D: A Writer's Musings On Death

Today it's late. We've been preparing for Easter stuff all day, decorating eggs, and hiding eggs this evening that I just don't have the time to come up with a sci-fi short for you guys today. I'm terribly sorry. I'll be back to my regularly scheduled flash fiction pieces Monday with the letter E.

Anyhow... today on the eve before Easter (well it's 1am here so I guess it is already Easter- whoops) I wanted to discuss death. Namely two points.

First, once we finished decorating the Easter Eggs my three year old comes up, points to the eggs, and asks where the babies are.

I swear I have no clue how my THREE yr old knows that any sorts of babies come out of eggs- I'm not even sure if he was thinking about chicken eggs. I was primarily mortified that we were going to eat the eggs tomorrow and he's thinking there are babies inside. EEP! 

So I just let him know that no, there are no babies in these eggs. These ones are for eating.

Why, was his next question. Well folks, I'm not about to go there. I just repeated that these ones are for eating.

So, of course, that led me on to thinking about how we first learn, while we are little, about what life and death is. We are sad when we are told our batteries are dead. I have seen people wonder how kids handle a death in the family. Trust me, if they can understand batteries dying than they understand the immensity of a loved one dying.

Some people cry at funerals, some people don't.  Each person has their own unique views on death. Perhaps they are happy or relieved because that person is no longer in pain. Or maybe they think that person has been reborn. And I guess it's just because it is one in the morning but suddenly I realized something else. Spock was reborn... wait, Spock... Star Trek... 

Star Trek has some weird ways of handling death as well!

"He's Dead Jim."- Dr. McCoy, Star Trek 

Oh, we will just stick you in a torpedo tube and launch you into space to the tune of taps. Never mind your family back on Earth or whatever planet they live on. We will send them a video letter letting them know.  How come no one visits grave sites to talk to their loved ones or to leave flowers any more? How did we get so far advanced that this aspect became lost completely.

You can'd blame it on lack of space. It's not like the ship shrank when that person dies. Have you seen the holodeck? They have room to keep a sealed coffin somewhere till their next docking. Ships like Voyager, facing a 30+ year mission home? Ok we can cut them some slack. But how come Spock got the torpedo tube? (Maybe I missed that reasoning in the movie) Why didn't Spock's body get kept so they could deliver it to Vulcan? Of course, then he never would have been reborn. But yeah.

Anyway- I'm sorry for having only the ramblings of a tired writers mind to give to you all today. I promise to write up something cool for Monday though!
Today's post was inspired by the letter D. D is for: Death in Space  as part of the Blogging from A to Z April 2015 challenge! Click on the letter to join on in the fun!

Every day (excluding sundays) I will be writing a post about something that begins with the letter for that day. Most of the time you will find a sci-fi flash fiction piece here.

For Readers: Do you have something that starts with the letter E that you would like me to try to incorporate into monday's short story? I'm always open to suggestions!

For now- I'm heading to bed!

Happy Easter Everyone! Thanks for putting up with my musings today.

C: Captains Copper Pot- Flash Fiction

photo credit: turkish coffee pot via photopin (license)

The hatch hissed as the seal between the station and the Nebre opened allowing our two new passengers to cross the threshhold.

“Welcome onto the Nebre,” I said. “My name is Perry, I’m the co-pilot. This here is our ship’s doctor, Thorton.”

“Nice to meet you sir, I’m Colin Whithers, this is my wife Lauren.”

By the way she clung to her husbands arm, the man’s wife looked very intimidated by the Nebre. I shook 

Colin’s hand and nodded politely to his wife.

“The Nebre is the safest ship around. She’ll get you to Andromeda in one piece Ma’am.”

A familiar whistling to my left alerted me that my captain was headed this way. Mrs. Whithers gasped as she saw the captain for the first time.

“Is there something wrong with your captain?” She whispered to Dr. Thorton.

“Now why would you think that?” My captain said, gallantly tipping his hat and bowing to his newest guests.

“Well, why are you wearing that on your head sir?” Mrs. Whithers asked pointing to my captain’s hat.

“Ma’am this has been passed down in my family for years.” My captain replied flashing Mrs. Whithers a smooth smile. ““Make yourselves at home, we should be nearing Andromeda in the morning.”

The captain tipped his hat once again and headed back to the front of the ship.

“Did you really have to ask the captain about his ‘choice of headwear’?” Collen asked his wife once they were behind the closed door of their quarters.

Lauren cocked her head at her husband.

“Didn’t you think it was odd!” Lauren asked before placing her suitcase in the corner locker.

Collen shrugged.

“What the man chooses to wear doesn’t bother me.” Collen answered. “What difference does it make?”

