19 Comments
User's avatar
Joseph L. Wiess's avatar

**Oh, brave Terran explorer, what sights meet your gaze?**

Lost Vaughn soldiers, discarded, left in a haze.

Abandoned to perish, mere fodder for foes,

Their courage once questioned, their fate now imposed.

Yet this steadfast spacer, with kindness in heart,

Sees not just the wounded, but souls torn apart.

What choice, dear audience, will Northstone now make?

With medicine in hand, he gives for their sake.

He binds up the broken, steadies the frail,

Lends strength to their spirits where hope seems pale.

Yet he knows he can't mend the garden decayed,

Only guide them to safety through ruin and shade.

They salvage the wreckage, repurpose the old,

Under his watch, turn rust into gold.

Each part set in motion, each system restored,

Till fresh air and clean water once more are poured.

Expand full comment
The Black Knight's avatar

Thank you for your awesome vote-poem! I will try to write another Tanka next Tuesday, inspired by this poem.

Expand full comment
Michael B. Morgan's avatar

Three, although I'm not sure. But I'd take that risk for myself.

Expand full comment
The Black Knight's avatar

Thank you for your vote :)

Expand full comment
Michael Persin's avatar

Didn't get the chance to read this until just now.

My vote is with 3. Always gotta go with your gut. Plus Northstone has proven himself to be a capable guy to handle things on his own while the Vaughn stay put.

Expand full comment
The Black Knight's avatar

Thank you for your vote! I am about to post the new episode in a few :D Sad to say you were a bit late with your vote this week.

Expand full comment
Chris J. Franklin's avatar

A fantastic new chapter! I think it has to be 'Option 1' this week. They will be stronger together, and will work quicker as a team. And also, there's safety in numbers. Just in case any other Jaern decide to pop up! 😎

Expand full comment
The Black Knight's avatar

Thank you for your vote! I am going to start work on the next episode in a few hours. Just waiting for more readers to cast their votes :)

Expand full comment
Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Vote for option 1, I like how they all work together, collecting the scraps and using the printer.

Expand full comment
The Black Knight's avatar

Thank you for your vote!

Expand full comment
Lillyput Fields's avatar

Gut wrenching. 😢I vote for option 3. Always go with a gut feeling.

Expand full comment
The Black Knight's avatar

Thank you for your vote. Very true, they would’ve eventually died there had Northstone not came.

Expand full comment
MoraleOfficerGran's avatar

Another great episode! I think I would do option 1. I would not feel easy leaving them all alone now that they see that hope is here. It's such a new thing to them. They could slip back very easily without Firehand to remind them They are strong now

Expand full comment
The Black Knight's avatar

Thank you for your vote! Though he is not a morale officer like his friend Vinson, Northstone Firehand learned well. Successful spacers like him are not alive only because they have good ships or guns.

Expand full comment
MaKenna Grace's avatar

Great chapter! I would lean toward option one.

Expand full comment
The Black Knight's avatar

Thank you!

Expand full comment
Terrance Ó Domhnaill's avatar

Option two

Expand full comment
The Black Knight's avatar

Thank you! How have you been?

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment deleted
Mar 1
Comment deleted
Expand full comment
The Black Knight's avatar

Thank you for your vote :)

Expand full comment