Friday Flash: Conversations Between Gods

 

For today's #fridayflash, Christine Rains' Zeus from 1304 - The Harbinger has stopped by to speak with Apenth from my Phoenix trilogy.

 

Conversations Between Gods

By Cherie Reich and Christine Rains

Apenth couldn't open his eyes wide enough to take in all of Olympus. The splendor rivaled the homes of the Amoran gods. Although he wore pants and a loose-fitting tunic, he felt very out of the times with everyone's more modern clothes. But Cherie sent him over to talk to Zeus, and he obliged her this once. After all, as a god and her muse had to be kind to his writer every so often. He entered the waiting room and saw a young goddess at the reception area. "I have an appointment with the Thunder God, miss."

Hebe's gaze raked over the visitor before she shrugged. "Welcome to Olympus. Follow me, please."

She led him through winding halls, each more opulent than the last. Not a direct route to the meeting room, and the young goddess didn't seem interested in making conversation along the way either. When they at least came to a set out double doors, Hebe flipped her long hair over her shoulder and opened the doors to a grand throne room. "Father, your eight o'clock appointment is here."

Zeus slipped his iPad into a pouch on the side of his throne. Smoothing out his suit jacket, he stood and stepped down from the dais. "Ah, Apenth, isn't it? Can't say you were what I was expecting when this appointment was made for me. I was hoping for some more feminine company. Don't you have some priestess you could have brought along?"

"My high priestess is a bit advanced in age, but my writer Cherie wanted to come. I foresaw what might happen, though, and decided to keep her safe from your consort's wrath. After all, mortals don't tend to do well in Olympus." Apenth chuckled and ran his fingers through his golden hair. He knew all about the wrath of consorts. His poor cursed mother reminded him often. "Speaking of mortals, that's why I'm here. I heard you found a true hero in this day and age. Sam Wright's tales have even reached Amorans' ears. However did you find him?"

"May I get you any nectar, ambrosia, or coffee?" Hebe offered in a monotone.

"No, sweetheart. You can go now." Zeus waved his daughter off, and she disappeared out the rear door. He turned his attention back to Apenth. "Mortals are highly amusing, though. Sometimes they surprise us. Too bad your writer didn't come. Mine, Christine, doesn't come to Olympus unescorted. Where is the trust, eh?" He spread his hands and shrugged his shoulders.

"Ah, Sam Wright. Yes. I've no doubt you've heard of him. He's an impressive man. A descendant of Jason of the Argonauts." The Thunder God added, puffing out a bit in the chest. "One of my oracles spouted off something and her assistant sent me a memo. I couldn't pass up the chance to obtain a real hero. You know how these things work, I'm sure."

"Mortals have their strange quirks." Apenth shrugged, figuring it was better not to answer where the mortals' trust in the gods--or certain gods--was. His interest piqued when he heard an oracle had told Zeus about Sam Wright. "Real heroes are very rare, especially descendants of heroes. You're lucky the assistant was listening to the oracle. Sometimes secondhand prophecies are more difficult to decipher."

"I hear you had some problems with a harpy, though. Were you surprised by her request for a favor?"

"The assistant has excellent dictation skills. I'm not worried about any misinterpretations." The Thunder God waved his hand before folding his arms with Apenth's last comment. Zeus was an older god, but he was still broad and muscled. "Perhaps a little surprised." He huffed. "Meira has always been faithful. I had no idea she wanted anything beyond serving me. Well, maybe like all women, she loves her shoes, but those are the little things that make females so endearing, wouldn't you agree?"

Apenth decided not to comment on misinterpretations. Even gods made errors when it came to Fate, or so his mother told him often. He chuckled at the mention of shoes and what made females so endearing. "My prophetess's eyes do light up when I send her new clothes. But she claims anything is better than her work ones."

He shrugged. "So, without giving away the ending, were you pleased with how the events turned out?"

"My night in the hot springs with the triplet nymphs was extremely satisfying." Zeus smirked, tilting his head as he relived some of those memories. He then glanced at his watch. "Oh, but I assume you meant the other situation. Well, I suppose it wasn't a total loss. There were a few details the hero forgot to cement, and they'll work to my advantage later." He motioned to the door. "It was nice to meet you, Apa. Apet. Honored guest. I do have another appointment I really need to get to."

