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Sci-Fi a la Mode
Sci-Fi a la Mode
Sci-Fi a la Mode
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Sci-Fi a la Mode

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A delightful collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy short stories. Written for sheer enjoyment on a wide variety of topics. You will find planets for sale, a Las Vegas type planet with bordellos, brain viruses, dragons terrorizing villages, lecturing angels, internet cops, revengeful wizards. A good read that will take the reader on a journey of fun.
The book contains the following stories:SCI-FI à la Mode

-BORDELLO
-“GOOD DAY, PEOPLE”
-REVENGE
-PLANET FOR SALE
-UNIVERSE UNIVERSITY
-WEBBERS
-THE SUMMONS
-BRAIN VIRUS
-THE PRINCE’S UNDOING

LanguageEnglish
PublisherPj Belanger
Release dateApr 4, 2014
ISBN9781311305114
Sci-Fi a la Mode
Author

Pj Belanger

Pj Belanger has spent a good part of her life in the scenic hills of Connecticut. She was always an avid reader. "My father collected every bit of Science Fiction he could find- we would talk for hours on the subject. The Golden Age of Science Fiction is truly a love of mine.Great writers from Heinlein to Jose Farmer to Asimov to Bloch were my idols. They were great story tellers something that influences my own work. Of course, then came Tolkien and I was hooked on fantasy too."After graduating from St. Francis College (UNE) in Maine, she worked in the fast pace newpaper advertising world but always had been a writer of short stories, novel length books of fiction, romance and general interest. Her work is a mixture of a three volume book series, The Houses of Storem filled with wizards, dwarfs, merrs, elfs, heroic Kings and albino Icelanders. Her Space Dectective series is just plain good sci fi fun as is her short story book.Pj was deeply involved in writing local NASCAR Driver Profiles and has a book on The History of Stafford Speedway. "I love racing in general, but I really love the short tracks. It was a labor of love to write the racing books and I enjoyed writing a regular racing column for a local sports newspaper."Pj lives in Florida with husband. She enjoys time with her two grandchildren. Her life is enhanced by a trouble making miniature beagle and a mischievous cat.

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    Book preview

    Sci-Fi a la Mode - Pj Belanger

    SCI-FI à la Mode

    Short stories by

    by Pj Belanger

    Cover Art By Belamesa

    SCI-FI à la Mode

    Short Stories by

    Pj Belanger

    BRP Publishing

    All rights reserved. This book is protected by the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproductions or authorized use of the material or artwork contained here in is prohibited without the express written permission of BRP Publishing.

    Smashwords Edition

    Copyright 2014 by BRP Publishing

    ISBN 0-9826481-3-8

    All characters in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

    I would like to dedicate this short story book

    to my father William Ketchin

    A Reader like me. Thank you

    Table of Contents

    Introduction

    BORDELLO

    GOOD DAY PEOPLE

    REVENGE

    PLANET FOR SALE

    UNIVERSE UNIVERSITY

    WEBBERS

    THE SUMMONS

    BRAIN VIRUS

    THE PRINCE’S UNDOING

    Thank You!

    Also by Pj Belanger:

    Introduction

    When I was in third grade, my parents were told that the school wanted to keep me back. I couldn’t read. Alarmed, my father asked me to read just twenty minutes. Those twenty minutes turned into hours as he fed me books, mostly Science Fiction, than later Fantasy. I was hooked and have been ever since. He had a collection of all the old works from the Golden Era. As a kid I read Asimov, Heinlein, Bloch, Howard, Clark, Leiber, Vance, Anderson, Lovecraft, Bradbury, Wollheim, Hebert. Oh, so many it is impossible to list them all. I read every Jose Farmer book I could get my hands on. I wondered at Conan’s world with Howard’s command of the language. I found fascinating the old paperbacks that contained two stories. Read one story, turn the book backwards and start another story. The price on the covers was only 25 cents. My father would tell me how he’d save up his allowance as a kid to afford them. In his teens he would wait anxiously for Amazing Stories magazine to come out at the town drug store. I remember his excitement over The Hobbit followed by the Ring Trilogy. You have to read these! His enthusiasm rubbed off on me. I soon was reading beyond my third grade level, the threat of staying back forever gone. The joy of reading, a lifetime gift. I will be forever grateful to him. I miss the long discussions we had over every plot. Arguing over the possibilities that Sci Fi could peek into the future. What was real, what could happen was a favorite topic. We read for pleasure and I write for pleasure. The old science fiction masters were never simple but they were always entertaining. It is for this reason that I put together this collection of short stories- plain simple enjoyment. If they make you think, fine, but if they take you away for just a while, my goal has been accomplished. Again, thanks Dad.

