Last Next Time

By Matt Di Spirito

It's Gene's retirement day: he is turning sixty-five and it's time for a new body. Nothing is more important to him than the next time.

As he prepares for the process, the city is invaded by armor-clad alien invaders. Gene gets to the clinic, but when he comes to as a young man the situation takes a turn for the worse: the invaders are murdering young people only.

A planet-wide evacuation is announced and Gene fights tooth and nail to get a seat on the first ship to leave Earth--but at what cost? Will it be his last next time?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matt Di Spirito
• Release date: Apr 12, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458139511

Matt Di Spirito

Well, I'm just an average joe. I don't have a great career or do anything that contributes to society in a meaningful way. I go to work, pay my bills, and raise my family.Life is an interesting journey. I've spent time in the military; it wasn't my cup of tea, but it was a worthwhile experience. I went to college for a few years, acquiring the credits for an Associates' degree in General Studies. There weren't too many subjects I didn't take. That's my life story: experience. I'm interested in so many things, it can be hard to focus on one thing for too long.My myriad hobbies include writing stories, reading books and e-books, surfing the web, watching blu-ray movies, drawing, discussing philosophy or religion or politics, playing xbox games, dungeons and dragons, and probably a few more. If only I could figure out how to make money off of hobbies!Writing is a hobby I've enjoyed since I became literate. Notebooks went hand-in-hand with computers. I used to write down little stories about my action figures, scenarios about school mates, and anything else to cross my mind. I used to make up games for my friends to play, and roll dice to find out who would win. Creativity, imagination, and technology are intertwined--at least to me.Smashwords, Amazon's createspace, and kindle publishing opened the door for self-publishing, especially for authors--like myself--with little or no start-up capital. For all the woes of technology, there are some wonders to be had.

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LAST NEXT TIME

By

Matt Di Spirito

© 2011 Matt Di Spirito

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced without the consent of the author.

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, places, or events is coincidental.

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

CONTENTS

Appointment

Renewal

Garbage

Away

Author's Note

APPOINTMENT

Gene flipped through the synaptic discs, pausing to flex his arthritic fingers. He selected one, angling the polished disc to catch the light: the holographic imprint shimmered, displaying a double helix emblem embossed with the year 2093.

Ah, yes, he thought, my second time around the block.

Gene slid the disc into a slotted column protruding from the surface of his ebony desk. The desktop displayed thumbnails of memories, and each frame bore a date and time in bright yellow text. He tapped the edge of the desk and the image carousel spun, advancing in time several years.

Gene smiled, pressing a gnarled finger to the picture of a young man and woman dancing beneath blue and green lights. The desktop darkened; an animated hourglass turned end over end as the synaptic recording loaded. Gene sipped a flat ginger ale, smacking his lips, and leaned over the desktop. The entire surface became a window into the past.

He watched, the corners of his mouth twitching, as a tuxedo-garbed youth twirled a flawless beauty around a polished dance floor. Gene tapped his foot with the music, bobbing his head and humming.