Otters In Space 3 – Chapter 19: Jenny

by Mary E. Lowd

An excerpt from Otters In Space 3: Octopus Ascending.  If you’d prefer, you can start with Chapter 1, return to the previous chapter, or skip ahead.

“The raptor fledglings hadn’t even grown up on a world where they could see the stars. Their sky was a blanket of amber, muffling out the sun, let alone the pinpoint of light that was the small blue-green world their species had come from millions of years ago.”

While Kipper and Petra waited in their prisons — two tabby cats desperate to save Earth yet incarcerated by their own allies — Jenny parleyed with the enemy.

That was generous.

The otter wasn’t parleying with the enemy, she was playing games with the enemies’ children

Jenny and the two raptor chicks were in a room at the top of the giant mechanical redwood, and the walls were as clear as glass.  Jenny had seen the tree from the outside and knew it looked opaque, but from the inside it looked like she was standing on an open platform.  She could see out over the jagged green tops of all the real trees.  In the distance, more of these mechanical trees stuck out of the forest like towers — much taller and larger around than the real trees.  And behind it all, loomed the ruddy agate Jovian sky. Continue reading “Otters In Space 3 – Chapter 19: Jenny”

Otters In Space 3 – Chapter 18: Kipper

by Mary E. Lowd

An excerpt from Otters In Space 3: Octopus Ascending.  If you’d prefer, you can start with Chapter 1, return to the previous chapter, or skip ahead.

“The octopuses hadn’t come back through the sealed hatch in the underwater floor, but occasionally they sent in a dolphin with a puzzle for them.”

Except, Kipper wasn’t talking to octopuses.  Kipper, Trugger, and Captain Cod had been shut in a small room with several feet of air at the ceiling and a ledge around the edges.  Sitting on the ledge felt like sitting at the edge of a public swimming pool, reminding her of cattery days when over-enthusiastic dogs had required all the reluctant kittens to take swimming lessons.  Except this was more claustrophobic due to the low ceiling and near walls. Continue reading “Otters In Space 3 – Chapter 18: Kipper”

Otters In Space 3 – Chapter 17: Petra

by Mary E. Lowd

An excerpt from Otters In Space 3: Octopus Ascending.  If you’d prefer, you can start with Chapter 1, return to the previous chapter, or skip ahead.

“Somehow, whenever a dog went missing, the police always found a way to discover what had happened. That wasn’t the case with cats.”

Petra could have walked home — if it weren’t for the locked doors, and the iron bars, and dogs with guns.  She might as well have been on Jupiter for all the certainty she felt that she’d be going home again.  She knew about cats getting arrested and disappearing.  That’s something cats did.  Disappear.  Somehow, whenever a dog went missing, the police always found a way to discover what had happened.  That wasn’t the case with cats.  Sometimes, you just didn’t get to know.  Sometimes, the case was closed, and the cat never showed up.

Petra told herself that wouldn’t happen to her.  She was the president’s sister.  She was high profile.  There’d be questions if she disappeared.  Questions and riots and violence. Continue reading “Otters In Space 3 – Chapter 17: Petra”

Beyond Wespirtech: 2nd Edition

Last month, we released the 2nd edition of Mary E. Lowd’s iconic short story collection, Welcome to Wespirtech, and now, we’re proud to announce the release of its companion collection, Beyond Wespirtech!

Like the previous collection, Beyond Wespirtech’s 2nd edition includes a new introduction, new stories, and a shiny new cover.  In fact, two of the new stories — “Summers on Sylverra” and “The Girl Who Could Hear the Stars Sing” — are exclusive to Beyond Wespirtech and have never been published before! Continue reading “Beyond Wespirtech: 2nd Edition”

Otters In Space 3 – Chapter 16: Jenny

by Mary E. Lowd

An excerpt from Otters In Space 3: Octopus Ascending.  If you’d prefer, you can start with Chapter 1, return to the previous chapter, or skip ahead.

…the computer in Jenny’s helmet translated the sound, speaking in a melodic but artificial otter voice: “Yes.” A moment later, the computer added, “There is an eighty percent chance of inaccuracy. Other possible translations include: no.”

The cockpit of Brighton’s Destiny popped open with a hiss like a tin can of sparkling clam juice.  Jenny overbalanced and tumbled out of the hatch, tangling herself in feathered limbs on her way down to plop on the damp silver sand.

