This volume is a combined edition of two novellas by W. Strawn Douglas, "Ultra Murder" and "Black Hole Drive," each slightly revised from earlier published versions. "Ultra Murder" is what happens when you pit an old definition of mind expansion against security needs of a post-modern surveillance reality. James Scott McGregor is thrust into finding a way to prevent both the Mafia and CIA from monopolizing a drug that opens minds to telepathic communication and eavesdropping. James must finds a path between them, a keep a world controlling cabal from obtaining the drug for its nefarious use. But does James create an end to one nightmare while creating a worse one? "Black Hole Drive" sees a principled interstellar captain and his crew surviving a universe peopled by ancient species with advanced technologies, and by human thieves, pirates, corrupt security officers, Earth-bound officials and corporate interests out only for themselves. Aided by sentient spaceship, Candide, its captain and commander shelve romance to rescue a mining colony, retrieve a long lost fleet of warships from pirates, and access technology of the ancients to carve a place in galactic society for the peoples and descendents of Earth.