“Um, because he might just be nuts and he’s the one flying this ship!” Lauren answered.

Collen shoved his bag in beside his wife’s in the locker before turning to look at her.

“I’m hungry, do you want to go get something to eat?”

Lauren shrugged with a long sigh and a roll of her eyes and followed her husband down to the Galley.

Inside they found an old style kitchen stove and a long wooden table.

“Huh.” Lauren said.

Collen looked through the cabinet above the stove and found a dehydrated bag of beans and franks.

Lauren grabbed a pot from the table, filled it with water and dumped in the beans and franks.

Within minutes the aroma had filled the Galley.

“Wow that smells good! Is there enough for one more?” The captain asked as he entered the room.

“Sure!” Lauren replied, setting the pot onto the table for everyone to enjoy.

“Why are there beans in my hat?” The captain asked eyeing his steaming hat on the table.

“Sir, It’s not a hat its a copper pot!” Lauren objected.

“Oh, I know that!” The captain said with a wink. “The beans should be in our bowls not in my hat!”

Today's post was inspired by the letter C. C is for: Copper Pot  as part of the Blogging from A to Z April 2015 challenge! Click on the letter to join on in the fun!

Every day (excluding sundays) I will be writing a post about something that begins with the letter for that day. Most of the time you will find a sci-fi flash fiction piece here.



This post is ALSO part of the 52 week flash fiction challenge on facebook
Week 2 word prompt: Pot
Word Limit: 20- 500
This one tops out right at 494 words.

For Readers: What other things would you be willing to use a pot for besides cooking? Could you wear one like our eccentric captain here?

B: Bedtime In Space- Flash Fiction

photo credit: P1070326 via photopin (license)

The end of a long day, it's finally bedtime, Andrea floated over to her sleeping bag on the side of the space station.

"I'm ready for a good nights sleep!" Jack said, zipping himself into the sleeping bag on the opposite wall.

He was asleep within minutes.
Andrea hung inside her sleeping bag trying to calm her restless mind, trying to get comfortable.

I liked sleeping on my stomach on earth, maybe it would help if I turned towards the wall.

Andrea turned over inside her sleeping bag just to realize that the problem wasn't the way she was turned but more because she didn't have the bed to snuggle onto or the blankets weight around her. They had warned her that the first night could be like this. They had even sent her and Jack with medicine to help them get to sleep.

Mom always told me, if you start down that path you run the risk of always needing pills to get to sleep. But what do I do!

Andrea thought for a few minutes, examining her surroundings. Lights from various control panels blinked softly back at her and a few objects still floated around the room. A pen still tied to it's string had come unvelcroed from its place on the wall, and apparently one of her socks had managed to get left behind when she packed away the day's laundry.

UGH, maybe that's why I can't sleep. Aundrea thought.

She unzipped her sleeping bag and floated over to the pen and sock putting both of them back where they belonged. As she shut the sock back inside the clothes cabinet she suddenly came up with an idea.

Maybe it is the weight of the blankets I am missing which is why I can't get comfortable enough to fall asleep!

Andrea floated up to her clean laundry cabinet and dragged out a few shirts and pairs of cloth pants. She pushed them over to her sleeping bag and zipped herself halfway in. She stuffed her pants and shirts down inside the bag and around the inside of the sleeping bag's hood before zipping the bag back up around her.

AH! Andrea rubbed her face against the shirt balled up beside her head. This is more like it!

Within moments she was fast asleep.

Andrea woke to Jack's laughter the next morning.

"What's all this?"

Andrea looked him over through bleary eyes.

"How did you sleep?" She asked.

"The meds got me to sleep but I kept waking up all night." Jack admitted. "This sleeping in space business is going to take some getting used to."

"Well I may look like the stay puffed marshmellow man, but I slept great last night!" Andrea said with a cheeky smile.

Andrea unzipped her sleeping bag and unleashed all her shirts and pants to float through the cabin as she pushed away from the wall.

"It may look silly but I might just have to try that tonight." Jack laughed.

Today's post was inspired by the letter B. B is for: Bedtime  as part of the Blogging from A to Z April 2015 challenge! Click on the letter to join on in the fun!

Every day (excluding sundays) I will be writing a post about something that begins with the letter for that day. Most of the time you will find a sci-fi flash fiction piece here.





For Readers: What do you do to help you get to sleep in a new environment? 


Here's some fellow bloggers I have visited today:

B is for Book Characters or Blackmyst 

B: Beethoven’s fifth- the meaning behind the music

All Things Geeky

B is for Boxers (no not those kind of boxers)

A is for Aussies


Stop by and leave some encouragement! This blogging challenge can be very daunting!

