Ended BYC Writing Prompts! A Short Story Contest

[Sally PB]

Ok, Wow, am I messing this up!

Title: We Are Done Here

I'll edit my entry to add it.

Id love to see the rest of the book !

Thanks. But it's just a story for this contest.

 

[Shabby Chic-Hens]

Ok, Wow, am I messing this up!

Title: We Are Done Here

I'll edit my entry to add it.


Thanks. But it's just a story for this contest.

You should turn it into a book

 

[Sally PB]

You should turn it into a book

Thank you. But I can't write that sort of thing in a book length form. I did manage a murder mystery novel. (Unpublished)

 

[Isabella6Storm4]

Prompt: Sci-fi/fan-fic
Title: We Drop in Five
“We drop in five!” The team leader yelled.
Everybody reached down and flipped on their lights, checked their helmets, and took their weapons off safety.
Each SOEIV (Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle) gave a strong jolt as it detached from the ship. I felt weightless as I plummeted through the atmosphere and towards the surface of the planet.
My team fell beside me, and I could see the fire trailing their drop pods as we neared the ground.
The top panels detached, slowing the fall slightly and breaking free. The braking rockets did the rest.
The voice of Major Kasterson crackled over the communications system, “We make contact with the ground in 3…2….”
My pod crashed into the planet and the door blew off. My helmet’s front visor polarized and without thinking twice I ran out into the thick of battle.

The sounds could have burst my eardrums if it wasn’t for my gear and the heat from the plasma flying left and right could have burned the flesh off the bones.
I wasn't the least bit scared though, because this was what I was trained to do, this is what I had signed up for and if I could help save earth it would be worth it, whatever the cost.

“Carter,” one of my team buzzed over communications “Press back to the canion! We can make a stand there while evacuating the civilians!”
I ducked as a grenade sailed over my head, sticking to a nearby rock and exploding in a bright flash of plasma, the shockwave throwing me back.
A roar sounded behind me as a tall, formidable alien leaped over a flaming tree trunk and landed where I lay. Its armor was shiny and white. He, I assumed it was a he, seemed to be breathing hard as his four bony mandibles, which made up his mouth, swayed in and out rhythmically. I could not move as my foot was pinned under a large stone.
The Elite reached down and unfastened a handle from his upper thigh. He jerked his hand and a bright, blue blade extended from the weapon. He stepped forward and raised his blade.
“NOOOOO!” Came a shout as one of my team leaped over the tree trunk and grabbed the elite’s arm. He pulled on it with all the strength he had in him.
I sat up and rapidly began kicking the rock with my other leg, fighting for freedom, fighting for life.
The struggle between man and sangheili continued as I scrambled to my feet and lunged to grab my weapon. I picked it up and felt for the trigger, my fingers fumbling around until they found it and latched on. I swung around to aim for the enemy, but saw my team mate laying on the ground clutching his chest, the sword in the now free hand of the elite. He let out a deep laugh and kicked the body away. I pulled the trigger, it was jammed.
The alien ran towards me, but this time I was ready.
As he swung his sword, I ducked and grabbed onto the back of his armor pulling myself up onto his back, and in one quick moment, I dealt the final blow. The Elite collapsed to the ground.
I put my weapon on my back and dropped to my stomach. I scrambled over to the fallen man.
“Silas!” I urged blinking the tears away “Silas! Say something! That’s an order!” I pulled his helmet off.
“Carter,” He cracked a smile “I guess you were right about—” He coughed, “right about me not lasting a day in the…” he trailed off.
“Nononono,” I put my head on his chest. “You’re gonna make it!”
Remembering my can of bio-foam, I rapidly unsnapped it from my belt and squeezed the thick, white foam into the damaged armor.
“There, that’ll hold you together until evac arrives,” I said.
Silas grabbed hold of my hand and placed in it two metal tags on a short chain. He closed my hand around them.
“Tell your beautiful wife and daughter that Uncle Si sent you home,” He smiled and amid the chaos and the noise, the smoke and the battle, a hero gave his last breath.

