The Protector and the Annihilation 29 Kickstarter Short Stories' Preview. Part 1, 14 short stories. (Upcoming, not yet launched as of 01/15/25.)

[Link to Part 2 with 15 short stories' summaries and previews.]

1. The Day was Bright and Blue. A Little Close to Sunset, I Sensed Something Eternal. (Antonio Chandrani-Rivera and Alejandro Caldera-Altaha.) Word count: 3674.

“I’ll do it easily,” Alejandro told him, lips grazing the edge of Antonio’s, “But I wonder if you’ll keep jarring me if we stay here. I always expect your skin to taste saltier.”

 “You really should kiss me already,” said Antonio.

Summary: Alejandro and Antonio try to ignore their rivalry and the upcoming choice for the role of Planetary Protector. [Sultry but does not contain depictions of sex.]

2. the most comfortable of psyche. (Layla Chandrani and Alia Atif-Akinyemi.) Word count: 1134.

“You are back with us again, for however long,” said Alia. “I promised you I’d be there.”

“You really threatened me with a promise,” Layla agreed.

Summary: For some reason, Alia's there when Layla gets caught up with a towering Psyche out at sea that's mostly made of teeth. It's terrible when Alia gets caught up with Layla's plans, since Layla's plans always involve some sort of danger, especially when it comes to fighting the Psyche.

3. Such Classical Men. (Raj Chandrani-Rivera, William Evans, Leo Abara, Tomás Estrada). Word count: 6892.

“What?” Raj asked, voice small. “Do you really have a crush on Antonio? Is that it?”

Summary: Leo and William guess at who Raj Rivera might be in love with. Raj fears falling in love and fears the ghosts Tomás sees with him, but is determined to keep someone precious around in his life for a long time.

4. Proprieties, Gods and anti-Gods. (Keya Chandrani and Posh Hat.) Word count: 900.

“Those women don’t know you,” Keya groused. “Your allure is deader than dead to me. I’ve seen you panic over someone noticing you transform. You’re just a squeaking squirrel in human form.”

Summary: Keya Chandrani hangs out with an infamous individual people treat as a God-like rogue across the planet Imion, her dumbass childhood friend, the so-called "Posh Hat."

5. A Man with No Dream. (Nasir Hadid-Salah, Shakir and [the unrelated] Obi Chukwu.) Word count: 2798.

His Shakir stared up at the stars, dreaming of far too insane a goal. Nasir had seen it the last time he’d stolen Shakir’s star-flyer. That anger had been the anger of something a little too real.

Summary: Finally back in university again in his mid-20's, Nasir Hadid-Salah scopes out the man who his elder half-siblings want him to track—the currently world renown Shakir—only to discover this Shakir is the unassuming one he'd met and bothered too often back when they'd both been 19. Not only that, but Shakir's best friend Obi recognizes something scary about Nasir.

6. the static moment, the static sound. (Leila Hadid-Salah and Luna Adebayo.) Word count: 1401.

Leila’s muted expression actually gained feeling to it; a lazy smile spread across that scar-marked face.

“Oh, I don’t know about that, Captain,” she said.

Summary: With seers of many systems fearing a foreboding future for the Ranna System, Luna and Leila must seek out a future whether together or alone.

Leila Hadid-Salah is insistent on staying, and yet Luna Adebayo with her plans unraveling is left to wonder where Leila will truly go.

7. Much Ado about a Man Like You. (Diego Garza and Fernando Chandrani-Rivera.) Word count: 2024.

When Diego had dreamt him up for the first time in a while—a while since the nightmares splattered with blood, so often featuring the Chandrani brothers at 18—the Fernando who appeared his age had run to him instead.

Summary: A while after Fernando Chandrani-Rivera's death in the real world, Diego dreams up the Fernando he adores again and again. Fernando speaks of strange things, and Diego fears the machinations of the otherworld when he sleeps.

