Dimensional Log: A1

By N G Daniels

Welcome to the world of N G Daniels. A blind man whose talents will teleport you to new worlds and take you to different dimensions.
An anthology of Science Fiction and Fantasy, Daniels brings you the best of both worlds with a twist at the end of each. The Novellas and short stories will leave you with a sense of wonder, excitement, and awe. Be warned, once you cross over, you might not make it back. So, be sure to mark your location before you take that step.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Feb 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9781716071331

Book preview

DIMENSIONAL LOG: A1

Access Serial #14 15 18 13 01 14 

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04 01 14 05 12 19

N G Daniels

Copyright by N G Daniels,

2021

Distributed by: Lulu.com

Copyright © [2021] by [N G Daniels]

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-716-07133-1

DEDICATION

For the longest time, I have been wanting to do this. I dedicate this anthology to my son, Justin, and my granddaughter, Jamie. And, of course, to my daughter-in-law, Kyla.

I also would like to thank Lucki, Larry, Chris, Jen, Robin, Will, and my parents. Believe it or not, I have two sets, and I love them both very much.

I am throwing in the dogs, cats, and all others who have passed through my life. I love you all, and I am grateful for your support and patience with me on this project. I hope to have more in the future.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To Kevin Doc Eddy, who put the time in and checked and edited my proofread, I am grateful. I thank my friends who read my work in the raw and put up with all of the mess before printing. For all of my other supporters: Cæsar Zuniga, Elsa Escobar, Joseph Jenkins, Alonso Ledzama, Dr. Roy Klassen, and his son Darren Klassen (1969-2019), Julian Roque, and my good friend Manuel Player Ramirez.

And for the last, to all of the writers who have preceded me. If it were not for those authors lighting the flame of thought in my mind, I would not even have tried.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION      1

CONTENTS      5

BACKBITER      9

FRACTAL OF I.S.S.S.      20

AVATAR MORTALE      48

LAST      69

UNDER SIEGE      85

WHAT IF      131

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MEGA-CITY TAXI CAB DRIVER      145

MANDRAKE      167

VALKYRIE - 001      172

INTRODUCTION

Hello, and thank you for choosing to read this. I cannot say I worked hard on what I wrote, as it seems to come naturally. The hard part is getting it straight on paper. I have some difficulty as I am blind and in prison, so please bear with me on my literary works. Still, I hope that you will laugh and feel excited and angry and all of the other emotions one receives from reading a good story. I am an action man at heart, but I have other, softer sides to me too, and so I look for the tearjerker or the super-villain whom my readers want to kill.

I have written this anthology with a trifold purpose. First, I love fantasy and science-fiction stories. Second, I play role-playing games such as RIFTS™ and Dungeons and Dragons. So, as an RP man, I sincerely enjoy an excellent adventure. And finally, being a superb game master, I hope to bring my works alive.

Now you know why I say I do not work hard at the stories as they flow from my mind like a fine wine. I can see movies and guess plots. There is not a plot written, or a tragedy felt that has not already been published. Only the names, faces, and places have changed. Still, I look for the twists and turns that will make my universe stand out.

With this, I hope that you will be pleased and transported to another place and another time.

CONTENTS

Backbiter

This was my very first story when I decided to become a writer while in prison. I had always wanted to write, and I have some other manuscripts somewhere, but this is the first completed short story in my collection. Backbiter was to be my first fantasy with a twist. Though it is not an uncommon theme, I still enjoyed the end. See what greed gets you?

Fractal of I.S.S.S.

This story reminded me of another writer and so I sort of picked up on the name. I am not sure that it is the same name, and I hope that I do not make anyone mad at me for it, but it's all in good nature and fun. I enjoyed the action and adventure I put into this story.

Avatar Mortale

Well, this is my gem of a story. I hope that you all enjoy it. Another short story has been written, based on these characters called The Lover's Dance. Amanda is a warrior priestess who dances while fighting, and I was inspired to do this story when I saw an ad for Ask Jeeves, where they put chicks with swords in the query line. The commercial shows several clips of women with swords, and yes, even women dancing with swords.

As with any person who writes books and stories about martial swords, I thought that I would add the twist of dancing to the mix and see what I could come up with.

Last

Get ready for a bit of darkness, and I hope you are not mad at me for the ending. If you are, then you know the dangers we face with ignorant people who will corrupt a good thing and ruin our civilization.

Like the Nanites we all have come to love and dread, even with the promise of eternal youth, immortality, and all of the positive things that such machines can bring, there is still darkness. Things like their ability to destroy in the name of good and righteousness, using such things to kill, steal, and destroy. Think about that. The one who breathes the air will only kill what it is programmed to kill.

With gene-manipulation, such as the ability to select eye color, hair color, and rid us of disease, comes with a price and responsibility.

