Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Chapter One of the sequel in my series
Original Content | 7/11/2025 | By Laz A. Mataz

Posted on 07/12/2025 1:33:31 AM PDT by Lazamataz

This is (possibly, depending on the feedback I get) going to be the first chapter of the sequel for my first novel. This will be in the "Dimensions" universe. Critiques and reviews welcome!

Sprites

Sprites, they called them. Cute name for them, but they were very dangerous.

Martini adjusted his exosuit for an excursion onto the surface of Europa. This was the Jovian moon that had long fascinated Earth’s scientists. Those scientists were intrigued by the possibility of life under the kilometers of ice, in the oceans beneath.

Pedro Martini didn’t care about any of that. He was here to find rare earth deposits in the ice. That’s where the money was, and the corporation that sent him only cared about the money.

Mankind had been given access to teleporters by the Cephians, the extraterrestrial race that was a little under 1700 light years away. The primary use they put it to was to communicate with us, and to allow us access to the Galactic Communication Network that connected over 16,000 distinct sapient races across the Milky Way Galaxy.

These teleporters folded space along the fourth dimension, which allowed instant communications across those vast distances. The power requirement to send matter across folded space was very prohibitive at large distances – anything over a light year or so – but photons are massless. Communication between star systems was possible, but physical travel was not.

Mankind had discovered, however, that true teleportation over shorter distances was not only possible, but had a very low energy requirement. The conquest of the solar system had begun in earnest.

Martini punched the control panel that cycled the airlock with his clumsy gloves. The suit was mostly comfortable, but he hated the gloves. He always felt like he had thick sausage fingers when he was in this damned contraption. There was a sharp hiss as air escaped from the lock, but as the air escaped, the sound quieted quickly. Now all he could hear was his slow breath and the occasional ping sounds of life-support equipment noisily confirming their function.

He stepped onto the surface of the moon. He heard the ice and snow crystals crunch under his feet, vaguely reminding him of the sound he used to hear, as a child, when walking to school during the brutal winters of Upstate New York. Back then, it never failed to surprise him how something made out of water, frozen or not, could sound so dry.

“Clovis Twelve, Expedition Gamma. Beginning survey of Zone 18,” he said into his exosuit microphone.

“Copy that,” crackled the response. “Let me know if you need anything.”

The Clovis Twelve base housed the teleporter portal and the support equipment sent from Earth eighteen months ago. Clovis Twelve was located at one of the two thin-ice locations on Europa. Most of the ice on Europa was kilometers in depth; however, this patch was less than one kilometer thick. It was a good place to drill and look for the valuable rare-earth metals.

He hefted the drill equipment off the side of the exploration vehicle. In the low gravity, it was more a matter of clumsiness than it was the weight. He accidentally banged one of the pieces of equipment against his leg. “Shit!” he exclaimed, alarmed. He listened for the telltale hiss of escaping oxygen, but hearing none, he continued gathering the components of the laser-drill. That was lucky. He needed to be more careful. This would be a miserable place to die.

When humanity set up the first base on Europa, they discovered that Europa fairly teemed with a bizarre menagerie of life forms. Most of them were single-cell organisms, based on biochemistry completely alien to those found on Earth. There were larger life forms in thousands of configurations, too. They mostly congregated around the various hot spots in the oceans, but even away from the heated vents, the waters were full of life. The most deadly were the Sprites. These worm-like creatures, which could reach lengths up to eight meters long, were all teeth and body. If you were to compare them to an Earth-based life form. they were most analogous to Earth’s sharks. They had no eyes, but were able to locate prey by using their acute hearing. They were deadly, and they could burrow through the ice with ease, almost as easily as swimming through water.

Martini finished setting up the laser drill and activated it. It began melting the ice, the water sublimating into a gas that escaped into the vacuum. The laser quickly cut through the surface of the moon, and when water began to spew from the hole, he turned down the drill to a power level that would keep the drill hole from freezing again. He collected a sample of the water and put it into the device that would determine the concentration of rare-Earth metals. The device’s display flashed a set of numbers in green, indicating a large amount was present.

“Clovis Twelve, Expedition Gamma. I can report a score. Heavy concentrations here.”

“Roger that. Mark the location and return to base,” the operator on the other side responded.

He placed a radio beacon near the drill site and began dismantling the drill when movement under the ice caught the corner of his eye. Shit, he hoped it wasn’t a Sprite.

He picked up his pace, hoping to get back into the protection of his exploration vehicle as quickly as possible. He saw two more flashes of fleeting movement. Definitely Sprites. Dammit. He considered abandoning the drill machinery and coming back later to retrieve it. He was about to report the presence of Sprites to his home base, opening the channel, but never had the chance to report. He turned just in time to see the larger of the two Sprites leap out of the ice, the ring of teeth coming up to meet his visor. He managed to utter a single syllable, “Fuu…” before his helmet cracked open.

“Expedition Gamma, Clovis Twelve. Report in, please.”

Static.

“Expedition Gamma, Clovis Twelve. Please check in.”

Static.


TOPICS: Books/Literature; Miscellaneous; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: dimensionsofessence

Click here: to donate by Credit Card

Or here: to donate by PayPal

Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you.


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-131 next last
To: locountry1dr
I almost didn’t read this sample because I knew it would be a cliffhanger. But of course, I did, and now must wait for the work to be completed. Please keep it going!!!!

