α to ζ: An Unexpected Harvest

By Sylvan Scott

Launching himself from rooftops to fight crime in the streets and alleys of Otawatapolis, coyote hero Harvest faces dark forces more powerful than what he's used to dealing with. Gifted with the ability to copy skills and abilities from others, he may be the ultimate fighter. But against a metalmorph and supernaturally-backed gang, has he met his match?

And how is his would-be boyfriend involved?

“α to ζ” (“A to Z”) is my name for a story setting that encompasses magic, super-science, and costumed, powered individuals. The world is populated by humanoid animals in addition to humans. And although humans are the most numerous type of people, they comprise only one of roughly sixteen-hundred different, intelligent, mammalian species dating back to at least the last Ice Age.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sylvan Scott
• Release date: Oct 24, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463389898

Sylvan Scott

I wrote about robots. When I was a kid, my first story was about robots that looked like people: the only survivors of a world-wide nuclear war. What can I say? I grew up in the 70's. Since then I've sculpted all manner of stories about all sorts of topics. Science Fiction and Fantasy still remain favorites of mine and, usually, what I can express in speculative fiction I'd rather not express in other formats. I love short stories and am working on making this writing bug that I've harbored for so many years finally work for me. Here goes nothing.

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. Frank

The α to ζ world-setting (containing Otawatapolis, Carcosa Frames and Mounting, Nightowl’s Pub, the Otawatapolis Gazette, and other landmarks within this story’s context) as well as the characters/groups of Harvest, Wrench, Asomb Beck, Cadaverous Rahne, Marco the Great Andozini, Pei Mei, Taymore Higgs, Unity: Now, William Fleet, Tilting Lloyd, The Flags, Sampson Delilah, Gallian Parsivalli, and Winged Darque are owned by Sylvan Scott. This story may not be shared or edited without express written permission of the author.

α to ζ:

An Unexpected Harvest

©2019 Sylvan Scott

Wireless was a destructive technology, threatening Harvest’s career. For traditional vigilantes such as himself, the increasing lack of cables undermined surveillance. A once quick building-to-building tight-rope walk across a phone line had become increasingly scarce with smart-phone proliferation. Underground power relays hurt, too. Utility lines were the vines of the concrete jungle and their increasing paucity interfered with his ability to stalk his prey.

Luckily, this alley didn’t have such problems.

Harvest planted his bare paws against the rough brick and felt the familiar thrill course through him. He hung out over empty space gripping an old phone cable in his left hand. In his right, he held the smooth, wooden shaft of his next-favorite tool: his sickle. Moonless dark shrouded the alley’s flanking buildings above the second floor. No one beneath could see him while Harvest’s sharp, vulpine ears caught every sound.

Below, Wrench advanced on his victim.

Some might have chuckled at the sight: a pint-sized weasel threatening a wolf.

Harvest knew better.

The wolf was in trouble.

Look, Asomb pleaded, it ... it wasn’t my fault.

Yeah? The mustelid thumped his namesake weapon against his palm. Ya don’t say.

"It was beyond my control: I didn’t do anything!"

The weasel kept his gaze on the backpedaling wolf’s eyes. Which is why she wants to talk. "If she thought ya intentionally screwed her, you’d already