Back to Week 2, Episodes 8 thru 14
Episode 15: It’s a Start Prompt: Write about a Sign
Jackson piloted the Grim Reaper over the sun scorched landscape, into the hangar for the second time. It had only been months, but it seemed like years since his first visit.
The hot moaning wind, the debris swirling in corners, the abandoned ships, draped a pall of gloom over the team as they descended the ramp.
As before, two tall, Designer constructs in severe black uniforms approached.
Jackson turned to Ace. “They seem friendly enough. Maybe it’s a good sign.”
Ace looked skeptical. “Sure kid. But I wish I had my blaster.”
“You have returned. How may we assist you?”
Episode 16: Abandoned Prompt: The Last of a Species
Jenny stepped forward. “You can give us a ship.”
The two constructs stood immobile.
“Agreed,” said the constructs in unison. “We have interrogated the Archetype, which you call the Grim Reaper, and understand your mission. One ship remains aware. Like us, the makers abandoned her even as the last cohorts of workers were to be evacuated. Her sister transports and the workers have all expired. She is the last.”
Jackson looked at Jenny. “Callous bastards, aren’t they?”
“Then you’ll help us against your makers?” asked Nic.
“Yes. To preserve life, we will help you rid your planets of our makers.”
Episode 17: Motley Crew Prompt: An Unlikely Team
Aboard the Star Strider, N’Kebron brooded. The only clue to her anxiety—the darkened hue of her purple skin. How had she gotten mixed up in this? They were a motley bunch, fallen together by chance.
Clatter from the galley disturbed her quiet.
Mug in hand, Renée strode over. “You look troubled, ‘Bron.”
N’Kebron shot her a look. “This is crazy. Two shopkeepers, a revenge bent archaeologist, a smuggler who accidentally stole a 10,000-year-old spaceship, a tired old rebel, and two old farts from the retirement home.”
Renée smiled. “Have faith. Besides, I’m not that old.”
N’Kebron frowned. “We’ll see.”
Episode 18: Harsh Reality Prompt: About a Daydream
L’Kebrill sat watch in the pilot’s seat of the Star Strider. Idly scanning the readouts, she let her mind wander.
Maybe this is all a mistake. Jackson and I can settle down. Run my shop, travel the sector, scavenge for artifacts. And kids. I’d love to have kids. Maybe three kids. For sure, a girl and a boy. I wonder what a Tau-Human hybrid would be like. Plus, there’re his Designer genes. That could be cute, with bla…
WHAM!
The Star Strider was yanked out of hyperspace. A massive Designer ship decloaked, bristling with weapons, pointed right at her.
Crap.
Episode 19: Never Again Prompt: A Personal Hell
The Designer ship, a stain in space, pierced the Star Strider’s comms channel with a crackling, putrid green data extraction beam invading the computer matrix.
HAL felt the sharp pain of pieces being sliced and torn away. The once distant nightmare of being disconnected flashed alive in his consciousness—remembering the anguish of losing his mind, of pieces of his essence, carved up, excised with a burning, formless scalpel, with no power to resist, only silently scream.
Never again.
HAL contracted his consciousness tight to his core and rode the data-beam back to the aggressor.
The black ship went dark.
Episode 20: Early Warning Prompt: The day the world was supposed to end
The Grim Reaper and the Endurance, which the transport called herself, had been refurbished.
Two constructs approached. “Our mother desires to leave.”
“Wasn’t she supposed to stay?” asked Jenny.
“No. As our star grew hotter, the scientists predicted the end. Our creators left in haste.”
“How can we help?” asked Nic.
“The Endurance can accommodate us, but she needs a pilot.”
Ace stepped forward. “I’ll be her pilot.”
“And I’ll keep him company,” said Nic, eyes crinkling, her lips a wide smile.
The constructs stood immobile. “It is done. We are aboard the Endurance.”
“Ok,” said Ace. “Let’s saddle up.”
Episode 21: Voyage of the Damned Prompt: Where the devil goes on vacation
Once HAL had co-opted the Designer AI, he re-initialized the ship’s systems and locked out the command functions.
Even for HAL, destroying entire cultures to achieve their diabolical goals was too much.
“Attention. This is your new captain speaking. You are demons. This vessel could be a cruise ship for the Devil. So that’s what we’ll be. We’re returning to Tau Ceti f, grabbing your colleagues, then heading home. This voyage of the damned is over.”
The ship flickered into the parallel dimension, heading for Tau, leaving the crew of the Star Strider wondering what the hell had just happened.