date defensive hardware in the galaxy. Each was capable of handling nearly any sort “Vigron raiding party hit last night and killed come this way.” He turned to the crowd and of military problem from wild animals to a full-everyone. Man, woman, and child.” said, “We’ll keep all four sentinels manned at scale invasion. all times, issue out personal weapons from the “We’re at peace with the Vigron,” someone armory, and stand watch twenty-four seven. It was a lot of hardware for the colonists argued. They won’t catch this station napping!” to display over the entrance of a single man. “Our sensors would’ve picked up any Jason trotted up, huffing and sweating, Emma scowled at the awe the wastelander incoming ships,” another colonist added.
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The Wastelander by Robert Mancebo
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with a pitcher full of water. He offered it to the evacuate to Brighton West or one of the other the complex.” wastelander hesitantly. There were numerouslarger cities, somewhere with more defensive Emma flushed. Of course he’d sleep dark and disturbing stories about the people capabilities.” somewhere else! Surely no one thought she’d of the first colony, people who lived in the “You obviously don’t know the overwhelm-been offering— untamed wilderness of Uton. To a fourteening firepower of a modern Sentinel,” Ben Artha year-old, their barren life would seem romantic. “We’ll sleep outside, if it’s all the same to To Emma it seemed squalid and pointless. Yet said with a sneer. you folks,” the wastelander told them. “Bennie there was an eerie strength about the man. No “Obviously the Vigron do,” the wasteland-and me don’t like to spend too much time one in the colony would’ve faced ten miles of er replied. “There were four Sentinels left as underground. Makes us jumpy not to hear the trackless wilderness without a groundcar or smoking hulks at Benton Station.” sound of the wind.” skimmer, much less have physically run the distance. “That’s impossible,” Ben scoffed. “Well there it is then,” Mayor Win waved a hand in finality. “I’ll have scheduled watches In history class she had read of men who “Most people believe what they want to,” displayed on the central screen of the rec room. could brave such hardships, Iron Age and the man replied with a shrug. Personal weapons will be issued out, one per pioneer era sorts from the ancient times when family, at the armory. Make sure a represen“Well we’re certainly not going to evacuate humanity lived through animal brawn rather tative of each household stops by within the the station over a simple Vigron incursion,” than brains. It was surreal to actually see such hour to pick one up.” an anachronistic character standing there Mayor Win told him, and the others agreed. before her. She had to admit he intrigued her.“But Stranger, we owe you a debt of gratitude The people scattered to their homes, He was almost as alien to her generation of for the warning, Can we offer you food and leaving Emma and Jason alone with the wasteshelter?” colonists as the merciless, blue-skinned Vigron lander and his dog. The wind was beginning themselves. to strengthen, and she waved at the man to “We could do with a meal,” the man follow rather than try and yell over the noise. The man took the pitcher with a nod and a admitted. ‘thank-you, Son,’ and drank about half in a few She walked down the steps in embarrassed “He can eat with us,” Emma heard herself gulps. Then he did a strange thing. He knelt silence. She wasn’t used to entertaining, and and grounded the butt stock of his weapon. saying, though she didn’t quite know why. In all she could think about was the mess Jason Leaning the long barrels against his shoulder,a carefully controlled world, he was a unique had left in no less than three rooms. At least he doffed his hat and poured the rest of the puzzle. So little actually happened within the the kitchen was clean. He never did anything in water into it to let his panting dog drink. colony; any news or stories he could pass on there except stuff his face and drop his dishes. about happenings beyond the protective walls It surprised her that such a rough-seem- would be welcome. # ing man would pay any attention to a dumb “Ah, good,” Mayor Win said loudly to be beast. heard over the wind and an errant clap of Emma was a good cook; everyone said she “Something you folks might want to think distant thunder. “Emma Jackson knows her was. Yet, while the man wolfed down the plain, about,” the man interrupted the grumbling way around kitchen automatons. I trust she warmed vegetables and the simple boiled discussion about their defensive procedures. will feed you well. potatoes, he took only a single bite of three “Those people had the same defenses as spicier dishes and wouldn’t touch the four “As for sleeping arrangements,” he added. you do. Was I you, I’d break into groups and layer, chocolate-chunk cake she’d programmed “I have quarters available in the west wing of
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for dessert.
fur affectionately. “He warns me of trouble; “You’re going to be attacked, Miss,” he that’s his job. After that, I’m on my own.” replied simply. “The next day or so, you’re He’d made use of the bathtub while she’d going to have that Vigron raiding party here been working on supper, and had come out “Don’t you want your cake?” Jason asked on a visit. Now my old shotgun is loaded for scrubbed and with his long hair combed. glancing in wonder at the man’s plate. game hunting, not war. I need to change my Cleaned-up and without hat and goggles, she loads to something that will pierce Vigron body “Never was much on such things,” the man could see he was in his mid-twenties. They’d armor.” run his cloth shirt and underclothing throughreplied. “Don’t see the reason to cultivate such “There’s nothing you can make that will the wash unit but he wouldn’t let them touch habits.” have even a shadow of the force of our plasma his buckskin outer clothing. He explained that “It’s good,” Jason encouraged. “It’s got blasters, much less the destructive capability of the machines would ruin it. chocolate-chunks and fudge frosting!” our Sentinels,” she told him. “But if you explain She found that it smelled—interesting. It “Tastes good. Bad for you,” the man what you want,” she added when he looked like was heavily scented with the smoke of outdoor replied. “Ain’t a thing a body was meant to eat.he was going to argue. “I can program the fabfires and the aroma of crushed leaves, but it You stuff enough trash into you, the body fallsrication of your items in the machine shop.” was not really unpleasant. apart. Don’t have no med-techs nor hospitals “Thank you, Miss,” he replied simply. He’d washed his huge dog as well; Emma out in the bush. Can’t afford for a man’s body shuddered to think what the bathroom wouldto quit working proper. Meat and vegetables, # that’s what a human runs on.” look like. “That’s like an animal,” Jason complained. They left Bennie sleeping in a corner and Jason to clean up; he hadn’t put up his usual “Exactly, son.” The man nodded. “We’re argument in front of the wastelander. She just an animal with a higher brain mounted suspected he had no plans to do dishes at atop. Long as we remember that, we do pretty all, but at least he hadn’t argued in front of The damp hound seemed embarrassed well.” company. and stayed close to its master’s legs. Ill at ease “Perhaps there’s something else you’d like, Emma took the man to the machine shop indoors, it stopped just short of tripping him. something more familiar?” Emma asked. and programmed specifications on the CAD “Can I get scraps for your dog? Mister—?” terminal of the computerized fabrication “Tempered chromium steel,” he answered Emma made it a point not to notice the food machine. without hesitation. the man had left. “How do you make this sort of thing on “Steel?” her brow crinkled. “Lionel, Miss. Just Lionel. Thank you. Please your own?” she asked as she worked. don’t, I’m afraid ‘people-food’ would make “Do you have a machine shop and some “Discarded bits from drilling rigs or tool Bennie sick. He lives pretty well on rabbits and scrap tool steel?” he continued. “And an autoparts,” he said with a shrug. “The spring is scrabbles he catches out in the bush.” forge or a gas torch for tempering parts?” carnival time. Folks will gather in the Four “Is he a killer-dog?” Jason asked in awe. Corners to palaver and trade for such scrap. “There’s a shop, of course,” she replied. “But I don’t understand.” “Naw, Bennie’s a lover not a fighter,” the “A simple hearth fire draws out the temper. man said with a laugh as he tousled the dog’s Then a man hammers the stock into billets on She was surprised when she chanced a glance. The bathroom was clean and neat, towels in the bin and water mopped off the floor.
Ray Gun Revival magazine
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The Wastelander by Robert Mancebo a flat rock. The softened billets are shaped in a hand lathe, then tempered in a charcoal forge.”
Pg. 15 under his belt.
table, “but it’ll do at close range.”
“I could make you a replacement,” she He packed the hardened steel darts into offered as she programmed the machine. “A the shells with pieces torn from the shop rags. The fabrication machine whined and several new knife, I mean. That one’s all— stained.” “I’d rather have a Mark VI blaster!” Jason dozen copies of the simple item cascaded into “I’m obliged, Miss, but you couldn’t.” When said. “Shi-wa!” He pretended to shoot imaginary the bin. she started to correct him he continued, “My enemies. “Shi-wa! They carry a charge for two Emma thought about the hours it must takeuncle made that knife for me when I was eight hundred rounds and auto-target five Vigron the wastelanders to form a similar part and she years old. She’s been through many a rough simultaneously.” shook her head. and brutal life-lesson by my side. Cut tinder to wastelander make a thousand warming fires, cleaned game, “Sounds lethal,” the “That’ll do,” he told her. commented. helped me build shelters, and done darker deeds I don’t talk about. No, Miss, you can’t “We’ll temper them over here.” She led “The best! And someday I’ll get to man a replace that knife.” Sentinel; Ben said he’d teach me.” him to an auto-forge and scattered the fistful of darts onto the conveyor. “We just program The machine spit the tempered rounds “Them big, armored machines?” the man in the type of metal and the Rockwell hardnessout amid a hissing cloud of vaporized coolant. said with an indulgent smile. “Looks like fun.” desired—?” Emma watched the man pick up and test the parts carefully, as though they might still “Sure, they’re invincible!” The man shrugged his shoulders but then be hot or something ridiculous like that. He he reached back and drew a sheath knife from “Well I have seen evidence to the contrary,” checked each and every piece. She wondered his belt and tapped it on the corner of the if he thought the machine might have made a the man said tolerantly. “But they surely are machine to make the steel blade ring. “This impressive.” mistake. Very odd, she thought. hard, or harder.” He handed her the knife. “They’re all exactly the same,” she assured “Aww, someone wasn’t ready or something. She fingered the hand-honed blade of the him. “I am a certified engineer.” It was strange At Benton I mean,” Jason told the man. “If razor-edged knife. It was a well-forged tool, yet that he actually had affection for his inanimate they’d been prepared, the Vigrons wouldn’t with the slight imperfections of a handmade knife. Some sort of pointless, wastelander have destroyed them. Why each Sentinel has a item. It made her scalp prickle to think of what bond to the object, she assumed. scrambling system to make it invisible to Vigron rough-and-ready tales of desperate survival targeting systems and they can register Vigron that knife had witnessed. The oiled handle was He pulled two shop rags from a dispenserpower systems at five thousand yards!” stained darker toward the blade, doubtless and wrapped the loose steel darts in them for with the blood of the wild game he’d hunted transport. “Are you prepared?” Lionel turned to Emma down and hand-processed for food. and asked. # “Rockwell—” she tapped the blade and “I’ve been fully trained,” she replied. “I’m gave a rough estimate of its hardness, “Oh, very good. On simulators, I mean. I’ve never “This isn’t as good as a rifle,” the man let’s say sixty.” been in real combat before—if that’s what told Jason who watched over his shoulder as you’re asking. I mean, I can defend my home if She handed the knife back to him and he he pried open the ends of shotgun shells and it comes to that. We all can. We wouldn’t have slid it into the high, wrap-around sheath tucked dumped the lead shot into a cup on the kitchen come all this way—I—I’m rambling, aren’t I.”
