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 July Ficlets
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| M1795537OCVirn |
Posted on 06-07-2026 19:15
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 Admin  Posts: 15195 Joined: 14.01.22 |
This month, Travisina says: - 4th July this year was the USA's 250th (bicentenary & 1/2?), so July's first prompt is INDEPENDENCE. How many planets did Blake inspire or help to become independent of the Federation? And how did it actually work out for them? - July's birthstone is RUBY, which can be the gem, a colour or a name. OK, that should set you thinking....and if you've never posted a ficlet (aim for a story in about 500 words) before, don't be shy - we'd love to hear your ideas! "You're not sulking, I hope?"
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| Anniew |
Posted on 20-07-2026 08:09
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 Gamma Grade  Posts: 118 Joined: 16.01.22 |
An old one of mine but I like it. So I’ve reposted! The newscast had finished but the scene of heaped bodies and a triumphant Sleer flanked by her troopers lingered for a moment on the screen before fading to black. Silence descended amongst the watchers. Then gradually, throats were cleared and, without looking at her husband, the woman stood up, went over to the boy who was still staring fixedly at the blank screen and hustled him from his seat. “Time you were in bed,”she said brusquely. He obeyed calmly, without speaking, his face pale and his expression set. Behind him his father had sunk a little lower in his chair and placed one hand over his eyes. Once in his room the boy changed into his night suit and then he crept quietly back out into the corridor. At first he could hear nothing but the sounds of his mother bustling about in the kitchen, but after a while his father left the recreation room and joined her there. The boy shrank back into an alcove listening intently. “Is that it then?” he heard his mother ask, her voice low and defeated. “I don’t know, Molly,” his father replied. “I just don’t know.” “Oh, Cauder... it’s dreadful. Dreadful. What happened to him?” His mother’s voice wavered between tears and horror. “Those poor, poor people. Have you heard anything from Grant?” “Not yet. The boy, is he asleep? I wish he hadn’t had to see that.” “He should be. I’ll look in on him, shall I?” “No, leave it for now. We need to find out if Avalon’s heard anything.” The voices fell silent and the boy shivered in a darkness that suddenly seemed thick and menacing. He pushed his back up against the corridor wall and shuffled along it until he reached the door to his room and then, eyes nearly shut, threw himself hastily across the open floor onto his bed and huddled down in it fearfully. The shadows closed in around him and he lay there sleepless for hours, water leaking from his eyes, unable to process the scenes that he’d witnessed on the vid screen or to comprehend how they had come about. A hand on his back made him start but before he could cry out in terror he was held in a strong, reassuring embrace. “Not asleep then, old fellow?” his father asked. “Are you ok?” Mutely the boy shook his head in a quick negative. “Why?” he suddenly cried out. “Why dad? He was a hero. He saved this planet. Why would he do that? Why?” Cauder continued his rhythmic, reassuring petting of the boy whilst staring into space, seemingly lost in thought. After a longish time, the boy wriggled from his embrace and sat bolt upright. “Why?” he demanded fiercely again. “I don’t know,” his father admitted. “A mistake maybe. Perhaps a misunderstanding. It’s hard being on the run all the time. Always looking over your shoulder. It makes some people trigger happy. Bad things do happen to good people.” “What’s the point of being good then?” the boy challenged, angrily scrubbing his tears away. “We might as well be as bad as the Federation. They always win in the end. We should just give in and join them.” “Not every time, “ his father gently reminded. “Sometimes good wins. And even when it doesn’t, knowing that people were prepared to put themselves on the line to help you ...well that’s what counts, not that they failed in the end. That spark of goodness. Sometimes a spark’s enough to set a whole forest alight.” The boy shrugged his shoulders, wanting to be convinced but still doubtful. He plucked restlessly at his blanket. There was a bang as the door to the recreation room flung open and Molly’s voice echoed excitedly down the corridor. “Cauder, it’s Grant...he’s been in touch. You’re to come now. He says they’ve found Orac.” And a sliver of pale dawn sunlight began slowly to push back the shadows in the room. Play the hand fate deals you.
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| littlesue |
Posted on 20-07-2026 15:24
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 Alpha Grade  Posts: 4123 Joined: 17.01.22 |
That is so lovely Annie....now for the rest of the series.........
Cold! You don't know the meaning of the word cold! Cold is when you have ice on the INSIDE of your window!! Sue's Book Shelf https://www.mediafire.com/folder/z1xg...Zine_Shelf Rebel Run Video https://youtu.be/8prqS-XZtLo |
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| Paula |
Posted on 20-07-2026 19:07
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 Moderator  Posts: 5333 Joined: 15.01.22 |
Loved your story, Annie.
Resist the Host
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| M1795537OCVirn |
Posted on 21-07-2026 10:54
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Admin Posts: 15195 Joined: 14.01.22 |
Great to have you back, Annie!
"You're not sulking, I hope?"
