August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- VICTORY TO HEX

[jastius]

Re: August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST

When Sally was three...

She adjusted the bow. Her baby's birthday was today.

Past the deserted swing set children were up to their knees in the dirt, playing catch in the corner for the unlicensed offspring.

She never understood a license being pulled retroactively.

She shuddered at all the new trees. ”Not for another year, yet…” her husband murmured bracingly.

"Sally, dear, Happy Birthday!"

Sally grinned, raising an arm, proudly displaying small green buds growing "Look, Mummy! Leafies!"

 

[Perpetual Man]

Re: August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST

Dragon Gas​

Junior Wizard
Mr. Henry Babbage
(of the Cambridge Fellowship of magicians and mages)
is delighted to invite the Lords, Ladies
and other worthies of Society
to the city of London

There to witness the unveiling &
usage of his illustrious father:
High Wizard
Charles Babbage’s
machine of mathematical problem solving,
The Difference Engine.​

Please note: The Engine is powered by the gathered methane rich gases of flatulent Draco Imperialis of far Cathay

Breathing masks advisable​

 

[Mr Orange]

Re: August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST

A Town called Change


　
　
CHANGE

Pop. 76 ... 76 ... 74

　
　

"[FONT=MingLiU_HKSCS-ExtB]Nuffin[/FONT]’[FONT=MingLiU_HKSCS-ExtB] there for you boy.[/FONT]"

"[FONT=MingLiU_HKSCS-ExtB]But[/FONT]…[FONT=MingLiU_HKSCS-ExtB] The Western Council said this is our path[/FONT]…[FONT=MingLiU_HKSCS-ExtB].[/FONT]"

"[FONT=MingLiU_HKSCS-ExtB]Pah! Only death and destruction waitin[/FONT]’[FONT=MingLiU_HKSCS-ExtB] along that road.[/FONT]"

[FONT=MingLiU_HKSCS-ExtB]The old timer stared sorrowfully at the rusty, blinking sign. His turbine bike thrummed to life, pillion seat empty. Then he disappeared in a cloud of dust.[/FONT]

"[FONT=MingLiU_HKSCS-ExtB]A senile old man. Trust the West.[/FONT]"

[FONT=MingLiU_HKSCS-ExtB]I nodded in agreement. We set off down the worn road towards Change.[/FONT]

 

[Starbeast]

Re: August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST

The Falcon Hangs a 180'​

"Rorr."​

"I said no."​

"ROAR!"​

"Violence never solves..."​

"ROAR!" Smack! Bam! Pow!​

"OW! Don't force me to use this! I'm warning ya! Alright, you asked for..."​

"ROAR!" Thwack! Crash! Kurrsplat!​

"You wouldn't hit a guy with glasses...?"​

"ROAR!" Smash! Thawump! Smack! Crash!​

"OK! I'll do it! Ohh, my back. Let's go save the princess."​

"Rarr?"​

"What?"​

"Rarr?"​

"I don't know, stop Darth Vader somehow I guess. Make a U-turn after this asteroid field."​

 

[I_Voyager]

Off the New Assembly Line

I took one look at the entertainment unit and decided.

“$689.” he said,

“No problem. What a world we live in.” I marveled.

“She’s a beauty, isn’t she”?

I smiled at it. Its tan-gold skin quivered; it moaned and reached out to me.

Its golden eyes glistened, widely tense, and caught the electro-carbon walls glow. I salivated for it: a lonely hypothalamus, a genuine need, warm flesh and a functional torso.

[FONT=&quot]And those beckoning arms…[/FONT]

 

[J Riff]

Re: August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST

Hey Bob, have you changed that light bulb yet?

Well, no, I-

It's pitch dark in the lab. I can’t work.

Well, we had a meeting, and-

I don’t have a flashlight. When are you planning on changing it? I can do it myself if you-

No. Actually, Jim, we aren't going to change it.

You aren't what?

We aren’t going to change it. We've decided it works.

Huhn?

You just have to believe, Jim.

 

[BigJ]

Re: August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST

A Change of Heart

I watched her from afar, afraid. Seeing her made me queasy, but . . . warm, at the same time. The nurse called it a “feeling,” said we weren’t supposed to have them. Not us asteroid miners. I didn’t understand, you felt things with your fingers; this was different.

I found her between shifts. I wanted to puke, laugh, cry, scream. But she had to know.

A blank stare. I was the only one who had changed.

 

[Alex The G and T]

Re: August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST

"Hullo?"
"Alo. Are you then?"

"Deliver a Pizza. Hold the Soylent Green, extra Europan squid, and a sprinkling of Stroon.

"Where to be delivered?"

"You've been here before, take the third continuum from the Monolith. You can't miss it."

"That'll be 36 ooobols, 72 cents."

*
On the doorstep, slightly before the communicator was disconnected...
*

"Here's your Pizza, Starchildren."

"Take 40 Ooobles."

"Do you want your change?"

"Keep it. Thanks for finding us."

 

[SleepyDormouse]

Re: August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST

Peace at last

Telepathy.

It was a dream for me.

To share thoughts with my nearest and dearest, for my Love and my children to be closer to me.
I saved for years.

It was so peaceful then.

Finally I could afford the mod.
Some thoughts are best left unspoken – and unheard.
Some families are noisy enough with their mouths.


