Fiction
In the 70s there was a children's program called the "Tomorrow People" about a group of youngsters who possessed telepathic powers. They used these powers to protect the Earth as a new species of mankind emerged. I loved the show, and a few years ago Big Finish Productions released a series of audio adventures of the Tomorrow Peope, with both a new cast as well as having some of the previous cast appear. I only managed to get the first adventure, and would love to get hold of the others (this is a gentle hint to any LJ friends who might have the adventures and would be willing to share them with me).
Recently I've been working hard on a piece of fan fiction set in the modern day involving the Tomorrow People. I'd like to share this on my LJ, primarily to get some feedback regarding it. I think it's ok, but only by it being read by others will I get any real idea of it's worth. I'll post it in small sections, a bit like short continuing story, and hopefully it will get read and I'll get some comments regarding it. I've tried to make sure that it includes all current continuity.
Chains of the Phoenix
By MancerBear
Chapter 1: Shielded Thoughts
“There it is again sir; strong anomalous readings all across the alpha-psi ranges in the vicinity of Australasia.”
The woman speaking was a tall redhead clad in a black business suit and short modern hairstyle; she cut the figure of a confident professional. She was standing in front of a large display screen projecting a flattened map of the earth in green outline, with an oscillating red circle hovering over Australia.
“The readings are always strong, Stewart. Have we pinpcointed the location?”
Stewart moved closer to the screen and pushed a few buttons on the control panel. The map zoomed in on the continent of Australia, moving so quickly that Stewart had the fleeting sensation it was herself that was moving. The image centred on the southeastern coast of the island continent, and the red circle changed into a targeting cross hair. Beside the cross hair, a stream of data scrolled upwards.
“The closest I can get thus far, Sir, is the southeastern seaboard of Australia.
“Do we have an extraction team ready to go?”
“Yes sir,” replied Stewart, turning to face the man who was addressing her. He was tall and also wore an immaculate black suit that certainly flattered him. His short grey-flecked brown hair was flawlessly cut, and his face was as smooth as if he had only just recently shaved. Only the puckered red burn scar that covered the top right side of his face and sealed his right eye closed marred his ruggedly handsome features. “As soon as the emanations were detected we mobilised all teams in the vicinity. It will only be a matter of time before the target is acquired.”
“Excellent.” The man turned on his heel and strode towards a pair of glass sliding doors that silently slid open as he approached. Just before he passed through the doorway, the man stopped and looked over his shoulder for a moment.
“And Stewart?”
“Yes Mr Halkett?”
“Let’s bring this one back alive.”
“Yes sir.”
Halkett stared pointedly at Stewart for a moment longer to stress his point before continuing on his way, the glass doors sliding closed behind him.
* * * * *
“Ugh…” The headache was back again, and this one was worse than all the others combined. Flashing motes of light danced behind his eyes, and every breath he took wracked his body with pain.
“Ben? Are you okay? Ben?”
The voice sounded thick and muffled, as if it were originating underwater, and was accompanied by a deep, rhythmic moaning. No, not accompanied, but underneath; almost as if it were underscoring the voice. Ben opened his eyes, and then rapidly shut them again as light from harsh fluorescent tubes in the ceiling pierced his skull like red-hot spears. Warily reopening his eyes a crack, Ben saw the distorted features of his teacher, Miss Adare, leaning over him.
“I must be lying on my back,” Ben thought, though he couldn’t remember falling. He had probably fainted when the headache had come again. Groaning in pain, he tried to push himself up onto his elbows, but collapsed again as the pain in his head exploded once more at his slight motion.
“Stay there,” came Miss Adare’s distorted command as she placed her hand on Ben’s chest to prevent him from trying to rise again. The light pressure of her hand on his chest caused him to suck air in pain, and Miss Adare quickly snatched it back to spare the young man any further agony.
“Michael, quickly run to the nurse’s…” The teacher’s voice faded away as Ben slipped back into unconsciousness.
* * * * *
“…Should be fine once he comes around.”
“Thanks Doc.” The quiet sound of receding footsteps gradually faded from earshot as Ben regained consciousness. Slowly opening his eyes, he saw his father standing by a green curtain, looking out at a doctor’s retreating back.
Gingerly rolling his head to the side, Ben saw a sanitary stainless steel trolley standing beside a stark white chest of drawers. Realising that he must be in an emergency cubicle of the local hospital, he pushed himself up into a sitting position. The sudden motion drew his father’s attention, and he quickly rushed to his son’s side.
