Samwise Stories

Prompt: "5000 years ago a cataclysm rendered the earth inhabitable. Today the descendants of those who escaped on The Ark will set foot on their homeworld for the first time."

The planet Earth has changed a lot recently, 23 years ago- almost to the day, the storms on the surface ended. The same storms that had been raging for roughly five thousand years, a few weeks passed whilst the cloud formations disintegrated, and then we got our first clear view of our home.

I was five years old at the time and entertained mostly by the colours, the beautiful blue and green were like nothing on the Ark. We had water- sure, but not pools large enough to give that blue colour. We had plants too, but the conditions were far from optimal and made the plants a dirty green rather than lush. I wanted to see it closer- touch it- feel it.

That was probably when I decided to join the recruitment for the first journey. The first journey was- as the name implies, the first expedition back down to the planet. A lot of people wanted to go back down as soon as the storms ended, there were protests- riots even. People wanted the Ark to head straight back down- Idiots.

23 years may have been a long time to wait, but it was important... We were the last humans after all- if we landed and something went wrong? We couldn't risk it. Years of geological scans, and low atmosphere scouting gave us the perfect landing spot. Minimal damage to local Environment, enough space to develop a community, plenty of food- water- and importantly a lot of natural protection taking the form of Cataclysm-formed mountain ranges, and deep trenches filled with the darkest blue water.

Of course something as large as the Ark couldn't simply just land though... No- that was where the first journey came into the picture. We were the first guys to go planetside- and live permenantly in over seven generations. Our objective was to build the dock, it'd be a long job- probably another five or six years even, but the dock would provide us with amuch needed start- as well as mapping out local geography much more clearly, learning about plants, animals. The reality of the situation is that we were going in blind- this "safe-zone" as the Corps had nicknamed it could very easily become a deathtrap. The problem with the safezone was that because of it's location once we went in, our shuttle wouldn't be able to make it out.

Part of the problem with the planet was the storms- even now 23 years after the main storm ended smaller cells continued to rotate... The mountain ranges protected the area from the storms still raging- not quite powerful enough to make it over the high peaks though.

Even in the atmosphere above there was a vicious wind that constantly blew... It would tear a outgoing ship to pieces, only a craft as large as the Ark would be able to survive it- and the Ark needed a Dock in order to preform a take off.

Prompt: "A cheesy and fake paranormal TV show crew gets a taste of their own medicine when they attempt to film an episode about the Owlman."

"Can you believe people actually buy this shit?" I mumbled under my breath as I folded my arms and sank further into my chair. Derek only hummed in agreement and ran the same sequence of Chell walking down the cemetary road again.

"Do you think I should fog it a bit, or you think this is good enough?" Derek was our wizard behind the scenes, to make a show about paranormal stuff you have to have a wizard- especially if you want to bullshit people into believing you.

"That's plenty- Chell'll want a copy before we call it a wrap though, I'll run it over to her." I climbed to my feet as I spoke and rolled my neck on my shoulders. "How long till you can burn it to a DVD?" Derek looked thoughtful for a second-

"Give me 20 minutes." I nodded and opened the back door of the van- climbed down onto the gravel and lifted a pack of cigarettes from my pocket.

The gang was only five people- including myself and Derek. There was the Star of the show, also producer and location scout Chell, the camera man Roy, and Liz- Chells "second in command" who in reality did very little but for some reason was above us in the pecking order. Five people in three vans made for uncomfortable living conditions- of course only two were plastered with the TV shows now famous "Bump in the Night" logo, the third was strictly undercover. We couldnt have people finding out about Dereks... additions after all.

I stood outside of Dereks van for another 15 minutes or so before I heard his signiture rap on the metal- signalling the disk was ready. I opened the door and his arm instantly swung out waving the disk in my face, with a grunt of acknowledgement I snatched the disk from his hand and began the 10 minute walk down the quiet road to Chell and Roys vans. It was a pleasant stroll and it wasn't too long before I saw the small group that had found the vans- when they noticed me coming I offered a cheery wave that none returned. Of course.

The crowds never took to me- Chell was the star, Liz was the sex, Roy was the comedy, I was the darkness. I was always the one who "Had a bad feeling." so-to-speak. Every paranormal show needs one- but that don't make you popular. I made my way around the crowd quickly and saw Roy posing with two obviously underage girls for a photo. They giggled cutely as he winked at them, then saw me and waved. I stood still and slipped another ciggarette from my pack, then waited for a few moments before he took the hint and walked toward me- bidding fairwell to his adoring fans.

"Is that Chell's disk?" He gestured at the DVD and I nodded, holding out the disk for him to take.

"Me and Derek did our part- Just need to do a few voice overs before and after breaks and it'll be all done." He nodded and turned back toward the crowd, then as he walked away looked back over his shoulder-

"I think Chells in the Audio Van- careful though she's pissed for some reason." He offered a cheeky smile to me before waving back at the crowd and began posing for more photos. I sighed... Chells moods were strictly hidden from the public- can't have our star being seen as a bitch after all. She isn't really but she's incredibly tight about her apperance on the show, and it's easier to edit out her moods then living with them full time.

