A Universe of Stories Read online

  A Universe of Stories

  A Universe of Stories

  Winners of the 2019 American Fork Library Science Fiction Writing Contest

  Edited by

  Joe Monson

  A Universe of Stories

  A Hemelein Publications Original. © 2021 by Joe Monson. All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts in the case of reviews, this book may not be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the publisher. All stories published by permission of the individual authors.

  Stories all copyright © 2021 except as noted. Isolation by Jessica Alsop. Hide by Alexiah Barkle. First Impressions by Natalie V. Burton. Wayward Love by Jade Davis. Project Silver Star by Miranda Eoff. Dangerous Date by Cheyenne Ingalls. Rediscovery by Emma Schaumann. Napoleon’s Tallest Teamster copyright © 2018 by Joe Monson. Originally published by Immortal Works in All Made of Hinges, edited by James Wymore.

  The stories in this book are works of fiction. Any names, characters, people, places, entities, or events in these stories are products of the authors' imaginations, and any resemblance to actual people, places, entities, or events is entirely coincidental.

  Publisher: Heather B. Monson

  Published by Hemelein Publications, LLC.

  http://hemelein.com/

  * * *

  Editor: Joe Monson

  Cover art: ESA/Hubble & NASA, A. Riess et al.; Acknowledgment: M. Zamani.

  Cover and interior layout and design: Joe Monson

  * * *

  First Edition. First Hemelein printing, June 2021

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  * * *

  ISBN 978-1-64278-007-9 (paperback)

  ISBN 978-1-64278-006-2 (ebook)

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2021940704

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Foreword

  Introduction

  Teen Category

  Project Silver Star

  Miranda Eoff

  Hide

  Alexiah Barkle

  Rediscovery

  Emma Schaumann

  Adult Category

  Isolation

  Jessica Alsop

  Dangerous Date

  Cheyenne Ingalls

  Wayward Love

  Jade Davis

  Grand Prize

  First Impressions

  Natalie V. Burton

  Bonus Story

  Napoleon’s Tallest Teamster

  Joe Monson

  Acknowledgments

  About the Authors

  About the Judges

  About the Editor

  Foreword

  Way back in the summer of 2019 when I first offered to publish this anthology, I figured it would be a fairly quick project to handle. Little did I know that all sorts of obstacles would be thrown in the way of finishing it as quickly as I wanted.

  Shortly after making the offer, I started a new position at my day job and my wife found out she was halfway through a pregnancy we didn’t even know was possible. Shortly after that, she was laid off from a company she’d worked at for nearly ten years. Our new baby then decided to come over a month early, and had to spend the first several weeks of life in the NICU over the Christmas and New Year holidays.

  Then COVID-19 hit. Needless to say, this project kept getting pushed back due to taking care of a preemie (who is—thankfully—doing far better than the doctors expected) and all the other things. Here we are, almost two years later and it’s finally coming out!

  Part of what I offered these winners was the opportunity to experience the full range of publishing something: they signed contracts, they went through multiple edits, some discussions back and forth on the best way to address concerns, and they will get paid for the sales of the anthology. These stories are each unique and interesting in different ways. I could see some of these stories being expanded into novellas or even novels. I have to say, it’s been a joy working with each of them. I look forward to seeing them find success in their future writing.

  If you read this anthology, I encourage you to leave an honest review on whichever platforms you can. Reviews help bring the anthology to the attention of other potential readers, and this is especially helpful for newer writers.

  Thank you for taking the time to read this! I hope you enjoy these stories.

  Joe Monson, Editor

  June 5, 2021

  Introduction

  We were so excited when we found out that the summer reading theme for 2019 would be “A Universe of Stories”. We had so many ideas about incorporating space and science fiction into our programming during the summer. One of the first ideas we had was to have a sci-fi short story contest.

  The library always has hundreds of participants every fall when we have our yearly Scary Story Contest, so we already knew we had some fantastic unheralded writers in our community. We couldn’t wait to read what they came up with.

  We knew that we were asking several published sci-fi authors from Utah to help us judge, and we didn’t want to ask too much of our judges so we put pretty strict limits on the length. We knew the hardest parameter for our sci-fi writers would be the 2000 word limit. When you write science fiction, there is almost always a good bit of world building that has to take place before you can get to plot or real character development. We were so impressed with the way the contestants managed to build worlds and still give us compelling stories in only 2000 words.

  There was some seriously tough competition, but we were so happy with the entries that ultimately won the contest. American Fork is a hotbed of talent in all forms from writing to visual arts to performance arts! We are constantly impressed by our incredible patrons! We are so happy to be able to encourage that talent and showcase it here at the library! With talent like this, we plan on continuing to do so for years to come!

