QSFer Freddy MacKay has a new bi sci fi book out: “The Nut Job.”
Why aren’t simple jobs ever simple?
All Captain Spencer had to do was drop off a new recruit to their OIL contact on Earth and gather a new supply of walnuts for the council on Mithuana for the yearly Coming of Age celebration. Simple, right? One slight problem. Spencer and his crew look less than human, which has caused problems when they’ve visited the backwater Sol planet before.
When two of his crew get caught unaware by a human hunter hell-bent on proving the Sasquatch’s existence, they are suddenly on the run for their lives—wounded crew and all.
All Raijin wanted was a weekend away from all the crazy around town and his work at the library. With the anniversary of his dad’s death looming, Raijin needs some alone time hiking through the forest where he and his dad used to spend time together. What could possibly interrupt him in the middle of nowhere? But Raijin should know better than anyone life does not go according to plan.
A talking demon squirrel was the last thing he expected to fall in his lap.
IMP UNIVERSE
A Christmas Cactus for the General by Angel Martinez
A Message from the Home Office by Angel Martinez
The Nut Job by Freddy MacKay
Publisher’s Note: The Nut Job was previously published as part of the anthology, Foolish Encounters: A Rainbow Gold Anthology, as a short story. It has undergone extensive rewrites and edits with over 23,000 words of new content added.
Get It At Amazon
Excerpt
Chapter Two
Hair Comes Trouble
Ah, how the mighty shall fall. With a drink in paw, lounging on a chair, Spencer supervised Krapor as they sorted through the gathered walnuts hulls at the table the two of them had dragged out of the Nutcracker. The good ones, hulls already browning, went into his private bin. The green ones went into the bins for the Nextworld Universal Transport Service Headquarters on Mithuana.
Their haul looked to be plentiful this year.
The Coming of Age ceremony would be a huge success. The so-called “unexpected” bonuses would be welcome, but more than anything, if his bosses pleased the Mithuanaen Concatenation, then everyone would be pleased with him, and the Pecan Harvest site job was as good as his. His littles would be thrilled if he could pull that off. He might be able to buy a ship big enough for the whole family. Spencer chirped, sipping his scotch, pleasure curling inside him as warmth spread from his stomach out. Humans got some things right. A miniscule few, but some.
Yes, today life and all of its glory had finally turned around for them.
Krapor chucked another hull into the bins. They sighed, long arms resting against the table. They rolled their shoulders—still sulking if their hunched shoulders were any indication—before they raised their dark gaze to meet Spencer’s.
“Are you going to help? These are for Squirreling—I mean Mithuana.”
“I should stun you again for that slip, but you’re too useful. Why must all the other planets insist on calling us Squirreling?”
Krapor snorted.
“You doubled down on the bet.” Spencer patted the pouch holding his Irasol fork. He wanted to be able to pull it out as a reminder as often as possible, just because Krapor needed knocking down a notch or two. Besides, it felt nice to have a shiny with him.
“Aywath. Punky sqoltal. At the rate we’re going, we won’t meet the schedule. Wait no, that’s wrong. We’re not going to meet your schedule.”
“Bope and Bikkas still have their supply coming in, and really, we have plenty of time. I made sure of that.”
“One of these days, your side projects and schemes are going to get us in trouble.” Krapor shook their head and stood. “I need to stretch my legs. We’ve been at this for hours.”
Hours? Really? Spencer had been enjoying lounging in the sun so much he hadn’t noticed. He checked the time on his PVS. His nose twitched, an itch developing. He placed his half-full tumbler on the table. One claw helped ease the irritation, but only while he scratched.
“When were Bope and Bikkas supposed to check in?”
“Huh?”
“Check in.” Spencer brought up the schedule and tapped through it. “When… oh… by the gods.”
“Awyath. How long have they been missing?” Krapor stood, immediately stacking everything onto the lift.
“Three hours.”
“Three? Are you sure?” Krapor pushed the lift toward the loading ramp.
Irritation caused Spencer’s tail to swish every which way. He knew—really!—more than anyone that attention to detail was of the highest importance. A deep breath helped him not yell at Krapor, well, again. Last time, crap, last time Bope and Bikkas were overdue…Those two better have decided to have an afternoon respite together and lost track of time. He understood alone time. But to do it on a hostile backward planet like Earth? Spencer chirped a few choice words, making Krapor groan. He flipped to the controls and turned on the field dampener for the Nutcracker.
“Of course I’m sure.”
“Maybe if you hadn’t been gloating—”
“Don’t.”
“Yes, Captain. I’ll get the nuts loaded.”
“Nium?”
“Captain?”
“Be on standby. Bikkas and Bope haven’t checked in so your medical expertise might be needed.”
“Yes, Captain,” she answered. “I’ll have the med bay ready to go on your call.”
Author Bio
Freddy is a bisexual, biromantic, genderfluid nerd and geek who grew up in the Midwest playing soccer, diving, swimming and doing gymnastics, along with running around outside as much as possible—preferably spending that time in swamps and hiking through forests. The haphazard escapades have not changed, except some of them have been replaced with a healthy geocaching addiction and a love for Science Fiction and Fantasy. Freddy likes worms, dancing and being outside… and toll passes, but you’ll have to ask on that one. (They/Them/Their pronouns).
Freddy’s contemporary LGBTQ book, Incubation: Finding Peace 2, won 3rd Place – Best Gay Erotic Fiction in the 2012 Rainbow Awards. In 2013, Freddy’s story, Internment, tied for 3rd Place – Best Gay Fantasy in the Rainbow Awards. Freddy’s steampunk/SF story, Feel Me, was a finalist and honorable mention in the 2014 Rainbow Awards for SF. In addition, Freddy’s urban fantasy, Snow on Spirit Bridge, was also a honorable mention and finalist for the 2015 Rainbow Awards as well.
If you would like to know more, please feel free to stop by Freddy’s website: