Let's see what happens with Xavier now that strange things have started... ------ Chapter 2: Rescue and Remembrance Xavier blinked himself slowly awake. A room he didn't recognize. Carefully fitted stonework, painted in a pattern of sunset colors that made the room feel warmer, comforting. A soft bed under him, one that smelled new-washed. His head was slightly elevated, and looking ahead he could see the wall, also of stone with a polished wooden door – currently closed – in the center. Just tightening his gut in preparation [ Continue reading... ]
The Spirit Warriors: Choosing the Players, Chapter 1
November 3, 2023 By Leave a Comment
Earth: August 1999 Chapter 1: Encounter in an Alley This was a stupid, stupid idea. Xavier glanced back. Of course, they're behind me too. The oldest member of the gang was maybe two or three years older than Xavier; the youngest, maybe fourteen, a year younger. But there were at least fifteen or twenty of them, and only one of him. "So is this where I say I don't want any trouble, and one of you says 'too bad'?" he said. There was a dumpster to one side. If I can at least get over there, the wall and the dumpster cover [ 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... ]
Paradigms Lost: Chapter 18
July 21, 2014 By Leave a Comment
We start a new section of the book with another brand-new chapter! Part III: Photo Finish August, 1999 Chapter 18: Action and Reaction "But I thought we would be seeing The Thirteenth Floor tomorrow night," Syl said. I winced. Truth be told, I'd forgotten all about our movie plans in the past few weeks, and Verne had made an appointment – after hours, naturally – to discuss several interesting opportunities he was looking into. Given the situation with Verne, I hadn't yet let Syl [ Continue reading... ]
Paradigms Lost: Chapter 17
July 16, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Jason had another client we'd met... Chapter 17: Laughing Assassin I really don't like this one. I'd done plenty of work for the police, and other people. I may not have been very old, but I'd already done everything from enhance photos and research prior art on patents to, well, finding out that vampires were real. Sometimes you get feelings about things, and right now, I had a very strong, very bad feeling about the job I was doing for Xavier Ross. Not that I felt there was anything wrong [ Continue reading... ]
Paradigms Lost: Chapter 12
June 30, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Another completely new chapter! Chapter 12: Mystery of a Brother "Sure, Syl – I'd love to go out tomorrow. You want a movie or something else?" "How about Sabers of Twilight? I've heard that one's a lot of fun and just up your alley, Jason." I grinned into the phone. "Because of the pretty girls in interesting costumes? Sounds fine. Odd how you don't mention the pretty boys in tight leather outfits." "I didn't say it wasn't up my alley too," she said with a laugh. "All right, after we [ Continue reading... ]
Paradigms Lost: Chapter 8
June 16, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Jason had concluded one adventure. Now we move on -- and hit the first completely new chapter in the book! Part II: Lawyers, Ghouls, and Mummies May, 1999 Chapter 8: New Client, Closed Case For some reason, Syl's words echoed back to me at odd hours in the next few weeks. I did find myself glancing at shadows out of the corner of my eye more often, looking at mist-fogged streets with a different perception, but for quite a while nothing of any note happened. The only real reminder of the strangeness in my [ Continue reading... ]
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