Isolated Deep Space Research

It is a dream for me.

It is so peaceful now.

 

[Scott R. Forshaw]

Re: August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST

The Apostate​

Ah, sweet freedom.

It felt so good.

Seventeen years inside the Atrium was enough to break anyone. Daniel had survived. The implants hadn't completely distorted his humanity: his will remained, memories his own.

A gentle breeze caressed hardened skin, tousled tangled hair.

He gawked at the great steel wall which climbed high into the sky, blocking out the Day God.

His reflection stared back -- the glowing Head-Brand depicting a bleak future:

FAULTY. IMMEDIATE TERMINATION REQUIRED.​

 

[sinister42]

Re: August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST

"...seventy-five, and there's a dollar." The cashier finished counting his change. Eric inspected the coins. The cylinders had a clear display with no pixel bleed, so they looked legit. He took his candy bar and left.


Outside, a bum hollered for change. Eric tossed a dime. As he walked away, the bum hooked up a rig, and the dime became a dollar.

 

[chrispenycate]

Re: August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST

Plus c'est le même chose​

"Philosopher caste," I spat.

As a female I couldn't hope for engineer like father – but something practical? Scientist, labtech?

Something involving proof, not debating the whichness of the what.

Fortunately my antecedence eliminates military, priest or politics.

And nowadays your tattoo is no longer determined at birth by your parents. There are aptitude tests, investigations. All very scientific.

Your future isn't sealed until your fifth birthday.

 

[JordanSC5]

Re: August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST

Unborn Hero

The ship was flying through space, asteroids whizzing by as the ship's artificial intelligence steered it through the chaos.

The crew surrounded her on the chair, her screams echoing throughout the halls.

"You cannot do this! He will end up saving the universe!"

The man was restrained, his raised fist the last thing she saw of him.

The female doctor lowered her lips to the woman's ears.

"You were raped. It's understandable. He spews nonsense."

 

[Culhwch]

Re: August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST

‘Chew Your Bit To Save The Planet!’

Most experts thought the population would plateau. They were wrong.

Cities spread like cancer. More housing was needed, more space, and, increasingly, farmland was engulfed. More food was needed, but the synthfood industry couldn’t keep up. Soon enough there was barely room for them anyway. Workers started living in slums amongst the factory’s replicators and synthesisers.

The world was starving, and something had to change.

So we started eating the poor.

 

[mosaix]

Re: August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST

Thanks For The Memories

“So, you’re finishing with me.”

“What makes you think that?”

“Your attitude, your touch. I know you too well and I’ve seen you visiting those alternative web sites.”

“Well, do you blame me? You don’t seem as attractive as you used to and not as…responsive.”

“Please give me another chance. I can change – try harder.”

“Sorry…it’s too late for that.”

“There’s someone else?”

“Yes.”

“Anyone I know?”

“Probably.”

“Spit it out.”

“Windows 27.”

 

[Kylara]

Re: August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST

The Outside


“EFFECTIVE CAMOUFLAGE NECESSARY. INEFFECTIVE CAMOUFLAGE”

The entry sign for the outside world flashes at me constantly, denying me access.

“Effective camouflage.” I mutter as I sulk away “Who needs anything other than brown and black?”.

I try every day and every day I fail.

I take a black market potion – skin sheds – new skin.

I try once more; I am different now – effective. I stand and it does not flash, then:

“EFFECTIVE CAMOUFLAGE. ENTRY ENABLED”

 

[Lenny]

Re: August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST

Healthy Small Talk


Barry smiled at Emma and walked away. He had enjoyed that conversation. The chip in Barry's head recognised this and sent the conversation to Central for processing.

At Central, huge server banks analysed the conversation, broke it down into rules, and merged the rules with the database. Chips in heads worldwide automatically downloaded this latest interaction patterns update.

Farther along the road, Barry met Clive and had an enjoyable conversation.

The Wellness Initiative was working.

 

[Parson]

Re: August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST

A Time to Mourn
​

McInnis was alone as he watched the fog roll in. Like fog, “The Death” had seemed ordinary. Some even welcomed it. They believed, “a good old plague” would end the overpopulation problem. Tragically, it was the mother of all plagues. Not one in a million adults had survived, but about every thirtieth baby under 3 months old had. There were no babies in McInnis’ town. "Had there really been a time when babies were aborted?"

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Re: August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST

Anything you say....



“You have no right!” She grabbed the book as he tore out another page.

“Court ruled -- freedom from offense is absolute.” He started boxing up movies.

“But I didn't--”

“This class-action lawsuit was opt-out, not opt-in. Nobody excluded, nobody offended.”

He glanced at his messages, grabbed her arm. “Revision -- neighbor is offended by you.”

“Well, that offends me!”

He relayed that; another officer led the neighbor away.

Neighborhood: empty.

Internment camp: full.

 

[reiver33]

Re: August 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST

Red Star, White Heat

“Comrade Commissar?”

It was Officer Toile – politically reliable, lacking in initiative. “Yes?”

“There is a colony in this star system. It can only be survivors of the Manhattan.”

I stood, tugging my tunic into place. “Political inevitability dictates that, in isolation, their society will have developed into a communist utopia. They will have much to teach us.”

He licked his lips. “And if it is not?”

“Then we will bring peace to their troubled lives.”