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Author: JE PAYNE

THE TRINITY DIVIDE – PROLOGUE – Nursery Rhymes In The Dark

April 24, 2026May 26, 2026JE PAYNELeave a comment

—†— PROLOUGE —⸸— Nursery Rhymes In The Dark I spun the glass and watched the perfectly square, oversized ice cube slosh around in the finger of bourbon at the bottom. I knew some people out there said...

Welcome to The First Cradle Universe

December 26, 2025December 26, 2025JE PAYNELeave a comment

Hey everyone! I’m thrilled to finally launch this Patreon and share my LitRPG/progression sci-fi series with you in a whole new way. If you’ve been following The First Cradle on Royal Road, you know...

THE FIRST CRADLE CHAPTER FIVE – If you’re going to throw up, trash cans are located at every exit

April 22, 2026May 26, 2026JE PAYNELeave a comment

CHAPTER FIVE ROSLYN CONFERENCE HALL: 36 hours after the Global Grid Failure. I didn’t get much sleep the night before, and I don’t think any of the others did either. Now we sat in the...

THE FIRST CRADLE CHAPTER FOUR – This is so above my pay grade

April 22, 2026May 26, 2026JE PAYNELeave a comment

CHAPTER FOUR ROSLYN COLONEL DIMITRI’S OFFICE: 14 hours after the Global Grid Failure “I don’t like this.” Colonel Dimitri Antonov stood behind his desk, arms crossed, glaring at Henry. “You told me that once it...

THE FIRST CRADLE CHAPTER THREE – Absolutely brilliant, terrifying, but sentient

April 22, 2026May 26, 2026JE PAYNELeave a comment

CHAPTER THREE ROSLYN BRIEFING ROOM: 8 hours 3 minutes after the Global Grid Failure I’d asked the question before I could stop myself. What would it be like inside the system? Would we just be...

THE FIRST CRADLE CHAPTER TWO – Your vending machines are out of crayons

April 22, 2026May 26, 2026JE PAYNELeave a comment

CHAPTER TWO ROSLYN SECURITY SUITE: 6 hours 30 minutes after the Global Grid Failure “What do you think, Dimitri?” Henry glanced at the security monitor showing the three young people sitting at the table in...

THE FIRST CRADLE CHAPTER ONE – Blowing a kiss to Miss Dagger Eyes

April 22, 2026May 26, 2026JE PAYNELeave a comment

CHAPTER ONE SEATTLE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY: 90 Minutes Before the Storm. My pencil tapped the margin again and again, leaving faint dents in the paper. My leg bounced against the chair, my foot tapped the...

THE FIRST CRADLE PROLOGUE- Please don’t be angry Henry

April 22, 2026May 26, 2026JE PAYNELeave a comment

ROSLYN RESEARCH FACILITY: 6 Months Before the Storm. In a dark office somewhere near Seattle, Washington, Professor Henry Giles took off his lab coat and draped it over his chair. He walked to the side...

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