“Careful mate,” said Ben’s father, putting his hand against the young man’s back to lend him some support.
“I’m okay Dad,” dismissed Ben, but his father kept his hand where it was, and Ben was actually reassured by its presence.
“Where am I?”
“All Saint’s Hospital,” replied Ben’s father in his deep, gruff voice. “You were brought here by ambulance when you collapsed at school. I was called by your principal, and got here as fast as I could.”
Ben nodded his head, and realised that his headache was gone again. Except for a nagging stiffness in the back of his neck, he was for all intents and purposes, fine.
“Was it the headaches again son?”
“Yeah, it was Dad.” Ben threw the sheet off that was covering him and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. It was then that he noticed the drip that had been inserted in his hand, feeding a clear fluid directly into his body.
“To stop you from dehydrating,” explained Ben’s dad at the young man’s quizzical look.
Ben looked up at his father and couldn’t help but feel sorry that he was the cause of so much concern. His father was a big man, bearded and strongly built. Muscular from loading heavy cargo onto his truck and reinforced by regular workouts in the gym, the man was the epitome of the rough and ready blue-collar worker. Seeing his father like this made him look vulnerable, and not the pillar of strength that Ben had come to expect, and quietly admire.
“Where’s Mum?”
“I called her at the office as soon as I found out, but she was in a meeting.”
“As usual,” grunted Ben at his father’s explanation. “Can we go home? I feel fine.”
“The doctor said that you’d be able to go home once they make sure that everything’s okay. Run a few tests…”
I’m fine dad,” replied Ben, the exasperation obvious in his voice. “These are just like the headaches you told me you used to get when you were my age. There’s nothing wrong.”
“Sure there isn’t, but lets be certain.” By the firmness in his father’s voice, Ben knew there was no point in arguing.
Sighing in frustration, he swung his legs back onto the bed and lay down. As his head hit the pillow, a muted moaning reached Ben’s ears. Frowning at the odd sound, he concentrated on the noise, trying to ascertain were it was coming from. The moaning became clearer, and as it did, Ben could hear that the sound was actually a group of voices calling his name, as if they were approaching from a long tunnel, or perhaps even underwater. Simultaneously with that revelation, the headache returned with a vengeance, exploding behind Ben’s eyes. Crying out at the sudden pain, he was mercifully spared any prolonged torment as he was plunged once more into unconsciousness.
* * * * *
Recently I've been working hard on a piece of fan fiction set in the modern day involving the Tomorrow People. I'd like to share this on my LJ, primarily to get some feedback regarding it. I think it's ok, but only by it being read by others will I get any real idea of it's worth. I'll post it in small sections, a bit like short continuing story, and hopefully it will get read and I'll get some comments regarding it. I've tried to make sure that it includes all current continuity.
Chains of the Phoenix
By MancerBear
Chapter 1: Shielded Thoughts
“There it is again sir; strong anomalous readings all across the alpha-psi ranges in the vicinity of Australasia.”
The woman speaking was a tall redhead clad in a black business suit and short modern hairstyle; she cut the figure of a confident professional. She was standing in front of a large display screen projecting a flattened map of the earth in green outline, with an oscillating red circle hovering over Australia.
“The readings are always strong, Stewart. Have we pinpcointed the location?”
Stewart moved closer to the screen and pushed a few buttons on the control panel. The map zoomed in on the continent of Australia, moving so quickly that Stewart had the fleeting sensation it was herself that was moving. The image centred on the southeastern coast of the island continent, and the red circle changed into a targeting cross hair. Beside the cross hair, a stream of data scrolled upwards.
“The closest I can get thus far, Sir, is the southeastern seaboard of Australia.
“Do we have an extraction team ready to go?”
“Yes sir,” replied Stewart, turning to face the man who was addressing her. He was tall and also wore an immaculate black suit that certainly flattered him. His short grey-flecked brown hair was flawlessly cut, and his face was as smooth as if he had only just recently shaved. Only the puckered red burn scar that covered the top right side of his face and sealed his right eye closed marred his ruggedly handsome features. “As soon as the emanations were detected we mobilised all teams in the vicinity. It will only be a matter of time before the target is acquired.”
“Excellent.” The man turned on his heel and strode towards a pair of glass sliding doors that silently slid open as he approached. Just before he passed through the doorway, the man stopped and looked over his shoulder for a moment.