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She could feel that she was blushing. The man the settlement,” he said with a shrug. “I guess to leave the safety of the compound? Why made her painfully self-conscious. I just don’t have a lot of trust in folks I don’t would we evacuate a solid, defensive position? know.” Maybe there’s a wastelander ambush waiting “Nothing to be ashamed of,” he assured her. out there. Maybe he’s in with the Vigron!” “There’s a first time for everything. The world “Reasonable attitude,” the wastelander “Ben, that’s enough!” would be a whole simpler place if everyone wascommended before Emma could voice an just trained for combat on a simulator, instead objection. “People are naturally suspicious of “Have him answer that if he can!” of having war forced upon them by an armed folks they don’t understand.” enemy. But that isn’t how life is.” “Think so?” Ben became even more aggra- Jason looked doubtfully at the wastelandA chime announced someone at the door vated by the wastelander’s calm manner. er. The man looked at Emma with sad eyes but didn’t answer Ben’s challenge. Instead he and Jason rushed to get it. It was the first time“What I can’t understand is why anyone would Emma had seen him move so fast in weeks. float through life with no trade and no more picked up the small, beaded satchel he carried home than a tumbleweed,” he continued to ammunition in, and slung it over his shoulder “Ben! It’s Ben!” they could hear him callglare in as he walked toward the exit. at the smaller man. excitement. “Hey, Ben, what’s up?” “I’m—I’m sorry.” Emma tried to apologize. Lionel replied quietly, “Consider the lilies “I just stopped to check in with you folks, of the field. They neither toil nor do they spin, squirt,” Ben’s voice bellowed from the front yet I tell you that never was Solomon, in all his “Thank you for the meal, Miss,” he called without ever looking back over his shoulder. access way. glory, attired as one of these.” He left with his dog following after him. The captain of the station militia, Ben Artha “Don’t quote the Bible at me, Wastelander,” “That was rude,” Emma accused. was a huge bear of a man. He was good looking Ben made the title sound like a filthy word. in a rakish sort of way and lifted weights to “He’s a liar,” Ben replied. “A bum and a liar. enhance his build to the romantic expectations “Seemed like someone should,” Lionel He probably made all that up just to get a free of the local femininity. Not that firing a blasterreplied without offense. meal—if not for something worse.” or manning one of the devastating Sentinels Emma stepped in between the men and took any sort of muscle, but the girls liked the “Yeah, I knew he wasn’t right in the head air of power it gave him. Even Emma, who hadfaced Ben. “Why did you come into my home when he wouldn’t eat dessert,” Jason chimed no delusions about Ben’s capricious characterto pick a fight?” in. or intentions, had to admit that he certainly “Because I don’t believe him!” Ben snapped. “Wouldn’t eat dessert?” Ben demanded looked the part of an intrepid pioneer. “Why would he have run all this way just to with a smug smile. “What a putz.” warn us? We don’t know him. For all we know, Next to him, Lionel looked slim and frail, nothing happened at Benton Station. We’ll find “Yeah, a putz!” Jason said with a laugh. almost waifish. out as soon as the storm clears. He’s no more “Hey, we’ve got some left. You want some?” “Everything’s all right, I see.” Ben looked than a wild animal! If Benton was attacked, directly at the wastelander when he said it. who’s to say that he wasn’t a part of it?” “It’s my favorite part of a meal!” Ben replied with enthusiasm. “Everything’s fine here,” Emma told him. “That’s a horrible thing to say!” Emma “Why wouldn’t it be?” snapped. “I think it’s time for you to leave,” Emma told him. “A stranger’s taken in by the prettiest girl in “Why else would he be trying to get us
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“Why, ‘cause Lionel was a putz?” Jason trained,” he replied. and fury behind it, but Lionel was under the snorted. blow, rammed the man’s leading leg, and lifted. How could she explain to a fourteen-year- As Ben stumbled over the crouching man, his “Because a man came all this way to save old that Ben Artha had been coming-on to hermomentum pitched him over his back. Lionel our lives and you treated him like some sortfor of the better part of a year? That this was a had only to lift with his legs to toss his attacker a criminal!” she ignored her brother to snaptypical at pattern for him, to say anything to try in a cruel arc. Ben hit the floor six feet away in Ben. to make any possible rival look small. a bone-crushing fall and lay there panting in a daze of shooting pain. “You’re too trusting,” he said as he leaned “Oh, go to bed,” she finally ordered. a big shoulder against the wall. “Unless you want to stay up and do the dishes It all happened so fast! Emma had no you left?” training in hand-to-hand combat, but she got “If you wanted to call him a liar, you her arms wrapped about the wastelander’s should’ve done so when he wasn’t a guest in She felt a sinking in her stomach. There slim shoulders and hung on. When he moved, my home,” she told him. “Now get out!” had been something powerful and elemental she knew she was in trouble. He was all iron about the wastelander. Something she found muscle and whalebone. With a shrug he broke “Out?” he clearly didn’t believe her. deficient in the men of the station. He was the hold and turned, locking her arms behind a part of the violent world that surrounded “Out or I’m calling the Station Council and her as though she were a child and forcing her them. have you charged with trespassing!” back against the wall. Jason went to bed. She was almost ready “All right, I’m going.” He laughed slightingly, For several heartbeats they stood chest-toto go to bed herself when there had been an but he was clearly irritated. chest, with him physically crushing her against earth-shaking rumble and the lights went out. the wall with his body. It was an odd, over“See you later,” Jason called after him. whelming feeling to Emma, the coercion of raw # physical force. Coming from a non-touching “Another time, squirt,” the big man replied society, it gave her an odd thrill. Raw, physical and left with a sarcastic semi-bow to Emma. “Talk, with you?” Ben Artha dropped into combat was an alien experience. Her heart was a combative crouch as he faced Lionel in the pumping, her senses were heightened, her “That wastelander was lying, you’ll see,” dim room. “I’ll wring your skinny neck!” blood He was coursing; yet somehow she was not Jason warned her. dove at the smaller man, but the wastelander afraid. Something inside her knew, in the face “Why would he lie,” she demanded. “For side-stepped, grabbing the clutching hands of all logic, the man was not there to hurt her. a meal? The station would feed anyone who and pulling. She had to stuff down her emotions and face showed up at our gate. Besides, he couldn’t the reality of the attack before she could try His own moving mass used against him, even eat most of what I served.” and resist his hold. Ben staggered across the room to bounce “Then he’s some sort of traitor, working off a synthe-stone wall. Josh was rushing at For a dazed moment, she was reminded the wastelander’s back, but Lionel spun and again of ancient people who lived through for the Vigron,” Jason warned her. “Ben knows gave him a resounding slap across the face animal strength and cunning. There was about things like that.” that made the young man back up with huge, nothing of modern, gentle civilization in the “How would Ben know about things like tearing eyes. man. that?” she demanded. Ben was back in a moment and looped a big “They track you by your power signature,” “He’s the captain of the militia. He’s fist at the smaller man. He had all his weight
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he told her, his face only inches from her own, She was surprised to realize she was disap- It seemed like hours that they waited in with no more excitement than if he were dis- pointed. the darkness, hearts thundering, wide eyes cussing issues over supper. “They’ve turned searching the fire-lit garden. The lightning still “Let’s go!” Lionel moved swiftly for the your own technology against you.” flashed sporadically overhead. They never saw door, scooping up his shotgun as he went. anything of what was happening. They only He looked toward Ben and Jason and “Bennie, stay close,” he ordered his dog. heard the periodic roar of Lionel’s archaic continued, “Every weapon, every communiweapon and the slow, dying screams of Vigron The colonists didn’t know what to do except cator, every modern gizmo you people use, murderers. Evidently the steel darts Emma had follow him into the darkness of the corridor. allows them to target your position.” made for the wastelander didn’t kill cleanly, but “Sssst,” he hissed in the dark. “Take hold of they did kill. “What?” Emma quit trying to wrestle with each other’s belts or shirts.” him and looked into his softening eyes. The grisly, fear-haunted night eventually gave way to a smoky dawn, gray with thun“And how do you know where you’re “They zeroed your Sentinels with coorderheads and rippling flashes of lightning. Ben dinated rocket fire. Too high a volume for going?” Ben demanded. urged Emma and Jason to leave their hideout their plasma fields to defend against. All your “Shhhh,” was his only answer. in the bushes. “There’s been no movement for defenses are gone. Your power signatures an hour. They’re all dead,” he told them. “He’s make it easy for them to find your defenders.” They climbed the stairs and exited the killed them all.” He turned to Ben Artha who was trying to access way into a burning hell. There were get dazedly to his feet and ordered, “Cast off bodies scattered among the trees and gardens “Then where is he?” Emma asked. anything that uses power: communicator, and the frenzied shouts of Vigron raiders locator, weapons, anything. And ditch that echoed in the night. Lionel led them to a clump “Dead too maybe.” Ben shrugged as he helmet; it’s got a targeting system attached!” looked around. of brush and waved at them to lie down. Ben tossed the helmet away, his eyes “The Vigron weakness is the same as “Or injured,” Emma said. “Help me find blinking. him.” yours,” he whispered to them. “They’ve been civilized too long. They rely completely upon “You blew our main power feed—” Ben They began a methodical search of the technology. Every once in a while, it’s good to accused. compound. Everywhere they went were the teach them that there are still men out in the bodies of people they had known or the eerie, “It’s more help to them than us,” Lionel universe. stinking corpses of Vigron raiders. Every human snapped. “Besides, I had to warn all you folks “You all stay put and keep down. School is who had taken up arms to defend the station somehow.” about to commence.” He patted his dog and was dead at the walls or in the gardens. crept off into the gloom. He released Emma to point at Jason. Ben picked up a Vigron optical scope and “Games? Phone? Toys? Dump anything that swept the area. He cursed under his breath A few moments later, there was a flash, uses power?” Jason sniffed at his bloody nose and said, “He was right. All our powered and they heard the ugly roar of his firearm rip and dropped his phone from his pocket. The equipment lights us up like Christmas trees. through the night. The wild Vigron war cries wastelander reached his arm around Emma’s We might as well be walking around wearing faded and pitiful screams echoed. The invaders waist. For a shocking moment she thought he knew that something was hunting them in theflashing strobes and sirens!” was going to kiss her, but he pulled away holding night. Emma choked back tears as she passed by her phone and tossed it onto the ground.
