The Forge - Spring 2024

Spring 2024 | Volume IV

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George Mason University’s premiere speculative fiction literary magazine.

FORGE

THE

Spring 2024

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Volume IV

INTRODUCTION Words from the Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Staff Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

STORIES Night Dive by Jesse Greene. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Killers and Queens by Jesse Greene. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 The End by Thomas Malinovskaya. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Ronin Punk: Shadow Winter by Caleb Davy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

ART OF THE FORGE Art Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Coloring Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

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The Forge

Introduction

Spring 2024

Words from the Chief:

H

ey there, nerds and science fiction fans alike! My name is Caleb Davy, and as the all new Editor-in-Chief, I want to welcome you to the fourth print issue of The Forge

on behalf of the staff!

To be completely honest, it’s been one heck of a semester, from trying to meet your average 11:59pm deadlines, to becoming the new Editor-in-Chief just two weeks into the semester. It’s been a rollercoaster of responsibilities, but a fun ride nonetheless! Before I get into anything more, I want to thank the the previous Editor-in-Chief, Jude, for being such a huge help with my transition to Editor-in-Chief of the magazine, as well as the other previous and current staff members who help make this issue happen! With that being said, we have a phenomenal lineup of stories for y’all to read this time around, from a heart-wrenching tale in a world filled with the undead, to a cutthroat cyberpunk crime thriller. Every story within this issue is sure to be a spectacular page turner from cover to cover complete with breathtaking art pieces from our very own Mason community!

I cannot stress enough that this was an absolute treat to put together, and this experience was made all the more rewarding knowing the fact that our work here at The Forge is now in the hands of readers like you. Once again, I’d like to thank my staff for all their hard work on this year’s issue. But most of all, my gratitude goes out to you, dear reader, for keeping the embers of The Forge burning bright.

May the fire of your passion burn eternal, Caleb Davy Editor-in-Chief The Forge Team

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Introduction

Spring 2024

Credits Editor in Chief Caleb Davy Managing Editor Semira Benyam Art and Design Director Kristina Mickle Staff Editors Caleb Davy Semira Benyam Emily Gomez-Adames Diwita Banerjee Jess Wiess Art Team Kristina Mickle Charles Elmore Samantha Gerken Brooklyn Chavers Julia Thomas Nixie Cucu Palika (DC) Sridurongrit Special Thanks Jude Kallista-Fitzpatrick, former Editor-in-Chief Camellia Au, former Art & Design Director Grey Copeland, Design Consultant Student Media Professional Staff Kathryn Mangus, Director David Carroll, Associate Director Jonathan Baumstark, Office Assistant Faculty Advisor Jason Hartsel

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Night Dive Jesse Greene

U

nkempt brown hair, sea-green eyes,

freckles, and the dirty yellow fishing

jacket that he wears for work often occupy my mind while I’m working, but this time

his idea than to have him constantly nag me about it for a week.

“Fine, when did you want to go?” I turn

it’s because he’s right in front of me. He’s

toward him as I shift out of my apron, ready

he’s planning some strange new activity,

bit and tease him, “you do know I’m free for

wearing his signature grin, which means and he won’t stop pacing down the aisles so I can’t focus on much besides whatever he’s up to. Just as my shift is ending at the spiffy

mart, before I can even take my uniform off, Alex pulls me aside. Alex had been stalking

around the store for nearly half an hour since he knew that I can’t talk with him until I’ve clocked out. I’ve never known him to wait

long for anything, normally getting what he wants as soon as he can or dropping it to

find something else, so I know this must be important to him if he’s still here.

He hurriedly asks me with the frantic

to head home for the night. I lean forward a

the rest of the weekend, right? I’ve got plenty

of time to do whatever you want.” It looks like my hint isn’t being taken. “Let’s go tonight!

Meet me by my uncle’s dock at midnight,

I’ll be waiting for you!” Full of excitement

he quickly waves at me while he darts away before I can say anything else, probably to

prepare for his latest scheme. I didn’t really

have plans for the night, but I still wanted to

spend time with him without being on some

random adventure. I picture my sister rolling her eyes at me,

“You couldn’t fall for a smart, sane guy,

grin still on his face, “Hey, you still know

could you?” Sometimes I wish that I had,

Alex’s uncle had taken us scuba diving from

nonsense he puts me through.

how to dive, right?” I recall the few times his fishing boat and I told him that I still

but I still want to be with Alex despite all the I wasn’t sure if I should bring anything to

remembered. “Good, good, I want to go

the dock, so I just showed up expecting Alex

really cool while we were fishing yesterday.”

matted brown hair shine in the moonlight

night diving with you, there was something

I had never been diving at night, and I know that it can be difficult unless you are an

experienced diver who knows what they’re

doing. Alex seems determined however, and

4

I think it would be easier to go along with

to have everything planned out. I see his

in front of his uncle’s old green and white

fishing boat. I notice that the paint is starting to chip away on the old boat, exposing the dark colored wood beneath.

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Night Dive

“It’s about time you got here! I was worried

you weren’t going to show up.” He should know by now that I’d never let Alex down like that, even if it is for something as

harebrained as this, I wish he’d catch on.

He steps toward me, holding something

folded up in a ball, “I didn’t rent you a suit this time, so you can just use my uncle’s.”

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himself. I keep picturing what it would be like to go out with him like this every day,

just enjoying being near each other without having to explore the woods or do science

experiments. I was so distracted by my own thoughts I didn’t notice him leave the wheel to come sit next to me.

“Okay, let’s put our tanks on, we’re here.” I

He holds up a blue and green wetsuit that

look around, I can’t see any land, only several

any normal sized person. It’s easy for me to

boat near the far end of them with its lights

looks like it would have no business being on forget sometimes how physically large Alex’s uncle is, he’s a six and a half foot tall, three

hundred pounds, grizzled old fisherman, but he’s always been one of the nicest people I

know, at least to me and Alex. I wonder if I

could even fit inside the massive second skin of his uncle without it sliding off, but with

Alex’s help, I managed to get the suit on. It’s a little embarrassing for him to be grabbing

all over me while I’m in my swimwear, but it

feels kind of nice in a weird way too. The suit is finally on, and I probably look more like a

sack of potatoes than a scuba diver with how loosely it fits on me, but Alex just smiles and says, “you look perfect!” I can feel myself

start to blush as I put the goggles on to hide it from him.

“Okay, let’s go, it’s a spot not too far from

here, we should make it in about twenty

buoys in a ring maybe a mile across, with a

on, which only now makes me realize that we had been driving here in the dark without me giving it a second thought. “Hey Alex, why

didn’t you turn our lights on? Are you sure

we’re in the right spot?” He turns toward me

with his mischievous grin spread wide on his face, “we aren’t supposed to be here, there

are people who told my uncle that this area

was off limits while they retrieved something, I bet there’s treasure down there that we can get!” I can hardly believe that Alex would willingly steal from someone, it’s more

likely that he’s just interested in the thrill

of a treasure hunt than the actual treasure, I think he’d probably give it to the owners

afterwards rather than keep it for himself. I

just hope we won’t get in too much trouble if we get caught.

We put on the oxygen tanks and Alex puts

minutes.” I don’t ask if he’s allowed to take

his goggles on as we waddle to the side of

him help me up on the deck and I go to

light to see down there?” I ask. “Oh yeah, my

the boat out without his uncle, I just let

sit on one of the side benches. I get lost in

thought watching him behind the wheel of

the boat, he seems so confident and sure of

the boat in our big flippers. “Do we need a

uncle only has one diving light, so I brought you a waterproof flashlight.” He hands me

a little blue flashlight while we get ready to

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Night Dive

dive in. Before I can sit down in the proper

I can’t hear anything besides the sounds of

straight into the water feet first, and I hurry

pounding against the ice-cold waters. I wish

position his uncle taught me, I see Alex jump to fall back to join him.

The water is freezing, and I can barely see

a thing before I turn on my flashlight. I see

Alex with his big flashlight, looking like he’s holding a megaphone while he lights up all

the water around him. He waves at me, and

he starts to swim away towards the bottom, but I can’t tell how deep it is, even Alex’s

light won’t reach the bottom. I try to keep

up with him but he’s a better swimmer than I am, and this suit keeps tugging me back

in the cold water, so it isn’t very long before my small light can’t even reach his flippers

as he swims down away from me. Why does it always feel like he’s leaving me behind

while he does whatever he wants to do? All I

wanted was to spend time with him and now I’m swimming in dark, freezing water after the only person I really care about. I keep going for a while and I still don’t see Alex

my oxygen system, and I can feel my heart Alex was here, I feel like time itself has

stopped as I try to take in the empty black sea around me. At least I thought it was

empty, as I felt something glide against my

leg for a few seconds. I feel paralyzed, I don’t move a muscle as I try to remain calm, I am

not alone in these waters, and I have no idea what just touched me. Hopefully, it was just

a fish, but of course I’m scared it might be a shark or something. No, it probably wasn’t

a shark, it felt long and flexible, almost like a snake, maybe it was an eel? I feel the

creature touch me again, this time rubbing itself against my stomach, as I reach out to touch it, I feel that it has some sort of long

fins or sails along its body, I also realize just how large it is, the section touching me now

is probably close to two feet wide. What kind of eel is like this?

I hold onto it as it slides against me, this

or the bottom, maybe I got disoriented and

time for much longer than when it was just

a chance to check which direction I’m going,

like the thing was at least thirty feet long. I

started going the wrong way. Before I have my flashlight starts to flicker, and I look

down at it as it turns off completely. It might

have been waterproof, but it probably wasn’t built to handle a scuba dive like this.

I look around myself, now completely

surrounded by the darkness of the ocean.

I can no longer see anything, even the

borders of my mask or my arms in front of

me, I check to make sure they’re still there, as if they would have left me like Alex did.

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on my leg. I can’t say for sure, but it felt

start to try and swim towards what I hope

is upwards, before I feel something smash

into my arm, it feels like someone slammed

a car door onto my shoulder as hard as they could, and I scream out into my air tank. I

can’t move my arm anymore, it feels like it’s

on fire, burning away the cold waters around me. I turn to my left arm, but I have no way of knowing what it looks like. I reach out

with my other hand to see if I can feel what

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Night Dive

happened, but I’m interrupted by the creature

me, marking the direction of the surface

As long as I don’t try to move, maybe it

one motion, slamming me forward away

moving itself along my body again.

won’t attack me again. I begin to cry into my

mask as I feel its long, spiny body swimming, running against my other arm, my calf,

and my crotch simultaneously. Why is this

before I feel the entire tank get crushed in from safety. I held my last breath of air as

the creature’s grip loosened after the tank

ruptured, probably in shock of the situation.

I swim as fast as I can after the last

happening to me? What does this creature

bit of air that was left in the tank, trying

me before it eats me? I wish Alex was here,

is somewhere above me. I feel the creature

want from me so badly? Is it just toying with he’s much better in these kinds of situations

than I am, always with some crazy plan that I go along with. Oh god, I wish Alex were

here, I wish he would just take me away from this monster and spend the rest of his days

by my side and never leave me behind again.

But Alex wasn’t here, it was just me and the sea serpent caressing me in the darkness.

I don’t know how much more of this I can

take; I can feel my feet getting numb from the cold, and my arm is still throbbing in pain

while I’m floating blindly with this monster wrapped all around me.

In the midst of feeling its long body

touching all parts of my own, I feel it

investigating my air tank. My panic renews itself as I think of how long I could last

without my air tank, in the dark, without

being able to move without being crushed.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, if I’m going

to be eaten anyway, drowning first doesn’t sound like the worst situation. I feel it

starting to ram against my air tank, I can

feel the bubbles floating out of the canister.

