Category: Change is the Only Option

Utopia, a hearing, trouble afoot…     Simon arrived in the city late in the evening and checked into the central hostel as usual. He found many messages waiting for him. Inspector Rhody asked him to contact her as soon as he got in and several friends from previous visits left similar messages. He was surprised…

A welcome, decisions, changes…     “Blackie is back!” As the ship eased into the pier, Spacer and Boats went to the end of the dock to welcome them.     “Hey, Julie sailed in yesterday. She said they sailed around the planet and there is more land off to the east from us.”     Blackie stood…

An unexpected offer to Port and a break with custom…     Mandy was serving as runner when the far speaker let her know Spacer had an important message from Blackie and it was important.     “Don’t let anyone else see that message except Spacer, Mandy.”  Mandy was surprised because usually, the message of a returning…

Sailors captured, an offer made…     “Any word from the shore?” Blackie called to the watcher on the deck. “Gunson will answer for this if we don’t get the price we set.”     “I see some folk walking down the hill toward the wharf, Blackie. Better get up here. Some of them are armed.” Blackie…

Settling down in Port, learning psy power…     Spacer was not thrilled with the arrangements Mandy had made, but a quick conversation with the sickbay staff changed his mind. They were very willing to have the woman come help if she was willing to work. A group of seaweed workers had tangled with some stinging…

Refugio, a ransom note, an opportunity…     “This is an outrage, Francos! You must do something.” Joachim Pesch had barged into the private office red-faced and puffing. “This time those criminals have gone too far!” A ship from Port had entered the harbor that morning under a flag of parley. “They have stopped a flagged…

Awakened power, understanding, begrudging acceptance…     Mandy found her there in the morning. She was curled up on the ground just under the awning by the hall door. Mandy was frightened. No other buffer woman had ever left the bedroom like this. Spacer was still asleep, sprawled on the bed in the bedroom. It was…

Main house, assault, a role to play…     Sarita realized she had been singled out by the woman asking the questions, but she’d not been questioned. The young woman motioned to her to follow, and Sarita felt her use some compulsion on her. She started to tell her it was not necessary but found herself…

Higgins World, Port Settlement, Main House…     Spacer was drunk again. Mandy heard him coming and opened the door. Every time the executive officer and leader of Port lost his buffer woman, he got drunk and stayed that way until Mandy could find him another. When he was drunk, he could not hear the others’…

A telling meeting, a trouble revealed…     Francos Morales, Overload of the Humanos Verdaderos, was not looking forward to a visit from El Poh Grande, head of the Iglesia Humanos Verdaderos. The old man was pompous, long winded, and usually boring. Francos attended services in his private chapel whenever he could, and only went to…