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And I been riding on a ghost train, where the cars they scream and slam
The party had bored the hell out of him the moment he arrived. *RANDOM NAME* had come a bit late, thus pretty much everyone was either drunk or engulfed by another being’s mouth.
The beer he was holding, which was the fifth, hadn’t helped him getting “in the zone”. The only thing he got from it was full bladder and a headache.
His mood wasn’t improving, but his savior came in the form of a white and gold dress — or was it black and blue? His headache wasn’t helping — and a smile.
In a screaming ring of faces, I’ve seen her standing in the light
The girl seemed to be a victim of the party too, and *RANDOM NAME* thought that tonight wouldn’t be a total loss. A shiver, a hand clench, and the reborn hero managed to walk a few steps towards the mirage. All his years of reading the greatest poets would finally come to use.
“Hi,” he said.
She said, “You are the perfect stranger.” She said, “Baby let's keep it like this.”
Her look was fleeing his, and she didn’t respond. Now reduced to the role of a background character, *RANDOM NAME* did the only, and brave, thing expected from his status. He turned around and walked away, but a hand grasped his wrist.
“Wait.”
He looked at her and saw the saddest smile he had ever seen on a woman’s face.
“It doesn’t have to end like this,” she said, taking off her locket.
She put her hand in my pocket I got a keepsake and a kiss
A blink, and the nymph disappeared.
And the big wheel keep on turning neon burning up above
And I'm just high on the world
Come on and take a low ride with me girl
On the tunnel of love
And I'm just high on the world
Come on and take a low ride with me girl
On the tunnel of love
Wait, it's not February the 14th? Damn.
Rey the Scavenger made a sweeping motion with her hand and the gate slid open silently. She took a step ahead, and craned into the chink to look behind the door. She didn’t see anyone. Relaxed, she slunk through and found herself standing in the middle of a narrow, dingy corridor. She concentrated and scanned the vicinity for possible threats, but her mind probe revealed nothing. Satisfied, she fished a map of the place from her pocket, unfolded it and cast a glace at it. She folded it and put it back into her pocket.
Then she sidled along the corridor, hugging the wall, all her senses on alert, her right hand clutching the hilt of her lightsaber. The main room wasn’t far away, just behind that corner—
A large, dark shape jumped from a hidden nook in front of her. From the depths of that tenebrous shadow a red shaft of light arose, accompanied by an ominous buzzing noise and the sound of an artificial breathing apparatus. Rey took a step backwards and replied by turning her own lightsaber on.
“So we meet again,” the voice of the masked Kylo Ren echoed in the cramped space. “But this time, there’s no escape or way for you to win.”
“We shall see,” Rey answered as the red blade crashed onto her blue saber, letting out thousands of flying sparks.
Kylo Ren was no longer the weak opponent she’d met in the forest. He’d grown up, and his abilities with the saber had improved too. With the help of Luke’s training, Rey could parry his repeated attacks, but he’d fend her own lunges, and she was slowly, but steadily, losing ground. How long could she withstand the blows of her enemy, she didn’t know.
Yet, it was paramount she didn’t give in to doubt or fear.
In the dark corridor, where the reflections of the lightsabers were casting ephemeral shadows and fleeting blotches of sky and blood, the duel went on. The strength of Kylo Ren seemed to increase with time, while Rey’s was slowly dwindling away. She was now almost back to the gate. She parried an other blow, swung her saber around and in the nick of time blocked Kylo’s blade over her head as he was about to cut her in half. The two bright shafts in contact were humming madly.
“You’ll die, Scavanger scum,” Kylo Ren said. “And I shall not mourn your death.”
Rey didn’t answer. She was gnashing her teeth, conjuring up all her dying strength to try and repel the other’s violent push. But he was too strong. After a few seconds, she fell to her knees. Kylo Ren’s saber broke contact, made a large swing and came slicing through Rey’s saber hilt. The blue blade vanished and the loose part fell on the floor with a clang.
Kylo Ren joined his hands behind his head. “Goodbye,” he said, “Say hello to master Skywalker and tell him his new apprentice has failed.” And with that he swung his blade to deliver the final blow.
But the red saber blade, upon reaching its full vertical extension, hit the ceiling and got stuck for a fraction of a second in the hardware that was installed overhead. Rey saw her salvation. She extended a hand and threw all her remaining energy into a force push. Caught off guard, Kylo Ren was shoved back. He flew along the corridor and came crashing against the end of it. He fell limply on the ground, unconscious, and his lightsaber rolled aside.
A hush fell.