  Special thanks to local authors Ali Cross, Jared Nathan Garrett, C. Michelle Jefferies, Joe Monson, Rebecca Rode, and Johann Twiss for all their help with the contest and for speaking on the panel at our awards banquet! Extra special thanks goes to Joe Monson for seeing such potential in our talented patrons and offering to edit and publish this anthology of winners. We look forward to seeing the writers in this anthology on future “published author” panels at the library!

  * * *

  All the Best,

  Wendy Annas & Kelsey Pope

  Teen Category

  The winners in the Teen Category were:

  “Project Silver Star” by Miranda Eoff

  “Hide” by Alexiah Barkle

  “Rediscovery” by Emma Schaumann

  Project Silver Star

  Miranda Eoff

  Project Silver Star - Notable Tests and Reports:

  Test 37: Failure, error code B9CD7

  Test 105: Failure, error code X59D

  Test 213: Failure, error code 74NW2

  Test 347: Failure, error code 37E25

  Test 432: Failure, error code 79JL24

  Test 573: Failure, error code 92E3S

  Test 695: Success, android online.

  Dr. Alicia Lambari flipped through her notes as she walked down brightly lit corridors by memory. A left here and a turn of the page to remind herself of the hundreds of failed tests, billions of dollars, and years of effort that would finally pay off. Alicia continued down the hall, a right here, and read through the notes on Test 695, familiarizing herself with the details before entering the next phase of tests. Disappointed to find very little information available, she decided she’d have to fix that.

  Alicia finally looked up when she naturally came to a stop in front of a seamless metal door. The only thing denoting that this was a door, rather than another section of wall, was the placard jus
t to the left, identifying the room as ‘Lab 12’. Tucking her notes under her arm, Alicia found the subtle indentation in the wall, and placed her palm in the familiar grooves.

  Once the scan was complete, she leaned forward, levelling her eyes with another sensor. This one scanned her retinas, and once it was complete she stepped back, blinking away spots from her vision. A few moments later the door became visible as it hissed open.

  The room inside was largely empty, with bright white walls, a single two way mirror, and a simple bronze oil lamp on a table in the center. In three swift steps, Alicia reached the table, dimly aware of the door quietly hissing closed behind her. Her gaze immediately closed in on the lamp, and she wasted no time in setting her clipboard and pen down in favor of examining it.

  She lifted the lid off the lamp and peered inside, finding a tiny android in sleep mode at the bottom. Replacing the lid, she smiled then tapped the body of the lamp. Lines and patterns pulsed in electric blue from that point along the bronze surface, mimicking a steady heartbeat. After a moment, she picked up the lamp and rubbed the side, as if cleaning off an invisible speck of dust.

  The lamp responded immediately with glowing patterns and codes appearing in blue all along it. Bronze smoke laced with streaks of blue began emitting from the lamp - though it had no scent or any proof of tangibility - and a hologram was soon floating before the doctor.

  The hologram was an only marginally larger version of the android inside the lamp, less than half the size of Alicia, though it floated at eye level. Its eyes flashed twice before it spoke, voice flat and emotionless. It did not boom around the room, or demand recognition through powerful tones. Rather, it drew attention to itself through level words and clear intonation. “Who requests my presence?”

  Alicia smiled, setting the lamp down and picking up her clipboard and pen once again. She clicked the pen against the table and watched the android, already enthralled. She had seen it a multitude of times during the earlier phases, but this was her first time seeing it so alive.

  “I am Dr. Lambari, I’m here to run a few tests. Do you mind?”

  The holographic android appeared to consider this for a moment before shaking its head. “You may initiate your tests, doctor.”

  Alicia made a few preparatory notes, and began her questions and tests.

  A few hours later, after what felt like hundreds of questions centered around the android’s inner workings and codes, Alicia was pleased. Everything seemed to be in working order. In mere days, her lab should be ready to announce the existence of man-made genies to the world, to say she was thrilled was an understatement.

  Alicia looked up. The holographic android was still watching her from within the bronze and blue smoke, ever patient and obedient, and she clicked her pen closed.

  “One final request: will you grant me my three wishes?”

  The android’s eyes flickered as it seemed to consider her request. Alicia watched hopefully, this was the final test, and she was eager to see the results.

  The ever present curling smoke turned red, the eyes of the holographic android continuing to flash. “No.”

  Alicia frowned. “You don’t have the authority to deny the request. What do you mean ‘no’?”

  The android’s eyes turned red and its lamp cracked. The once beautiful blue codes and patterns blinked to red, and the once calm heartbeat pulsing staccatoed into something more erratic.

  “You are not authorized to request a wish, Dr. Lambari. Leave now.”

