Geron Kees

I read them when I was a kid, too. They were the originals, though. The uniform, sanitized versions appeared in 1959, if I recall - still well before my time, but I was reading my dad's books, from when he was a kid. They chopped out an average of fifty pages from each of the original series, which really damaged the stories. I just took the flavor of what I remembered, and added my own spin. It was fun to write, too.

If I remember my Star Trek history correctly, there was a progenitor race that traveled through the galaxy, seeding likely planets with genetic material based on their own genome. This was supposed to account for why there were so many humanoid races with similar biologies, and often able to procreate together. There was even a TNG episode particularly about this idea. I'm surprised that the guys at Big Bang Theory would even wonder about this. Someone should take away their remote controls!

Fascinating little piece. Truth is a fascinating concept, really. Truth is what people believe it to be. This is not to be confused with fact, which refers to the genuine sequence of events in any given situation. Take three witnesses to a crime, and all three can give close approximations of what really happened, or three totally different versions, because what we see and hear is subject to interpretation by our brains, which are quite fallible, and which tend to filter our realities through a screen of uncertain knowledge and sometimes traumatic past experiences. The danger of truth is that fact can sometimes be lost. If someone we admire and trust says that real facts are 'fake news', then we come to believe an untruth as truth. Some people have no sense of fact, and will believe a ridiculous truth even in the light of cold, hard facts. Most humans do not know truth, because they will always believe what they want to believe. Other people can sense facts, and form their truths from them. But they will always be at war with people who think the truth is what they think is the truth. So the quest for truth really is not worth the effort. What needs to be determined are facts, which no amount of misdirection, prevarication, or outright bullshit can ever obscure. Good luck with that. Facts are like snowflakes on a too warm day. Just when you have them in sight, they're gone.

Well, it's a matter of opinion. I would never consider it a waste to have an animal companion. What they give in return is enormous compared to the investment. Just one guy's opinion, though.

Oh, I know. Then you get an 'A' as a researcher, then!

Owning a dog, I don't know if I am qualified to even comment on this. My brother has a cat, and he likes me, but is always careful to let me know that I smell funny, kind of like dog. He doesn't seem to hold it against me, though, figuring I'm just a human and don't know any better. I did enjoy this piece, though. I had a cat when I was seven, and remember him well, and I have plenty of friends with cats. Enough to be able to tell you sure got the personalities right. That they actually spoke to each other at the end didn't surprise me as much as i thought it would. My dog is always telling me that cats talk, but I just thought she was kidding. Can't wait to see more!

When you complete your history of muscle cars, I'd like an autographed copy, please!

The second story is a bit longer than this one, and maybe a little more dreamy. I was in a very straightforward reminiscing mood when I wrote the first one, and kind of in a more romanticizing mood when I wrote the second one. There is a third one planned...when time permits. I have so many projects going now that it just ain't funny. Thanks for commenting!

Erasers don't do anything by themselves. Someone had to wield them, to make them work. I'd love to cure you of anything that bothers you, but even my best magic only seems to work in my stories! Sorry about that, Chief!

Nah! We don't need no steenking rules!

Pleased it was just a small injury, and not worse. Also that Eric can stay in a safe place (no spoilers!) until he gets going again. I was pretty certain that you would not let Eric be badly hurt...but you never know! Now things may get even more interesting! Thanks!

I didn't mean for it to be sad. Where's that dang eraser?

Hey! I am the author-guy, and I have no idea what any of these comments are about! isn't there like a rule...or something?!?

I don't know. Are you peeking?

You won't really know, until it happens.

Thank you. Maybe the rest of the story will appeal to you, too?

Nice. You paint well!

Compelling piece in any POV.

Ulp! A cliffhanger? Poor Eric, too flustered over his revelation to be out walking in such weather. I hope this is not going to be a huge set back for him. This was a very well-done presentation of a very difficult moment. It had the ring of truth to it. At least Andy already has his phone in hand...

Sweet. The world would certainly be a duller place without birds. The woods would be empty, the skies barren. Can't wait for spring, when the vacationers return! Thanks for the nice reminder.

There's a fine piece for our times. Now, if only more would believe...

I think there is always a real truth. Sadly, the human race these days operates to a much more cynical tenet: There is no truth. There is just what people believe. So you keep looking, okay?

Great start! Everything just right to grab my curiosity and tack it to the floor. I'm caught in place! Waiting for more...

Saving a life is always worth the extra effort. NEVER give up, until it is truly, undeniably gone. Bravo.

I do not have active accounts on any of the social media you mention. I have a LinkedIn account, but that's professional. There are those that say you need a presence on FaceBook to be successful, but that's a load of crap. FaceBook is as secure as a doll house (impressive front, all the way open in the back). Totally unnecessary for the business world, and basically mindless. Twitter...let's not even go there. I also use DuckDuckGo. It's not perfect, but it also ain't Google.