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Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 57m

#1linewed “Oh, Za’dut, you make the World Beneath sound so humdrum and #meaningless,” said Ra’fa’kat’wei. “You take away the magic,” said Is’a’pai’a. “Are we not allowed to have magic sometimes?”

000

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 59m

#1linewed Without warning A’zhu’lo banged its head once on the stones and surged forward. “I cannot let a Champion die so #meaninglessly!” it cried. “A rescue!” And it rushed down the rocks in a series of prodigious leaps.

100

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 1h

#1linewed “I remembered a #meaningless thing that I took before you even appeared at the ford, and the time to speak it seemed to have arrived. ‘One and Six will come between the rivers, but One and Six will set out on the northern path.’” Confounded, we all stood wordless.

000

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

“I say we head west for at least a day’s #sailing. The wind is holding easterly and the tek’a| [“sail”] will take us out quickly. If we do not come to any land after a day, we will furl the wind-catcher, turn around, and row back. How lost can we get?” #vss365

0142

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

“It is a strange craft that you #sail, with those spars across your Eye-Nest pole and Mother-Eyes upon your prow, to say nothing of the head of a monster going before you! And a bireme! We have taken tales of those, but no citizen living today in No’chet has ever seen one!” #vss365

0162

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Long ago their Seer’s predecessor had taken a vision in which a great steaming stone had #sailed across the sky, spitting out the words, The time is new … Even here in this ancient place so far away, that vision had been presented to them. #vss365

0102

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

When we arrived at Krin’shka’chet and sailed into the busy #harbor, we were pleased to find Dei’jul’zei rowing out to meet us. Dei’jul’zei was the friendly trading ship we had encountered when we were searching for the Lonely Island after losing Za’dut. #vss365

082

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

After a good two-antennae count of days, however, we came into a #harbor with a skimpy forest edging a sliver of black beach and a smoking volcano far enough inland to be safe. Everybody was thrilled to be able to go ashore. #vss365

072

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Is’a’pai’a and all the Alates stood in the stern and waved their claws and antennae furiously at us as the ship moved out of the #harbor with its escort of coasters. Finally all the ships became only small dots heading into the open sea… #vss365 [Sorry - I use American spelling]

031

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

#SciFiSat [1/5] [Capt. Nikalishin returns to active duty.] Robbie was ushered into the precincts of the Chief of Staff of ESC and promptly found himself in front of a broad desk behind which stood a sixtyish man with iron-gray hair, a lined face, and a practiced smile.

030

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

#SciFiSat [2/5] As Robbie saluted, he stared at the Field Admiral’s tunic; with all those twinkly stars on the shoulder boards it was a wonder the man didn’t catch on fire. “Capt. Robbin Nikalishin reporting as ordered, sir!” Kade returned the salute casually.

020

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

#SciFiSat [3/5] “At ease, Captain. I’m Field Admiral Ladislav Kade, Chief of Staff of the ESC. But I’m sure you know that. Sit down!” Robbie sat. Kade also sat, folding his hands on the desk and staring at his victim.

020

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

#SciFiSat [4/5] “So I’m finally meeting the famous Starchaser we’ve been busting our butts to rehabilitate for this last year and a half.” “Uh … I guess that’s me, Admiral, sir.” Kade laughed with a rough and robust humor. “After all we went through to get you here…

020

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

#SciFiSat [5/5] “…don’t worry that I’m going to eat you, Captain.” “Uh … no, it’s the President who’s going to do that. Somebody told me she was going to have me for lunch.” Kade laughed harder. “So I get to experience the famous Nikalishin humor right off the bat!”

021

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

#SciFiFri [Robbie has to cope with the death of his mother.]

010

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

#SciFiFri Prf. Lara said, “This is just the kind of thing that’s likely to destabilize the man. I suggest we continue to monitor his #activities closely. Why don’t you request that Adm. Teeter send us periodic reports on our Captain?”

010

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

#SciFiFri “GovMort provides a standard form to use for that kind of notification.” And so Robbie set about the task of fulfilling the protocols of death. Perhaps it was a good thing, because the #activity helped to keep his demons at bay over the ensuing days.