8. faltu. (Konna Yesmin, Farrah Chandrani, Antonio, Alejandro.) Word count: 4840. (Meaning of "faltu" - Bangla for "worthless." Has a connotation of dehumanization.)

“I’m nothing like Farrah,” Alejandro protested. “She’s evil. I’m not evil.”

Summary: Konna and Antonio utilize their telepathic connection, try to avoid their ghosts. They utterly fail! Konna spots a girl on the high sea cliffs. Antonio asks Alejandro about the furry comic he draws in his notebooks.

9. our place in the universe. (Layla, Alia, Fernando.) Word count: 2708.

“So you’ll stay an average person forever,” Layla hummed. “Out of fury. I see. I do prefer being around you, Alia Atif.”

Summary: To her own annoyance, Layla Chandrani confuses her cousin Fernando Chandrani-Rivera with his past life—her once-cousin Mina Salah. Then the top fighter within the Queen's Guard she is a part of—Alia Atif-Akinyemi—approaches her. Layla is forced to confront the level of esteem she regards a certain female friend.

10. the worst of friends. (Liliana and Rosa.) Word count: 2312.

“A true woman of the sciences,” Rosalia complimented her like a cad, really. She barely looked her over again then said, “My family was really insistent on me getting along with you, and at first I wondered if it’d be difficult—I’m sorry, but you Caldera always seemed so distant—but now it’s hard for me to imagine not wanting to see you.”

Summary: Pushed into meeting her again by Armando Rivera, Liliana Caldera simps over Alejandro Caldera-Altaha's future mother, Rosalia Altaha.

11. Side A, Side B. Twin A, Twin B. A Song amid Family. (Chandrani-Rivera triplets, Alejandro.) Word count: 2236.

“I wasn’t trying to figure out the song, Raj,” Antonio sighed. “Fernando so obviously wants to reconnect with Pá again, I just thought it’d be a good opportunity—”

Summary: At around 13 years old, two of the Chandrani-Rivera triplets, Antonio and Raj, sit together with Raj's close friend and Antonio's veritable rival, Alejandro Caldera-Altaha. They listen to a song, trying to figure out whether it's sung by their infamous uncle Antonio Herrera-Rivera, or their father, Armando [Herrera-]Rivera.

12. The Story of an Unknown Person. (Keya and Layla.) Word count: 1476.

Despite the True Barrier’s choosiness at Layla’s door, it had let Keya Chandrani in…

That great threat no one would admit to.

Summary: Layla can't stand her cousin Keya, and the door to her room should have understood this. The door to her room always relies on her consent. So why would it allow Keya through? Keya speaks to Layla about Layla's weaknesses. Layla viciously despises Keya's own weaknesses. There's someone important to them that neither can remember.

13. With or Without Wings, it’s True. He May Never Reach Those Two. (Antonio and Alejandro.) Word count: 2554.

“It was a headache figuring out what he meant,” Kiran complained, then swayed Rayan about the way he’d used to when he, Antonio and Rayan had all played together just a year ago. “But he didn’t specify an artifact for me—I just have to find what I dream of finding, really—”

Summary: As Antonio Chandrani-Rivera dresses Alejandro Caldera-Altaha's wounded arm, they speak of who deserves to become Protector of Worlds. When Antonio's old friend Kiran Anand appears, the reality of what Antonio means to people becomes apparent, as well as his inner strength. But Alejandro Caldera-Altaha insists he doesn't need Antonio to become who he wants to be.

14. truest. (Jasmin and Maria.) Word count: 915.

“Would there be trouble if I asked you to marry me?” Jasmin questioned. Of course she asked it in the most every day conversational way as possible.

Summary: Jasmin knows Maria Herrera's bitterness. They discuss their troubles with women, particularly those who will aid in taking down their worst enemy and go toward a better future. The only issue is, well... Who is Maria's worst enemy, really?

[Link to Part 2 with 15 short stories' summaries and previews.]