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 33, November 01, 2007
The Wastelander by Robert Mancebo the bodies of friends and neighbors. But Lionel “Stay?” Ben demanded. “You can’t! Not was nowhere to be found. after this—”
Pg. 19
Robert Mancebo
They had been searching for several sad “Those who stay will spread out; learn to I‘m a former soldier, locksmith, and minutes when their attention was attracted live with the land instead of surviving through technician. I’ve had dark and historical by an odd, gurgling sound. When they moved planet-twisting technology.” He poked Jason’sfantasy published both on-line and in toward it, Lionel stepped out from behind a round stomach, saying, “This is a full-contact various magazines. tree. The wastelander was covered in purple world. Things are rough, and they’re good that Vigron blood and carried his hand-forged knife, way. No one who lives out here is afraid of a still dripping, in his hand. little blood, pain, or discomfort. Anyone who stays will toughen up, learn to live well without “What did you move for?” he demanded. luxuries and electronic entertainment. They’ll learn what plants and animals to eat, and what “I thought they were all dead,” Ben geological areas to avoid. replied. “They’ll learn to help folks who can’t pay “They are now.” He shook the blood from them back.” He looked into Ben’s eyes when he his knife and wiped it off on one buckskin-clad said, “Just because it’s the right thing to do.” leg. “You folks need to learn how to hide out in a scrap. When to keep your heads down and “No games? No videos? No real food?” when to fight. So far you’ve put on a pretty Jason blinked in horror. “No way! I’ll move back poor showing.” into the city.” “That’s a horrible thing to say,” Emma told “I expect most people will,” Emma said. him. “But I won’t. I’ll stay and learn.” She looked at Lionel when she added, “If there’s someone “The truth often is,” the wastelander who’ll be around to teach me.” replied with a shrug as he sheathed his knife. “But it wouldn’t be any help to lie to you.” “Oh,” Lionel’s face twisted boyishly in a crooked grin, “I can pretty well guarantee it.” “What will we do now?” Ben seemed dazed at the carnage and loss. “Storm will be breaking soon,” Lionel predicted. “You’ll call for help as soon as the weather allows. Alert your folks in the larger cities. Your non-combatants should still be safe down below. Someone will be sent to collect up your survivors. You’ll all be safe enough in a place with stronger defenses.” “What about those of us who want to stay?” Emma asked.
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Issue 33, November 01, 2007
Featured Ar st: Mike McCain
Pg. 20
Featured Ar st Mar n Bland
Name: Mar n Bland Age: 34 Hobbies: My son, pain ng, chian Favorite Book / Author: Philip K. Dick, Asimov come to mind. I’m not as big a reader as I should be really. I prefer to express rather than take in. Favorite Ar st: I have many. I tend to have favourite images rather than ar sts, though, as it’s not really about the person, it is more about the image and the way it a ects you. When did you start crea ng art? I’ve always created; from a very early age I was drawing complex pictures of ba le scenes, etc, and won a na onal compe on at 8. I drew proli cally un l I was around 18; when social life took over completely for 10 years, before making my way back into the fold. What media do you work in? Primarily digital, though I like to dip my toes into the tradi onal world now and again—I love oils. Where your work has been featured? Expose 5, ImagineFX (10page spread), AdvancedPhotoshop (5page spread), a host of online galleries and awards, various co ee table artbooks and magazines, went on tour with BT/Thomas Dolby, and also commercially in books, magazines, CD covers, etc. Where should someone go if they wanted to view / buy some of your works? http://www.spyroteknik.com, http://spyroteknik.deviantart.com Prints are available through: http://spyroteknik.deviantart.com/store ,
http://www.theuntappedsource.com/artist_detail.php?category=104
How did you become an ar st? Through the fantas c support of my wife; I was in the prin ng industry for ten years, reached the top of the Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 33, November 01, 2007
Featured Ar st: Mike McCain
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tree and was very unsa s ed. She gave me the con dence and support to nd something that I loved to do. It wasn’t lon before I fell into concept art/digital pain ng—old habits die hard—and I can safely say I’ve found what I’ll do un l I die. What were your early in uences? My brother was a large inuence. He was/is a fantas c pencil ar st, and pushed me down the right paths. I’ve tried not to be in uenced by other ar sts, I like living in a li le bubble when it comes to inspira on. my ideas to be as purely ‘mine’ as I can. It’s rela vely impossible to be truly original but it’s what I strive for.
What are your current in uences? My son, and wife—I paint for them. I want to leave behind a small legacy for my son to make money from when I’m no longer around, and I want to repay the favour to my wife, and let her nd something that sa s es her and support her that same way she supported me. What inspired the art for the cover? It was one of those happy accidents. It started life as a barrage of brushstrokes, started out as a city sketch, and gradually turned more and more scias it went; the saucers were just the icing on the cake at the end—I couldn’t resist. How would you describe your work? Gothtekscigloom, I’m not enrely sure. I like to paint things people can connect with; beauty in darkness, a posi ve inside a nega ve, convey a mood. Where do you get your inspira on / what inspires you? I’m not certain of that myself—I dream a lot. I pick up inspira on from real life, a sunset, or the way light bounces o surfaces. I store up li le elements that a ect me in some way, similarly with modern media. Whether it be art, TV, books, I’ll pick up a mood or colourscheme, something small, and try to replicate that feeling I had when it hit me. I try Ray Gun Revival magazine
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to stay away from being directly in uenced by something. I don’t use reference images when I paint—I try to keep my process as pure as I can.
Have you had any notable failures, and how has failure a ected your work? Not really, nothing that stands out. The only things that have gone a li le wrong taught me something every me. I worked for a major studio on a large-scale product, only to be given no support or direc on, a rush job, only to be told my work wasn’t what was expected or wanted a er 30hrs work. It taught me not to take on jobs that weren’t speci cally tailored for my style, and to be wary of studio work (plus insis ng on 50% up front). There are a few knocks along the way for everyone, but I’ve turned every one into a posi ve, and gained a lot through them. What have been your greatest successes? How has success impacted you / your work? Success is just a by-product, it’s not something I’m all out to achieve. I’ll create art no ma er what, but it lets you know you’re moving in the right direc on, that you’re doing something right. The a en on is gladly welcomed but not a necessity to me. My most recent proud achievement is working with the hyper-talented Kurt Iswarienko, a NY fashion photographer on a six-page advert for Lexus. The campaign will be receiving a crazy amount of publicity as it is in the centre of SurfaceMagazine’s ten year anniversary edi on. It will be running in conjunc on with the Avant Guardian photography compeon, which goes on tour to every major US city, and is apparently a very big deal in the ne art world.
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What are your favorite tools / equipment for producing your art? Almost exclusively—Adobe Photoshop CS2, and my Wacom Intuos.
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The Pasadena Rule
by Ben Schumacher 5.
were around to move some rocks out of the “Okay, you’re crazy.” He rubbed his eyes way. Damn it, a trained chimp could do it, if it with the heel of one hand. were on the scene and had a hotsuit. (Were “No, listen to me. I think I know how we can there hotsuits for chimps, I wondered, in the wandered into the ready room to take care save Katya!” early days of their development?) of my high altitude gear. I sat in front of the locker, smoothing and folding the heated suit “Oh, Jack.” Dieter shook his head with a A chimp could do the job—if the chimp and squaring away the breathing equipment.were on the scene. I had a hotsuit, but I wasn’t pained expression. “Jack, give it a rest. Take on the scene, and there wasn’t any way to get something and get some sleep. You look like My eyes kept straying to my hotsuit, hanging there. There was only one landing craft, Virgil,crap.” in the next compartment over. The mirror-finish and it lay stranded on the surface. No other “Pay attention, damn it. I have a hotsuit up of its outer layer reflected distorted images of piloted spacecraft ever built could stand the here. You and I could get it ready in a couple the room, and of me. I didn’t look so good. This heat and pressure of the lower atmosphere of of hours. If I went down and cleared the fans was my own personal hotsuit, tailored perfectly Venus. on Virgil, then Katya would be able to fly it. to me—the life-support couplings on the inside Right?” of it exactly matching the fittings implanted in That left exactly nothing. I couldn’t very my skin, the suit’s brain precisely tuned to my well fly down there, or jump, could I? “Maybe she could, if you did that. But aren’t individual metabolic responses. The hotsuit you forgetting a little something? You aren’t Could I? was a marvel of engineering, as expensive as down there. You’re seventy kilometers up.” a small spacecraft. Since backup lander pilots I stood up suddenly. “I’ll be damned,” were surface-qualified (barely), I had been “So I jump.” fitted for one. A hotsuit could keep a human I said aloud. I stared at my hotsuit, trying to think it through rationally. My pulse pounded being alive and safe on the surface of Venus for Dieter opened his eyes a fraction wider. hours on end. Katya’s had managed to get her in my ears, and I forced myself to take some “A parachute jump? That is crazy. You would back to the lander after being damaged in the long breaths and settle down. Hold on, I said tohave to make a chute—the fabric, the lines, all landslide. But it could not take her back out to myself, leaning against a locker. Itwouldnotdothat crap. You’d need to be able to deploy it to have a heart attack right this minute. free the fans and bring her home safely. without fouling everything. And it would have to hold up in the lower atmosphere. We don’t That was the worst of it. The lander itself, # have anything that would work. I’m sure we as far as we could tell, was serviceable. Katya don’t. For God’s sake, Jack, we’re talking five was hurt but could probably fly it. We would “Dieter! Wake up!” hundred degrees.” pass over the landing site for a rendezvous in a few hours, and the Delta ship would be along a He came awake quickly and sat up, confused. I nodded. “A chute is impractical, you’re half-day later. We had a lot of things going for I had closed the door behind me, and there wasright. But I don’t need one.” us. But the debris blocking the aerofans madebarely room in his cubicle to kneel by the bunk. “You don’t need one? We’re seventy kilo“What’s wrong? What’s happened?” it all pointless. meters—” It would be so easy to fix, if only someone “I need you to tell me whether I am crazy.”