"I'm sure everything will work to your advantage." Apenth chuckled at the night with the triplet nymphs. He remembered those days, even though he was still hung up with his first love, Amora. Hypogaia's realm separated them, though.

He started to correct him, but figured there was no reason to leave on unfriendly terms. Placing a closed fist over his heart, he bowed. "It was a pleasure. Thank you for speaking with me." 

"Yes, a pleasure. I'm sure you can find your way out." Zeus gave no bow in return, just a nod of the head. He turned to the rear door and then paused, stroking his beard. "Wait. There was something I was told to mention. Hm. Triplets. Hot springs. Book. Ah yes, The Harbinger. Marvelous story. You need to get yourself a copy. It features me, of course. People should have it for that reason alone." He grinned and exited the room, whistling and loosening his tie as walked out.

You heard Zeus. You need to get Christine's newest book!

Meira Harper loves both her jobs: talking about beautiful shoes and fetching souls for Zeus. But the Thunder God threatens the harpy's loyalty to her job when she receives the call to bring the soul of gorgeous Sam Wright. Meira pleads with her boss to let him live. Zeus agrees, but Sam must fight for his life. If Sam can win three challenges, he can keep his soul.

The gods never play fairly, though, so Meira needs to find ways to help Sam with the challenges. She cannot outwardly cross her master, but she refuses to let the man she loves lose his soul. They haven't even had a chance to start a life together.

Sam's soul is on the line. Meira's will be too if she's caught, but that's a risk she's willing to take.

  
To Purchase: Amazon / Smashwords / Nook / Kobo

The Marquis is now FREE on Smashwords and Kobo!

Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. She has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood, but make her a great Jeopardy player. When she's not writing or reading, she having adventures with her son or watching cheesy movies on Syfy Channel. She's a member of Untethered Realms and S.C.I.F.I. The 13th Floor series is her first self-published series. She has five novellas and eighteen short stories published.

Website / Blog

Friday Flash: Part III "S.S. Argonaut"

 

Today's #fridayflash was actually a short story I wrote a long time ago. I've decided to break the story into three parts, so here is part three, the final part. Part I was up two Fridays ago (February 15), and Part II was up last Friday (February 22).

 

PART III, S.S. Argonaut 

We saw very few people in Sector D. The ones we did come across were either dead or dying. I wanted to help them, but Bethany drifted in and out of consciousness, and I wouldn’t dillydally when her and our children’s lives were at stake.

Fear gripped me again when we entered Sector E.

Spacesuits lay scattered like torn-up tissues. Several escape pods burned. Laser blasts lit the air. The taste of metal coated my tongue from the scent of blood. People groaned. Died.

“Lieutenant!”

I turned toward the voice of Sergeant Merris. Her gun smoked in her hands. The laser fire had melted the plastic.

“What happened?” Tiny hands clutched my pants as my children clung to me.

“Utter disaster, sir. We had to fire. Five escape pods are damaged. They bolted toward them.”

Another crash shattered the hull. Several people screamed, and I leaned against the wall to keep upright.

If we weren’t quick, the metal wouldn’t hold and space would suck us into its dark void.

“Listen up, everyone.” I shouted above the noise. “Shut up!”

Shrieks turned into whispers. Then everyone quieted.

“Those uninjured help an injured neighbor into the escape pods. Be careful but quick. Do not panic. We will all vacate the S.S. Argonaut safely. Escape pod pilots, take your positions within.”

The entire ship shifted and popped, but the crew listened.

“Sergeant Merris, take my children and wife to pod fourteen. I will pilot that one.” I handed Bethany over to the steely-eyed woman.

“Yes, sir.”

I watched as my family went to pod fourteen.

“Quickly, but don’t push. There is plenty of time.” I walked the perimeter and spoke, keeping my voice calm, soothing. Don’t let them see you panic, Jackson. The S.S. Argonaut wouldn’t make it through the asteroid belt. I knew this as a fact. The captain manned the helm as a suicide mission, but the escape pods could still save our people.

I didn’t know if it would be enough, but I would take possible death over certain death any day.