A: Acid Rains Of Enzor- Flash Fiction

photo credit: IMG_3640 via photopin (license)

Jody walked along the creaking halls of her ship inspecting the damage. She wasn’t sure how much time she had left but she knew it wouldn’t be long. The engines were damaged beyond repair in the crash and the acid rain in Enzor’s atmosphere was quickly eating through the hull. Jody knew her suit would offer her some protection from the acid but it wouldn’t last long.

To be burned alive by rain. Jody shuddered.

Ahead of her the metal of her ship had twisted and deformed before rending itself in two during the crash. The rain fell like a haze through that gaping maw and sizzled as it ate away the metal floor below. She eyed the damage warily and used the light on her suit to make sure she was well away from the rain.

I could make a run for it and try to find some caves somewhere. Jody thought.

She reached out and gently touched the side of her ship, the sensors in her gloves allowing her to feel the walls as though she wasn’t wearing any gloves at all. She could feel the sensations of the ship sizzling through the walls as the acid ate away at the metal outside.

Yeah, that sensor would have to be shut off if I ventured outside!

Making one last sweep of the hall she headed back up towards the cockpit of the ship where the least damage was. The airlock and the environmental controls still worked there. Even still, in the center of the ceiling a rusty colored circle was starting to form over one of the dents. The roof here wouldn’t last much longer, and when it gave way there wouldn’t be many other spots on the ship to hide.

Jody sat in her seat in the cockpit and unlocked her helmet, pulling it off and shaking her hair free in one movement. She yanked a metal box from under the console and unlatched the top. Inside lay a days worth of rations. The rest of her rations had been destroyed when the rust collapsed the living quarters a few days ago.

Jody eyed the rusty circle above her head and noted with dread that condensation had already started to form. She decided to pack the rest of the rations in the pockets on her pants leg just in case. She tore open the last ration pack with her teeth and hastily ate the ration bar.

No sense in good food going to waste.

Another ominous groan from the ship around her was joined by the airlock failure and the hull breach alarm.

Crud! Jody hissed between her teeth as she hurried to lock her helmet back on her head.

Jody backed away as the acid droplets fell from the ceiling with a sizzle.

A pinging sound on the console told her that her buoy had been received.

“If they get here in time,” Jody mumbled, “I will never complain about the rain again!”

Click the A to join the fun!

Today's post was inspired by the letter A. A is for: Acid  as part of the Blogging from A to Z April 2015 challenge! Click on the letter to join on in the fun!

Every day (excluding sundays) I will be writing a post about something that begins with the letter for that day. Most of the time you will find a sci-fi flash fiction piece here.





For Readers: Would you make a run for it and try to find better shelter or try to wait it out on the ship like Jody?

Blog posts I visited today:

A: Arizona Sunset

On Art

A Man For All Seasons

http://www.birdcagefreelance.com/ But they didn't have their challenge up yet- looks like an interesting blog though.

A: All About Dog Shows

Stop by and leave them a word of encouragement... posting every day can be a big challenge!

The Burning Emblem- Flash Fiction

photo credit: lanterns via photopin (license)

Angela’s hands slapped against the cold steel wall as she ran headlong into cobblestone alleyway. Shoving away from the wall, she barely managed to evade the light from her pursuers lanterns.

Just a little farther!

She turned down another alleyway to her right just to be met with total darkness.

Wait, what?

Angela’s breath froze in her throat as she peered into the inky blackness in front of her.

A dead end!

She whirled around. Two men illuminated by a single lantern now blocked her only means of escape.

“This’ll teach you to run!” A voice behind her jeered.

Angela heard the swish of the rope seconds before it coiled itself around her legs and pulled taunt sending her sprawling to the ground. Rough hands surrounded and restrained her despite her best efforts to yank herself free.

“Check her ankle for the mark!” A venomous voice commanded from the darkness.

The lantern bobbed closer, allowing Angela to recognize the rough twisted faces of the very men who had burned her parents’ estate to the ground just weeks ago. A bearded man snatched back the cuff of her stocking revealing the royal shield and burning arrow emblem branded into the side of her ankle. Angela tried to twist her foot free from his grasp only to be met with pain in her arms as the men at her sides tightened their grip further.

“Don’t let the criminal escape!” The venomous voice spat.

“It’s her, Argyle.” The bearded man announced.

“Congratulations men! This flailing cur has a price on her head that outweighs any of the traitors we have caught this month! Bag her up, we’ll deliver this one back to Urshelon tonight!”

Urshelon? The platforms must be active again if they’re taking me off planet! Angela’s mind wheeled in alarm.

“I’m no traitor! I’ve lived on Erasted all my life!” Angela shouted.