I
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“What is the terminal velocity of a falling parachute jumps. I can manage it.” the impact, and if you’re close enough to walk human body?” to Virgil, and if you can clear the aerofans, and “Four or five meters per second, for seventy if the ship can take off, and if it holds togeth“I don’t know. Forty, fifty meters per kilometers? How long would it take to fall the er—and if you can manage all of this in time to second. Depends on your orientation.” whole distance?” make rendezvous with Delta—then you might have a chance. Give me your best engineer“On Earth,” I said. Suddenly Dieter’s eyes I hadn’t thought of that. “Most of the way ing assessment, Jack. On the first try, with no were open very wide indeed. He’d seen it. “On I’ll be going through thinner air, so I’ll be falling simulations or test runs. What are the chances Earth,” I repeated, softly. “But what about on faster. Twenty minutes, maybe?” of success? Less than fifty-fifty?” Venus?” “More,” Dieter said positively. “Bound to “Maybe,” I admitted. His mouth hung open and his eyes were be more.” distant for a quarter of a minute. “ MeinGott,” “So. If you don’t go, we lose one person for “If you don’t know it exactly, you’re in he said at last. “That might work. You crazy certain. By your own admission, if you do go, trouble,” Madeline said. “Our ground speed is bastard. That just might work.” we have a better than even chance of losing three hundred and fifty kilometers per hour. two people. Does that seem like a good bet?” Make a five-minute mistake in your drop time, # and you’ll wind up thirty kilometers downrange, “Hell, yes!” in mountainous terrain. Even if you land okay, “It’s a question of air density,” I told Madeline She shook her head. “You’re too close to your suit will go bad before you can walk to in the wardroom. Everyone was there—Max at Virgil.” the problem. Katya is your wife—Jesus, no the door so that he could keep one eye on the wonder you’re ready to try anything. But we control pod, but the rest crowded around the “No it won’t,” Bill said. “His forward airspeedhave to use our heads.” table. “If you double the density, you slow the will be nearly zero all the way. Once he gets terminal velocity by a factor of root two. The airbelow the jet stream—which won’t take very “Maddie,” I said desperately. “You can’t density at the surface is more than fifty times long—he will fall almost straight down. We make a calculation like that. This isn’t some the sea-level density on Earth. So the terminal could probably predict his landing point pretty academic exercise in risk assessment. Yes, velocity will be seven or eight times slower.” closely.” we are talking about Katya. She is your friend too, for God’s sake! If I try this, then there is a “The lower gravity helps, too, a few Max put in, “And we can track him by radar, chance, a reasonable chance, that we can fix percent,” Dieter said. so that he knows which direction to walk after Virgil and come back home safe. There is no touchdown.” chance at all if I don’t.” She pressed her lips “That’s right,” I said. “And there is another together and said nothing. I kept on. “Suppose few percent from buoyancy, in air that dense. “I should be able to control my fall,” I said. we don’t try this. Then Katya dies. But I will With a bit of luck, I might be falling only four or “Vertical speed for sure, and maybe some know—all of us will know—that there was five meters per second when I hit.” lateral control. I might be able to land right on something that we might have tried, something top of Virgil.” Madeline blinked. “About like jumping off that might have saved her, and we didn’t do it. a house,” she said. “You can break a leg doing I don’t know about you, Maddie, but I couldn’t Madeline looked straight at me. “Okay, Jack. that. Then what would you do?” live with that.” If you can get the suit ready in time, and if we can figure your flight path, and if you survive “You hit almost that fast with a regular Madeline fixed her gaze on the table and all the way down, and if you aren’t injured by parachute, and I’ve done a good number of shook her head. I realized, with surprise, that
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there were tears in her eyes. “Damn you, The earphones in the helmet came to life. I thanked him and took the helmet off. Jack,” she said quietly. No one spoke for a longMax said, “We have a flight profile for you, We had perhaps four hours before we flew moment, and then she sighed. She said, “This Jack.” over Virgil’s position. I tried to think of things is not going to be easy.” we were forgetting. “Dieter,” I said suddenly. “Let me hear it.” “Remind me to take a nasal decongestant Everyone began to talk at once. “Wait a before I suit up. I’ll need the strongest one we second!” she shouted. “We can’t do this alone. “This is still rough. Bill is working on a can find.” I’m calling Frank in an hour. We need to have better aerodynamic model, but I think these a lot of answers for him by then. Max, Bill, figures will be good to within ten percent or “OK,” he said, squinting at the reflection you work out the flight plan, or the fall plan, so. You’re in free fall for only a few seconds of his eye in the mirrored surface of the suit. or whatever the hell it is. Jack and Dieter startafter you jump. By J plus thirty seconds, you’re“Why? Have a cold?” warming up the suit. We need to know if it willessentially at terminal velocity, and you stay “No, but we don’t have the special stuff that that way clear down to the surface. We figure do the job.” that you can control that speed by as much as the lander teams use before they go outside. “It will.” fifty percent, which might help you fine-tune We’ll have to make do with whatever we have in the medicine cabinet up here.” your trajectory. “Find out for sure. I’ll look over all the data “But what is it for?” we have on Virgil’s situation, to make sure the “It’s a hell of a long trip, Jack. In fact, it thing really is possible if you do get there. Hold is going to take a good hour and a half to go “By the time I get close to the ground, the on. This is still only an option, fellas. If we hit the whole way. You fall quite fast at first. Your air pressure around me is going to be changing a snag that we can’t work out, we’ll have to speed tops out at around Mach 0.6, but then pretty fast. I don’t want to pop something scrap it. Is that clear? Now get moving.” you slow down a lot further down. Most of your time will be drifting down that last twentybecause my sinuses get plugged.” He looked horrified as he understood. “I’ll probably be klicks.” # fine. But in any case,” I added in a lower voice, “That’s good. That means I won’t hit too “don’t tell Madeline that we aren’t using the Dieter and I spread the hotsuit over half the fast.” right drugs. She’d just worry about it.” ready room, giving it as thorough a checkout as we could manage. Dieter used a magnifier to “Yeah. Right.” “Close to what you figured. Also, there go over every square centimeter of the suit’s might be ways to slow that down at the last shiny exterior, checking for damage or flaws insecond. It might help to flap your arms, for # the thermal insulation. I had the outer cover instance.” off the life-support pack and several lines “The hotsuit is ready to go,” I said to I could not quite tell whether he was connected to it, replenishing the liquid gas Madeline. “I need to start getting into it soon, reservoirs, and recharging the energy cells. I kidding. “How far downrange will I go?” though, because that will take a while.” would have preferred to do a full diagnostic “Only a few kilometers. The high winds test sequence, but our maintenance shop did She nodded and looked at Max. “We make not have the equipment. I relied instead on the are only up at altitude, where you won’t be it eighty-six minutes to the surface, depending suit’s own internal sensors. With the helmet spending much time. The lower wind speeds on body attitude. Headfirst, it could be considon my head I could use the computer display in are almost nil—a few centimeters per second. erably less. He will hit the ground at around the faceplate. Data on the life-support system And if you can steer, you might be able to com- five meters per second. The visibility should be pensate.” flowed before my eyes. good, so he can prepare for impact.”
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“Tape your ankles and wrists,” Madeline “We think that the plan is feasible, Frank. Something inside me collapsed. Bill and said. “That could save you a sprain.” We’ve done the analysis. Ask your own engi- Dieter shook their heads. But Max was watching neering people on the Aphrodite to check our Maddie closely. I looked too, and I saw that she “Good idea,” I said. Dieter made a note. data.” still had a card to play. “What about Virgil?” “This is pretty damn far beyond the param- “Frank,” she said quietly, after a pause. “I “The main problem there is the possibil- eters of the mission.” don’t quite know how to put this. But when all ity of damage that we don’t know about, that is said and done—I don’t see what you can do won’t show up until the fans are cleared and we “So is the situation,” Madeline shot back.to stop us.” start them up. The bearings might be cracked. “And just what chance do you think this has I could have kissed her! Something might be bent. But that ship is as of working?” rugged as hell, all systems over-designed by “What I want to know,” she went on, “is about two hundred percent. It might work. It “We estimate a seventy-five percent chance where you stand. We have some decisions might.” She shook her head. of success,” Madeline said evenly. I looked at to make down here, too, and I want to know her with surprise. This was the first I’d heard of “So?” whether or not you’re going to back us up.” odds that good. “So we call the captain. But I doubt if he’ll Across the table, I saw Dieter’s mouth “That is a load of crap,” Captain Bell said. hanging open. “God damn,” muttered Bill. We like it.” “Maddie, we are all very upset about what’s waited for Captain Bell’s reply. happened to Katya, and I’m sure that Jack is # “You’re not serious.” worse off than any of the rest of us. But that’s no reason for him to throw his life away on Captain Bell had been awakened in the “You know me. Do I sound serious?” some damn-fool stunt.” middle of a sleep cycle. “Okay, I’m here, “Maddie,” Captain Bell said conversationMaddie,” he said. “What is so urgent that it “If this emergency is not a good enough ally, after about a ten-second silence, “I’m can’t wait a couple of hours?” reason to try something crazy, I don’t know getting a bit rusty on the mission rules. Do you what would be.” “We have an idea about the situation,” she remember the definition of mutiny?” said. “It requires rather prompt action.” “Damn it, I can’t approve something like “Haven’t given it much thought,” she this. I’d have to consult with Command.” “Go on.” replied. “Didn’t think it would ever come up.” “It’s a ten-minute round-trip for communiSo she went on, describing the entire “Yeah,” he said. We waited while he cation with Earth. The back-and-forth will take plan in cold, technical detail. It took her three digested this. “This will not look good,” he said, hours. We do not have all day here, Frank. We’ll minutes to say it all, and Captain Bell did not almost to himself. “Not with Katya’s husband be over Katya’s position shortly after 16.00, say a word for the whole three minutes. The making the jump. That makes it seem like an and it’s almost 12.30 now. You’re the man on rest of us, listening in, held our breaths. act of desperation. Why does the jumper have the spot. You have to make a decision.” to be Jack Ross?” “Commander Whitten,” he said when she’d “Then you know what my decision is. I will finished. “What in hell have you been drinking? “Because Jack Ross is the only one with not endanger another member of the crew. That is the most insane idea I’ve ever heard. Of a suit,” said Madeline. “It’s him or nobody. That’s final. I’m sorry.” course I can’t approve it!” Otherwise I’d do it myself.”
