Last year was good for my resolutions and pretty catastrophic for the world. Let’s look to the future and make goals for what we can control. Yeah, that sounds healthy.
1. Write The Hounds of Bakerville
I copy pasted this one from last year. I managed 4 ish chapters so at this rate I should be done in… 8 to 10 years. I’d like to finish this book this year.
2. Write a serial story
I’m not sure what I’m writing this year, but I will try to get a 1000 word chapter out each month. This is going to be the thirteenth year I do it.
3. Record Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers audiobook
Jen recorded her chapters a long time ago and it’s time I do my parts.
4. Read at least 15 books
Last year I almost doubled my reading goal, so I’m upping it to 15.
5. Finish my Starry Night Lego
I got an epic Van Gogh’s Starry Night LEGO set. It has a lot of pieces and I managed to get half way done before life got in the way.
6. Update the look of JenEric Designs
We’ve been using the same wordpress template and look for almost ten years and it’s time to update the way it works. I have big plans for how to organize things. Hopefully it’ll make it more user friendly. (Jen updated the newsletter already!)
7. Pitch/Submit Speakers of The Rebel Sun
This book is a lot of fun and deserves an epic cover. I need to find a home for it. I’ll probably submit to River City and maybe try with an agent.
8. Take the kids on an some adventures
It could be the January blues but I feel the kids could use some excitement. Nothing wild, I’m thinking museums, outdoor kids stuff, and maybe going to the cinema.
9. Give myself permission not to feel well
Between the migraines and other issues, sometimes I feel terrible. If I try to force myself to get things done I feel worse, and if I don’t, I beat myself up for being lazy. I know this is a terrible attitude, but knowing and doing isn’t always the same thing. Let’s hope I can give myself grace.
10. Keep fighting to make my life better
I’m still learning about myself and how my body and mind work. I need to keep figuring out what triggers my migraines, try to increase my physical activity, and keep advocating for myself.
I hope that everyone has a productive, healthy, and good 2026.
It has been a year… Lots of good and lots of bad. Let’s get on with this review and see if I succeeded at my goals.
1. Write The Hounds of Bakerville(Failed)
I’ve written the first three and a half chapters along with the prologue. I need to step up my game this coming year. I kinda lost steam on writing the novel with some behind the scenes drama that’s been stressing me out.
2. Write a serial story (Succeeded)
I really enjoyed last year’s serial story and I can’t wait to find out what I do for this year. Go read it now: The Scarlet Thread Irregulars
3. Master 1 song on the ukulele and record it. (Failed)
The shoulder injury really put a dent in my playing and then life happened. I’ve still been practicing but didn’t manage to record or master the song.
4. Read at least 12 books (Succeeded)
I read 19 books this year, which is pretty good considering I’m not commuting or waiting long hours in doctors’ offices as much.
5. Build my new book nook and Lego (Partially Succeeded)
I built the book nook and loved it. I started the Lego but got distracted by other things and kinda stopped half way. I’ll try to finish it this year.
6. Feel less guilty (Succeeded)
I’m giving myself more grace and letting myself enjoy things to relax. I think it’s going well. Yay me.
7. Design and deploy a new coffee flavour for Ottawa Comic Con in September (Succeeded)
Second breakfast brew is a delightful medium roast with English toffee flavouring.
8. Plan and plot out the first in a cozy mystery series (Succeeded)
I’ve planned the series, I’ve planned the setting, and I have a basic template outline for each book. I’m still super excited for this one.
9. Organize a massive birthday party and book release (Succeeded)
This happened during the summer. If you want to watch our Q&A, here it is on YouTube:
10. Keep fighting to learn more about myself and how to make my life easier (Succeeded)
Oh my goodness! I didn’t realize what a Gordian Knot of interconnectedness it is. The best example I can give is that as I work toward unmasking my ADHD and Autism (letting myself be myself without stressing about being “normal”), I’m starting to notice and be affected more by certain sense sensitivities (especially to light and smell) and it feels like they are triggering my migraines more. Or I just didn’t notice before.
Anyway, I’m learning a lot about myself, and even going to therapy. It’s obviously going to be a lifelong discovery and that’s okay.
Wow, that’s 7.5/10. I think that might be one of the highest success scores I’ve had. Now does this mean I worked my ass off and succeeded or that I didn’t give myself enough challenge?
I’ll take the win. This coming year will have new goals and challenges. I hate to say it, but we live in interesting times.
Thursday the 24th of December, 2015 – Ottawa, Ontario
When Kitty had taken over Adelaide’s body, she’d taken some parts of herself with it. That included enhanced senses. It wasn’t magic but it wasn’t human either. It meant almost no one could sneak up on her.
“Hello MacKenzie, did you forget something?” Kitty asked as the other woman walked softly up the corridor to her office.
“How did you know?” MacKenzie asked.
Shrugging, Kitty said, “You don’t want to know.”
“No, come on. I was being as quiet as I could.”
“I could hear and smell you coming,” Kitty said, bracing for the upcoming awkwardness.
