The red Delenor, dragon of fire and life, searched the ground for its rider. Victorious of Ankagon the blue, of ice and death, he was eager to share the news with the fierce Elena who had accompanied him to battle. She had jumped hours before to fight Zorkan, Ankagon's rider, while the two dragons soared in the sky. Today they would settle a millennia old feud.
Hours passed and when Delenor didn't find Elena, fear began to gnaw at his heart. In ages long forgotten, the prophecy had foretold the coming of the two warriors, and the great fight which would end the war of the dragons. Fire and ice. Life and death. But it had told nothing of the millennia of waiting, of the hundred failed attempts, of the countless imperfect riders and all their deaths. So many had reached him over the ages, only to leave old and tired. Those tiny, short lived humans. He spread his wing and rose far above the battlefield. From up there, he scanned every cliff, ridge, pick or pit for his fierce warrioress.
Suddenly, he saw, hanging to an outcrop of rock. Lava ran on its side. He dropped from the sky, and within seconds, was by her side.
“What is it, my knight?” he asked.
“Zorkan was… stronger.” He felt her life flowing out of her. She was dying and she knew it. She had waited for him on this ridge, holding by strength of will alone. But he had been late in finding her.
Delenor watched his rider fading. He could breathe life back into her. A simple breath and she would ride on his back again. But in this act, the balance would revive Ankagon. Ages past before Delenor’s eyes. Ages of loneliness, ages of friendship, until the ultimate victory. And the loss of his last rider.
Delenor breathed and Elena stirred.
Author Fabrice Stephan
The last book
He entered the house. The last holding to fall under his dominion. He was
now master of all lands from one sea to the other. His lieutenants would
burn it within the hour. But he had wanted to see it by himself. The home
of those who had dared defy him.
In quick stride, he reached the basement door, opened it and took the stairs.
Two rooms farther, he found the doors to the forbidden room. He took an
axe and broke it open in swift strokes. Inside, he found a library. The
shelves were filled with old leather books, protected by glass doors. He
sneered at them. His rise came from his sheer strength of will, and he had
hated books since his early childhood. He tried to force open one door, but
it was locked and his axe rebounded on it. He moved to the middle of the
room, with two settees, a small table and a book, a large, dark tome on it.
Curious, he strode to it, opening the book with the tip of his sword. Pages
were empty. Except for the first one.
now master of all lands from one sea to the other. His lieutenants would
burn it within the hour. But he had wanted to see it by himself. The home
of those who had dared defy him.
In quick stride, he reached the basement door, opened it and took the stairs.
Two rooms farther, he found the doors to the forbidden room. He took an
axe and broke it open in swift strokes. Inside, he found a library. The
shelves were filled with old leather books, protected by glass doors. He
sneered at them. His rise came from his sheer strength of will, and he had
hated books since his early childhood. He tried to force open one door, but
it was locked and his axe rebounded on it. He moved to the middle of the
room, with two settees, a small table and a book, a large, dark tome on it.
Curious, he strode to it, opening the book with the tip of his sword. Pages
were empty. Except for the first one.
Author: Fabrice Stephan
A ping woke John Lester. The Captain had fallen asleep, dressed on his
couch, after reading the assessment on Alia Zeran’s skill. She seemed
promising if he could keep her on his ship. It was hard to keep talented
crew members on such a tiny ship with few opportunities for promotion.
They all left him eventually. A second ping rang. He shook himself,
adjusted his tunic, and checked his watch. Late night shift, if night and day
meant something on Titan with only Jupiter’s radiations to light it up. Ship
status report was green with the last crates loaded and secured in the holds.
He left his cabin, yawning and stretching, and crossed the small corridor
into the bridge. “What is it, Kairen? Why did you have to wake me up?”
The chief engineer stood by his door at attention. The old soldier found
it hard to relinquish old habits. Behind him, Alia was back at her desk,
couch, after reading the assessment on Alia Zeran’s skill. She seemed
promising if he could keep her on his ship. It was hard to keep talented
crew members on such a tiny ship with few opportunities for promotion.
They all left him eventually. A second ping rang. He shook himself,
adjusted his tunic, and checked his watch. Late night shift, if night and day
meant something on Titan with only Jupiter’s radiations to light it up. Ship
status report was green with the last crates loaded and secured in the holds.
He left his cabin, yawning and stretching, and crossed the small corridor
into the bridge. “What is it, Kairen? Why did you have to wake me up?”
The chief engineer stood by his door at attention. The old soldier found
it hard to relinquish old habits. Behind him, Alia was back at her desk,
focused on her console. “Sir, the honorable Lady Miranda Zayn has asked
to meet you. Now.”
“Her ladyship from the Diplomatic Corps,” spat the younger man. “She
wants to something from us. Something we won’t like. I am afraid the
radiations are scrambling her signal.”
