Simon gets a date, gets some news, and gets an idea! ----- Chapter 7. The door chime finally drew his attention; Simon said "Come in," absently, while still focused on the tri-display in front of him. "Since you were taking a break today," Oasis' voice came from behind him, "I thought we might –" Feeling his face flaming scarlet, Simon hit the off control on the little console. But by the raised eyebrow and widening grin on Oasis' face, he knew he'd been a split-second too [ Continue reading... ]
Shadows of Hyperion: Chapter 5
May 22, 2021 By Leave a Comment
There's been a murder, and DuQuesne was right there.. ----- Chapter 5. "You're back!" Ariane exclaimed as DuQuesne appeared in the doorway. Then, seeing how the massive frame sagged, she ran to him, caught his hands in hers. "You look terrible, Marc." "I feel terrible. Klono and Noshabkeming, I feel terrible." The way he muttered off the outmoded Hyperion curses without so much as a selfconscious twitch told her just how bad it was. She exchanged glances with Wu Kung, as her bodyguard helped DuQuesne in, and saw [ Continue reading... ]
Shadows of Hyperion: Chapter 3
May 20, 2021 By Leave a Comment
Time to move on -- and meet a new Hyperion! ----- Chapter 3. "That is … unwelcome news," Simon said, studying Wu Kung with a sour, sinking feeling in his gut. "You are certain?" The Hyperion Monkey King grimaced. "Why do people always ask that? Would I say it that way if I were not? Yes, I am certain, as certain as you could tell me that I am wearing my robes! I can see your soul, and you have damaged it badly, about as badly as Ariane's." He raised both eyebrows. "Why are you upset, though? I thought you did not [ Continue reading... ]
Shadows of Hyperion: Chapter 1
May 18, 2021 By 2 Comments
And we begin the fourth novel in the Arenaverse! ------ SHADOWS of HYPERION Fourth in the Arenaverse Series Chapter 1. "Ariane! Ariane, wake up!" The voice was vaguely familiar, echoing out of the red-tinged blackness of pain. "Ariane, can you hear me? Dammit, where's Gabrielle?" "You don't look too well either, Marc. Sit down!" That… that was Oasis. Marc? She made an effort to open her eyes and say something; a vague moan was the [ Continue reading... ]
Challenges of the Deeps: Chapter 28
December 2, 2016 By 25 Comments
This is probably the last snippet I will post. Let's look in on Simon... ----- Chapter 28. "Fictional powers can be made real," Laila Canning repeated slowly. Her sharp brown eyes studied Oasis as though the redheaded woman was a specimen on her dissection table. "How certain are you of this?" "Between ninety-five and a hundred percent sure," Oasis said. "I mean, Wu Kung already demonstrated he's going totally beyond the normal limits of the Arena and he can do that talk-to-animals thing that no one does, as far as we [ Continue reading... ]
Challenges of the Deeps: Chapter 26
November 28, 2016 By 23 Comments
Something had Oasis frightened... ----- Chapter 26. "Doctor Alexander Fairchild," repeated Simon, studying Oasis closely. The Hyperion-born woman was still not entirely herself; the strain showed in the stiffness of her arm as she reached out for the water-pitcher and poured herself a glass. She drank, looked aimlessly around the conference room that Simon had chosen when they had returned – in haste – to the Embassy. "Yes," she said finally. The name finally clicked. "Masaka. That was the name of the Hyperion AI that [ Continue reading... ]
Challenges of the Deeps: Chapter 21
November 16, 2016 By 30 Comments
Just because it starts with a meeting doesn't mean that's all that's going to happen... ----- Chapter 21. "I am glad, tremendously glad, that you were able to resolve that situation so well, Laila, Carl, Simon," said Oscar Naraj, his deep, rich voice resonating in the comfortable meeting room. "The Tantimorcans were appreciative of your tact and sympathy, and I have thus concluded a most advantageous negotiation with them." Simon still found it somewhat uncomfortable to sit in the same room and talk civilly with a man he still [ Continue reading... ]
Challenges of the Deeps: Chapter 19
November 11, 2016 By 25 Comments
Simon had been confronted with a new problem... ----- Chapter 19. Simon stared incredulously for a long, long moment, before his natural politeness asserted itself. "Pardon me. Of course, please sit down." I've just invited a known mass-murderess and part of another faction to eat lunch with me. But perhaps a wiser course than rejecting her. Relief was visible on the perfect features as Maria-Susanna sat down. "Thanks so much, Simon. I... know you probably haven't heard good things about me." "And some of them are true," he [ Continue reading... ]
Challenges of the Deeps: Chapter 17
November 7, 2016 By 6 Comments
Simon Sandrisson had some work he was doing... ----- Chapter 17. I am completely exhausted, Simon thought. Refitting an entire ship with the 'primary beam' weapons was not easy. That wasn't entirely true, either. It had become easier and easier to perform the changes as he moved from turret to turret; his body moved almost of its own accord, the Arena-born knowledge and inspiration guiding his fingers as they flew across the complex interior of the energy cannons and readjusted, shifted, added, changed. And that still [ Continue reading... ]
Challenges of the Deeps: Chapter 13
October 28, 2016 By 8 Comments
Preparations for departure are underway... ----- Chapter 13. "Not taking Zounin-Ginjou?" Simon asked, looking at the relatively small craft – no more than fifty meters long – that was sitting at the end of the berth the Liberated were assigned. "Later," Orphan said, carefully checking the exterior of his ship. "If all three of us took Zounin-Ginjou from here, too many eyes would note the departure; this is a short range vessel, the sort used for brief jaunts from point to point." "With your permission," said [ Continue reading... ]
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