Instead, MacKenzie walked in and after a few seconds, said, “I’m sorry, that’s got to suck.”
Surprised by the other’s empathy, Kitty added, “It’s not that bad. I’ve always had them and can filter out what I want. It can get overwhelming, but I carry mints and earplugs for those times.
MacKenzie nodded and Kitty could almost see the other girl trying to work out the biology. Both of them ended up looking at the little Tim Hortons ornament on her desk. It was a gift from Kitty’s first partner, Lieutenant Arrage. It was a joke on her having two sets of memories: she’d called Kitty Double-Double.
MacKenzie looked sad and said, “I miss her. She recruited me.”
“I didn’t know that. I miss her too, I wish I had been there for her.” Kitty had been injured and couldn’t go with Arrage to what should have been a routine meeting. She’d been killed by a recently summoned Aether-creature, a magical beast created by the stuff of magic.
MacKenzie’s voice was stern as she said, “Don’t do that. It’s not your fault. According to the Gatekeepers that found her, you’d have been killed too if you’d been there.” The Gatekeepers were specialized mages that took care of Aether-creatures and Aetherborn. Aetherborn were people created by magic and imagination. It was usually accidental but some wizards could do it on purpose.
“I just feel like I’m cursed.” Maybe it’s better that I’m alone. She didn’t say it aloud because she knew it sounded a little too self-loathing.
“I was going to invite you to my family’s party, but if you’re cursed, I probably shouldn’t,” MacKenzie said straight faced.
“Oh. Okay.” Kitty didn’t know how to reply.
“I’m kidding. Did you want to come? I have to warn you that they’re a lot. Also, a bunch of them will see right through any illusions or glamour.”
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea,” Kitty said tentatively. She really wanted to, but was terrified of getting attached.
“Curses don’t bother me. I’m extremely lucky,” MacKenzie said with confidence and stood. “No seriously, it’s part of why I was recruited: I have supernaturally enhanced luck. We’d better go soon if we want to make it on time.
They stopped at Kitty’s apartment quickly to pick up her overnight bag and then set off for Westmeath. The Queensway was clear by this time, most of the public servants had gone home around lunch. The sun was already setting which made MacKenzie squint as she drove.
They parked in front of a small bungalow in the Oldtown portion of Westmeath. When MacKenzie didn’t move, Kitty asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just bracing myself.”
“You’re scaring me a little. Anything I should know about?” Kitty asked, fidgeting with her coat’s zipper.
“My family is very mixed. There are going to be Aetherborn, wizards, humans, and possibly some aliens.”
Kitty chuckled and replied, “That is varied. Thank you for the warning. I would have been confused by the sounds and smells.”
“Also, my brother-in-law is Jason Johnson.” MacKenzie grimaced as she said it.
Kitty recognized the name and asked incredulously, “The king of Aetherborn in Westmeath? I thought the woman with him looked familiar. I met them both this fall during the whole Ansonville incident.” That was when her former partner tried to take over the world. “I’m pretty up to date on the office gossip. How have I not heard about this?”
“We all have our secrets that are left out of our files. The General agreed to keep it a secret since not everyone in Elmsley is Aetherborn friendly. Also maybe not mention Elmsley too often.” MacKenzie bit her lip nervously and furrowed her brow.
Putting her hand on MacKenzie’s, Kitty said, “Hey. I’m not going to start a fight. I understand that we’re not well-liked by the Community. I promise to be respectful.”
Kitty felt Mackenzie squeeze her hand and a sensation of warmth washed over her. I can’t fall for her, she’s a coworker and my crushes never end well.
They walked up to the door and MacKenzie pressed the doorbell. A tall blonde with uncannily similar features to MacKenzie answered the door. The two women hugged and they were ushered in.
The heavenly smell of food enveloped them like a warm hug. Kitty was appreciating the aroma and missed MacKenzie introducing her to her sister.
“Agent Price, Nice to see you again.”
“Hello, you can call me Kitty. I’m glad we could meet again without anything world ending,” she said, trying to smile casually and not show her nerves.
Kennedy pulled her into a hug and said, “I’m glad you’re here. Call me Kennedy.”
A small tug on her dress made her look down at a small boy, maybe four years old, with dark skin and bright blue eyes looking up at her. “Hi. You’re very pretty, you don’t need the glamour.” His oversized Santa hat bobbed as he talked.
Kennedy’s eyes grew wide and she said, “Hammond, we don’t peek through people’s glamours.”
Kneeling to be at the boy’s level, Kitty said, “Thank you. Do you think I should turn it off? I feel a little naked without it.”
The boy nodded vigorously, adding, “I like being naked. I can do the naked baby dance.”
All three women laughed and Kitty dropped the glamour.
Little Hammond hugged her and took her hand. “Come on. Papa made lots of yummy food.”
Thursday the 24th of December, 2015 – Ottawa, Ontario
Kitty, Katherine Price, sat crosslegged on a comfy chair in the conference room of the Burt Grande in downtown Ottawa. She closed her eyes and took in the sounds and smells of the Elmsley Christmas party. There was sweet and savoury foods, hot chocolate, coffee, alcohol, and the smell of wet carpets from the rain. The sounds were of people chatting, Santa talking to the kids, happy shrieks and the rat-a-tat-tat of rain on the windows.
It was warm and comforting. The whole thing made her sad. She didn’t have a family but this is what she imagined it would feel like. She’d lived a complicated life. Her body was born dead and her soul had latched onto her twin sister. As a part of her sister, Kitty had been stuck as an imaginary friend until five years ago when through a complicated set of circumstances, her sister died and gave her all her memories and her body.
It was strange living in a body that wasn’t yours, but she’d adapted, and with her affinity for illusions she could make herself look different. The hardest part was losing the only person who’d known her her whole life.
Her parents had been part of a strange cabal of wizards that wanted to create a new world. That was why she existed, but they had died before she could remember them. She’d attended her sister’s funeral in disguise and even considered talking to their adoptive parents, but in the end, Kitty knew she couldn’t explain what had happened.
The Elmsley Project was her only family at this point, and although General Stuart was a strong role model, she was busy with her biological family.
She had considered her first partner family but she’d been killed in action. Her second partner had turned villain and tried to take over the world using supernatural sapient goo just this fall.
The hard rain falling outside was unusual but paired well with her sad mood.
“Sleepy already Kitty?” asked MacKenzie Fairfield, her long brown hair in a perfect bun. It was quite the contrast with Kitty’s shoulder-length red curls.
“No, just taking in the whole scene, doctor, or do I say Major?”
MacKenzie blushed a little. “Thanks, and we’re technically the same rank even if you’re a civilian.” She sat in the chair across from Kitty and put down her empty mug that had been hot chocolate.
“Does that mean I have to salute though?” Kitty teased.
A woman with hair almost as bright as Kitty’s but with a perpetual sneer on her face walked up to them. She was one of the only people in uniform. “Director Price, Major Fairfield. Congrats on your promotion.”
With a sigh, Kitty said, “With all due respect, Director Lanthier, don’t you have some naughty kids to shove in a sack?” Lieutenant-General Lanthier was the head of the military division of Elmsley, while Kitty and MacKenzie had recently been promoted to co-directors of the science division. The two groups didn’t get along.
Adding a scowl to her sneer, which was quite the feat, she said, “You’ll get what you deserve, freak,” and then walked away.
“Why do you antagonize her?” asked MacKenzie.
Kitty thought about it for a little and said, “Because she’s the worst of us and it’s fun.”
“I can’t argue with you there.” MacKenzie picked up her cup and pouted when she looked inside. Putting it back down, she asked, “What plans do you have for the holidays?”
This was the question Kitty hated. Most people only asked to be friendly, another script of polite society. She still got in trouble when she answered without thinking. She’d worked out the perfect reply and used it, “I’m working. I need to review the information from the Project Paracosm tests and try to figure out what went wrong.”
“Oh… Um… What about your family?” MacKenzie asked.
“I don’t have any, not really. My twin sister died five years ago and my parents died when I was a baby. I usually use the holidays as a way to catch up on work. It’s quiet and I can focus better.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose my twin.” The other woman sat up straighter and looked uncomfortable. ”I’m going to Westmeath. Two of my siblings live there now. We get together for a big family thing tonight. I’ll be gone until just after Boxing day.”
Kitty was curious, an attribute that had been mentioned enough to annoy her. She asked, “Why only then? You’ve had a packed year, you should take time until New Year’s.”
“I love my family but they are a lot. My siblings are happily married with kids, and my mom is always on my case about finding someone to settle down with. Between that and the fact that I can’t talk about anything I do, it’s just better in small doses.”
“I have no idea what that’s like, but it sounds fun and exhausting.” Kitty sighed looking over the party. Starting to stand, she said, “I should get some work done before… Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas Kitty.” It looked like MacKenzie was going to say something else but instead she picked up her cup and scowled at its emptiness.
As she walked away from the joyful chaos-symphony, Kitty couldn’t help but shed a few tears for what she was missing. It wasn’t Christmas, that was as important to her as the Civic Holiday, but the togetherness of family.
My family has been doing digital escape rooms for a while and I got an idea while writing Elizabeth 5, about a combination of an escape room and a dungeon dive but as a reality TV show.
Since I’d already written a book as a reality show, I figured this would be the perfect concept to re-visit Everdome.
It’ll probably be a long while before I get to it, but I’m excited to go back.
She stood on the highest hill in the Grey Havens and looked over the fields of the dead. Despite the vanquishing of the Corrupter, this dome still writhed with undead horrors. Mostly shambling corpses that projected illusions of loved ones, but there were darker things hiding in the golden cities. Vampires, necromancers, and the last of the great beasts.
Just the idea of Thincas, the beast of two faces, sent a shiver down Queen Jasmine’s spine. She put her hand to her sword and felt the comforting weight.
“That’s not going to help you against the dead,” Kathryn said glibly.
