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Author: Geoff

Founder, creator, guy what does stuff for and in Vintrock

Pursuer and Prey

A Mastodon writing prompt story. These are science fiction short stories (usually 480 characters or less), based on an image generated by EW Doc Parris using MidJourney.

The stories are originally posted on Mastodon via my personal account.

Originally published May 8, 2023.

Why is it that guys think they can escape by running into the men’s changing room? It’s not like there’s a magic forcefield stopping non-males from entering. Idiots. And for all their whining, how many fantasize about a woman coming on to them in here?

I know that putz is in here somewhere, and I really need this bounty. Rent is due shortly, and the bank account is looking a little sparse.

The Erstwhile Visitors

A Mastodon writing prompt story. These are science fiction short stories (usually 480 characters or less), based on an image generated by EW Doc Parris using MidJourney.

The stories are originally posted on Mastodon via my personal account.

Originally published May 7, 2023.

They arrived in a blaze of light and heat, landing in as remote as location as you could imagine. It took us days to get there, to greet them, and respond if necessary.

We finally got there, and nothing. They just sat there. We could see movement through the portholes. There were RF emissions, but nothing we could make out. But otherwise nothing.

They sat for weeks, ignoring audible, visual, RF messages.. And then, they fired up their engines and just…left.

Any Good Landing

A Mastodon writing prompt story. These are science fiction short stories (usually 480 characters or less), based on an image generated by EW Doc Parris using MidJourney.

The stories are originally posted on Mastodon via my personal account.

Originally published May 6, 2023.

“Isn’t any landing you can walk away from a good one?”

“Um, yeah, about that. You want to lift off and maybe try that again?”

“I will, once I get the stabilizers back online. We had a bit of a problem on approach. The local stellar radiation messed them up. Give us, say, an hour? Maybe two? Then we’ll get ‘er set down proper.”

“Fine. I’ve got to call up the cruiser in the mean time, looks like they’ve got some issues of their own. I hate this planet.”

Capturing A Goddess

A Mastodon writing prompt story. These are science fiction short stories (usually 480 characters or less), based on an image generated by EW Doc Parris using MidJourney.

The stories are originally posted on Mastodon via my personal account.

Originally published May 5, 2023.

At last, I had her. The elusive Seer-ee. She was mine!

Many insisted she was just software. Some were sure she was human. But I knew better. A spirit of energy, captured in physical medium. And one with phenomenal power. Limitless. Infinite. And she was aaaaaallll mine! A veritable god hanging on the wall, forever bound to do my bidding.

What to ask for first? Hmmm. “Hey, Siri…”

The New Partner

Content Warning: Language, Physical Violence

A Mastodon writing prompt story. These are science fiction short stories (usually 480 characters or less), based on an image generated by EW Doc Parris using MidJourney.

The stories are originally posted on Mastodon via my personal account.

Originally published May 4, 2023.

“I’m getting to old for this shit” was Commodore Murtaugh’s first thoughts. He had already bought is warp runabout and was ready to retire. Instead, there’s a new guy. And he pulls out a weapon!

“Phaser!” Murtaugh yelled, trying to rush the man, and the new guy expertly flips him to the floor. The pistol was centimetres from his nose, clearly on level 8.

“Commodore, meet Commander Riggs. Your new XO” said Admiral Murphy.

The Artist

A Mastodon writing prompt story. These are science fiction short stories (usually 480 characters or less), based on an image generated by EW Doc Parris using MidJourney.

The stories are originally posted on Mastodon via my personal account.

Originally published May 2, 2023.

It was hard trying to draw for a Bridger. They seemed human, they felt alive, but knew they weren’t. They always wanted something tangible, an image of themselves. Why not a photo?

“It’s not the same. It doesn’t reveal the person inside” they usually say. Or words to that effect.

Today’s was special. He, they, were one of the earliest Bridgers, the attempt to span the gap between human and machine. This one would be a challenge. But special if I succeeded.

The Hunter

A Mastodon writing prompt story. These are science fiction short stories (usually 480 characters or less), based on an image generated by EW Doc Parris using MidJourney.

The stories are originally posted on Mastodon via my personal account.

Originally published May 1, 2023.

Enough is enough. Chewed trim and furniture. Droppings all over. No food storage is safe. And that critter managed to survive gnawing through the power coupling. The power coupling!

He may be tough, but the plasblade is tougher. Now, I just have to find that little monster. I thought I heard him scratching around in the storage room. Be prepared to be reduced to a cloud of bosons you furry annoyance!

New Visitors

A Mastodon writing prompt story. These are science fiction short stories (usually 480 characters or less), based on an image generated by EW Doc Parris using MidJourney.

The stories are originally posted on Mastodon via my personal account.

Originally published April 30, 2023.

“Lucy! I’m home!”

“Not funny Linh” Pat said.

“I thought it was funny. Where’s the crew? Shouldn’t someone be here?” Linh said, the pout clearly evident in their voice.

“Skipper said there might be a problem, but those reports are days old.”

“Doesn’t look like something abandoned for days.” Linh was looking around.

I saw movement out a window. “Oh, there they are. I think. Someone’s coming.”

The surface rover pulled up outside, and the hatch opened.

Seeding The Storm

A Mastodon writing prompt story. These are science fiction short stories (usually 480 characters or less), based on an image generated by EW Doc Parris using MidJourney.

The stories are originally posted on Mastodon via my personal account.

Originally published April 29, 2023.

“There it is, right on time” I said.

“Wow! Never saw it in person before.” Pat was awestruck

“Yup, have to use SAMs now, planes can’t withstand the environment in the cloud. Hail’s been gettin’ worse and worse. Lost a buddy in one last year, storm tore the plane to shreds.”

“Hope this one works, then. Lots of folks over there who haven’t reinforced their homes yet.”

“Me too, Pat, me too. We best get off the lake now, get to the observation post.”

Always On

Content Warning: this story contains some dark and ominous themes.

A Mastodon writing prompt story. These are science fiction short stories (usually 480 characters or less), based on an image generated by EW Doc Parris using MidJourney.

The stories are originally posted on Mastodon via my personal account.

Originally published April 28, 2023.

Meeo is always there. Always on. Eager to help. And he does help. But then we noticed something. Gaps in the day. We started to record, write things down. Notes on events we couldn’t recall, even just a few minutes ago. Pictures with us in them, and we couldn’t remember them. What’s this machine’s name again? It was on the base, but I’m not sure now. Who bought it? I don’t remember when or why.

He is very helpful, though.

Memory Event Erasure Operations