I reach out to see which way they are going, and the bubbles are floating away behind

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desperately to reach the boat that I know

grab the end of my flipper, and I try to take

it off before I am quickly surrounded by the serpent’s body yet again, and I thought this

must be it, I can’t go any further. What might have been my final thoughts are interrupted, as suddenly, a white light shines above

me, the first light I had seen in what felt

like forever, and I see the full extent of the creature that had plagued me on my dark

journey. Its face was just inches in front of

my own, I wonder for how long it was staring at me, its head looked almost like a horse’s, with a long jaw housing several long teeth but only in the front, coming together to

resemble two meat tenderizers almost like

buck teeth. Its skin was pale, like the color of a foggy day, it had four red sails that spread from its head down its entire body like the

layout of the letter X, and I couldn’t even see

the end of its body, a writhing mass of length lied below and around me, it must have been close to a hundred feet long. As the light

shines down on us, its olive-green eyes start

to narrow into slits like a snake’s, it opens its long mouth and lets out a hissing noise, as it recoils away from the surface down into the

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Night Dive

deep. I feel someone’s strong arm around me as I’m carried upward away from the beast.

Did Alex come back for me?

No, not Alex, this was an adult, as I look

around the surface, still in the dead of night, I see the boat that was far off before now

right ahead of me, I cough up the stale air I

was holding and gasp to get my first breaths of freedom. I look at the side of the boat, on

its front it’s labeled ‘United States Biological Anomaly Division: Marine Containment 4’.

I’m taken onto the boat where I see another man standing next to Alex, who has an

uncommonly sullen look on his face. Alex

looks up to see me being dragged into the boat with him, he relaxes for a moment,

seemingly relieved until he looks down at

my arm, his rugged, freckled face turning

white and his normally grinning lips starting to quiver. I looked down too and see that my left shoulder was practically crushed and I can’t see the rest of my arm, no doubt this

was from the massive mashing teeth of that monster. I can still feel my heart pounding

against my wetsuit, like it might break out of my chest, I’m not sure that it will ever stop

until it finally starts to slow down, and I start to black out as Alex catches me, I look up

weakly to see Alex calling for help as I close my eyes, I guess he really cares about me after all.

I wake up in a room that might have been

mistaken for one you’d find in a hospital, if it

wasn’t for all the official looking men buzzing around the hallway. I look over to see Alex

slumped over in a chair, his eyes are red as

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though he had been crying, I’ve never seen him like this, he’s always been so strong

spirited, never letting anything bring him

down, but now he was in a state of weakness that he would never let anyone see. Except I can see it, and I know that I’m the cause of

his worry. I feel guilty for the strange pride it brings me to be the only thing I’ve ever seen

him so serious about. I wonder how long he’s been at my bedside, waiting for me to wake up.

I reach out and hold his hand, they are

the chafed, strong hands of a fisherman,

but right now to me they feel more like the

soft, scared hands of a child. I sit and smile watching him as I hold his hand for a while

before he wakes up. Wearily he looks over at me and suddenly the brightness returns to his freckled face, he tries to give me a half

smile and asks if I’m feeling okay. I squeeze his hand and smile back, “never felt better.”

He blushes a little, he’s so cute when he

turns red, I wish I got to see it more often.

“Just don’t leave me behind next time.” He begins to stammer out apologies, “I-I’m

sorry, I promise I’ll never go too far ahead of

you again, I’ll stay right here with you as long as you need.” I try to mimic his signature

mischievous grin, “how about forever?” He looks a little confused, “You’re okay with

being with me for that long?” “I would love

nothing more.” The smile on his face turns so he now looks genuinely happy. “O-okay, then I can do that for you.” I never thought

I’d see the day, for as long as I’d known him, Alex was never the kind of person anyone

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Night Dive

could pin down doing any one thing, always

bouncing from one adventure to the next, the only things constant were me and his uncle.

We are interrupted by a man dressed in

a lab-coat as he enters my room holding a clipboard, “hello, I’m taking care of your

wound while you recover here, and now that you are awake, I would also like to ask you

some questions about what you encountered the other night if that’s alright.” I sat up in

my bed and realized from the shape of the bandages on my shoulder that I would no

longer have a left arm. Memories of panic

from that cold night in the sea come rushing back to me as I explain as much as I could about the beast’s appearance and actions,

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and the lab-coat man begins furiously

running a pen against his clipboard as I

relived the entire night. The man stands for

another minute while he continues scribbling down his notes until he eventually finishes

recording whatever details he thought were

of use. “Thank you very much for telling me that, I know it must have been difficult, but

we can use this information to help capture the creature, so it causes no more harm.

Is there anything else that comes to mind

about the creature?” As I hold his hand and

look over into Alex’s sea-green eyes, I smile,

finally able to spend my life with the boy I’ve

loved for a long time. “For a monster, it’s not the worst wingman.”

Art by: Charles Elmore

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Killers and Queens Jesse Greene

B

andits or skeptids, I think to myself,

contents was three exposed, barely armed

from the sandbank I keep my eyes locked to

figure out how to open the carriage door,

who would arrive first? Peering out

the lone metal wagon ahead of me, the only thing visible to break up the endless blue desert. Surely the occupants would have

an easy task for Colly, but I choose to wait longer for the ruffians to do it themselves.

Eventually giving up on overpowering the

known that even rough terrain vehicles

door, the three start hacking and shooting at

over the fine sand, especially one as heavy

their haphazard attempt to open the doors,

like the one they’ve chosen can’t move well looking as this one. They’re obviously

from off-world, probably another aspiring merchant seeking to make profit off the

rich cobalt dunes. After roughly an hour of

stalking the silver quarry, I get my answer when I see three bandits riding past the

dunes on their mag-bikes, the electricity crackling beneath them as they quickly

approach the sealed carriage, I get Colly ready to fire.

It doesn’t seem like the bandits are armed

with anything worth worrying about, one

wielding a cheap model of thermic blaster

and the other two with less than that, only holding large crude blades, amateurs. I

wait for the guards to spring forth from the

cabin, as there aren’t any external weapons on these crafts, but as the bandits begin

haphazardly shooting at the large metal

door it becomes more apparent that there isn’t anyone to defend the wagon after all,

which means all that opposes me and it’s

10

thugs. All I have to do is wait for them to

whatever parts seem exposed on the craft. In one of them happens to strike what seems to be a coolant pipe and manages to cut it open, letting the sealed cabin slowly cook from

the heat of the vehicle’s own engine. Though

judging from their continued random attacks they likely didn’t realize the significance of such an action.

Roughly fifteen minutes after slashing the

coolant, the stumped bandits are plotting

amongst themselves on how to get inside the vehicle before they are interrupted when the

cabin door opens without them touching it. I now see a well-dressed, portly man gasping out the side of the wagon, completely

drenched in sweat. The three bandits don’t take long to seize their opportunity, and

one begins holding the man at knifepoint while the second swings open the door.

Inside I don’t see anything valuable, just some clothing cases and another boiled

occupant, a past out woman in a fine blue

dress, probably ruined by her body moisture.

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The assumed leader of the three, wielding

blaster fire, and it seems I was right, when he

intentions plain as day. I line up Colly on

were on our way to an event I was invited to,

his blaster pistol, eyes her form greedily, his him first, as he’s the only potential threat of

the group, and I don’t approve of his choice of romance. The only thing of value to be gained in this situation is the merchant’s

trust, so I stay the bandit’s execution until

the pressure is at its maximum, the bandit enters the cabin, tears off the woman’s

dress, and positions himself above her, but I

hold my fire until the merchant cries out for the brigand to stop.

His prayers are answered, as half of the

assailant’s brain explodes out to coat the

cabin walls in deep crimson. I frown, I was

begins to stammer out his answer. “W-w-we but we seem to have landed in the wrong

spot and got attacked,” he looks like he may

cry while he says it. “This world isn’t a kind one, and it looks like it was the end for your

carriage here. What kind of event convinced

you to come here?” He pulls out a coordinate pad which I immediately recognize the

location of, as I had already spent countless nights scouting it for weaknesses. “The

leader of this planet is hosting a fundraiser gathering to promote the wellbeing of her people.”

“Emissary Rynthia? She’s not exactly

aiming for the center of his head but must

our leader, and she never lets anyone into

the other two have a chance to process what

have biolocked access,” I explain. “You

not have calibrated well enough. But before just happened to their dirty compatriot, I detonate both of them perfectly from the neck up, as I normally aim to do.

The now red spattered man begins

sobbing, then looking around until his eyes

train on me, a lone black silhouette against

the empty desert, my face is covered and my coattails are swaying just above the blue

sands as I begin walking toward the scene

of carnage I helped create. I help him to his

her biodome that doesn’t work for her or

mean these things?” Sure enough, the man produces two of the biolock cards used for getting past the dome’s security, and I’m even more shocked to see that he hasn’t

imprinted them yet. If I can get my hands

on them, I may finally have a way inside of Rynthia’s glass fortress. I put on my best

poker face and restrain myself from jumping at them directly.

“You really don’t need to risk your life just

feet and ask him in the most sympathetic

for a fancy party,” and the man agrees, “I

trust, “are you alright? Those men didn’t hurt

short vacation.” He looks towards the woman

voice I can muster, in an effort to gain his

you did they, I came as soon as I heard the screams.” I gamble that the man isn’t

thinking clearly enough to question my

timing or that I didn’t investigate the obvious

was only going because my wife wanted a

still lying in the cabin, sweaty, bloody, and

dress torn, the man begins to tear up a little and does his best not to cry outright. I grab

him by the shoulders, “I’ll get you out of here

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and off this planet, I know a ship station

trip, which was an admittedly low bar.

you back to wherever you launched from.

the way to a credit terminal, between my

about forty kilos from here that will take

We’ll take the bikes that the bandits used and I’ll lead you there, it should only take a few hours if we don’t stop.” I fasten the

still asleep woman to one of the bikes, and connect my lead bike to the other two.

We began making our way towards the

ship station, true to my word, trying to

avoid conversation with the man attached

behind me, and he had no problems with that arrangement. Before we arrive however, his wife finally comes back to life, and finding herself half naked, covered in blood, and

strapped to a bike being led by a stranger

over endless blue sands, immediately starts to scream for help. I slow down the magbikes and untie the woman, who briefly

tries to run away until her husband calls

out to her, “Get back here and sit down, this man saved our lives and is taking us back

to a place where we can get off this terrible

planet.” She slowly walks back to her bike,

two blood covered, ragged followers, and myself in my long black trench-coat and

black-brimmed hat, we were probably the

highlight of the day for anyone looking for

something interesting at the shipyard. The

man accesses his credit account to withdraw funds for passage on a rather small luxury ship, and turns to ask me how much I

would like as a reward. I shake my head, “I

wouldn’t want to cause you any more trouble than you’ve already experienced here, but if you’re leaving anyways, would it be alright if I took those biolock activators off your

hands? I would hate to let them go to waste.”

My real goal is now finally within reach, and

I didn’t have to build a bounty on my head to get it. “Ten thousand it is, and you can have those keycards too.” I didn’t expect him to

pay me credits anyways, but the look on his face makes me know that I

shouldn’t refuse, still though, such an

amount was more than most people here

wants someone to explain what happened

generous of him.

leading to this situation, but between my

would see in a year, so it was certainly

I take my filled pouch of hundred credit

cold returning stare and her husband who

coins, and watch the two launch off to

better not to ask, and remained silent the rest

from, now to find the perfect partner for

refused to look at her, she decided it was of the way.

