Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Under a New Star
    Under a New Star
    Under a New Star
    Ebook103 pages1 hour

    Under a New Star

    By Leo d'Entremont

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    In the 26th Century, mankind has breached the light speed barrier and begun to colonize other planets. They've also learned to Design human beings, known as Morphs, for specialized colony missions. Adrian is an Aerial Morph, on his way to colonize the low-gravity planet Eridani VI with his scientist Partner, Michael. In violation of the rules of the Morph Projects, they've been lovers for months. Michael cares more about his work than anything, while Adrian doesn’t take anything seriously except Michael. Before they arrive at their new home, they need to curtail their relationship before it destroys their professional Partnership.

    The colony ship is scheduled to arrive at their destination on Christmas Eve. Some old holiday traditions persist, but when Adrian and Michael have differing ideas about what's best for their relationship and their careers, holiday gifts and ideas for new beginnings lead to crossed signals.

    A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2014 Advent Calendar package "Celebrate!".

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDreamspinner Press
    Release dateDec 1, 2014
    ISBN9781632167545
    Under a New Star

    Related to Under a New Star

    Related ebooks

    LGBTQIA+ Romance For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Threshold

      Dec 11, 2023

      Threshold
      18 min read

    • Article

      Quotients

      May 7, 2020

      Quotients
      8 min read

    • Article

      Magnets: Carried through time, lovers seek their purpose.

      Feb 6, 2014

      Moon Colony B, 2213 Former Ponzi-schemer Mary Pillar digs through a trashcan. It smells like rotten eggs and milk. She is elderly and homeless, living in an alley between two eco-efficient skyscrapers. Dust particles dance around her. She has lost ev

      11 min read

    • Article

      Lost In Time

      Oct 5, 2022

      Lost In Time
      5 min read

    • Article

      Vampira

      Jan 27, 2021

      Vampira
      9 min read

    • Article

      Terror Tales

      Oct 4, 2023

      Terror Tales
      9 min read

    • Article

      Blackout In The Brain Lab

      Mar 24, 2021

      When the power goes out, the two young scientists are plunged into pitch blackness. After exclamations and fumbling they turn their phone lights on, creating bisecting cones that spear wildly at the darkness and dance over the ceiling. “I guess they

      8 min read

    • Article

      The Bargain

      Dec 10, 2022

      “Which one of you owns G2V3889?” Cygnus glided through a luminescent star field suspended in the center of an otherwise dark, oblong studio, then turned in a slow circle to survey the twenty Agents surrounding him. “Come on, speak up.” Vega shuddered

      16 min read

    • Article

      Into The Spider-verse

      Nov 22, 2020

      Into The Spider-verse
      10 min read

    • Article

      Playing God

      Apr 10, 2023

      After Jack was abducted by the alien spaceship, and after the round vessel had vanished into the Milky Way, he found himself walking down a tubular corridor with white vibrating walls, escorted by a sinuous blonde who smiled graciously and said her n

      13 min read

    • Article

      Alice And The Jabberwocky

      Apr 10, 2022

      ‘Twas brillig, and the slithy tovesDid gyre and gimble in the wabe:All mimsy were the borogoves,And the mome raths outgrabe. Once again, Alice found herself in her bedroom, feeling rather mimsy indeed. Every day now, at two o’clock, she would sit at

      18 min read

    • Article

      Lungs Of The Earth

      May 7, 2020

      Lungs Of The Earth
      10 min read

    • Article

      Microscopic Masterpieces

      Jan 17, 2020

      Microscopic Masterpieces
      2 min read

    • Article

      Mind A Lowing

      Jan 27, 2021

      Mind A Lowing
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Silence of Witches