010

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

#SciFiFri So he desperately sought release in practical #activity. He moved all the savings into the #active account and then he paid off all the bills. He rang up the bank and arranged to have the accounts closed out after all transactions had cleared.

011

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

#SciFiFri Robbie would sit at a table in the back and watch the servers – all nicely endowed females who wore tight blouses and skinny pants. He felt a little ashamed for enjoying this #activity when he had a classy woman like Fedaylia coming back to him soon ...

010

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

#SciFiFri “And we don’t want Robbin Nikalishin to learn about Phenix’s #activities, either,” said Malakoff. “That’s absolutely imperative. He must prove he can function successfully without any outside stimulus to drive him.”

030

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

#1linewed Halrab had strong legs and good aim from incessant playing of ridge ball with his cousins in childhood. The pouch flew into the air, trailing a spurt of flames that #showered the shrieking observers. The pouch itself landed against the breast of the High Elder…

020

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

#1linewed A ball of moisture, delicately intermingled w/ light that slightly intensified at its core, was suspended in the air. It shook itself & drops #showered from its periphery to fall silently on the surface of the water. “Is it a Troi?”Halrab whispered. “One most elemental.”

011

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

#1linewed The spirit did not approach closer, but it led them slowly and steadily, leaving a tunnel of eerie violet light behind it to guide their advance. Finally, it leaped up, marked the opening of the ice cave with a silver #shower, and left them as mysteriously as it had come.

010

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

#1linewed Halrab’s mouth opened in perplexity, but then he obeyed, sending up streams of white birds, their wing #showering silver fire; weaving them through the wreaths of opalescent vapor that Gilzara flung out; shaping along with the Master garlands of flowers …

010

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#SciFiSat [Here is another example of Dr. Lazare Yow's puckish sense of humor. Capt Nikalishin gets sick during a flight.]

010

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#SciFiSat [1/6] They ran Robbie through the Boxwell while he rested groggily on the scanning bed. The pain had waned and he was thinking he had panicked unnecessarily when Dr. Yow bounced up to him. “Well! Your ailment is exactly what I suspected!”

020

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#SciFiSat [2/6] Robbie’s eyes flew open. “Don’t tell me I have cancer or something, doc.” “Oh, it’s not cancer – let me relieve your mind of that. And it’s not an ulcer, either. But you do have a bad case of cholecystitis with intermittent biliary occlusion caused by cholelithiasis.”

010

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#SciFiSat [3/6] “My god!” Robbie sat bolt upright. “That sounds like something you get from a tropical parasite! What does it mean?” Dr. Yow’s funny little face folded into a million mirthful creases. “Gallstones.” “What?”

010

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

SciFiSat [4/6] “Didn’t you ever suspect gall bladder, Captain? I would wager these attacks generally followed a fatty meal.” Robbie collapsed weakly back on the bed, laughing in spite of himself. “You little demon of a man. Choly … whatever it is. You scared me to death.”

010

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#SciFiSat [5/6] Dr. Yow slapped his knee, chortling. “I once told Capt. Linch he had rhinorrhoea with some evidence of otitis, and he nearly had a heart attack. He thought I was telling him he was impotent.”

010

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#SciFiSat [6/6] “Hell. I know that one – a runny nose and an ear infection. And after you did that to him, the man actually kept you for his Medical Officer?” “Just like you’re going to do, Capt. Nikalishin!”

010

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

#SciFiFri [Our Champion Ki’shto’ba and the intercaste Warrior Thel’tav’a engage in a “friendly” competition.]

031

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

#SciFiFri [1/4]And Ki’shto’ba did begin to train – harder than I had ever seen it. Spear-hurling constituted the third round of the Challenge. Ki’shto’ba was a master of that skill, but Thel’tav’a had the advantage of being able to see the #target.

020

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

#SciFiFri [2/4] They both hit the #target every time, so it came down to a judges’ decision. … Thel’tav’a accepted the decision more calmly than I wd have expected, considering her reactions during the previous rounds. They prepared to throw again, this time at a moving #target.

