“You are go for launch.” Our rockets activate, massive g-forces press us into our seats, and our space shuttle begins climbing the sky. First and second stage thrusters detach from our ship and fall back to earth . We’re about to celebrate when a voice from behind us pipes up, “Hey guys, would you like to hear my poem?” In the reflective glass of our instrument displays, we see the dyed-hair and pasty face of an Emo-poet. “WHAT THE HELL?” I scream. “Godammit, Stevens! Weren’t you in charge of pre-flight security checks?” Stevens tries to apologize but he’s too flabbergasted. The emo-poet begins chanting dark, shitty poetry. Alarms blare, red lights strobe, and our noses erupt with blood. I yell to our onboard computer, “Xenobiotic compromise! Initiate countermeasures!” The computer replies, “The only acceptable countermeasure is complete annihilation. Self-destruct initiated.” I scream, “WHAT? NO, WAIT!” But the computer is already counting down. In desperation, I open my eReader to Echo. Magic flash. A swirling, multihued portal appears behind the emo-poet, and I see the translucent outline of Chuck Norris emerge from it. Denim-sleeved arms reach out and snap the emo-poet’s neck, and then drag him into the portal. Before it closes and disappears, Chuck gives me a level stare and a thumbs-up. Stevens and I breathe a sigh of relief as the computer powers down the self-destruct.
Has your spacecraft been infiltrated by shitty poetry? Get Echo Vol. 1 on Kindle here: Vol. 1 on Kindle. Vol. 2 on Kindle here: Vol.2 on Kindle. Links for Vol.1 AND Vol.2 on Smashwords/Nook/iBooks/Kobo are available here: Echo on other platforms


Leave a comment