Some more of my work (Science Fiction) - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

losthellhound · 11-04-2003, 12:03 AM

For those of you who do not like Fantasy, or havent been following the "darkened skies" thread, you may enjoy this. It is the start of a science fiction story.. Please let me know what you think (Please post comments )

Jeffrey Thomas glanced at his watch for the fourth time in ten minutes. His anger was just below the surface, threatening to shatter his calm exterior, but still in check. The cab driver was either oblivious to his impatience, or chose to ignore it in favour of screaming out his window at the other cars around him. Why he was even in a cab threatened to push Jeffrey over the edge of serenity. This would be the last time the council would drag him to New York on a day’s notice, or at least next time they would provide him a driver. To think that the imminent Jeffrey Thomas, head of the Oculus Project, three time winner of the Nobel prize for Physics, stuck in a non descript taxi three hours deep into rush hour traffic.
“I hate New York.” He mumbled
The cab driver swivelled in his seat to face Jeffrey.
“What was that? You want to take Express instead of fourth?” He asked.
“Just get me there as quickly as possible. And turn down the damn radio!” Jeffrey snarled.
Traffic seemed to surge around them and they were once more on the move. Jeffrey opened his suitcase and pulled out his phone. Quickly dialling a number he ran his fingers through his close-cropped hair. The phone on the other end of the line rang several times before a female voice answered.
“Hello?” The voice asked.
“This is Jeff Thomas for the Admiral.” He responded
“The admiral is en route to the second platform. He will be unreachable until his transport lands. Would you like to leave a message?”
“No, I don’t. Just make sure he doesn’t let the Pegasus launch before I speak with him.”
“Yes sir.”
Jeffery hung up the phone and allowed himself to smile for the first time that day. The Pegasus would launch and four years’ worth of headaches would be off his shoulders, at least until it reached its first destination. When he was in school he never imagined how many committees, meetings, and how much paperwork a simple project could entail. No, not a simple project, that wasn’t Jeffery’s style. The Oculus project was anything but simple, but it was going as planned.

Jeffrey was so wrapped up in his musings he didn’t notice that the car had pulled up in front of his destination. Handing the driver his credstick, Jeffery straightened his tie and gathered his suitcase and coat. Stepping out of the cab, he was struck by the beauty of the building before him: United Nations Space Command headquarters was a recent addition to the Un campus in New York, and its delicate construction allowed it to stick out beside the concrete block of the original UN building, yet seeming to fit in perfectly. His phone started to ring and he put down his suitcase to answer it.

“This is Jeffery.” He answered.
The voice on the other end of the call was scratchy and digitized, yet he could clearly make out the words spoken. “You shall not continue to in your quest to destroy us. We shall prevail against all. You are the first to fall.”
“Damn.” Jeffery swore. He threw the phone away from him and crouched down so his knees touched the ground and grabbed his suitcase. Just as he had suspected, a large black SUV screeched down the street and pulled up onto the curb. Two people jumped out of the vehicle and brandished assault rifles. Either there were already explosions, or the blood was pumping in his head already, but when they screamed, he couldn’t make out the words, only the hatred. They opened fire, filling the air with bullets and empty casings. If anyone could see Jeffrey where he was crouched they would have described that he seemed to flicker and blink, like bad TV reception. Bullets passed through him, and the smoke from shattered concrete made it hard to see, and harder still to breath. When the barrage ended Jeffery was still crouched, not a single mark on his expensive suit or leather suitcase. The assailants frantically reloaded their smoking weapons with new clips but before they could continue firing several shots rang out from the building. A handful of guards had heard the gunfight and were returning fire with handguns. One of the assailants fell with a cry of pain and the other hesitated then pulling out an object from their pocket, jumped back into the SUV. As the SUV jumped the curb and sped off, Jeffrey noticed the object the gunman had pulled rolled up beside him. It was a perfect sphere of dull metal. A single pulsing red light was the only sign of activity.

GravGrenade, shit! He thought to himself. He prayed that his defence system had the juice to handle the explosion and squeezed his eyes shut.