A more orderly evacuation happened, and I completed my rounds until I was certain the last able-bodied person had boarded an escape vessel.

I jogged over to pod fourteen and entered it. The door closed with a vacuum-locked seal. I glanced over the panel and buckled myself into the seat.

“Everyone, buckle up,” I said over a loud speaker connected with the fifteen pods.

I pressed the ignition button, knowing the other pilots would do the same. My wrist ached, but it wasn’t broken, just bruised with a nasty knot on it. I would fight through the pain. Then I opened the escape hatch.

The large doors slid open to inky space. Far away, I spotted diamond-like stars winking at us. A few meteors drifted behind, but the escape pods were much more versatile than the huge spaceship.

“One by one, pilots. You know the drill.”

Escape Pod One lifted off and disappeared through the hole in the ship. Two, three, four, and five followed. Six and seven were hesitant, but they vanished.

The dead, people’s belongings, and ship parts floated before us. Eight through eleven dodged the debris and left the S.S. Argonaut.

Two more and I edged our pod forward. We struck the dead and I couldn’t help but wince at the dishonor.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered as we entered space.

The escape pod flew light and fast away from the meteors, but I glanced behind us at our hope for a good future.

The S.S. Argonaut poised like a toy before a gigantic asteroid. The fifteenth escape pod left the ship as a fireball erupted.

“Oh, Captain.” I lamented his loss.

I ignited our thrusters, but our tiny vessel felt the heat from the explosion. We tumbled forward in the blast. My muscles trembled trying to keep the pod steady. Everything shook and roared.

Then silence.

Tiny silver ships adrift like dandelion seeds in the wind. We were alive.

Friday Flash: Part II "S.S. Argonaut" and Cover Reveal of CassaStorm

 

Today's #fridayflash was actually a short story I wrote a long time ago. I've decided to break the story into three parts, so here is part two. Part I was up last Friday (February 15), and Part III will be up the Friday (March 1) after.

PART II, S.S. Argonaut 

Panic twirled from person to person as infectious as the flu. A scream here. A shove there. Mayhem reigned while compassion for fellow man halted. This very terror seized me by the throat. I twisted and pushed my way through the crowded hallways while attempting to contact Bethany and the kids with my wristscreen.

A hazy image appeared, but I couldn’t hear her tiny voice over the discord.

“I’m coming, sweetie, stay where you are.” I punched in a button for her location. A little red dot blinked in Sector C, Section 3. What was she doing in our room still?

I reversed course and jogged against the current heading toward Sector E.

Cruuunnch!

BANG!

When my feet left the floor, my first thought was someone deactivated the gravity sensors, but I was falling, not floating. My arm struck the wall, smashing my wristscreen. Instinctively, I grabbed hold of the man beside me, and we both tumbled, barely missing being squashed by three people.

The alarm faltered from wail to sickly whine. The lights stopped blinking. The dim glow of emergency lights was all we had left.

I scrambled to my feet. Pain spread from my wrist through my arm, but I clutched the appendage and continued toward Sector C.

When I arrived there, silence descended. A ghost town had sprung up in this residential corner of the spaceship. I listened for people as I raced toward Section 3. Turning a corner, I arrived there. A slow burning fire crackled from ripped wires. Smoke obscured my sight, and I felt my way towards our rooms.

A soft voice cried the word, “Mommy.”

I recognized that voice, and it clutched my heart in a vice.

“Jax,” I called to my son, shoved away a fallen panel, and entered our rooms.

The smoke was thicker in here, causing me to cough. I blinked back the tears when I saw Jax, Lara, and April huddling next to Bethany.

Dark blood oozed from a gash in her forehead. The sight stole my breath away, and I tumbled to her.

“Bethy, sweetheart,” I whispered, slowly checking to see whether or not she was alive.

She moaned and I could breathe again. I ripped a piece of table cloth and wrapped it around her head. Our children looked fine, scared, but fine. I lifted Bethany into my arms and looked at them.

“Jax, you and Lara hold April’s hands. We’re getting off the Argonaut.”

“What happened to mommy?” Lara asked, her eyes wide and pooling with unshed tears.

My heart ached for them. “She’ll be fine. We gotta go, though. Follow me.”