As I stood on the observation deck of the UNSC Endurance, staring out at the millions of stars, it was hard not to think about that day. I clenched a pair of dog tags tightly before tucking them away.
“Lieutenant Colonel,” a marine walked up and gave a salute, “We require everyone to report to their battle stations.”
I gave a nod of acknowledgment and he walked away.
In front of the ship, several Covenant Cruisers shot out of slip space and began to float slowly towards our ship.
I strode away from the glass and took a lift to the upper levels.
In the hangar bay I found an empty FSS-1000 Sabre and climbed in. Checking my flight gear and oxygen levels, I finally closed the top and the Sabre began to slide along into position.
“Soldiers!” a voice crackled over the intercom system, “We drop in five!”




That waaaasss....855 words

Edited to say that i do not own the rights to anything Halo referenced in this short story as It is kind of fan-fic and thus i have used objects and words from the game franchise.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

Hey @OhZark Biddies (my favoritist story teller)
STORY TIME!

I ain’t spinning yarns for cash prizes like BYC calendars…

I’m just telling things the way I might or might not have heard them.

Also there is this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/calling-any-one-from-missouri.73271/page-1654#post-26808746

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I ain’t spinning yarns for cash prizes like BYC calendars…

I’m just telling things the way I might or might not have heard them.

Also there is this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/calling-any-one-from-missouri.73271/page-1654#post-26808746

Another Zarkian lore story!
You need to write a book.

 

[LhickenChicken]

Title: No Light Without Darkness
Prompt: Fanfic
**This is Star Wars fanfiction, so I don't exactly own the rights to any terms used in this story. This is part of a bigger fanfiction story that I plan to write. Also, this takes place in a coal mine on the deserts of Tatooine.**

A shrill scream pierced through the darkness of the mines. Mira’s scream. It was coming from the topmost level of the mine. Astra ran, almost shoving the other slaves out of her way. Some of them backed up to make way for her, for they knew that their attempt at rebelling against the slave master had failed.

She burst onto the top level, completely unnoticed by all, where Lumena and Mira were. Mira was lying on the ground, panting heavily. Lumena, with a tender, sisterly look on her face, was kneeling over her.

“What happened?” asked Astra, trying not to scream.

“Chip,” panted Mira.

“Wha—oh,” realized Astra. All of the slaves had chips implanted in the back of their necks. If they disobeyed, or went too far from the mine, the chips exploded, killing them. “If that’s the case…” she trailed off.

Lumena sighed. That meant yes.

Anger drives the mind to do unwise things, to make the offender repent. These actions never work, and ultimately leads to one’s own demise. It brings you down because the mist of anger in your mind obscures all wise action. It brings you down because you do not listen to that still, small voice within.

And this is exactly what Lumena did.

Hoisting herself up with a weary determination in her eyes and picking up her pickaxe, she did the very last thing that Astra expected her to do.

She charged toward the slave master, pickaxe in hand and anger in her eyes. Anger for him having killed her sister. Anger for taking the one whom she loved away from her.

Lumena was closer now. Three feet. Two. One. She raised her pickaxe above her head, ready to strike the slave master –

And was met by the whip lashing out and snaking around her pickaxe, yanking it out of her hands.

The slave master laughed with an evil tone that sent shivers down Astra’s spine. “You. Little brat. You think you could’ve taken me down with that pick?” he said, still cackling, this remark being addressed at Lumena.

“You killed my sister!” shouted Lumena angrily, her clear blue eyes aflame with determination to bring down this cruel individual who had kept her and two thousand more hostage for all of her life. “Now you have to pay for all this – ” she pointed at the dead slaves, at least a hundred of them lying on the ground; Astra, kneeling by Mira, who was still barely alive and fighting for her last breaths – “all this that you have done. Even if I have to give my own life to save theirs.”

The slave master looked around the mine, quaking with anger. “Then you will die,” he growled, raising his whip again.

Astra tried to turn her attention back to Mira, still gasping for breath, in so much pain. She tried not to look back at Lumena, bracing herself for excruciating pain.

But she couldn’t.

And then, it happened. It passed quickly, but it felt like forever to Astra.

