The ash fell from the sky like snow—melting into the soot-stained ground and softening up the red residue dried to the earthen patches. Smoke pillars grew like trees up to the sky, their branches blooming black across the horizon and mimicking clouds. Bodies littered the ground beneath these pillars like crumpled, fallen leaves. A manContinue reading “22.1: The Prince & The Llamamiento!”
Tag Archives: jericho
21b: Hidden Faults
“Congratulations, Hauptmann Waltz,” Acting Kaiser General Watzmann said. “You’ve done well. Capricorn thanks you for your service.” Newly promoted Hauptmann Werner Waltz stood at attention as the general fixed a medal in the shape of a thirteen-pointed star over his chest. Werner stood now in the late Kaiser’s office with Kleine, Bergmann, Brandt, Stein, andContinue reading “21b: Hidden Faults”
21a: Indigo Waltz
Die Hauptstadt, Capricorn It still wasn’t clear to Werner what made him do it. Was it his reminiscing of his subordinates standing at attention before him in that dirty clinic in the Twin Cities as he asked them for their trust? That went both ways. Was it Ludwig’s words—“Trust your instincts”? Was it Generalmajor’s vonContinue reading “21a: Indigo Waltz”
20.3: Pirate, Swindler, & Peacekeeper » Mercy, Greed, & Justice
Die Hauptstadt, Capricorn When Cadence felt Leona’s icy hand wrapping around her own, she knew Francis was going to be pissed. Maria had been leading them to the building where she’d claimed to have spotted Werner’s family when the exchange had occurred. Cadence had immediately skidded to a halt—not from the shock of it but—becauseContinue reading “20.3: Pirate, Swindler, & Peacekeeper » Mercy, Greed, & Justice”
20.2: Prince & Advisor » Death & Diplomacy
Eisburg, Capricorn Olivier Chance had awoken to fussy royal guards and medical Conductors prodding him this way and that with stethoscopes, wooden sticks, and thermometers. In between the ‘how many fingers am I holding up’ and ‘are you sure you feel fine,’ they explained to him that he had fallen into a sudden coma whileContinue reading “20.2: Prince & Advisor » Death & Diplomacy”
20.1: Swindler & Peacekeeper » Rhyme & Reason
( ) Ariesian-Geminian Swindler Cadence Morello gagged on the metal pipe lodged in her throat. She tried to lift her hands to remove whatever it was, but her arms felt like noodles—so did her legs. Hell, even her head was pounding and her throat felt like the desert. Not that she’d ever been in aContinue reading “20.1: Swindler & Peacekeeper » Rhyme & Reason”
19.4: ELPIS, 2315 Reason
Die Hauptstadt, Capricorn “Here.” Rubbing his wrists, Jericho looked away from the sign hanging on the back wall that read Schutz #45. Alice stood in front of him, holding a towel. He took it from her and wiped his face before pocketing the two bars of chocolate and proto-conductor rings he had taken out fromContinue reading “19.4: ELPIS, 2315 Reason”
19.3: Peacekeeper, 1500 Annihilation
“Focus on a physical object you know is real.” That was what Alice had told Jericho to do if he ever became confused about the present versus the past. But that was what Jericho had been doing, and still he was uncertain. He vaguely remembered awakening on top of a wave of glowing purple waterContinue reading “19.3: Peacekeeper, 1500 Annihilation”
19.2: Doctor, 1130 Distance
Alice had bought Jericho the blackbird as a form of therapy during the second year of him being in her care. To nurture another living being taught responsibility and the sanctity of life. Her coworkers, who occasionally shared Jericho as a patient, had thought it a brilliant idea. Deep down, however, Alice had known thatContinue reading “19.2: Doctor, 1130 Distance”
19.1: Second Lieutenant, 0730 Riot
Threshold Werner Waltz found himself standing in his childhood bedroom, its floorboards and walls reflecting the blue moonlight seeping through the window. The frost eating at the windows bled the cold into the room and nipped at his fingertips and toes. Across from him stood Viktoria, her cheeks fuller, her legs shorter. In between themContinue reading “19.1: Second Lieutenant, 0730 Riot”
Six Chances 