A cough made him twist. A woman sat in the unused copilot seat. Same
age, lean and tall, dark hair in a bun with a tanned face. She wore a black
and white long-sleeved robe in true silk, which only the most affluent could
afford. An adamantium necklace held her badge of office. “Good evening,
John. Radiations, really? You still don’t like being woken up in your sleep?
Kairen said you had retired for a quiet read?” Her jaws were locked,
making her seem sterner and older than she really was, but a twinkle lit her
blue eyes. The captain checked his own uniform, greased from the repairs
he had carried in the engineering bay. The lady beamed at him and held up
a small metal box. “Can I offer real beans of coffee? These are the last I
brought with me from Earth. For peace?”
to meet you. Now.”
“Her ladyship from the Diplomatic Corps,” spat the younger man. “She
wants to something from us. Something we won’t like. I am afraid the
radiations are scrambling her signal.”
A cough made him twist. A woman sat in the unused copilot seat. Same
age, lean and tall, dark hair in a bun with a tanned face. She wore a black
and white long-sleeved robe in true silk, which only the most affluent could
afford. An adamantium necklace held her badge of office. “Good evening,
John. Radiations, really? You still don’t like being woken up in your sleep?
Kairen said you had retired for a quiet read?” Her jaws were locked,
making her seem sterner and older than she really was, but a twinkle lit her
blue eyes. The captain checked his own uniform, greased from the repairs
he had carried in the engineering bay. The lady beamed at him and held up
a small metal box. “Can I offer real beans of coffee? These are the last I
brought with me from Earth. For peace?”
Extract from "Early departure" by Fabrice Stephan
https://www.amazon.fr/Early-departure-English-F-Stephan-ebook
Distant fire in the forest
THE GENERATION SHIP
Leading humans generation after generation to another star, such a
vast undertaking, such a potential for losing ourselves during the trip. How
would we reach our destination? These stories explores options in that
regard.
vast undertaking, such a potential for losing ourselves during the trip. How
would we reach our destination? These stories explores options in that
regard.
https://www.amazon.fr/Human-starpilots-Fabrice-Stephan
Hunger
The plants smelled with delight the hordes of dinosaurs thundering
toward them. It had taken them a long time to entice the gigantic beasts so
far south, and they had had to use all their knowledge in their effort to feed.
Pheromones, flower emissaries, sweet odors. Life around the southern pole
was hard, and only a tight land bridge linked it to the other continents.
toward them. It had taken them a long time to entice the gigantic beasts so
far south, and they had had to use all their knowledge in their effort to feed.
Pheromones, flower emissaries, sweet odors. Life around the southern pole
was hard, and only a tight land bridge linked it to the other continents.
They had awakened from the great sleep after the great meteorite had
crashed on the far north. The crash had released so much dust the sky had
darkened for several years and, under it, the heat had increased, melting
crashed on the far north. The crash had released so much dust the sky had
darkened for several years and, under it, the heat had increased, melting
Antartica. When the skies had cleared again, the plants and their ravenous
hunger were free. At first, vast hordes of allosaurs had answered their crude
call, and the feast had been huge. A harvest of meat like they had never
known.
hunger were free. At first, vast hordes of allosaurs had answered their crude
call, and the feast had been huge. A harvest of meat like they had never
known.
They remembered the time before the long sleep. Then, they had already
fed on live meat. So far south, this was the only way to gather enough
energy to face the harsh winters. But they had found the animals small and
unsavory. Nothing to compare with the giants. When the allosaurs had
stopped coming, the plants had improved on their techniques and new
giants had come. Hordes after hordes. So many. Such a feast. Then they
had stopped coming. Until today.
fed on live meat. So far south, this was the only way to gather enough
energy to face the harsh winters. But they had found the animals small and
unsavory. Nothing to compare with the giants. When the allosaurs had
stopped coming, the plants had improved on their techniques and new
giants had come. Hordes after hordes. So many. Such a feast. Then they
had stopped coming. Until today.
The plants were starving after the long wait and yearned for fresh meat.
The vines straightened, ready to block and paralyze the diplodocus and
tyrannosaurus, the meat of choice in the jungle. Flowers released their
deadly spores on the path of the horde. Dinner would be good.
The vines straightened, ready to block and paralyze the diplodocus and
tyrannosaurus, the meat of choice in the jungle. Flowers released their
deadly spores on the path of the horde. Dinner would be good.
The plentiful time would end soon. The plants felt in the earth and in the
wind they had eaten all the beast's worth. There were smaller beasts here
and there, but they were too small and too difficult to lure down there. The
plants would return to their hibernation. They had seen the changes in the
skies. The weather would turn again colder for a long time. The plants
would wait. They had done so for millions of years. If needed, they could
be patient. They didn’t mind waiting.
wind they had eaten all the beast's worth. There were smaller beasts here
and there, but they were too small and too difficult to lure down there. The
plants would return to their hibernation. They had seen the changes in the
skies. The weather would turn again colder for a long time. The plants
would wait. They had done so for millions of years. If needed, they could
be patient. They didn’t mind waiting.
