My Guardian Angel
As my tree came back into view, I noticed that the circle I traced around the tree had been smeared by the increasing bitter winds. But where I had slept the…
Shattered Angels
Glennen shuffled solemnly away from the throne room. The sun which had been so bright at mid-morning had now folded itself away behind clouds. It draped…
Of Dust and Gears
Glennen knelt wearily over his demolished creation. There was nothing recognizable remaining of the perfect, beautiful angel he had crafted. Even its gossamer…
The Princess
Glennen’s footsteps echoed, clattering rhythmically about the cavernous throne room. He walked towards the throne, holding the delicate angel cupped within…
A Clockwork Angel
Glennen gave the screwdriver one final twist and felt a wave of satisfaction and relief wash over him. Seventeen long, arduous years of effort and toil. And…
Debating In The Mist
They stood in silence for a while after that. Carrie rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet, wishing the fog would clear while the angel stood beside…
Angel In The Mist
The fog was so thick Carrie had no choice. She pulled over to the side of the road and, after much debate, decided that the highway agency advised getting out…
Who Will He Choose?
“We will let him pick who he loves most. But whoever he doesn’t pick, must not continue to go after him. OK?” Sae said. “OK,” Inu replied. But how could he…
Broken Toys
She fell to earth; a flutter of wings and a loud crash. No broken bones. She wasn’t like the weak ones her brothers bowed their knees to. She was also no…
The Neurophages XVIII
The last instruction ran through the punch tape inside the battle-engine’s chest. It clanked back into its cast-iron vault and docked to a programming niche to…
The Neurophages XVII
When Miles and Lou awoke Alba was not with them, Babbage and Ada however were. They stood hand in hand in front of an enormous difference engine. The machine…
Time Gone By and Lies Still Told
Carl left the meeting with a mix of self-satisfaction and well-earned humility. The years hadn’t been kind but not so brutal as the time on the bottle. Light…
The Neurophages XVI
Lou and Miles looked on helplessly as angel and enormous battle-engine squared off. The huge machine was clutching a pitch-black sword in one of its vast…
The Neurophages XV
Alba’s monkey-wrench sword blazed, Marie-Louise’s tool belt clinked as she searched for a suitable weapon and Mile’s knuckles cracked. They were prepared for…
The Neurophages XIV
Alba told them her story: “After being rocked by the pain that my people felt, I was trance-linked to the quorum, which is the manifestation of my entire…
The Neurophages XIII
When Miles eventually tore loose from Lou’s embrace he stammered “You? I never suspected ...” “You can be such a dimwit sometimes, didn’t you notice my…
The Neurophages XII
Ada was thoughtful as the automata pushed the Lincoln and the escape pod towards the Babbage. At an intellectual level, she understood that she should feel…
The Neurophages XI
“By the beard of Archimedes, where did that come from?” exclaimed Lou. “Oh, it was just this monkey-wrench that was destined for bigger things.” explained Alba…
Hold Your Breath
We stood there until forever had come and gone. Time was inconsequential. It slipped by on a breeze, never to be seen or heard of again. Our eyes locked and…
The Neurophages X
Miles helped a staggering Alba into the ball-bearing shaped escape pod. They pushed past its inward-opening door, and sat down on one of the plush velour…