“This isn’t any ordinary blade. It’s been blessed by twelve priests, the Sisters, and Myrddin himself. Since this is as much your fault as it was the old gods, I think you should be less flippant.”
Giving a withering look toward the Queen, Kathryn said, “Child, I have lived and seen things you have no concept for. I watched as Everworld exploded and became Everdome. I was there when this dome turned from gold to grey, and I have been trying to find a way to fix it since. I have travelled the realms and universe. If swords, honour, and military arrogance could fix it, it would have been done by better sovereigns than you.”
The Queen advanced toward the other woman, both the only splotches of colour other than the golden ruins. Their warm brown skin seemed to brighten the area. The Queen’s armour shone bright silver and Kathryn’s purple coat seemed to mirror the difference between them.
“Oh for fuck’s sake. I thought travelling with women meant I could avoid the pissing contests.” They turned to the shorter woman with wild brownish red hair. She was dressed in brown leather armour and had more weapons than most people could count. “You’re both idiots and you’re both right. We can’t do this without Kathryn, and we can’t do this without Jasmine. Get over yourselves and get along or we’re not just going to die, we’re going to become like them.” Es’Sem the warrior queen of the Wild Nations said, and the other women stepped away from each other and looked suitably cowed.
The three companions walked in silence while the sun rose, or more accurately the clouds became less black and more grey. The smell was horrific; a combination of sickly sweet and rotting. They each sucked on a strong mint candy to avoid gagging.
They approached the walls of the city of the dead, feeling the warmth radiating from its golden glow. There was a small strip of wildflowers and grass that grew along the walls. The walked as close as they could without trampling the only life they’d seen in three days and reached the great gates.
The city had been Everdome’s greatest mausoleum, where kings and heroes were laid to rest. It was also the site of a yearly patronage to honour the dead. When the Corruption had taken the land, smaller versions of the mausoleum had been created in all the domes.
When they reached the gates, all three women swore. They were sealed and had a large inscription, “The way is shut. The city was made for the dead, and the Dead keep it, until thirteen more heroes come to our aid.” Below the inscription was the sign of Elric the Mad.
“Elric, that plagiarizing ass! I regret ever loving that man or letting him read my copy of Lord of the Rings,” Kathryn spat. “What does it mean by thirteen more?”
Queen Jasmine shook her head and answered, “It seems we, again, need help from Earth to save Everdome.”
You can learn more about Queen Jasmine, Es’Sem, Kathryn, the Great Beasts, and Everdome in:
Sometimes a story idea comes and bites me and refuses to leave. That happened to me last night.
On a discord that I’m in, we were talking about “Own Voice” stories, and I realized that I’ve never written a character who was like me. Parts of me are in all my characters, obviously, but I’ve never written about me.
I was listening to the X-Ambassadors’s album Townie and thinking about Stand by Me and came up with this concept. I needed to get it out so I wrote a proof of concept. These sometimes turn into novels and sometimes get forgotten. Who knows, we’ll see what happens.
I’ve also been interested in writing a subtler magic, almost magical realism but without the stereotypical pompousness.
I’m calling it:
The Summer of ‘99 and How I Died
There’s no such things as ghosts, lake monsters, wild dinosaurs, or aliens. They certainly do not live in Northern Ontario. None of this is true. I made it all up thirty years later while listening to sad music and wondering what could have been.
I turned sixteen in the summer of 1999, and it was filled with magic and horror. Not the kind I’ve read in books or seen in movies. It wasn’t flashy but it was beautiful and sad.
The first day of summer break was hot and sticky in a way that was rare in Val Perdu. We got heat, but normally it was dry, like being stuck in an oven. That day, a storm was threatening the horizon but the sun refused to move out. The clouds passed north and south, not blemishing the heat or light of summer.
Being the quintessential nerd, I was in my living room practicing the saxophone, trying to transcribe a song about the devil stealing partiers from the woods. “Au bal des bois” by Deux Saisons is still one of my favourite songs and reminds me of those days.
I had managed to honk out a good portion of the song, I wasn’t that good, when there was a knock at the door. I expected it to be a neighbour or someone coming to say hi to my mom.
“Yo man, wanna come to the beach?” Ethan was tall, thin, with shaggy black hair and pockmarked skin. He made up for his lack of charisma with his determination and genuine excitement about life. Having a license and a car didn’t hurt.
Standing next to him was his girlfriend Sarah. She was short, petite, with curly brown hair, an easy smile, and a sadness that I never understood.
The two of them were already in bathing suits and staring at me expectantly. I had plans that day, self-decided plans that were easily moved but I had made up my mind. I discovered a long time after that I was autistic and changing plans wasn’t something I enjoyed.
Standing there, my messy blond hair standing on edge, my Rush concert tee filled with holes, and in an old pair of shorts; I panicked. I wasn’t cool. I was expecting to spend the summer reading, playing video games and hanging out with my mom. That sounded lovely, but here were people who genuinely wanted to hang out with me. I didn’t know why but I rarely understand why people do things. Especially in the moment. I half expected it to be some sort of prank, which unfortunately had plenty of precedent.
