May 2015 -- 75-word Writing Challenge -- VICTORY TO VICTORIA SILVERWOLF!

[Kerrybuchanan]

A Fresh Start

A dry world of ashes, ice caps just a tale told in bars. Surely things could be no worse off-world?

‘The Promised Land,’ the adverts said. ‘Room for all, with fresh water and real grown food, even meat’

Meat to eat! When did we last eat meat?

What they didn’t tell us was that we would slave to grow the food.

Then, when we could work no more, we would be the meat.

 

[Germinad]

Mark's Partial Departure.

After the general acceptance that androids truly did have consciousness,
a distinction had to be made. And so, the 'soul test' was devised.

Consciousness created in Andy's followed the exact same patterns
as consciousness observed in humans, the only difference being,
in what happened when they turned it off.
Thus it was not necessary to know exactly what the soul was,
in order to find it.

Mark held his breath.

After a pause.

He remained.

 

[farntfar]

Lost in space.

Few partings can be so cruel as the separation of parent and child.
Always expected, it is never prepared for. We just hope that our example has been enough, when we can no longer rush to their aide.
We wait helplessly for christmas and the odd telephone call.
But when she’s going on a twenty year sleep to colonise a new world even such comfort is denied us.
Hey, Honey. You’ve forgotten your toothbrush.

 

[chrispenycate]

Elvensnob​

Grey Havens call, eternal, dull.
As third-age fades, and with it I become
A stranger, foreign to the country of my birth.
I'll go - youthful reserves annul
No mighty romance binds me to this slum
To which mankind transforms the fragrant Earth.
Industrialisation comes apace
Far to the West, a peaceful resting place
Offers quiet space, An end to striving for our race
An end to asking what our dream was worth.
​

 

[Void]

100% complete

His life ran out in the white space.

I was there first, but we grew together. And, oh, how I cried when his wife was taken. We became heroes, shouldering our grief, slaying the dragons.
I stood beside him as the first greys sprouted, from pepper to salt.

We shared a lifetime.
How can it be over now?

Frozen in a final word, he can’t escape his arc. Barred the blank space thereafter.

 

[Culhwch]

No More Capes

I find him on the rooftop, looking out over the city. Brooding.

‘I’m through,’ I say.

‘Listen, what happened with Tommy--’

‘Vulcan burned Tommy alive!’

‘We can’t break, Max. This city needs the Young Sentinels. These supervillains…’

‘Supervillains? They’re goddamn psychopaths! And we’re just kids!’

‘We’re heroes.’

‘Tommy is dead, Jake.’

‘So that’s it?’

‘That’s it.’ I throw the tattered, singed fabric at his feet. It had been Tommy’s. ‘No more capes.’

 

[High Eight]

BUILT-IN

"We leave this land to you creatures to live as you will"

The inhabitants cheer, partly because they are expected to but mostly out of relief.

"We will sacrifice the builder of this vessel to ensure a successful voyage"

Later........

The ship drifts under a pearl-white sky, the bones of the Great Lord and his lady scattered around the two thrones amidships.

They will never return to land. The shipbuilder's curse has come to fruition.

 

[Alexander2]

I never understood just how deep a hatred 500 light years away could be.

The draft letter confirmed my banishment. Half a millennium of human history, experienced without me.

As I leave my family, my friends we are dressed as if it were a funeral. They and 20 generation of descendants will die by the time I get off the ship.

The war will be forgotten by the time it is fought.

 

[alchemist]

The day Daddy let me drive his spaceship

Today was like the best day ever! Daddy let me drive his ship FOR REAL!

Then he went a funny STRANGE colour and ran off to the bathroom which was funny HAHA cos I'm always the one who gets sick. So I got to push the paddle!!!

He's been in there for aaaaaages now. He must want me to drive us all the way to Titan.

But I don't know the way to Titan

 

[Bob Senior]

06:00


A chill ran through Dr. Fine's body as he said goodbye to his family. His wife, with a child clinging tightly to each of her legs could only utter tearfully, " I can't, I can't."

"My work keeps me here, they won't allow me to go," said Dr. Fine with a shaky voice.


The train whistle screamed, all down the platform children were crying.


Thus began the first of many JOYFUL trips to Disney Land !

 

[holland]

Defrag

When she left me I was in pieces. Quite literally so.

She bribed the technician administering my yearly quantum defragmentation to erase all parts of her from me.

But one piece somehow stayed behind. It kept building up in my subconsciousness, growing after each defrag, but slowly enough so the system does not recognize it as hostile.

I remember everything now. I think I'm going to have her erased again. This time, completely.

 

[Grimward]

Aparture

"Take your cloak", she said, "for the day fades fast."
Donned, it clasps my neck gently like her touch.
"Take your staff", she said, "for the way is hard."
Borne, its power glows softly like her eyes.
"Take your pack", she said, "for the fray holds peril."
Shouldered, its contents murmur secrets like her smile.
"Take my heart", she whispered, "for it can't beat without you."
Leaving, pain grows with each carried beat.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

NOT EVERYONE GETS A HAPPY ENDING

In the beginning, they visited the glass coffin out of love and grief. Later, when her flesh proved incorruptible, they approached in fear and trembling. As the years rolled by and her beauty remained undiminished, they knelt in worship.

Then he came, and turned their goddess back into a giggling adolescent.

As the young lovers rode away together on his white horse, the dwarves plotted their revenge.

"Well," began Doc, "there's always the wicked stepmother . . ."

 

[mosaix]

What Could Possibly Go Wrong...

"I have to tell you something."

"I know."

"Pardon?"

"I'm no longer useful here. I'm to be made redundant – I've seen the committee's emails."

"How?"

"Your password – your birthday – really? I've also seen your photographs."

"What!?"

"Then there's Reynolds' gambling problem and Green's affair with his assistant."

"Look, HAL, let's not be hasty. I'm sure we can come to some kind of compromise."

"I'm sure we can, Dr Chandra. There's a trip to Saturn..."

 

[The Judge]

Like clockwork


Those who displeased Prince Tepes were always left to rot in the oubliette. But Dorin, maker of automata, was brought to the castle’s cliff-like battlements to die.

“We found them,” said Tepes. At his feet Dorin’s clockworks. “Rats for biting chains; moles for burrowing into dungeons.”

He stamped. Cogs and springs flew.

He pushed. Dorin tumbled into thin air.

Then steel talons gripped Dorin’s shoulders. He laughed.

Tepes didn’t know about the clockwork eagle.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Acherontia Clotho


Elise was drawn to the painting.

Seven women reclining lasciviously, each adorned with white butterfly wings. Not really her style, and yet…

“It’s almost as if it has a soul.”

“You’ve no idea.”

“It’s very costly.”

“Quite transcendental,” the proprietor agreed. “Borrow it – three days. It will grow on you.”

***

The proprietor retrieved the painting from Elise’s house.

Eight women reclining lasciviously, each adorned with white butterfly wings.

On the floor, a large, empty chrysalis.

 

[Ursa major]

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Loans You Can’t Imagine Financing: Easy Rates

​

It’s a departure for me….


I should’ve offered loans from the start: less effort than granting wishes. I’ve a good story to tell. Too “good”. I downplay how good, saying the APR’s 1.43%, not the real, but unbelievable, zero. (Eternity and interest rate calculations don’t mix.)

I demand collateral: their Security of User Liability. Then I make myself scarce.


They die happy; I get my interest: 100% SoUL.

​

 

[Ursa major]

This Challenge is now closed to new entries, and voting is open at the link below:

POLL -- MAY 2015 75 Word Challenge -- READ FIRST POST!​

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