Chapter Ten [text]

[thebestseller]

Who: Richard Castle and YOU
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: N/A
When: October 25th. Ta to anarin for supplying suggestions.

[The following are uploaded to the network at various times during the day. Castle... tried to make them anonymous, but anybody could do the slightest bit of digging and see that RICHARD CASTLE is clearly listed as the author.]

COMING SOON FROM THE PEN OF TUCK CHINGLE

DIAMOND AND BEAU: A LOVE STORY

Have you ever wondered what our mysterious and intrepid hosts get up to OFF the clock? Do their carefully cultivated personas fall apart in the throes of passion, or do they remain the delightful, always upbeat hosts we know and love? Find out in this romantic thriller by Tuck Chingle.


ROBOTS IN LOVE

Dustsucker is from the Compass, and Scrubby is from the Conquer, two ships with two sets of robots caught in an intense rivalry. However, despite their "family"'s longtime differences, the two end up falling in love and must find a way to unite their crews so that they may be together.


SHUFFLED

Is it possible for objects to fall in love? You'll believe it when the One Fish and the Two Fish gain sentience and realize they've always had feelings for each other. However, fate and a rivalry between their crews seems to be conspiring to keep them apart.


MURDER ON THE MARSIVA EXPRESS

Something has been attacking the Drift Fleet's beloved pet foxes when their owners turn their back for a moment. Tensions rise and things escalate further when one of the Fleet members is killed trying to protect the fox. Was it one of their own, or is something more sinister afoot? Intrepid author Buck Trumble struggles to piece together the case and bring justice to the victim and their pet.

Comments

text;

[seanced]

I think I like the last two the most.

text;

[thebestseller]

... I thought these were anonymous. Crap.

text;

[seanced]

Uh oh, busted.

text;

[thebestseller]

So much for being the mysterious new sensation sweeping the Fleet.

text;

[seanced]

I'll pretend not to know who really wrote these if you want?

You didn't say you were a writer, though!

text;

[thebestseller]

I think the cat's out of the bag, sadly. But I appreciate it.

I am. I'm quite famous back home, actually.

text;

[seanced]

Really? What kind of books do you usually write? Or is this the kind of stuff you're famous for?

text;

[thebestseller]

I write mysteries. I dabbled in other genres during my school days, but I wrote my first mystery bestseller in college and never looked back.

text;

[seanced]

That's so awesome.

text;

[unbearablynaive]

Oh, dear. I hope "Robots in Love" isn't based on a true story.

text;

[thebestseller]

They aren't THAT sentient yet, thankfully.

text;

[unbearablynaive]

Good. I'd hate to think we need to set up visiting hours between ships. I'm sure someone would think of Battle Bots before long.

text;

[thebestseller]

Honestly, I'm surprised someone hasn't through of it or tried it already. I would have if I wasn't so fond of the little critters. I guess the bots are too single-minded about their tasks.

text;

[unbearablynaive]

They are rather simple, at that. And I'd hate to see any unnecessary violence, even among the base machines.

text;

[thebestseller]

Exactly. They do a good job, so I like to leave them be. Robot carnage would be hard for me to fix, anyway.

text;

[unbearablynaive]

For me as well, I think. The technology is not terribly difficult, but the lack of spare parts is.

text;

[thebestseller]

Yeah, which is a little odd, isn't it? Atroma gives us the toys, but not stuff to fix them with if we break them. If those calibrations from last year are any indication, they much prefer doing that part themselves.

[revengeofthemordsith]

Why are they constantly falling in love

Are they ill.

[thebestseller]

I'm trying to branch out from my usual fare.

[revengeofthemordsith]

What does your usual fare entail?

[thebestseller]

I write mysteries. Crime, intrigue, adventure.

[revengeofthemordsith]

Why would people read about crime? That seems counterproductive.

[thebestseller]

Most people are, I find, drawn to the idea of figuring things out themselves. Following the clues, making guesses, seeing if they're right. It can be thrilling.

[revengeofthemordsith]

It seems that time could be put to more productive use than puzzle-solving.

[thebestseller]

But leisure is important.