I make sure to avoid any nearby skeptid

nests and we don’t run into any more bandits either, so we arrive at the ship port in no

worse condition than when we started the

12

We receive the stares of many gawkers on

trying to cover her sensitive areas, by her look of panic and confusion, she clearly

Spring 2024

whatever station or planet they came here this two man operation. The coordinate pad the rich man had shown me referenced the

eighteenth, likely the date of the gathering,

so I had three days to gather all the supplies I needed, the hardest to find was sure to be

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my plus one, needing to be someone who

a sealing door which lets out no sound. The

party than I would, which isn’t saying much.

moves to sit on the only bed in the room and

was capable and looking less out of place at a Four taverns later and only taking one

day, I find one, a young Asian girl with no visible scars aside from the effects of the sand, and a robotic arm. Her physique

suggested she might work at a tavern or be a merchant’s wife, but her demeanor and

large rifle suggested otherwise. I don’t even finish my approach before she warns me,

door hisses closed behind me, while she

starts to undo her hair, as if I wasn’t in the

room and she was getting ready for bed. “So tell me, what’s this job where you need me

to do it? I’m guessing I’ll be someone’s wife?

Or do you just like pretty girls at your side?”

She must get requests like these often. “I’m raiding the biodome.”

This pauses her from continuing her

“don’t even think of it, I’m perfectly happy

nighttime routine, as she was in the

as old and weird as you.” Besides my silver

looks at me like I just insulted her, hands

alone and I definitely won’t go for someone

hair reaching down to my shoulders, and my frayed eyes, no other part of me is visible, all covered by my black clothing, but she still recognized me all the same. “I’m here to

offer you a proposition,” I slightly expose my

coin pouch, now knowing she can see it even across the room. “I don’t sell myself either,

there’s plenty of girls with less wits than me you can stalk for.” I finish walking towards her regardless, she engages her rifle but

doesn’t aim it at me, staring me in the half of

my wrinkled face that’s visible. “I don’t desire you for sex, but I have need of your body and skills for a job.”

She thinks for a moment, with her human

hand reaching to her chin, the robotic one still holding the rifle, “explain it to me

upstairs, I have a room we can use if you

aren’t bullshitting me.” I follow her up to her room, normally rented just so people can sleep together away from

prying eyes, so there are no windows and

middle of unfastening her chest-piece, she still behind her back, “are you stupid or

something? I thought you old guys knew a thing or two around here, no one can

take the biodome without a small army.” I

pull out the unactivated biolock imprinters, “we don’t need one if we have these.” She

knows exactly what I’m holding, and just how valuable they are around here. She quickly finishes getting undressed, and offers the

other side of the bed to me. I refuse, instead

opting for the blue armchair for the night, as this is likely a ploy to take my coin and my

keys once we’re both unarmed thanks to her mechanical limb, I wonder how many times she’s done this. We both look at each-other

while she tries different positions and noises to change my mind, before she eventually

sighs, defeated, “could you at least take off that ridiculous coat and let me see your

face?” I suppose it’s only fair, considering she has already exposed herself to me

completely, I undo my bandana, and pull my

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Killers and Queens

arms from the long sleeves of my trench-

intelligent, and needed to grow a new queen

wrap all throughout my body.

but I don’t tell her that. “So what’s your

a whole nest of skeptids? I’ve never seen that

crazy heist after all.” Looks like she wasn’t

the next day.” “The nest wasn’t an issue for

I won’t be taking on the mission alone. “You

of the mint colored crevasses on my cracked,

a Zyth before, not sure if I will again.” She

I saw them. “How did you get away?” She

night as well. Clarissa wakes up and looks

treating me as a potential target. “I didn’t,

probably not used to sharing a room despite

shreds, and let me go, I’ve been like this

fall asleep, though I don’t think she’d betray

queens, I thought they were all just mindless

she seems more tired now than when she

I had to take to avoid the colony’s police

and get my coat on, ready for the next day.

the bugs. I try to explain the power of what

incursion, switching my once pure black,

insects are only a few feet long wielding

trench-coat for a new coat-tailed tuxedo and

green venom all throughout their body, the

same. For Clarissa, we pick out a blue lacy

whole nest, with armor so thick even Colly

Looking at her now, she might pass even for

in that battle. And not every nest has one

She’s smiling and giggling while she spins

coat to reveal the glowing green scars that

whenever she grew close to end of her life,

Her eyes widened, “holy crap, did you fight

name, anyway? I think I’ll join you on your

much scarring on someone who wasn’t dead

planning on helping me to start, but at least

me, it was the queen.” I gingerly touch one

can call me Zyth.” “Clarissa, haven’t met

gray arms, more faded than the last time

rolls over in bed, and I get ready for the

seems genuinely interested now, no longer

at me multiple times throughout the night,

their queen tore me to

her earlier act, she must be waiting for me to

ever since.” “I didn’t even know skeptids had

me if I did. Eventually morning comes, and

killing machines.” I recall the fateful trip

started the night, while I haven’t moved at all

force, I figured I would fare better against

I start with picking out our clothes for the

I encountered that day, “while the normal

now azure dust covered ten-gallon hat and

tough cobalt skin, sharp claws, and wicked

a black top hat, keeping my bandana the

queen is as large as ten, and tougher than a

flower dress, with earrings and high heels.

couldn’t pierce it, and so I ended up the loser

a councilor’s trophy wife.

either, there’s only one queen on the whole

and poses in front of the store mirror, the

that day.”

which I couldn’t have afforded without the

subsisting off of the glowing fungus beneath

thank him for helping me achieve my goal

forever, but the queen was special, she was

a handheld cryostasis chamber, used for

planet at a time, so I was really just unlucky

outfits only cost just over a thousand credits,

Skeptids normally don’t die of age, just

rich man’s generosity after all, so I silently

the sands, and the blue desert itself,

14

Spring 2024

yet again. I spend another hundred on

Art by: Samantha Gerkin

The Forge

Forge Master

Spring 2024

15

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Killers and Queens

transporting specific materials, I then pay

picture. Mine however, is taking much longer,

with a hidden chamber. I hand Clarissa the

well, the card seems to be thinking while a

another three hundred for it to be modified rest of my credits and instruct her to find a

carriage for us to arrive in, which leaves her more excited than when she got to choose

with Clarissa eager to see my information as small circle spins on its screen, eventually, it pulls up my

name as well: Walkeen G Zythers and

her clothing. I tell her to wait for me back at

shows a much healthier picture of myself,

I have to go and fill my new canister.

to match my past to my present. With

the tavern we slept at the night before, while I return the morning of the heist, seeing a

new vehicle in front with Clarissa sleeping

inside of it, mouth open, still in the dress we bought the day before. It’s a bright orange

I would have been confused too, trying

identification in tow, we head across the

desert towards Rynthia’s biodome, a large circular structure composed of steel and

glass almost a meter thick, and crawling

little craft, with huge wheels covered in

with guards at all hours. I sense the

the fine blue sand, it’s a bit of an eyesore

feel its location from all the time I had spent

long treads meant to gain more traction on contrasted to the cobalt sand lying around it,

but I guess that’s the criteria for us to appear

structure even before it’s visible, as if I can imagining how to break in.

As we pull up to the entrance, a security

wealthy enough to belong at this fundraiser.

guard stops us, “please show us your biolock

awake, probably from the only sleep she had

guard looks at our cards for a moment, then

I rap against the door, startling Clarissa

in days. “Oh, it’s you, I decided to stay with the wagon just to make sure no one stole

it.” While it is possible someone would be

brash enough to steal a cart from the middle of town, I think she was just happy relishing

the taste of luxury, even if it is in the form of the ugliest car I’ve ever seen. She unlatches the door for me, and I place the canister

between us. “Took you long enough to fill

that thing anyway, what’s in it?” I tell her she’ll find out later.

We begin activating the biolock keys to our

genetic fingerprints at the same time, and

Clarissa pulls up her name almost instantly,

reading: Clarissa M Barnes and showing her

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Spring 2024

cards and we can let you through.” The

looks back at the two of us, and back to the cards, “are you sure this is your card, sir?

Could you lower your mask so I can properly identify you?” I’m about to oblige him as I don’t see many options besides exposing

the green scars around my neck and mouth, but Clarissa stops me, “oh honey, I told you

not to get all that surgery right before the big party, now remember I won’t let you take off

that mask until it’s healed, I only married you for your looks, after all.” I guess that means Clarissa is the wealthy one and I’m the

trophy, I still look rather handsome on my id card anyway, I can work with this. I turn to the guard and try to act cheerful when I tell

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Killers and Queens

Spring 2024

him, “sorry, I’m more scared of the wife than

killed?” I speak to her very calmly after, “they

search your vehicle since I can’t properly

I needed to gain access to their science

security.” He sighs, “alright, well I’ll need to identify you.”

He rummages around for a bit, looking for

any hidden contraband onboard, but there is nothing except the canister by our feet,

are extremely important for my mission,

department.” She sighs, knowing that half of the valuables in this place would just be the tools that the government uses.

We mingle around a grand ballroom type

he starts trying to open it before I warn him,

area filled with several wealthy or prominent

wanted to offer them to lady Rynthia for her

generals in the crowd, there are several

“careful, that jar is full of skeptid eggs, I science experiments, I heard she’s been

doing all sorts of tests on them.” The guard looks me in the eyes, trying to gauge me,

“I don’t know where you heard that, those

tests are top planetary secrets.” “I have many

sources for information,” I explain to him. He opens the jar anyways, and sure enough, his eyes widen as his face is covered in the

green light of the skeptid eggs. He quickly seals the container, and hands it back to me, as nearby skeptids can sense when

their eggs aren’t where they should, and

will stop at practically nothing to get them

people. I recognize some diplomats and

gourmet dishes laid out and waiters running around the room. Clarissa is chatting up

several of the men at the party, and some of the women too, no doubt scheming for their pocketbooks behind closed doors. I sense that their science department would be

below the rest of the structure, but I cannot locate the entrance from the room we’re in.

It’s likely connected to the central garden that’s filled with alien plants and some

animals, which the biodome was named after.

Eventually, one of the staff appears on a

back. “I haven’t seen eggs that glow that

balcony over our room, “Emissary Rynthia

science team know you’re heading there.”

to the garden, where she will address the

much before, they must be special, I’ll let the He seems nervous, but these very special

eggs won’t alert any skeptids unless they are broken, not that he needs to know that.

We are finally let through, and as soon

as we’re out of earshot of the guards and the valet taking our cart away, Clarissa

would like all of you to please enter this way meaning of this fundraiser.” Entering the

garden without being alone makes sneaking around it much easier, and we enter as a

crowd of well-dressed people trampling on alien dirt. Rynthia is

standing on a raised platform in the

punches me in the arm, luckily not with her

center of the green and brown garden, much

“are you crazy? What are you doing with

outside. Rynthia is a dark-skinned politician,

robotic fist. Under her breath, she whispers, skeptid eggs? Are you trying to get yourself

different than the empty blue fields just

and her outfit is a tight white gown made

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from some sort of rubber or latex, with a

but before the door can close behind me,

shade of cobalt blue as the rest of the

“Not so fast.” I turned to see who was

stripe down the middle in the same

planet, she appears rather attractive for a government agent.

“As you all heard from the invitation, this

fundraiser will be to raise the wellbeing of

the people on planet Skeptar-1. As some of

you may already know, this planet is plagued by lawlessness after the first colonists

behind me. “You didn’t think you’d have all the fun without me right?” Clarissa

closes the door, looking at me with a sly

grin, I thought she was busy with the deep

pocketed group in the garden. “I am going to take something very valuable from

this facility, and it’s going to get violent.”

I undo the hidden layer of the canister on

only creature native to this planet was hostile

weapon. Clarissa looks at it for a moment,

to all other life, and there is no doubt that is how it became the apex predator here. After the wealthier colonists left off the planet,

the only ones left were those who could not

escape, and desperation became the law of the land. In order for peace and prosperity

to come to Skeptar-1, we must first pacify its

natives, and with the science being done here at this facility, we have discovered that the

creatures can be killed with red phosphorus.

