Science Fiction
Jess was born a prisoner, grew up a prisoner and at sixteen knew he would die a prisoner. When his turn comes to try to break through the traps protecting a spaceship it seems his day to die has come. The ship, and others like it, have already claimed hundreds of prisoners' lives.
Instead he manages to avoid the traps and gain access to the ship with two other prisoners, beginning a frantic flight to freedom. Soon Jess finds himself loose in a brutal universe ruled by the Empire and riddled with pirates, slave traders and worse. Can Jess manage to learn the rules of the universe and the capabilities of the ship he has stolen in time to stay alive?
Simon Goodson is the author of the massively popular and highly rated Wanderer's Odyssey science fiction series which has been downloaded more than 80,000 times in just two years. Simon has also written the exciting Dark Soul Silenced fantasy books.
His speculative fiction short stories cover science fiction, fantasy and other styles. Several are freely available from www.simongoodson.com, while many more are available in the collection 'Last Sunrise & Other Stories'.
Simon fits in writing around a full time job as an IT Consultant and a hectic family life looking after his son and two daughters. He squeezes in writing during lunchtimes and while commuting on the train.
#EXCERPT
Jess went to stand up, to lean forward, found that he couldn’t. His back and head were stuck to the chair.
“I’m caught on something. Can
you see what?” he asked.
Sal leaned forward to look then let out a cry.
“My God! Matt, look!”
“What?” Jess asked, scared.
“What is it. Why can’t I move.”
Matt let out a curse. Jess
started to try to pull free, but Matt quickly took hold of his shoulders to
hold him in place.
“Don’t move boy. Please. Hold still for a moment. There’s some sort of web between you and the
seat. Now don’t panic, but it looks like
some strands are going into your head.
Like you’re being linked to the ship.
How do you feel?”
Jess took a ragged breath, trying to slow his hammering heart. “A bit dizzy.
My head has been tingling. I’ve
been feeling pain when the ship was hit.
And I seemed to just know things about the ship. What’s happening to me?” He started to struggle again, but his head
was locked firm. He could turn to the
sides a little, but not move forwards.
“Steady. Steady!” Matt’s hands
pressed down on his shoulders again. “If
those are connected into your brain then ripping them out could kill you. Take it easy.”
Jess felt himself relaxing. Not
at Matt’s words. A warm feeling was
spreading through his body, easing the tension from his muscles as it
went. He felt an image, a feeling,
pushing into his mind. It wasn’t his
thought, wasn’t trying to disguise itself as coming from him. It came from the ship, he was sure. The image was of him being held safely. Being cared for. What was happening was to help protect
him. He relaxed some more.
“It’s OK, I think,” he said.
“Really. It’s a bit scary, but
I’m sure the ship doesn’t want to hurt me.
It’s doing this for me, to help me somehow.”
Sal gently stroked the side of his face, studying him closely.
“You sure?” she asked. “It’s
definitely you saying that?”
Jess went to answer, then closed his mouth again. Gave the question some thought. Then nodded, as much as he was able.
“Yes. I’m still me. The ship is… reaching out to me, I
guess. It’s trying to connect me and it,
but no more. It’s not trying to control
me or anything.”
She stared hard at him for another few seconds before nodding.
“OK. But I’m not leaving you on
your own. Matt, go explore. Tell us what you find. I’ll keep an eye… I mean, I’ll keep Jess
company.”
As Matt headed back to the main room she crouched down, reached out,
taking Jess’s right hand in both of hers.
The way she looked at him brought a lump to his throat. His memories of his mother were vague but he
remembered her using that look. He gave
Sal a smile then closed his eyes, letting the rush of information from the ship
wash over him again.
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