“They’re asleep, mom.” Brittney comes walking into the main meeting room of their safe house.

“That’s good. Those boys have been put through enough already.” Kat saw the abused look in their eyes. The same look she saw in her girls when she took them in.

“Did you call Aunt Kristen. Mom?” Terry wonders if her aunt will be able to identify the boys.

“I’ve already sent your aunt pictures of the boys and I have already called Morgana. Morgana is running their faces through every missing kids’ files and every social program out there.”

The man’s eyes grew wide. He seemed elated, but cautious. “How can I know you’re telling the truth?”

“I don’t know, but let me introduce myself. I’m John Carlson, and this is my wife, Rose. We’re from Neo22.”

The old man seemed to consider things, then he turned and motioned. About thirty other people appeared, all around the same apparent age.

Chapter 1.2

Back on Neo22, we were in the briefing room, just down the inner ring from the command center. Seated at the table were our normal command crew as well as Doctors Jack and Sylvia, Bob Grissom, and Georg Brown, the old man we had met in the ship.

Family Jewels
By Ellie Dauber (c) 2007

Here's a gargoyle inspired by the recent release of files from the Central Intelligence Agency. I hope you enjoy it.

* * * * *

A cryogenic experiment; a brave volunteer starts to dream about being the opposite sex. Is it malfunctioning equipment, intentional or something entirely different all together. Why is he dreaming about being a girl? Is it really happening? Now awake other problems become aware.

Levirate Bride
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

“I am not telling you to do anything,” said Parviz. “I am just telling you what our traditions are. These traditions are designed to keep the family together.”

“I want that too, but I am not going to submit myself to mutilation.” I was upset, not just because the love of my life was barely a day buried, but because I faced trying to care for our son and daughter without him. And now this.

Suddenly, I no longer felt in love with Wallace. I collapsed on the floor, and I felt my love for John come back. I heard Wallace’ voice echo in my head. “Do not defy me again, or I will pull you back into my service forever.”

I hugged John as tight as I could when he reached for me. Then I cried.

Keira fights the dragon, mostly

She had my build, honey blonde hair, and my face, but John's eyes. Those beautiful brown eyes of his! If anyone were to compare their eyes, there would be no doubt they were related.

The swing slowly moved back and forth, and she softly cried. I wasn't sure if it was embarrassment or shame making her cry, but rather than hurt her trying to figure it out, I just held her.

She jumped out of the bath, hastily threw on a robe, and rushed to the room where the portal-cabinet was stored, carrying a towel. She was overjoyed to see the portal still open as she entered the room.

Gorilla Suit
A Sunday Morning Dream
By Maryanne Peters

I had a nightmare last night that I was a man again. I had hairy legs and a bristly face, and I had a penis between my legs. I woke in a cold sweat.

The first thing I did was reach for my crotch. To my relief it was in perfect order – smooth right to in the in-between. I could not resist giving myself a little tickle.

A cryogenic experiment, A brave volunteer starts to dream about being the opposite sex. Is it malfunctioning equipment, intentional or something entirely different all together.

I leaned in and although it was uncomfortable, I put my head on his shoulder. I heard a door shut, and realized it was just the two of us in the room now. "Come here, " John told me. I wasn't sure what he wanted but I stood and stepped to the front of his chair. He turned me so I was standing the opposite way and pulled me down to his lap. He wrapped his arms around me, and I snuggled in.

I loved him so much!

Devi woke to find Tashni shaking him gently. “I’ve got your breakfast ready, miss,” she said. She couldn’t seem to understand that Devi was a boy... and today, anyway, Devi needed to be a girl for Zindla’s ceremony.

Phoebe moped around home for the rest of the week. She was unsure about calling Samantha because she didn’t know what to say to her over the phone and she didn’t want to stop her doing her job. In the end, late on Friday afternoon, she called Samantha.

“Hi Samantha, this is Phoebe.”

“Ha-ha, yes, I have been thinking about you. A lot actually.”

“I hope I’m not interrupting your work?”

“Oh good,” said Phoebe breathing a sigh of relief that she hoped didn’t make it down the phone.

“Would you be open to coming to Dinner tomorrow night?”

Phoebe burst out laughing.

We had a memorial service for Fred as well. I did my best to play piano for it, but I was so broken up I had trouble. I was asked to sing as well, but my voice broke so many times, I think I butchered the song. John told me it was okay to display that type of emotion. I knew it was, but it still bothered me.

It took a long time for us to get life back to normal. Paula and I both had our babies. Paula named her little boy Fred. I had a girl, and she was named Frieda, in honor of the man who saved her fathers life.

At 18, she had been trained to be a personal guard of the Queen, able to stand up to and win over dozens of warriors. Chosen for her beauty, strength, dexterity and character. However, when monsters unknown before started attacking the border towns and villages, every able fighter was sent to protect them, even the trainees.

The first was that we were done in our solar system, and would be leaving now to head toward Alpha.

Her second was that Heaven’s Rose would now be open for business. I blushed a deep red when the cheers went up for that.

A cryogenic experiment, A brave volunteer starts to dream about being the opposite sex. Is it malfunctioning equipment or intentional or something entirely different all together.

All the girls are naturally desperately concerned at Bab's having been shot, then an issue comes up with Bab's having a rare blood group and further surgery has to be postponed until the Blood-bank can rustle up sufficient supplies to Bab's second round of elective surgery.

"Apparently it was another of Willem's tricks," my husband told me.

"We had left Earth before the first of Perls messages even got there. As a matter of fact, we began receiving the whole conversation being sent back from the station, I'm guessing as a mockery from Willem."

I couldn't understand. "Why did he do that? He gave us hope that Earth was there, helping us."

John shook his head. "He gave us information through his AI that he controlled. He could make us believe what he wanted. And it was more play. I can imagine how he would have enjoyed watching this conversation himself. He would have been thrilled."