G: Gas Giant Predicament- Flash Fiction

photo credit: Giove and Europa via photopin (license)

“Ok, so how would we build a colony on a gas giant, assuming the gas giant has some sort of solid ground.” Edward asked the rest of the team sitting around the long table.

 “Why not just look for a more solid planet?” Darren asked.

“What if the crew needs to land for repairs or an emergency and they have no alternative?” Celia suggested.

 “Really?” Darren rolled his eyes.

 “Yes really. Our team is going to be out there for years, they’ll need to have contingency plans.” Edward replied.

“Ok, so lets say they release an inflatable bubble out of the air lock.” Joe suggested.

 “What, like they would an inflatable raft?” Edward asked.

“Sure!” Joe answered “We could realistically package a space dome small enough to stow somewhere but big enough that they could begin building their more permanent shelter inside.”

 “Ok, but how would they repair their ship?” Celia asked.

“Why not have a plastic bubble, zippered air lock?” Andy suggested.

 “Big enough to drive the ship through?” Darren asked.

“Sure!” said Andy.

 Edward walked over to the drawing board to peruse their list of possible materials.

“Ok... but where would they get the materials to build their more permanent station?”

“Perhaps, they don’t build the more permanent station unless it looks like they will have to stay there. Otherwise they could just move the ship inside and live in the ship.” Darren said.

 “Do we think we can find a material that will stand up to whatever storms may be on the gas giant? What about acid rain?” Edward pointed out.

 “I know who to ask about that.” Joe volunteered.

 “Ok, you see to that Joe,” Edward double checked the board again, “What does everyone else think? Will this plan work?”

Nods from all four of the other members satisfied Edward.

“Ok, so we have the story line, can we do all of this on our budget?”

 “I’m more worried about how we are going to make the gas giant storms look realistic using just green screen technology!” Andy exclaimed.

Today's post was inspired by the letter G. G is for: Gas Giant  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 think their plan would work on a real Gas Giant? Why or why not? What would your plan be?

As always... if you have something that starts with the letter H that you would like me to try to incorporate into tomorrow's short story, I'm always open to suggestions!

F: Fire- Burned Into Memory- Flash Fiction

photo credit: Agni- The Fire God- Free Texture
via photopin (license)

The stars around Davis swirled as he attempted yet another run through the asteroid field. It was important to maneuver the ship around the asteroids quickly to keep from getting hit. He could see the edge of the field in front of him. He was almost out!

Suddenly his skin felt dry and hot. Flames flickered in front of his vision. Pain shot through his extremities. The smell of burning flesh and plastic assaulted his nose.

Cummon Davis! It’s just in your imagination. You KNOW that. You can push through this! He thought to himself.

A few more asteroids later and the pain became so intense that he lost his focus. One wrong move and he found himself careening into the nearest rock. His vision went dark and the smell dissipated, but the pain didn’t.

 Light rushed into the cockpit as a technician opened the simulator’s hatch.

“You almost had it that time Davis! Good Job!”

“Almost isn’t good enough if I get my ship destroyed and its cargo lost again!” Davis growled.

 He climbed out of the simulator and left the technician staring at him as he left.

 They called it PTSD. Nightmares and visions of being burned alive had plagued him ever since the accident four months ago. Until he passed the simulations without a hitch he wouldn't be allowed to fly a shuttle again. Sure, being a pilot wasn't the only thing he could do but even a job on base was proving difficult to keep with these visions creeping up on him at the worst moments.

He neared the Kitchens just as the fire alarm went off. Hearing shouts from the kitchen he charged through the door and grabbed two fire extinguishers from the wall. A grease fire had started on the grill and set the fryer alight as well. The roaring flames reached the ceiling. The kitchen staff had jumped back but the fire was too hot for them to get close enough to turn on the fire suppression system.

Davis jumped into the fray and passed one of the fire extinguishers to the nearest staff member. He pulled the pin on his own and they both suffocated the fire in foam. The station’s firemen ran into the kitchen just as the fire was dying out. Seeing the fire was under control the firemen clapped Davis on the back.

“Man, we are always looking for more brave souls who would like to take on firefighting if you’d be interested!”

Davis shook their hands and politely left the men to their work. It wasn't till he was on his way back to his quarters that he realized that he hadn't had any issues that time. Even though he was face to face with the fire he had stayed in control.

Control, maybe that was the key, he thought. Perhaps the fire didn't concern me because I knew I had something to fight back with!

Today's post was inspired by the letter F. F is for: Fire  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.



As always... if you have something that starts with the letter G that you would like me to try to incorporate into tomorrow's short story, I'm always open to suggestions!

E: Eggs, Hard Boiled or Alive?- Flash Fiction

photo credit: Dragon Egg via photopin (license)

“When are your cousins coming over for the Easter egg hunt?” Jimmy asked.

 “They should be here in an hour or so.” Henry answered.

“Do you have the eggs?”

 “Sure do!” Jimmy patted his backpack.

The two teens entered the cargo bay through a set of sliding doors. Henry looked at all the metal cargo containers and shelves of supplies strewn throughout the room.

 “The captain said that this would be the best place to set up the egg hunt,” Henry explained.

 “He was right, this is a perfect spot!” Jimmy said, setting his backpack on one of the containers and pulling out two paper bags full of eggs.

 “Hand me one of those bags of eggs.” Jimmy tossed one of the paper bags to Henry.

 “Whoa man! Watch out! You’ll break them!” Henry shouted.

“Relax! They are hard boiled.”

Henry opened his bag and pulled out one of the eggs.

“Did you have these dyed?” Henry asked.

“Um no... was I supposed to?” Jimmy asked, preoccupied with hiding his own set of eggs on the other side of the cargo bay.

 “I guess they’re ok. Where did you get these from?” Henry pondered the third speckled egg before he placed it behind a cargo container.

 Jimmy eyed the white hard boiled egg in his hand, “Um... the galley, where else?”

 “Hmm, ok, I’m done? How about you?” Henry asked.

 “Yup me too!” Jimmy said jumping up from behind the farthest container and followed Henry out of the cargo bay.


 The two teens returned an hour later with three of Henry’s youngest cousins, multi colored baskets swinging in their hands.

“Ok guys! Go find the eggs!” Henry announced gleefully as the doors swished open.

 The three kids rushed into the cargo bay and ran off in all directions. Little shouts of joy and excitement could be heard as one by one the kids found the eggs. When they could find no more they ran back to Henry and Jason to have them counted.

 “Looks like there are still more out there guys,” Henry said eyeballing the baskets and their all white eggs.

 The three kids looked at each other in excitement before running off to find the eggs again.

 After a few minutes the excitement turned into confusion.

“There isn’t any more, we looked!” The older of the three kids insisted.

 Determined to show the kids that they weren't looking hard enough, Henry walked over to a spot he knew he had hid one of his speckled eggs in.

“See look! There’s one right...”Henry froze.

 The egg was gone.

 “OOOh! Eggie!” The youngest of his cousins squealed.

 “Did you find one?” Jason asked.

 “Um, no. It rolled that way.” The older of the three kids pointed.

Confused, Henry headed in the direction that the egg had rolled, hoping to find it.

What he found instead where a dozen creatures clawing through their speckled shells! He ducked as the creatures spat acid at him and narrowly missed him.

 “Run!” Henry yelled!

(This post is inspired by my three year old who, after we dyed the Easter Eggs, decided to ask me where the babies were. -pointing to the Easter Eggs- I was struck with the sudden realization that he knows that some babies come from eggs, and we were about to eat these eggs tomorrow! Oh the HORROR!)

-petrichor
Posted by Doctor Who Real Hard Core Fans on Sunday, April 5, 2015

Today's post was inspired by the letter E. E is for: Eggs  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 like eating Easter eggs? Do you eat both the white and yellow part?

As always... if you have something that starts with the letter F that you would like me to try to incorporate into tomorrow's short story, I'm always open to suggestions!

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!