Writer’s Digest Flash Fiction Challenge February 2025: Writer’s Digest sponsored a Flash Fiction Challenge for February. Each day, Moriah Richard posted a new writing prompt and invited the Challenge participants to write a flash fiction piece based on that prompt.
Like I did the previous three years, I wrote one story for the entire month. But each day’s prompt determined where the next episode went. Each episode was limited to 100 words.
Here is Season 4 of the adventures of Jenny and Jackson, siblings launched on an interdimensional, galactic adventure: 28 one-hundred-word science fiction stories, all connected.
[Author’s Note: The character of Lucky Starr, introduced on February 7, 2024, in Season 3, will be played by the courageous, but relatively unknown, swashbuckler Archibald “Ace” Dayton. Since I requested but do not have permission to “hire” Lucky Starr, Ace will stand-in as the grizzled old space adventurer and longtime friend of Jenny and Jackson’s father. Please welcome Ace Dayton!]
Here is Season 4 of the adventures of Jenny and Jackson, siblings launched on an interdimensional, galactic adventure: 28 one-hundred-word science fiction stories, all connected.
I hope you enjoy the journey. Thanks for reading.
Episode 1: Beam Me Down Prompt: Write About a Garden
Ace Dayton considered his band of adventurers, now insurgents, gathered in the lounge of the Grim Reaper, cloaked and orbiting Mars. Just kids, he thought.
Jackson stirred where he was snuggling l’Kebrill. “So, Ace. Time to contact Dad’s secret rebels.”
Ace grinned at Jackson’s nonchalance. “Hopefully, they’re still in hydroponics.”
Jenny activated the interdimensional transporter.
Jenny and Jackson hugged their respective lovers, n’Kebron and l’Kebrill.
The sisters from Tau Ceti f would stay behind. Their purple hue would attract the wrong kind of attention.
Ace signaled Jenny. “Beam us down to the gardens.”
Jenny pressed the contact. They flickered out.
Episode 2: Sweet Reunion Prompt: In a Retirement Home
Ace approached a worker. “Hi there. Where’s Dupre?”
The worker scowled. “She’s retired. Check the Red Sands Retirement Resort.”
The desk attendant directed them to the bar.
Entering, Ace spied Dupre. “Hey Nicky. Are you glad to see me?”
A tall, fit, gray-haired woman turned. “Archibald Dayton, I’ve told you it’s Nicolette or Nic—never Nicky.”
She raced over, threw her muscled arms around Ace’s neck and landed a full-mouth kiss.
Jenny grimaced. “Yuck you guys. Get a room.”
She came up for air. “Good to see you, Ace. What brings you back to this hellhole?”
Ace smiled. “Missing you.”
Episode 3: Covert Surveillance Prompt: Caught on Camera
Nic escorted them to her “club house.”
“Welcome to our paint studio. We keep snoopers out by being obnoxious.” Nic smiled. “Easy for most of my guys.”
Nic powered up thin-film displays, camouflaged as watercolors, but displaying security office interiors.
“Check out infrared.”
Jackson tapped an orange blob. “Why the difference in colors.”
“Security is collaborating with the invaders. Designers run a little hot. Easy to spot in infrared.”
Ace followed the movements. “Is this real-time?”
“Nope. Can’t risk a transmission. Micro-drones the size of a fly. They go in, record, return home. All their secret meetings caught on camera.”
Episode 4: Wanted Poster Prompt: On the News
Nic turned on the public broadcast.
Security was asking for help in identifying violent saboteurs, wanted for murder and theft of government property.
Jenny gasped in alarm. “That’s me and Jackson. How do they know we’re here? And we didn’t kill anyone.”
Nic put a calming hand on Jenny’s shoulder. “They don’t, and I know you didn’t. They’ve been running this since you took the ship.”
Jackson turned from the video. “Who were we supposed to have killed?”
“The guy you bought the ID from.”
Jackson sat, head in hands. “Oh God. Not Squeezy.”
“You two need to lie low.”
Episode 5: Fake ID Prompt: Purchase Gone Wrong
Jackson raised his head. “What did they do to Squeezy?”
Nic sat next to Jackson and took his hands. “Our man inside couldn’t help but learned they tortured your friend. They were looking for you.”
“Squeezy didn’t deserve that. He was harmless. And now he’s dead because of me.”
“No, Jackson. He’s dead because the government is corrupt. They’d like nothing better than to exercise the control the Designers offer.”
Ace’s face hardened. “And the irony is, the Designers are using them and will pound them into compliance along with everyone else.”
Jackson stood. “Then we’d better get to work.”
Episode 6: My Favorite Ray Gun Prompt: Eulogy for an Idea or Inanimate Object
Ace stood straighter, stern and resolved. “First, I need a weapon.”
Nic opened a secret compartment. “We saved this for you, but I think it’s dead. The power pack is drained, the beam emitter shot.”
Ace took the pistol. “My old friend. You got me out of more than one scrape. Always at my side. You were like a friend. Your weight on my hip a comfort. Your grip firm in my hand. You were one of kind. When they made you, they broke the mold. I’ll miss you.”
Nic reverently placed the ray gun back in its hiding place.
Episode 7: Ancient Wisdom Prompt: Based on a Font
Nic pulled a datapad from the compartment. “We kept this too. We can’t read the encryption key. Joe sent it to me before he was captured.” Nic pulled out her handheld. “The key looks corrupted.”
Jenny took the device. It displayed a line of meaningless symbols. “I’ve seen this before. It’s not corrupt. It’s a font your handheld can’t display. An old one from the 21st. I’ll change it to Martian Modern.”
The handheld displayed “Jocelyn.” Jenny frowned, her eyes teared. “Mom.”
Jackson put his arm around Jenny’s shoulders. “That’s my sister. A font of knowledge of all things ancient.”