With your help, we can create enough

weapons and hire enough people that we can cleanse this planet and let operations continue here.”

Most of the people in the crowd seem

enthusiastic, after all, this planet is made almost entirely of cobalt and it would be

the bottom, and slide it open to retrieve my “what are you going to do, scan them to death?” My weapon does look similar to

a merchant’s transaction scanner, which

I’ve taken advantage of in the past during

surprise inspections. “This is Colly, she fires

clusters of unstable ions that I can determine the distance of before they explode,” I

explain. Colly is a one-of-a-kind prototype that got scrapped for being too difficult

and dangerous to use. As it’s not a normal

projectile, Colly’s ion bursts leave no laser trail, but I have to manually turn a dial to

determine the distance before they explode, making her simultaneously the perfect

weapon for an assassin, and for someone who likes a challenge, I used to be both.

We make our way down a set of stairs

extremely cheap to gather it if the skeptids

which lead to a sterile looking white hallway,

that looks like it leads underground, that

different tests being run on skeptids, in the

weren’t a constant threat. I find a door

must be where the lab is located. I sneak inside without any trouble, as there were

very few guards on the interior of the dome,

18

someone catches it.

couldn’t gather the cobalt that lies all over

this planet. The reason why is because the

Spring 2024

we get to the end of it and see several

center of the room is a large green egg with several tubes and sensors all around it.

Some scientists are in the room, and one

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Killers and Queens

of them asks if I’m the one with the strange

Suddenly, a slight rumbling can be felt all

eggs. I nod, opening my canister to reveal

around us, we exit back to the garden area

scientists eagerly gather around me to view

scratching noise. Clarissa looks up with the

the brighter than normal skeptid eggs, the their new plaything. I turn to Clarissa,

“Now.” She looks a little confused, so I move my eyes to the scientist closest to her, she understands.

One blow from Clarissa’s cybernetic arm

is all it took to snap the researcher’s neck, while the other four in the room watch in

horror as she moves to grab her second one.

The rest start to run, but I stop the two who

are on their way to a panic button, the last is

still standing in shock of the situation before his head is bent backwards into his spine by

a robotic hand. “Good job, now we can finish this.” I take the canister filled with eggs, and I empty it, smashing all of them against the ground. “What the hell are you doing?” My

partner asks, more confused than angry. “I

Spring 2024

where we can hear blaster fire and a horrific rest of the guests at the glass dome now

being covered in the green glow of skeptids with their blue shells and claws scraping against the surface. I keep walking to the

exit as the scratching gets louder and the

blasters stop firing. Clarissa runs over and

screams at me over the cries of the guests

and the noise of the bugs, “did you do this? Is that what those eggs were for? How the hell

do you think we’re getting out of here now?”

I don’t say a word, and keep heading through the ballroom area to the front entrance,

where two guards are waiting to see if the doors will hold. I already know that they

will, even the skeptids can’t breach walls this thick, that’s why they needed me.

The two guards immediately fall to the

needed room, this is all part of the plan.”

ground, red circles on their shoulders where

to the large egg in the center of the room,

with me one last time but I can’t even pay

I disconnect the various wires attached

and place it in my canister instead. “Let’s go, before things get bad.” She looks at me even more confused than before, “what do you

mean, you stopped them from alerting the

guards.” I pull my mask down, showing the

green etchings in my face, when I turn to her, “they didn’t alert the guards, but I did.” She

doesn’t understand what I mean yet, but she will. “Shouldn’t we take some of this other

stuff? Is that egg really so valuable?” I speak

to her one last time, “it’s worth more than my life.”

their heads should be. Clarissa pleads

attention to her words, now so close to

achieving my goal. I open the large metal

door, and the bugs start flowing in, weaving around me, careful not to disturb the new queen, Clarissa is not as fortunate, as I

turn to see her swept away by the hoard

of sharp, toxic creatures, her face showing

excruciating pain, I wonder if more from the acid or betrayal.

I make my way back to the queen, her

form practically falling apart after all this time. Making those special eggs for me

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Killers and Queens

may have been her last act of good for the

hive. I produce her heir from the jar I had carried, and she collapses, finally with no

need to keep holding onto life. I had fulfilled my purpose for the hive as well, and as she

breathes her last, my dead gray skin begins to fall away, exposing no blood beneath. I

sit and spend my last moments holding onto

the massive egg, it cracks open, and the new queen is born as I let my human remains

turn to dust around her, the perfect ruler for this blue desert world.

20

Spring 2024

The Forge

Spring 2024

The End Thomas Malinovskaya

T

he first breath is always the worst.

Soil and dust and occasionally beetles

flooding down her throat. No matter how

often she does this, her lungs always try to

expel the foreign matter, never remembering that there’s nowhere for it to go. There’s no air down here. If she wants air, she has to climb out.

She knows this, but her body forgets every

time. She has to force her hands up through the topsoil, feeling for free space. It’s a

shallow grave, but it still feels like forever

until she can scrape the dust off of her face, lean onto her side, and vomit out the dirt.

She tries not to notice it wriggling as she

heaves. It scrapes the inside of her throat

and scratches against the back of her gums.

She’ll need to brush her teeth after this.

It takes her another few minutes of just

breathing, eyes still covered by dirt, until

she can sit up. Her body always forgets that,

every time. It’s still alive. She’s still alive. She wipes the dirt out of her eyes.

He’s there, sitting in his folding chair a

few feet away. His hiking boots are caked in

the same dirt as her scalp. Jeans tucked into them. Flannel. Sleeves rolled up. She scans his body, familiar as it is, from the bottom

to the top of his head. Scant facial hair that

comes from not shaving often enough rather than being a deliberate choice. She finally

meets his eyes. Brown. They crinkle at the corners as he meets her gaze.

“Hey, kiddo,” he says, almost a whisper.

“Hey, Dad,” she rasps out.

It sounds more like a screech than a voice,

but he smiles anyway.

—

Charlie’s been with her dad for a while

now. He says it’s been just over five years.

She doesn’t think about the time before, so she might as well have known him forever.

He tells her she’s about thirteen now.

He likes talking and she likes listening

to him talk, usually as he lifts her out of

the grave and carries her out to the truck.

He tells her she’s thirteen and her name’s Charlie Woods and he’s sorry. He likes

repeating that he’s sorry as he gets the water jug out. She

shuts her eyes as the water runs in dirty

streams down her face and touches one

thumb to her chest in the sign of ‘it’s okay’.

“I’m sorry.”

I’m okay.

“I’m so sorry, babe.”

I’m okay.

“There you go, you’re gorgeous again.” He

swipes a rag over her face, leaving a blank halo of ‘clean’ while her shaved scalp and neck are still grimy.

She grins.

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The End

He grins back. “Let’s get you out of those

most of their conversations go. He talks

—

comforting. She lets his words cover her

clothes.”

An hour later, she has his flannel against

her bare skin. She’s bundled herself into a ball leaning against the passenger’s-side

door. Her temple’s pressed against the cool

and she doesn’t really need to respond. It’s along with the flannel and watches the trees

while The Doors sing about the end (my only friend, the end).

It’s dusk (slightly darker gray sky) by the

glass. If she closes one eye, she can watch

time they arrive at the agreed upon campsite.

dawn and everything is gray.

Sam, Dad’s oldest friend. Black skin and

the countryside pass by. It’s the hour before They just passed the border into California.

There’s no trees out. It’s all dusty. Dad says it’s always been dusty like that, even before everything ended. He gets sad in some of

The others are already there. Charlie sees

cowboy hat pulled down over his eyes as he leans back in his seat. There’s Jacob. Dusty hair,

blue eyes. And there’s a new guy that

the other places. When they were North,

Charlie doesn’t recognize. He looks lanky,

for a while staring at the mud. “There used

the way. And young. He’s maybe a few years

in Washington, he left the truck and stood

to be trees there,” he said. “So many trees, Charlie. You can’t even imagine.”

She couldn’t, but she tried to make him

happy.

She tries to imagine it now. That dust cloud

is a tree. That cloud is a big, tall tree. The

dust turns into leaves. The yellow becomes green and brown.

Dad puts one of their last remaining

cassettes into the slot. The Doors start playing. She hums along.

“We’re stopping soon,” he says. “Meeting

Sam and the others.”

She doesn’t stop humming as she drops

her head into a nod.

like his joints haven’t finished forming all

older than her. She lets Dad climb out of the truck first. Sam and Jacob yell greetings to him, so she can slip out of her side’s door

relatively unnoticed. That’s how they prefer

it, she’s learned. No matter how many times Dad says she’s gorgeous, strangers get scared when they look at her.

She knows why. Dark circles under her

eyes. Pallid skin. Scars all over. Stubble of hair along her head. Teeth that are

perpetually dirty. And she’s tiny for her age,

and her teeth are too sharp, and the way she walks around barefoot is creepy, and, and, and. It’s easier to sulk in the shadows.

Dad goes to greet the men. Hands clasp,

“He said they’d bring some food. How

shoulders are thumped. He sits down by the

It’s been a while. He knows it has. But

it. Despite herself, Charlie steps closer. It

long’s it been since we had barbecue, huh?” he’s not really expecting a reply. This is how

22

Spring 2024

fire. It’s already got something frying over smells like meat. She’s starved for meat.

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The End

As soon as the firelight hits her face,

though, she remembers why she stays in

the shadows because the new kid gasps and goes for his gun.

Sam and Dad both yell, twin “No”s ringing

out across the dark, but they’re drowned out

daughter, so you shut your goddamn mouth!

You’ve done enough.” The last thing Charlie hears before the sky goes black is the boy crying, “That’s a fucking monster, man.”

—

Dirt. Beetles. Air. Dad was waiting for her

by the gunshot.

in a folding chair. Routines are comforting.

she registers. Buckshot. It hit her in the

many days. Behind him, Sam and the others

Charlie gets thrown backwards. Shotgun,

chest, with enough bullets sprayed out to

cover most of her top half. There’s a hole in

the middle of her body. That’s not supposed to be there. She’s in shock, laying with her face

pressed against the dirt and, instead of

pain that she knows she should be feeling, she just feels a deep sense of wrongness.

There’s a hole in her that isn’t supposed to be

Spring 2024

He washes her off, for the second time in as

are gathered around the remains of the fire.

It’s morning. She missed the barbecue. Once she’s washed and changed, Dad walks her over to the others.

“Okay,” he says. His jaw is set. He looks

straight at the kid. “This is Charlie. She’s my kid.”

She waves, awkwardly.

“Danny,” the kid mutters. She almost

there. Big, calloused hands flip her over and

doesn’t hear him. He’s staring at his feet. She

asks, cupping her face. “Baby, you with me?”

over Sam’s shoulder.

she’s staring up into Dad’s face. “Baby?” he

She opens her mouth and comes out with a

wet gurgle.

“Goddamnit,” he whispers, turning over

his shoulder to yell at the fire. “Goddamnit, I just dug her up!”

She can feel blood running down her

chin. This isn’t bad. It feels like it’ll be quick.

Sam’s gravelly voice says, “I’m sorry, Jim. He didn’t know better.”

“Yeah, well, you should’ve told him!”

“I did. He’s a trigger-happy dumbass.”

notices his shotgun is now firmly strapped “Didn’t catch that,” Dad says.

“Danny,” he repeats, louder. His eyes

flicker up, meet Charlie’s, and then flicker back down.

She forgets just how scared people can

get. Most of the ones who make a big fuss about it don’t get a chance to do it for very

long before she kills them. She hasn’t met

a person she’s just supposed to talk to in a while.

When she met Sam, he gripped his beer

“Tell him he can dig the goddamn grave.

until his knuckles turned white and his voice

Then, there’s a younger voice, breaking,

Jacob started muttering some words of a

Shovel his own shit.”

