Here is my entry for the 100 Word Stories Podcast, Weekly Challenge #100 with the theme, Cake.

Stranded, Part 7

Bizroc looked at the recipe once again as he prepared the ingredients,

1 cup of ground malni root
1 teaspoon of fugg powder
1 torful egg, divided
1 tablespoon of groggy grease
2 cups of briz flour

Yup, he had all of them set aside.
Now all he had to do is find the main ingredient.
He had seen the two legged earthling a couple of times,
that would be more than enough meat,
maybe too much, he hated to be wasteful.
Ah, but that four legged earthling he saw running round the last few days would be just right size for the recipe.
How to catch it, that was a problem, it was so quick.

Well, Bizrocca better appreciate her special birthday cake this year,
With all the trouble he was going through to make it for her.

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Here’s my entry for the 100 Word Stories Podcast’s Weekly Challenge #99. The topic was Hemorrhage.

Stranded, Part 6

Fuel, glorious Fuel!
I started early in the morning searching the cargo wreckage.
I had just about given up finding anything worthwhile.
Then I found it,
Fuel, glorious Fuel.
With it, came Hemorrhage.
Now I can Hemorrhage in the morning,
Hemorrhage at noon,
and Hemorrhage at night
I had forgotten how I enjoyed Fuel and their Hemorrhage
No, not fuel as in gas,
Fuel, the band, and the Best of Fuel CD I brought.
There’s nothing like a little Hemorrhage in the morning to get you going.
This is Josh Jones, survivor, Signing off

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Greetings Earthlings, This is my entry for the 100 Word Stories Podcast Weekly Challenge #98, At My Own Funeral

Stranded, Part 5

Day what, I don’t know, I’ve lost track of how long it has been since the crash.

I have just spent the last several days working with the communications equipment and have partially repaired the Vid-Comm. I now can at least receive transmissions from Earth but still unable to let Space Command know I am alive.

The first transmission I have received was ICN anchor Dan Quayle discussing the explosion of the landing module on descent and how the Phoenix, the main ship, is still in orbit around the planet. He said that Space Command will be remotely using the Phoenix to survey the planet for wreckage but there was no hope for survivors.

This evening, Dan narrated during the memorial service as President Clinton and the First Husband placed wreaths for each of the crew members next to a stone replica of the Phoenix. I never thought that there would be a day where I could watch and be at my own funeral.

This is Josh Jones, survivor, signing off.

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Here’s my entry into the 100 Word Stories Podcast’s Weekly Challenge #97 with the theme of Navel Lint and Mufalleta.

Day 4 – May 16, 2012

After putting it aside for a couple of days, I find myself trudging back to the wreckage of the living module of my once proud ship. I think the shock of losing my fellow crew members has abated enough so that I can give them a proper burial.

Reflecting back on to each of them, our time together in training and the 2 month trip here has given me a new prospective on life and friendships.

Sergeant David Mirowski, the security NCO of the crew was a huge man, but now so very small after the flames of the crash has claimed him. It may be crazy, but the one thing that I remember best about him was his 30 year collection of navel lint that he kept neatly rolled up in a ball. I’m going to bury it with him since it meant so.

Lieutenant Regina Rodriguez, my co-pilot, so beautiful in life along with being so talented in many areas. During our trip to Mars, she would prepare dishes from her home country at least once a week to give up a change from our bland rations that we were provided. I think my favorite was the Mufalleta she made last week.

I couldn’t find the body of our final crew member, Sprocket, the Labrador Retriever that Space Command sent along. I wonder if he made it out before the fire or was in some other part of the ship, I guess only time will tell.

This is Capt. Josh Jones, Earth Space Command signing off.

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Here’s my entry for the Weekly Challenge #96 – Steampunk at the 100 Word Stories Podcast

Stranded, Part 3

Day 3, May 15, 2012

I have just woken up from the strangest dream I have ever encountered.

In the dream, I was living the life of someone called Oswald Bastable in the early 19^th century on earth. We were in the process of chasing some Chinese guy across the Pacific, when our difference engines quit and we had to switch over to the steam powered motors. This slowed our descent enough that we were able to land on an island without any damage or personal injuries of the crew. My very able assistant, Penelope Tugbottom and I frolicked along the island beach while the crew made repairs to the engines so we could continue our chase.

This was so unlike my real life crash landing on Mars that I encountered several days ago. The loneliness and stress of the past few days had taken a toll on me, I guess I better not be reading Moorcock’s The Warlord of the Air or any steampunk material for that matter, so late at night.

