Before and After

(an all '/' Blake & Avon zine)

PROCES-VERBAL - Shosona Green

Entry 1. How do you start this thing? Yeah. Okay. Now, I don't know why an alien ship at least Blake says it isn't any human ship he's ever heard of, and he ought to know, right? would be carrying a Terran-made 'corder, but I was going through the storeroom, just on general principles, and there it was.

NOT ALONE - Cybel Harper

I was beginning to feel foolish, standing in the corridor outside the door to Anon's quarters. Blake, the hero of the rebellion. Blake, the legend. Afraid to reach out and press the buzzer. Afraid to face Avon in his lair and say what I had to say, listen to what he would say in response. Oh, yes, I was beginning to feel foolish, all right.

FAVORS RETURNED - Lilith

Avon lay huddled naked and shivering on the s tone floor. Bruises showed up starkly on his pale skin, contrasting with the bright blood streaming from numerous fresh wounds. A tall figure in black leather battledress stood over him. Blake watched in helpless horror; even from the back there was no mistaking the man's identity. It was Travis.

THE SEARCH - Venus Callipyge

It was the middle of night watch on board the Liberator when Villa nervously probed the lock on Blake's door.

"Hurry, Villa," hissed Avon as he crowded closer.

"I'm hurrying. I'm hurrying!" Villa muttered, delicately tripping the circuit that opened the door.

FANATICS - Bryn Lantry

"Why don't you face the truth?" drawled Avon, his sarcastic anger against Blake heating lazily, the way a cunning cat stalks. "We're stranded in a ruined stone-city on a deserted world.

Your crew of riff-raff has abandoned you. You can't make revolutionaries out of criminals, Blake. Apparently they've more sense than I gave them credit for."

TRUST ME - H.R. Radei

A weakness assaults the leader waiting, a sensation one would think he would have grown conditioned to, but hasn't. He'd fought for so long against the brutality of the surrounding cold reality that the open, hurt gaze, so unusually sweet, so unguarded, almost innocent . . . .

CONDITIONAL SURRENDER - Sarah B. Leonard

Cally was speaking as Avon walked into the room. He stood apart from the rest of the group, all seated rather casually together. Jenna had a small content smile on her face as the group chatted easily. Villa, the ever present glass in his hand, nodded his head toward the remaining empty chair, but Avon ignored the invitation.

GENTLE GENIUS - Bryn Lantry

Avon traced the rebel down to the nether module of the ship. Treading quietly, he heard a melancholy tune whistled in snatches. A dirge, yet the highest notes were so starkly sweet they hurt. The light was gloomy, a milky color, tinged with blue. And there was Blake . . . .

FOOTSTEPS - Jan Serron

The listener heard the steps outside in the corridor. They came, as they had for the past three nights, right up to his door and then retreated.

SWEET SURVIVOR - Sue Cameron

He died today. At least I think he did and the fear that flooded my mind almost crippled me. There he lay at my feet with an arrow deep in his side, blood streaming from what seemed to be hundreds of cuts and abrasions and all I could think was that he was leaving me . . . .

COVER

ART

POETRY