Shelter: Zero

By D.M. Woolston

This is a story I should have written back in the heyday of Heavy Metal Magazine, but unfortunately I was too preoccupied with matters of great import like maintaining my shaggy hair or catching a ride to the Roxy.

Now that I’ve been writing instead of just thinking about writing, this short (tall?) tale is finally able to make its way to you at long last. Here’s to roads yet to be blazed.
DM

• Language: English
• Publisher: D.M. Woolston
• Release date: Apr 7, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370896707

D.M. Woolston

DM was raised by Baldreth, a member of the benevolent race known as the Zarnacians. Unfortunately accused of high treason for genetically altering his auricular canal, DM's punishment involved banishment from the Vorax galaxy via the method of micro-particlization. Next they shot him through a beam-cannon toward Norvik, or 'Earth' as its natives call it. DM resides here today in hopes of building a path to his home world of Necron by combining Human and Zarnacian DNA, the old fashioned way.Okay, okay. Maybe that's not *exactly* true... but if you want to get the REAL story you can head on over to http://www.dmwoolston.com to get more.D̶̡̡̯̜̼̹̗͓̹̠̩̿̒̆͜.̶̻̩͓̙̄̈̌̿̓̿̇̽̽͘͝M̴̬̪͍͖̯͙̙̹̺̊͐͒̄ͅ.̶̧̗͓̣̘͓͈̀̾̉̔̚ ̸̧̡̠͚̳̳̘̲͎̮̭̗͆̈́̄̂̀̋̀͋̀̂̒͝͠W̶̨̡̻̼̮̠̼̝̯̊̒̈́́͐̚͘ͅͅo̵̲̭̓̓͆͋̀̊͒̈͘͠o̴̧͙̝̱͌̎̾̈́͗̕l̵̯̭̤̽̽̓͛͌͗͛̚s̶̱͔͎̹͇͍͎͎̗̘̯̱̯̬̻̈́̇͗́̑͝t̵̪͓͒õ̶̙̦̥͉̞̪͇͉̱̩̗̲͐́͐̔̋̃̌ͅͅñ̵̸̡̨̢̲̙͎̪̣̰̯̠͚͕̲̻͉̺̞̖͖̜͍̤͎̯̰̈́̉̽͛͘̚

Book preview

Introduction

This is a story I should have written back in the heyday of Heavy Metal Magazine, but unfortunately I was too preoccupied with matters of great import like maintaining my shaggy hair or catching a ride to the Roxy.

Now that I’ve been writing instead of just thinking about writing, this short (tall?) tale is finally able to make its way to you at long last. Here’s to roads yet to be blazed!

D.M. Woolston

Acknowledgments

Amazing cover illustration by Ben Woolston

Jynna tried to keep her cool, but she had enough when it happened for the third time in one night. Another patron attempted to fondle her. The few people nearby dashed out of the way to avoid the pervert she hurled into the wall.

Jaa, she said in disgust.

Just Another Asshole was the nickname she gave to any man who treated her with a lack of respect. It even applied to genders beyond the macho Y chromosome. She played no favorites, at least not anymore.

The quick brawl was a typical event at the Piss-stop. Drinks were cheap, but the place smelled like its name. She put up with the hassle because her black market clientele knew that’s where they’d find her, seeking expertise at acquiring items most difficult to come by.

Jynna wiped the sweat off her hands in a smooth motion down the sides of her black bodysuit, sliding them down her curvy six foot two frame. She stepped out into the cold, wet evening and hailed transport. Another worthless night, she mumbled to herself while sliding inside the not-so-clean spinner.

The Jagersmaks had gone to her head, allowing her inhibition to fade just enough to dial Max209. Another Jaa, but at least he used to be her Jaa. The Intec inside her brain advised against the call by poking its two-cents into the periphery of her intoxicated mind.

Remember what happened last time? It beamed.

She ended the call before it connected.

Take me home, she beamed back, not having to verbalize the command. Her Intec passed along the command to the driverless car. After a brief ride, she stood in front of the security doors of her apartment building. At least her rent covered the increased protection from the wandering looking for a quick score. The first door opened in recognition long enough for her to enter, then whooshed shut behind. Much like an airlock, the next one whooshed open. Lucky for the solitary ride in the elevator, she preferred not to bump into any of her neighbors. Especially, the Fixer.

Feeling comfortable in her sparse living quarters, she stood naked with her back to the full-length mirror, inspecting the minor cuts and bruises on her backside and dancer-like legs. It’s not your looks that get you into trouble, babe, she said to her reflection. Then she frowned and tapped her index finger against her temple. "It’s what you