My third story sold to SpecFicWorld's series of anthology, but likely to be published before historical zombie yarn "Silenti" (though I'm not sure when specifically), "Viscera" is about a dangerous alien species being experimented with aboard a starship in deep space. So why am I usign the horror background (what - you'd not noticed my backgrounds were themed)? Because the "Dark Portals" is science-fiction and fantasy mixed in with horror elements, and "Viscera" certainly leans more towards the "Alien" side of the spectrum than "E.T.".
On a cathedral-like spaceship sent far, far away from the light on any inhabited world, a top xenologist in the employ of a repressive technocracy has managed to capture a Viscera, a vicious alien creature which haunts the nightmare of humanity. Having displayed rudimentary traces of intelligence and purpose in past engagements, Research Vekt and his team of convict 'volunteers' seek to establish a form of psychic contact with the Viscera, to further their knowledge of this foe and--just possibly--establish an understanding beyond their historical hostilities. But the Viscera's mind is a powerful as it is foreign, threatening to swallow the psyches of those it comes into contact with, while deep in the bowels of the ship, restive elements are stirring... |