What will a government do with such easily gained biological tools? The Crispr-CAS9 is just such a tool, and can seriously be a GOD send, or a curse. Dark, dark days indeed.

Under Siege

Here, a passionate side comes out in me. Well, the bloody side, too. I wanted to write a love story and a desperate one at that. I originally wrote this story back in 1993 as an exercise but felt that I needed to develop it. This one verges on a novella, but I consider it incomplete as it has a lot of background that I would have liked to go further with. I had lost this story one time and was about to lose it a second time when I did not hear from him for a while, and I prayed to God for the return of my story. I was dreading having to rewrite it a third time and would have lost a lot of the details I put into the current story. I regret losing other works, too, as I am unable to safely copy or store such things while I am in prison. Who else can I trust to hold my life?

What If?

Yet another fantasy, but with a time twist. Everyone else has done stuff like this, but I looked for the twist to oneup them. Well, I hope that I did. I trust you like it and ponder the twist a little bit.

A Day in the Life of a Mega-City Taxi-Cab Driver

This story was inspired by the movie The Fifth Element. I love Pulp Fiction scifi stuff, and that movie was it. Though it had a bit more comedy in it than I care for, I am crazy about such things as long as it is good. So, I attempt to use some hard science in this story and write of a bleak world. I hope that it is not too risqué for anyone as I show a breakdown of moral and ethical guidelines. This story is simply a man who goes about his daily life as a cab driver and what troubles that day may bring.

Mandrake

I have recently worked on this one. I did another time twist, but it is just a simple intellectual story with no real action.

Valkyrie – 001

I hope you cry. This is a short saga that has a background with no real reference. I weave in the details in passing to try and bring the reader into what is going on. You'd better cry.

BACKBITER

As the opposing armies arrayed themselves on the field, Rylo stood among the heavy infantry of the Hussac army. The calm spring day was warm, and a slight breeze flew by the treetops, a perfect day for a battle. Rylo stood tall in his heavy breastplate, arm and leg grieves, and helm. As they prepared for the coming fight, the creaking of leather and clang of metal was all around. To the left, archers lined up with shield men in front of them for protection. To the right were the heavy horsemen, shield and lance at the ready.

Rylo was excited about the coming battle, and his heart was pumping in anticipation of the clash that would soon come. Rylo’s face was hidden behind the grill of his helm, but there was a smile under it.

Rylo could feel his sword’s power coursing through his gauntleted hand and up his arm. This time, the feeling was not of victory as he had felt so many times before, but apathy.

Rylo spent all morning arguing with Krite, his sword. Krite would not let up about the enlistment into the Hussac army. Krite argued that the Hussac army was wrong and was not the side to have enlisted on. The Brero were only defending what was theirs, no more, no less.

Rylo did not care about who was in the right or wrong, only gold and prestige were the critical factors in a mercenary’s choice of who to enlist with. Krite continued to press the issue, but Rylo had hardened his heart and stifled Krite’s complaint. Rylo thought he had won the argument and was satisfied that Krite finally saw the truth of the matter.

The conversation was finally underway. The scene was of banners flapping in the breeze. Rylo could see the pretty white horses and the glint of jewel-encrusted sword hilts, and the flash of highly polished armor of the Nobles riding out in the vanguard. Rylo fantasized about being in the van with them and sitting on his warhorse, glaring over at the enemy.

The kings came close, and the talks began. There were many vibrant words passed between them. Many of the insults were much sharper than any sword or ax on the field this day. There was sword rattling, dirty mother insults, and spittle flying in faces. Once this ceased, the final ultimatums were delivered with passion before they finished and returned to their respective armies.

You are not going to start this again? Rylo thought in his head as he felt Krite’s apathy throbbing in his arm while the kings argued.

I will not stand for it! Krite answered. Do you hear them! I can clearly hear their insults!

So?

Did you hear them?! Krite’s voice was a shout in Rylo’s mind.

None of my business, Rylo thought with a touch of sarcasm. We are paid to do a job and do it well. Why does it matter to you, anyway? You’re just a sword!

Just a sword! Just a sword..., Krite gave a mental huff. I have saved your neck more times than you can count. Oh, that’s right, you can’t count. I do this all for you, remember?

I’m the one who wields you, and that makes you mine, not the other way around. I command where you go, and you serve, Rylo said in an arrogant tone.

Oh, really?!? Krite replied with a touch of indignation. We shall see about that.

How would you like me to melt you down? A volcano, perhaps? Or a smithy’s forge? Or would you like me to drop you into some secluded lake?

You wouldn’t! Krite sounded incredulous. After all, to think of what he had done for this want-to-be soldier.

Keep this up, Rylo threatened, and I may.