The world turned inside out, and then went black. Jeffrey was disembodied for several seconds as his body leapt as far from real space as possible. The roar of a thousand bombs went off inches from his ears and for a moment he swam in pain so intense that he felt his mind slipping away. Then, as quickly as it flared, it stopped. Jeffrey opened his eyes and instantly regretted it, it would take a few seconds for his body to reacquaint itself with light and gravity and all the things bodies took for granted on a regular basis. When he felt it was safe he reopened his eyes and looked around. Even with his defence system he had been pushed several feet from where he was crouched. Where he had been crouched was a large crater, roughly five feet across. The GravGrenade pulled matter to its centre like a black hole then pushed it rapidly back out with added force. The resulting explosion could easily punch holes in the sides of battleships and any humans regularly caught in the range of one usually were reduced to nothingness. Jeffrey however was always prepared, and knew this was no regular occurrence. He dusted off his suit needlessly and stood. One of the guards looked him over with obvious trepidation.
“Are you?” The guard asked the half question.
“Yes sergeant, I am fine. Thank you for your assistance.
One of the other guards called out from the edge of the street. “Hey! This ones still alive!”
Jeffrey joined the guard and looked down at his would be killer. The guard had already removed the mask and Jeffrey was oddly surprised to find a young woman lying on the street bleeding.
Stop being stupid, he chided himself. More women have wanted you dead in your life then men, this one just had a gun already.
An hour ago Jeffrey would have described her as stunning. Not beautiful in the classic sense, her features sharp and angled. Most likely a mix of European and Oriental heritage.
“I’m sure the head of security will like to have her in custody, please ensure it happens.” Jeffery ordered.
“But sir, she’s on the street. That’s not UN territory, we don’t have jurisdiction.” The guard stammered.
Jeffrey scowled. The last thing he needed was the NYPD questioning him for hours. He reached down and grabbed the woman by the arms and pulled her over the curb and onto the steps.
“You must be mistaken sergeant, she’s right here on UN territory. You have release to remove her proof of citizenship and detain her. By order of” Jeffrey paused. “Admiral Torsky.” Jeffrey smiled, the guard couldn’t ignore an order that had the Admiral’s name attached to it, and Jeffrey was sure that the fleet admiral would back him up on any decision. Jeffrey was too important to the admiral to let his killer be released by the New York police to strike again.
Jeffrey turned to leave but suddenly thought of something. He bent down and reached his hand into the woman’s jacket, searching her pockets. Finding a small sphere shaped object, he retrieved it and placed it in his suitcase.
“She wont need that now will she.”
Jeffrey did not stay to watch the guards move her into the building, he had things to do, a council waiting for him, and the day was starting to look familiar.

vonstalhein · 11-04-2003, 12:50 PM

how many stories can you keep up man!? That was fun, are you gonna develop it?

losthellhound · 11-04-2003, 06:19 PM

I'm working midnight shift this week so each day I have 8 hours in front of a computer.. so I can write ALOT

vonstalhein · 11-05-2003, 06:30 AM

Where do you work? i'm only 16 so A-levels take up way too much of my time to really write anything than a little poetry.

losthellhound · 11-05-2003, 07:19 AM

I work for Research in Motion as a support rep. When Im on day shifts its way too busy to write anything, but the midnight shifts are pretty quiet.. Gives me time to plan or write

mb99usa · 11-05-2003, 07:30 AM

Cool begining. Interested to see how it develops.

vonstalhein · 11-05-2003, 12:06 PM

i have no idea WHAT that is but it sounds good...

losthellhound · 11-05-2003, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vonstalhein
i have no idea WHAT that is but it sounds good...

'www.blackberry.com

J.R.V.A. · 11-06-2003, 05:11 AM

Good stuff

vonstalhein · 11-06-2003, 11:51 AM

Wow looks cool. i'd love to have a disposable income of enough to buy something like that. Well, i'd love to have a disposable income.