…
Iain Mac Edward surveyed Antartica Sunrise Farms, the beautiful
agricultural consortium he had built on the newly melted ground. His
presence marked the apex of an outstanding career, one where he had taken
many risks to rise out of poverty. His boldest act had been the co-founding
of the company.
“Are you sure?” asked the Chief Engineer at this side, a bald sweating
man, who hid with feigned nonchalance his anxiety.
“About what? Global warming?” smiled the taller men. “The thousand
of acres that will be available within five years?”
“No, sir.” The other man sighed loudly. “Are you sure a soil which has
stood below thirty meters of ice for sixty-five million years can still harbor
life?”
Iain searched his pocket and took out a small brown seed. “I found this
right here. And in two months, it will germinate. Then, my friend, we will
show the world our new crop of local plants. Imagine that! Plants which
last saw dinosaurs walking on Earth.
“The news of a century, sir!”
Iain slapped the other man on the shoulder. “We will be famous, my
friend. Now, we need to work…”
presence marked the apex of an outstanding career, one where he had taken
many risks to rise out of poverty. His boldest act had been the co-founding
of the company.
“Are you sure?” asked the Chief Engineer at this side, a bald sweating
man, who hid with feigned nonchalance his anxiety.
“About what? Global warming?” smiled the taller men. “The thousand
of acres that will be available within five years?”
“No, sir.” The other man sighed loudly. “Are you sure a soil which has
stood below thirty meters of ice for sixty-five million years can still harbor
life?”
Iain searched his pocket and took out a small brown seed. “I found this
right here. And in two months, it will germinate. Then, my friend, we will
show the world our new crop of local plants. Imagine that! Plants which
last saw dinosaurs walking on Earth.
“The news of a century, sir!”
Iain slapped the other man on the shoulder. “We will be famous, my
friend. Now, we need to work…”
…
The plants awakened. The air smelled of food.
Author: Fabrice Stephan
The incantation
The incantation failed. Miserably. As so many attempts in his life had
failed. Now an ice-cold rain that sent shivers through his spine fell on him,
the first drops of an incoming storm. Three full hot and burning days
attached to the stone pillar in the middle of the circle, three awfull nights
waiting for the wolves to come. Alone, without any help or support. To
cross into the circle was sacrilege and no one would dare confront the
wrath of the gods.
failed. Now an ice-cold rain that sent shivers through his spine fell on him,
the first drops of an incoming storm. Three full hot and burning days
attached to the stone pillar in the middle of the circle, three awfull nights
waiting for the wolves to come. Alone, without any help or support. To
cross into the circle was sacrilege and no one would dare confront the
wrath of the gods.
And all that for nothing. He hadn’t received a single sign of the gods.
He wouldn’t become shaman now, a sacred priest attuned to the forces of
nature. No crows would talk to him. No wolves would hunt with him. He
had nothing to show his new status to his tribe and he despaired. Still one
hour to go. He had failed but he would quit. Even if in the memory of the
He wouldn’t become shaman now, a sacred priest attuned to the forces of
nature. No crows would talk to him. No wolves would hunt with him. He
had nothing to show his new status to his tribe and he despaired. Still one
hour to go. He had failed but he would quit. Even if in the memory of the
tribe, nothing had ever happened in the last hour.
“I knew you would become my slave, Aian.” Rekar, the towering
bearded warrior laughed at him from outside the circle, banging his sword
against the stone. “You’re worth nothing. No one fears you as warrior. A
bear passed you by when you hunted as a ranger and you did nothing.
Crops die on you. And today you failed as a shaman.” He barked a harsh
contemptuous laugh. “You’ll just be a slave, a lapdog obeying all my
wishes. And watching me take your lovely wife as my queen.” The rain
stopped and a lighthning opened the darkening clouds to highlight the
massive Rekar. In defiance to the rules of the gods, the warrior breached
the circle and entered the sacred ground. He raised his sword high and spat
at Aian. The time of the trial was sacred but Rekar feared nothing or none.
bearded warrior laughed at him from outside the circle, banging his sword
against the stone. “You’re worth nothing. No one fears you as warrior. A
bear passed you by when you hunted as a ranger and you did nothing.
Crops die on you. And today you failed as a shaman.” He barked a harsh
contemptuous laugh. “You’ll just be a slave, a lapdog obeying all my
wishes. And watching me take your lovely wife as my queen.” The rain
stopped and a lighthning opened the darkening clouds to highlight the
massive Rekar. In defiance to the rules of the gods, the warrior breached
the circle and entered the sacred ground. He raised his sword high and spat
at Aian. The time of the trial was sacred but Rekar feared nothing or none.