We shall see..., Krite trailed off. The feeling in Rylo’s hand and arm changed to the same old bloodlust he had felt before, except a bit less. Rylo smiled and said, That’s better.

Time seemed to creep, but Rylo knew that the battle would be forthcoming as the two kings parted with screams of death. The glamor of the parley was over, and the bloodletting would soon commence. Everyone was restless as the Hussac king and his van of nobles passed back through the skirmish line. Reassuring words were then passed down the ranks as the leaders pepped the men on to victory. Rylo could not even remember the king’s name as he rode up and down the line. His harsh voice carried as he raged on about the enemy and squashed them under the Hussac’s gauntleted fist. Rylo just wanted to fight, and he was more than ready to conquer the enemy.

The dreams of wine, women, and song danced in Rylo’s mind. The thought of victory and prestige filled his heart — regardless of what Krite thought.

Krite kept his thoughts to himself, inwardly disgusted. ‘Is there no way to be rid of this once-valiant man?’ Krite thought. He then had an idea and a good one at that.

The Hussac king was finished with his speech and entered back into the ranks to take up position. Then, a sharp, high-pitched horn sounded for the army to get ready for the advance. More horn blasts sounded, which set the cavalry to prepare for a charge. Again, the horns blared for the infantry to advance. The air sang with metal scraping as the infantrymen drew their swords. Then the clanking of armor plates was heard as the infantry began their march toward the enemy.

Two hundred paces seemed like miles as the Hussac army marched across the field. The horns sounded for the cavalry, as the horsemen rushed past the infantry on the right with thundering hooves. Twangs from the Hussac archers on the left stopped singing their song of death long enough for the cavalry to plunge deep into the Brero skirmish line. Rylo felt a pang of jealousy that there might not be anything left to fight once the famed Hussac cavalry finished their devastating attack. He hoped that the pace would quicken a little. As if hearing his prayer, it did.

The horns sounded for the infantry to charge, and the pace picked up, closing the distance with a mad rush of shield and sword. The Hussac cavalry had done their job of wreaking havoc on the Brero skirmish line. As more Hussac volleys rained down on the new disarrayed Brero army, they returned arrows of their own.

Shafts of enemy arrows fell from the sky upon the advancing Hussac infantry. A man fell next to Rylo. The fletching of the arrow protruded from between his fingers at the man’s throat. Rylo sidestepped the dead man’s body. Blood was nothing now.

Another Hussac soldier perused long enough to break and pull the shaft of an arrow from his thigh before continuing on. To Rylo’s right, an arrow sprouted in a soldier’s chest. The man fell at his very next step, dead before he hit the ground. It was the same everywhere. A few fell here, and a few fell there, but the mad rush was not hindered as the men felt the bloodlust rushing through their veins.

The Hussac battle cry went up as the soldiers met the enemy. It was a simple parry for Rylo and then a death blow that never struck home! Rylo was stunned.

He had a perfect opening on the Brero soldier. There was no way he could have missed! The feel of Krite was the same bloodlust that he had always felt. Rylo parried again as the enemy Brero attacked, and then he tried again. The men caught his attack and reposted. Krite moved fluently and stopped the Brero’s returned attack with ease.

But the Brero soldier facing Rylo made a fatal mistake, and Rylo, to the advantage, missed again! The enemy soldier could not be that good, Rylo thought. Rylo again missed, but only by a fraction of a hair.

What are you doing? Rylo held Krite up before him. The Brero soldier was startled by Rylo’s outburst. The man quickly snapped back to the task at hand and pressed another attack. Again, Krite moved Rylo’s arm fluently to block. The ring of the clash sounded clearly in both of their ears. Rylo’s eyes were filled with bloodlust as he went berzerk and pressed with a flurry of blows that should have gotten through but did not.

Rylo stopped right in the middle of the raging battle.

Holding Krite up before him again, he yelled, What are you doing?!

The enemy soldier stopped in utter confusion and then answered. I am defending my country! Then he launched a counterattack of his own. Without another thought, Rylo’s arm moved effortlessly to block the enemy’s sword strikes. Krite was being true to his word.

What do you think you are doing? Rylo asked again. I control you, not you me!

Wrong, Krite answered.

The Brero soldier stopped again. Are you daft, man?!

Shut up! Rylo spat at the man. Can you not see that I am busy?

The Brero soldier just shook his head as he backed away before searching for another enemy to fight, while muttering, They’ll hire even crazies to fight for them, the dirty dogs.

What do you mean, Wrong?! Rylo yelled while ignoring the fight going on around him.

You do not control me, nor I you.

Rylo furrowed his brows and curled his lips in a disgusted look of puzzlement and fury. Another Brero soldier ran at Rylo with a battle cry, Die, Hussac heathen!

Again, Rylo effortlessly blocked the onslaught of swings and thrusts. Rylo then wanted to be sure that Krite