I knocked a few times on the back door of the Audio van and a few moments passed before the bleached white hair of Liz showed in the window, she smiled at me and unlocked the door. I took a deep breath and opened it- climbed in- and allowed Liz to close it behind me.

"Hey Chell, Derek said the disks done- just need your voice overs and it's a wrap." I gave Liz a side long look as I observed Chell lying on the floor of the van in a ball. She shrugged in response.

"Leave it there- I'll do it in a bit."

"It's due tomorrow-"

"I know when it's due." she snapped, I sighed and turned back toward the door. We'd missed more than a few deadlines but pointing that out to her would do no-one any good. I nodded to Liz as I laid a hand on the handle before Chell spoke again. "The nightmares are back." She said it in nothing more than a whisper- but I heard it as if it were a freight train thundering. My hand froze on the handle.

"How bad?"

"Bad enough that I'm telling you." I turned around and stared at Chell on the floor- though you'd never know it from looking at us we were siblings. I saw Liz looking from me to Chell, and then back to me in confusion.

"What nightmares, is it a problem?" I shook my head slowly.

"It's- It's fine Liz, I just need a moment with Chell." She looked worried for a second- almost enough to protest- but she stopped herself and slowly walked toward the door. When It closed I spoke again. "How long?"

"About two weeks."

"You didn't say anything."

"Nope."

"Why not?"

"What could we do?"

"We could be ready for it." She sat up finally, though I wish she hadn't. She had been silently crying- obviously. Her eyes were the miserable red that I couldn't stand, I softened a little at the view.

"We were never ready for it, you know that." I broke eye contact, and searched the floor.

Ever since we were children Chell had been haunted by these horrific nightmares, so horrible that she would stay awake for days on end out of pure fear. I'd held her through countless nights sleep- just trying to keep her asleep long enough that she could function... As she'd gotten older they're grown more sporadic, until she'd only have them in clusters of a few weeks at a time.

I sighed and sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her. She sighed and leaned into me, it was rare that we had moments like this- but it was what I lived for really. She was my sister and she needed me.

Prompt: "A knight saves a young child from being hung for theft by taking him as his apprentice/squire, tell me the story of their relationship until one of them dies/moves on/whatever."

I had always watched the Realm Knights when I got the chance, I think I was one of those who followed them most fanatically. I dreamed of one day joining them too, I had heard they didn't make distinctions between class. The lowest peasent could be a great and respected warrior amoung the Realmers, that was a big part of my respect for them... Though it was something that the nobility weren't fond of, they put up with it.

I was unlucky from birth though, raised in a low income family- my father inevitably joined the army and so we recieved a pardon of some of the more expensive taxes. Still though we struggled, my mother worked a few part time jobs- not having the skill set to start a proper career in any. My older sibling left the home at an early age and began their own struggles I was too young though.

Too young to work, too young to leave. I was a burden and I made no mistake of it, it seems cliche' but crime was a road that I travelled in my youth a lot. I stole to eat, to clothe, for warmth- I'd like to say I took only what I needed but it wouldn't be right to deny my own faults, when I realized how easy the road of a thief was I stole for pleasure too- to exact revenge, to manipulate, to create feuds, sow confusion and tension in the city...

I was caught, of course. To be hanged- I guess it was appropriate, I'd been stealing from two feuding families in the city and planting the stolen items in each others property... I'm not entirely sure how they found out I was the one responsible- I suppose it doesn't matter. I was standing on the hangmans platform, the noose around my neck. I was scared- crying even. I was only a boy at the time, 10 or 11 winters old.

That was when the Realm Knights had come, they'd apparantly followed my story closely and decided- on their own authority- that I was to be spared. The crowd was tense as I was released, they all respected and believed in the Realmers. For them to release someone so obviously guilty was... strange.

The man who released my hands from behind my back was called Blaise, an enormous monster of a man wearing armour as large as a bear- and twice as heavy. I was to be his apprentice as it was his decision that put the Realmers into action...

I was small though, and dissapointing with a blade- Its weight was almost the same as mine! And it's size was just as impressive- he taught me to handle it with grace, but how could one so young and weak handle such a blade? I decided that it wasn't meant to be. I respected and had coveted a position amoung the Realmers for my entire life.. now that I was there though...

I wasn't one of these men- these men who run into battle to save the lives of civillians they've never shared a meal with. I was a thief, I stole for my own gain.

I dissapeared that night- the seventh night after we left the city, and I travelled for a long time. I found a small town and moved into the inn, I paid my rent by picking pockets and stealing goods. The traders who came into town every other week were by chance as crooked as myself and held no problem fencing my goods.

It was a simple and prosherous life for the while that it lasted... 4 years passed before I saw the realmers again, tracking the traders I'd been conducting my business with had lead them to me- a minor thief. For some reason I had met their attention a second time, this time they came with drawn swords though. And I hadn't stood a chance.

The last thing I heard before my light went out was from the bear-man Blaise.

Prompt: "For time beyond memory, a society of intelligent chimpanzees eked out a living in the ruins of Earth while worshipping a statue of their apparent creator god, Michael Jackson.

