Jason had revealed some secrets... ----- Chapter 26: Special Guest Appearance By… "What was her reaction?" "About what you'd expect." Verne raised an eyebrow. "Well, she didn't believe me, that's for sure. But she also wasn't comfortable not believing, either; the stuff Gorthaur's been up to has already got them spooked." "And she let you go rather than have you examined by a specialist? Isn't that a bit odd?" "Not really. She'd already admitted she knew I hadn't killed Jerome, and [ Continue reading... ]
Polychrome: Chapter 9
August 16, 2014 By Leave a Comment
We were in the middle of a discussion... ----- Chapter 9. For a minute I thought he wasn't going to answer me directly. His storm-violet eyes started to turn away; then they closed, reopened, looked back down at me. "Erik Medon, this is one of the great uncertainties. Your precise fate… lies beyond any prophecy. The prophecy, in fact, ends at the moment you confront our true enemies. And as I have already told you, even the path to that confrontation is fraught with uncertainty. Die you may, and [ Continue reading... ]
Paradigms Lost: Chapter 25
August 13, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Jason had gotten himself into a spot of trouble... ----- Chapter 25: Ways to Make You Talk I looked up as the cell door opened. Renee entered. She walked over and took my hand without a word. After a moment, she said, "You okay?" "I guess," I said finally. "Am I getting out of here?" "Hell if I know," Renee said. "Jason, what were you doing over at Jerome Sumner's?" "Bending over and getting screwed by the bastard who killed him." The fury overwhelmed me for a moment; I slammed my fist into the [ Continue reading... ]
Paradigms Lost: Chapter 24
August 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Investigations require you to check back with your sources once in a while... ----- Chapter 24: Gone and Dead I logged on and checked; I had a secured e-mail waiting. I pulled it up onscreen. The message decoded just as though Manuel had sent it… but it wasn't from Mannie at all. That was so close to impossible that for a moment I couldn't do anything except gape. Then I reread the signature at the bottom, and understood. * * * Mentor (or should I say, Jason?): I'm sorry to tell you [ Continue reading... ]
Polychrome: Chapter 8
August 8, 2014 By Leave a Comment
And now we return to see what happened to our hero... Chapter 8. He gazed tensely at the smoke and dust before him. The detonation had been even greater than he had expected, a blast that had cracked the nearest columns and left a choking cloud obscuring the area of impact entirely. Have I ended it even as it began? Or… A figure was becoming visible. The smoke suddenly cleared, and his gaze was caught and held by ice-blue eyes, filled with anger and shock, staring furiously from a salt-white face. The [ Continue reading... ]
Paradigms Lost: Chapter 23
August 6, 2014 By Leave a Comment
I'm pretty sure this is the shortest chapter in the book. ---- Chapter 23: Remembering Old Times "Okay, Jason, what've you got?" That was Renee, straight to the point. "A whole lot. But first, come here; there's someone I want you to meet." She followed me to the living room. Verne rose from the red chair, bowed as I introduced them. "Renee Reisman, Verne Domingo." She didn't shake hands. "Jason, we've had our eye on this man for some time. I'd like to know just what his [ Continue reading... ]
Paradigms Lost: Chapter 22
August 4, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Jason's got some information gathering to do... Chapter 22: Three Conversations, One Problem I got back to my house, opened the door, and went to the kitchen. A few minutes later, sandwich and soda next to me, I booted up my terminal program. I needed to contact "Manuel Garcia O'Kelly Davis." Manuel was actually a fairly high-placed military intelligence analyst. I thought he was Air Force, but there was no way to be sure. I sent him a secured e-mail, asking for a conference. He agreed, and we [ Continue reading... ]
Polychrome: Chapter 7 and First Vision
August 1, 2014 By Leave a Comment
It's time for a point of view we haven't seen for quite a while... since the beginning, in fact... and then one we will see short pieces of a few more times... Chapter 7. He looked up from the stone he was polishing as the Tempest swirled into the room. "You bring news?" The bound storm-spirit bowed low before Ugu, and in a thin shrieking voice reported its observations. As he listened, Ugu felt his face tightening, already thin lips thinning. And so it has begun. Once the Tempest had concluded, [ Continue reading... ]
Paradigms Lost: Chapter 21
July 30, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Jason has some personal issues to deal with... ----- Chapter 21: Admissions and Evidence The door opened. "Jason!" Sylvie said, looking surprised. "Hi, Syl. Can I come in?" "Sure. Watch out for the books on the floor, I'm rearranging the library." I stepped in. I noticed again the odd, warm smell of her house; the dusty, comfortable scent of old books blended with a faint tinge of kitchen spices and old-fashioned perfume, a smell that didn't fit someone as young and gorgeous [ Continue reading... ]
Paradigms Lost: Chapter 20
July 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment
So, Renee had given him a creepy crime to think about... ----- Chapter 20: An Unusual Consultant Red liquid swirled warmly in the crystal glass, throwing off crimson highlights. Verne Domingo sipped. I swallowed some of my ginger ale, noticing how little I was affected these days by the knowledge that Verne was drinking blood. "Why doesn't it clot?" I asked idly. "Heparin, my friend. A standard anticoagulant." "Doesn't that give you any problems?" His warm chuckle rolled out. "Not in the [ Continue reading... ]
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