First Monkey in Outer Space - a science fiction short in progress
In the dark hours of the early morning, actions become
muddled, fatigue clouds judgement, inhibates thought for most people. Dr. Garon T. Morganson was wont to sit at his
desk for three hours after midnight at least four times a week. He claimed to any who would listen, and
sometimes there were not many, that in the night, the brain released chemicals
that allowed individuals to perceive the world from a unique perspective. Usually, people were asleep, and called those
perceptions dreams. But Morganson stayed
awake, to capture his thoughts on paper, scribbled notes scattered across the
surface of his desk, like debris from a tornado wasteland. It was in one of the late night vigils that
he conceived the idea of the SVA translator, and many more nights followed
while he constructed a prototype.
The genisis of the idea came to him after reading an
article on simian intelligence.
Morganson had long held the belief that mankind was, if not alone in the
vast universe, not the exclusive intelligent species on the planet. He had written three published papers on
sign language and vocal communication used by apes in captivity as opposed to
the wild, all well received. He also donated
time and large sums of his salary to simian research facilities, especially
Koko the gorilla’s project. His actions
had cost him a wife and a son, who lived a seperate existence from his
own. His son, in an act of emmulation or
rebellion, followed in his father’s research, although in different
circles. Where Dr. Morganson strictly
researched simian’s, his son applied the knowledge, teaching sign language to
chimpanze’s and gorilla’s.
The SVA Translator acted as a vocal cord for a
simian. Dr. Morganson fashioned a
simple, elegant choker necklace for an ape to wear around the neck. It pressed against the hollow of the throat,
allowing the animal to form words, phrases and sentences. It had yet to be tested in the field, but
Morganson was adept and felt confident in his invention. The possiblities of learning first hand about
the thought processes of what amounted to an alien mind on Earth excited
him. He sat the choker to one side of
the mess, on the corner of his desk for testing in the morning.
The only drawback to late nights was the exhaustion. Morganson, like many who burned both daylight
and dark, suffered from chronic tiredness.
He sat back in his padded wooden chair, crossed his arms over his chest
and let his eyes close. He promised
himself he wouldn’t sleep, only rest.
His head drooped into the crook of his crossed arms.
TARZANA-Prominant research scientist Dr. Garon T.
Morganson was found dead in his office by a cleaning service early Tuesday
morning. A police spokesman said
Morganson appeard to have died in his sleep, and authorities do not suspect foul
play. Dr. Morganson was at the forefront
of simian language research, a proponet of animal rights and a published
author. He is survived by his wife,
Melissa and his son, Dr. Darwin Morganson.
Darwin Morganson looked nothing like his father, until he
sat at his desk. Behind the large pile
of papers, the similarities shone like a lighthouse beacon. Both men radiated intensity, a devoted
passion to fulfilling work. But Darwin’s
strenght was not behind the desk, so he spent as little time there as
possible.
“Joey,” he called to an assistant. “We have another grant application.”
Joey Jerome hid behind the large glass cage in the middle
of the room. Her dark hair was cropped
around a pixie’s face, making her look half of her twenty six years.
“I see you,” Darwin called out.
She stood up, shrugging.
“Had to try, you know.”
She walked around the cage, trailing her fingers along
the glass. Inside, Briar, a mountain
gorilla watched her with deep set black eyes.
He reached out, his hand inches from the glass and followed her hand
with a pointed finger. Joey smiled at
him and waved. He shook his finger at
her, a perfunctory wave back.
“You could do it this time,” she suggested to
Darwin.
He shook his head, dragging himself from behind the pile
of paperwork. He was thin, geekishly
handsome in a bookwormish way, like he could have been both an athlete and
scholar, but chose the brainer route. He
dressed ten years behind fashion, but hid under an immaculate white lab
coat. Apes didn’t care what he wore, he
told Joey once.
She settled in his chair, and searched for paper to write
on. She tore off a few sheets from a
crumpled legal pad and scribbled while he talked.
“I’ve got to go home this weekend,” he told her.
“Why,” she asked absently.
“My mom wants me to clean out Dad’s office.”
“Sounds tough,” she sympathized.
“It’s been five years.
I imagine there’s more dust than anytyhing.”
