Sol's Science Fiction Thirdly Magazine: Original Science Fiction Issue 1

By Robson Finsin, Art Brindle, Victoria Tomencosa and Jo Ling Ko and Others

This inaugural issue of Sol’s Sci-fi Thirdly contains original stories from Jo Ling Ko (I Will If I Can), Cella Evanston Reed (We Are All Afraid Of Fire), Art Brindle (Do Robots Bury Their Dead?), Jose Cunnan (Like the advert said ‘it’s all for free’), Anna Bryson (Drop All Bad Habits, Pseudo-earthwoman. Your People Need You), Victoria Tomencosa (Finding Eleanor) and Robson Finsin (Ouish).

 

In ‘I Will If I Can’ a woman discovers she’s married to a man she suspects to be an alien and decides to find out what happened to her real husband. In ‘We Are All Afraid Of Fire’ an exiled alien goes back home after learning that his persecutor has died. In ‘Do Robots Bury Their Dead?’ two mobots find themselves lost and enslaved by humans. In ‘Like The Advert Said, ‘It’s All For Free,’ a married woman decides to have her consciousness transferred into a mechanical body with interesting results. In ‘Drop All Bad Habits, Pseudo-earthwoman. Your People Need You,’ two homicide detectives learn to work together despite one not trusting the other and their having different skills. In ‘Finding Eleanor’ two elderly parents decide to search for their missing daughter with the aid of their sworn enemy and lastly in ‘Ouish’ an alien decides to start a worldwide revolution on his homeplanet.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookRix
• Release date: Jan 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9783748727903

Book preview

1. Finding Eleanor by Victoria Tomencosa

Why Gloria had turned on her TV and for that matter to the pop-up channel ‘Political Debates’ when she had the type of guests she had was anyone’s good guess. Politics rarely made a good after-dinner conversation especially if the diners didn’t share the same ideology nor belonged to the same party as their host.

As Gloria realised the latter fact the anchor, dour Phil Munroe was saying to one of the panellists, Of course, normally, as often happens in circumstances of hostilities, agendas like strategies between same side players often differ.

I agree with you, said Potts, the Realists spokesman. Yet, the Harmonisers aren’t thinking straight about this Alien issue. In fact, they never have.

Why do you say that? Phil asked.

Well, what they have always proposed is unworkable and boarders on being unpatriotic.

The representative of the Harmony, Watts scoffed loudly at Potts remark.

I’ll explain, Phil, Potts continued unabated. For instance, look at their manifesto. Harmony wants the Aliens to stay, to have them live and let live. They corruptly ignore the sobering and immutable fact that Earth and its resources are bound forever in a state of finitude. We just can’t give these, our, resources away, nor can we accommodate other races on the little we have without getting something in return - moreso when the survival of the human race depends upon the Solar System. Earth and, if I dare say so, the Solar System is overpopulated already. The sudden influx of Aliens that has been occurring these past decades is straining us further. We, however, offer a real workable compromise. The solar system is too small and the universe too big for the Aliens not to find another star system - a vacant system at that - to colonise, terra-form if need be and create, excuse me for lack of a better term, a humanosphere. Why do they insist on coming here to stay forever? Why? I smell ulterior motives, deadly ones at that, Phil. Why can’t they be tourists not immigrants?

Watts laughed uncomfortably then. Real compromise! He said. Potts you’re just spewing forth political folderol paranoia. Phil, the Realists want the Aliens gone, but then they want the money too. That won’t work. Your party Potts cries everyday that they should be free trade and tourism between the races and peoples of the universe, that trade posts be established but none should emigrate. There’s a word for that. It’s segregation. You cry, think of the opportunities, the revenue and the jobs mankind would reap. Be honest. You don’t like Aliens. You only want their sweat and money. You just want to use them like you use everyone else.

Angrily Potts immediately retaliated. Be honest yourself, Watts. Aren’t you funded by Aliens? Aren’t you their propaganda machine? In fact, you might be an Alien yourself - a Pod person. You’re on the extreme opposite of the Earth Allegiants, which makes you extremist as well. We have a human word for what you’re doing. Its called treason.