This is Captain Josh Jones, Earth Space Command signing off.

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Here is my entry in the 100 Word Stories Podcast Weekly Challenge #95, Storage and Worst Job.

Stranded, Part 2

Day 2 – May 14, 2012

I have just returned from exploring parts of the wreckage after crash landing on Mars.

I have discovered that I am the lone survivor and have found several usable items in the closest part of the wreckage, along with solving a couple of problems.

My first problem being that the oxygen level in the atmosphere is about half the amount of Earth’s. The fix for this is an extraction pump that that was in the cargo bay, now all I need is a large tank for storage of the oxygen.

The second problem I found is that the living area of the craft is a total loss, burning up on impact; all that is left is a metal caucus along with the charred remains of my fellow crew members, may they rest in peace.

Without the living area section, the only toilet facilities are now in my command module. After the 2 month journey here, these have become completely filled and must be emptied, which maybe the worst job I have ever had to do.

This is Captain Josh Jones, Earth Space Command, signing off.

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Here’s my submission to the 100 Word Stories Podcast’s Weekly Challenges (theme = Pen and Ink), the continuing adventures of Capt. Josh Jones, Earth Space Command after he has crash landed on the planet Mars.

Part 1, Stranded

Day 1 – May 13, 2012

I have found myself alive and still breathing after crash landing on the planet Mars. I think the cause was a malfunction of the guidance system in the ship’s main computer.

The craft is a total wreck; it has spilt up into several sections with parts of it burning after spotting signs of smoke on the horizon.

My command module has sustained damage, but seems to be still pressurized and I have enough water and air for several days.

With the other wreckage burning, I have to assume that there is oxygen in the atmosphere, Now all I need to know is how much and how to extract it. I have tuned my radio, which looks as if it is still functioning; to S.O.S. But, only god knows if anyone will hear it.

My next chore is to suit up and explore the wreckage for usable equipment; I wish I only had pen and ink to set this record down on paper.

This is Captain Josh Jones, Earth Space Command, signing off.

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Here’s this week’s challenge with the theme: Candy

Visit the 100 Word Stories Podcast and vote for your favorite story.

The Candy has always been my downfall. From the first time I tasted it, it had me. It can destroy judgment as fast and sure as a man.

The Boss with his promises of fun and money soon had me also.
But, it was the Candy that I wanted the most, which he was glad to provide.
Through the haze created the Candy, so simple were the foulest of ideals.

With the Candy, I could do his dirty deeds.
The Candy had captured me and destroyed my soul.
With the Candy I became reckless and carefree.

With the Candy I seemed invincible and unstoppable.
With the Candy as my guide, I had gone out into the city.
Carefree and reckless, I again went to do his deeds.

Now, with the candy in one hand and a smoking gun in the other,
I watch blood flow from me.
The Candy has made me the enemy of myself.

Background music is from the Podsafe Music Network

Artist: Kacey Jones, Apples dipped in candy

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This weeks theme for the 100 Word Stories weekly challenge was Clowns.

Here’s my entry, I hope you enjoy it.

In the good old days, people who wanted to become clowns ran away to the circus. Or so Billy Bob thought the legend went. It was a far cry from reality, now that the city put a bounty on their heads.

The bands of clowns and their midget cars involved in drive-by pie in the face incidents were now a daily happening.
The final straw was the mayor’s wife being targeted as she walked down Main Street.

Billy Bob was more than glad to put his army training to work. The money from the bounty would come in handy,
now with jobs were far and few between. All he needed was one of those incidents to happen.

He knew as soon as he heard the car; he was in luck, who else but clowns would be driving like that.
With a quick click, the safety on his rifle was off. Billy Bob would be dining well tonight.

Clowns, damn those clowns!

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Here’s this week’s entry for the 100 Word Stories podcast challenge.

This weeks theme is: Looking back on 2008

Looking back on 2008, as Old Man Time had in so many previous years,

Saw it was like a tree, seedling at first, then throughout the year, growing tall and straight.

His gaze passing over each seasons,

First, spring, white and grey turning into green and fresh, a mighty start.

Next summer, strong, sunny, warmth, reaching for the sky, at its pinnacle.

Fall, the first sign of age, but with vibrant colors, still slowly growing .

Sadly, winter, the bleak snow and cold has stopped its growth.

With a single stroke, Old Man Time swings his sickle to clear away the tree for the next.

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