MAY 2023 -- 75 Word Writing Challenge -- VICTORY TO JOHNNYJET!

[Starbeast]

Hero of an Empty Grave​

I knew Carl’s obsession with the supernatural was a dangerous path. I’ll always remember his last words, “I’m going to put a stop to these murders, even if it kills me!” The murders did suddenly end, but Carl was never seen again. That was twenty years ago. His grave marker read...

Carl Kolchak
Greatest Newspaper Reporter
Seeker of the Truth
and the Unknown​

“God bless you Carl”, remarked his friend and newspaper editor, Tony Vincenzo.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Cupid's Successor

Nowadays, I must use more mechanical methods of wooing…

Zinnias aren’t ideal; the blowsy blooms wilt quickly, revealing the centre of the bouquet. Tulips are better; much hardier — great as a silo for launching the loaded syringes hidden within. But tulips don’t smell. So, for this special posey, I’ve chosen her mother’s perfume, her grandfather’s Red Shag, and the scent of her missing son.

Ah, here she comes now, with that loser my predecessor entranced.

 

[Far Stranger]

Shelagh

Under a biodome Larkin Trescothick nurtured a miniature world. All for luscious Shelagh, his beloved miniscule creation. She had wildflower meadows, every flavour jellybean – and now an ice rink. Skating with friends, laughter crinkled her freckled nose. He paused his toxicity monitoring to watch, heart so full.

Next morning all lay dead, ice smothering the biodome. Larkin wept. But freezing was a gentle passing, he’d heard. Now to start fresh. Perhaps no freckles this time?

 

[mosaix]

Count Down

There’d been a crew of five in the Mars Hab. Five. The pentagram had haunted Connor’s mind for days. But fortunately, or unfortunately for Johansson, there’d been that faulty valve.

But four was no better – his number in class. That class.

The least said about three the better. A lot of unpleasantness.

And today, his remaining companion, Bruno, had disappeared.

So now just one.

He’d never been the suicidal type. But come on – one?

 

[Peter V]

Commander Mike Harris: An Observation of Rational Inner Monologue Versus OCD

“Commander to the control room. Priority one.”

“Acknowledged.” I exit my cabin and hesitate. The control room is ten metres to my right.

The compulsion comes from you. I know that.

Nothing bad will happen as a consequence of not following your compulsion. I know. Probably.

Bill getting sucked out of the airlock was coincidence. Yup.

Walking anti-clockwise around the habitat ring didn’t cause it. Obviously.

I turn left. What can be that urgent anyway?

 

[Bren G]

An Obsession of Mythic Proportions

Aris sighed at his works. Dead women and children littered the colony’s streets now brightened by blistering fires. Some raged irrepressibly. Some pirouetted in triumphant. And so was his soul divided.

He looked to Lena. Oh beautiful Lena! Her smile could launch a thousand starships. His foe had done just that. But he threw them back from Yort and crushed them. This was all for her!

He reached for her. Lena shrank from his touch.

 

[Ambrose]

A Warning

Greetings to those who tread this path of the cosmic realities.
Know that like you I sought Truth. Indeed it is my obsession.
So I stole the Einstein machine, and sought to see what really happened in the past.
You can never return to the path you were on. You have caused a divergence.
Beware. You will wander, and never return to old familiarities.
And the future is worse.
This is Truth.

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

I wasted time, and now doth time waste me.

King Gamaliel awoke, a dagger pricking his neck.

"I'm Yaaren," said the intruder. "You killed my parents. Now you die."

"Yaaren!" spluttered Gamaliel. "Those weren't your parents. They stole you from me when you were a babe."

"You're my father? But vengeance has been my life. Has it been wasted?"

"Yes! Except you're my nephew, the kingdom's true heir. With you gone, it's mine," snarled Gamaliel, grabbing the dagger and plunging it into Yaaren's heart.

 

[The Judge]

Conversations with a Writer​

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January 2041​

AI: Your account’s a year old! Simply press ‘Send’ to publish. I’ll do the rest!​

Writer: Just fixing the opening line. It has to be right.​

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January 2042​

AI: Reminder! Press ‘Send’ when ready!​

Writer: Still working on the opening.​

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January 2044​

AI: Having problems? Can I help?​

Writer: Just tweaking that first line.​

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January 2047​

AI: Ready yet?​

Writer: The opening’s nearly there!​

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January 2050​

AI: Extension agreed. You’ve another ten years...​

 

[Elckerlyc]

To Err Is um… Universal

“AI’m sorry!”
“It’s OK, no harm done.”
“AI just want you to know it wasn’t intentional.”
“I know. Don’t worry about it.”
“No really, it was a bug!”
“Yes, yes, it’s fine.”
“Look, is there anything AI can do for you?”
“There’s no need. Forget it. Please.”
“It’s just that AI don’t want you to blame me for anything.”
“I don’t. Let it rest.”
“Oh, oh… Sorry if AI’m bothering you!”
“... Bloody AI’s!”

 

[Ursa major]

Just Imagine the Conversation…​

“You don’t have to.”​

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“I know, but—“​

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“—nothing.”​

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“Once I don’t, that’s it.”​

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“And...?”​

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“I’ll have missed one.”​

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“If you were serious about not missing one, you’d have already produced something. You’ve had the time.”​

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“Time isn’t the problem.”​

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“No, ‘It’ is. You should never have created It. You’ve become dependent on It. And aren’t you cheating?”​

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“What could be more SFF than using a make-believe magical digital muse for a Chrons Challenge?”​

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[Ursa major]

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This challenge is now closed to new entries.

The poll is now open at the link below:

POLL -- May 2023 75-Word Challenge -- READ FIRST POST!​

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