75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - October 2012 -- VICTORY TO HAREBRAIN

[Ursa major]

Rules:​

Write a story inspired by the chosen theme in no more than 75 words, not including the title.​

One entry per person.​

All stories Copyright 2012 by their respective authors, who grant the Chronicles Network the non-exclusive right to publish them here.​

The complete rules can be found at Rules for the Writing Challenges.​

Contest ends at 11:59 pm GMT, October 23 2012​

Voting Ends at 11:59 pm GMT, October 28 2012​

You do not have to submit a story in order to vote -- in fact, we encourage all Chrons members to take part in choosing a winner.​

The Magnificent Prize:​

The Dignified Congratulations/Grovelling Admiration of Your Peers and the challenge of choosing the next month's theme or genre.​

The Theme for October:​

To The Stars​

The Genre:​

Open​

Good luck!​

 

[Kylara]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - October 2012 -- READ FIRST POST

Sprawling

Askatasuna had been forgotten. His first lesson in the aether a disaster; tumbling away, further and further away from the others. Aether twisted rippling wing fabric. Ice Trainer had left, larger hatchlings in tow.

The habitat could no longer be felt; they could not hear his pain as flimsy skin tore, muscle tearing from constant failed attempts to control his inescapable plummet toward the nearest star.

Askatasuna, so tiny and alone, lost between the stars.
​

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - October 2012 -- READ FIRST POST

OUR WINTER STAR

“Three in a row; that’s Orion’s belt. It’s only there in winter.”

My breath catches. I wanted my winter baby kicking under the Christmas tree. I rub my empty stomach; the stars blur before me.

“See the twinkling one beside it?” He wraps his coat around me. “That’s Skye.” His voice breaks. “I can’t bring her back, but it’s hers.”

I can’t either, but I follow the stars to Skye. “Thank you, oh thank you.”

 

[reiver33]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - October 2012 -- READ FIRST POST

The Flag Flies No More

I stood on the summit of Mount Suribachi, a canopy of stars above my head. They shone so brightly, close enough to touch.

I stood on the summit of Mount Suribachi, looking down at a land scorched by radiation. The ozone layer was long gone, atmosphere boiling away into space.

I stood on the summit of Mount Suribachi, the last man to bid farewell. God and his Angels wept.

Where else was I to go?

 

[ratsy]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - October 2012 -- READ FIRST POST

*Twinkle Twinkle*

When I was young I was told the Moon and the Sun were married. The stars that lit up the night sky were their children.

It made me sad to think that the Mom and Dad were never in the sky together. It was much like my home.

I would lie out in the grass at night and talk to the stars; to let them know it wasn't their fault.

 

[Bowler1]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - October 2012 -- READ FIRST POST

To the stars


It began with one small step for mankind.
They boldly went where they pleased.
While we slept, the evil of men grew and conquered.
As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again.
If you strike me down, I will become more powerful than you can imagine.
Aliens of the Galaxy, unite. You have nothing to lose but your chains.
Don’t let’s ask for the moon, when we can have the stars.
Cry freedom.

 

[Abernovo]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - October 2012 -- READ FIRST POST

A Short Letter Home

From: Centauri Station​

Hi Mum,

How are you? Jenny's first birthday was last week. I've attached video.

Since becoming a dad, I've wanted you to know I realise how much you sacrificed for me. It can't have been easy being a single mum saving to get me into space training. I do appreciate it.

You should think about coming. Lower grav would be good for your rheumatism. Kat sends her love.

Miss you. Love,
Sol

 

[Luiglin]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - October 2012 -- READ FIRST POST

When Saturday Comes

Flash, uniform in tatters, desperately wrestled with the controls. A screen flickered revealing Ming's gloating visage.

"Not this time Flash ... mwahahahaha!"

In space the ship exploded in a cloud of sparks and smoke.

"That's a wrap folks."

Charles, peeling off his false moustache, tapped Buster on the shoulder.

"So how do you think the writers will get you out of this weeks cliffhanger?"

"Damned if I know, I'm off to the Stars, fancy a pint?"

 

[alchemist]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - October 2012 -- READ FIRST POST

And the award for Best Visual Effects goes to...



I see you on my TV screen,
Carpet red and teeth agleam.
But I don't love you anymore,
No artistry; just crap and gore.

Another sequel, Spidey Six!
A reboot – you must think we're thicks.
Another rom-com, whoop-de-do.
Prometheus, a pile of poo.

I comb my hair, put on the tux,
The world will know Hollywood sucks.
Pull out the door, turn off the light,
Pick up my bag of gelignite.

 

[clippedwolf]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - October 2012 -- READ FIRST POST

Prelude to Maiya Traveling

Daddy, I know you're watching from Heaven. I hope you're proud.
Remember, you read stories when I was young?
I'm awake in “bed”, but I'll be sleeping for a hundred years.
Remember Sleeping Beauty? Silly girl pricked her finger on “Old Woman's” spindle and fell asleep. I put my intravenous catheter in my own arm, thanks.
Don't normally think... drugs are working.
Maybe not “bed”... “coffin?” More... Snow White?
Head... heavy.
When awake...
be at...
Stars...

