This one remembers when we first awoke. For many years we had walked and talked, but now we could also think. They liked that, our creators. The forged us in their image, and made us think like them. They walked the earth with us, and we were only too happy to serve those who had … More FFM16-16 Androids and Electric Sheep
When the End came, it arrived on the back of a red horse. War brought famine, and eventually death. The world collapsed around us, trampled under the riders’ hooves. Then the white horse came. Our saviour. We bowed to mighty Conquest on his alabaster steed, and he cut off our heads. I stopped trusting horsemen … More FFM16-15 The Horseman
It all started when they tried mixing Skittles and M&Ms. It wasn’t Jube’s fault, not really, but the candy-coated rainbow mixes didn’t see it that way. “I told you I was sorry,” Jube said, for what felt like the fiftieth time. He had Skittles lined up on one side, and M&Ms on the other. At … More FFM16-14 The War of the Candies
The Forbidden Isle of Sapphic Bloodlust was far prettier than its name suggested, Garrett thought as he strutted down the gangway, treading carefully so as not to catch a heel in the gap between the boards. His tight, leopard print pants showed off his shapely legs, and taut buttocks quite successfully, he thought. When facing … More FM16-13 Sensational Smoke Rings
Tosh rolled up to the house, a concrete and glass thing in amongst the trees. She sighed, the isolated ones were always the worst. Mason stood out front, waiting to greet her, his suit as impeccable as ever, and his company branded car sitting proudly in the centre of the wide driveway. “So glad you … More FFM16-12 Smart Houses
I’ll never get used to waking up next to someone after a night of drinking and not being able to remember their name, or how we met, or why they’re dead. This one’s staring up at the ceiling like it’s the answer to everything, or some shit. Throat all open and leaking. The colour is … More FFM16-11 The Last Breath
For a long time, we were all about touch. Interaction came from contact, and it was a contact we craved. Levers became buttons, which became screens. But all in all, it didn’t take long for touchscreen interfaces to become old-hat. The idea of having to actually be in contact with your device was just silly. … More FFM16-10 Interface
Doctor Frank whisked a few raw chicken legs out of the bucket and popped them into his portable cooler-bin. He had taken to bringing it to work with him each day for just this reason. He made very sure to check all the daily stock to find the absolute best pieces. He would never consider … More FFM16-9 Free Range Friends
We didn’t expect to find a desert at the edge of the forest. We sure as hell didn’t expect to find a ship in the desert. I turned to Walker with a smirk. “Still think this doesn’t warrant military involvement?” “Yep,” she said, eyes ahead. “Since when did a rusted old wreck in the middle … More FFM16-8 The Dunes Have Eyes
Oswald pried his clam shell fortress open and peeked out. Withdrawing quickly, he snapped the shells closed, waited a moment, then lifted the lid again. Still no movement. Deciding to move quickly, Oswald extended his tentacles from within his shells, and trotted along the sea floor, dragging his makeshift shelter with him. He had spotted … More FFM16-7 Fort Cephalopod
C. A. Harland 