Rey sighed. She tossed the useless half of her lightsaber away, swept the sweat off her forehead, and slowly stood up. All her body was aching, yet she had no time to lose. Every wasted second increased her peril. She inhaled and rushed along the corridor to Kylo Ren’s stock still body. She stopped next to him, kneeled to pick up his lightsaber, that she put into her bag. Standing back up, she looked at the other corridor that extended from there perpendicularly. There was a faint, blinking glow at the end of it. That was the place she had to go to.
She ran as fast as she could. The glow was becoming brighter as she was moving ahead. Arrived at the end of the corridor, she found herself at the threshold of a vast room. It was swaddled in darkness, but for a large spruce tree standing in the middle of it, which was ornamented with shining baubles. A long electric garland snaked through its branches and cast intermittent light.
She lowered her gaze. At the feet of the tree she saw a heap of boxes wrapped in garish paper. She walked ahead to the tree, stooped and picked up the first one. It was heavy. Too heavy. She threw it aside. Took the next one. It was lighter. She shook it, and it gave a muffled sound, as if something big was hidden inside. Rey shook her head and cast it away. She took the third one.
It was very light. When she shook it, the sound was that of a small object lost inside a box too big for it.
She tore the paper away frantically, opened the cardboard box.
There was a thumb drive inside, with a tag attached to it. She picked it up and lifted it closer to her eyes. The paper read: WriteOff source code. First Order eyes only. Do not disclose to any third party.
She shoved the thumb drive into her pocket.
A grunt and a whine came from the corridor. Kylo Ren was coming around.
She would have to fight her way back outside.
Then she sidled along the corridor, hugging the wall, all her senses on alert, her right hand clutching the hilt of her lightsaber. The main room wasn’t far away, just behind that corner—
A large, dark shape jumped from a hidden nook in front of her. From the depths of that tenebrous shadow a red shaft of light arose, accompanied by an ominous buzzing noise and the sound of an artificial breathing apparatus. Rey took a step backwards and replied by turning her own lightsaber on.
“So we meet again,” the voice of the masked Kylo Ren echoed in the cramped space. “But this time, there’s no escape or way for you to win.”
“We shall see,” Rey answered as the red blade crashed onto her blue saber, letting out thousands of flying sparks.
Kylo Ren was no longer the weak opponent she’d met in the forest. He’d grown up, and his abilities with the saber had improved too. With the help of Luke’s training, Rey could parry his repeated attacks, but he’d fend her own lunges, and she was slowly, but steadily, losing ground. How long could she withstand the blows of her enemy, she didn’t know.
Yet, it was paramount she didn’t give in to doubt or fear.
In the dark corridor, where the reflections of the lightsabers were casting ephemeral shadows and fleeting blotches of sky and blood, the duel went on. The strength of Kylo Ren seemed to increase with time, while Rey’s was slowly dwindling away. She was now almost back to the gate. She parried an other blow, swung her saber around and in the nick of time blocked Kylo’s blade over her head as he was about to cut her in half. The two bright shafts in contact were humming madly.
“You’ll die, Scavanger scum,” Kylo Ren said. “And I shall not mourn your death.”
Rey didn’t answer. She was gnashing her teeth, conjuring up all her dying strength to try and repel the other’s violent push. But he was too strong. After a few seconds, she fell to her knees. Kylo Ren’s saber broke contact, made a large swing and came slicing through Rey’s saber hilt. The blue blade vanished and the loose part fell on the floor with a clang.
Kylo Ren joined his hands behind his head. “Goodbye,” he said, “Say hello to master Skywalker and tell him his new apprentice has failed.” And with that he swung his blade to deliver the final blow.
But the red saber blade, upon reaching its full vertical extension, hit the ceiling and got stuck for a fraction of a second in the hardware that was installed overhead. Rey saw her salvation. She extended a hand and threw all her remaining energy into a force push. Caught off guard, Kylo Ren was shoved back. He flew along the corridor and came crashing against the end of it. He fell limply on the ground, unconscious, and his lightsaber rolled aside.
A hush fell.
Rey sighed. She tossed the useless half of her lightsaber away, swept the sweat off her forehead, and slowly stood up. All her body was aching, yet she had no time to lose. Every wasted second increased her peril. She inhaled and rushed along the corridor to Kylo Ren’s stock still body. She stopped next to him, kneeled to pick up his lightsaber, that she put into her bag. Standing back up, she looked at the other corridor that extended from there perpendicularly. There was a faint, blinking glow at the end of it. That was the place she had to go to.
She ran as fast as she could. The glow was becoming brighter as she was moving ahead. Arrived at the end of the corridor, she found herself at the threshold of a vast room. It was swaddled in darkness, but for a large spruce tree standing in the middle of it, which was ornamented with shining baubles. A long electric garland snaked through its branches and cast intermittent light.