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“I suppose that’s right,” he said, sighing. out.” She cut the link and pulled off her way. She never shaded the truth, never lied to “But there is one thing that you haven’t headset, rocking back in her seat and runningsave my feelings or anyone else’s. The truth mentioned.” her fingers through her hair. about things was her passion. “You’ll see,” I said confidently. “What’s that?” “Thanks, Maddie,” I said. “Maybe,” Madeline said. “Now go put on “Has anyone talked to Katya lately?” She looked sharply at me. “Jack, do you that damn suit.” realize how this will probably end up?” “Not as far as I know,” Madeline replied. “Not since Jack spoke with her a few hours “I have to take that chance.” 6. ago. She’s getting some sleep.” “Then shut up. If you thank me again, I am “Sleep, yes.” I could tell from his tone of going to break your nose.” ou don’t put on your hotsuit; you mate with it. This is a more descriptive term than you voice that the captain had his doubts. “In any might think. An ordinary spacesuit is an intimate case, I cannot approve taking action to rescue # affair, but a hotsuit invades your personal Katya until we hear from her again.” space in ways that you’ve never imagined. The The Aphrodite signaled Virgil, but there was Madeline was nodding. “Yes, that makes no answer. The telemetry link was good, and mating process can take half a day. sense.” it told us that the landing ship was still intact. The worst part is not the thermal protecKatya was simply not answering the phone. “I want your promise, Maddie. No go till we tion, but the hyperbaric life-support system. make contact with Katya.” “She’s getting some rest,” I said. “She To cope with the ninety-atmosphere pressure turned down the comm link alarm. And she on the ground, and to allow pressurization and “You have my word, Frank. Nobody jumps may be doped up with something to help her depressurization in hours instead of days or till she’s on the air. I swear.” weeks, the suit systems link up directly with sleep.” your body’s systems. Gases must be exchanged “In that case,” the captain said, “I will ten“She may have taken more than that,” with your bodily fluids, and the dodges dreamed tatively go along with your plan. Send us your Madeline said. up to accomplish this are various and uncomdata so that we can check it, and start getting fortable. The bloodstream is directly linked to ready. We will try to raise Katya on the comm I shook my head. “No way. You heard her. the suit’s system at a dozen points over the link.” She promised to talk to me later.” body. The arrangements for the GI tract, the “Call Carlos on Delta,” she added. “He inner ear, the spinal fluid, and so forth I will “I know what she said. Jack, Katya is a good needs to be brought up to speed.” not describe. scout. She would do what she thought was “You just pay attention to your part of this,”right.” And what Madeline believed, clearly, Taking a hotsuit off— de-mating with it—is Captain Bell replied. “And so help me, Maddie,was that Katya had most likely signed off per- even worse. Katya once suggested that the if you let that son of a bitch take a dive before manently, promise or no promise. It was the correct technical phrase should be surgical we hear from Virgil, I will take you all back to Pasadena Rule again. Part of the reason you removal. sign off is to keep other people from making Earth in irons. Do you copy?” fools of themselves. Dieter and I worked quickly, skipping “Understood,” Madeline answered. “I will whatever we thought we could on the checklist. keep him here if I have to sit on him. Gamma Not Katya, I wanted to say. That wasn’t herMating with a suit could take two people half
Y
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a day, but we were trying to do it in about had worked on the dirigible side of things from checklist, he and Bill began to don their heated two hours. The inner layer of the hotsuit was the first, and had little acquaintance with the pressure suits. It was hard to concentrate on the life-support interface, which enveloped hotsuits. the job at hand. Each of us was checking the my entire body except for hands and head. clock about twice per minute. After this came a sturdy protective layer, with “Ever skinned a live animal?” I asked. Madeline walked in at 15.45. “Any word?” the silvery thermal insulation garment on the Max shook his head, then held up a printoutI asked her. outside over everything. Since there would with some graphs. “The Aphrodite team agrees be no pressure difference between inside and “Nothing.” with our arithmetic. You’ll jump at 16.10.” outside, the suit lacked the constant-volume Both of us involuntarily glanced at the clock. joints you found on vacuum-rated spacesuits. Dieter and Bill exchanged a look. I said, An hour and a half to go. “Here is the flight “She’s still down there, Maddie.” This brought up an interesting question, path. That’s the best model RMS tube around which didn’t occur to us until I was partway the optimal trajectory. But don’t worry—just “Possibly. But I meant what I told Frank. If into the inner layer of the suit. The pressure watch your suit’s coordinate display, and we’ll we don’t hear from Katya by jump-time, you at seventy kilometers altitude was around talk you down.” don’t make the jump. Do you read me, fellas?” twenty-five millibars—one-fortieth of normal She glared at the other two, who nodded. “All right.” I hesitated. “Any word from the atmospheric pressure. Even at the lowest surface?” “We need to go out and get ready,” I said. setting, breathing pure oxygen, the inside suit pressure would be four times this value. But Max shook his head. He hung around to She studied me. “Okay,” she said. “I want a the hotsuit was not designed for any overpres-watch us attach the next fitting. A little blood sure at all. Would the fabric rupture when I squirted out as the connection was made, so safety line on you until the moment I give you clearance to take it off. Got it?” stepped outside? Dieter paused to mop it up. “I hear you.” Max did a quick search of the hotsuit “That looks like it hurts,” Max said. technical database and found that it had “Not good enough. I want your promise.” “We use a local anesthetic,” I said. “It will indeed been tested down to zero pressure Maddie fixed me with a basilisk stare. “No without damage. The only problem would be itch like hell later on.” I watched on the monitor ambiguity here, Jack. If we have to call this off as Dieter twisted the valve to make sure it a decrease in mobility, because the suit tended and I tell you to come back inside, then you to balloon out. I figured that I could cope with was on securely. He drew out any residual air sure as hell had better do it. Understand?” that until the pressures matched at lower bubbles with a syringe through a side fitting. This one finished, he moved to the next. Max, altitude. “And if Katya wakes up and calls us an hour looking a little queasy, left the ready room a from now?” I was mated with the inner suit up to my minute later. waist, and Dieter was attaching the next set of “Jack.” life-support connections on my lower back. I # “Okay, okay,” I said. “We’ll do it your way.” stood with my arms on top of my head, trying In a polished metal panel across the room to follow his progress on a video monitor that After we finished connecting the lifeI could see myself: a mirror man, bouncing we’d rigged up. Max walked in from the control support system, the second layer went on back distorted reflections of everything from pod, stopped still, and stared at what Dieter quickly, and then the mirror-like outer suit. my silvered skin, only my head visible through was doing. Dieter locked my helmet down and sealed me the transparent helmet. My face was haggard up. While I ran through the next steps in the “How do you take it off?” he asked. Max and grim-looking. I remembered what Maddie
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had said to Captain Bell just a couple of hours Dieter grabbed my arm to steady me. “Are “I may need to go quick,” I said. before. I don’t see what you can do to stop you feeling all right?” “Stay on this side. Understood, me. “Yes,” I answered, experimentally cracking everybody?” Maddie read my mind. “Frank had to go an eyelid and squinting out. Even then the “Affirmative,” Dieter and Bill answered at along with this because he’s up in orbit. He sunlight was too much. “Forgot my goggles.” once. I could feel their hands lightly but firmly can’t do anything about it. But I’m right here, “Oh, hell.” gripping my upper arms. and I’m sending Dieter and Bill out with you to make damn well sure we’ll do it my way.” “It’s okay,” I said. “I won’t want them on The chronometer display in my helmet the underside of the clouds, and I can’t take flicked over from 15.59 to 16.00. I toggled the # them off inside the helmet.” suit communicator to monitor the orbit-toground channel. As expected, the suit ballooned as we Maddie cut into the circuit. “Are you cycled the airlock, but the outer skin seemed protected from UV in that thing?” Arkady Rudin was the capcom once again. to hold up fine. To be on the safe side Bill ran “—is Aphrodite calling Virgil. Please come in. “The suit reflects everything this side of Katya, if you can hear me, please respond at the cycle manually at about a quarter the usual speed. It took a real effort to keep my arms X-rays,” I said. “Still, this is damn bright. Dieter, once. This is Arkasha. We need a report on your at my sides, and I was damned awkward as I can you put something over my head?” status right away.” And so on, repeated over struggled through the outer hatch. The internal and over. I listened for a couple of minutes. “Sure. Hang on.” A moment later, Dieter pressure of the suit tried to straighten everycame up with a nylon cover from an air-sam“Seven minutes to drop,” Max announced. thing out. It was probably comical to watch, pling module. “This ought to be about right,” but nobody was laughing. I had to jump within “Not much time,” Bill said under his he said, slipping it over my helmet. fifteen minutes or not at all, and no one had breath. heard from Katya. The cool darkness felt good. I opened my “Maddie,” I began. “What if—” eyes. The sunspots in my eyes slowly faded till As soon as I stepped out on the experiment I could read the helmet display. “Everything deck, I realized that I’d forgotten something: “Jack, you know the rules.” okay,” I said. I held my arms out. (They wanted sun goggles. The full sun hammered me in the to stick out anyway.) “You’ll have to lead me, “Katya doesn’t know the rules. How could face. I squeezed my eyes shut. In a few more though.” she?” hours Gamma, following the upper atmosphere on its circulation around the planet, Dieter and Bill guided me close to the edge I could almost hear her shake her head. “Not would cross over into night. The experiment of the experiment deck and attached a safety deck was located on the aft end of the gondolaline around my waist. They backed me up untilanother word, Jack, or I’ll order you to abort now. You can’t jump unless we know there is and was no longer in shade. The evening sun my backside was against the rail. someone down there for you to rescue.” hung in the western sky. Max’s voice came in my ears. “Should we I bit my lip. Arkasha’s voice kept on, (Or perhaps I should call it the morning have Jack climb to the outside of rail? That patient, pleading. The blackness under my sun. Since Venus rotated from east to west, would make it easier to jump.” hood seemed to press in on me from all down on the surface it was just a few days past around. That awful, sick feeling, the one that “No,” Madeline said instantly. “He stays on dawn.) had grown so familiar lately, rushed back. This this side of the rail until I give the go-ahead.”