      Dec 10, 2019

      The Silence of Witches
      6 min read

    • Article

      HUNTING With The Ellements…

      Sep 13, 2021

      HUNTING With The Ellements…
      19 min read

    • Article

      Before You Melt Into The Sea

      Feb 3, 2022

      Before You Melt Into The Sea
      11 min read

    • Article

      The Clues To ROMANCE

      May 4, 2021

      The Clues To ROMANCE
      6 min read

    • Article

      Perfect Prose II

      May 15, 2020

      Perfect Prose II
      4 min read

    • Article

      Intelligent Creatures

      Jul 6, 2023

      Intelligent Creatures
      19 min read

    • Article

      Found Footage

      Nov 2, 2023

      Found Footage
      6 min read

    • Article

      A Dragon’s Perspective

      Jun 10, 2022

      There once lived a dragon named Deathwing. Well, at least that’s what they called him. Deathwing was growing old, far too old for his liking. The joints of his claws ached and groaned under his ever-growing weight and his scales were beginning to los

      18 min read

    • Article

      Cricket League

      Jan 1, 2020

      Ivy Lugbill, age 8 Indianapolis, IN I was so excited! My dad and I were going camping! After we packed all our stuff, my dad said, “Hop in!” I grabbed the paper towel roll binoculars I had been making and jumped into the car. It was a really . . . re

      7 min read

    • Article

      Judges

      Mar 10, 2024

      The doctors assured me the shrapnel in my leg would do no further harm if they “let sleeping dogs lie,” or at least less harm than trying to take it out would cause. “Hey,” I asked them. “What if it decides to cut its way out all on its own?” My grea

      12 min read

    • Article

      Part 2 WHEN FISH FLY: The Revolt on the Slave Ship Creole

      Feb 1, 2022

      On October 25, 1841, twelve-year-old Pleasant Brown boards the Creole, a merchant slave ship sailing from Richmond to New Orleans with a “cargo” of enslaved men, women, and children. Although the United States had outlawed the trans-Atlantic slave tr

      7 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Under a New Star

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Under a New Star - Leo d'Entremont

      To my mother, who taught me to explore the universe in books.

      To Shannon, who demanded words and wings.

      To my wife, who puts wings on my soul.

      Acknowledgments

      A few years ago, I met Walter Koenig at a Star Trek event. I wanted to ask him a question about his thoughts on Chekov’s characterization, as I was writing a Star Trek story at the time. His face lit up, and he asked, You’re a writer? I said, Yes. He then launched into an impassioned discussion about the joy he found in writing and finally getting some of his fiction stories published. His enthusiasm was palpable, and he told me to never quit writing. He encouraged me to pursue my original stories and get them published.

      The next morning, after the event was over, I ran into him at the coffee shop. We sat down and chatted over coffee, talking about fictional worlds and plots and ideas and character voices. I promised him I’d get published eventually.

      Thank you, Walter. I kept my promise.

      Under a New Star

      TIME TO Eridani VI—Five days, seven hours, forty-two minutes.

      Ignore it, Michael heard Adrian hiss into his ear, the command underscored by the push of sweat-slicked skin and the full stretch of a deep fuck.

      Mmmphhhfff. Michael pulled his face off the pillow, only to get a mouthful of tawny-colored feathers as Adrian promptly stifled him with one of his wings.

      Distance—zero-point-one-three light-years.

      I have no idea why they have to announce that every damned morning. Adrian reached underneath Michael’s hips and pulled him up, seating him as deeply as he could with each stroke. Strong fingers found Michael’s cock and wrapped themselves around him possessively.

      Because, Michael gasped as he pulled his head away from the feathers, that’s what we’re here for.

      Lieutenant. Michael. Lopez. A deep thrust punctuated each part of his name. He could feel Adrian smirking against his ear. I thought you were here for me.

      Michael dislodged himself, flipped over underneath Adrian, and looked up at the beautiful Morph. Long and lean, slender and sinewy, every line perfectly balanced—just as he was Designed. You know I am. But I don’t think this is what the Designers had in mind.

      Hazel eyes sparked mischievously at him. I’d say fuck the Designers, but I’d rather save that for you right now. Adrian realigned himself and pushed in again, then picked up a rhythm in earnest.

      Once we… we reach Eridani… you know we… we… mmmmgggrrrnhhh! Adrian had changed his angle and was now grazing Michael’s prostate with every thrust. "You… evil… horrible… fuck!"

