By David C. Daoust Colin sucked in a deep breath just as his eyes snapped open. He was back on his ship. Back on that sandy moon, Twin Crown. He regained consciousness, seemingly in his bed. It was actually a façade living quarter, considering his body had never actually rested in this bed. A facade…
By David C. Daoust Armin Cook, like most of the Onion, was raised under the Church of the Eternal Night. The Eternal Night was the mainstay religion of the Onion. One of its main doctrines, was simply that your actions determine the reality you live in. So good actions, caring for others, having a basic…
By David C. Daoust Colin was not sure what Deloris was working on. Ultimately, because he never hung-out with her for so long after his body was pulled back up out of stasis. She had her gaze affixed to a computer screen, clicking away at the keys in front of her, seated at her desk….
By David C. Daoust Colin had forgotten himself. He moved with such speed of thought, that there seemed to be no time for any conscious consideration for what he was or even what he was doing– only that which he had set himself out to do. And what he’d set out to do– was the…
By David C. Daoust The tick, every second it was there, like a clock… he was not sure where it was coming from though. It helped him steady himself, helped him prepare… the wait was the hard part. Actually, he realized, it was the standing still. Colin Vice was never in such a holo-mech as…
By David C. Daoust It actually took about ten to fifteen seconds for the Monolith to connect to a new form. Wasn’t really so for a form already in use. But a new one, that you haven’t been into yet, like, off the factory floor… there was that little bit of a wait time. Normally,…
By David C. Daoust “A long time ago, there were these stories that made their way around the Onion,” Gordon Hitch began as he casually tossed a small holo-mech from one hand to the other. He held the small device up before him as he collected his thoughts and tried to explain, “They were like…
By David C. Daoust While it was true that Gordon Hitch was getting older- it hardly showed. The challenges in his life were few and far between, each overcome with a grace and style any onlooker, he was sure, would find impressive. Not only had he been top of his class, in every class, he…
By David C. Daoust Deep within the old abandoned bowels of Halfhul, two men could be found hurrying within corridors what were otherwise completely barren of people. The urgency in their step was that of those who had just barely escaped a deadly situation. The thrill was there, still in their eyes, pumping from their…
By David C. Daoust One minute, Colin Vice was trudging along, arms pinned by the vice-like grip of the serpentine construct that currently forced him to march forward. The next, he was trying to track, what he could swear, was an inky black shadow… It first appeared as the pair crossed a cross section…
By David C. Daoust Still, stagnate, heat blasted air, stifling— dark, with a cacophony of industrial noise that seemed to vibrate the very hull of the repurposed Crucible of Halfhul. ‘Who would want to come down here?’ Colin Vice thought, once again, as he stewed in his predicament. The hard metal floor– made up…
By David C. Daoust Colin Vice moved like a shadow through the lower passageways of the old repurposed Crucible of Halfhul. One foot in front of the other, just, with the added intention of not being heard. Nor seen, really, but the lighting was sparse and far between. Not to mention these levels were…
By David C. Daoust The hologram was extensive. In fact, it filled much of the lab. Intricate in detail, perfectly proportioned, every aspect seemed totally more important than the next. All of which told Colin Vice, (get ready for it) a whole lot of nothing! “What is this supposed to be?” Colin finally asked as…
By David C. Daoust Colin Vice followed closely as the gangly scientist walked briskly through the showroom. Theobald Gray began to chat as he led the way. “Games… I used to love games. Got me through school—through University… You know they have a way about them, to exercise the mind?” Theo looked Colin straight…
By David C. Daoust Theobald Gray himself, at long last. Colin Vice recognized the man immediately, despite having never met him before in his life. This was, of course, thanks to his investigation into the origins of the Battle Drones. -Thanks to that small media clipping of this very man, albeit much younger, standing…
By David C. Daoust New Runnymede was the planet ‘Aertholm’s’ only moon. This moon was famous for several reasons- it’s landless composition, only the first. This watery wonder was the single most important moon in the entire Onion. This was mainly thanks to its vast oceans; the Onion’s first great oceans throughout this fledgling…
By David C. Daoust Her stride was that of a woman on a stroll. Granted, it was a bit late at night for a stroll through the city, but she wasn’t exactly visiting the lower districts. This particular walk was across the higher fair, a long way away from the crime ridden slums she…
By David C. Daoust The nice thing about Holomechs– you could go wherever you happened to have one stashed. Colin Vice had one such device stashed on New Runnymede; the entertainment epicenter of the Solar System, reportedly, the very same epicenter that housed ‘Theo-BOLD Games’ entire system server. Colin proved unable to gain entry into…
By David C. Daoust Colin Vice sat comfortably in his private chambers, high up in the refurbished Crucible known as Halfhull. Named by the many workers that once lived and worked here, a name which called into question the quality of the space-stations most important feature, its hull. The brief chat with Chance was somewhat…
By David C. Daoust Colin just ended his visit with his lifelong friend Khalia and her little daughter. The adorable little girl was getting bigger and bigger. She looked so much like her mother when she was that age that Colin could not believe it. It was good to see them, he’d been waiting for…
By David C. Daoust Colin had not awoken in such a situation in quite a while. Studying the strange ceiling above, told him he had not made it back to his home chambers. Instead, wound up crashing in some strange domicile. It was a familiar feeling, though truly not since he was a young hothead…
>>New image incoming… uh eventually. ty,DD
By David C. Daoust Between waking up in a pod of nutrient enriched chemicals, regaining his mental faculties, and getting everything in order that needed to be in order, Colin Vice really did not have much chance to react. He’d steadfastly dealt with the nurses, took a shower, got some real food; all of which…
By David C. Daoust Colin wasn’t sure what his plan was. He’d pried himself within a narrow crevice that ran the depth of the canyon. His legs held his back pressed against the opposing rock wall, as he recklessly descended lower into the canyon. He actually just let himself slide, his back and boots scraping…
By David C. Daoust The howling wind raged over the endless dunes. The air was thick and dark as the sand storm ravaged the region. Colin Vice raised his arm to try and block the latest blast of streaking sand laden wind that overtook him. He could feel the sand as it blew within every…
> By David C. Daoust Colin Vice had told himself he’d only have to do this once. One time, that was it, get it out of the way, and it was clear sailing. He just needed to grit through the work, lower his head and trudge, and trudge, and trudge- ‘til he reached his goal….
By David C. Daoust Growing up, when Colin Vice looked at men, all he saw were rats. Rats were one of those species that could survive. Even if they were secluded from a flourishing ecosystem, like rats trapped in ghost ships or abandoned mines that had been sealed a bit too tight, these creatures had…
By David C. Daoust Colin felt fresh and ready for life, considering his body was in stasis for so many months, he wasn’t surprised. He’d taken a shower, shared some alone time with an old friend, and grabbed a bite to eat. The trouble he’d abandoned aboard the barracks ship lost in his wake. He…
By David C. Daoust The ability to haul things throughout the Onion was limited not by how fast a ship could travel, but rather the effects of high speeds on the human body and mind. The dangers of acceleration and deceleration were a point of concern, though there was something called the ‘Branigan Barrier’ which…
By David C. Daoust Vincent had witnessed firsthand just how indestructible the body he currently inhabited was, having personally launched the small stunt-bot through the air, smashed it through brick walls, and pummeled it into the asphalt, all in an attempt to get the small bot to leave him be. Now it was his turn…
By David C. Daoust The room changed suddenly. ‘Changed’ was the only way Dakota could explain the difference. It was the same white lab she’d been working in for the past two days, the same white lab that matched every other lab she’d ever worked in, though when the men burst into the room, firing…
By David C. Daoust Colin and Craiden both had given up on the cell door. They had no choice but to sit and wait. Considering the men with the guns had left them in their wake, they were probably the safest people on the ship at the moment. Colin slumped back on one of the…
For those who do not know who these characters are, their story starts here: A Whole Lot of Nothing! << First < Prev Next > Last >> aWLoN! prt.1 Black Noon aWLoN! prt.2 Swordbearer aWLoN! prt.3 Chalice Squire’s End Bard Song Halloween Special Origins Efreet’s Solo Raid! Meteor Zero
By David C. Daoust Craiden sat with his back against the wall. Colin was next to him and the two now unarmed soldiers sat on a bench on the other side of the cell. No one was happy with the situation, especially Craiden. He had lived his life completely free of any authority over him….