Ray Gun Revival magazine
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The Pasadena Rule, Chapters 5 and 6 by Ben Schumacher
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wasn’t going to happen. The last, desperate Madeline broke in. “This is Maddie. He’s mine.” hope had been a cheat. Suddenly it occurred giving it to you straight, Katya. That’s the plan. “One minute to go,” said Max. to me that, standing here at the edge of the It’s the only option we have.” abyss with a hood over my head and two men “Jack,” said Katya, her voice suddenly angry. gripping my arms, I must look like a man about “How can you let him do this?” “This has got to be the most selfish thing you’ve to be hanged. “Katya,” I answered for her, “she’s right. It’s ever done.” the only option.” “Four minutes,” Max said evenly. “What is that supposed to mean?” “It’s no option at all. What kind of chance And then, a miracle! “Suicide is selfish. If you die trying this, do you think you have?” Jack, I will be the one who has to face the con“Virgil here,” said a weary voice. “What I wanted to say, “Pretty good,” but the sequences. Not you. Do you think that losing could possibly be so urgent, Arkasha?” words stuck in my throat. She wouldn’t stand you now will make it easier when it’s time “What is your situation, Katya?” for a false optimism. “It’s a long shot,” I said for me to pull the plug? If you’re still alive up finally. “But we might pull it off.” there, Jack, then at least I leave behind me “Unchanged,” she said. something of myself. Now you’re taking that “My God,” she said, and her voice was more away from me. Damn you, you self-centered “Max, cut us in,” I said. He had worked out desperate than I had ever heard it. “You can’t fat-head, you bastard, say goodbye and let me a direct link to Virgil, which was almost directly do this. You mustn’t do this.” die in peace!” below us. “Two minutes,” said Max. I couldn’t answer for a moment. “Selfish“You got it.” ness cuts both ways,” I said. “If I don’t jump, “Katya, we’ve gone over everything as best then I have to face the consequences of that, I saw the indicator blink green. “Katya! This as we can, and it looks worth a try. Do you think and for a hell of a lot longer. So sit still and get is Jack. Just sit tight. We’re going to attempt a I want to sit up here and wait for you to die?” rescued.” rescue.” “So instead you’re going to make sure that “You are an insensitive pig. I forbid it. I will “What? Are you mad, Jack? What the hell Iisdie a widow. This is so intelligent.” not cooperate. Do you hear that? I will not help going on up there?” you “God damn it, wife, I’m trying to rescue kill yourself.” “We’re overhead in Gamma. I have my you.” “Drop window opening,” Max said. “We’re hotsuit on. In about three minutes, I’m going moving fast, so it’s a short one. Jack, you have She fought to control her voice. “I know. I to jump over the side. I’ll fall, but by the time to go now .” do understand. It isn’t easy to give up, Jack.” I reach the ground the air will have slowed me She sighed. “But you cannot throw your own down enough to make a safe landing. I will clear “Jack, you asshole!” Katya sounded almost out the fans on Virgil, Katya, and then you can life away.” hysterical. “Do you understand me? I refuse to fly us both back up to rendezvous with Delta.” go along with this!” “It’s my life.” “No, no, no,” she said. “Is someone else on “While I’m still here, it’s half mine, “Well, Jack?” Maddie said, her voice coming the circuit? Has my husband completely lost to me over a private link. remember?” his mind?” “And while you’re there, yours is half There was silence, and after a second I
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 33, November 01, 2007
The Pasadena Rule, Chapters 5 and 6 by Ben Schumacher realized that they were all waiting for me. “We can argue about this later, Katya,” I said, as firmly as I could. “I have something to do right now.”
Pg. 32
Ben Schumacher
I am a physicist who teaches at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. My major I ignored the burst of profanity, English and research field is quantum information Russian mixed. Clumsily, I tried to turn around to climb over the rail, but to my surprise I theory, though I have also dabbled in heard Maddie say, “Dieter, Bill—get him.” All black hole physics and thermodynamics. of a sudden my two companions grabbed me I’ve been a science fiction writer longer by the arms and legs. I struggled against them until I realized what they were doing. I heard than I’ve been a physicist, however, having sold my first—and so far only— the snap of the safety line release. “Godspeed, Jack,” Bill said, and Dieter added, “Good luck.” story to Analog magazineatage16. Then my friends picked me up bodily and heaved me overboard. I was so startled that it was a moment before I could yank the nylon hood from my helmet. I rolled over and, just for a moment in the bright glare, caught a last glimpse of the double row of gigantic hydrogen lifting cells, the web of rigging cables, the gondola, the blunt arrowhead of the docked orbit shuttle— and at the edge of the rear deck, two small figures peering down at me, swiftly drawing away now, until they were lost to sight. A yellow-white mist rushed up past me, and the bright daylight began to diminish. All I could think was, My God, I really did it.
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Issue 33, November 01, 2007
Deuces Wild, Chapter 17, Strange Bedfellows, Part Four by L. S. King
Pg. 33
Deuces Wild
Chapter 17, Strange Bedfellows, Part Four by L. S. King
“Y
ou’re sure this place is safe?”
“Let’s go.”
#
“I’m relying on that inside tip,” Slap # “So, what’s going on?” Sean asked. muttered back. In truth, he wasn’t sure. It wouldn’t be beyond Tristan to falsify informaSlap grinned at his brother-in-law as he Tristan flexed his calf muscle to ease the tion to draw someone into a trap. Which was took the comm from his ear. “Word is, Betts ache and took a deep breath before hitting the why Slap was going to do this one himself; he hasn’t stopped screaming since she found out, key to enter Betts’ office, the feeling of being wouldn’t put another life on the line—this was and MacCay walked out on her. They’re making stalked descending on him. between him and Tristan now. bets on whether she kicks him out before he He found himself comparing that feeling gets rid of her. They’re in chaos, not knowing He ran forward in a crouch, trying to stay with what he felt with Tanya. Big mistake— which way to jump.” Sean laughed with him, in shadows to avoid being seen even in the he needed to concentrate on the moment, then Slap added, “And, get this—there’s been moonlight. and adding Tanya to his thoughts only further some sort of bank problems. Some say a muddled his brain, already overloaded from collapse, some say embezzlement, some say Hitting the main Security Guild office in the city was bold and totally broke their pattern. the night’s work. He’d been waiting at the mostan electronic bank robbery. But it’s frozen the One of his men had gone inside with the likely attack site when he’d been informed rich, and they’re scrambling to recover.” And why does that situation have such a familiar intent of filing a complaint in order to plant of the hit on the Security Guild building. This ring to it? Slap would bet Tristan was behind summons dragged him away from a group of a smoke bomb. It should go off—he glanced it... men sifting through the debris. Dawn was still at his chrono—about now. That should clear the building of night personnel. Slap had few an hour away. “Wow. So, what now?” misgivings about any security men who might “What happened out there? How did those be killed; the Security Guild had long ago been With a sigh, Slap shook his head. “I’m not stupid hicks get away with another attack?” eaten up by the Mordas. But he wasn’t going sure. If I knew what MacCay was really up to, it to just slaughter them wholesale if he could Tristan rubbed his eyes. “They’re obviously would be easy.” help it. much smarter than we’ve given them credit “You got to know him pretty well, didn’t for.” In a few minutes, folks began pouring out you? Were you friends?” of the building. Good job, Jake! He raised the She began raving, and her voice hit a pitch Only Shallah’s family knew MacCay’s name rocket launcher, and as soon as the flow of that made something in him snap. He held up was really Tristan, although everyone knew he people trickled to nothing, he fired. a hand. “I need to re-think my plans. Defensive was Slap’s companion from his jaunt in space. isn’t going to work.” He turned and hit the pad. And again. The building really was on fire “We...helped each other out of a few scrapes, The door slid open. now. He ran off before the men could pinpoint and yeah, I considered him a friend. But I can’t his location—he hoped. say where his loyalties are.” I wish I could! “I’m not finished—” she shrieked. Tristan, what’s going on? Once back with his companions, he grinned. He kept walking.
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Deuces Wild, Chapter 17, Strange Bedfellows, Part Four by L. S. King
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“Must be hard to wonder if you can still help a little. No, he’d better get coffee. He to find a full meal waiting. trust a friend...” placed the cup in the dispenser and dialed He set down the fork and wiped his mouth. his preference, sending mental daggers at the Before Slap could answer, Sean’s youngermachine to hurry it along. “Somehow, cooking wasn’t one of the things I brother Aillil ran in, breathless, and handed imagined you doing.” Slap a data crystal. “This just arrived for you.” “Oh my,” her voice said from behind him. “You weren’t kidding. You look like the morning Lacquered fingernails tapped the edge Slap plugged it into the reader and his after. And without a night before. What a of a cup. She smiled across the table. “Don’t mouth dropped open. He finished and looked shame.” assume that domesticity is one of the skills I up with a smile. “Oh, yeah. Yeah—now I know offer in partnership. You looked ready to fall “I’m not in the mood.” The dispenser light over, so I did you a favor.” what to do.” came on, and he picked up the cup, taking a sip before turning around. She was gorgeous, “Thank you. Equality is best in a partner# ship. I would do the same for you.” as usual, and looking ready to feast. He sipped again. “What do you need?” A soft, insistent sound soaked through the “Smooth words.” fog. And repeated. And again. Tristan forced One eyebrow quirked up. “Hm, loaded “I only say what I mean.” his eyes open, realizing someone was at his question. But I’ll take pity. I was informed a little door. A glance at the chrono told him he’d while ago that Betts is going paranoid about Her eyes held his for a long moment. “I gotten about an hour’s sleep. He tossed back you. She’s making plans and has no intention believe you. You’re very direct.” the covers with a sigh. of letting you in on them.” She leaned against “And you appreciate that.” the counter and crossed her arms. He tugged on pants, then shuffled unevenly to the door, riffling his fingers through his hair. “I think you’re in big trouble.” “In my business, all a woman hears is sweet He squinted at the security vid and groaned talk.” aloud. Tanya. Not now—he didn’t have the “That’s my concern.” strength to spar or match wits. “Then let’s be frank. What do you want?” “Not if we’re planning a partnership.” She He thumbed the comm. “Yes?” eyed him, frowning. “Are we?” Her laugh rang out, a soft, golden tone. “You do leave yourself open, don’t you?” “It’s Tanya. May I come in?” Tristan took another swig before saying, “I think we should discuss what our goals are. We “We can assume that’s a personal want for “I’ve been up all night. Come back in a few both of us. Let’s keep it to business for now.” can’t be at cross-purposes.” hours.” By all means. A slow smile spread and she said, “I tell you “It’s important. I have to see you now.” what—you sit, and I’ll fix breakfast. Then we “You know my past. I clawed to the top so can talk.” no one could have control over me. But there’s “I’m really not up to it.” a higher step to reach for. I want it.” “Please. I have information you need to # “Control of the Mordas.” know.” Tristan was impressed with her culinary “What else?” I’m going to regret this. He keyed her in, prowess. He’d returned, dressed and shaved, then slipped into the kitchen. Hot tea would
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 33, November 01, 2007
Deuces Wild, Chapter 17, Strange Bedfellows, Part Four by L. S. King “So I am a means to an end?”
degraded into cheap vulgarity.