    Pj Belanger.

    BORDELLO

    Pj Belanger

    A Chief Detective Skip Brown Adventure

    My upset stomach churned in agony, reacting to the overwhelming sickening sweet smell of booze, drugs and sex. My digestive system had not returned to normal, it always acts up when I make a long Jump. I never handle spatial travel easily. Of course, that it was my own stupidity that caused me to be in this hell hole, didn’t make it any easier to take. I squinted my eyes, trying to make out the details of the bar room, but the lighting was dim, purposely shrouding. Prostitution may be legitimate on this planet, but the clients still preferred anonymity. The opaque atmosphere also veiled the less attractive hookers and helped disguise the physical ravages of age and drug abuse.

    As I sipped my beer, the endless show of provocatively clad bodies paraded about on stage. A circus atmosphere, directed by a man dressed in a ring master’s outfit. Take your pick, Ladies and Gents. We have before you exotic creatures from all over the Universe. Anyway you want it! Try the excitement of Octapuss from the Magellan Star System. Her five arms will keep you tantalized for hours. The Octa stuck out her long black tongue, seductively using it to excite the crowd.

    I waited, nursing my drink. She had to be here somewhere. My eyes kept drifting to the stage, how far would she go for revenge? I let my thoughts drift back..........only two days ago..........

    I was sitting at my desk, my shirt was soaking wet with sweat despite the old electric fan that I had pointed straight at me. Using the most vile language I could think of, I cursed the maintenance crew for the faulty air conditioning and then had a few similar words for the terrible torrid weather that graced Fulton Station. So, I cannot be blamed that my mind was clouded the day that Lieutenant Hill stood at my office door, blocking what little breeze that the opening offered.

    At first I didn’t even notice her, so taken was I with my own misery. Ahem, clearing her throat, she caught my attention. I looked up, to see her fidgeting with her tie, straightening her badge and shuffling her newly polished black footwear. She was strictly a standard fare regulation detective. Everything about her screamed rookie!

    What, Hill? I grumbled. It annoyed the hell out of me that she didn’t have the rumpled, sweaty look that all the rest of us had. What! I snapped, the heat getting the better of my patience.

    I’d like to volunteer to work on the Hopstead Murder. Her eyes kept scanning my rather disheveled office. Disapproval was written all over her face.

    No. I growled, returning to finish the load of paperwork that was scattered all over my desk, along with a half empty cup of coffee that I was now drinking cold and my hardly touched sandwich that was stale from sitting open since noon. I was annoyed. Annoyed at the oppressive heat, annoyed that my computer was down, annoyed that my work load was triple what I had the manpower to handle. No wonder I wasn’t thinking straight that day. Again I heard the clearing of a throat. Looking up, she was still blocking my air. I SAID No!

    I’ve been trained just for this type of assignment, I was first in my class at the academy and I’ve been working homicide for over a year. Her voice was shaking, almost as if she was fighting an inner turmoil.

    I was surprised at her daring to come directly to me. I’m well known for my fiery temper. Usually Lieutenants work through Captains, I prefer it that way. I hadn’t said maybe two words to her since she’d come on board. To be honest, she rather irritated the hell out of me. She’d come straight out of the Academy into Sector homicide bypassing the local systems. A bright shining star my superiors had told me. In reality, the budget couldn’t take on another experienced police officer and it was their way of placating me. I knew, they knew, but obviously she didn’t!

    Lieutenant Hill, I would have called her by her first name but I couldn’t recall what it was, perhaps you haven’t worked long enough in this sector to realize the Hopstead murder happened over on Skantie Row- it’s a hell hole city on a hell hole of a planet. I took a deep breath, it wasn’t her fault the room was 102 degrees with the humidity past drenching. I’ve lost two detectives there, and one that's in the rehab hospital hooked on Supfline.

    I’m aware of...

    I cut her off sharply, Let me finish! These weren’t rookie detectives- they were pros. Skantie is under mob control and the murder involves the Blithie Family. They are the most ruthless of the families and the most powerful. I’ve been trying to shut them down since I took over this job six years ago. I’m only thankful it’s on the outskirts of my sector, as a matter of fact it's the furthest planet out. It irritated me having to explain my thorn-in-my-side to a rookie detective.

    I’m aware of where it is, Sir, I still...