My choice that day changed my life and I sometimes wish I’d said no.
“Uh… Sure. Let me get changed and I’ll be right out.” I closed the door on them and went to my mom who was playing Asheron’s Call, an early online roleplaying game.
“Ethan invited me to go to the beach, is that okay?” I asked. I wanted her to turn and look at me. Say no, or ask who else was going to be there. I wanted her to be protective.
“Sure. Bring some water and put on sunscreen.” She said it without looking up.
I changed in my room, putting on my bathing suit. It was a little tight. I wondered if I could get away with swimming in a tee or if that would just bring more attention to me. I wasn’t fat but I didn’t know that. I was convinced my little belly was huge and that I was hideous.
My mom had struggled with her weight her whole life and had criticized herself so much that I internalized it. She never once said anything about my weight except when I came back from university after having a norovirus and had lost thirty pounds. Then she worried about me.
I put on a tee, grabbed a towel, sunscreen, and a bottle of water. “I love you mom!” I shouted as I left.
“I love you too. Have a good time and be safe!” she shouted back.
Outside smelled like wet dirt and sweat. Not even the wind cooled me down, and I instantly started sweating from my head and back.
My friends were waiting in the car, an old, beat up Toyota that must have been blue once upon a time but was closer to grey now. All the windows were open and I could see Ethan and Sarah making out. It looked awkward and made me feel strange. I was sixteen and three years away from realizing I was bisexual; give me a break. I thought everyone but me was attractive at the time.
I folded myself into the back seat on the driver’s side and had to sit sideways because Ethan was tall and the car wasn’t that big.
“Hi,” said a soft voice. It was Vero. She was beautiful, or at least I could only see her beauty. She was kind of my girlfriend but we’d never said the words out loud. We’d spent a lot of time kissing though. She was a little taller than me and she’d dyed her shoulder length hair red with blonde streaks. She was wearing a loose shirt over her bright green bikini.
“Hi,” I said, my face feeling stretched from the goofy smile I was giving her. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
“How could I pass up the chance to go to the beach and watch these two fence with their tongues all day?.”
“At least they’re having fun,” I said.
“Hey, I offered you the chance to join in,” Ethan said from the corner of his mouth.
“Ew. No!” Vero replied but she was smiling. I was fairly certain they were joking around but at the same time I felt a little jealous. Ethan had a girlfriend and he knew how I felt about Vero. I’ve always had a hard time knowing when someone was joking or serious, especially when it’s about romance.
We didn’t say anything for a few really awkward moments. Finally I broke down and said, “It’s really hot out here. Can we get going?”
We drove down Val Perdu’s main street, passing the corner store, and the Cco-op, which was a grocery store and hardware store combined.
A few more houses and we were between the main town and the east side of town that was on the trans-canada highway. The Eeast side had a bunch of houses, a motel, and a small gas station.
Then we were on the way to the beach. A massive five- minute drive on gravel roads. The dried dust stung our eyes but closing the windows would be broiling. We’d be there soon, and everything would change when I almost drowned and found that egg.
Typing in 2025 feels like I’m writting some far off date not the actual year. Not sure I’m in love with the future as it is but let’s concentrate on the things that we can control.
This year, I’m going to be extra ambitious with my resolutions. (Quick reminder, my resolutions are goals that are meant to push me.)
1. Write The Hounds of Bakerville
I have a basic outline and I’m going to start re-reading the first four to get back into it. It’s kind of exciting to be working on the penultimate book in the series.
2. Write a serial story
I’m not sure what I’m writing this year, but I will try to get a 1000 word chapter out each month. This is going to be the twelfth year I do it.
3. Master 1 song on the ukulele and record it.
I wrote a song for Elizabeth 4 and set up the chords, but between the colds and the medical issues, I didn’t get really good at it. I’m going to do my best to get good enough to record it.
4. Read at least 12 books
Last year I crushed my reading challenge and I’m hoping I can do the same this year. 12 might not sound ambitious but it is.
5. Build my new book nook and lego
Three years ago for Christmas I got a Magical Cafe book nook. Over the three years I’ve made it to page 17 of 40ish I think. There’s so much painting and gluing and it’s really hard. This year, my sister in-law took pity and got me another one that doesn’t need the paint or the glue. Maybe this will help build my confidence.
I also got an epic Van Gogh’s Starry Night LEGO set. It has a lot of pieces.
6. Feel less guilty
2024 was a busy year and now that I’m feeling better, I have more time that isn’t just for recovering. I’m having trouble taking that time for me and not feeling bad about it. It’s not selfish to read, it’s not selfish to watch a show on my own, it’s not selfish to do things for me. I know that, but I’m having trouble shutting up the little voice in my head.
7. Design and deploy a new coffee flavour for Ottawa Comic Con in September
I have an idea what it’s going to be, so this should be easy.