“What about all of his research?”
“Miracle of modern technology. All he had on his desk were scribbles.”
She waved at the mess on his desk.
“Wonder where you get that from?”
He didn’t answer.
He stood in front of the glass cage, staring at Briar. He signed;
“How are you today?”
“Hungry,” the ape answered.
“You are alway’s hungry.”
“Apple, please.”
Darwin reached for an apple and passed it through a hole
cut in the glass. Briar took it, chomped
twice and it was gone.
“Better?” Darwin asked.
“More.”
He passed a second apple through the hole.
Joey looked up from her notes on yet another grant and
flashed another smile as she watched him converse with the ape.
ASSET – a Brill
Winger Thriller
OPERATIVE – a Brill
Winger Thriller
SIDEWAYS – a Brill
Winger Thriller
CHOKEPOINT – a Brill
Winger Thriller
DECREED - a Brill
Winger Thriller
IN THE DARK – a Brill
Winger Thriller
TRUE
NATURE
DEEP
STATE
DISAVOWED
CREDIBLE
THREAT
Tin
Trooper – a Brill Winger story
Nazi Nukes
- a Brill Winger story
Webb of Lies – An action
thriller
Sci-Fi Comedy
All Jacked Up – The Dipole
Series
Good Eats Café – The Dipole
Series
Whiskey Bent – The Dipole
Series
Love Machine – The Dipole
Series
Lunar Hustle- The Dipole
Series
The Dipole
Shield -
The Dipole Series
Planet 9 - The Dipole
Series
Planet
10 – The Dipole Series
Half
Cocked – The Dipole Series
Berserker
Brigade – The Dipole Series
Apogee
– The Dipole Series
Apex
– The Dipole Series
Sci Fi Western
Backwoods Station – Keeping House
Backwoods
Station – Bootleg
Backwoods
Station – Martian Roulette
Sci Fi
Dystopian- Alien Invasion
Phalanx - Invasion Earth
Pyrrhic - Invasion Earth
Beachhead - Invasion
Earth
Bridgehead - Invasion
Earth
Lodgement – Invasion
Earth
Ultima Thule – Invasion
Earth
Infiltrate – Invasion
Earth
Dustoff – Invasion
Earth
Riki Tik- Invasion
Earth
Snakebit – Invasion
Earth
Defilade
– Invasion Earth
SITUATION
NORMAL - INVASION EARTH
FUBAR
GEAR ADRIFT
HMFIC
2IC
BOHICA
Science
Fiction Adventure
Moon Men
Epoch - The Future
Templar
Eon- The Future
Templar
Era - The Future
Templar
Super Secret Space Mission
The Herd Shot
Round the World
High Steaks
Star Squad –
Frag
Star Squad –
Nanowarriors
Star Squad –
Pogue
The AREA 51
SERIES
AREA 54
AREA 55
BATTLEFIELD Z
SERIES
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apocalyptic wasteland where zombies aren’t the worst thing to survive.
Battlefield Z
Children's
Brigade
Sweet Home
Zombie
Zombie Blues
Highway
Mardi Gras
Zombie
Bluegrass
Zombie
Outcast Zombie
Renegade Zombie
Everglades Zombie
Lone Star Zombie
The
Pass Zombie
Dust
Devil Zombie
Terminal
Zombie
Ronin
Zombie
Urban
Fantasy
GUNS
AND MAGIC - a Marshal of
Magic story
WITCH BLUES - a Marshal
of Magic story
BIG EASY WITCH - a Marshal
of Magic story
VIVA
WITCH VEGAS – a Marshal of Magic Tale
The
Marshal of Magic – Hail Fellow
The
Marshal of Magic – The Devil You Know
The
Marshal of Magic - Small Medium at Large
The
Marshal of Magic - Low Elf Esteem
The
Marshal of Magic - Big Trouble
CRESCENT CITY
COVEN SERIES
Release
the Cats of War
Kitten
Murder Mittens
Historical
Fantasy
The Holy War
– Blood Bound
Western
Fort
Smith - Carried by Six
Fort
Smith – Texas Cakewalk
Fort
Smith – Dead Shot
Fort Smith- Dead on Arrival
Fort Smith – Dead to Rights
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