Seventeen
(I was 18, actually.) It’s the High School Variety Show. I’m an emcee - I got in without audition, as I was the only guy to try out. They gave me a bit of…
TextMason
76 stories written on Ficly, 2009–2014, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0. Their page on ficly.com
Your New Best Friend
In 2044, a breakthrough in AI by the Colorado Organic Research Academy changed the world forever. Overnight, the fabrication units in every home (that long ago…
The Patient's Dilemma
He was completely prepared. He knew the nature of the brain injury that required surgery. He knew the risks. He’d reviewed the CAT scan, the MRI. He’d…
Working Nine To Ph'tagn
The followers stood in the chamber. Benches faced a dais, and shadows from torches might have flitted over faces - but two years ago, the chamber was redone…
Besieged
“Okay, how about work?” “The IRS continues to digest things Congress wrote in ‘06. So all our clients needs 2 batches of major work.” “How many?” “Around 600.”…
Just A Memory
It was an ordinary day until Elvis robbed me. I was at his gig at the House of Blues - light crowd. He finished his set, and applause was rendered. I’d cleaned…
Laughing Boy
Laughing Boy, Guild craftsman and scion of royalty, strode into the castle yard. The sun sparkled over the bay, sending sparks of glare back to the sky…
Live On Stage
I’m disintegrating on stage - it’s like a burlesque of my soul, right from the opener. “Hey - found a wallet with $300. If it’s yours, ask the manager. But he…
Something of Worth
The mages stood at a table, examining an object. That’s all two of them could say - it shimmered in vague translucent outlines. It might be a cube - but…
Deela Deals Her Own Way
“Consisting of 13 justices drawn from the ranks of the Big 10 megacorps, the Corporate Court represents the only authority that has any chance of riding herd…
A Pill For Every Ill
Jane hefted the bottle - 90-day supply, 90 doses. She rolled the bottle on its back - letting the pain pills clatter like soft rain. *NO MORE THAN FOUR IN…
The Brooklyn Circle-Like Table
“Ya gonna finish dat?” Paolo looked at Bryce, and the whopper he was eating. Bryce stared back, his lips barely holding the wilted romaine and tomato. “Yeah, I…
Canadian Counterstrike
As blasts thundered so loud to be of *gods* warring, rather than men, Sergeant Myk Torrel resealed the brass bonnet over the right rudder valve. He kicked up…
Thin Crust, Hold the Nukes
I’m in my Crown Vic. Across the street, they’re in a greasy spoon I’d staked out for hours. He is a student from the East, arts - clean record, but the dirt…
Wee Difficulties
“We - need - the - bathroom.” “Oui oui.” The clerk pointed to the back - the restrooms were on a side hall. “No - I just got some grease on my hands.” She…
Dark Room 5: Author's Notes
This is more than just Digital Dreams - it’s two songs. The other is Little 15 by Depeche Mode. The Song: http://bit.ly/Zw3P0 The Lyrics: http://bit.ly/iKKw7…
Dark Room 4: Thief In The Mind
At last, she opened it. The glowing bloodflow lay below her. It whispered a sibilant melody to the loud backbeat of her heart. She didn’t know why, but she…
Dark Room 3: Little Fifteen
*ALONE*. She couldn’t get away. She could only form a frail world for herself. It was a simple room with bare walls, and a rough blanket on the floor. There…
War of the Winds
Do you remember chasing the clouds away? We thought we’d be happy If we saw a sunny day. Clouds don’t have feelings Clouds can’t be alone. We stood on that…
The Pull of the Ponies
This is a true story. We were all in one car, driving to a faraway restaurant. We were behind another car, which was going the speed limit. At once, however…