    Lieutenant, perhaps after a few more years you’ll be ready. A few more years, I thought, and she’d know better than to volunteer for a Skantie murder. It’s really way over your head. The local police are handling it the best they can.

    The local police are all tied in with the mob, she countered. I know all about Skantie, its dope dealings and gambling operations, not to mention its infamous Bordellos. She sounded angry and to my surprise much more assertive, as if I’d hit a raw nerve. If I hadn’t been so tired and hot, perhaps I would have noticed... we’ll that's water over the dam, besides her next comment brought me up short. I don’t think you have a choice, Sir. Everyone is busy, you have no one else. She stood with her hands on her hips. This time they killed a society girl and the family is screaming, they’ve been in contact with the Provincial Sector Governor. You’re going to have to send someone and soon! I’m available and I’m volunteering!

    The woman killed was stupidly irresponsible. I found myself trying to rationalize with Hill, realizing her rookie enthusiasm was blinding her thinking. The family knew she was turning tricks. Then she became really desperate when her father cut her off financially. She needed his money to keep up her Supfline addition.

    There’s more to it, Hill countered.

    I’m aware there is more to it! I wiped my brow with my shirt sleeve, noticing her wince at my uncouth gesture. I guess at the Academy they taught uniform cleanliness at all times. Let her work in homicide for ten years and see what uncouth mannerisms she’ll obtain, never mind aging twice your years. I calmed myself, pulling the fan closer. I’m... We’re very well aware that the Bordellos get the girls hooked on Supfline then use them until they overdose or become so doped they throw them out. This girl was no exception.

    This girl was an exception! She used to be Chuck Blithie’s girlfriend. The force of her reply was unnerving, making me feel guilty for not caring more. I had to remind myself that rookies were unnerved by senseless murder, give her a few more years.

    "We don’t know that for sure, I argued, but Hill, so caught up with her cause, didn’t even hear me.

    Her mother thinks she had something on him and his family! The girl may have left something behind that may incriminate them. I shook my head, but she’d already crossed to my desk, brazenly pushing several letters in front of my face, her strawberry highlighted hair falling across her violet eyes. She kept in touch with her mother, sporadically sending E-letters. The mother tells me that at first Merline was ecstatic with her rich playboy boyfriend. I gather the girl was rather wild. In some of the letters she’s depressed, others are euphoric and all border on paranoia. She was certainly an addict. These printouts progressively show disillusionment with Chuck Blithie and in the end she feared him.

    Where’d you get these? I asked, knowing them not to be in the file case I had looked at only yesterday.

    I got her mother to talk to me this morning. I went when the father was off planet. She straightened, waiting for my reaction. When I gave none, she once again bent over pointing to the letters. Look at the last one.

    As I read, I realized what the lieutenant was so excited about, as my eyes cast over the last printout dated the week the girl had been killed. "I’ll be home soon. I need help. I’m burnt. I finally got enough that he can’t touch me, if he tries to stop me I’ll expose his whole family’s operation. Thanks Mom for the puppy, we’re coming home together."

    I want to follow up on this. I deserve to and you have no one else who can! Her voice was strongly determined."

    I knew she was right; it would be weeks before anyone was free enough to go to Skantie. All right, just go and keep a low profile, an extremely low profile until I can send someone to help you. Understand? Just look around. She nodded. A warning, it’s a long transfer journey. Make sure you bring some disorient pills. If you make the jump to Skantie in one hop, you’ll be sick for a couple of days. Ever travel that far all at once?

    No, I always take a couple of days, but I’ll be all right.

    Man, did the girl have a lot to learn. I couldn’t, however, see the harm of her doing a preliminary scouting. After all, thousands visited the gambling casinos every day. If she kept to looking like a tourist, she’d be fine. Little did I realize how wrong I was.

    It wasn’t until a couple of days later that I truly learned what a mistake I had inadvertently made. This time it was Captain Issam that blocked the doorway, he was just returning from an investigation in the Astic Section, a double murder involving a prominent politician. He looked all done in from the heat, the sweat was pouring off him.

    How did it go? I asked, rifling through the remaining forms that I hadn’t gotten through the day before.

    It was what we suspected, boyfriend-husband rivalry. I’m bushed, think I’ll head home early, cooler at my house, my air-conditioning is working!

    Hell would be cooler than this, I told him as he got up to leave. Oh, by the way, I sent what’s her name, ah... Hill, to do the prelims on the Hopstead Murder.

    He turned back, a strange expression on his face. I’m surprised, thought you had a thing about detectives being involved personally, her sister died there.

    What!

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