Seven-year-old Jax took three-year-old April’s hand and five-year-old Lara did the same. I ushered my three children out of Section 3 as we trekked toward Sector E.

And speaking of science fiction, have you seen the fantastic cover art of Alex J. Cavanaugh's CassaStorm? If you haven't, then you don't have to wait any longer because it's here. *grins*

CassaStorm by Alex J. Cavanaugh

A storm gathers across the galaxy…

Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, his only struggles are occasional rogue pirate raids and endless government bureaucracies. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.

After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, shaking Bassan to the core and threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.

Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could be on its way back. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…

Release date: September 17, 2013

Science Fiction - Space Opera/Adventure

Print ISBN 9781939844002

E-book ISBN 9781939844019

Friday Flash: Part I "S.S. Argonaut"

 

Today's #fridayflash was actually a short story I wrote a long time ago. I've decided to break the story into three parts, so here is part one. Part II will be up next Friday (February 22), and Part III will be up the Friday (March 1) after.

Part I, S.S. Argonaut

The asteroid field dotted the horizon. Dust-sized particles increased in size to rocks, boulders, and small moons. The S.S. Argonaut flew toward them at an extraordinary rate, despite the thrust of backburners in a wild attempt to slow us down. The universal debris appeared god-thrown into our path.

Alarms wailed like a banshee’s shriek. Lights dimmed and brightened in a more silent warning, but effective nonetheless. I blinked a few times, attempting to dislodge the vision filling the window. The asteroids remained, expanding in the area each time my eyelids closed.

My fingers tightened around the control stick, knuckles turning white from my death grip. Autopilot bleeped in my ears, desiring to engage, but I couldn’t allow it. The engines and this spaceship couldn’t weave through this chaos with a machine’s guidance.

I clenched my teeth, narrowly missing the first house-sized meteor.

“Lieutenant Jackson, I need you to stand down.”

The captain’s voice broke through my concentration. The ship skidded against one asteroid. Sparks ignited from metal and rock, but disappeared in the cold vacuum of deep space.

“Sir, I’m afraid I can’t. We have to keep the S.S. Argonaut flying.” We might not be heading toward the infamous Golden Fleece, but we were traveling toward a new galaxy, a new life for our people. I couldn’t betray our objective.

“The crew is using the escape pods. The ship isn’t slowing. There’s no way any of us can fly to safety beyond this asteroid belt.” The captain leaned closer. His breath brushed against my neck. “There’s an escape pod left with your name on it. Let me take command of my ship. Think of your family.”

I eased us around another boulder. A numb certainty flowed through me like I fell into an ice bath. The captain was correct. The ship wasn’t ceasing its rapid speed. Nothing I did affected it. Perhaps it was faulty all along. The fact we were using the escape pods surprised me, though. Was my wife and children already on one? Who was flying it?

“Is the situation really that dire, sir?” I prayed I had misheard.

“Yes, it is.” His firm hand rested on my shoulder. “Be with your family. Go.”

I unbuckled and stood from my seat. The captain slid in behind me, taking control of the ship.

“What about you, sir?” I tensed when we dodged another meteor.

“Captain goes down with the ship. Haven’t you read those old Earth books, Jackson?” His light tone downplayed his fear, but I saw it. The way he grasped the controls and pressed buttons. The grim line his lips settled into.

“Perhaps we can try autopilot again.”

“No use.” He turned, casting a quick glance at me before focusing on the horrifying display before us. “I order you to go and save yourself and your family, Jackson. Don’t make me tell you again.”

If I closed my eyes, Bethany’s face appeared before me. I imagined her smiling that crooked grin she liked to give me. A mischievous gleam in her dark eyes. Instead, fear and worry permeated the image. I had to go to her.

“Take care, sir.” I pressed my hand over my heart, feeling its thudding beat underneath my uniform. I hesitated a few seconds longer before exiting the bridge.

If I thought the horizon contained chaos, I was wrong. Red lights flared with each siren’s cry. People sprinted down the corridors, carrying bundles and children. Screams pierced the air. Sickly smoke drifted in a haze.

An electronic voice repeated calmly, “Everyone please report to the escape hatch in Sector E.”

I had left chaos for doomsday.