8. Plan and plot out the first in a cozy mystery series
I have this idea for a series of short cozy mysteries. The hope is to make them around 40 thousand words and just have fun. It would also give me the chance to play around with self-publishing. The idea would be to write this after Elizabeth 5 before I jump right into the final book.
9. Organize a massive birthday party and book release
10. Keep fighting to learn more about myself and how to make my life easier
I have learned a lot about my body and mind this year, and I know I have a lot of work, both to improve my health and to accept what and who I am. More details in a future post.
I hope that everyone has a productive, healthy, and good 2025.
A few months later Suzie and I were relaxing on a beach on Earth. Zuri and the Galahad had returned to their home to try and organize the survivors. Where Zuri went, the Myrddin followed. Diamond Stars and the crew of The Revenge returned home with the remnants of Black Sun to try and fix the harm they’d done. Captain Ng and the crew of the Warship Ennill had stayed to learn all they could from the various people.
The other speakers and people of the Sun fleet were given the chance to stay with a quarter of them doing so and the rest returning to their systems.
With all the technology we’d gained, travel between systems was going to be a regular thing now. The universe had shrunk significantly.
I was enjoying the feel of clear water on my toeswhen we got a call.
“I shouldn’t answer it,” I said.
“They won’t stop,” Suzie replied. She’d seen it was the Hey Sunny Too.
“What is it?” I asked into the coms.
“The Gate activated, get up here,” Adric replied and we had no choice but to get the shuttle and head back to our new ship.
The gate dated from the beginning of the universe and seemed to emit a kind of power we couldn’t recognize. Sol didn’t know what it was. Of course I installed it on my ship.
Once we were aboard, Adric said, “The gate activated and a crude robot came through, left this, and then went back in. The whole thing lasted less than a minute.”
He handed me a nicely embossed piece of paper that had a tree on it. As I stared, the words swam and formed, Yggdrasil Command Aether Earth. If your atmosphere is safe for us, we shall visit you in 24 hours. It was followed by a complex mathematical algorithm.
Adric anticipated my confusion and said, “It’s a formula for figuring out what their 24 hours means using the speed of light and the emission frequency of a hydrogen atom.” He stopped there and I gave him a quizzical look. “Oh. It’s close to our Earth but their day is roughly 80 milliseconds longer than ours which means they are probably from an alternate reality Earth that is further in the past.”
I blinked a few times and asked, “How do you get that from a simple calculation?”
“It wasn’t simple, and I also analyzed the note. It has massive quantities of microplastics and greenhouse gases which was typical of Old-Earth.”
I nodded and said, “I’m impressed. How long do we have?”
“Ten minutes. You really took your time.”
Suzie wanted us to greet them remotely but I figured if we’re going to meet interdimensional aliens, we should do it in person.
The gate lit up with blue energy that looked like waves, which was different from our jumpgates that just shimmered silver.
Two people walked through, a man and a woman in what looked like pseudo-military garb. He had dark skin, was tall, broad, and his long brown hair was streaked with grey and tied in a bun on the top of his head. The woman with him was also tall, but had white skin and blonde hair, just starting to turn white.
They didn’t look like any military I’d met and there was a strange power about them.
The man smiled and it was obvious from the creases in his face that he did it a lot. He moved forward and spoke gibberish.
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand you,” I said. I was surprised, we’d installed a translator designed by the Children of the Stars, and it was able to translate almost anything.
The woman said a few words, pointed at Suzie, and at Suzie’s sword.
“I think she wants you to talk about your sword?” I said.
“I don’t want to tell them about my sword,” Suzie said, sounding almost offended.
The man held his hand out for a handshake and said, “Thank you, our translations need two native speakers and a few sentences to parse the language. I am Agent Jason Johnson and this is Agent Kennedy Johnson.”
“Nice to meet you.” I shook his muscular hand. “I’m Hal the Sun Speaker, this is Suzie, and this is Adric. You are on my ship in orbit around our Earth.”
The woman smiled broadly and said, “I love it when it’s a spaceship gate. It’s always so cool.”
“I don’t want to be rude, but why are you here and where did you come from?” These two were likeable, but seemed genuine and not fake.
“We’re from Aether Earth and we’re here with a warning. The Mulciber are coming.”
The word meant nothing to me, but it triggered a vision from Sol. I stood on a tall mountain on Mars and watched as a silver serpent of massive size decimated the Martian military.
At least it was less disgusting than the void-beasts, but it looked like I had another threat to prepare for.
While you wait for the next serial story, check out the previous ones:
Saturday the 13th of December, 2003 – Westmeath, Ontario
Running over to them, Jason checked the boy’s pulse and it was extremely weak but still present. “It’s not petrification. They’re fine.”
“Wasn’t there a tree in the middle of the dance floor?” Kennedy asked, before shouting, “Duck!”
Over a year of training together and a trust built on saving each other’s lives countless times meant he dropped to the floor without thinking about it. The silvery ball that would have hit him in the shoulders flew past and hit Dr. Amita. She froze on the spot, her face contorted in confusion.
