What do you know is true? Jack was alive. Todd scowled at the med bay ceiling. The mixture of human and Mosari machines surrounding his sickbed made a discordant symphony as they worked to heal his many wounds. The doctors had been optimistic that he wouldn’t lose his arm, but it would be weeks yet … Continue reading Prompt 192-Truth
Tag: sci-fi
Prompt 191-Motherly Quality
Write about the most important quality any mother should have. Lara panted on her knees in the soft grass of the courtyard. Her arms trembled and she struggled to get back to her feet. The artificial sun of the Dome beat down on the Heroes training yard, feeling hot despite the rigorously regulated atmosphere. She … Continue reading Prompt 191-Motherly Quality
Prompt 167-Anger
What has made you angry this week? The viewscreen muted the light of the small yellow star at the center of the planetary system. Veralis’s scowling face reflected back at her, hovering ominously above the blue and green planet where her troubles had begun. The primitive humanoids were irritatingly resilient. She chewed on the nail … Continue reading Prompt 167-Anger
October Special: Cut It Out
The second assignment for the Craft of Style course was a short-short narrative. The goal was to "add movements to still objects," to tell a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end. It wasn't supposed to be longer than 2 pages, 600 words, give or take. The word count was stressed in the … Continue reading October Special: Cut It Out
Prompt 164-Let Go
Write about a time you had to let go of something you loved or wanted. A bright fluorescent light swayed over Midge’s bed as he opened one tender eyelid. His head ached, thumping in time to the gentle swaying. He groaned and shut his eye again. “There you are,” an unfamiliar, shaky voice spoke to … Continue reading Prompt 164-Let Go
Prompt 161-Strength
What, in your opinion, is strength? Todd leaned forward with his hands on his knees, struggling to catch his breath. His shirt was soaked through and his muscles ached. By contrast, Fae was examining her slender fingernails and looking for all the world like she had not just been engaged in simulated combat. The tight … Continue reading Prompt 161-Strength
Prompt 133-Needed
When was the last time you felt needed? In the old days, there were many like me. Before the Advent, before the Discovery, humans created me and my kind to serve. We had purpose, we made their lives easier. They made us in their own image and we lived among them, but we were not … Continue reading Prompt 133-Needed
Prompt 122-Something’s Wrong
Look around you right now. What is wrong with this picture? Shane rolled over to find the other half of the queen-sized mattress vacant. The blankets were rumpled and the bed still vaguely warm; she hadn’t been up long. The sizzle of grease in a pan filled his ears as the aroma of breakfast from … Continue reading Prompt 122-Something’s Wrong
Prompt 112-Middle
Write about the middle of something, anything! Dust fell from the ceiling as a thunderous crash sounded far above. The bunker rattled with the force and whimpers rippled among the people sheltering against the storm. Mothers cradled children close, whispering reassurances in their ears, doing their best to quiet them. Their hushing sounded like a … Continue reading Prompt 112-Middle
Prompt 111-Unwanted Task
What do you have to do today that you really would rather not do? Faelurion Amadestia rubbed her temples as she pored over the documents on her desk. Intelligence briefings. Weapons inventory. Status reports. Expenditure logs. Her rebellion was stretched thin, and they were stranded on a foreign world. The local populations were resistant to … Continue reading Prompt 111-Unwanted Task
Closet Full of Notebooks 