Veneer

"It's so cold," I said, "up there, in the stars. Cold and empty, with tiny dots of light just floating alone in the dark until they burn out, one by one." I shivered and hoped Drake would get the picture.

He chuckled, and I didn't like the sound. "Is that what you think?"

I frowned and turned away. I didn't even want his stupid jacket anymore.

"Look," he said.

I glanced over.

He reached up his hand and raked a fingernail across the blackness. Starfire flared in the gap he tore, and I gasped as its heat seared me...

---

Alternate Title: "All the Worlds Are Burning."

In the Back Seat

“I feel awful,” said Beta. “A couple of millennia ago I almost threw up.”

“Maybe you should,” said Alpha, faintly red-tinged. “It might help. Get whatever’s bothering you out of the system.”

“But I’m feeling better now. I’m less queasy.” Beta flared his arms for emphasis.

“I bet it’s all those Type Ones you keep around,” said Alpha.

“I like them,” Beta said. “They’re pretty.”

“They’re not very stable. They’ll all burn out in a dozen epochs.”

“Shut up!”

“You shut up.”

“Both of you be quiet,” snapped Prime, turning around, “or so help me I’ll turn this universe around.”