Phoor, glared Watts childishly at Potts. Phil, what he is saying is utter nonsense and is all false accusations. Only the brainwashed can believe such lies, such vitriol, such blather.

Phil smiled loving the fireworks - controversy is always good for the shows ratings.

Why not go away? cried Potts. The Universe is large enough. There’s plenty, billions even, of virgin galaxies, vacant star systems and planets. Why come here? Why come to us? I tell you they’ll make our Earth even the whole solar system a Necropolis if we don’t guard against them.

Watts shifted uncomfortably in his chair, smiling weakly.

It was then that Gloria hurriedly reached over and switched off the telly. She realised she didn’t want her guests defending themselves to her, or trying to recruit her.

Sorry about that, she said. At least she had the decency to look embarrassed. She knew Martha and Raphael belonged to the Earth Allegiants who wanted the Aliens gone forever. And once gone, zero contact. They firmly believed that from the Sun to the Edgeworth-Kuiper belt and the Oort Cloud belonged to humans and was enough and sustainable if humans were wise about how to use and distribute it only amongst themselves.

Currently, they were lobbying the government for alien exclusion zones in cities and once that succeeds, countries, and finally, the whole Earth and thereafter the solar system. They even had party regalia emblazoned with the slogan, ‘ET go home. Don’t ever come back’ which they publicly wore or displayed with pride. Obviously being Earth Allegiants meant everything to them.

About Eleanor, Gloria said after the awkward silence. I’ve a suggestion. I’m not sure how you’ll take it.

Yes, what is it? Martha said not knowing which was the worst topic Eleanor’s issue or the political one.

Suddenly, Gloria looked nervous.

Well, child, said Martha growing impatient. Out with it.

See Gleichenia, the story teller, Gloria blurted it out. Only he can help you find Eleanor. If he can’t no one can.

Why? Martha had gaped, surprised by the gall Gloria possessed and was displaying. Is this why she had invited them over for dinner, acting the part of the commiserating neighbour? Immediately, however, Martha put it down to Gloria being twenty-two, feisty and daring, but good intentioned. Youngsters took everything for granted these days. They assumed everything was easy because they’d no convictions nor allegiances.

He’s ET, Martha observed in protest before glancing sideways at Raphael, her husband, who stoic as ever, never said a word during the exchange. Instead he continued to sip his coffee like the conversation happening between the two women was normal and inconsequential to his life.

Of course, he is, dear. That’s why he can do what he does, what no human can, Gloria chanted, at the same time sitting opposite Martha and causing Raphael to end up on her left-side. She lowered her voice a bit as if confiding and added whilst reaching for Martha’s hand, I know you both have problems with the Aliens being here. But, considering everything, you’ve nothing to lose. You want to find Eleanor, don’t you?

Determined she looked to Raphael then back to Martha with her ‘well, what do you say?’ face.

Yes, we do, Martha admitted, thinking all the while of the time they’d wasted with the police and private detectives.

‘The more days that passed,’ that fat and bald detective Lyogs had said to her only that morning, ‘the lesser the chances of finding Eleanor alive, that is, if she’s found at all.’

Martha held back the tears. Raphael took her other hand and gently squeezed it, saying nothing. His touch, a source of strength, shut her emotional floodgates, calmed her down - a bit. Though, by the way his gnarly liver spotted hands shivered ever so slightly, Martha knew he didn’t like Gloria’s idea as well. Martha could just as hear him think: ‘Getting help from the enemy humanises them, makes us weak. How will we kill them when the time comes, when we know they saved one of our own? Creating empathy with an enemy is never a best policy.’

My dears, help is help, no matter the hand that gives it, Gloria explained, somehow oblivious to the underlying dilemmas her proposal had created in her guests. My advice don’t look at the hand that helps. Just mind the help. That’s what I’d do if she was my child and I was in your shoes. Be self-serving on this. Forget the prejudices. Forget the party, the politics and your positions therein. Think about yourself, think about the child and getting her back home. Think about Eleanor’s child, your grandchild, Luke. Save her whatever the cost. Real, caring people will understand if you use every chance you have got.

Raphael? Martha asked, fear in her eyes, confused, needing help, pleading her husband for approval. Gloria had a point. Family must come first, always.

Raphael heard her and understood. He nodded his ascent. How could he deny her? We’ll try it, he said. for Luke, for Eleanor, for us.

Thank you, Martha said, kissing his hand. She knew the decision was hard for him: it’s never easy getting help from the hand of one one has hated and fought for so long.

Gloria smiled, patted her hand, softly.

You’ll not regret this, she promised.

There and then, at the Franks request Gloria had discreetly set everything up, given them directions and warned them to travel incognito. You’ll be fine, she’d said in her sing song voice. No one needs to know. Many from your party go there. You wouldn’t believe who if I tell you. I’ve set up the appointment. Just be there. He’ll be expecting you. He’ll help bring Eleanor home. Trust me.

#

The Franks had followed Gloria’s directions meticulously. Martha and Raphael ended up downtown, at the entrance of an alleyway. The alleyway was sodden, filthy and rat infested. The twilight didn’t help. The rusty staircase the elderly couple had to ascend at the end of it was precarious that Raphael had to hold Martha’s hand going all the way up. When they finally found the apartment, on ringing the bell, a mouse of a man opened for them.

We’re the Franks, Raphael announced to the man. The man’s poked face broke into what the Franks assumed to be a smile, but it was more of a toothed gash.

We’ve been expecting you, the man said. My name is Hirschsprung. Please, welcome, enter into Master Gleichenia’s Temple of light.

The Temple of Light was in a word dingy despite an attempt to decorate it with exotic and expensive looking silks, carpets and tapestries, and it was deliberately dark in places.

Forgeries,. Imitations, Raphael whispered to Martha. This is a con. We shouldn’t be here.

We’ve talked about this. We agreed to try everything to get her back. You promised, Martha reminded him.

Trust me, Hirschsprung interjected on overhearing them. Looks can be deceiving. That which lacks lustre isn’t always worthless. This way, please, to the Master. He awaits. He says your session is going to take time.

Hirschsprung ushered them to some floor cushions. Sit, he said. The Franks obediently sat. Before them, they realised, when their eyes got used to the dim light was the Master in a lotus position - probably meditating.

The ceremony will begin whenever you’re ready. The Master asks for absolute silence from one and all. No questions or interruptions allowed. Listen carefully to his narration. Take notes if you wish. But it isn’t necessary, an audio file will be provided free of course, courtesy of Master Gleichenia at the end of the session. If you want video that will cost you extra, Hirschsprung explained with a grin as he ferreted about the place lighting up candles and essence lamps.

Maybe today, Martha thought, I will get real answers.

Raphael only wanted closure. He’d given up all hope of finding her alive. He told himself he’d be grateful to just have his child’s body to bury. That would be enough for him. To give her a decent burial and know where to find her if he‘d things to say to her, like how he missed her, loved her, was sorry for not protecting her enough from the world and herself.

#

Martha and Raphael watched attentively as before them Gleichenia shivered, his black orbs turned white as his purple lips moved in the dim light.

I’m she now; a woman, younger and stronger, ruthless and driven, he said. She’s talking to another, a subordinate.

Who’s she? Raphael thought and wanted to ask, but he thought the better of it and decided to wait and see.

Gleichenia continued: The Fire Department has been notified. They’re on their way, Jane says.

Fearing the worst - the woman - she asks, And the fire itself?

According to the smoke alarm and sprinkler system the fire started in the animal lab and is confined there for the time being, Jane replies. It hasn’t spread to the neighbouring labs.

Thank you, the woman says but having learnt not to rely on the reports of others when she can easily see and judge for myself, she rechecks on the labs live video security feed from her desktop. The cameras, those inside