SSJwrestler · 11-06-2003, 08:36 PM

nice work

11-04-2003, 12:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
losthellhound Thats MR. Muffin Face now Location: Everywhere work sends me	Some more of my work (Science Fiction) For those of you who do not like Fantasy, or havent been following the "darkened skies" thread, you may enjoy this. It is the start of a science fiction story.. Please let me know what you think (Please post comments ) Jeffrey Thomas glanced at his watch for the fourth time in ten minutes. His anger was just below the surface, threatening to shatter his calm exterior, but still in check. The cab driver was either oblivious to his impatience, or chose to ignore it in favour of screaming out his window at the other cars around him. Why he was even in a cab threatened to push Jeffrey over the edge of serenity. This would be the last time the council would drag him to New York on a day’s notice, or at least next time they would provide him a driver. To think that the imminent Jeffrey Thomas, head of the Oculus Project, three time winner of the Nobel prize for Physics, stuck in a non descript taxi three hours deep into rush hour traffic. “I hate New York.” He mumbled The cab driver swivelled in his seat to face Jeffrey. “What was that? You want to take Express instead of fourth?” He asked. “Just get me there as quickly as possible. And turn down the damn radio!” Jeffrey snarled. Traffic seemed to surge around them and they were once more on the move. Jeffrey opened his suitcase and pulled out his phone. Quickly dialling a number he ran his fingers through his close-cropped hair. The phone on the other end of the line rang several times before a female voice answered. “Hello?” The voice asked. “This is Jeff Thomas for the Admiral.” He responded “The admiral is en route to the second platform. He will be unreachable until his transport lands. Would you like to leave a message?” “No, I don’t. Just make sure he doesn’t let the Pegasus launch before I speak with him.” “Yes sir.” Jeffery hung up the phone and allowed himself to smile for the first time that day. The Pegasus would launch and four years’ worth of headaches would be off his shoulders, at least until it reached its first destination. When he was in school he never imagined how many committees, meetings, and how much paperwork a simple project could entail. No, not a simple project, that wasn’t Jeffery’s style. The Oculus project was anything but simple, but it was going as planned. Jeffrey was so wrapped up in his musings he didn’t notice that the car had pulled up in front of his destination. Handing the driver his credstick, Jeffery straightened his tie and gathered his suitcase and coat. Stepping out of the cab, he was struck by the beauty of the building before him: United Nations Space Command headquarters was a recent addition to the Un campus in New York, and its delicate construction allowed it to stick out beside the concrete block of the original UN building, yet seeming to fit in perfectly. His phone started to ring and he put down his suitcase to answer it. “This is Jeffery.” He answered. The voice on the other end of the call was scratchy and digitized, yet he could clearly make out the words spoken. “You shall not continue to in your quest to destroy us. We shall prevail against all. You are the first to fall.” “Damn.” Jeffery swore. He threw the phone away from him and crouched down so his knees touched the ground and grabbed his suitcase. Just as he had suspected, a large black SUV screeched down the street and pulled up onto the curb. Two people jumped out of the vehicle and brandished assault rifles. Either there were already explosions, or the blood was pumping in his head already, but when they screamed, he couldn’t make out the words, only the hatred. They opened fire, filling the air with bullets and empty casings. If anyone could see Jeffrey where he was crouched they would have described that he seemed to flicker and blink, like bad TV reception. Bullets passed through him, and the smoke from shattered concrete made it hard to see, and harder still to breath. When the barrage ended Jeffery was still crouched, not a single mark on his expensive suit or leather suitcase. The assailants frantically reloaded their smoking weapons with new clips but before they could continue firing several shots rang out from the building. A handful of guards had heard the gunfight and were returning fire with handguns. One of the assailants fell with a cry of pain and the other hesitated then pulling out an object from their pocket, jumped back into the SUV. As the SUV jumped the curb and sped off, Jeffrey noticed the object the gunman had pulled rolled up beside him. It was a perfect sphere of dull metal. A single pulsing red light was the only sign of activity. GravGrenade, shit! He thought to himself. He prayed that his defence system had the juice to handle the explosion and squeezed his eyes shut. The world turned inside out, and then went black. Jeffrey was disembodied for several seconds as his body leapt as far from real space as possible. The roar of a thousand bombs went off inches from his ears and for a moment he swam in pain so intense that he felt his mind slipping away. Then, as quickly as it flared, it stopped. Jeffrey opened his eyes and instantly regretted it, it would take a few seconds for his body to reacquaint itself with light and gravity and all the things bodies took for granted on a regular basis. When he felt it was safe he reopened his eyes and looked around. Even with his defence system he had been pushed several feet from where he was crouched. Where he had been crouched was a large crater, roughly five feet across. The GravGrenade pulled matter to its centre like a black hole then pushed it rapidly back out with added force. The resulting explosion could easily punch holes in the sides of battleships and any humans regularly caught in the range of one usually were reduced to nothingness. Jeffrey however was always prepared, and knew this was no regular occurrence. He dusted off his suit needlessly and stood. One of the guards looked him over with obvious trepidation. “Are you?” The guard asked the half question. “Yes sergeant, I am fine. Thank you for your assistance. One of the other guards called out from the edge of the street. “Hey! This ones still alive!” Jeffrey joined the guard and looked down at his would be killer. The guard had already removed the mask and Jeffrey was oddly surprised to find a young woman lying on the street bleeding. Stop being stupid, he chided himself. More women have wanted you dead in your life then men, this one just had a gun already. An hour ago Jeffrey would have described her as stunning. Not beautiful in the classic sense, her features sharp and angled. Most likely a mix of European and Oriental heritage. “I’m sure the head of security will like to have her in custody, please ensure it happens.” Jeffery ordered. “But sir, she’s on the street. That’s not UN territory, we don’t have jurisdiction.” The guard stammered. Jeffrey scowled. The last thing he needed was the NYPD questioning him for hours. He reached down and grabbed the woman by the arms and pulled her over the curb and onto the steps. “You must be mistaken sergeant, she’s right here on UN territory. You have release to remove her proof of citizenship and detain her. By order of” Jeffrey paused. “Admiral Torsky.” Jeffrey smiled, the guard couldn’t ignore an order that had the Admiral’s name attached to it, and Jeffrey was sure that the fleet admiral would back him up on any decision. Jeffrey was too important to the admiral to let his killer be released by the New York police to strike again. Jeffrey turned to leave but suddenly thought of something. He bent down and reached his hand into the woman’s jacket, searching her pockets. Finding a small sphere shaped object, he retrieved it and placed it in his suitcase. “She wont need that now will she.” Jeffrey did not stay to watch the guards move her into the building, he had things to do, a council waiting for him, and the day was starting to look familiar. __________________ "Life is possible only with illusions. And so, the question for the science of mental health must become an absolutely new and revolutionary one, yet one that reflects the essence of the human condition: On what level of illusion does one live?" -- Ernest Becker, The Denial of Death