      Can’t be… evil. Not in my… coding.

      Michael gave up trying to reply. He reached down and took his own cock in his fist and started pumping in time to Adrian’s thrusts. Sweat and skin and rumpled bedsheets moved in rhythm. He knew he’d come first. Adrian always held back until then, while driving Michael out of his mind. One particularly well-aimed thrust nailed his prostate, and Michael arched hard off the bed with a yelp.

      Quiet there, Lieutenant. Someone might hear.

      "Adrian—"

      Shhh. Adrian pinned Michael’s right shoulder to the bed and took control of Michael’s hand, firmly guiding and controlling how he stroked his own cock. Pressure, rhythm, and the tension in Adrian’s hand matched the exquisite press and burn of each thrust of Adrian’s cock, controlling him inside and outside. It overwhelmed Michael in a way that let him forget everything else except this—the sensation of skin on skin, feathers brushing down against his legs, the possessive adoration lighting his lover’s face.

      Come on, Michael. For me.

      Michael couldn’t hold back any longer, and he choked out a cry as his body clenched and shook around Adrian’s cock. The Morph reached down and clutched Michael’s shoulders, holding him tightly as Adrian let loose his own orgasm with a high-pitched hum that vibrated through both of them.

      The sweet moment faded. Adrian’s body went slack, and he rolled languidly to the side. One light brown arm draped loosely across Michael’s chest, and a massive wing covered the rest of him like a blanket. Underneath the feathers, Michael relaxed as the last aftershocks of his own orgasm eased into sated exhaustion.

      Even as his body calmed, however, Michael’s mind raced. After a too-brief moment to savor the afterglow, he groaned and rolled out from under Adrian’s wing, then sat up on the edge of the bed. I really don’t think we can keep doing this once we get to Eridani VI.

      "Not this again. The bed shifted only slightly under Adrian’s unsubstantial weight. Michael… I can have a relationship with whomever I want. It’s one of my Rights, and I intend to exercise it. Despite what some of those crazy, old-fashioned purists back on Earth might think, I’m proud to be a Morph. I don’t care that my DNA was tinkered with in a lab. But just because I was Designed for colonizing a low-gravity planet and accepted the mission doesn’t mean I don’t get to have a life of my own. He paused. Hey, look at me."

      Reluctantly Michael complied. Adrian looked like something out of ancient Earth mythology. His eyes were technically hazel, but the tone was a bit too amber to be Original Equipment, as people often referred to natural human traits. His skin looked more bronze than beige, a delicate contrast of ethereal tones against tawny wings. His hair was sandy brown but had a faintly metallic sheen to it, and always seemed just a bit longer than regulation, flopping playfully over one eye. Michael knew these traits came from a carefully selected combination of human genetics combined with external gene sequences, both natural and artificial. Same as every other trait in Adrian’s body. Just as the Designers had intended.

      Somehow he suspected they didn’t know how much of an individualistic attitude the young Morph had developed. He worried about what might happen if they did.

      Adrian hunched down, feathers ruffling in agitation. There is nothing wrong with a Morph making his own decisions.

      Of course there’s nothing wrong with it, Michael said flatly. "Every sentient being deserves self-determination, no matter what they were born or Designed to do. That’s an essential Right. But there’s a huge ethics violation when a Morph’s decision involves one of the scientists working with him, especially his Partner. You know that. We knew this would be a problem when we started. He stared imploringly at the man who had been assigned as his Morph Partner in this Project and had become so much more. Too much more. It’s why we both agreed to keep it to ourselves."

      Adrian’s lip quivered so slightly it could have been a flicker of the light. Maybe I don’t want to keep it to ourselves anymore.

      A cold ooze of fear worked down Michael’s neck. Adrian… no. That’s the last thing we should… you know what they’d do, right? I’d lose you anyway.

      Before Adrian could argue, Michael lurched off the bed and let himself into the bathroom. He felt too bleary and too freshly fucked to have this

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1