Back to Week 1, Episodes 1 thru 7
Writer’s Digest Flash Fiction Challenge February 2023: 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.
I thought, why not write one story for the entire month? But each day’s prompt determines where the next episode goes. And I’ll limit each episode to 100 words. Hopefully, it will all tie together and make sense when we come out at the other end of the month.
28 one-hundred-word science fiction stories, all connected. Here’s Week 2.
Episode 8: Alien Visitation Prompt: Odd news headline
Jackson put an arm around his sister. “Are we good?”
Jenny returned the embrace. “Yeah, we’re good. You’re still my little brother.”
Jackson released Jenny and scrolled through the data-pad. “Jenny. Look at this.”
Jenny scrunched her eyebrows. “Why would Dad have an old headline about alien DNA found in the human genome?”
“Says it goes back 10,000 years.”
“Wait,” said Jenny. “You don’t think that’s our Designer friends? That’s when the ship was parked on Mars.”
“Could be. The article date is when Dad started looking for the sliver.”
“Seems the Designers have some questions to answer,” said Jenny.
Episode 9: Why Stay Behind? Day 9 Prompt: A Wish
“And that might explain a question that’s been bugging me since we left Mars,” said Jenny.
Jackson looked up from reading the article. “What question?”
“The ship was fully functional. Why stay?”
“I wish I knew the answer,” said Jackson. “Joey?”
Joey sat silent. Finally, “I checked the logs; they’ve been erased.”
“Dammit. They probably did that when we refueled.”
“They must have something to hide,” said Jenny. “Damn. I wish I had been there.”
Jackson smiled. “Well, Sis. You were kind of tied up. Literally.”
“Cute,” said Jenny. “But I’m going to get my answer. One way or another.”
Episode 10: Research Prompt: In an ordinary place
The Grim Reaper arrived at Alta Campa.
A tour of the city, parties, and dinners occupied the siblings for days. When the Designers learned Jenny was a scientist, she was welcomed at the research library.
“They’re hiding something from me,” said Jenny arriving home one evening.
“Hiding what?” asked Jackson.
“What they did on Earth—maybe other planets. When I query certain data, it’s labeled ‘Not Available’.”
“Maybe it isn’t,” said Jackson.
“Maybe. But I think there’s more to it. And I need to find a way in.”
“Be careful, Sis. We’re their guests and have nowhere else to go.”
Episode 11: The Librarians Prompt: Two opposite people
The entrance chime interrupted their conversation.
The door slid open, revealing a Designer, a bit frantic.
“Is Dr. Fowler home?” his voice tinny from the translator.
“Librarian Zog, please come in,” called Jenny from the apartment’s lounge.
“Thank goodness you’re home. I came to warn you.”
“Warn me?”
“I believe we should acknowledge our past. But, your research is alarming those that want to keep our past secret; please work quickly.”
Without another word, Zog rushed out of the apartment.
“What the hell was that about?” asked Jackson.
“Clearly, I’m on to something,” said Jenny. “And I’ll need to hurry.”
Episode 12: Where’s Joey? Prompt: Mourning a loss
Jackson used the transporter to visit the shipyard.
The Designer crews had retrofitted the Grim Reaper with the inter-dimensional shields, refined the neuro-link, and loaded provisions. They’d even modernized the Star Strider.
Jackson entered the bridge looking for Joey. “Where’s Joey?” he asked the crew chief.
“We deleted it.”
“You deleted it? That was my avatar. I need him.”
“With the neuro-link, you don’t need an avatar. You talk to the ship directly.”
Jackson slouched into a jump seat, hanging his head in sorrow.
That evening, Jackson informed Jenny that Joey was gone. Oppressive sadness pervaded the apartment for days.
Episode 13: The Midnight Oil Prompt: Workaholic
“Jenny, you need to come home,” said Jackson. He’d not seen Jenny for days and tracked her down in a dark corner of the library.
“I can’t come now. I need to finish my research,” said Jenny. She looked haggard and exhausted.
Jackson moved some texts off a chair and put his arm around his sister. “The research can wait. You need to come home.”
“I know the answer’s here. I know I can find it in these old sources.”
“Maybe the answer is gone. Please come home.”
“OK. For tonight only.”
Jackson took her arm and escorted her home.
Episode 14: What Are They Hiding? Prompt: Random quote
“If I had followed my better judgment always, my life would have been a very dull one.” ― Edgar Rice Burroughs
“We have to find those deleted log entries,” said Jenny.
Jackson looked up from his reading. “And how do you propose we do that?”
Jenny sat by her brother. “We go back to the Designers’ home world.”
Jackson put down the data-pad. “Same question, how?”
“Well—we take the Grim Reaper.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“Maybe. But you said they’d retrofitted it for you to pilot.” Jenny smiled mischievously. “Besides, are you just going to sit around here reading data-pads all day?”
“This is a bad idea, but you have a point.”
“OK! What do we do next?”