😁

You knew you couldn't avoid reading it!

I thank you, kind sir, for having purchased my first novel and for your wonderful Amazon review:

Dimensions of Essence is a fine romp through sci fi, geo politics and the human condition. Mataz’s strong, fast-paced narrative style keeps the plot moving through topics of current interest. Geopolitics, intrigue, and technology seamlessly intersect to culminate in a thought-provoking and uplifting conclusion.

I could not put it down and hope there is more to come!

21 posted on 07/12/2025 4:33:27 AM PDT by Lazamataz (I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: teeman8r
nice, but if sprites were a known entity, would martini have more of a defense protocol?

Perhaps. I will consider your suggestion.

i do like the descriptive nature of your work. to the point.

This is a hallmark of my writing. Others struggle to get their work edited out to a reasonable length; I struggle to 'pad' it out to the minimum number of words to be considered a novel.

If brevity is the soul of wit, I'm a freakin' genius. 😊

22 posted on 07/12/2025 4:36:06 AM PDT by Lazamataz (I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: PGalt
OUTSTANDING Laz! Has me on the edge of my seat. (LOL sausage fingers)

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

23 posted on 07/12/2025 4:37:00 AM PDT by Lazamataz (I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Lee'sGhost
Nice work! Is the Writer’s Guild new? First time I’ve seen it. Thx.

Thank you, LG! The Writers Guild has been around for about a year.

24 posted on 07/12/2025 4:38:26 AM PDT by Lazamataz (I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz

Did you mean sapient? It should be sentient.

L


25 posted on 07/12/2025 4:38:44 AM PDT by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lurker
Did you mean sapient? It should be sentient.

You are correct, sir. Consider it edited.

26 posted on 07/12/2025 4:40:05 AM PDT by Lazamataz (I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz

also, i didnt get a sense of what is considered a large sprite. just that the helmet was cracked… perhaps in the defense of it, the size can have some context, like the gloves he hated saving him or not saving him.


27 posted on 07/12/2025 4:44:19 AM PDT by teeman8r (Armageddon won't be pretty, but it's not like it's the end of the world or something )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: teeman8r

I did mention Sprites could be up to 8 meters long, but sure, I could include a clarification of how long and thick this particular one was. Good call.


28 posted on 07/12/2025 4:45:47 AM PDT by Lazamataz (I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: alexander_busek

Thank you for your suggestions. I will definitely consider them!


29 posted on 07/12/2025 4:46:55 AM PDT by Lazamataz (I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz

Is your book on Audible? I’m an almost exclusive Audible “reader” these days. If not, I know that KDP has a “Virtual Voice” option to convert and add Kindle books to Audible. I haven’t used it as I hire VO talent. But it seems a viable option.


30 posted on 07/12/2025 4:48:17 AM PDT by Lee'sGhost ("Just look at the flowers, Lizzie. Just look at the flowers.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz; All

Terrific talent. BUMP!


31 posted on 07/12/2025 4:48:59 AM PDT by PGalt (Past Peak Civilization?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz

congratulations, I love good sci-fi and perhaps you were wanting this, perhaps not but I followed your link to more reviews and just ordered the paperback, it’ll be here Monday. I look forward to reading it especially if it is the page turner that some have said it is.


32 posted on 07/12/2025 4:51:39 AM PDT by Dad was my hero
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lee'sGhost
I should look into Audible books. I'd want someone with an incredible voice to read it out, though, and James Earl Jones is dead.

Maybe I could get Bobcat Goldthwait? LOL

33 posted on 07/12/2025 4:52:47 AM PDT by Lazamataz (I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Dad was my hero

Thank you, sir. If you like it, please add your review. It helps much more than you know!


34 posted on 07/12/2025 4:53:46 AM PDT by Lazamataz (I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz

The most obvious item of trade from Europa is water. It would be sent towards the other colonies to be used as rocket fuel. The asteroids would be a better place to mine for rare Earth’s. Creatures that tear through ice? How would such a thing evolve into that? ...unless they were deliberately created.


35 posted on 07/12/2025 5:15:02 AM PDT by Nateman (Democrats did not strive for fraud friendly voting merely to continue honest elections.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nateman

Interesting observations. You may well have altered parts of my first chapter. Thanks!


36 posted on 07/12/2025 5:16:07 AM PDT by Lazamataz (I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: TheOldLady; Cyber Liberty; CatherineofAragon; melissa_in_ga; Slings and Arrows; ...
Pinging my entire ping list to this; you may find it amusing!

The Official Lazamataz Sometimes-Funny, Sometimes-Disturbing Ping List
466 Satisfied Customers!™


37 posted on 07/12/2025 5:20:41 AM PDT by Lazamataz (I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz

Eeeewwwwww. Creepy! Reminiscent of Bradbury.


38 posted on 07/12/2025 5:31:42 AM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Flaming Conservative
Eeeewwwwww. Creepy! Reminiscent of Bradbury.

I'll take that as a compliment... I think? 😂

39 posted on 07/12/2025 5:34:01 AM PDT by Lazamataz (I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz

I’ll take that as a compliment... I think? 😂


Absolutely!


40 posted on 07/12/2025 5:46:22 AM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-131 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson