First Contact

By Matthew Barrett

A collection of short stories, dealing mostly with science fiction and fantasy themes, the expectations of these and how they differ from reality. First contact is about making first contact with an alien species. Crucifixion is about a scientific discovery. Jack and Jill is a murder mystery. Heroics is about saving the princess from a rival. Reawakening is about an elf who feels alone. But all of these stories twist from expectations in the end. Each story is short and can be read quickly.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matthew Barrett
• Release date: Jun 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301724246

Matthew Barrett

I am a graphic designer who also is looking to go into writing. I have several short stories and am working on a bigger series of fantasy.

Book preview

First Contact and Other Short Stories

By Matthew Barrett

Copyright 2013 Matthew Barrett

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Table of Contents

First Contact

Crucifixion

Jack and Jill

Heroics

Sage Eyes

First Contact

The story of a group of soldiers sent down on a foreign planet to make first contact with the local denizens.

The grass bent beneath his boots as he stepped outside of the ribbon box. What would it feel like if he went bare foot? Wet? Raspy? Like carpet? Green spread out all around them, welcoming them to the small island. Kaleb took off his helmet and took a whiff of the air. So fresh, so salty. The ocean roared in the distance, jealous of the attention the grass received.

That’s dangerous, you know, his partner Foelhe commented, walking past him.

Kaleb shrugged. If anything happens to this piece of property, they’ll sew me right back up, and probably stick so many needles in my behind, I’ll look like one of those…what are they called again?

Porcupines.

Yeah, one of those. He looked around, finally focusing on the sky. Bluer than the ocean. Sure was different than from where he was from. Think we’ll see one of them?

Doubt it.

Stop playing around, you two, we have a mission to fulfill, said Dalin, forty meters away, walking on the beach with his own partner. His voice sounded muffled, coming from the headset inside the helmet Kaleb was carrying. Foelhe shook his head as Kaleb sheepishly put it back on.

The two of them walked in silence until they reached the edge of the water. No sign of threats. Maybe it wasn’t so dangerous here as most people thought. It certainly didn’t look to be harboring danger. Kaleb watched the ocean steal his footprints from the beach.

Call down the ATV, this island looks to be uninhabited, but to the northwest, satellites suggest there are people living there. A wonder they never made it to this one. Foelhe tapped something on his wrist. Kaleb did the same, instructing the vehicle to drive over and deposit the boat in the water. He didn’t like the rubbery foam molding to his head nor the plastic visor that was fogging up.

A few moments later, they were speeding to the northwest. There were six of them altogether, three companionships. The boat went fast enough to see the next island growing on the horizon, but the fish in the water were dark blurs. Not even the screen in his visor could identify them quickly enough. Governmentally issued, they were.

The ocean stretched out as far as they could see, no less infinite than the stars. Each wave glistened in the sun like a show of lights. Kaleb sighed. What would it be like to immerse himself under that surface, without any body armor on? Opposite the empty vacuum of space, being filled instead of emptied? He couldn’t believe he was here; it didn’t feel real. So close to a world that touched each sense, yet a barrier that held him back.

Other, larger shapes began swimming after their boats. The shapes couldn’t keep up, but it was obvious they were trying. They weren’t just fish. Still, the screen couldn’t identify them. Either it wasn’t advanced enough to cut through the interference of the water, or there was no file archived with information on