“What the fuck is that thing!?” “That’s my

got a bit strained, but otherwise he was fine. prayer. Nothing like this, though. Maybe it’s

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The End

because Danny’s so young.

“He’s too young,” Dad mutters, echoing

her thoughts. “Shouldn’t be doing this.” She

where Charlie comes in.

The San Francisco settlement doesn’t send

anybody out. Sam waits for an hour before

“I know you’re thirteen, baby. You’re just

but there’s a faint smile on his face. Charlie

so much more mature than this dipshit.”

“Enough,” Sam says. His voice is soft, but it

he heads back to the rest of them. He shrugs, grins and runs to the truck to get her Hi Vis. The vest is torn up and battered from

gets Dad to stop talking. Danny, who had his

her five years using it, but it works for its

in approval. “Now then. We’re all here and

yellow draws the light, making her extremely

mouth open to retort, closes it. Sam nods,

mostly in one piece. Let’s go over the plan.”

—

The plan is always more or less the same.

They find a settlement that’s doing as well as anyone can, in these times. (The settlement is in the area Dad says San Francisco used to be. It’s mostly swamp, but they have

access to some water they’ve been boiling

intended purpose. The remaining neon

visible to anyone with a flashlight. (This is

why they wait until dark for this part of the

plan. Dad says that makes it more effective.)

The vest comes down to about her knees,

hanging on her like a dress. Dad says she

looks gorgeous. Danny looks anywhere but at her. Jacob prays. And then dark comes.

Dad kisses her on her forehead, once, and

for salt, Danny says. Apparently he used to

gestures towards the settlement. They’ve

doesn’t ask why.)

Danny says Golden Gate Park should be.

live there before they kicked him out. Charlie One of them, usually Sam, gets their

T-shirt on a stick that functions as a

white flag and approaches the settlement.

Sometimes they’ll send someone out to talk.

If they do and they agree to let Sam and the

others come in and share their resources for a bit, the plan ends there.

If they don’t agree or they don’t send

anyone out at all or, occasionally, if they try

built up a brick wall on the outskirts of where Charlie walks through the remains of the

city. Big buildings collapsed into the street

like animal carcasses. Graffiti drawings on

brick walls; women in colorful head scarves that have gotten faded over time, strange

green aliens with big heads, A’s in circles.

Someone’s written “this is the end” over and over in red.

Charlie starts to hum The Doors song

to shoot Sam (white flag or not, Sam stands

again as she approaches the brick wall.

He’s shown Charlie the bullet scars on his

“Halt!” someone on a makeshift guard

out of rifle range for these negotiations.

shoulders and let her run her fingers over them, gently. He’s learned that lesson the

24

hard way, he said. She likes Sam), that’s

pulls on his sleeve and holds a finger to her chin, signing.

Spring 2024

There’s a gate, and barbed wire on top.

tower yells. “Stop right there!” And then a

flashlight hits the Hi Vis and the guard starts

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screaming.

hundred people. (She counts the bodies,

When Dad first took her on a job, a few

and kills a couple dozen. Once the others

Charlie used to be really bad at this part.

weeks after he got her, she stood where he

put her, in front of settlement walls, and she cried. She sobbed for Dad to come get her

out of there as the settlement’s guards shot her full of holes.

She’s older now.

The guard starts screaming and she

breaks into a run. Bare feet slapping the

surface of the asphalt. She gets a running

Spring 2024

after.) She gets shot a couple dozen times have mounted their siege towers and gotten it over with, she just lays on the floor, breathing while she still can. She can’t quite see the

stars because of all the smoke, but she looks at the sky anyway.

And then the sky gets replaced by Dad’s

face as he leans down to scoop her up in his arms. “You still with me, kiddo?”

She wheezes out something that’s

start and makes her way up the wall. It’s

supposed to be a ‘yes’.

say.

guys had been as good as you.” She smiles.

She launches herself off the edge of the wall

crack as she does. “Sam’s setting up a

about ten feet tall. Amateur hour, Sam would The barbed wire barely gives her pause.

and onto the guard, sending both of them

flying off the tower to the ground below. He’s shot her maybe eight times by now. They

land hard enough she hears his spine break

below her. She bites his jugular anyway. Dad says that’s part of the effect.

She looks up, letting the blood drip down

her chin. Floodlights hit her face. There’s more screaming.

She knows Dad and the others are right

behind her. While she’s drawing the fire,

“You’re a tank, baby. Wish half the army

She can feel the dried blood on her chin

campfire. Does that sound nice, baby? We’re just gonna sit and wait now. I know it hurts, but it’s gonna be over in a sec, okay?”

Yeah. She knows. Her top half feels like

it’s been torn open. Maybe because it has

been. She tries to focus on just being there,

on just being alive. She’s dead weight as Dad sits down in his chair with her in his lap,

tucks her head into the crook of his neck, and rocks her back and forth.

She curls a fist into his flannel shirt and

Danny will get his rifle and Jacob will get his

waits. She doesn’t pay attention to the voices

sawed-off and they’ll get their “siege towers”

too loud for that), but she hears Sam say,

semi-automatic and Sam will get the army

(metal fold-out ladders) up to the wall. And

from there, it’s ducks in a barrel, Dad says.

(Dad will stay back and wait to scoop her up once the fire’s burned out.)

It’s a pretty big settlement. Maybe a

of the others (the screaming in her chest is “God bless Charlie.”

Danny mutters, “You shouldn’t have named

it. It’s not a person.”

Dad hums. “Charlie’s a good name for a

good girl.”

25

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“Didn’t you used to have a dog named

Charlie?” Jacob asks.

“She was a good girl too.”

to Dad.

He takes them, turning them over. His

frown deepens when she shows him her

This time, when she wakes up, her pinky

question.

finger gone blue.

She doesn’t think much of it, at first. She

doesn’t even notice it until Sam asks her

about it, halfway through the morning, with a frown. She shrugs. He forces a smile, but there’s something behind his eyes that she can’t really name.

Maybe that’s why she doesn’t tell Dad. —

The settlement had started growing

its own crops. It had some sort of water

feet. He looks over at Sam with an unspoken Sam sighs. “We knew something like this

could happen, Jim. You shouldn’t have taken her in the first place. We don’t know what they did to her back at that lab–” Charlie

hears the word ‘lab’ and then she doesn’t

hear anything at all for a while as her brain starts playing gentle TV static.

When she comes to, it’s evening and the

fire’s out.

—

It only gets worse as the weeks go on.

purifying system, too. They’d even gotten

Pretty soon, all ten of her fingers are blue

luxury. So, of course, Dad decides they’ll stay

like there’s a lump where her guts should be.

some of the toilets working again, a rare there for a while.

Which means that, for the first time in a

while, Charlie’s alone to do whatever she

and turning purple. Her stomach gets hard, She starts vomiting up food. Her teeth feel loose. So do her fingernails.

She’s always been skinny but now, she

wants. The first few days, she climbs up

starts bloating.

length of it. She spends a solid hour in the

coming off.

and trying to imagine what they’d be like all

hurts. She stuffs her shirt into her mouth

into a pit and dances around while he lights

the animal moans that come out of her own

to the top of the wall and runs down the

makeshift garden, staring at the little trees

grown up. She helps Jacob pile all the bodies them on fire.

The next morning, her other pinky’s blue,

too. Following some half-formed suspicion,

she pulls the blanket off of her feet. Her toes are blue.

She runs out to where the men are

26

preparing breakfast and sticks her hands out

Charlie keeps wheezing in and out for

another hour before she finally dies. —

Spring 2024

And then, a month in, her skin starts Charlie’s no stranger to pain, but this

and spends days in bed trying not to hear

mouth as the skin of her hands turns black

and comes off completely. Like a glove. Flies have been following her around for a while now and she doesn’t have the strength to scare them off anymore.

Where’s Dad? she thinks, through the haze

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Spring 2024

of pain. Where is he?

keeps going.

He gets a rag to wipe her face. She’s barely

be going to make a sacrifice. Isaac was a

hard to hear him over her wailing, but she’s

father, so he followed him up to the top of the

It’s Jacob, not Dad, who comes to visit her.

aware of him until he starts talking. It’s powerless to stop it.

“You know what the Torah is?” he asks.

She screams. “No, I’d guess not…it’s

basically a really old story. You like stories, Charlie?”

Charlie tries to nod. She wills herself to

stop screaming, but her throat keeps making the noises anyway.

She always thought Jacob merely tolerated

her presence, but now, he sits with his back against her bed (she claimed one of the

settlement’s abandoned twin beds) and he

Abraham took his son and told him they’d

good Jewish boy and didn’t question his

mountain, where Abraham tackled him, tied him up, and got ready to kill him.

Charlie can see this part. The yellow hill,

the knife glinting in the sun, and Isaac.

Poor Isaac, who can’t understand what he

did wrong because he didn’t do anything to deserve this and his dad’s supposed to love him.

An angel flew down and grabbed

Abraham’s arm to stop him and said he passed God’s test of his faith.

The moral is supposed to be that the Lord

talks.

can give and take away.

was a man named Abraham. He really

happily ever after.

Abraham named him Isaac. (Charlie’s not

how Isaac could ever have trusted his dad

person who made everything, so she takes

took up a knife to cook? Did he avoid higher

He tells her that once upon a time, there

wanted a son and one day, God gave him one. clear on who God is, but Jacob says he’s the his word for it. She imagines the whole story, over her pain. Abraham has an unshaved

face and wears a flannel. Isaac has sunken eyes and pallid skin.)

Abraham loved his son and was happier

than anything until one day, when Isaac was a teenager, God spoke to Abraham and told him to bring Isaac to the top of a mountain and slit his throat as a sacrifice to God.

Abraham cried and asked God not to tell him to do this, but God insisted.

Jacob pauses, here. Then he sighs and

Abraham untied his son and they lived Charlie wishes she had the words to ask

after that. Did he flinch every time Abraham ground? Did he hate God, after that, even if

he wouldn’t have admitted it even to himself?

Jacob rubs a hand over her shaved scalp

and leaves, but Charlie keeps thinking about the story.

Because sacrificing your child is wrong, no

matter how good the cause. (But that’s not what Dad’s doing, because she can’t die.)

Except she’s dying now, isn’t she?

(But he didn’t know that would happen.

She’s always come back.)

That doesn’t mean she didn’t feel pain.

27

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(Does pain matter when there’s no

crunch.

Yes. Pain matters. Her pain matters. On

scream when she realizes it doesn’t hurt.

permanent damage done?)

some level, she knows this. Her pain is still pain.

(“But–”)

He named her after his dog.

Her screaming doesn’t have anything to do

with her hands decomposing, then. —

The pain abates when her whole hands

have gone black. It’s still there, but it’s like getting shot. She can handle the pain of getting shot any day.

She walks outside the house and finds the

settlement empty.

The sky is gray. The sun is up. There’s

no trace of Dad and the others except the remains of the fire.

For a second, she thinks she must have

missed something. She stumbles around,

looking for them everywhere. It doesn’t take her long to cover the whole perimeter. Their trucks are gone.

They left her there to die.

She vaults over the wall and starts walking

through the city until she reaches the

The flesh is dead.

She sits on the dusty highway and lets the

raccoon eat her hand, petting it with her other one.

The static in her head is getting steadily

louder.

—

It takes her two days to reach them. She

walks into their camp at dusk. Sam’s the first one to see her. He mutters a curse and goes for his rifle.

She stops just within the range of the

firelight and opens her mouth to scream. It comes out more like a wheezing roar.

Dad gets up, hands out. “Hey now,” he says.

“Don’t be like that, baby.” “You left me,” she rasps.

“We didn’t know if you’d make it. I love you,

you know I would have– Jesus, Charlie, what happened to your hand?” His brows furrow,

like he’s worried. He is worried. He’s worried about her.