The wet sand smeared across the faceplate of Jenny’s helmet, obscuring her view of the raptor fledglings as they righted her and began manhandling her spacesuit-clad limbs, moving her around like a poseable doll.  Their screeches and chirrups terrified Jenny at first — they sounded like they were screaming at her.  But as they jostled her around, examining their new toy from every angle, Jenny pulled herself together enough to remember that the computer in her helmet had some basic sound processing and AI algorithms.  Captain Cod had installed them in all the spacesuits, thinking they might be useful for spy activities.  They hadn’t been.  But it might be able to analyze the raptor speech and develop a translation — at least, if it listened to them long enough. Continue reading “Otters In Space 3 – Chapter 16: Jenny”

The Leaper and the Doctor

The two best long-running time travel shows are Doctor Who and Quantum Leap.

Quantum Leap is about a character who is profoundly empathetic; he cares truly and deeply about every person who crosses his path and devotes himself to helping their lives be better, helping them achieve their best. He has to. Or he doesn’t leap. Structurally, he must be endlessly empathetic, caring, and immediately, constantly available. He never gets to say when something happens or who he engages with. His situations are chosen for him by circumstance, and he must accept and deal with circumstance as it comes to him. Continue reading “The Leaper and the Doctor”

Otters In Space 3 – Chapter 15: Jenny

by Mary E. Lowd

An excerpt from Otters In Space 3: Octopus Ascending.  If you’d prefer, you can start with Chapter 1, return to the previous chapter, or skip ahead.

“For a moment, Jenny thought she was looking at Earth — her home world, flashing before her eyes as she died. But no, this world was really here inside the heart of Jupiter. A planet within a planet.”

Jenny had no hope.  Only a fluttery, heart-pounding feeling in her chest that alternated between manic exhilaration and bleakest panic.  She didn’t want to die panicking.  So she clung hard to the feeling of excitement:  she was seeing things no otter had ever seen before!

…granted… mostly those things just looked like flat orange mist blocking the window, darkening to a dull brown as her ship fell farther and farther into the crushing atmosphere… Continue reading “Otters In Space 3 – Chapter 15: Jenny”

Otters In Space 3 – Chapter 14: Kipper

by Mary E. Lowd

An excerpt from Otters In Space 3: Octopus Ascending.  If you’d prefer, you can start with Chapter 1, return to the previous chapter, or skip ahead.

“The octopi might be strong, but their flesh was soft. She could have filled that round room with a cloud of blood before they would have — inevitably — pulled off her breathing mask. In truth, a physical fight could never go well for a cat this far under the ocean.”

Kipper’s terror threatened to swallow her whole, but that was all it could do — threaten.  She steadied her breathing, painfully aware of the limited oxygen in the tank on her back — several hour’s worth, but not enough for a lengthy incarceration in an octopus prison.

As she watched the octopi around her through her face mask, Kipper realized that they were scared too.  Their tentacles were pale; their golden eyes wide.  They were as much afraid of the coming raptor attack as she was.  Actually…  Much more. Continue reading “Otters In Space 3 – Chapter 14: Kipper”

Otters In Space 3 – Chapter 13: Jenny

by Mary E. Lowd

An excerpt from Otters In Space 3: Octopus Ascending.  If you’d prefer, you can start with Chapter 1, return to the previous chapter, or skip ahead.

“As they grew closer, the roiling orange took on depth and texture. An entire alien landscape was rising to meet them in shades and swirls of cinnamon, peach, tangerine, and apricot.”

The red dots on the viewscreen began to converge.  Each dot represented a raptor vessel headed straight for them and ready to end their lives.  Or worse.  Suddenly, the metal hull of Brighton’s Destiny felt paper thin to Jenny.

Ordol’s tentacles, sheathed in their clingy, transparent spacesuit, wrapped tightly around Jenny’s shoulders, trembling violently.

“I can’t pilot this ship without you!” Jenny signed, between tugging at the tentacles that were now crushing her shoulders in a way that she was sure would strangle her if her neck weren’t protected by a rigid space helmet.  “And I definitely can’t pilot this ship if you crush me with your freakishly strong arms!  LET GO!” Continue reading “Otters In Space 3 – Chapter 13: Jenny”