“And Stewart?”
“Yes Mr Halkett?”
“Let’s bring this one back alive.”
“Yes sir.”
Halkett stared pointedly at Stewart for a moment longer to stress his point before continuing on his way, the glass doors sliding closed behind him.
* * * * *
“Ugh…” The headache was back again, and this one was worse than all the others combined. Flashing motes of light danced behind his eyes, and every breath he took wracked his body with pain.
“Ben? Are you okay? Ben?”
The voice sounded thick and muffled, as if it were originating underwater, and was accompanied by a deep, rhythmic moaning. No, not accompanied, but underneath; almost as if it were underscoring the voice. Ben opened his eyes, and then rapidly shut them again as light from harsh fluorescent tubes in the ceiling pierced his skull like red-hot spears. Warily reopening his eyes a crack, Ben saw the distorted features of his teacher, Miss Adare, leaning over him.
“I must be lying on my back,” Ben thought, though he couldn’t remember falling. He had probably fainted when the headache had come again. Groaning in pain, he tried to push himself up onto his elbows, but collapsed again as the pain in his head exploded once more at his slight motion.
“Stay there,” came Miss Adare’s distorted command as she placed her hand on Ben’s chest to prevent him from trying to rise again. The light pressure of her hand on his chest caused him to suck air in pain, and Miss Adare quickly snatched it back to spare the young man any further agony.
“Michael, quickly run to the nurse’s…” The teacher’s voice faded away as Ben slipped back into unconsciousness.
* * * * *
“…Should be fine once he comes around.”
“Thanks Doc.” The quiet sound of receding footsteps gradually faded from earshot as Ben regained consciousness. Slowly opening his eyes, he saw his father standing by a green curtain, looking out at a doctor’s retreating back.
Gingerly rolling his head to the side, Ben saw a sanitary stainless steel trolley standing beside a stark white chest of drawers. Realising that he must be in an emergency cubicle of the local hospital, he pushed himself up into a sitting position. The sudden motion drew his father’s attention, and he quickly rushed to his son’s side.
“Careful mate,” said Ben’s father, putting his hand against the young man’s back to lend him some support.
“I’m okay Dad,” dismissed Ben, but his father kept his hand where it was, and Ben was actually reassured by its presence.
“Where am I?”
“All Saint’s Hospital,” replied Ben’s father in his deep, gruff voice. “You were brought here by ambulance when you collapsed at school. I was called by your principal, and got here as fast as I could.”
Ben nodded his head, and realised that his headache was gone again. Except for a nagging stiffness in the back of his neck, he was for all intents and purposes, fine.
“Was it the headaches again son?”
“Yeah, it was Dad.” Ben threw the sheet off that was covering him and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. It was then that he noticed the drip that had been inserted in his hand, feeding a clear fluid directly into his body.
“To stop you from dehydrating,” explained Ben’s dad at the young man’s quizzical look.
Ben looked up at his father and couldn’t help but feel sorry that he was the cause of so much concern. His father was a big man, bearded and strongly built. Muscular from loading heavy cargo onto his truck and reinforced by regular workouts in the gym, the man was the epitome of the rough and ready blue-collar worker. Seeing his father like this made him look vulnerable, and not the pillar of strength that Ben had come to expect, and quietly admire.
“Where’s Mum?”
“I called her at the office as soon as I found out, but she was in a meeting.”
“As usual,” grunted Ben at his father’s explanation. “Can we go home? I feel fine.”
“The doctor said that you’d be able to go home once they make sure that everything’s okay. Run a few tests…”
I’m fine dad,” replied Ben, the exasperation obvious in his voice. “These are just like the headaches you told me you used to get when you were my age. There’s nothing wrong.”
“Sure there isn’t, but lets be certain.” By the firmness in his father’s voice, Ben knew there was no point in arguing.
Sighing in frustration, he swung his legs back onto the bed and lay down. As his head hit the pillow, a muted moaning reached Ben’s ears. Frowning at the odd sound, he concentrated on the noise, trying to ascertain were it was coming from. The moaning became clearer, and as it did, Ben could hear that the sound was actually a group of voices calling his name, as if they were approaching from a long tunnel, or perhaps even underwater. Simultaneously with that revelation, the headache returned with a vengeance, exploding behind Ben’s eyes. Crying out at the sudden pain, he was mercifully spared any prolonged torment as he was plunged once more into unconsciousness.
* * * * *