SciFi Short Stories
#78 – Abundance
The Six year old girl plucked another apple from the tree, her thumb stroking the firm green flesh and sweeping droplets of water from the skin.
She looked into the garden. Trees were laden, heaving with fruit: rows of vegetables were blooming, leaves reaching towards blazing lightbulbs, far above. The glass biosphere stretched on and on. It was Eden and she was Eve.
The wasteland had blackened the boy’s skin. His hands stroked at his arms as he swayed in the frigid cold beyond the dome, watching the girl through the glass.
She waved as she bit into the Apple.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Image by Cosmic Timetraveller via Unsplash.
Today’s One Word Title comes from Jemma Gross, artistic director of Epsilon Productions – an award winning theatre company based down in ol’ London Town. You can read more about her at http://www.jemmagross.com/ or find her on Twitter @JemmaGross. Thanks Jemma!
Don’t be shy: I’m accepting new one word titles all the time. Just pop your word in the comments with your name or tweet it to me @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory.
#74 – Mimetic
“Go ahead, Senator.”
The scientist was gesturing to the wall, smiling proudly. Gingerly, Senator Steele pressed his palm to the glass.
A wave of light instantly slithered over the surface, melting and shifting into a perfect copy of Senator Steele’s face. The scientist was almost clapping in his excitement.
“Go on,…”
“I am Senator Steele,” the politician stated.
I AM SENATOR STEELE the computer replied, in perfect mimic to the Senator.
“Is that all it does?”
Behind the glass, banks of microchips were thinking.
I AM SENATOR STEELE. I AM TARGET NUMBER ONE. DELETION WILL OCCUR IN SIX DAYS.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Verne Ho via Unsplash.
Today’s One Word title was donated by award-winning TV writer and author Robert Shearman. If you’re a Doctor Who fan you’ll know him as the scribe of the 2005 story “Dalek” and a number of Big Finish stories, including my personal favourite “The Chimes of Midnight”. Thank you Robert!
Robert suggested his title on Twitter and you can too – just tweet it to me @timaustin2k
See you tomorrow for “Plunge”
#57 – Recovery
Amber lights flicked, cutting through the darkness and splashing against the grass of the verge. The tow-truck driver sucked his lip, his hands balled at his waist.
The car was there. It was running. There seemed to be nothing wrong with it except the absence of a driver.
“Hello!?”
The driver called into the treeline, his voice struggling over the thundering roar of traffic.
“You called for a tow?”
There was a rustle in the grass. The driver looked down.
Laying at his feet was a smartphone. A video was playing on the screen.
“Oh god,…. they’ve come for me again,…..”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Sergey Zolkin via Unsplash.
Today’s One Word title was suggested and donated by composer and violinist Adisha Kariyawasam – his second suggestion for the OWOS project (yes, you can suggest more than one word!)
You can read “Violin”, the first story that he suggested, by clicking here.
YOU can suggest your own word: just pop it into the comments or tweet it to me @timaustin2k.
If you’re enjoying the stories, make sure you’re sharing the joy 🙂 I’ll see you tomorrow for “God”.
#52 – Tyrant
The coffee made the General smile: a small taste of home, so far away. He gazed at the hologram of his wife and kids, watching them smile and laugh as they petted the dog. Their hair danced silently in the breeze as the recording repeated again and again. The General sighed.
His concentration was broken by a cough. A Sergeant stood by the desk, a pad in his hand.
“Yes?”
“Today’s execution orders, Sir.”
He looked at the insect-like faces of the prisoners and sneered. His thumbprint sealed the fate of each. Women, children; traitors.
His hologram family kept smiling.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo Image by Nasa via Unsplash.
If you’d like me to write you a story based on a word of your choice, pop your word in the comments section below or tweet it to me @timaustin2k using the hastag #onewordonestory.
If you’re enjoying the stories, please let me know, share them with your friends and follow the blog here and at the OWOS Facebook Page.
#19 -Tendrils
Colonel Anderson jumped as the beast slammed its snaked arm against the splintering glass. His hands shook as he lifted his wrist to his mouth, spitting breathless commands to the rest of his platoon. He had to stay quiet: the alien saw the world in sound. It knew he was there on the other side of the bulkhead. It knew. He hissed a second order but it was no good,… they were gone.
“Aaaand I think we’ll call that Lunch, Colonel,” boomed a female voice. “That’s the Tenth simulation you’ve screwed. But don’t feel too bad,… it’s Pasta Wednesday”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Photo by Matthew Hicks on Unsplash
If you get it, you get it. And if you do, let me know! If you’re enjoying the stories, hit that follow button below (if you’re on WordPress) or like the OWOS Facebook page. Oh, and share it on Facebook and Twitter 🙂
Tendrils was suggested by my old sparring partner John “Bobby” R Wilkinson (Esquire): Associate Artist at York Theatre Royal and all-round top bloke!
If you want to suggest a word, pop it in the comments or Tweet it to me @timaustin2k using the hastag #onewordonestory.
Browse a few more stories and I’ll see you tomorrow for “Particles”!
One Word, One Story 