Lumena, crying out in pain.

Astra, through the blur of tears, trying to make her way over, to try to save her. She threw herself between Lumena and the slave master – her soft brown eyes suddenly sharp, her long, wavy brown hair flying behind her – and then she did the last thing anyone expected.

“Stop! Please!” she cried, raising her right hand.

The slave master, shocked at the conduct that a seemingly docile seven-year-old slave showed him, dropped his whip. He picked it up, gave Astra a withering look of extreme contempt, and walked away, visibly shaking.

There. That was done.

“Come on, Lumena,” Astra pleaded with her motionless, but breathing, sister.

“I can’t move,” croaked Lumena. “Move me. To Mira.”

Although seven, Astra’s strong, capable arms could carry very heavy loads, but still had trouble with Lumena. She half-lifted, half-dragged her over to where Mira lay – still, miraculously, alive.

With the strength she had left, Lumena clasped Mira’s hand. “Together then,” she said. Mira nodded, too weak to say anything.

Sometimes, the slaves’ chips were misplaced, leading to a messy kill, and therefore, those victims could stay alive, albeit in pain, a while longer. Mira was one of those people, and, as a pinprick of light out of the darkness, came Astra’s gratitude that she was alive a while longer.

After a period of silence Lumena whispered, “Portia Libertad.” Open the door to freedom.

“What… What do you mean?” asked Astra.

“You need to lead everyone on. To freedom.”

“H-How?” Astra stuttered. “I can’t. I’m only seven.”

“You have the ability to do so. I know you. You will do it.”

Another few minutes of silence passed. Minutes of thought for Astra. Minutes of waiting for death for Mira and Lumena.

And then, Mira spoke.

“Can we sing?”

So they sang the only song they knew. It was the song they sang before they tried to escape. The song that had led to the deaths of Mira and Lumena. The song that gave Astra hope.

Out of dark, out of doubt, to the day’s arising

Comes Liberty, her sword unsheathing

To cut men free from bondage chain

That freedom may come forever to reign.​

And then, as if they had planned it, Lumena and Mira drew their last breaths, and then were never again to be seen in this world.

Astra’s world, then, was plunged into darkness. She was supposed to free two thousand slaves. By herself. How, though? She felt so terrible that she wanted to trap herself in one of the tunnels and then starve to death. That would be infinitely better than taking all this on.

Surrender is the key to victory. The words flashed into her mind. Then she remembered a way that she could help them. She had a tool, kept secret from everyone except Mira and Lumena.

And, suddenly, the paths were before her. Liberty or death. Joy or sorrow. The choice was hers.

So, Astra chose freedom.

 

[LhickenChicken]

Title: No Light Without Darkness
Prompt: Fanfic
**This is Star Wars fanfiction, so I don't exactly own the rights to any terms used in this story. This is part of a bigger fanfiction story that I plan to write. Also, this takes place in a coal mine on the deserts of Tatooine.**

A shrill scream pierced through the darkness of the mines. Mira’s scream. It was coming from the topmost level of the mine. Astra ran, almost shoving the other slaves out of her way. Some of them backed up to make way for her, for they knew that their attempt at rebelling against the slave master had failed.

She burst onto the top level, completely unnoticed by all, where Lumena and Mira were. Mira was lying on the ground, panting heavily. Lumena, with a tender, sisterly look on her face, was kneeling over her.

“What happened?” asked Astra, trying not to scream.

“Chip,” panted Mira.

“Wha—oh,” realized Astra. All of the slaves had chips implanted in the back of their necks. If they disobeyed, or went too far from the mine, the chips exploded, killing them. “If that’s the case…” she trailed off.

Lumena sighed. That meant yes.

Anger drives the mind to do unwise things, to make the offender repent. These actions never work, and ultimately leads to one’s own demise. It brings you down because the mist of anger in your mind obscures all wise action. It brings you down because you do not listen to that still, small voice within.

And this is exactly what Lumena did.

Hoisting herself up with a weary determination in her eyes and picking up her pickaxe, she did the very last thing that Astra expected her to do.

She charged toward the slave master, pickaxe in hand and anger in her eyes. Anger for him having killed her sister. Anger for taking the one whom she loved away from her.

Lumena was closer now. Three feet. Two. One. She raised her pickaxe above her head, ready to strike the slave master –

And was met by the whip lashing out and snaking around her pickaxe, yanking it out of her hands.

The slave master laughed with an evil tone that sent shivers down Astra’s spine. “You. Little brat. You think you could’ve taken me down with that pick?” he said, still cackling, this remark being addressed at Lumena.

“You killed my sister!” shouted Lumena angrily, her clear blue eyes aflame with determination to bring down this cruel individual who had kept her and two thousand more hostage for all of her life. “Now you have to pay for all this – ” she pointed at the dead slaves, at least a hundred of them lying on the ground; Astra, kneeling by Mira, who was still barely alive and fighting for her last breaths – “all this that you have done. Even if I have to give my own life to save theirs.”

The slave master looked around the mine, quaking with anger. “Then you will die,” he growled, raising his whip again.

Astra tried to turn her attention back to Mira, still gasping for breath, in so much pain. She tried not to look back at Lumena, bracing herself for excruciating pain.

But she couldn’t.

And then, it happened. It passed quickly, but it felt like forever to Astra.

Lumena, crying out in pain.

Astra, through the blur of tears, trying to make her way over, to try to save her. She threw herself between Lumena and the slave master – her soft brown eyes suddenly sharp, her long, wavy brown hair flying behind her – and then she did the last thing anyone expected.

“Stop! Please!” she cried, raising her right hand.

The slave master, shocked at the conduct that a seemingly docile seven-year-old slave showed him, dropped his whip. He picked it up, gave Astra a withering look of extreme contempt, and walked away, visibly shaking.

There. That was done.

“Come on, Lumena,” Astra pleaded with her motionless, but breathing, sister.

“I can’t move,” croaked Lumena. “Move me. To Mira.”

Although seven, Astra’s strong, capable arms could carry very heavy loads, but still had trouble with Lumena. She half-lifted, half-dragged her over to where Mira lay – still, miraculously, alive.

With the strength she had left, Lumena clasped Mira’s hand. “Together then,” she said. Mira nodded, too weak to say anything.

Sometimes, the slaves’ chips were misplaced, leading to a messy kill, and therefore, those victims could stay alive, albeit in pain, a while longer. Mira was one of those people, and, as a pinprick of light out of the darkness, came Astra’s gratitude that she was alive a while longer.

After a period of silence Lumena whispered, “Portia Libertad.” Open the door to freedom.

“What… What do you mean?” asked Astra.

“You need to lead everyone on. To freedom.”

“H-How?” Astra stuttered. “I can’t. I’m only seven.”

“You have the ability to do so. I know you. You will do it.”

Another few minutes of silence passed. Minutes of thought for Astra. Minutes of waiting for death for Mira and Lumena.

And then, Mira spoke.

“Can we sing?”

So they sang the only song they knew. It was the song they sang before they tried to escape. The song that had led to the deaths of Mira and Lumena. The song that gave Astra hope.

Out of dark, out of doubt, to the day’s arising

Comes Liberty, her sword unsheathing

To cut men free from bondage chain

That freedom may come forever to reign.​

And then, as if they had planned it, Lumena and Mira drew their last breaths, and then were never again to be seen in this world.

Astra’s world, then, was plunged into darkness. She was supposed to free two thousand slaves. By herself. How, though? She felt so terrible that she wanted to trap herself in one of the tunnels and then starve to death. That would be infinitely better than taking all this on.

Surrender is the key to victory. The words flashed into her mind. Then she remembered a way that she could help them. She had a tool, kept secret from everyone except Mira and Lumena.

And, suddenly, the paths were before her. Liberty or death. Joy or sorrow. The choice was hers.

So, Astra chose freedom.

That was precisely 1000 words

 

[Blue Raptor]

That was precisely 1000 words

It was 5 words over when I put it in the word counter.

 

[Isabella6Storm4]

It was 5 words over when I put it in the word counter.

google docs is telling me its 999 words