She takes a step closer to him, more from

instinct than anything else. She barely has

anger, either. Just static.

focus on something else before Danny hits

After an hour of walking, a raccoon starts

walking parallel to her. She stops and stares at it. It stares back. She crouches down and holds out her hand to it.

It comes closer, sniffs, and licks at it. She

smiles.

Then, it bites down on her fingers with a

28

She’s about to pull her hand away and

highway headed South. There’s no question

in her mind of coming after them. There’s no

Spring 2024

time to see his eyes flicker behind her to the back of her head with a shovel.

The asphalt tastes familiar. She tries

to move her arms and legs, but can’t get

anything other than a twitch out of them.

“Did you have to do that?” Jacob asks. His

voice is toneless.

“What, going soft in your old age?” Dad

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says. “She was useful and she was a sweet

kid, but look at her. Something’s been eating her, for fuck’s sake.”

to cast her out like an expired can of food, she can still give them hell.

She finds their camp, following tire tracks.

“Told ya we should have used a coffin.”

It’s the usual shit: three trucks in a rough

“Yeah, yeah.” Dad sighs. He sounds like

It used to be hers, too. (It still is. Maybe

Danny.

he’s standing directly over her now. “Let’s

give her a proper grave one last time. I doubt

she’ll be able to crawl out at all, in this state.”

Charlie tries to tilt her head to look at Jacob.

She tries to tell him that she understands

Spring 2024

circle around a fire. She crawls under Dad’s. they’ll take her back after–) That doesn’t

matter anymore. All that matters is anger.

Isaac grabs his father’s wrist because an angel isn’t coming to save him.

There’s a noise, far in the distance. Charlie

now. She understands how Isaac felt as Dad

cocks her head to listen a second before the

nails the lid shut.

engines. Sam’s on his feet first, waving a

lifts her up and puts her in a wooden box and —

If she still had fingernails, she would have

scraped them raw on the coffin lid. As it is,

she smashes the stumps of her hands into it until she can hear bones snapping and then she smashes them some more until the lid

splinters out and soil comes flooding in. And then she climbs.

There’s beetles and dirt and air and she’s

still alive.

She’s alive and she’s pissed.

—

It should be harder to track them. They

should be better at this (amateur hour). Part of Charlie’s brain says that they’ve always been this incompetent. They’re no better

men around the fire notice it. It sounds like hand for Dad and Jacob to join him. Danny starts to stand, but Dad shoves him back

down. “Stay here,” he says, short. “Watch our shit. We’ll be back.”

“I can come with you–”

Dad smacks him, once, across the face.

How many times has he done that to

Charlie? Backhand. The way you smack a

dog that’s misbehaving. Not even a person.

From where she’s sitting, she can see the

hurt, betrayal, and finally horror in Danny’s

eyes. Realization that he’s the bottom of the

pecking order now that he’s gotten rid of her.

Dad points a finger in his face. “Do as you’re told.”

She watches, intent. Maybe Danny will

than other gangs of half-baked raiders kicked

say no. Maybe he’s too brash and angry to

setting them apart from the less fortunate

so easily. And then he nods, once. And the

out of their settlements. The only thing

was her. They needed her more than she needed them.

And even now, even rotten enough for them

fall for this kind of shit the way she had. So, moment’s over. The tension’s released. He’s accepted his place.

Dad nods back and they head out. Rifle.

29

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The End

Semi-automatic. Sawed-off. Off to hunt.

Danny waits until they’re out of sight before he gets up and yells, once, pure frustration.

that love over and over in the past five years.

She earns it now.

Danny thrashes like a frightened animal,

He kicks the rusted bucket he was sitting on.

screaming out curse after curse, but words

anger.

jugular. Blood is warm across her face

It flies across the campsite, pointless like his He sits back down, head in his hands.

What’s he thinking about? The fact that he abandoned his settlement for a bunch of

won’t stop her as she gets her teeth in his and tastes like iron. It’s comforting in its familiarity.

She draws back to look at his face. Danny’s

assholes who treat him like shit? That he

opening his mouth, again and again, but

knew back home? How many people are

knows how that feels. That’s how she felt

let these same people light up everyone he dead because of him? How many of those

fifty were his family? A girlfriend? Boyfriend?

Who did he kill over some old grudge? Were all those bridges really ready to be burned?

Charlie waits for his breathing to grow

steady before she crawls out from under the truck. He looks up. His eyes are red. The

look she sees there is more resignation than anything. That’s kinda funny. The first time he saw her, he was scared shitless and she wasn’t even gonna hurt him back then. He

should definitely be scared now and yet, all

she sees is nothing. They both know how this

nothing comes out but a wet gurgle. She

when he killed her, the first time. “It’s okay,” she whispers. “You’ll get used to it.” He

doesn’t deserve her kindness, selfish, cruel bastard that he is (but maybe he had a Dad

who taught him how to kill and held him in his arms when he was hurt and he’s really

not that much older than her and maybe now, now, he’ll understand what pain is really

like, maybe–) It doesn’t take her long to dig a grave.

—

“Charlie?”

She looks up from where she’s sitting in

is gonna go.

front of a fresh mound of earth. Sam hisses

he lunges for his rifle and she pushes off the

Jacob meets her gaze. There’s something not

The stillness only lasts a second before

ground, launching herself at him.

He screams. They roll. He tries to get his

forearm in between them and she bites it.

The screaming gets louder.

She’s calm. She’s never been calmer. This

is what she was made for. This is what they trained her to do. The price of her father’s

love was being a weapon and she’s earned

30 30

Spring 2024

out a curse and gets his gun trained on her. unlike Danny’s resignation there. He knew

how this was gonna go, too. He set all this in

motion. She wonders if he’s proud of himself.

And then Dad. She looks up at his body,

like she always does, like she always has.

Boots. Khakis. Flannel. Unshaved face. And his eyes.

There’s nothing but fear in those eyes.

Art by: Palika (DC) Sridurongrit

The Forge

The End

For the first time in what she knows of

someone bury her so she’d crawl her way out

her tear out hundreds of throats, get shot

soon as she showed signs of not being useful

her life, Dad’s scared of her. He’s watched hundreds of times and keep going. He held

her as she died at other people’s hands and told her that he loved her. This is the first

time he’s been forced to see exactly what she is. If she’s a dog, she’s just gone feral. If she’s a little kid (and isn’t she?), she’s simply had enough.

He’s watched her violence, but he’s always

pointed the business end of it towards

other people. Now, he sees her as she is.

He’s staring down the barrel of something he made and he realizes there’s nothing

stopping her from killing him like she’s killed Danny.

And part of her wants to apologize. She

wants to cry and beg and be a little kid, like

she did the first time he put her in front of a

rifle (the first time he let her die). If she starts crying, maybe he’ll still forgive her. Maybe

everything can still be normal. She can wash the

blood off and put on a shirt that’s too big

and listen to a song about the end as she pretends her world’s not ending.

Except she can see him as he is now. And

he looks like a coward.

How long has she been stronger than him?

Was there ever a time when she wasn’t? The thing that was stopping her from hurting

him before was a thin film of love. So the

real question is, does she love him now? This man who’s gotten her killed often enough

that pain stopped having meaning, that let

32

Spring 2024

through solid wood, that tossed her aside as anymore?

“Charlie,” he repeats. His voice is shaky.

“What are you doing?”

He’s so very scared.

She smiles and feels the dried blood on her

chin crack. She rasps, “I’m waiting for him to wake up.”

The Forge

Spring 2024

Roninpunk: Shadow Winter Caleb Davy

M

y steady exhale turns into a thick

frozen mist as I stand atop a random

skyscraper in the Orwell sector of Orion

city. Dots of icy slush descend gracefully

onto my right gauntlet and sleeve, instantly

evaporating against the pitch black lambskincarbon fiber-mesh. The downpour is lighter than yesterday, a change I don’t seem to

the artificial.” I rise from my kneed position, turning to face my superior: a slender,

middle aged man adorned in his navy blue traditional kimono and kasa.

“It’s reminiscent of Osaka, no?”

“Indeed it is.”

“What is required of me, Grandmaster?”

The grandmaster reaches for my right

mind. My right gauntlet hisses open at my

shoulder, flickering slightly when making

of a trinity of hira shurikens loaded inside,

presence for half a millisecond.

non-verbal request revealing the first layer closing after half a second. A faint warble

contact, fracturing the illusion of his genuine “You’re needed back at base, Shiroji. A

pings from my left, light patter crunching

briefing on tonight’s assignment.”

full well the identity of my intruder.

hologram, circling back to my original

against the snow. I remain unfazed, knowing “It still eludes me to this day on why

and how you insist on meditating in the

cold.” The masculine bass tone overlaps

flawlessly with the minute hiccup in speech pattern, nearly rendering the error non-

existent. Nevertheless, the grandmaster’s

authority over the Oni Assassins carries over regardless of medium.

My gaze seldom breaks from the snow-

smothered landscape. The small mountains of white blanketing the various tops of

I pace slowly through the grandmaster’s

position at the skyscraper’s edge.

“What eludes me, Grandmaster, is

why Vapor wasn’t tasked with tonight’s assignment?”

“Though the reputation of the Oni’s “Head

of Infiltration” does indeed precede him, his methods are unsavory to say the least.”

“Then I assume tonight requires a blade

with more precision?”

“Precisely. ”

“Hm. We ex-Yakuza aren’t known for

skyscrapers and the streets below, massive

subtlety.”

neon billboards rendering its light to a

up a small cube which then enlarges into

purifying things in the season of decay, even

eyes narrow as the projection hones in on

sheets of thick ice layered over countless

blurry, dull hue. “Mother nature has a way of

“Speaking of.” The Grandmaster conjures

a full size map of the sectors of Orion. My

33

Roninpunk: Shadow Winter

The Forge

a building out of thousands, careening past

new piece of loyware also set to make an

on a projection of a man, his face blurred.

means buyers from the black market may

many inhabitants only slowing to a halt

“We’ve been running reconnaissance via a few shinobi in the Butler sector, more specifically, the Babel district.”

“Is that-?” I motion to the blurred figure,

also be in attendance. For all we know, Black Dragon themselves could be a buyer; which would explain Nakamura being there.”

“This new cyberware have a name?” I fold

my arms.

My fist and jaw clench in unison, my visage

projection of a tear shaped device slowly

sight of the man’s true face. The cold steel of

at its center. “A simple concoction at face

hardening beneath the veil of my hood at the his katana still cleaves through the flesh of

my back, sending a vile chill down my spine.

The small screams of two innocent souls

“Garasu-ka: Glass house.” A small

rotates before me, a golden vial of Night Shift value, but when matched with the human genome-”

“Complete metahumanization, given that

echo in my mind. The pungent aroma of

the user has the appropriate cybernetics.”

my nostrils.

of the Grandmaster’s fist. I watch from

well.”

wolf gray skies, the snow falling through his

ashes and burnt flesh violates the inside of “Kenji Nakamura. I take it you know him “Yes.”

“Then I trust you can exude a great

measure of self control when you encounter him?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Reports indicate Nakamura is set

to appear at the Darwin Annual Cyberware Gala at the Noles building in under a few hours. Security will be high, as will the

status of every attendee. This is more than

your standard black-tie event. Discretion is a top priority.”

“Understood.” Facing the roof, I prepare

to dive, when the Grandmaster teleports in front of me.

“I’m not finished. We’ve gotten intel on a

34

appearance, untested by Darwin, which

“A member of Neo Black Dragon, though

only Kobun in rank.”

Spring 2024

The projection blips away with the closing

behind as he turns his gaze to the ashen

kasa. “Now then, on the matter of your attire for the evening,”

A soft rumble from above reaches just

within earshot, when a black titanium crate freefalls to our position on the roof. I step forward with cautious confidence as the

crate subtlety splits the concrete on impact.