People screamed and would have panicked but Kennedy said, “Everyone please move toward the exit in an orderly fashion.” Westmeath had enough strange things happening that people walked quickly but not fast enough to hurt each other. There were still quite a few people left, all frozen.
“Where did that come from?” he asked as he kicked up from the ground and landed on his feet.
“The tree,” Kennedy said, “But I’m not sure which one.” She joined him near the boys.
The five trees seemed to shiver at the sound of her voice. Jason used his shadow power to stretch his senses out and see if they moved.
“How does a tree that’s in a pot move around?” he wondered aloud. He felt the attack and movement before seeing it. Grabbing Kennedy’s hands, he swung her around to avoid a volley.
“I can’t tell which tree it’s coming from,” she said, annoyed.
“Even my shadow senses aren’t helping with that. It moves too fast. But only one is moving”
“The cake!” Kennedy exclaimed and ran to the buffet, weaving and dodging around attacks. She lifted up the large red Yule log cake and said, “We just need to figure out which one moves and we can use the cake to mark it.”
It was a good idea, but a shift in the lighting and shadows made Jason turn away from her. The room had gotten darker as the moonlight from the wall of windows was blocked.
Surrounding the room from outside were massive pine trees. The christmas trees inside stood just over two and half metres tall, the ones outside were easily ten times that height.
Kennedy gave a small squeak and said, “Well, that’s not good.”
The doors flew inward, followed by a figure in silver full-plate armour. He had a longsword on his left hip and a dagger holstered on the opposite side. His helmet was down but he looked around the room and lifted it before saying, “You need to get out of here. It’s not safe.”
Laughing, still comically holding the cake, Kennedy said, “Jeepers, that was dramatic, and we know.”
“Kennedy?” the man said, looking surprised.
“Albert?” she replied. “For heaven’s sake, is everyone I know from Baker magical?”
The armour was the symbol of the Gatekeepers and organization that was dedicated to protecting the world from Aether incursions. Creatures created from imagination and magic could cause havoc if not controlled. The creatures were returned or hunted, while the people or Aetherborn were educated and placed in communities like Westmeath.
“Not to break up the reunion but—” Jason was cut off by a volley of flying ornaments. It seemed the tree took a little time to reload.
“Right. Sorry. I am Gatekeeper Therien. I tracked a part of a rogue tannen-bomb here.” He looked out the window and replied, “and it looks like the rest of it just arrived.”
“Part? You mean this is all one creature? Like a magical Pando?” Kennedy asked. When the knight didn’t reply, she added, “Pando, the giant organism that’s one root system with tens of thousands of trees?”
“Yes.” He drew his sword and swatted at the ornaments that were flying toward them. “Why are you holding a cake?”
“It’s to throw at the tree so we know which one it is,” she replied sheepishly.
“Ah. Good idea, but it’s the one next to your husband.”
Jason whipped around, not used to being snuck up on. He raised a hand in defence but was struck by a freeze bomb. It didn’t hurt, and he could hear and see everything happening.
A cake flew into his vision and smashed into the tree, covering it in red icing, and some splashing on Jason’s face and hair.
“I just have to grab it and I’ll be able to banish the whole thing,” Albert announced.
Kennedy picked up two covers from the warm Hors d’oeuvre trays and said, “I’ll distract it.” With a few long strides, she made it to Jason and whispered, “Sorry and I’ll save you.” then she pecked him on the cheek. “Yum, strawberry icing.”
“Try to get it to run to me,” Albert said.
Banging her trays at the obviously marked tree, she said, “I was being sappy. Are you ent-ertained? Wood you please move toward the knight? No pining and no barking!”
The tree let out a horrifying shrieking noise and ran toward Kennedy.
“You said distract, not taunt,” Albert said, sounding amused.
“It’s following me, so it’s distracted,” she yelled. “Come on tree, are you that easy to needle?”
Despite Kennedy running as fast as she could, the tree was catching up. “Hold on,” she said. “It’s a tree!” Turning around with her makeshift shields, she braced for impact. Surprised, the tree reversed course right into the Gatekeeper.
Putting his hands on the tree’s branches, he shouted, “Ga Bort!” and the tree disappeared, replaced by an equal mass of clear pine scented goo. It was followed a second later by the rest of the trees outside and a wave of goo that covered the windows.
Everyone started to wake up and as Kennedy was distracted, the knight tried to walk away. “Albert, stay and enjoy the party,” she said, before running to check on Jason and the boys.
“If you insist,” he replied, making a magical gesture that transformed his armour into formal clothes.
The guests who had run away had been trapped in the lobby but now they were moving back to the party. It wasn’t the weirdest thing to happen in Westmeath. Not even this year.
Later, as everyone was enjoying good food and drink, minus a strawberry Yule log cake, Jason said, “The thing that bothers me about the whole situation is that I didn’t get to make a single tree pun.”
Kennedy kissed his now-clean cheek and replied, “Next time, when you’re not frozen. But I always have you covered, just leaf it to me.”
The story was written by Jen and Éric Desmarais with the help of Dragon Desmarais.