Pg. 35 “What? Why? What’s the matter?” she whispered.
“You were. At first.” She hesitated, settling To her credit, Tanya didn’t seem affected. back in the chair. “But you fascinate me. You...She picked up her cup, but before she could “Not the right time,” he muttered, trying to you don’t look at me as if I were a woman.” take a drink, Betts swatted it from her hand. control his voice—and reactions. Coffee splashed on Tanya, and the cup crashed Tristan snorted. “Oh, believe me, I do.” to the floor. “Why?” She laughed again. “Good to know, since “That’s the only way you know how to deal “This...this isn’t about fleeting pleasure.” It you hide it so well. But you know what I mean. with everything, isn’t it?” Tanya’s voice was took every bit of will power, but he took her by Intellectually.” cool, but her eyes glittered. “Blundering in likethe shoulders and set her back. “This is about a partnership. It should start slow, earning trust. the cow you are.” “I would be a fool to underestimate you.” No short cuts.” Betts’ face flushed with rage. She raised a The door chime sounded. Tristan rose, fist, but Tristan grabbed her arm. “You will show “Partnership? She just cut you out. Your ‘in’ excusing himself, and checked the security vid. no violence to another guest in my home.” to the Mordas is gone.” Oh, great. He called into the kitchen, “We have company.” She whirled, spat in his face, and contested “It makes no difference to my plans.” his parentage. “You’ve led me on all this time! “Betts?” She froze, her blue eyes riveted to his. You’re out—d’you hear? Out!” “How? What is it you’re scheming?” “Astute.” “So are you.” Tristan twisted her wrist and “Let’s just say, Betts doesn’t hold the cards led her to the foyer against her will. When the “Expected.” she thinks she does. And mine are better than door slid open, he shoved her outside. The she could imagine.” A smile escaped Tristan—he did like this door shut, cutting off her wild raving. woman. “You ready for this?” “Mm.” Her hands traveled up his arms. He let out a quick breath, wiped his face, “Sounds...intriguing. Won’t you share any of it “I’ve been ready since the first time I heardand returned to the kitchen. Tanya was standing with your future partner?” of you,” came her voice. “It’s going to be fun at the counter, blotting coffee from her blouse seeing what you’re made of when caught and skirt. She appeared calm until he got close; “As I’ve been trying to tell you, I don’t trust between two fighting cats.” her hands were shaking ever so slightly. easily. You shouldn’t either. We have to earn it. That takes time.” “Who’s direct?” “Are you all right?” “For a business partnership, yes, I can More laughter. “The coffee wasn’t hot enough to burn.” see your point. But...” Her hands kneaded his shoulders and neck. “...in our personal lives?” He keyed Betts in and waited in the foyer. “I know.” He stepped closer, but realized his mistake when she lifted her head and gazed into He brushed strands of blonde hair from The leader of the Mordas stormed in, his eyes. Then she was in his arms, his mouth her face, striving with everything in him to glared at him, looked around, and swept past.on hers, and all thoughts fled his mind— hold back. “To me, they’re intertwined. I don’t Searching for her competition, no doubt. She expect you to understand.” stopped in the archway to the kitchen. “You! No! He broke the kiss with a gasp. “No,” he You brassy, street-walking—” Betts’ diatribe repeated aloud.
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Issue 33, November 01, 2007
Deuces Wild, Chapter 17, Strange Bedfellows, Part Four by L. S. King
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“Perhaps I do. But we have to start something big. I don’t know what yet, but she’s Tristan shrugged on his vest and picked somewhere, don’t we? Can’t you consider thismoving fast, giving orders left and right.” up his PBG. “It’s going to get hot. You go home—and watch your back.” an...earnest on my part.” “Keep me informed.” Her lips met his before he could reply. She ran to him, hands on his chest, blue “Will do.” eyes wide. “Be careful.” # Tristan left the comm in his ear; he was He kissed her long and hard before racing going to need it with him. He turned to Tanya,out the door. Slap’s fingers drummed on the table. “Thiswho was smoothing her blouse. day is getting stranger and stranger...” First the # “Trouble?” spy’s information, then the data crystal, now this... “Betts is up to something. I daresay she Slap rubbed his hands on the sides of his “What is it, Son?” Ewan asked. started it before she got here. She probably jeans as he scanned the lot from behind a pile intended on creating a scene, and your of rusted machinery. The burned-out factory “I just got a note from Betts. She says she presence gave her the perfect excuse. She’s dominated the center of the property, and the wants to parlay.” Slap chewed his lip. “I don’t been suspicious of my sincerity.” He stopped blown-up outbuilding littered the far side, but trust her.” And why no mention of MacCay? at her amused expression. “For some reason.”several outbuildings remained. This was where Tristan should be in the middle of this. Maybe Tristan had killed Lyssel; it wasn’t a coincidence he’s pulling her strings... “What are we going to do then?” that Betts chose it for their meeting. “What are you going to do?” “I’m going to meet her.” “Just like that?”
“You are going back home, and see if you His men had fanned out around the can find out anything through your unique perimeter, looking for hidden Mordas. He only grapevine. I’m going to try other methods of hoped he’d brought enough. And was Tristan discovering her plans.” here? How did he fit into this?
“I’d like to be with you.” A rover approached from the south. Slap Slap shook his head. “Nope. We have to squinted upward, a hand covering his eyes prepare for some kinda trap.” “Wherever I go, things tend to get lethal. against the sun. The vehicle landed, and four I’d rather have you at a safe distance.” Security Guild goons climbed out. He could see # She opened her mouth, but the comm movement inside the opaque dome, but no chirped in his ear again. He held up a finger one else exited. “Don’t answer it,” Tanya murmured as the telling her to wait. “Yes?” comm chirped. “McCarty, come into the open, alone, then I’ll come out,” a woman’s voice said through a “She’s sent a truce message to McCarty,” “I have to.” He unwound her arms from his speaker. neck and strode to the security board where Leddy hissed, “saying she wants to talk. But it’s an ambush.” he’d left the ear piece. “Yes?” “As long as you have guards,” Slap called, “I’ll keep my men with me.” “Where and when?” “I don’t know what happened inside your house,” Leddy’s voice whispered, “but she flew Leddy told him then closed the connec- No answer came from the rover, but the out, taking her guards with her. She’s planning sound of whining engines grew—reminding tion.
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Issue 33, November 01, 2007
Deuces Wild, Chapter 17, Strange Bedfellows, Part Four by L. S. King
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him of the landing troop shuttles on Eridani. The one to the south exploded while still inof the guards from the Guilder ship didn’t Their men and weapons couldn’t compete the air. Had to be a rocket launcher. Had to be.move. with armored aircraft—they didn’t have the But who? Tristan? “This war is over,” Tristan’s voice said. “You training—shoot, Slap didn’t have the training Slap rose and ran toward the rover, firing. go tell your leader—any move against the to know where to hit to take one down. The guards abandoned their positions. The Separatists will have similar results. We repeat, “A trap,” he called into his ear comm as third craft was hit—a fireball that splattered this is over: put down your weapons.” he turned and ran. Jake Chandler and Sean along the ground. Slap reached the rover— Slap grinned as the rest of the guards flanked him, PBRs up and ready to fire. “It’s a empty. He whirled, looking around in frantic complied, and began collecting their guns. trap. Get out!” dismay. The retreating guards had turned, their guns trained on him. Sure enough, three Guard assault vehicles # were converging on the area. The ground “Drop your weapons,” one guard called, his spatted with weapons’ fire, and Slap wove as voice amplified through the rover’s speaker. “What’s going on?” Sean asked as the men he raced toward their waiting rover. Or McCarty dies.” He repeated his command, gathered. louder. No—it could be too easily targeted! He was “I don’t know, except that MacCay let them stuck; this was it. He had to stand and fight, Slowly, the sounds of fighting ceased. In think we were behind their aircraft getting even though it was useless. Good enough; he’d the ensuing silence, Slap’s heart hammered, blown up and them surrendering. He’s trying soon be with Shallah and Evan! He spun and shame filling him. He’d failed—failed in everyto get the Mordas to leave us alone. I wish he whipped out his PBR and fired at the aircraft thing. As a rancher, a husband, a father, a would have stayed and talked.” Slap squinted hovering not far away. fighter. He didn’t mind dying; it was living that into the distance in the direction the guards was so hard. But to go knowing the Separatists had gone on foot; it wasn’t far to Zanti City The vehicle exploded. Slap ducked, not only had lost their homes, their lands, their lives—from here. “I guess he thought we shouldn’t to protect his eyes, but from the falling debris.that grieved him. be seen together.” But—what blew up the craft? Not his PBR. “Stand down,” a familiar voice broadcasted “So what do we do now?” Jake asked. “Slap, get down,” Jake called. A body tackled from the rover. “McCarty dies, you all die.” him, taking him to the ground. He rolled away Slap scowled in thought. “I’d say give ‘em The guard who had spoken spun, looking from whichever of his buddies had knocked room. See if they stop or not. MacCay has to him out of harm’s way and tried to figure out around. “Who’s there?” be putting pressure on them from the inside. what was going on. If they come after us again, we pick up where “We took out your assault vehicles—you’re we left off.” next. Put down your weapons.” The sounds of various weapons filled the air as the two remaining craft strafed the ground A holler to his left made Slap turn, his PBR while jockeying to land. The western-most one “Who—” the guard began, but held his rifle swinging up. But it was a group of Separatists, out at arm’s length in a gesture of truce. landed, and the hatch opened. and one of them had a young woman with a mop of curly hair by the arm. She twisted and “I don’t know,” hissed a guard, “but how’d Slap needed leverage, something to even fought like a wildcat, but couldn’t get loose. they get the rover’s frequency?” the ground. If he could get to the rover, get to Ewan held up a rocket launcher. “Look what we Betts, he’d have a hostage. Another vented an earthy word and tossed discovered. She was the one who destroyed his rifle down. Some followed suit, but several their aircraft—with this.”