Energy and despair surged in Aian at the blasphemy. They mixed into a
last curse that swelled within him. He reached deep, past his doubts; his
weaknesses and his wariness, and called to the gods for revenge. Take all I
am, my soul and body against this one single moment of power.
last curse that swelled within him. He reached deep, past his doubts; his
weaknesses and his wariness, and called to the gods for revenge. Take all I
am, my soul and body against this one single moment of power.
The gods answered. The lighthning came, caught by the sword, and
Rekar fell. From behind the stone circle, the old shaman called forth the
tribe. A new shaman had arisen.
Rekar fell. From behind the stone circle, the old shaman called forth the
tribe. A new shaman had arisen.
Extract from "Short Stories" by Author Fabrice Staphan
The last army
The command center of the Machine Empire was quiet. It remained a
virtual representation since the computer didn’t need to meet physically.
But they had kept this settings from before the machines rules the galaxy.
The Emperor’s avatar sat in his throne, his whole consciousness occupying
the planetary computer below it. Still, he detailled, through all the detectors
in the room, the wreckage of a robot.
virtual representation since the computer didn’t need to meet physically.
But they had kept this settings from before the machines rules the galaxy.
The Emperor’s avatar sat in his throne, his whole consciousness occupying
the planetary computer below it. Still, he detailled, through all the detectors
in the room, the wreckage of a robot.
Extract from "Short stories" by Author Fabrice Stephan
Keeper at the gate of dawn
Allia was born under the first ray of sun of the Black Day, in the high moutains of Zesh. The signs were there for all to see and the clan’s shaman promptly selected her to be trained with the chosen. By the age of ten, she could run like a horse and fight like an adult. By fifteen, she was skilled in diplomacy. When she turned eighteen and when the sky darkened, she walked slowly out of the moutains to the Temple Tower of Zesh.
She met the most talented and fearless of their age, coming from all clans. Many failed then and walked back to their villages, head bent, tears in their heart. But some also felt relieved. They wouldn’t have to face the growing darkness. At last, only four remained, standing on each side of the Tower. On that day, she painted on her body the Sacred Symbols and received from the High Priest the Crystal of shadows.
At last, each stood, alone at the brim of infinity, facing their own trials. The priest had told them. Stand watch just for one night. One night to fight evil and prove your value. One night to wait for the sun to rise above the world of men. One night to save the people from Zesh, end the darkness and bring back the light.
The world melted around them, replaced by fresh sensations. A realm of feelings, shapes and colors. A realm of darkness, dread and terror. A realm of pleasure, love and seduction. She hadn’t believed the soothing words from the priest, but she knew then, knew without a doubt they would not survive. Still she fought. Not to win, only to prove she could resist another onslaught. And another.
At the brink of dawn, with the first ray of light, all her vital essence consumed, last of the Chosen, Allia let her soul fly away.
At the brink of dawn, with the first ray of light, in the Northern Mountain, among the people of Zesh, a woman gave birth.
Author Fabrice Stephan
Flight departure
All was quiet around Alphanor IV mining port. White clouds rolling over distant mountains. Breathtaking but identical day after day. A month after his transfer, Major Robertson had decided it was boring, he had to admit to himself.
Not anymore. Alphanor IV hosted deinium mines, the graal of the heavy metals required to power up the Alcubierre drive units. Trouble was, for an unknown reason, planets with those mines drew to them black holes within a century of their discovery. Some had hinted it was reversed, black holes distorting matters until deinium appeared. The Major didn’t care for science. He had a job to do and this day was his day. He strolled to the external landing pad.
The shuttle bringing the last miners crash-landed. There was no time to lose. Beyond the solar horizon, a murderous black hole approached. In less than a day, its gravity distortion would stop the warp units and trap all who remained on Alphanor IV. Even now, the pilot wasn’t sure to escape. A billion credit for each on this last flight. They had all voted to stay more days, even after the Emerald, the previous ship, lost its route and exploded.
The miners exited in a frenzy. “Order,” he shouted at the top of his lungs. “I will have order.”
Angry murmurs answered. One miner took a step forward and the Major punched him in the face, sending him to the ground. Behind him, his Marines, in riot gear, showed their nerve grenade. The crowd quieted and fear settled again over them. Panic was near. Stampede would be their doom.
He barked. “We have all places out. Now, single line, and move.”
A tech touched his shoulder. “Sir, we can’t load the planetary shuttle. It’s too damaged.”
He laughed watching the crowd. “Leave it here.”
They had crossed half the universe to work here and they knew how to obey. The line appeared and they begin to walk. Twice more, miners tried to force their way in. Ribs cracked, nose bled. But he kept order.
Major Robertson looked for a last time at the quiet horizon, the huge clouds, smelled the fresh air and turned, the last to embark
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