Space Juice: Chapter 39 – Friend of Man from the Stars

Dan Wild

Preceding Chapter.. They braced themselves, trying to remember the instructions given to SpaceBus passengers in an emergency. The warning system told them to do it anyway, though it was probably useless: “Brace position! Photon Annihilation event imminent.” Gaston Dimble huddled in a corner, hands clasped behind head, head upon knees. If he held himself any …

Space Juice: Chapter 38 – Visualising your ideal state

Dan Wild

Previous Chapter.. His loneliness lasted a second, snapped by the vibrating flablet. It was Thuris Thranganis, without his glasses. He stared at Chuck Marley from his terminal, his eyes larger without his lenses. “Mr Marley, you’re alive! I thought by now–” Static. Something was distorting the connection. “I’ve bought us some time. Not much time.” …

Space Juice: Chapter 37 – Sleep mode

Dan Wild

Previous Chapter.. Four minutes left. There were more controls here than in a Jovian Sports Coupe, where half of them were for display only. None of the buttons had labels. …Except for one. In the bottom left corner a small unassuming knob had the words ‘On’ and ‘Off’, displayed above and below it. Without thinking …

Space Juice: Chapter 36 – Death dance

Dan Wild

Previous Chapter.. “Watch and know.” The source of this voice was not Rothball Hazard, Acting Chief Scientist, Head of Roboto-Genetic-Engineering, madman and pantomime villain… It came from within, and Marley immediately guessed its meaning. His intuition activated at just the right moment, knowing what he should watch, what he should know. Actually, it was what …

Space Juice: Chapter 35 – Countdown to destiny

Dan Wild

Previous Chapter.. Chuck Marley descended further into the dungeon laboratories. In his mind’s eye, Professor Gaston Dimble and scientist Thuris Thranganis followed him as guardians. Perhaps, after all, they were friends. An image of Gaston bobbled before him, begging him to reclaim the Antlers so he would have a chance to look at the Sablic …

Space Juice: Chapter 34 – Rhonda and her rosemary perfume cloud

Dan Wild

Previous Chapter.. Chuck Marley plunged down the stairs next to the lift. The thudding door reverberated behind him. He could now barely hear the alarm. On level 20 he ran headlong into a sudden opening door. If he had had time to reflect, he supposed a door being opened shouldn’t have been the last thing …

Space Juice: Chapter 33 – Move over Cretan Special Forces

Dan Wild

Previous Chapter.. Chuck Marley approached the door panel. He pushed the button below the palm scanner. “Authorisation required.”“This is an emergency!“Authorisation required.” Rothball Hazard must have overridden the emergency sequence for this room. He held his palm to the scanner. Nothing happened. He needed to get out of here. Being stuck inside an executive suite …

Space Juice: Chapter 32 – Hazardous bouncing head

Dan Wild

Previous Chapter.. Sensing the forcefield down, Nexus stumbled forward into the Zorgon throng. He was not going to lie down like a good dog. He opened his jaws and howled. The high frequency of the howl dropped Gaston Dimble to his knees, hands over ears. Without the Professor’s leadership the Zorgons ceased to drum and …

Space Juice: Chapter 31 – Commando Marley

Dan Wild

Previous Chapter.. Marley got down on one knee, ready to unleash more slugs from the arm-gun. The mad scientist pointed at him in grim satisfaction. “Ah! It’s all over for you, Mr Protector.” Rothball Hazard jumped impatiently. “Get him, Nono.” Marley tried to remain focused on the hulking Frint Nono, inching forward like a pumpkin …

Space Juice: Chapter 30 – The Conductor

Dan Wild

Previous Chapter.. As with all peaceful protests, the act of protesting eventually becomes tiring, with the endless chanting of “What do we want? Stop the whatever it is! When do we want it? Now!” Arms tire of holding placards. Either violence ensues or tents are raised, sleeping bags procured and nearby fountains used as toilets. …