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| BlueyH |
Posted on 22-07-2026 04:07
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 Gamma Grade Posts: 305 Joined: 04.02.25 |
As I missed submitting a story last month, I'll combine the two themes. RIP Michael...you made Vila the hero. Decades later… “Where is he Restal?” demanded Threats. Not her real name of course, but of the two interrogators, that was her role. It was as good a name as any. “You know you’re time is nearly up.” Restal’s gaze locked onto Threats own “No. Are you going to hit me again?” “Oh, my friend here can do much much worse if she has to” replied Reason, for that was their role. Restal looked down at the 30-year-old News sheet (illegal, of course) on the table, and through the haze of blood, read the headline again. Rebel Hero Vila Restal Escapes Again! The rest of the story, ambush on Gauda Prime, friends slaughtered, incarceration in a Federation medical facility, the mysterious messages, promises of help, and the disappearance, as familiar as a pair of old shoes. Restal smiled “So long ago, and you still won’t let us rest” “The Federation never forgets. It’s a message to you and those like you” “You mean Servalan never forgets?” replied Restal. More a rhetorical statement than a question. Restal’s attention was drawn to the cup of water on the metal table. A ring of ripples made their way from the centre to the edge as vibration made its way up the table legs. A muffled thump. A fine mist of old plaster falling from the ceiling. A look of surprise, then shock on the faces of Threats and Reason as, no doubt, a report was received in their earpieces. Ruby Restal raised her eyes from the cup of water “I think I’m ready to tell you where he is now. My father is here, and I think he’s very, very angry with you” Edited by BlueyH on 22-07-2026 08:13 I look exactly as Avon reasoned I would.
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| littlesue |
Posted on 24-07-2026 07:15
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Alpha Grade Posts: 4123 Joined: 17.01.22 |
BlueyH...beautiful....
Cold! You don't know the meaning of the word cold! Cold is when you have ice on the INSIDE of your window!! Sue's Book Shelf https://www.mediafire.com/folder/z1xg...Zine_Shelf Rebel Run Video https://youtu.be/8prqS-XZtLo |
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| littlesue |
Posted on 24-07-2026 07:19
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Alpha Grade Posts: 4123 Joined: 17.01.22 |
Right, here goes... Fair Exchange.... Vila was not impressed. After all, he had virtually begged Blake to bring the Liberator to see this galaxy wide exhibition where all the wonders of the non-Federated planets were on show. And this statue was one of those exhibits. Vila stared at it again, then whispered to Blake... “That’s not a Ruby.” The man sitting behind the desk was distinctly flustered. “How does he know it’s not a Ruby?” “Let’s just say...he’s an expert on the matter,” Blake replied. “Amongst other things,” Avon murmured. “Has he...has he told anyone else?” the man asked. “Should he?” “If he has...then we are finished.” “In what way?” Blake enquired. The man got to his feet, “That statue is the only thing keeping the warring factions on my planet apart. If they find out that it is not a Ruby then civil war could break out!” “Which would be an excuse for the Federation to come in and take over,” Blake realised, “What you need is a real Ruby.” “Where can I get one from? Our planet is poor...” Avon suddenly realised what Blake was hinting at, “Excuse me, I think I need to talk to my colleague.” He took Blake to one side. “Is there a problem, Avon?” “I would just like to remind you that those precious stones in the Liberator’s strong room are not a finite resource. We could need them at any time to buy ourselves out of trouble.” “I hardly think one Ruby is something to worry about, especially as that one Ruby could stop the Federation taking over another planet. Do you?” Blake turned to face the still flustered man, “Does anyone else know of this deception?” “Only the man trusted to keep the statue in pristine condition.. the Chief Jeweller.” “Then I think it’s time the statue was removed, for a while, to undergo an urgent cleansing operation.” Later in the Liberator’s teleport section. “I think that went well,” Blake concluded, “At least all the warring factions will once more be placated by a single Ruby in an ancient statue. You know, Vila, you may well have saved that planet from civil war.” Vila smiled...rather too smugly for Avon’s taste, and even Cally sensed something was amiss. “So what happened to that fake Ruby?” the Auron asked. “Um....” “Yes Vila, what did happen to that so called Ruby?” Avon queried. Even Jenna was now perplexed by the questioning. “Well...that Jeweller chap after cutting our replacement Ruby, removed the fake one and no-one will know the difference.” Blake was beginning to get suspicious too. “And the fake Ruby?” “Well, it’s like this. That jeweller chap and I decided to share that fake Ruby. Well it was too nice to simply throw away...” “Vila....” Vila opened his hand. “You see, it wasn’t a Ruby...it was a Red Diamond, which will more than compensate for that Ruby we gave them...won’t it? After all, fair exchange is no robbery...is it?” Cold! You don't know the meaning of the word cold! Cold is when you have ice on the INSIDE of your window!! Sue's Book Shelf https://www.mediafire.com/folder/z1xg...Zine_Shelf Rebel Run Video https://youtu.be/8prqS-XZtLo |
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