020

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

#SciFiFri [3/4] Nobody missed the #target. The judges put their antennae together and conferred, lengthily and rancorously. We waited. Then suddenly Thel’tav’a leaped out, crying, “This boring! Yield!”

030

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

#SciFiFri [4/4] Everybody thought she was demanding that Ki’shto’ba yield. A ruckus started. Thel’tav’a bellowed, “No! Me! Me, yield! I gives to Ki’shto’ba, to end boring! It matter not! I beat in race. No doubt at that! It win three? Never!”

020

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

#1linewed That plant – the vine-tree, the host of the mother-net of the Golden Fungus – had very large leaves, as long as my body and #drawn out to a point. The lowest ones were visible as separate entities even from this distance.

020

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

#1linewed “Why did Ki’shto’ba want to take the Spear along, when it will not #draw it?” asked Is’a’pai’a. And I vaguely mumbled my agreement with the others’ mystification, but in my gut I thought I knew the answer and it troubled me exceedingly.

030

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

#1linewed [1/4] Bu’gan’zei babbled, “Seer, is it going to do it? #Draw the weapon? Kill this villain again? Are you going to allow that?” Thru’tei’ga’ma only gibbered and scrabbled among the rocks, and he did not intervene. Now Ki’shto’ba was speaking further.

030

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

#1linewed [2/4] “I am the Three-Mandibled Champion, but I have vowed never again to #draw the Spear in vengeance. I … ” “Vengeance! Why, it is mercy!” cried Dai’wak’zei. “Have you grown so merciless then, Self-Righteous Champion?”

030

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

#1linewed [3/4] “No! But I have learned much about unnatural babble such as yours and I will not be caught by it again Instead, in the name of mercy I will deliver you – like this!” And as the scavenger made a low pass, Ki’shto’ba sprang into the air …

010

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

#1linewed [4/4] … and slashed with its mandibles. The creature flapped up, raining dark drops, and flew away, disappearing into the surrounding darkness. [My rendition of Prometheus chained to the cliff and being eaten alive by a vulture.]

010

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

The name of the place where we had lost so much only served to sink everyone into a deeper lethargy. But Krai’zei said, “West. We move west. Mo’wiv is right. We are becalmed in spirit as well as in weather. We must shake that off and #embark on the next stage of our lives.” #vss365

081

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

[The final line of v.7 (the sequel)] And so perhaps after we are all reunited and made whole again in the World Beyond, we can #embark on yet another voyage, this time across a sea of stars. #vss365

061

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Then he flew up, circled over our cowering heads triumphantly, and beat a path southward, disappearing quickly from our sight. Sa’ti’a’i’a exclaimed, “What was that?” “The Storm-Wing,” I said unsteadily. “He seems to follow us everywhere.” #vss365

063

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

At that moment, the sky began to discharge its rain. As we dashed for cover in the adjacent forest, Sa’ti’a’i’a said, “‘Storm-Wing!’ He is well named!” And as I huddled with Ra’fa’kat’wei and the others under the branches, I thought, South – he flew south. #vss365 #Stormy

074

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

And that is where we mean to go when we leave here. When we were about to leave Prai’na’mi’cha, I saw him fly north. The King of the March Guardians is patient. He follows us – indeed, even anticipates – and bides his time for revenge. #vss365 #Stormy

082

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

#SciFiSat [This sequence is dedicated to @the_egghunter. One of Capt. Robbie’s Medical Officers was a real practical joker – Dr. Lazar Yow from Sinnapor. If you know nothing about durians, look it up!]

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Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

#SciFiSat [1/9] Lazy proceeded to relate how he had once shrouded a durian in triple layers of odor-proof bags and smuggled it onto the Solar Wind in his duffel. Once on board, he had dumped the fruit into a major ventilation exchange node.

010

Lorinda J. Taylor @termitewriter.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

#SciFiSat [2/9] “The whole ship was filled with the delightful aroma of this splendid fruit. I’ll never forget Capt. Linch storming into Medbay. ‘Yow, I want you to initiate a thorough purging and disinfection of the entire sanitary system! Something is radically wrong here!

010