
Check out the other participating authors as well! =)
~~~~~~
June stood in the middle of Information Central with her
arms crossed, drumming her fingers. Showing impatience might be unbecoming of a
commanding officer, but this operation moved like a snail.
How humiliating to be
so delayed before we even begin.
Glancing around the oval hall soothed her. The walls were
so red they appeared organic, and biopods lined the room. There were alcoves
with chairs made from the same fleshy material as the walls, part of the living
soul of the ship. Each alcove held a woman, connected to the whole through a
tentacle slithering down from the ceiling, embracing their shaved heads.
Many junior officers fled the first time they entered and
saw nothing of the crew except parts of their faces.
The first time June stepped in, she knew she was home.
If she closed her eyes she could almost hear the ship's
heartbeat. One alcove opened up, and the woman inhabiting it struggled to her
feet. At first, her eyes couldn't focus, but then she fixed them on June.
I wonder what it's
like to be connected, to be a part of the ship and really know the world.
Only those with special talents could connect. June wanted
nothing more as a child, but she wasn't suitable for the hive mind. Her talents
lay elsewhere.
"Commander, I think we have what we need. These people
have a useful source of information. It's called Wikipedia."
"Common names? Languages?"
"Yes, Ma'am. They have a number of languages and
cultures. It's all transferring to the brain-tips now."
"No sign of discovery?"
"No, Ma'am."
The large ship lurked at the very edge of the solar system,
outside the magnetic fields that presented a last layer between planets and
interstellar space. Risks of discovery were infinitesimal, but they had to plan
even for the impossible.
"Good. Assemble the troops for upgrade, and ask the
pilot to take us in. Prepare global EMP."
The woman nodded and sank back into her alcove. All mouths around the room spoke as one, "Entering solar system. All personnel prepare for memory upgrade."
The woman nodded and sank back into her alcove. All mouths around the room spoke as one, "Entering solar system. All personnel prepare for memory upgrade."
~~~~~~
Seven billion people on Earth go about their daily lives, and no one is prepared when a global EMP slows the world to a crawl. With all our technology incapacitated, everything changes. Within days alien soldiers line the streets, and life will never be the same. In the midst of chaos, Rachael Hill struggles to adapt to the new order, doing her best to keep herself and her cat alive.
On a ship far above the planet surface, Peter just got his new Earth name, and can't even remember his identity from the last world he visited. It's another day on the job, one more planet on a never ending list. That is, until Rachael bumps into him, dropping exotic objects all around his feet. His culture taught him females should be obeyed and protected, but he never had an urge to leave himself at a woman's mercy until now.
Lots of tension here, Maria! Wonderful pacing and foreboding.
ReplyDeleteThank you! And thank you for coming over! =D
DeleteI love the details about the ship and especially the fact someone would aspire to be part of the hive mind and disappointed when they failed to have the right stuff. Fascinating excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I wanted to show how alien their civilization really is, even if we might look the same, and being part of a hive mind freaks me out. (The entire ship freaks me out, even though it's imaginary, LOL!)
DeleteWow, I found the scene eerie, especially "all mouths around the room spoke as one." It leaves me wondering why June wants to be part of a hive mind (orphan?) and whether she will discover what it's "really" like and in the end, will wonder why she ever wanted it.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I was going for eerie, so I'm happy to hear you say that! =D
DeleteWikipedia! They need a new tagline, "It's not just a resource for human beings." :) Loved all the pictures you painted here. I could see the ship clearly in my head.
ReplyDeleteWikipedia - the best tool for alien invaders. LOL!!! =D Thank you for coming over! =D
Delete