She lowered her gaze. At the feet of the tree she saw a heap of boxes wrapped in garish paper. She walked ahead to the tree, stooped and picked up the first one. It was heavy. Too heavy. She threw it aside. Took the next one. It was lighter. She shook it, and it gave a muffled sound, as if something big was hidden inside. Rey shook her head and cast it away. She took the third one.
It was very light. When she shook it, the sound was that of a small object lost inside a box too big for it.
She tore the paper away frantically, opened the cardboard box.
There was a thumb drive inside, with a tag attached to it. She picked it up and lifted it closer to her eyes. The paper read: WriteOff source code. First Order eyes only. Do not disclose to any third party.
She shoved the thumb drive into her pocket.
A grunt and a whine came from the corridor. Kylo Ren was coming around.
She would have to fight her way back outside.
Dunno if I'll enter this one -- visiting the family back in the States, and I'll be on the road the next few days. We'll see what comes.
I'm out this time (and next). The minific isn't my favorite format, and I've got some editing and reading I'd like to do instead of getting sucked into reviewing all week. I'll be back for short stories in the new year, I hope.
Have a great round, and I hope that some of our new members from last round decide to use this opportunity of a short, low-barrier-to-entry story to dip their toe into original fiction!
also, with CiG and i both out, statistically we're much more likely to see some new medalists shine...
Have a great round, and I hope that some of our new members from last round decide to use this opportunity of a short, low-barrier-to-entry story to dip their toe into original fiction!
also, with CiG and i both out, statistically we're much more likely to see some new medalists shine...
The Nightmare Before Christmas Holiday Exceptions: Christmas Peace On Earth-Prime Analogues, In the Dark Four Corners of a Rounded Room. Winter Will Never Come. No Prompt. Happy Holidays!
Airship Adventures, Like A Brick In Winter Come From On High. They expect one of us in the wreckage, brother. I Had Grown A Beard. Originality is Overrated Among the Clouds.
I Know You Don’t forget, don’t remember Cyberpunk Storytime. Chapter Two–Title of Story = Title of Song. Fifth Ace, Christmas in Space, The Rhymes We Tell Ourselves.
Airing of Grievances, A Handful of Clouds. Mother of Thousands To Die for Nothing, or to Live for Nothing? Butterflies in Their Stomach; The Fire of Life. Long Story Short, To Err is… Failure.
Over and Over and Over Again… Dead as a Doornail. Worst Case Scenario, The Beautiful Things Awaiting Us All: Merry Christmas, guys.
Airship Adventures, Like A Brick In Winter Come From On High. They expect one of us in the wreckage, brother. I Had Grown A Beard. Originality is Overrated Among the Clouds.
I Know You Don’t forget, don’t remember Cyberpunk Storytime. Chapter Two–Title of Story = Title of Song. Fifth Ace, Christmas in Space, The Rhymes We Tell Ourselves.
Airing of Grievances, A Handful of Clouds. Mother of Thousands To Die for Nothing, or to Live for Nothing? Butterflies in Their Stomach; The Fire of Life. Long Story Short, To Err is… Failure.
Over and Over and Over Again… Dead as a Doornail. Worst Case Scenario, The Beautiful Things Awaiting Us All: Merry Christmas, guys.
Well, I've written and submitted a story. It'll probably need some sprucing up, but that's to be expected.
Submitted. And this time my entry didn't make me groan in agony at how much it differed from what I had in mind!
Well... Just a little bit.
Well... Just a little bit.
Seems like I've submitted to the Writeoff. Here's some friendly advice: if I keep going the way I am now...
...
I'm gonna have a bad time.
...
I'm gonna have a bad time.
Oh dear sweet Celestia I got one in.
>>AndrewRogue sums up my transient emotions on the matter pretty darn well, even though in theory I know that this is more likely to be on the path to longer-term growth.
But this is going to be so embarrassing.
>>AndrewRogue sums up my transient emotions on the matter pretty darn well, even though in theory I know that this is more likely to be on the path to longer-term growth.
But this is going to be so embarrassing.
>>Monokeras
I mean the problem with that is the link is right at the bottom of the page…
I mean the problem with that is the link is right at the bottom of the page…
Radio Writeoff!
The last one of the year!
EDIT: Saturday the 30th, @3pm central/9pm London - our most commonly used time. (Thanks to Mono for helping with timezones.)
I thought I'd let everyone know, there are three stories left with only two comments:
-Recompetence
-What Do Monsters Dream About?
-Short a Long Story
-Recompetence
-What Do Monsters Dream About?
