The Distant Proximity
Storyfeather
A technician monitoring the trajectory of a long-lost spaceship with an experimental engine finds a troubling piece of data. Genre: Science Fiction Excerpt:“Did you find something? Something not typical?” “It seems to be an audio file…it’s almost as if it were hidden?” I waited, saying nothing. “Then you didn’t hear anything significant?” “Like what?” “Like…noises that sound like words.” “You hear a voice? What do you hear it saying?” The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel...
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Showdown at the Cinna-bar
Storyfeather
A crew assigned to repossess a precious and undefined item end up in the midst of a suspicious bar fight in a far-off sector of space. Genre: Science Fiction Excerpt:Yeah, the vastness of space is scary, but the vastness of death…is scarier. I thought I’d have far more profound thoughts at the moment of my death. Something the crew could quote to each other after I was gone. Something I could have Tackle record before I no longer had the strength to speak. Maybe I would have, if I were dying of something more peaceful than an accidental-on-purpose laser blast to the gut. Maybe I...
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The Golden Ratio Theater
Storyfeather
A recent college graduate dreams of operating a local theater that has a special and secret importance to planet Earth...and beyond. Genre: Science Fiction Excerpt:“Jules, you’re fired,” he said. “What!” He held up his hand. “It’s for your own good. Those… men, for lack of a better word, are not aliens really. They’re, they’re called ‘intimidators.’ Look, they won’t hurt you, okay? Or your family. As long as you forget about the theater.” The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel...
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The Grand Universal Singularity Resort
Storyfeather
A new guest services employee works a memorable first shift at the most exclusive resort in the galaxy. Genre: Science Fiction Excerpt:According to Lianne, searching for a lost pet was the best way for Rekha to quickly become familiar with the actual layout of the resort and to get her “sea legs.” The bubble they were in didn’t protect them completely from exotic particles, gravity waves, tidal forces, and other dangers of being so close to a black hole. Dangers that most of the people in the resort, including Rekha, didn’t even half-understand. The Wheel of Fiction...
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Zone of Eternal Sleep
Storyfeather
The sleep-deprived parents of a sleepless baby stumble upon a potential relief on their way to a Martian superstore. Genre: Science Fiction Excerpt:A soft beeping began to sound. The shuttle’s computer was calling for the attention of a manual operator. She saw the mapping system’s failed attempts to reroute. She put her hand on the dashboard and gave it a gentle rub. “I think we’re in the right place.” She raised a brow theatrically. “But are we in the right time?” The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen...
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The Man Who Cried Bird
Storyfeather
A birdwatcher who’s determined to discover an unknown species stumbles upon a strange little sparrow. Genre: Science Fiction Excerpts:“It’s a blue cardinal, look.” “There’s no such bird, Andre.” “That’s because no one has seen him, until now.” Andre submitted to the group that he had spotted a Labrador duck on a recent work trip. The Labrador duck was not a new species. It was an extinct one. None had been seen in the wild for a hundred and fifty years. “Does it ever bother you…you’ve never seen a bird that no one else has ever seen before?”...
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Flight of the Stegosaur
Storyfeather
A stegosaur scientist uses her own body in her experiments to achieve a physical feat that seems impossible for a dinosaur of her kind…flight. Genre: Science Fiction Excerpts:“Modifications! Glint, what you’re proposing is more than modification.” “How?” “Magnets!” “Sometimes people don’t know they need an invention until it’s invented.” “Know your limits, Glint. I’m trusting you to stop if you reach them.” “But can it be done?” The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme...
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The Brittle Star
Storyfeather
The captain and crew of a vessel-for-hire cautiously agree to help a banished merman prince find his hidden realm in exchange for a lavish undersea treasure. Genre: Mythology Excerpt:“What did he look like, Captain?” someone asked. “Did he have long sharp teeth, like a pike fish?” “No, I’ve heard they’re more like a shark’s or piranha’s.” “Either way, there are rows of them, so—“ “Let the captain tell us! Was he handsome, Captain?” “Set aside all your fantasies and your wild guesses. In the end, it comes to this, do you want to make a bargain...
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The Arcanomen
Storyfeather
Our ancestors possessed powers and protections that were lost upon the destruction of a machine that had only one function, providing each person with a name. Genre: Mythology Excerpt:Tempest and storm. Disease and death. Creatures who hunted humankind as prey. Beings who pursued humankind out of evil longing. The name generated by the Arcanomen provided protection from all these dangers. If any harmful influence, be it demon or disease, tried to possess a person, the name would respond. It would twist and shift. It would examine and adapt. It would block and shield. And if that was not...
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The Flaming Jargonelle
Storyfeather
A thief and an investigator each try to convince the other to accept the truth about the unparalleled treasure that is the Flaming Jargonelle. Genre: Mythology Excerpt:And the thief spoke. “Most of the stories say that when the Flaming Jargonelle is struck by any kind of light from brightest sun to dimmest candle, it appears as if it were made of fire. Sometimes a smoldering fire, sometimes a bright blaze. But I’ve had it in my possession for many days, and I’ve never seen it glow like this.” The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story...
info_outlineA technician monitoring the trajectory of a long-lost spaceship with an experimental engine finds a troubling piece of data.
Genre: Science Fiction
Excerpt:
“Did you find something? Something not typical?”
“It seems to be an audio file…it’s almost as if it were hidden?”
I waited, saying nothing.
“Then you didn’t hear anything significant?”
“Like what?”
“Like…noises that sound like words.”
“You hear a voice? What do you hear it saying?”
The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?
Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is “Turn Again.” One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them.
See a story trailer here: The Distant Proximity
This episode landed on…wait a minute, I wrote this story before I devised the theme for the year. (Shhh, don’t tell the wheel.)
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NEWSLETTERS
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CREDITS
Story: “The Distant Proximity” Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel
Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel
Music:
“Unknown Terrain” by ANDREW SITKOV (Intro)
“It’s A Mystery” by LEE ROSEVERE (Outro)
“Abstract Vision #5” by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)
Music by LEE ROSEVERE
“It’s A Mystery”
“Universe Calling”
“Decompress”
“Cosmic Drifting”
“Betrayal”
“All the Answers”
“Thoughtful”
Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)
“Unknown Terrain”
“Among the Stars”
Track by Andrew Sitkov are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.
Music by Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev Market
Music by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Sound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg)
Vocal effects created with Audacity
Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.
Find more music by Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net
Find more music by Lee Rosevere at freemusicarchive.org/music/lee-rosevere and leerosevere.bandcamp.com
Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com
Episode Art Description:
Digital drawing. Two figures in silhouette stand in front of a car seen in three-quarters view from back. The car’s headlights are on. The figure at left holds up a device. They’re in an open field at night. The sky is full of stars. Before them appears a large glowing shape that extends out of frame. Watermark of “Storyfeather” along the car’s rear bumper.