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Darkness, 3/31/01

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Same Time Tomorrow?

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David Sheridan Chronicles 1, 4/23/01

David Sheridan Chronicles 2, 4/25/01

David Sheridan Chronicles 3, 4/29/01

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ISN Aftermath, 7/28/01

In Valen's Name, 5/01

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ISN Anchor Desk - Original Short Stories

ISN Aftermath 7/28/01

Allison Higgins - "Hix" as she was known back in broadcasting school, and to her fellow anchors - sat in the blue padded chair and stared defiantly into the camera.

"Under Clark’s administration, peace initiatives from Earth stretched to all the colony worlds. Janie, can you honestly say that Sheridan was anything less than a delusional dictator?"

Jane Egon, the senior InterStellar Network News Anchor, repeated the question. "Ms. Higgins, what did Clark offer you to betray your journalistic sense of right and wrong? Why in God’s name would you do such a thing?"

Allison uncrossed her slender legs and stood for a moment, then walked to the water fountain to get a drink.

"This isn’t an act for you, is it?"

Jane’s face betrayed her confusion. "What do you mean?"

"It’s all a game, Janie. We are puppets for masters who pull our strings. We are their servants. The Shadows, Clark, Psi Corps, all of them." She paused momentarily, then smirked. "You do what you do because of some twisted sense of honor. You think if you tell the whole truth and not sugar-coat it, everyone will be happy and you’ll win yet another award.

"Where did your awards get you, Janie? Locked you. You were treated well in your prison, of course, but while you were there, I was being treated to the best of everything - The best houses, ships, foods, freedom.

"Your ideals got you locked away. Mine got fan letters, Janie. Now you tell me who the idiot was."

Allison returned to her seat, a self-satisfied smirk on her face.

"Hix, do you remember college? All the nights studying? Do you even admit that to yourself that it was me that sponsored your admission? Allison, if I hadn’t seen that spark of journalistic integrity, I never would have hired you at ISN."

"So what? You did. And you lost a year of your life. Janie, you’ve really got some issues. You need to get over it, really."

"You’re right, Allison. I lost my life, my job, my world. The only thing I didn’t lose is my self. And I will not let you take that away from me." She suddenly appeared 20 years older, drained of energy and life.

"I’m tired, Allison. I’m tired of being disassociated with the stories I’m reporting. I’m tired of people who treat what I do as a joke. And I’m tired of people who abuse their power and let it corrupt them.

"I will go now, and I will spend the rest of my life doing the job I love. And when I need a reminder of why I do it, I’ll pull out this vid, and I’ll remember. As for you, you’ll spend the rest of your time in this room.

"Goodbye, Hix."

Jane stood, straightened her skirt, and stepped through the door. A small group of five medical and security personnel entered the room upon her departure.

Screams of "Janie! Janie help me!" echoed down the corridor, each one weaker than the last, until they finally ceased altogether.

Jane fell into the compact metal chair at the end of the hall, unable to see any longer from the tears that she could no longer hold inside her.

"Goodbye, Hix."

-- Mitch Obrecht, July 28, 2001.