  Alicia’s frown deepened. She looked through her notes for any indication that she had missed a bug earlier, but nothing seemed to be wrong. The android should be working. Looking up again, she sighed.

  “System override, code B92E7.” While disappointed to have to set the project back, she knew what had to be done would be.

  The android ignored the override code.

  “Denied. Dr. Lambari, you are advised to leave this facility.”

  Alicia looked at the android, shocked, just registering the hiss of the door opening behind her. Slowly, still wary of the android, she turned to check the door, finding the hallway lights out. Alicia frowned, and walked to the two way mirror. She knocked on the glass, but there was no reply. She waited for a brief moment before knocking again, only to be met by silence. In the reflection, she saw the android simply watching her, eyes flashing.

  Alicia muttered to herself as she walked back to the android, “Fine, fine, a manual reset then. We’ll try again tomorrow.”

  Just as Alicia reached the table, the scent of smoke seeped through the air ducts. Seconds after registering this something splattered across her nose. She looked up to find the sprinkler system beginning to shower the room and rushed to tuck her notes, clipboard and all, under her lab coat to keep them dry.

  “Dr. Lambari,” the android spoke, “this facility will be destroyed in less than 15 minutes. You will find it beneficial to leave.”

  Ignoring the warning, she grabbed the lamp, intending to take it with her and retreat to an older facility. But as soon as her fingers touched the lamp she wrenched her hand back, yelping in pain against the burn. Alicia glared at the android and moved toward the door. The hologram simply flickered as curtains of water cut through the space where it seemed to be.

  “I’ll be back, android,” her voice icy and sharp, “and I intend to make you fully functional and cooperative.”

  The android merely blinked at her. “Goodbye, doctor.”

  Alicia ran through the halls, footsteps echoing against the silence in a cacophony of clicks, seeming somehow louder in the darkness. She scanned the empty halls for the rest of her crew as she ran, but they had seemingly vanished.

  Alicia shook her head, muttering as she continued toward the facility’s entrance, “No time, I’ll worry about that later.” She burst through the front doors, and was met with cool air and eerie silence, though she didn’t pause until she was a good distance away. Finally turning to look back, she saw flames engulfing the facility, smoke rising and coalescing into a large gray cloud.

  As Alicia watched the facility burn, she felt a pressure build in her chest. The weight of leaving such an important prototype in a burning building left her feeling like the facility itself, crumbling and falling apart. When the flames finally died down after running out of fuel, she was still there, feeling pinned to the ground where she stood.

  Alicia forced herself to breathe, and in doing so felt the outline of her clipboard under her coat. Suddenly fueled by a desperate hope, she fumbled to pull her notes out. That hope died when she found the pages soaked, inky words running together into an indecipherable blob. She threw the clipboard to the ground, frustration bleeding into rage. Screwing her eyes shut, Alicia sank to her knees in an attempt to ground herself, to calm her breathing, to calm her raging emotions.

  So much time. So much money. All the effort to find and work with the right investors, the insanity of trying to create a machine that could grant wishes. Alicia wanted to scream, that work was lost and without the android itself there was no way to recover it. The setback would be nearly impossible to recover from, if at all.

  After what felt like hours, but was likely only minutes, Alicia forced her eyes open, and stood. She wasn’t sure how - not yet - but she knew she would get the android back, and force it to cooperate by any means necessary.

  Star Cycle News

  June 15, 2232

  * * *

  On the night of June 14, Dr. Alicia Lambari went missing after one of her facilities burned to the ground. The projects, while remaining secret, are known to have been supported by billions of dollars of public and private funding over several years. High-ranking politicians in several countries connected to these projects have refused to offer statements, though sources report a flurry of activity after the report of the facility’s destruction. It is unclear how the apparent failure will be received.

  Star Cycle News

  June 27, 2232

  * * *
>
  Crews have finished searching the remains of the recently destroyed facility, but have turned up nothing of use. Reports state that one room was found perfectly intact but empty. The whereabouts of Dr. Lambari are still unknown, and our sources have been unable to find any information on the mystery project. Government officials from around the world continue to search for the missing doctor, but refuse to offer any hints regarding her research.

  Star Cycle News

  November 17, 2232

  * * *

  An anonymous tipster brings the mysteries of the burned down facility from June back to the forefront. The tipster claims that the facility was researching and creating a man made genie, in the form of a highly intelligent android.

  * * *

  Government officials from around the world refuse to offer either commentary or explanation regarding this information, and it is unknown if this is a genuine tip or a childish prank. However, it has caused a stir in many scientific journals.

  * * *

  The anonymous tipster offers a reward of three wishes from the android if it is found and brought to Atstar Attorney offices. Dr. Lambari has still not been seen since the night she disappeared.