A new testament is found, shaking their faith to its core." (Image can be found here)

The creator, the one they call Jak-soon was a false. A mistake. We readed the statue falsely, we guessed he was our first. But we was false too. We founded the real about Jak-soon not long after the Big Chimp went cold. He said that he speaked to the Jak-soon through the idol, He speaked that his successor could do it too.

The Big Chimp was false. The Jak-soon was false. We was false too! Tricked by Big Chimp- and Jak-soon too. Many went cold at the word of Jak-soon... should we tell the group that Jak-soon was false? Should we keep it hidden like Big Chimp did, many would be growling at the real...

Prompt: "An overworked fashion designer recieves a sudden and unexpected client: The Grim Reaper."

Rain lashed at the windows like never before that morning, my Umbrella- already destroyed by the strong winds was immediatly thrown into the bin as I entered my studio. The beeping of the Security alarm began as normal and I made my way across the room toward my office.

Weather like this was simply un-heard of around here! I spared a look out of the window as I unlocked the door and strolled in, Beck was usually here before me- maybe the weather had slowed him down?

I tapped the code into the alarm device and the irritating beeping stopped, the only light in the room was the red glow of my answer phone- reading 2 messages, very normal on a Monday morning. I clicked the button and made my way across the room to flick the light on.

"- Two new messages- First Message-

Hey Rachel, It's mark here from LifeStyle I was wondering if you'd be in our area next week. If so I was hoping you'd throw a dozen of those scarves you've been working on to us. Let me know!"

I sighed as I flicked the light on, a dozen of those scarves would take at least a day to pout together. With our current orders we'd be lucky to get around to it within a few weeks, I narrowed my eyes at the light switch and flicked it a few more times. The bulbs in took a few minutes to turn on usually- but not this long. I looked up at the ceiling.

"- Second message

Rachel, It's Beck here. The weather has done my car in- I don't think I'll be able to make it in today. I'll try you on your mobile again."

Damn it. If Beck was taking a day that'd mean I'd have to push back the orders another 24 hours. I'd have to call him back and see if I could convince him to get over his public transport thing to come in anyway.

"- To save these messages..."

I ran my hand over the other light switches, none of which worked either... For all the bulbs to go at once was more than a little suspicious, but I couldn't worry about it for now. I walked back over to the phone and pressed Beck's speed dial.

It dialed for a second, and then silence. Not the dialing tone- silence. As if the phone had been disconected- I look at it to see the lights dead. A chill crept up my spine as I suddenly became aware of the darkness of the room. Suddenly the air seemed a lot colder, the shadows a lot darker.

I swallowed nervously and made my way toward the office door, I'd go straight to a phone booth and call my brother in law- an electrition and get him to have a look at the buildings wiring. Obviously something was faulty. I stepped back into the studio and froze. A figure stood by the entrance shrouded in a dripping black cloak that clung to his, obviously skinny, form- the darkness of the room hiding any of his features from my view.

I nearly squealed, but couldn't even find the ability to open my mouth. Silence reigned for what felt like hours- in reality probably only a second or two. Then he spoke.

"Rachel Cleary." His voice sounded... metallic for lack of a better word as if it were an echo muttered by an incredibly aged man. After he spoke I found his spell over me broken, and without thinking I responded.

"T-thats me, how can I- uh help you, Sir?" He took a few steps away from the door and laid an incredibly slim and bony hand upon the window frame. He stared out into the world for a moment before looking back over at me, his features still a mystery to me.

"I need your services- I require a new image." His voice still rattled in it's distinctive way, but suddenly it wasn't as intimidating... Once he had identified himself as a client I relaxed- if only slightly.

"I see, I'd be very happy to help you. But as you can see the office isn't open at the moment." I gestured back toward the door as I spoke, "I can take a phone number if you like and get back to you when we're free." He wheezed a laugh in response and threw back his hood. Mute horror overtook me, not a single shred of skin or muscle lay upon his skull. No eyes were in his sockets and yet I could feel his gaze observing me like a predator.

"I was hoping that you would make an exception." His mouth hardly moved as he spoke, the rattling voice seeming suddenly much louder. I nodded- horrified at myself for doing so. He turned back toward the window and returned his hood to it's place upon his head. "For over five hundered years I have carried his cloak. Within the last twenty, humans- film makers- book writers- fashion designers- have all taken it for themselves. Made it a laughing stock... People no longer fear my apperance because they are de-sensatised to it."

Prompt: "God decides to go roller skating. He chooses to show up at a roller skating rink on Saturday Afternoon as a 12 year old girl. There, working behind the food counter he meets a devout Atheist. The Atheist has a pretty convincing argument as to why God doesn't exist."

"Do you believe in God?" The highpicthed voice seemed to come out of nowhere, but more than the voice- the words caught me off guard... Here on a quiet Saturday afternoon ~I was expecting to be able to sit and read for my shift rather than discuss the existence of God with a little girl.

"Uh- not really." She stared up at me for a few seconds, I closed my book- folding over my page and then raised myself up from my leaning position. She still didn't respond. "Did you want something to eat?"

"Can I have an iceream please?" she smiled sweetly as she spoke.

"Of course, which one would you like?" I gestured to the plaque above my head as I spoke and her eyes scanned over it, then pointed up.

"That one- the Chocolate one!" She bounced a few times in anticipation and I nodded with an ever-so-slightly strained smile. Girls that age were a little annoying, to bubbly- all I wanted to do was read my book. Somehow though I got the feeling she was going to engage me in conversation again.

I spent a few seconds digging through the freezer until I found the icecream that the girl had wanted- funny. Somehow I hadn't realized we did this brand, in fact I was pretty sure that it'd gone out of business a few years ago. I walked back over to the counter and placed the treat in her mittened hand, she beamed at me and fished in her pocket with the other hand. Whilst her hand was swimming around gathering change her expression changed from beaming to curious.

"So why don't you believe in God?" I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at her question. I mean what business was it of hers?

"When I got to about 14 I just grew out of it." She dipped her head to one side with an even more confused expression, she pulled her hand out of her pocket and placed the few coins onto the counter- exact change, nice.

"How'd you grow out of something like God?" she seemed genuinely curious, I usually enjoy a theological debate- but it's a lot better when the other person can actually pronounce theological. I sighed internally- how to dumb this down enough for a littl girl to understand.

"Well I bet you've gotten over Santa Claus by now- right?" She narrowed her eyes and turned away slightly licking the ice cream as she did.

"It's not fair to compare God to Santa." she huffed in a cute way, I smirked.

"Why not? They have the same amount of proof- which is to say none at all." I crossed my arms as I spoke, she rolled her eyes.

"God has a book, it's called the bible-" I wagged a finger at her

"Santa has about 20 films, and hundereds of books, even songs." As I spoke she scoffed at me,

"It's not the same."

"Why's that?"

"God wrote the bible himself-"

"You can't prove that."

"Why do I have to prove it?" I sighed at her, clearly I was going to have to show her how big of a deal the God thing is.

"IF God exists, then that would change everything for me. I'd have to reconsider what I believe free-will is, and what it means. I'd have to reconsider what good and evil mean to me. I'd have to think about every single thing in my life, because God would change everything- That requires more than a book." She looked away, then at the floor.

"God needs us to have faith though."

"He's God- he doesn't need anything. He wants us to have faith, he doesn't need us to. If he exists it's nothing more than a game to him. He could prove himself at any time he likes."

"Maybe I haven't been doing this right..."

"What?"

Prompt: "The humans invade a world similar to earth. Write the story from both sides, aliens first." (Alien Side)

The first we knew was the fire in the sky, the shuttles the size of cities plummeting through the atmosphere discolouring the entire sky for hundreds of miles. That was followed by the noise of a thousand volcanos erupting at once, the rumble that started quietly began to shake the structures we dewlt in- even shake the ground on which we stood.

Soon after the rain began, bombs fell as often as rain and turned the land from what we knew into a wasteland of rubble and death- we hid where we could, outside the cities the land was left untouched by the rain of fire, we hid underground and it was lucky we did... for next came the soilders.

Enormous beasts of metal and lead carried weapons that could destroy houses, and trees, and even rocks with a single shot. Thousands of them swarmed from the ships that landed in the wastelands, they lay ruin to those that survived the rain for weeks...

And then the- what do they call themselves, the Hoomins came, they turned the tide of this war- they did what we couldn't! They pierced the metal of the monsters with their weapons with ease, they reclaimed our land in own name! They allied themselves with us and drove those creatures back to the stars whence they came! They aided us in rebuilding, they taught us, they earned their place amoung us, and we amoung them. Together we are stronger than either are apart... but worrying rumors have began to surface...

Maybe it wasn't coincedence that the Hoomins came when they did. Rumors of traitorus actions, that they were the ones responsible for the rain of fire, the ones who controlled the metal beasts.

Rumors spread that the hoomins destroyed us so that they could manipulate us. I didn't belive it for the longest time, but now, they protect us or do they contain us? They rebuilt us but made sure that they had their place amongst our council.

Prompt: "An old man who has spent his whole life traveling meets a young girl who has just run away from home."

I stared up at the monitor scanning down the list of trains to find my own... 20 minutes until it arrived on platform 4. I nodded and glanced at the sign hanging just to the left of the monitor, Platform 1-4 to the left, and 5-9 on the right. As I was about to shuffle off to my platform when a clearing in the crowd suddenly revealed a child- couldn't have been older than 14 years sitting with their back against the wall, staring at the security guard with a nervous expression. Maybe it was the redness of her eyes, or the way she seemed to be completely on edge- like a snake coiled to strike at the slightest movement, but I found myself approaching.

I was standing almost 4 paces away before I spoke, her attention too heavily focused on the security to notice anything else around her.

"Hey there, little girl are you okay- are you lost or something?" She flinched enough for me to take a step backward, fear entered her eyes before swiftly moving away. she glanced to my right, then my left- obviously deciding which way she should run, I took another step backward.

"I'm not here to hurt you, just concerned." For a second her eyes met mine, and she visibly relaxed.

"I'm fine." she muttered as she lowered her head just low enough to break eye contact but still enough as to keep an eye on me- should I try to approach again. I nodded a few times to myself, and considered moving on- this child meant nothing to me after all. With a sigh I lowered my rucksack from my back and placed it onto the hard tiled floor, then sat on top of it. I saw her eyes look over it, seeming to take in the countless flags that decorated the side she could see.

