Impact Zone

In Dying Starlight #6

by Emily McCosh

Alone on the bleak expanses of Amerov.Waking in the confines of an Amerov ship isn’t precisely how Aaron wanted to start his day, but things only take a turn for the worse when his attempted escape ends with him stranded on the planet’s surface with only Yvonne for backup. Injured and stuck in the bleak expanse between the cyborg planet’s many facilities, Aaron scrambles for a way to get back to Bat and the others.

Exploring the remnants of an ancient, abandoned cyborg facility, he and Yvonne try not to get on one another’s nerves. With the looming threat of Captain discovering them, the two attempt to work together not only to get off-planet but perhaps to understand one another.

Impact Zone is the sixth episode in the action-packed space opera series In Dying Starlight . Featuring a grumpy sarcastic cyborg, a talking badger, plenty of space travel, a cast of oddball characters, and a bit of romance, In Dying Starlight is perfect for fans of Star Wars , Firefly, and Blade Runner .

Kindle Edition

Published February 11, 2025

About the author

Emily McCosh is a graphic designer, writer of strange things, and daydreamer extraordinaire. She currently lives in California with her two parents, two dogs, one fish, one tree swing, and innumerable characters who need to learn some manners. Her fiction has appeared in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Shimmer Magazine, Galaxy’s Edge, Flash Fiction Online, Nature: Futures, and elsewhere.

Find her online on her writing and bookish YouTube channel, website where she sometimes blogs, and Instagram full of sappy poetry.

YouTube: Emily McCosh
TikTok: emilymccosh
Instagram: emily_mccosh
Blog: oceansinthesky.com
Facebook & Twitter: @wordweaveremily

Reviews

[A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oooo!! We get some Answers!!
And I am now less angry at what's-her-face. She might even get upgraded to being called by her actual name soon. We'll see.

We love you, Aaron. You are a big softie on the inside. We all know it.

Content warning: Still PG-13 language, but I remember it being a bit less prominent in this one than in the last two books? (Probably cause Aaron and her serene majesty aren't biting each other's heads off the WHOLE TIME.)

[Dr susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great sci fi adventure

This episode answers some burning questions but raises even more questions. Audra makes an almost human appearance and offers a helping...hand. Two new characters join the cast; one made me cry, and the other is a definite surprise. Aaron is still a great narrator. I'm really enjoying this series and highly recommend it.

[Ryan Winters · Rating 4 out of 5]

cozy and heartwarming sci-fi

There were a lot of emotional breakthroughs in this one, and a couple new interesting characters. Excited to see where it goes.