By David C. Daoust Colin felt the terrain change as the massive APC rolled through the gates and then directly up the ramp that led into the Barracks ship. He felt the momentum shift as they suddenly veered to the right and abruptly came to a halt. He could hear the gears crank and the…
By David C. Daoust Colin decided just to bite his tongue as the massive blue bot, which now housed the gabby little girl-bot, Margo, continued to slide the overturned Personnel Carrier around the lot. A lot which was once full of rubble and debris, though was now a flattened turf thanks to Margo’s futile attempts…
By David C. Daoust Craiden awoke in a heap; his head was still pounding, though far worse than it had when he awoke that morning. He found himself in the corner of the tipped Personnel Carrier. It was dark, he could hear others moving about outside, his right arm sore, and he thought he may…
By David C. Daoust “You there,” the soldier questioned Colin, “you got a prosthetic heart?” “How could you possibly know that?” Colin asked shocked and immediately distrustful. The only way they could know that was with his personal files. Considering his personal files didn’t even know that he was on this moon, he couldn’t figure…
By David C. Daoust Mari felt the blood rush from her face as she witnessed the small girl suddenly engulfed in debris. She threw her sons weight off her shoulder and onto the dark haired stranger that had assisted her thus far. She heard the man grunt at the sudden shift, but she was far…
By David C. Daoust Craiden wasn’t sure what was wrong. He had been dealing with the infection for a while now. He’d never had this much trouble with it, even before he got on the regiment of meds. It seemed as though, as soon as he had his mouth clear, more mucus would bubble up…
By David C. Daoust The surrounding havoc was like none other Colin had ever witnessed. He had just been released from lockup, when the news hit of the assault drones on the horizon. They returned his hand gun and shotgun upon being released, both confiscated by the Otomo security force long before he ever stole…
By David C. Daoust Colin was never one for sedentary situations. His mind had a tendency to wander, and rarely did it wander to anything pleasant. His fingers traced the scars under his shirt, like small craters across his otherwise smooth skin. He thought back to the day, the day he’d met that girl, so…
By David C. Daoust This was not the first time Suzanne and Dakota had gotten into a fight about something, nor was it the first time one of them had told the other what they really thought. In fact, this was usually how it went, the one who was in the wrong got an ear…
By David C. Daoust Margo was used to being ignored, she got used to it a long time ago. Despite the fact she wasn’t actually a twelve year old, she was often treated as such. Sometimes in a good way, other times, not so much. She assumed it was better than being treated as an…
By David C. Daoust Life was weird sometimes, Colin guessed as the private security clumped him in with the small blond and tiny bot. Colin tried to convince the large group of men that had taken them all into custody, that he was just an innocent bystander, a passerby, in the wrong place at the…
<<Just a reminder, this is before Dakota’s broadcast! ty,DD>> By David C. Daoust Dakota didn’t really have a plan, not since she ditched her security detail on Dori 5 and hired a manned cargo ship to bring her to Twin Crown. She fully expected to find an Otomo Corp lab on this moon, only to…
<<<<So, I fully intended to come back to Colin with the Drone attack in full swing… but then I had an idea! So I’m putting it off ‘til everything is lined up. It may well be confusing, though I hope not horribly confusing! 😛 ty, DD >>>> By David C. Daoust Colin had spent most…
By David C. Daoust 4of7 “He’s my brother,” the brown eyed girl continued. “I came out to surprise him. I didn’t think it would cause any problems officer, really.” Colin couldn’t help but smirk as the scared girl gave him a sidelong look to play along from behind the two soldiers’ backs. “Yeah she gave…
By David C. Daoust 3of7 It was only a dark silhouette from this distance and it seemed to be holding as still as he was. It had just dropped down from a second port under the ship, of this he was sure. He raised the gun, and a small voice squealed as it suddenly sprang…
By David C. Daoust It was early morning by this time. Neo Vir’ees could be seen clearly, its massive orange surface filled most of the pale blue sky, while the light of day was far to the east, having just risen from the horizon, to cast away the darkness of night. Around noon, the massive…
By David C.Daoust Colin Vice was never sure where to begin– Daily, when he punched-in his pass key, and the latest cargo-hold slowly opened before him to reveal his next job, one spot always seemed as good as the next. Careful not to start an avalanche of goods, he pried out the first box and…