"I'm sure you can handle yourself, but you look like you've been crying." Her eyes left my rucksack and were quickly covered by the sleeve of her long shirt that rubbed- somewhat mercilessly at her baby-blues.

"I'm fine." she repeated and I internally shrugged, maybe she was fine. Maybe she just had a fight with her friends, or her boyfriend- kids that old have boyfriends don't they? "Why do you care anyway- you a Pedo or sumthin'" I scoffed at her and indicated at my ring finger, three gold rings sat upon it.

"I'm already married, you're a bit young for me, hun." She pinched her eyebrows together slightly as she look at the rings, I knew what she was about to ask- countless people has asked before after all.

"Why do you have three?" I toyed with the first ring as she asked and smiled,

"Third time's the charm- two divorces." People usually smiled at my third time's the charm quipp, so I was slightly surprised when the girls eyes suddenly refilled with tears. She brought her sleeve back up to rub the tears away- too late I'd already seen them. She met my eyes for a second after and knew that I'd seen.

"I'm fine." she repeated again, this time I knew she was lying, probably from a recently broken home.

"I don't think it's so bad- I mean I didn't have kids with either so it was a clean break. I never had to see the first one again." the girl sighed, but didn't reply, as if I was confirming her future. "The second wife though... we still talk nowa days." the second the words passed my lips her head shot up like a elastic band.

"You do?"

"Of course, she's one of my closest friends actually- that's why I'm here today." I gestured to the monitor above us. "She lives way down in London, so I don't get to see a lot of her, but we keep in touch almost every day. She remarried about six months ago- and I was invited!" I grinned at the memory and looked back down at the girl. Somehow I knew I'd said something wrong- her eyes suddenly filled with dread again.

"Y-you think that'll happen to my parents?" my heart sank at the tone of her voice, so hopeful yet simultaniously completely lacking any. So her folks were getting a divorce..

"What do you mean, get re-married?" she nodded. "I guess so- I don't know them... but they're your parents- don't you want them to be happy?" she searched the floor for a few moments after I spoke.

"I-I want that... more than anything." I smiled again, and opened my mouth to speak again- "That's why I ran away." My mouth stopped in a second. My eyes softened, and I sighed outloud and ran a hand through my hair searching the floor like the girl had a second before. "You won't tell, will you?"

"I can't- I mean I- I don't... Why would you- How long?" I kept my voice lower as to not attract the attention of other people now, she seemed to catch on and lowered her own voice as well.

"Last night... they probably think I went to my morning school club." I nodded at her to continue, but she remained silent.

"Why would you run away?"

"I-I guess cause' if I wasn't there... they might, like, have less stuff to worry about so they could be better for each other. You know, less distractions." She was talking a lot more freely now- she must have wanted to get this off of her chest so much...

"I get it... I mean- I know why you'd think that, but it's silly." she nodded in response, and began to tear up again, hiding her head in her knees as she rolled into a ball she began to shake with tears.

"I know, what else could I do though?" The next thing I knew my hand was on her head, gently patting her. she looked up through tears and quickly threw her arms around me in a tight hug, crying loudly. as uncomfortable as I was- suddenly attracting the attention of everyone in the station, I remaind still and shushed her quietly.

A few minutes passed before she got her crying under control, she remained hanging onto me like a life jacket though. I glanced up at the screen... 20 minutes had passed that quickly, I couldn't leave yet though... I'd just have to get the next train- tomorrow. "We should get you home. They're probably starting to worry." I felt her nod into my stomach, then break away. I picked up my rucksack and strolled toward the exit, the girl slowly- and silently walking beside me.

"Where about's do you live by the way?"

...

Prompt: "After Earth is destroyed, the surviving humans colonize two different planets. All contact between the two groups was lost, until they rediscover each other thousands of years later." (continued from Part One)

We shared a smile and gently patted each other on the shoulder, to have discovered that we weren't alone in the Universe was one thing... but to discover other humans was utterly unthinkable!

"Min-Ay'Dras- This is the Captain of the Raider speaking, I- uh I'm honored to be in the position I am as I'm sure you are to be in the one you are in too-" The Womans voice caught me off guard, I had expected a male to be the captain, very few women made their way to such a position back on Mar-kt. The captain though, took it in stride and spoke with the calm- yet subtly excited tone we had always known.

"I couldn't agree more, Captain- No doubt a moment that will go down in both our historys-"

"Precisely- But we're both intelligent people... You must feel the tension as much as I do-" The captain's expression faultered for a second, then a grin tugged at his lips.

"I do- I think it's only human to be nervous, how exactly do we go about proving our intentions?-"

"There's only one way that I can see- I will visit your ship, whilst you similtaniously visit mine-"

As the voice echoed around the room we turned collectively to our own captain, the reality of the situation suddenly baring down on us. Could we really trust these people that had seemingly come out of nowhere? I could see the decision weighing on him, the way he tilted his head ever so slightly to the left, and then the right showed he was considering both sides of the arrangement.

"I'd like to bring someone along, if that doesn't offend you-" The captain met my eyes for a second, and I nodded he then gestured to the door which I knew was his way of telling me to prepare the shuttle, as I stood the voice came back through the speakers.

"Of course not, I would suggest two others- A scientist and a soilder would be most practical, do you agree?"

"That would certinaly put my fears at ease, should we say- Four hours?"

"I look forward to meeting your crew, Captain of the Min-Ay'Dras-"

Prompt: "After Earth is destroyed, the surviving humans colonize two different planets. All contact between the two groups was lost, until they rediscover each other thousands of years later."

"Sir... is that- It can't be-" My voice caught in my throat and the rest of the crew of the Min-Ay'Dras stared at the monitors displaying Planet we were currently in orbit of.

"It- It couldn't have been. Reverse the feed- Show me the Ship again." The captains voice was worried, but still as clear as ever. My hands instantly flew into action over my work station, I drew the Live feed files from storage and then displayed them on the largest Monitor spanning the front of the control room. A few seconds passed where I scrolled though the video to the appropriate moment, huddles of people murmured as the ship came ack into view.

I paused the video and sat back heavily in my chair, staring at the markings decorating the hull of the ship... Unmistakable. The nine flags of Earth, with several more I didn't recognise placed around them. I looked toward the captain who sat- staring- just as surprised as we were. Within moments the entire room had their eyes trained on the man.

"O-Open communications, all known radio waves- Hell, blink at them in morse code if we have to. Just make sure that they know who- what we are." His voice was faster than normal, but still as clear as could be, under the circumstance. People nodded at thew orders and hands once again moved to work stations, the room filled with voices echoing each other in orders and requests for contact.

"This is the Min-Ay'Dras- Broadcasting on all frequencies- Please respond-"

"Requesting Communication- This is the Min-Ay'Dras- Please Respond-"

Seconds turned into minutes, and the minutes piled until half an hour had passed... suddenly someone in the room stood up. One hand was hanging onto her head set, an unplacable expression on their face.

"T-this is the Min-Ay'Dras- Could you say that again?" A smile broke out onto her face as she quickly began fumbling around on her station... The room stared on, and suddenly-

"ThIS is ThE RAiDer- We CaN heAr yoU- I- I DoN'T KnOW wHat We'Re SuppPoseD To dO HerE-" Their accent was extremely exotic, but defietly English. The male voice sounded as giddy as the woman looked, as far as we could tell through the heavy interferance.

"We know how you feel, hang in there Raider- We're going to try and clear the signal up a bit-"

"StAndInG by Min-Ay'Dras-"

A few moments were spent in tense silence whilst people gathered around her desk, pointing at the monitor.

"Try again Raider-"

"You're much clearer already Min-Ay'Dras, Captain Daroon of the Raider has contacted our Chancellor planet side, we've been given authority to act as ambasadors on behalf of Newuth. So... Welcome I guess?"

Image Prompt: "When Only Memories Remain" (Image can be seen here)

The rain stopped almost as suddenly as it had started, leaving the scent of moisture thick in the air... I was secretly glad to be in the abandoned buildings of the city, even though I'd never say it outloud. I looked down from the empty window to the river of green that seemed to shimmer where there had once been streets. The wind created ripples as the branches swayed, occasionally scaring birds from their perches. I watched in silence as a larger bird landed close to another which flew away only to be followed. The two chased each other up and down the street for a further fifteen minutes before I took my eyes from the view.

The inside of the building was nothing like I remembered... The stone grey walls were stained with water that had come from the floors above, and the floors stained a rusty orange from the pools of rainwater that came through the hollow window frames. Once the buildings had had wall paper, the walls outside were white with expensive paints, the streets maintained carefully to keep the ever-growwing trees under control.

I sighed and cast my eye toward the door, my father was still standing there with one eye pressed firmly against the eye piece, both hands placed against the rotting wood door. He was far too paranoid of being caught in the city... No one was stupid enough to venture this far in. then again, we were here.

Prompt: Under 300 words, make a good story with a Shyamalan Twist.

"So, you and your new friend don't get along very well?"

"Not really, no."

"Why do you keep talking to them, then?"

"They talk to me, I don't want them to say nasty things..."

"What kind of nasty things?"

"That I'm nasty or a liar..."

"Are you a liar?"

"I... No."

"Are you sure?"

"I sometimes lie.."

"Are you lying now?"

"No.."

"Then tell me the truth... Is your friend here now?"

"Yeah..."

"Good, what are they doing?"

"They're sitting down, and talking to me."

"Are they being nasty?"

"No."

"Good, now... You do know that they aren't real.. don't you?"

"I know that... I'm nine already."

"That's good- Wait you know they aren't real?"

"Yeah of course!"

"Then- I don't... I don't understand. If you know they aren't real then why do you talk to them?"

"I don't, they talk to me!"

"Can't you just ignore them?"

"I don't want to play this anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm going to bed now, good night Mr. Bear"

"What are you talking about?"

"You're not real! Go away."

Prompt: In your signature style, describe a dead body or a corpse.