The lid slides open horizontally to reveal a

pair of neatly folded dark fabrics with a white button-down shirt sandwiched between the two layers. my gloved fingers gently run

over the matte-black silk, being put at ease by every inch of the seemingly luxurious

texture. Even through the charcoal stench

that so often accompanied the winter chill,

the suit’s elegance could be inhaled, tasted

Roninpunk: Shadow Winter

The Forge

Spring 2024

even.

keep a firm grip as it gently twirls in my hands,

guess on what this mystery material may be.

collapsing it on my back. Lukewarm steel

“This is….” My eyes widen at my own potential “Vicuna. As I said, this is more than your run-

of-the-mill high-class gathering. As a Shinobi, you must fully dedicate yourself to the lifestyle of your target.”

My awestruck reaction to the suit is suddenly

halted by the familiar glimmer of the polished

reacquainting myself with its weight before

greets my fingers as they brush past the ornate patterns that make up the mask’s set of demon

fangs. The mask’s internals cushion every part

of my face as the visor flares to life with a neon cyan glint.

The A.I. silently runs a full diagnostic in the

obsidian and gold pin crafted in the shape of a

right hand corner while my gaze returns to the

my death stare.

him.

dragon. “All of yourself.” the Grandmaster notes My grip on the pin hardens as does my

Grandmaster, instinctively, I take a knee before “Shiroji Akiyama, Alias: Komodo. Head

visage once more upon closer inspection of

Assassin of the Oni Clan,” the grandmaster

polished stone and real gold for men who soil

“You are to gather further intel on the Neo

the craftsmanship. An admittedly fine work of their hands in the blood of many.

“How long has it been?” his face softens, a

flawless mimicry of warm pity in his eyes.

“Sometimes years. Sometimes days.”

“You must cast all of that aside now, for tonight

you are Ishikawa Danzo, acting chief financial

consultant for the Black Dragon Yakuza.” With two quick taps to my temple, I awaken my

locks eyes with me, my head remains bowed.

Black Dragon Yakuza and their involvement

with this event. Discretion must be prioritized

above all else, meaning no harm must come to any unnecessary parties. In the case of Kenji Nakamura and any others who may obstruct

you in your objective, grant them the mercy of an eternal rest. Death to the Dragon.”

I graciously rise, proceeding to the roof’s

Biosynth’s A.I., scanning then replicating each

edge once more.“It shall be done, Grandmaster.

lenses within my pupils. “And when the time is

my body loosen, rendering me completely

layer and individual strand of the Vicuna via the right-”

“I will do what must be done.”

The top layer of the crate’s internals shift back

to reveal the final two pieces of my Oni uniform: a titanium clad Oni-mask, the top half being a slim tinted visor, and my signature double

edged glaive. The hilt connecting the twin

blades remains cool to the touch, masking the weapon’s temperature in the night air’s chill. I

Death to the Dragon.” All the muscles in

vulnerable to the brisk mid-winter air. My body falls forward, gradually gaining speed as I

make my descent off the side of the gargantuan skyscraper. Every shade of neon blurs, the falling snow like small daggers plinking

against my mask, the wind a muffled howl in my ears. The mask’s A.I. briefly beeps twice, monotonously reading out the latest report: “Diagnostic complete: All systems fully

35

Roninpunk: Shadow Winter

The Forge

exit out of the alley, to both avoid wandering

operational.”

My feet find the skyscraper’s glossy obsidian

surface, my freefall becoming a full sprint downward, still several feet above street

level. With the assistance of Nightshit in my implanted synthesizer known as my Seed, I

launch myself off of the building mid-sprint.

The air falls deathly silent for the passing

seconds that feel like minutes, my muscles void of all tension as if I’m flying in slow-motion.

I deploy the grapple line hidden in my wrist,

sinking its hook into the brick and plaster just

a few buildings ahead. Gravity yanks me from the air to the chosen area, once landed with a roll, the line detaches; retracting back to my

wrist and I again break into a full sprint across the rooftops.

gazes and any further suspicion. I find a place

amongst the many esteemed guests of tonight’s

event and glance via my Biosynth at the various pins clipped to each breast pocket. Each and

every one a gold or silver insignia belonging to the hydra head of one of the largest cyberware

conglomerates in the world: Stormzai, Darwin, and Comsograd. The genuine professionalism on the many gazes blurs the line between

comrade and competitor, and as the hologram of my false face projecting from my pin gets

the approval from security, further granting my

entry, the line between legitimate businessman and white collar criminal is made all the more invisible.

*** ***

The most common preconceived notion on

the topic of the Butler sector is the idea that

it wears the facade of an average district quite well. However, it’s the surrounding neon

hues that cast a superior fluorescence, the

constant cacophony of haughty laughter, and the soprano of clinking glasses of the Babel District that scotches such delusions. The

symphony of wealth comes well within earshot as I lie in wait perched on the roof across

from the Noles building. The overwhelming fragrance of Dior and amber floods my

nostrils, my uniform morphing into my Vicuna masquerade. To think I once called this home

chills my bones, to know I’ve returned freezes me in place. Only for a moment. I leap down

the fire escape and make a swift yet tranquil

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Spring 2024

The polished marble of the ballroom floor

captures the reserved awe of my visage as I

slowly wade past gowns and suits in various shades of black and white. My eyes retain

their stoic ferocity, trained on the backsides of slender figures swaying to and fro, some

of whom peer back at me with faces coated in gold, their cybernetics unabashedly

intertwined with their skin making their

appearance a resplendent oddity. The Biosynth A.I. scrutinizes the passing faces, each name being briefly highlighted in a growing list of

every attendee, some of the waiters I vaguely recognize, high quality tech vendors, street

named “druids,” con-men, high-ranked gang members, all faces I’d drag into an alley and shank without question once in the name of the Black Dragon. I unconsciously filter out

Roninpunk: Shadow Winter

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the meaningless chatter, deciphering for a

rude of me. Ishikawa, I’d like you to meet

and behold, as if fate itself set the scene,

head of security and warden of Arachnus

low pitch Japanese speech pattern, yet lo

at the center of the atrium is the towering

white-suited frame of the dragon himself. My

our latest business partner, Ilanza Weevers, Corrections.”

The faint clicking of heels to my left draws

Biosynth auto broadcasts the conversation,

my attention to a slim-thick woman adorned

the passing crowd.

extends for me to shake,

allowing me to fade into the camouflage of “Cosmograd’s latest drone reached the

in white with silver accents. A delicate hand “Greetings, Mr Danzo.” I meet her void-

limits of interplanetary space just last week.”

like gaze, her silver mascara making her

Osakan accent. It’s him.

glossed lips somehow form half a smile.

Deep, smooth, with small traces of an

“I wouldn’t worry too much, with all

demeanor all the more glacial, though her “I had no idea Arachnus offered private

of Russia’s technological efforts highly

security.’’ A bit of genuine surprise slips

guarantee that a majority of the world’s

at a leading conversation. Though law

concentrated on space travel, comes the attention remains on Stormzai.”

An authoritative feminine tone, a possible

partner or even coworker. I gently weave out of the passing crowd, finally putting faces to tones of voice. Nakamura’s ocean eyes

slightly narrow in my direction, a business-

through my calculated yet casual attempt enforcement being in league with criminal organizations is rarely unheard of, an elite metahuman task force such as Arachnus doing business with Black Dragon of all people is rather strange to say the least.

“With the unveiling of new Nightshift

like smile slowly spreading on his face.

variants, Darwin wants to ensure that the

not to threaten any hint of hostility with my

from the likes of any rogue metahumans.”

Noting my steps, I slow my pace; cautious presence.

“Glad you could join us, Mr….” Nakamura

extends a hand for me to shake, his subtle pearly white grin disturbingly inviting.

“Danzo. Ishikawa Danzo, your financial

consultant for tonight’s event.” his warm grip briefly interlocks with mine, for the half-

second we lock eyes, I feel the air shift in an unsettling direction.

“A pleasure Mr. Danzo,” he releases,

placing his hands behind his back. “Ah, how

Spring 2024

best is there to safeguard such innovations “I see…” My eyes find the balcony above

seeing a pair of Eradica MK IV sniper rifles

in the hands of their corresponding armored guards. Discretion is indeed paramount

above all else. I clear my throat, motioning

back to Nakamura. “Sir, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to review any potential cyberware

the Black Dragon intends on investing in for tonight’s auction.”

“Yes of course.” Nakamura nods,

summoning an Arachnus enforcer in full

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silver weighted plate armor to his right

side. “Another time then, Ilanza.” She nods without a word.

***

As the gentle elegance of classic

piano fades along with the chatter of the

unassuming, I ease myself into a reluctant

comfort pacing alongside Nakamura. I try to force my eyes elsewhere, the dark burgundy hexagonal pattern on the walls and floors, the flickering neon bulbs above, but every

other second, my eyes fixate on the sway of his white suit jacket. With a blink, my eyes deceive me, momentarily seeing his white suit stained red. Then again, what blood

stains his hands that hasn’t already stained mine?

“I must say, what has transpired in the

last few years is truly fascinating.” My eyes dart up to the side of his face, his gaze is

fixated ahead, not bothering to glance in my direction.

“Sir?” I force myself to muster up some

genuine interest.

“Who would have known that the human

genome was capable of such astounding

feats? All it required was a little push from 25th century tech.”

“I take it you’re referring to Nightshift?”

“Ah, very perceptive, Danzo. Though I

bet none could perceive that the Americans

would be the ones to innovate in such a feat.”

“No, I suppose not.” My gaze returns

to the sway of his suit jacket, the passing bulbs gleaming off of the Off-white hue

traps me in a state of near hypnosis, when

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Spring 2024

an unfamiliar shimmer from Nakamura’s

right hand catches my eye. I mentally pause, being wary of the frequent illusions of light

and the naked eye. I make note of the neon

bulbs above, fixated on every detail when we pass through the light. With each passing

bulb, the glimmer once again reveals itself.

My Biosyth discreetly awakens through my pupils running a brief diagnostic when the object comes into frame:

“ Cyberware Identified: Garasu-Ka. Alloy

Composition: Carbon fiber, silicon, titanium.

Night Shift variant: unknown. Manufacturer: unknown.”

With Garasu ka being eliminated from the

pool of cyberware set to appear at tonight’s

auction, let alone a majority of its schematics being a complete mystery, the sides of my

temple begin to softly throb, pondering on the pieces of this enigmatic puzzle that is

the true intentions of every major player in tonight’s event: Arachnus, Black Dragon, Darwin, all household names under one

roof. Grand figureheads of opposing moral cornerstones of society sharing wine,

on the surface at least, but regardless of allegiances; all of this to what end?

“Alas.” Nakamura sucks his teeth, the

sudden remark snatches my thoughts

from conspiracy. “When in Rome, as the

Ambrosian phrase goes, though the Black

Dragon code must never be cast atray: In the land of sheep, seldom forget that you come from wolves.”

The enforcer stops a few feet in front

of a large door, before Nakamura steps

Roninpunk: Shadow Winter

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forward, punching in a set of numbers into

I cautiously stalk down the aisle

a holographic keypad. The door dissolves

of the multichrome narrow corridor,

in intense neon. I slowly step through the

of Night Shift as I pass, My field of vision

revealing a large vacant atrium enveloped doorway before noticing several multichrome vials neatly aligned in rows along the narrow walls.

“As promised.” Nakamura calls from

behind me, standing adjacent to the enforcer.