Assassins! Accidental matchmakersMonsters! Incidental Wedding GuestsCrushing ItWinging It
Saturday the 13th of December, 2003 – Westmeath, Ontario
They were halfway down the corridor to the cafeteria before the music reached their ears.
“Maybe that’ll be you in a few years,” Kennedy said to her teenage brother, Tommy.
He cocked his head, listening. “Nah, that’s a string quartet. I don’t plan on changing instruments.”
Jason chuckled. “They don’t get the same band year after year. You have a chance.”
“I think I’d rather spend my time eating that delicious smelling food,” Tommy replied. “And dancing with my boyfriend,” he added, squeezing Carter’s hand.
“I love the variety of decorations,” Carter said. “You’d think the mishmash of cultures would be chaotic, but it works really well.”
“You should tell Amita that,” Kennedy said. “This party is all her doing. She’s been talking about it for weeks.”
“Oh, it’s Amita now?” Jason murmured. “You finally managed to drop the ‘doctor’?”
Kennedy grimaced. “She had me practise. To her face. I still feel awkward about it, though.”
The corridor opened up to the large room, and the teenage boys halted in awe, almost tripping the older couple.
“I forget that you’ve never visited me at work,” Kennedy said. “We’ve had school groups in for field trips. Didn’t you come last year, Carter?”
“Yeah, but there weren’t five ginormous Christmas trees in the building then,” he said, shaking his head.
“We’re supposed to come in early January,” Tommy said absentmindedly, eyes wide as he took in the two full walls of floor-to-ceiling windows.
Through them, even with the lighting creating a mirror effect, they could make out the snowy courtyard and the fields beyond.
Carter recovered first. “They’re making some of the Everdome recipes we brought back with us! Come on!” He grabbed Tommy’s hand and pulled him to the buffet tables.
Kennedy was about to follow them, but Jason tugged her hand, pulling her against him. He pressed his nose to her neck, his fingers trailing down the mostly bare skin of her back as he inhaled deeply.
Her knees went weak. “Jason?” she murmured.
“Have I told you exactly how much I want to tear this dress off you?”
Kennedy bit her lip to hold in her laughter. Her emerald green dress, styled after the iconic Jessica Rabbit dress, never failed to drive him wild. “Many times. But if you tear it, I can’t wear it again.”
“The torture would end,” he teased.
“Excuse me,” said a new voice.
They side-stepped out of the doorway and she pinned him against the wall. “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“That waistcoat and your rolled up sleeves are doing things to me.”
He grinned at her. “What kind of things, and can I get involved?”
Kennedy walked her fingers up the buttons on his chest. “Absolutely. When we get home.” She pulled away. “But right now, I want food, and then I want to dance with my handsome husband.”
Jason looked around comedically. “Where is he?”
She laughed and caught his chin in her hand. “Right where he’s supposed to be.” She pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. “Let’s be sociable.”
“If we must,” he groaned dramatically.
“Oh good, I was hoping I would get to say hello before the New Year,” Dr. Amita teased them when they approached the near-groaning buffet tables.
“You outdid yourself,” Jason said. “How will you surpass this next year?”
Amita waved a hand. “Pssh, nobody will remember this one next year.”
“I remember that you only had four trees last year, and this time you’ve got five,” Kennedy pointed out.
“Is it some sort of pardonable offence that you cut down trees to bring inside?” Jason asked.
Amita raised an eyebrow. “I only cut down trees from the side of the family that I don’t like,” she said dryly.
They glared at each other for a moment before Amita chuckled, followed by Jason. “You know they’re replantable trees,” she said.
“And yet I will continue to pretend you murder your family members every year,” he replied.
Kennedy rolled her eyes. “Sometimes I forget that you two go way back. I should’ve known Jason wouldn’t insult someone like that otherwise.”
“Go dance. You haven’t fulfilled the romantic quota for the night yet.” Amita shooed them onto the dance floor.
“We can be romantic and eat cheese!” Kennedy protested half-heartedly.
“You like this song,” Jason said, sweeping her into his arms. “One dance and then we can feed each other bites of cheese.”
“It doesn’t have to be cheese,” she replied. “Oh, look at the boys! They’re so cute.”
They were swaying slowly in place near the big tree in the middle of the dance floor, looking deep into each other’s eyes.
“We can’t let them out-cute us!” Jason teased.
“I don’t think the word ‘cute’ ever crossed my mind when it came to you,” Kennedy said thoughtfully.
“Oh?” He spun her under his arm.
“No. More like hot, handsome, jaw-droppingly gorgeous…” She laughed when he flushed. “Okay, maybe now you’re a little cute.”
“Whoa, watch out—” Jason pulled her against him, away from the couple they almost bumped into.
The other couple didn’t move.
Jason frowned. “Are you two alright?” he asked.
Kennedy circled them. “They’re frozen in place,” she observed before scanning the room. Several other people were not moving either. “Tommy,” she breathed, whipping around to the teenagers. They hadn’t moved since the last time she’d looked over at them. “Oh no, mom’s going to kill me!” she groaned.