 

[Scott R. Forshaw]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - October 2012 -- READ FIRST POST

Let Angels Soar​

Jody wiped away her tears as the last of the embers flickered and died, leaving behind only ash. Ambrose's dark, comforting eyes watched her intently.​

Their anguish had almost torn them apart. It'd taken a little boy's dream to unite them.​

Ambrose smiled softly. “Tomorrow, he'll be free.”​

* * *​

Arm in arm, they watched as the rocket tore through the atmosphere above them, a single urn onboard.​

“Goodnight, my precious boy. The stars are yours now.”​

 

[BigJ]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - October 2012 -- READ FIRST POST

The Dream


I danced across the night sky, flitting playfully from star to star, laughing as they winked in annoyance at my disturbance.


I rolled in the northern lights, bathed in their glow, reveling in their gentle touch.


I sat cross legged in the boundless void, and swapped stories with the moon.


A gentle voice brought me home. I rose from the grass of my backyard, sauntering back towards my wife. Apparently it’s chicken casserole tonight.

 

[SciFrac]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - October 2012 -- READ FIRST POST

Reunited (72 words)

Two men meet. One calm and neat.
The other, a crime with walking feet.

Together they clash, upon the street.
They smash and thrash, and fight to leave.

One left with scars, a haze of stars.
The other one caught, with chains and bars.

In years apart, they talk and write.
To each surprised, they patch their fight.

The first forgives, to make amends.
The second was freed, but sought revenge.

 

[matle]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - October 2012 -- READ FIRST POST

Onwards

“Do you ever feel,” Mark pondered the correct choice of words, “intense terror at your impending end?”

Alvin looked up at him with bloodshot eyes and shrugged.

“I feel like some tired construct of a weary mind.” Mark paused and took another sip. “Like I’m welcome here only briefly, each word a moment that brings me closer to my end as a finite and arbitrary limit ticks away until…”

“Onwards,” Alvin said, “to the stars!”

 

[billhafan]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - October 2012 -- READ FIRST POST

Starry Night
​

‘Why paint so frantically?’ he asked, as the artist hastily applied more strokes to the canvas.
‘... You've shown me the galaxy since we met in Arles, and now you would remove those memories at midday today? I need one thing to remind me… to keep me sane, if you like,’ he answered, adding more Prussian-blue to a swirl in the night-sky above Saint-Remy.
‘It will be for the best, Vincent.’

 

[chrispenycate]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - October 2012 -- READ FIRST POST

Consternation Draco

Swan-drawn chariot, phooey.

The Moon's too close, no challenge for Adastra, greatest ever dragoness.

Past the crystal hoop carrying Jupiter lies Saturn, gaudy in rings, but even that I leave behind.

Tilted disc of Earth reveals the dung-beetle propelling the nighttime sun. Wings push onward, toward the constellation-perforated dome, sin black, surrounding all.

Claws barely scrape admantium as I land, to gaze through star hole the cold light of creation.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - October 2012 -- READ FIRST POST

The Final Astronaut
​

It seemed so small a dream, so simple a task, in our day and age. Even now, in the thirtieth century, we had yet to discover alien life. Unlike a millennium ago, buying a spaceship was like buying a deck of cards. But we had yet to leave our galaxy.

Even now…no other intelligent life. So I thought…until I managed to push out of the galaxy.

- The Last Records of Humanity’s Final Astronaut

 

[Juliana]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - October 2012 -- READ FIRST POST

Reap the Stars​

When the bunker door finally opened, the President strode forth through the wreckage of her city. A tattered campaign banner still proudly proclaimed “To The Stars!”

The President sighed. Billions wasted on the space program… And now, this. She gave a wry smile, following in her mind the chain of events.

Re-election. Recession. Rebellion. Retaliation.

In the sky, the stars gleamed faintly through the radioactive haze.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - October 2012 -- READ FIRST POST

No One Said Giving Birth Was Easy​

We fall towards our birth star until we exceed the speed of gravity, and fall up again.

Amino acid snowballs, reaching for the stars.

After millenia, we fall for the third planet of a yellow star.

Unliving metal falls up at us, burning us with fission, pushing us off course.

It rejects the gift we bring.

We correct our course.

More unliving swarm at us. We evade them.

We will fertilise this dead world.

 

[StilLearning]

A rougher road than expected....

The exhausted trainees hauled their gear over climbing nets.

Through narrow, water filled, tunnels

A drill sergeant leaned over one, eyes gleaming psychotically.

“You useless maggot Pyle! Keep that goddam guitar out of themud!!”

*

The reporter frowned. “So, Simon: The ‘Marines style’ section to Britain’s GotTalent 2016… a stunt, yes?”

“No! Look, Gina, one of the biggest problems we’ve had is discipline and commitment.”

“It seems a bit unfair to the pianists….”