-Short a Long Story
I'll try something different and see if I can run szip locally.
szip Feline.txt -
A dog owner is kind of a bitch.
szip Vignettes_of_a_Man_You_Knew.txt -
Father knows best.
szip Short_and_Sweet.txt -
The standards for network gameshows get lower each year.
szip Recompetence.txt -
Cheating is bad
szip Jeremy.txt-
Need firearm knowledge? There's an app for that!
szip LimLits.txt-
Poetic Cliff's Notes
szip Amongst_the_Ruins_of_the_Brooklyn_Bridge.txt-
Kenny's future in acting suffers a setback.
szip Christmas_in_Cleveland.txt-
Slow news day
szip What_Do_Monsters_Dream_About?.txt-
szip Material_Fuckup.txt -
The insurance company will file it under 'Faulty Wiring'
szip How _I_Survived_Christmas.txt -
You didn't.
szip Doggy_Style.txt -
Doesn't matter, had sex.
szip Short_a_Long_Story.txt -
Every bite of pancakes and blueberry jam feels like the first one when you have Alzheimer's.
szip Christmas_Bells_Are_Ringing.txt -
Emergency dispatch is just one phone call away.
szip szip.txt -
SZIP-00604: error occurred at recursive level 1
szip Gamer's_Honor.txt -
1337 h4x0r j00 M34N!
szip Remember,_O_Thou_Man.txt -
It's okay to be a nihilist, just don't take it out on other people.
szip A_Bourbon_and_a_Lively_Waltz.txt -
A painful past and the wedding blues.
szip Feline.txt -
A dog owner is kind of a bitch.
szip Vignettes_of_a_Man_You_Knew.txt -
Father knows best.
szip Short_and_Sweet.txt -
The standards for network gameshows get lower each year.
szip Recompetence.txt -
Cheating is bad
szip Jeremy.txt-
Need firearm knowledge? There's an app for that!
szip LimLits.txt-
Poetic Cliff's Notes
szip Amongst_the_Ruins_of_the_Brooklyn_Bridge.txt-
Kenny's future in acting suffers a setback.
szip Christmas_in_Cleveland.txt-
Slow news day
szip What_Do_Monsters_Dream_About?.txt-
الله أكبر
szip Material_Fuckup.txt -
The insurance company will file it under 'Faulty Wiring'
szip How _I_Survived_Christmas.txt -
You didn't.
szip Doggy_Style.txt -
Doesn't matter, had sex.
szip Short_a_Long_Story.txt -
Every bite of pancakes and blueberry jam feels like the first one when you have Alzheimer's.
szip Christmas_Bells_Are_Ringing.txt -
Emergency dispatch is just one phone call away.
szip szip.txt -
SZIP-00604: error occurred at recursive level 1
szip Gamer's_Honor.txt -
1337 h4x0r j00 M34N!
szip Remember,_O_Thou_Man.txt -
It's okay to be a nihilist, just don't take it out on other people.
szip A_Bourbon_and_a_Lively_Waltz.txt -
A painful past and the wedding blues.
I so wanted to do the comment-on-everything this time, but then everything happened. :cry:
Next time, Gadget. Next time.
Next time, Gadget. Next time.
szip + Cleveland
>>Zaid Val'Roa
>>Ratlab
>>AndrewRogue
>>Astrarian
>>libertydude
>>Dubs_Rewatcher
>>tPg
>>MLPmatthewl419
>>Zaid Val'Roa
>>Not_A_Hat
>>AndrewRogue
>>Astrarian
>>libertydude
Grats to the medalists. Well done, folks!
My stories were both rough sketches. Thanks for those who enjoyed them: I appreciate your appreciation. I was well aware of the shortcomings, and I smiled when LibertyDude quoted my fake review in his own :P I still have some progress to make in order to blend in as an American journalist, as the way articles are written over the pond is very different from what we do over here. As for szip, I had that idea but no real punchline to go with it. I decided to go ahead all the same but it came out as a bit bland, of course.
Happy new year again to all, and thanks so much! ❤️
>>Zaid Val'Roa
>>Ratlab
>>AndrewRogue
>>Astrarian
>>libertydude
>>Dubs_Rewatcher
>>tPg
>>MLPmatthewl419
>>Zaid Val'Roa
>>Not_A_Hat
>>AndrewRogue
>>Astrarian
>>libertydude
Grats to the medalists. Well done, folks!
My stories were both rough sketches. Thanks for those who enjoyed them: I appreciate your appreciation. I was well aware of the shortcomings, and I smiled when LibertyDude quoted my fake review in his own :P I still have some progress to make in order to blend in as an American journalist, as the way articles are written over the pond is very different from what we do over here. As for szip, I had that idea but no real punchline to go with it. I decided to go ahead all the same but it came out as a bit bland, of course.
Happy new year again to all, and thanks so much! ❤️