11-04-2003, 12:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
vonstalhein Insane Location: Where You Live.	how many stories can you keep up man!? That was fun, are you gonna develop it? __________________ No Win No Fee

11-04-2003, 06:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
losthellhound Thats MR. Muffin Face now Location: Everywhere work sends me	I'm working midnight shift this week so each day I have 8 hours in front of a computer.. so I can write ALOT __________________ "Life is possible only with illusions. And so, the question for the science of mental health must become an absolutely new and revolutionary one, yet one that reflects the essence of the human condition: On what level of illusion does one live?" -- Ernest Becker, The Denial of Death

11-05-2003, 06:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
vonstalhein Insane Location: Where You Live.	Where do you work? i'm only 16 so A-levels take up way too much of my time to really write anything than a little poetry. __________________ No Win No Fee

11-05-2003, 07:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
losthellhound Thats MR. Muffin Face now Location: Everywhere work sends me	I work for Research in Motion as a support rep. When Im on day shifts its way too busy to write anything, but the midnight shifts are pretty quiet.. Gives me time to plan or write __________________ "Life is possible only with illusions. And so, the question for the science of mental health must become an absolutely new and revolutionary one, yet one that reflects the essence of the human condition: On what level of illusion does one live?" -- Ernest Becker, The Denial of Death

11-05-2003, 07:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
mb99usa Keep on rolling. It only hurts for a little while. Location: wherever I am	Cool begining. Interested to see how it develops. __________________ So, what's your point? It's not an attitude, it's a way of life.

11-05-2003, 12:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
vonstalhein Insane Location: Where You Live.	i have no idea WHAT that is but it sounds good... __________________ No Win No Fee

11-06-2003, 05:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
J.R.V.A. Junkie Location: Utah	Good stuff __________________ And as she plays, her sweet song of laughter floats through the air and warms my heart

11-06-2003, 11:51 AM	#10 (permalink)
vonstalhein Insane Location: Where You Live.	Wow looks cool. i'd love to have a disposable income of enough to buy something like that. Well, i'd love to have a disposable income. __________________ No Win No Fee

11-06-2003, 08:36 PM	#11 (permalink)
SSJwrestler Banned Location: Davidson, NC/ Manassas, VA	nice work