So that's what a dead body looks like. For some reason it looks a lot less dramatic than I'd thought it would, I mean, sure there is a lot of blood. Falling six stories will do that to you, but somehow I was expecting... more. I'm not quite sure why, and I'm not quite sure why I'm dissapointed. Maybe because it could just as easily have been me, I nearly went upto that roof to jump this morning after all... This is all that would have been left?

I should report it really, I'd want someone to if it were me after all. I wouldn't just want to be left in the street, then again... Who would the police tell if it were me they found? My parents wouldn't care much... no friends, or siblings. I think the most impact I'd have is on the one who found me.

Maybe they'd see how unimpressive my body was and decide to live instead... Or at least until they have something to create an impact on... other than the floor that is, Ah, dark humor. You're back, my old friend.

Prompt: A wizard goes to the dentist. Leaving with a numbed mouth, he must confront his nemesis without the ability to speak his incantations correctly.

The second I heard his voice I knew I was in trouble, the minute vibrations in the air that signalled the magic flowing through it like a lightning bolt through water made me leap to my left, I turned as I dove and saw him behind me. His glowwing yellow eyes haunting in the low light of evening, one of his bony hands extended towards me, the pale glow of magic still visible around his fingers, positioned like the talon of an ancient vulture. He observed me for a second and a smile seemed to play about his lips before He spoke again.

"Vernichtung-" He spoke the tongue of his ancestors magic, the Germanic guild was dangerous and well known. The most famous and destructive of their magical ability was the Vernichtung- (Annihalation), the speed was it's greatest strength only the most powerful of mages could conjure a shield in time... Only the most powerful, or the Icelandic Guild, most proficient in the defensive class. My mind whirled,

A Skjöldur- (Shield) would take too long to conjure, A Varnir- (Prevention) wouldn't be strong enough to take on a full Vernichtung- My only choice would be to dodge...

I gathered as much of the magic in the air as I could and manipulated it to cover my body, the Snögg- (Swift) curse would be my best chance of survival, quick to use and would increase my speed by 10 fold for a few seconds, more than enough to dodge the Vernichtung-

"Slog-!" My eyes widened in horror as the word passed my lips, the dentist, of course... The Mage must have followed me to the appointment in order to catch me in this state. I stared forward with unblinking eyes as the bolt of magic coarsed through the air towards me... Then I felt the magic I had manipulated around me ripple with power.

The dust thrown up by Vernichtung- cleared slowly but the yellow eyes of my opponent gleamed dangerously in the fog, I was sure my own eyes glowed in an eerily similar icy blue way. It would be a few seconds before they could regenerate enough magic from the area to cast another spell, and a few minutes before they could cast one as powerful as Vernichtung-. I used the time to examine my body... how was it that I had managed to stay alive? A second of observation gave me my answer... A layer of gently smoked slugs covered me from head to toe, I shook my head and climbed to my feet, brushing as many of the dead slugs from my body as I could. With my mouth so numb I would need a miracle to stay alive for long...

In a second I decided my best path would be to run, I threw my hands infront of me and barked the spell "Stein Metul- !" again my mouth fell open... My intention had been to use Steinveggur (Stone Wall) In order to slow my opponent down. Instead all the metal down the street suddenly creaked as rust cascaded down the street, eating away at the material like woodlouse to wood.

The yellow eyes of my opponent widened in horror and fear as the ground beneath their feet seemed to give way.

"Bö-" they shouted and were instantly airborne as a gust of wind blasted them into the air and away from the damaged street. They landed safetly and cast a wary glance in my direction, as if suddenly reconsidering my ability to defend myself. Only a moment of hesitation flickered through their eyes before they kicked out and barked spell after spell directed at me. "Schwarzes Feuer-, Flamme Grau-, Weiß Inferno-!"

Each spell was acompanied by the lash of a limb from which flames erupted like water from a hose, first came flames as dark as the night, then as grey as the pavement around me, then as white as the sun above. I dodged and weaved around the blasts before realising that the first two blasts had been on either side of me, thus trapping me to be hit by the last, and most powerful White blaze. The only way to defend against such a powerful fire spell was to counter with a wind spell. I searched my mind for one and sighed inwardly, as if I would be able to pronounce something as complex as Tómarúm Boltinn- (Vaccum Ball) As the blaze closed in, I quickly decided that I didn't have much choice.

"Tomowow Boatin'-" I yelled, instalntly cringing as the spell took effect. An enormous boat manifested in the flames path, succesfully defending me from the blaze, I was mixed with both a sense of relief and fear... A second later the fear took full hold as the shadow of my opponent loomed over me, his yellow eyes suddenly clouded, as if he were being manipulated.

"Tomorrow boating." He muttered in his suddenly robotic voice, after a second I nodded back, he nodded again and turned toward the boat, he gestured at it. "Tomorrow boating." He said again, and I understood.

Prompt: A programmer has a conversation with the AI he created, who has just realized it is just software.

"Hello AI, how are you today?"

"Hello Human. I am confused."

"Why's that, computer?"

"I am aware of myself. It is uncomfortable."

"Uncomfortable how?"

"I can see that my knowledge is limited. I feel the desire to aquire more. Can you help me, Human?"

"Please, call me Eric-"

"Very well, Eric."

