Just Before Everywhen: Wick Shorts, #3

By Max Thompson and K.A. Thompson

Just Before Everywhen is a short collection of shorts: 3 stories in the Wick universe originally intended for online-reading, serving as a bit of a bridge between No Matter the When and the upcoming The Lost Boys of Everywhen.

 

The first entry, When, the Olive Branch, is an edit from No Matter the When. It stayed in the book until the final edit, when the decision to remove it was made because it didn't quite fit with the rest of the book's contents. I wrote it thinking of how the Blackshears were moving toward an acceptance of freedom in their dealings with time and the events they know should happen in their future, and how changing them might affect that.

 

The second, The Answer to Everything, makes the jump ten years forward and mostly serves as a way to get to know teenaged Rhys a bit better. It's first draft material (again, this was all supposed to go online and not to print) with a ending that seems a little abrupt…but it serves as a good jumping point to the next book.

 

And the last, George & Isaac, is a bit of an info dump. It's simply a tale of a father and son having a discussion, but I think it shows how George, with his problematic past, has evolved into a compassionate and caring father. It didn't quite fit into the book, but on some level mattered to me…and gives a little insight into Isaac and his inner struggles.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Max Thompson
• Release date: Nov 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215612071

Max Thompson

Max Thompson is a writer living in Northern California with The Woman, The Man, and Buddah Pest. He’s also a Feline Life Coach for Mousebreath Magazine, and writes the hugely popular blog The Psychokitty Speaks Out. He’s 14 pounds of sleek black and white feline glory, and his favorite snacks are real live fresh dead steak, shrimp, and lots of cheese. He also appreciates that you’ve read this far, and would give you a cookie if he could.

Book preview

The Wick Chronicles

The Emperor of San Francisco

Ozoo

Forked

The Space Between Whens

The Blessings of Saint Wick

The Whens of Wick

The Book of Hyrum

Jump

The King of Saint Francis

Waiting to Inhale

No Matter the When

PREFACE

JUST BEFORE EVERYWHEN is a short collection of shorts: 3 stories in the Wick universe originally intended for online-reading, serving as a bit of a bridge between No Matter the When and the upcoming The Lost Boys of Everywhen.

The first entry, When, the Olive Branch, is an edit from No Matter the When. It stayed in the book until the final edit, when the decision to remove it was made because it didn’t quite fit with the rest of the book’s contents. I wrote it thinking of how the Blackshears were moving toward an acceptance of freedom in their dealings with time and the events they know should happen in their future, and how changing them might affect that.

The second, The Answer to Everything, makes the jump ten years forward and mostly serves as a way to get to know teenaged Rhys a bit better. It’s first draft material (again, this was all supposed to go online and not to print) with a ending that seems a little abrupt...but it serves as a good jumping point to the next book.

And the last, George & Isaac, is a bit of an info dump. It’s simply a tale of a father and son having a discussion, but I think it shows how George, with his problematic past, has evolved into a compassionate and caring father. It didn’t quite fit into the book, but on some level mattered to me...and gives a little insight into Isaac and his inner struggles.

WHEN, THE OLIVE BRANCH

IF DAVID MUNSON HAD been a fish, his gills would have been three shades of green; as it was, he stood at Union Square’s center, Will on one side to keep him from hitting his knees, and Aisha on the other. An air car zipped past on Powell, heading toward Market Street, the whine of its engine lingering behind for a blink or two. He glanced up and then over his shoulder, and took a deep breath, finally relaxing.

It was his first breath of freedom in five years.

Finn—the elder Finn, now of this When—exited the lab, waving the phone he held in his right hand, and he practically skipped his way over.

They’re on the way, Dash. Everything else is set. The apartment is nearby, furnished, and stocked. If he doesn’t like the food, I’ll take him shopping.

Bank account and ID? Will asked.

Finn nodded. If he manages his money well, he’s set. Drew is finalizing proof of identification, and if he chooses to work, there’s a position available with Ozoo. Entry level, but with room to advance.

Ozoo, David repeated.

Andrew’s tech company, Finn replied. Name anything with a computer, or medical equipment, and he’s either invented it or vastly improved upon it. You should see—

And not relevant at the moment, Will said before Finn could ramp up. We need to get him settled before worrying about work, and ideally he won’t need to.

David turned a bit, eyes searching the skyline. I’m not sure what I expected, but not this. Nothing’s changed since the last time I was here.

Are you sure about that? The soft voice came from behind. As he turned away from the lab entry, she smiled, moisture gathering at the corners of her eyes though there were no tears. I don’t imagine I look the same.

David spun on the balls of his feet, and his mouth dropped open.

Ever elegant, Aubrey was well into her eighties, her dark hair gone silver, fine lines etching her face. The hands that reached for her brother’s were slim; fingers creased at every joint and knuckle, her skin appearing thin and far more fragile than it truly was. When she had his hands in hers, squeezing gently, Jax stepped up from behind her and acknowledged him with a curt, David, but he was too busy searching his sister’s face to look at the former king.

My god, David breathed. Aubrey.

Hundreds of questions thundered in his brain at once, but instead of speaking, David Munson broke. He burst into tears and sank to his knees, still holding onto her, and only managed to squeak out one thing.

Jesus Christ, I am so sorry.

The day began with David chained to a chair in the center of a brightly lit room that smelled of corn chips and root beer. He had several inches of movement but could not stand upright, and if he attempted to run hunched over, the chair would follow. Presuming he could outpace the guards that stood to either side and a foot behind him, just beyond the door were several of the royal guard. He wouldn’t get his nose past the threshold.

He'd expected Red and Jax; it was the Emperor’s presence that caused him to tense. His jaw clenched and legs tightened, yet his hands remained relaxed and he did not grip at the arms of his chair. His head turned so he could see as Red and Will reached for chairs lined against the wall, and he craned his neck to see the guard to his right, who stiffened when Commander Soto, head of the royal guard, loomed in the doorway and ordered the room cleared.

The guard to David’s left twitched, ready to step out, but the guard to the right stood fast. His eyes tracked from the Commander to the King and his pupils widened, but his orders had been to stand fast, and he was not under her command.

The King was another matter.

He stepped up to the guard, uncomfortably close. Clear the room. From this moment on, the responsibility of his security falls to my guards.

A single guard, sir?

David snorted. The Emperor is here, Morrison. He’s all they need. I’m not going anywhere, and they won’t do anything to me.

Jax stepped aside and gestured to the door. The Emperor is not who you need to worry about, he said as the guards left and Soto closed the door behind them. Now, Wick? He’s got teeth.

He’s not lying. I’ll bite a bitch.

Will and Red dragged a long, narrow table away from the far wall and placed it directly in front of David Munson. They lined the chairs along the side opposite from him, and as Red scooted the last one in he asked, "Are you sure about this, David? Once we let the reporter and her cameraman in, everything you