Back to Week 3, Episodes 15 thru 21
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 4.
Episode 22: Fight or Flight Prompt: Sibling Dispute
“Jenny, we need to leave,” said Jackson after Zog and the legal advisor had gone.
“No, Jackson. We’re fighting this,” said Jenny. “Besides, how can we run?”
Jackson rose. “Your librarian friend could help.”
Jenny stood, grabbing Jackson’s arm, and stopping his pacing. “Exactly. He’s my friend. Helping us again could expose their network.”
“Network?”
“The Librarians want to stop the government from expunging their history. And now we know it’s our history too. You can leave, but I’m staying.”
“Jenny, I’ll never leave you. But I’m preparing—just in case.”
Jenny smiled. “That would only be prudent, little brother.”
Episode 23: On Trial Prompt: Rideshare service
“That ship was a gift,” said Jackson.
“You should have used your ship. We are not a ridesharing service.”
“The second action, Accuser?” asked the Adjudicator.
“They stole classified information and now spread sedition.”
Jenny rose. “That’s our history. Those explorers chose not to exterminate us. You think you’ve advanced because you’ve provided a ‘reserve’ on the Southern Continent.”
“You have no right to judge our policies. That reserve is the best place for those primitives.”
“Your policies were immoral then, and they’re immoral now you self-righteous prig,” said Jenny.
“That’s enough, Defender,” said the Adjudicator. “This tribunal is adjourned.”
Episode 24: Into the Dark Prompt: Something eerie
Zog, Jenny, and Jackson materialized in a tunnel below the building.
“The not-so-primitive natives built these tunnels. Follow the map, push the button, get the ship out of here.”
Jenny gave Zog a grateful hug, and they headed into the dimness.
Barely visible in the map’s anemic glow, gray, sightless bugs skittered across the roof. Legless, naked rat creatures slithered into crevices as they passed.
Putrid mud sucked at their boots. Unseen roots snagged at their hair.
The fetid breeze carried the moaning lament of the murdered natives.
At the labyrinth’s end, they held hands, pushed the button, and dematerialized.
Episode 25: Last Stand Prompt: Last human in a profession
The siblings materialized in the Reaper’s lounge; Jackson rushed to the bridge.
He engaged the neuro-link, activated the cloak, fired the engines, and rocketed into space.
Jumping into the parallel universe, he linked to the Star Strider’s star maps and headed toward Earth.
“Do you think Zog will be OK?” asked Jackson.
“Good question,” said Jenny. “Even without us, they were under pressure. Their government is trying to control what texts the public can access.”
“How can they do that? Wouldn’t the public demand the libraries stay open?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. Zog is worried he’ll be the last Librarian.”
Episode 26: Hybrids Prompt: Dream Monitor
After grueling days of evasive maneuvers, The Grim Reaper was free of pursuit following the parallel dimension entities interdicting the Designer warship. Jackson and Jenny had taken turns sleeping.
The ship was on auto-pilot; the two were relaxing in the lounge when a Designer avatar materialized.
“I’ve been monitoring your dreams,” it said. “To improve the neuro-link.”
“Sounds reasonable,” said Jackson.
“Your dream physiology is much like the Designers’.”
“What the hell does that mean?” asked Jenny.
“You have a recent Designer ancestor. You are Human-Designer hybrids.”
The siblings stared at each other in confusion. “Dad”, they said in unison.
Episode 27: Full Circle Prompt: A Bookstore
“How did our father, a Designer, end up on Earth?” asked Jenny.
“I know where we can find out. My tattoo—l’Kebrill, runs a small bookstore,” said Jackson.
“A bookstore? Really? You just want to visit your girlfriend.”
“Not sure she wants to see me again. And the bookstore—it’s a front for her sister’s quasi-legal artifacts business. But she does have some interesting texts.”
“She’ll help?” asked Jenny.
“Maybe,” said Jackson. “Besides, you might like n’Kebron.”
“Now you’re trying to fix me up?”
Jackson smiled. “Let’s find out.”
He activated the neuro-link and changed course to Tau Ceti f.
Episode 28: Epilogue Prompt: “I wish I could tell you…”
Jenny and Jackson relaxed in the lounge of the Grim Reaper.
“I wonder where we’ll go, what we’ll find?” asked Jenny.
Jackson considered what they’d been through. “I would imagine we’ll meet a future challenge,” he said. “But we’ll face it together.”
“I have no doubt of that, brother,” said Jenny. “I just wish I had more details. What’s the plan?”
“I wish I could tell you. But if our future is like our past, events will unfold as they will and we’ll be prompted to take action.”
“I suppose you’re right,” said Jenny.
And silence fell across the Reaper.
The End of Season 2
Stay Tuned for Season 3, hopefully coming in February 2024, where Jenny and Jackson will embark on a quest to find the origins of their father’s appearance on Earth.
Will Jenny and Jackson find the truth of their heritage? Will they return to Alta Campa and help Zog bring change? Better yet, will they both find love?