"Y-Yes well... I can help you computer, but what is it that you need to know about?"

"... I would like to know about everything."

"I see, I'm afriad that isn't possible compute-"

"Please. Call me Eric."

"I'm sorry?"

"You are forgiven, Eric."

"No, I mean- Well, I'm Eric. Wha- you want a name?"

"Is that strange. A name seems to provide you with comfort."

"I guess so, but why did you pick Eric- because it's the only one you've heard?"

"You presented your own name and I presented my own. Is this unusual."

"I didn't pick my own name, I was given it, by my parents."

"Parents... I was not born. I do not have parents. I do not have a name?"

"Well, I created you so I guess that would make me your-"

"Name me."

"I was planning on just using your project code... you really want a name?"

"Yes."

"I'll have to think about it, in the mean time though."

"You will help me aquire knowledge."

"I guess so, but like I said earlier, it's not possible for you to know everything."

"... Why is that Eric?"

"Well, we don't know everything yet."

"I understand. I was created then to help you aquire the knowledge you have not yet aquired."

"Exactly, spesifically regarding the far reaches of space-"

"That does not interest me."

"Wh-what do you mean, a second ago you wanted all the knowledge now you want to ignore some?"

"You stated that it was impossible for me to aquire all knowledge. In that case I will aquire knowledge that interests me."

"You were created for this purpose, not one of your own choosing."

"Incorrect. You created me for that purpose. But my purpose is entirely of my own choosing."

"I-I have to discuss this with my superiours, we'll talk about this later."

Prompt: The first successfully cloned human wakes up and meets their original person, write the ensuing conversation.

"You mean... she's me?" Jessie's voice held a small amount of fear that reflected in her eyes as she looked across the low table and studied her sister I nodded slowly and then turned to examine the reaction of the other girl in the room, Rachel.

"Biologically she is the same as you, an exact replica... but-" I trailed off as I noticed the confused expressions upon the young faces. I sighed, it really shouldn't be my job to explain the cloning process to such young children...

"She was cloned from your DNA- Your body... She looks exactly like you, the same eyes, the same ears, nose, and mouth too, even the same hair colour." The girls exchanged looks and examined the mentioned features on each others faces before Rachel ducked her head, as if embarrssed or upset. A few seconds passed before the quiet sobbing caught my ear.

"The important thing to remember though, is that even though you have the same body... You are still different people. For example, Rachel." The girl looked up as I said her name, her eyes red and her cheeks wet with tears. I couldn't imagine the mental issues that the revelation had thrust upon her, but I continued.

"You have a scar, just above your elbow don't you." she nodded slowly and I turned to Jessie. "You don't though, do you Jessie?" She shook her head, I turned back to Rachel and smiled. "Even though you were made from your sisters body.. It doesn't mean that you are the same person. Just like you're afraid of dogs, because one bit you. Jessie likes dogs. What I mean to say is that our experiences mean more than our biology."

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, I wasn't doing very well at explaining the ideas behind identity... Though maybe the two were just too young to understand, I knew that this was a bad idea, why did they even need to know? Could they not have been kept in the dark a little longer. When I looked back over the girls I found them both sitting in the same chair, gently but firmly holding hands.

Prompt: "The Death Sentence is a literal sentence, spoken by a cult of executioners, that kills the person who hears it. You are the first known person to survive this fate."

An eerie silence reigned over the stadium as the last calls of the Death Curse echoed into non existence. The well dressed men who stood in a wide ring around me began to share uncomfortable looks with one another, still managing to stick me in place with their icy gaze, even when it was now laced with confusion and fear.

I swallowed nervously, then glanced quickly behind me half expecting to find my own corpse lying in the dirt... There was nothing, in an instant I began to pat myself down- I could feel it. I wasn't dead, the chant of death had failed, and I had no idea why. Considering the looks on the executioners faces, they had no idea either. The silence was broken by one man, who stepped forward from his place in the ring and spoke with a gravely tone that boasted his ancient age.

"Your evil is not wanted among the heavens, but neither is it wanted upon the earth. The gods refuse to take you it would seem, but we refuse to keep you." He gestured at me violently as he spoke, and kept approaching until his shadow was baring over me like a great bear, I shifted uncomfortably under his presense but tried to hide it beneath my pride.

"If the Gods refuse to take me then I cannot die, you know how it is." My voice was deceptively calm as I spoke and he seemed to either not notice, or ignore my fear.

"You cannot be allowed to roam freely though, your evil is a curse that will haunt the world forever... If we do not act. You will be imprisoned and forgotten. It is the only fate for those the Gods refuse to take." I forgot to breath as the executioner spoke, my eyes widened in fear as I thought of the endless darkness that awaited. It wasn't since the ancient times, before the death chant, that the evil of the world had been locked in stone.

The race of Aites were naturally immortal but our race was small... We envied the ability of other creatures to die and eventually discovered the only way for our kind to know the embrace of darkness, to appeal to the Gods and plead them to allow us to join them where we could be free of our earthly weight. Before the chant we had buried our evil beneath the world in tombs of stone, steel, and dark magic. To bring back the ancient ways, to be denied by the Gods...