For 35yrs the border between the Human Empire and Gorgonzola Empire as remained mostly peaceful. The citizens for the Human Empire of this border region are loyal to the last man, woman, and child to the Empire. It was on one of these worlds that gave birth to a legend. The world of Apollo 6 is one of the harshest worlds within the Empire. One so harsh that only it could claim to be the birth world of James J. Owens, the most feared of Death Dealers. A world that is even now poised to give birth to a new legendary warrior. One who shall be baptized in the blood of the Empire’s enemies. Robert Wolff youngest great grandchild of James Owens’ sister Cecilia Owens.

Jools

By Kelly Blake

For 35yrs the border between the Human Empire and Gorgonzola Empire as remained mostly peaceful. The citizens for the Human Empire of this border region are loyal to the last man, woman, and child to the Empire. It was on one of these worlds that gave birth to a legend. The world of Apollo 6 is one of the harshest worlds within the Empire. One so harsh that only it could claim to be the birth world of James J. Owens, the most feared of Death Dealers. A world that is even now poised to give birth to a new legendary warrior. One who shall be baptized in the blood of the Empire’s enemies. Robert Wolff youngest great grandchild of James Owens’ sister Cecilia Owens.

Identity Specialist
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

My name is Courtney. I won’t give my second name. I work in a sensitive area. Plenty would like access to the information that I have. If I were to give it up people would die. Justice may not be done. I do important work. I turn men into women.

CHAPTER 11
That holiday finally came to an end, after a few trips out in the car to see what Mr Edwards called his ‘Specials’, which were a trio of castles ranging from a really picturesque coastal ruin via a huge, square and intact monster of a place to the real destination, a tiny little thing perched on an outcrop on the island with the tidal road, where Alys and I roamed the dunes on the north coast as huge white birds plunged into the sea, wings folded back, and she photographed every flower she couldn’t name. Once again, I was content in her presence, not needing anything more from my life in those moments, but she was keen to talk in between each little burst of nature-naming.

“What are you doing when we get back, Enfys?”

“Helping Dad out till school starts again. It’s what I would be doing if I wasn’t here”

“And school?”

To Return Home

Thanks to Malady for his help editing and for ideas.

Cover image from Unsplash

2.6

As it’s been a little while since I last posted any of this story, I’m going to give a “When we last saw our protagonist…”

From Chapter 2.5

“You’re not acting predictably,” Paula told me.

“I just lost my husband,” I exploded. “Would you care to explain what is predictable about that?”

She sat down, and her demeanor softened. “My bots aren’t able to predict how you’re going to react to things right now.”

Paula turned her attention from me to Carla. “Are you saying you can communicate directly to your bots?”

I was shocked as well. “How can you do that?” I asked. “I asked mine a question a couple of days ago, but I could only talk to them in a dream.”

Carla appeared uncomfortable. “I suppose it’s something that I learned while Amos was in control.”

I shrank away in fear. “Don’t touch me!” I screamed, terrified. “Get away from me!”

“What’s going on!?” Carla was very confused now.

“He’s still here! He killed John, and he’s still in you!” I tried to back away having no control over my actions.

Paula grabbed me as I flailed my arms at my little sister. “Perhaps you should leave and let her calm down,” I heard her say.

I was crying uncontrollably now, the pain of the last few days taking over.

And now on to 2.6...

CHAPTER 10
We spent a boring time indeed on the M6 as far as Carlisle, and Alys and I ended up falling asleep together in the back seat. I woke up with a mouthful of her hair, which was even further from that Mills and Boon idea than ever. Joy.

Yes, actually: joy. Perhaps not the shouting and grinning sort, but a deep warmth that I felt in my bones. Breathing the same air, next to her, that was enough, even if it meant inhaling her hair.

“Mouse, I’m going to give you access to Eruption Communications satellite system. You should be able to monitor all cellphone calls coming and going from the US Marshal’s office.” Anika sits down at the dining room table where Mouse’s laptop was sitting.

Lilly, Zoey, US Marshal Weather, and Ashley didn’t know Mouse brought her laptop with her.

“How do you have access to a telecommunications companies satellite system?” Marshal Weather looks at Anika.

“Because I work there, and my brother owns it.” Anika looks at Marshal Weather when she responds to him.

CHAPTER 9
That was the pattern of my life. Despite Nea’s oblique hints about solitary night-time activities, I had no real grasp of what being a lover might involve. I just knew that Alys was the focus of my life, and I believed, or, in the small hours of the night (sorry, Nea) hoped, that she felt the same for me.

Can Pete get any help with his problem?

We’d got it down to a fine art by then, even though it had to involve the Youth Hostel Association and two of their nicest buildings. Once Keith had finished work on the Friday, the Little Kat was loaded with tank bag and throwovers and once I had managed to settle my bum onto what passed for a pillion on a Suzuki GS550 Katana, I could let the shoulder straps out on the frame rucksack I was wearing, so that it sat on the tailpiece of the bike and I could actually straighten out my neck.

Arya wipes the sweat away from his forehead as he picks up litter around the community pool area. He would love to go swimming. He admires the girls in their swimsuits. He loved how the swimsuits looked on them and wish he could wear one. He has always loved women's clothing, especially some of the more revealing and sexy lingerie women had available to them. He hated being a male.

“I came with Rory,” I said. “He’s going to wonder where I went.”

For 35yrs the border between the Human Empire and Gorgonzola Empire as remained mostly peaceful. The citizens for the Human Empire of this border region are loyal to the last man, woman, and child to the Empire. It was on one of these worlds that gave birth to a legend. The world of Apollo 6 is one of the harshest worlds within the Empire. One so harsh that only it could claim to be the birth world of James J. Owens, the most feared of Death Dealers. A world that is even now poised to give birth to a new legendary warrior. One who shall be baptized in the blood of the Empire’s enemies. Robert Wolff youngest great grandchild of James Owens’ sister Cecilia Owens.

CHAPTER 8
School was ‘back to normal’ on Monday, and more of a crash landing than a bumpy one. The time with Alys had been more than I had dreamt could happen, and the Woodruffs had taken my climbing to similarly exotic heights, but it was now back to the mundane, apart from one important exception: I had my school subjects to select.