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Issue 33, November 01, 2007
Deuces Wild, Chapter 17, Strange Bedfellows, Part Four by L. S. King
Pg. 38
She crossed her arms, her mouth set. She seemed familiar, and Slap frowned, Now he did grin. “Welcome. So”—he trying to place her. nodded at the launcher his father-in-law had Slap sighed. “Come on with me. Let’s talk.” taken from her—“you’re pretty handy with “She’d been using a camo-net, but when that thing.” “You can’t make me go anywhere.” she turned it off to move, we found her.” “I’ve learned. I’ll get MacCay with it yet.” Her defiant chin and eyes made Slap Her defiant face changed to one of recognition. “You! You let him leave me there! You—” Slap barely kept his mouth from dropping chuckle. “How do you figure that? I’m bigger’n open. “If you were aiming at him, I’d say your you, and I somehow doubt you know enough Oh! The stowaway. “Hey, you’re alive, aim is slightly off.” fancy fighting to take me down. I carried you aren’t you? Glad you found your way home. over my shoulder knocked out—I’ll do it while And why’d you fire on your own vehicles?” Her hot glare burned all the way from her you’re awake, if that’s the way you want this soul. “I hate them more than him. So I had to to go.” “My vehicles? You think I’m Mordas?” make a choice. Besides, I couldn’t find where Her lower lip stuck out, reminding him he was hiding. He must have had a camo-net “Aren’t you? I suppose you’re not an all over again of last year. “Tears won’t work too.” engineer like you claimed either.” either—grow up. Now, come on.” “Y’know,” Slap said, taking the rocket He cut off her scathing reply with a raised Two Separatists took her arms and helped launcher from Ewan, “there’s better ways of hand. “Now, that ain’t very ladylike.” He put his dealing with things than trying to blow people her keep pace as they went to their rovers. Slap fists on his hips. “So, you’re not Mordas. What wished he had a gag—that gal had a mouth. He up.” are you then? Assuming you’ll tell us the truth pulled a little ahead to think. this time.” She laughed aloud. “This coming from “Where are we heading to, Son?” Ewan you?” She reached for the weapon, but Slap “I’m from a Merchant family. We’ve been asked, coming up to walk next to Slap. “Back held it out of reach—easy considering how driven into the ground by the Mordas. I was to the valley?” short she was. trying to sabotage that cargo ship last year Slap shook his head. “No. As much as I’d when you two stole her. It took me all this “Give it back!” like to, I’d be in a communications blackout time to get back home from that planet you “Aw, no. I don’t think so. You’ll have to find there.” Besides if I go back, I’ll see Aylish and deserted me on.” another way to blow up MacCay. But you mightbe reminded of Shallah that much more. “I only Slap wanted to grin but having experiencewant to put it off for a while till he’s through need one team with me for now though, I think. with a mother and a wife, didn’t think it was messing with the Mordas. I’m not sure what The rest of you can go back home. There’s so safe. He bit his lip. “Well, glad you made it. he’s up to, but I’d bet it ain’t good for them.” much work to do, and it’s nearing harvest.” Sorry we couldn’t do better, but we were in a “He’s working with them.” “The boys and I will stay.” bit of a hurry ourselves.” “Yeah, well...” She shook off the hand of “Naw, he ain’t. No matter what it seems “You’re needed at home, Ewan. So are the the man who had been holding her. “At least like.” Slap scratched his chin. “Look, I did youboys. I can send word if things heat up again.” you kept him from spacing me.” She whipped a favor last year, so will you do me one? Leave a curly lock off her forehead with a grimace. him alone for now. All right? Give him time to His father-in-law’s face clouded with worry. “Are you sure, Son?” do whatever he’s doing. If you want to kill him “Thanks. I guess.” afterwards, then, by all means, try.”
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 33, November 01, 2007
Deuces Wild, Chapter 17, Strange Bedfellows, Part Four by L. S. King
Pg. 39
“Yeah. I gotta feeling Tristan’s got things Slap scratched his chin. Tristan was all right; under control in the city now.” he had to be.
L. S. King
#
Ascience c onfansincechildhood,L.S. King has been wri ng stories since her “It’s chaos,” the voice on the comm said. “The city has turned into a war zone. There’s youth. Now, with all but one of her chiltwenty rumors flying as to who’s fighting who dren grown, she is wri ng full- me. She and why it started. But the fighting began about hasdevelopedasword-and-planetseries the time news came through that the SeparatTo catch up on previous episodes of ists defeated an attack by the Mordas—good tenta velycalled The Ancients.The rst the adventures of Slap and Tristan, visit: job, by the way. Things have been tight lately, http://loriendil.com/DW.php book is nished, and she has completed and that news seemed to spark something.” Deuces Wild is dedicated to the memory ofrough dra s of several more novels as Slap glanced around the room at his my best friend; my inspiration for an enduring well. men—and the girl, who had quit snarling, finally—as their spy continued.
friendship...http://loriendil.com/Starsky/
“The top gossip is that Betts killed MacCay, and his faction is fighting back; MacCay killed Betts, and her men are fighting back; that the rich pulled their money from the Mordas, and the Mordas are fighting them; that the Guilds and Merchants are fighting the Mordas—it just goes on and on. I’ll let you know anything more I find out.” “Are you all right?” Slap asked. “Yeah, I got out in all the confusion, but I’m still trying sort out what happened, so I’m not too far away. The city is a mess though— buildings blown up, people shooting at each other in the street. I’ve never seen anything like it. No one has heard from Betts or MacCay, probably why the rumors of them killing each other are going around. Look, I have to go.” The connection ended.
Ray Gun Revival magazine
She serves on the editorial sta of The Sword Review, is also their Columns Editor, and writes a column for that magazine en tled “ Writer’s Cramps” as well. She is also one of the Overlords, a founding editor, here at Ray Gun Revival. Shebeganmar alartstrainingoverthirty yearsago,andownedakarateschoolfor a decade. When on the planet, she lives inDelawarewithherhusband,Steve,and theiryoungestchild.Sheenjoysgardening, soap making, and reading. She also likesLooneyTunes,thecolorpurple,and isaZorroa cionado,whichmightexplain her love for swords and cloaks.
Issue 33, November 01, 2007
The RGR Time Capsule
Pg. 40
October 15 - October 31, 2007
Sci-Fi news from the RayGunRevival forums RGR Date: October 22, 2007
RGR Date: October 04, 2007
But it is possible that Ms. Rowling may be mistaken about her own character. She http://raygunrevival.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1527may have invented Hogwarts and all the http://raygunrevival.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1517 wizards within it, she may have created the Overlord re yfellow noted this: ...however, web zines, like ours, are the Next Big most in uen al fantasy books since J. R. R. h p://whedonesque.com/comments/14562 Thang. Tolkien, and she may have woven her spell An interview with Fire y’s Ron Glass. Lovely over thousands of pages and seven novels, Warren Ellis runs the numbers on the dismal audio chat with oodles of insight into his but there seems to be no compelling reason state of science c on magazines—Asimov’s circ career. And in keeping with the theme of within the books for her a er-the-fact asseris down 13 percent; Interzone is running 2,000non tradi onal media Fire y cast interviews, on. Of course it would not be inconsistent 3,000 copies per issue; Analog (which should there’s a great interview with Jewel Staite for Dumbledore to be gay, but the books’ acreally change its name back to Astounding) is in the latest issue of Ray Gun Revival (pdf counts certainly don’t make it necessary. The selling through at 32 percent. This is pre y dereader req.) ques on is distrac ng, which is why it never pressing news. really emerges in the books themselves. RGR Date: October 23, 2007 Ms. Rowling may think of Dumbledore as I think the biggest impediment to the magazines’ John Carter: The Cartoon? gay, but there is no reason why anyone else sales is that there’s no easy way for people who http://raygunrevival.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1498 should. love the stories in them to bring them to the ERBzine.com, a Web site devoted to Edgar a en on of other, poten al customers. By the Rice Burroughs and his books, reported that Rothstein seems to be falling into the trap me you’ve read the current issue and found a Disney/Pixar is gearing up preproduc on on of assuming that everything that goes into story you want everyone else to read, the issue a character shows up on the page. This is its upcoming computer-animated version of isn’t on the stands anymore and the best you can en rely wrong. What shows up on the page Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars, the rst of a do is to try to get your pals to shell out to pay for is the public life of the character, so to speak: trilogy of movies. an ebook edi on. The things about a character that a writer chooses to let you know about them. The Contrast this with the online mags, whose stories A Pixar crea ve team reportedly spent me last week exploring the Burroughs archives in private life of a character exists o the page, stay online for months—some mes forever. If the Los Angeles suburb of Tarzana (which is and takes place between the writer and the you love a story in Strange Horizons, you can named a er Burroughs’ most famous hero). character. You don’t see that unless the aupaste a quote from it into your Livejournal, use thor discusses it later, in interviews or com the rst line as your sig, email the URL to your RGR Date: October 29, 2007 brother, print the rst page and tape it up in the Scalzi: What authors know about their characters mentary or whatever. Authors have privilege toilet at work. http://raygunrevival.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1529concerning our characters; we know more about them than the readers. In a New York Times piece on Dumbledore’s Is it any wonder that the online mags dominate homosexuality, cri c Edward Rothstein sugthe awards? gests that J.K. Rowling, Dumbledore’s creator, might not know what she’s talking about:
RGR ‘Kaylee’ interview noted at Whedonesque Circula on for mainstream SF print mags plummet
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 33, November 01, 2007