One of the brute’s slapped a film across her mouth sealing in her protests while they pulled a scratchy burlap bag over her entire body. A hiss and sting in her arm told her that she wouldn’t be conscious for the trip.

Angela woke on the floor of a dimly lit room. The man with the beard shredding the last of the ropes around her legs with a sharp dagger. Angela eyed the dagger warily.

“Good, you’re awake!” The man whispered.

His trembling hands hurried to cut through the ropes binding her ankles and wrists.

“You don’t have long. The clothes on the chair may not be in fashion for a lady of your station, but they will help hide your identity well enough. Leave through the window, hurry and you won’t be noticed!”

The bearded man yanked Angela to her feet and pushed her in the direction of a chair on which a mans tunic and pants lay. The man left quickly and a key clicked in the lock. Angela looked back at the pants and beyond those, the cracked open window beyond which lay her freedom.

500 word Flash Fiction
In the world of Sword Of The White Knight

Do Aliens Exist?- Flash Fiction

photo credit: PhoTones Works #2996 via photopin (license)

“How can you be a Christian and not believe that aliens could exist!”

Crystal remembered rolling her eyes at her brother’s sermon. He was a man of great faith, the leader of the Jupiter station congregation. She, well she just knew that she believed that God existed and didn’t really want to think very much further about it all.

She stepped closer to the inhuman drawings carved into, and covering the entire length of the cave wall, every step sending tiny billows of lunar dust rippling away from her.

“How come?” She remembered demanding in defiance. “The bible doesn’t say anything about aliens!”

“The bible doesn’t say anything about airplanes either, or space ships, now does it!” Jacob had argued back.

He knew she would just see that as him deflecting from her comment.

“You know what I mean Jacob! Be serious. If God created aliens why have we not seen them?”

“Crystal, we aren’t supposed to know why God does what he does. Perhaps the aliens are so far out there that they can’t reach us. Perhaps God wants them to develop without us influencing them. Perhaps he doesn’t think we are ready yet.”

“Huh! That’s a lot of perhaps’ Jacob! More fact and less speculation! Our scientists have been hunting for signs of intelligent life out here for eons and still nothing!”

Her triumphant yet combative tone from that comment rung in her memory and left a bitter taste in her mouth now. Crystal reached out and touched a portion of the cave image that seemed to be carved in a much harsher method than the rest.

Suddenly the walls lit up around her, and the dust blew away to reveal a perfectly smooth glassy black floor. The hair on her arms tingled as though she was covered by static electricity. Terror coursed through her as she realized that she couldn’t move.

The last words from her brother’s sermon echoed in her mind, “If God created us, who are we to say that he didn’t create other beings on some other far away planet?”

Footsteps echoing from somewhere deeper in the cave sent Crystal’s mind whirling and her heart pounding.

What do I say?
What could I say!
There’s no possible way they could know earth standard! You just HAD to go exploring on your own didn't you Crystal!

Crystal gasped for air.

Come on Crystal! Get a grip! You know your space suit still has oxygen. Breathe! 

The approaching footsteps suddenly sounded so close and they changed from dull thuds to clinks from the newcomer’s feet touching the now smooth floor. Crystal’s lungs finally gave up when the newcomer placed a blue four fingered hand on the shoulder of her suit. She static field released her before she was ready. She crumpled to the ground...

Perhaps Jacob was right, we aren’t ready yet. Was Crystal’s last thought before she fell unconscious.




This post is part of the 52 week flash fiction challenge on facebook
Week 2 word prompt: Sermon
Word Limit: 20- 500
This one tops out right at 487 words.

Readers: How do you think you would react if you were suddenly faced with real life aliens? Would you be shocked? Scared? Would you panic? How would you communicate with them?

Trying out Disqus

Hey guys, I WAS trying out Disqus comments on my blog (which is what this test post was for). Long story short... I've taken it down. I much prefer to allow bloggers that don't want to sign in a way to comment using their name/e-mail ALONG WITH their url.

• This helps because I like to go check out and follow their blogs too!
  
• That added url ability is also a way for google to see that you, the commentor, are trusted because I am allowing you to post your link to your site on my blog. Just another way I like to share the love!

 Disqus, so far, only lets guest commentors (those who don't want to sign in) comment with just their name and e-mail. (Buzz kill)


On an added note: I also just realized that if you are viewing this post on the main blog thread it isn't very clear how you can add your own comments to the post.  You will need to click on the blog title to bring up the stand alone blog post page in order to find the comments.

For those that visit my main blog thread instead of getting here through a direct post link, perhaps it would be better for me to go ahead and drop the direct post link at the end of the post:

  Click to comment.