“Darwin and the Americans may have

the innovation, but as they will soon find that innovation does not always equate to an advantage. Tonight, the Darwin

Conglomerate slogan will apply in our favor: today, evolved.” Nakamura turns to leave

with the enforcer in tow, before turning to me one last time. “I have other matters to attend to, I will send an enforcer for you when we are ready to begin.” The soft patter of his

footsteps grows distant before I call after

subconsciously scanning each and every vial becoming a wall of dozens upon dozens

of numerical sequences. I rapidly process each sequence without a single thought, I am automatically aware of what each

sequence decodes to. The first few dozen

rows are widely used metahuman abilities: flight, super speed, telekinesis, all variants registered by Darwin and securely sealed in their corresponding seed. As I venture

deeper, every other sequence line blinks red

with an alarming chirp, before long my whole field of vision is bathed in bright crimson.

I stop short of one sequence in particular, genuinely taking the time to decipher the code. The A.I reads it aloud,

“Night Shift variant identified: N-31743.

him.

Moniker: Astra.”

the frozen ire of my voice, though some of

further analyze the feats of the following

open doorway, he doubles back, looking me

“Analysis complete. Night Shift feature

“Nakamura.” I successfully suppress

it slips, seeping through my gaze at the

dead in the eyes. “It would also be wise to

remember that though we are wolves, we are very much still mortal men.” Though I can

feel words have not fallen on deaf ears, they are met with a patronizing chuckle.

“Such profound wisdom, Mr Danzo. It’s

quite a shame we couldn’t have you in a more prominent role within our ranks.” ***

Spring 2024

I proceed to expand the hologram to

variant:

Identified: Void conjuration, Gravity manipulation.”

My eyes glare intensely at crimson lettering

taking a half step back at the potential

implications of the variant’s mere presence.

Given the attempt of genome synthesization, would the host even survive cyberization?

Hastily turning away, I decipher another

code expanding its corresponding hologram to full size.

“Night Shift variant identified: N-30240.

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Moniker: Tyrant. Analysis complete.

Night Shift feature identified: Grand-scale

***

The name given alone was explanatory.

The crescendo of a roaring crowd mutes

telepathy, Neurological dominance.”

Black Dragon could seize control of the

my steps as I enter through the double

into a walking sprint towards the exit,

rows are filled with a sea of the one percent

world’s governments in minutes. I burst subconsciously pulling up the messaging screen projected by my Biosynth. With

one quick scroll upwards, my eyes land on Vapor’s contact.

K: “Vapor, this is Komodo. Update

on Operation: The circumstances were

underestimated. Requesting immediate assistance.”

V: “Asking for help, are we?

K: “This isn’t a game, Jinchi. Darwin’s gala

isn’t hosting buyers of the black market, its

mahogany doors to the arena. Rows upon

raving at the evening’s spectacle. Though all

seem to be filled with adrenaline, I scan for the stoic visage that mirrors my own, I find him in the fifth row.

“Quite eventful for an auction.” I find my

seat next to Nakamura, not even bothering to notice if he even hears me.

“Oh, this isn’t tonight’s main event, merely

a showcase before any cyberware purchase is made.”

I avert my eyes to the front to see two

ground-zero for illegal shift, this IS the black

women facing off in a massive cage in what

blade-level Oni.”

shorter one with a black bob cut emanates

market. Requesting a small squadron of V: “Request denied.”

K: “JINCHI.”

V: “A deep cover shinobi is already in play.

Sorry Ro-Ro, them’s just the rules.”

can only be described as a death match. The with a fierce jade aura before dropping

kicking her opponent into the side of the ring, cratering the wall.

“I’m sure you’ve heard of tonight’s

Five minutes with no reply always meant

contenders.” Nakamura motions to the ring.

escapes from under my breath, before I can

Evans, you may know her by her street name

the decision was higher up and final. A curse reach for the door, it immediately dissolves

to reveal an Arachnus enforcer blocking my path. All eight lenses of his helmet beam down on me with a harsh scarlet glint.

“Mr Nakamura requests your presence

in the arena.” The enforcer leaves with the

correct assumption that I follow him down the hall.

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Spring 2024

“The blonde one in the crater is Mallory “Morningstar.”

At the mention of her name, Morningstar

rises from her crater, positioning herself in an unorthodox battle stance. Metallic

whip-like tendrils slither from her wrist. She lashes wildly at both sides of her opponent.

The other woman instantly side steps both incoming attacks. She then closes the

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Spring 2024

distance between the two before delivering

of the near fatal blow, raising a shot glass to

uppercut to the jaw. The green aura flashes

in place while the last bit of bourbon slides

a hard elbow to the gut followed by an

with each attack. I scan the mystery fighter through the lenses in my hazel pupils.

his lips. I watch as the ice in the glass stays towards his mouth.

“These untested variants…” I keep my eyes

“Night Shift variant identified: N-2634”

on my own glass, watching as the cubes

“I’m a bit unclear on the other one’s

cybernetics to keep the Night Shift effects

Night Shift feature: Unknown.”

abilities.” my eyes fixate on the jade aura

fighter in black. Her strikes are quick and

focused, a flawless balance of momentum

slowly shrink in the amber liquid, “The

stabilized would be far from cost efficient, let alone aggressive on the body.”

“The price of progress and power is a high

and impact. If exposed at the right moment,

one, but not of concern to the Black Dragon.”

machine at best.

into daggers as they pierce into my gaze.

a glass cannon at worst, but an unrelenting

“Ah, that one there is Ava Alvarez. She has

the ability to weaponize her own adrenaline.

The more the adrenaline, the stronger the

attack, hence the green flare, a type of kinetic if you will. It’s one of the newer untested variants.”

“Street name?”

“They call her “Rushdown”. Both Alvarez

and Evans are classified as wanted vigilantes in multiple sectors, both were also promised a reduced sentence.”

Morningstar coils her whips around

Rushdown’s wrist, sending a violent shock

Nakamura ocean eyes freeze over, turning “Besides, being the kind of man you are, I

thought you of all people would be unfazed by all the blood and carnage involved with the process.” His glacial stare freezes the

blood in my veins as I slowly rise to my feet,

stalking me as I move to the aisle. I make my way towards the arena’s exit, noticing a pair

of enforcers slowly move from their stations, advancing in my direction. *** The muffled EDM from the arena barely

pulsing through her body. Rushdown pulls

reaches my ears from the restroom sink,

Both fighters crash back to the ground with

with an unreasonable amount of force. All

her in, landing an upward knee to the gut.

Rushdown still holding the advantage. She then proceeds to land a series of savage

blows to Morningstar’s head, cracking her

mask’s face plate as well as her own bones in her knuckles. “I guess now we’ll see which one earns it.” Nakamura nods in approval

my knuckles pale from gripping the sink the puzzle pieces in my thoughts slowly

click together with each calming breath.

Not one guest is here by accident in what

is now a metahuman-cybernetic trafficking ring: Darwin supplies the tech with the

front of a simple auction, Arachnus supplies

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Roninpunk: Shadow Winter

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the bodies via prisoner transfer, and Black

the heavy patter of over a dozen boots

underworld go round. I slow my breaths

sleeves, my wrist gauntlets hissing open. I

Dragon comes with the money to make their to a steady pace, barely noticing my dark

and unkempt ponytailed hair and beard as well as the two Arachnus enforcers on my

right and left. My brown pupils turn a bright cyan as I then project a mental hologram of my next few moves. In the event that

my left attacker pulls the volt rod strapped on his left thigh, I’ll counter with my right

wrist gauntlet, disarm, and dismantle. The simulation plays out as expected. The left

enforcer pulls his volt rod, swinging for my head. The electricity crackles against the steel of my right wrist gauntlet. I fired a

shuriken into his left wrist. pinning him to

reload them with a subtle tense of my wrist.

The moment they close, I reach behind

me for my double edged glaive; hugging

the wall adjacent to the door. My Biosynth scans at least a dozen men on the other

side of the wall while several rising hums

of a dozen rifles are right within earshot. I

slow my breaths, closing my eyes to clearly see a holographic projection of the best

exit strategy. The moment they force the

door ajar, I bradish both blades of my glaive

performing a cyclone maneuver, allowing me to break through the cluster.

“BREACH! BREACH!” The force of over

a dozen enforcers slam the door open.

through the left side of his temple. As his

tiger stance and blitz through the small

body drops, the click and rising hum of a pulse rifle reaches my ears just in time. I

duck and weave under the first two bolts,

knocking away the gun with a windmill kick and sending the second enforcer crashing through a stall. I land a few feet in front

of him, firing a shuriken to his head. The fight concludes with my steady exhale,

Seconds into the impact, I take a crouching horde at inhumane speed. Both ends of

myWWWwW glaive find a place in each

and every enforcer cutting them all down in

several swift rotations. I re-enter my stance,

hearing shouts from over my shoulder. I peer to see over a dozen more men crowd the wide enough hallway.

“ON THE GROUND NOW! DON’T

recentering my thoughts. Before I can make

MOVE!”

bathroom.

the blood of fresh corpses, I re-adorne myself

identified in the east wing restroom. I repeat:

my Oni mask folding over my face. With the

it to the door, radio static echoes through the “All units, all units. An intruder has been

An intruder has been spotted in the east

wing restroom. All available units converge.”

The thought of discretion leaves me with

42

growing closer to my location. I roll up my

the sink. His screams of agony are cut short as my left palm sends another shuriken

Spring 2024

With my Vicuna leather suit stained with

in my assassin attire fit for another slaughter, new projection of this fight etched in my

mind, I face my targets, wiping the old blood off my glaive with a twirl.

Roninpunk: Shadow Winter

The Forge

Spring 2024

“Let’s dance, little lambs.” A barrage of

rifle bolts careens past me as I accelerate

at full speed toward the first man and the

front of the horde. I speed past him, letting

my blade run through his rifle. I redirect my momentum back to the first man launching

myself off of him. While in the air, I cut him down with the other end finding its place in the chest of another. I land with a series of

slashes, cutting each man left and right. As I make my way to the back of the horde, An enforcer unleashes a set of razor pincers from his back, each one trying to skewer me from all sides. I parry each incoming

strike, finally thrusting my blade into his foot bringing him to his knees. I end him with a swift cut across the throat. I look up to find all my attacks now laid to rest, when I feel

the edge of a razor at the back of my neck.

“And here you were reminding me of

mortal men.” It’s Nakamura, with some sort of blade at my Seed. “It must’ve been pretty dehumanizing playing the part of one of us

again, huh ShirojI? Though it couldn’t have been all bad reclaiming your former title of

“The Butcher.” To think this all started with a pair of twin suns.”

At the words “Twin suns”, my body goes

limp as I fall to the floor paralyzed.

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TT he heFF orge orge

Forge Master

Art of The Forge

44 44

SS pring pring2024 2024

The Forge

Art Section

Spring 2024

Art by: Kristina Mickle

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Art by: Brooklyn Chavers

Art by: Julia Thomas

The Forge

Art Section

Art by: Nixie Cucu

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Spring 2024

ART COLORING PAGE Gazing into the stars by Kristina Mickle

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The Forge

Forge Master

Spring 2024

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The Forge

Forge Master

The Forge Endures...

F

rom the imaginative minds of students across campus, The Forge literary magazine contains all aspects of adventure,

emotion, and mystery within the genres of science-fiction and specualtive fantasy.

In this collection of microfiction, short stories, and art by student creators at George Mason University, readers can expect to delve into lush, awe-inspiring worlds across all ages of time. The Forge offers a full experience for all lovers of science-fiction and fantasy literature, offering spectacular writing with engaging world-building.

It is the goal of The Forge to give writers, readers, editors, and artists who have fallen in love with science-fiction and specualtive fantasy a platform to express their passion for these two genres. With each flip of a page, this collection serves as an escape from all things grounded by our world.

Follow the journey of The Forge: forge.studentmedia.gmu.edu

Thanks for reading!

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Spring 2024