A Hard Science Fiction Novel Set in a World Where Killing is Always Punished
Monday August 17, 2026 [8/8 +9] Washington D.C., United States of America Twenty-seven hours later, Marius Johannsen touched down in Washington D.C. He wondered what he was getting himself into. During the long flights and interconnections getting him from an obscure island off the coast of India to the seat
Monday August 17, 2026 [8/8 +9] Washington D.C., United States of America “My fellow Americans. I address you in these times of vast uncertainty. “On Saturday August 8th, the world was a witness to the most unexpected and unexplainable phenomenon to ever strike humanity. On that day, every person who has
ONE WEEK LATER Saturday August 15, 2026 [8/8 +7] Washington D.C., United States of America Sheridan Kelly, the newly sworn-in President of the United States of America, blearily stared at the briefing reports in front of her. She had had a hell of a week. It turned out that nearly all
Saturday August 8, 2026 [8/8 +0] Washington D.C., United States of America “Are you telling me that the entire Cabinet is incapacitated, except for Desmond and me?” Sheridan asked incredulously. “We don’t know that yet,” said Mark Melanger quickly. The press secretary rubbed his creased forehead with his hand. “Physicians
Saturday August 8, 2026 [8/8 +0] Washington D.C., United States of America Sheridan Kelly strode towards the three men seated at the end of the large, mahogany table in the Cabinet Room. She observed that they were not going to be seated in their officially designated chairs, as indicated by
Saturday August 8, 2026 [8/8 +0] Washington D.C., United States of America The motorcade pulled through the White House security gate. When it stopped, Sheridan and her two children exited after being prompted by the numerous Secret Service agents who surrounded the car. Sheridan, her family, and a cadre of
Saturday August 8, 2026 [8/8 +0] Arlington, United States of America “William! Victoria! We have to go now!” Sheridan Kelly frantically tugged on the shoes of her 3-year-old daughter while her 7-year-old son was putting his on by himself. Just then, the motorcade showed up at her doorstep on her
Saturday August 8, 2026 [8/8 +0] Arlington, United States of America Sheridan breathed in the cool morning air as she jogged back home from her morning workout. The metropolitan area of Washington D.C. was bathed in the late summer sunshine, steadily warming up the day. She was excited about the
