Castaway Planet: Chapter 16

Well, Hitomi hadn't gotten herself killed after all...     ------     Chapter 16            "Barkcloth," Laura repeated wonderingly, looking at the green sheet which was slowly coming apart under repeated handling. "A beginning to it, I think, yes," Caroline said. "The Polynesians made something like this, called tapa. We'll have to do some experiments, but… I think Hitomi might have found us something really important." Hitomi looked very proud. Laura bent down. "But you also could [ Continue reading... ]

Castaway Planet: Chapter 15

  Sakura did some exploring before; now there's time to do some work...     -------     Chapter 15            "Can't I please come with –" "No." Her mother's answer was firm. "You seem recovered, mostly, but you were in very bad shape for a while yesterday. I don't expect to see any more trouble, but for today you're staying near camp. You'll have plenty more chances to explore, I promise." "Sorry, Saki," her father said, and gave her a consoling hug. That didn't exactly make up [ Continue reading... ]

Polychrome: Chapter 24

  We should see how our Heroine is doing...     ------     Chapter 24.      "He is clever! And lucky! Oh, Father, this might work, it might really work after all!" Polychrome was dancing around the viewing pool, the perfectly circular bowl of mist and rainbow through which Iris and those in the throne room could, when he willed it, see that which passed in the area of the Jewel of the Bridge. Iris watched her closely, a faint smile on his lips but a chill in his heart. He glanced over at Nimbus, [ Continue reading... ]

Castaway Planet: Chapter 14

  Sakura was safe now, time for a little aftermath and a discovery...     ------     Chapter 14                   Whips wallowed his body back and forth, feeling the coral-based sand squish reassuringly under him. "Hm. That will be good." It had been quite a while since he built a land-nest—years ago, when he and his father had gone on a camping trip with the Kimeis, and that was long enough that he'd had to think about just how you did this right. His first attempt, about three [ Continue reading... ]

The Ethical Magical Girl: Princess Holy Aura — Teaser Chapter

  Because I've had a lot of questions about this new novel (hopefully series), I'm posting the current first chapter which should at least give an idea of what's to come. Of course, at this early stage there's no guarantee that this will still be the first chapter, or that this chapter won't change some as time goes on, but the basic concepts will be there!   ------ The Ethical Magical Girl, Volume 1: Princess Holy Aura   Chapter 1.       The screaming came from the alley to Steve's right; it was high-pitched, the [ Continue reading... ]

Castaway Planet: Chapter 13

  Sakura had discovered the local wildlife was not harmless...   ------     Chapter 13            Laura restrained the urge to leap forward. Panic would not help her. Even as she scanned the data from Sakura's internal medical nanos, she categorized the symptoms of the shaky girl. Skin reddening… pupils dilating… heart rate increasing. Sakura was also looking dizzy, disoriented. The data from the nanos confirmed her guess. "It's a hyoscyamine derivative, something like atropine. And a [ Continue reading... ]

Polychrome: Chapter 23

Back to Our Hero, who is out there looking for allies...     -------     Chapter 23.      The gates of the city of Gilgad stood wide before us, a full fifty feet high in a wall of white and black marble. The wide street continued on, with houses and larger buildings visible, street vendors, and hundreds of people bustling about the city's business. "You should be safe here, Amrin. At least as long as anyone is, and I hope that will turn out to be a long, long time." I shook his hand. "Many, many thanks, [ Continue reading... ]

Castaway Planet: Chapter 12

Time to take a real look around their new home!       ------     Chapter 12.                   "No, Akira, you keep it," Laura said, pressing the pistol into her husband's hand. Whips could see he was still reluctant. "But you're the one going –" "I'm the only one here who actually knows how to fight. Police background, remember? And Whips is coming with me and Sakura on the scouting expedition, so that means that you'll need something to protect yourselves with while you get [ Continue reading... ]

Castaway Planet: Chapter 11

  Hey, they're into Chapter 11! (yeah, okay, cheap joke). Time for the castaways to take stock of their situation...     ------       Chapter 11            "The seven wilderness survival principles," Melody said, obviously looking at her omni's display, "are positive mental attitude, first aid, shelter, fire, signaling, water, and food." "Not a bad list," Sakura said, dusting off a nearby chunk of coral-rock to sit on, "but some of that won't work. Signaling isn't going to [ Continue reading... ]

Polychrome: Chapter 22

  And now we see what Ugu's reaction is to his forces' first brush with the True Mortal...   ------       Chapter 22.      "And so I will be sending several Hands of Temblors, perhaps even of Infernos, to teach a lesson to –" "SILENCE!" roared the King. Mombi stared at Ugu in confusion. "Y… Your Majesty?" He pointed his finger down at her and muttered two ancient words. The old witch, dressed in finery terribly unbecoming to her, suddenly hopped as though standing on red-hot coals. "Ow! [ Continue reading... ]