Instant Story

Flash fiction fresh from my fingers to your mind!

Challenge #02599-G042: It's Okay, I'm a Deathworlder!

Humans have a function called an Adrenaline Rush, aka the body hitting the “oh shit” button. Sugar and caffeine trigger something similar to it, but have a mild drawback. A level 2 deathworlder that have the “oh shit” button learned the difference between the two the hard way -- Anon Guest

Adrenaline works by using all available body reserves for a desperate effort. The price is generally paid afterwards in the form of assorted injuries and the recovery from the same. That is, assuming it isn't paid in the user's demise during the desperate effort. Sugar piles on extra resources and effectively supercharges the body for a short amount of time. Caffeine, a little more complex, shuts down the 'tired' signals in mind and body whilst also accelerating the heart rate - thus fooling the body into thinking it's awake. Humans often use the combination of caffiene and sugar as a booster. They do not, as rumour suggests, boost it with Adrenaline.

Unfortunately for Tresk, they had heard the rumour and didn't bother asking any Humans about it. Not their fault, the ships' Humans were all N'Ozzies and genetically obligated to agree with and embellish any lie they heard[1]. Other sources on the free infonets were... conflicted at best, and conflagrations at worst. Most of the conflagrations were started by, of course, N'Ozzies[2]. Therefore, the only true way to discover fact from fiction was to try it themself.

This, of course, is not recommended for any species more delicate than a Class 2 Deathworlder. Fortunately for Tresk, they were a Class 2 Deathworlder and on the harder end of that particular classification bracket. Therefore they did what any Deathworlder would do. They live-blogged their experiences for science. Havenworlders, don't even look at trying this at home.

Support me on Patreon / Buy me a Ko-fi

Continue Reading

Prompts remaining: 82 Submit a Prompt! Ask a question! Buy my stories!

Challenge #02598-G041: A Lasting Reminder

There was this one abandoned space station where humans liked to paint graffitis and do other illegal stuff. When authorities find out they started to patrolling this place. After months of punishments, fines and even prison owners finally rebuild whole place and even let humans paint on special walls. It was this moment when illegal started to be legal. The very next day there was giant graffiti inside the biggest and most secured space station in the whole galaxy. -- Anon Guest

Read more »

Challenge #02597-G040: Comforting Companionship

It's well known, when their owners are unwell, pets will lay with them and stay by their side until they're better. It's a great comfort for the owner to have that gentle presence and, even though their pet doesn't know it, it helps them get better more quickly. The young lizard had been very sick, though it was not a disease that anyone around them could contract. Brought to the station by their parents to try a new treatment to make them

Read more »

Challenge #02596-G039: Doing the Unthinkable

"I want to Break Free,

I want to Breeeeaaak free,

I want, I want, I Want to BREEEEAAAAAKKK FREEEEEE"

The Human, as a species renowned for their ability to improvise and thoroughly mess with the plans of many a pirate, had been confined to a specially designed clear polymer box. With small vents high in the roof of the structure, only the single access point and TWO guards stationed far enough away that noxious gasses and liquids emitted by the human would

Read more »

Challenge #02595-G038: Sharing and Caring Intertwined

It that time of year where I don’t want to get out of my bed and chug hot chocolate down my esophagus, with any combination of sweets from marshmallows to the leftover candy-canes to The weird but tasty treats my aunt gave me. I’m sure I will be able to find a combination that is not toxic to my crew mates -- Anon Guest

Humans, it seems, have a seasonal awareness that stretches out to places where seasons are non-existence.

Read more »

Challenge #02594-G037: And a Macaroni Necklace

He owned, of all things, a trash planet. How did he manage to own an entire planet? Well, when you have an IQ that puts nearly all of the rest of the human race to shame, it's not hard to figure out how to get ownership of such a thing. Besides, no one argued much when he won the bet and requested a trash planet in a rather out-of-the-way area of space as his reward. And, with it, he was able to

Read more »

Challenge #02593-G036: Safe As...

True friendship is letting a small havenworlder ride around in a pouch that you're wearing so they feel secure surrounded by the other deathworlders that they wanted to do business with in the first place. Seriously. Why do you do this to me? -- Escla

Size is something interesting within the boundaries of Galactic Alliance space. Intelligent life can take very many forms, depending on the gravity they evolved in. There are some, like the Xyrak'l, that have shown signs of intelligent

Read more »

Challenge #02592-G035: Critical Flaw Located

A: explain to me why again you were fighting?

B: I was getting rusty, I needed someone to spar with.

A: was it necessary to create a hole in the floor?

B: you said it was reinforced! -- Anon Guest

Human Sym was embedded in the flooring. Her legs were technically within the floor below, but also tangled up in sensitive, very important, and also more than a little delicate - wiring and equipment. Human Per, her sparring partner, was crouching and

Read more »

Challenge #02591-G034: Conspiracy to Spread Joy

There are those that are not fans of the holiday season. The reasons are as myriad as the individuals themselves. But then there are those who not only enjoy the seasons, but absolutely revel in them. All around the station they were showing up outside of doors. Showing up at people's workstations and amongst ship supplies. Carefully wrapped gifts. It only had three words on it "From a friend"

No one claimed responsibility for these actions and no one was usually around

Read more »

Challenge #02590-G033: Let's Pretend For a While

There are people who will shout from wherever they can find to shout from that autism isn't a disability. That it should be celebrated. And I have to wonder if those people have ever found themselves so upset they couldn't talk, so frustrated that they couldn't control where their hands went, movements jerky, not even able to prepare a hot breakfast out of the knowledge that they'd burn themselves accidentally if they didn't calm down first. If that's ever happened to them

Read more »

Challenge #02589-G032: Deception

Anyone who's had humans aboard their ships will know one thing for certain, even when asleep, humans can be very loud. They call the harsh, almost predatory growling-like noise, snoring. There was a reason if you want to allow humans to have quarters aboard your ship, you sound proof it. However, it's also often an indication of the human having an obstructed airway when they sleep, which could be, from a medical standpoint, worrisome. However, once you heard that sound, you knew

Read more »

Challenge #02588-G031: Find-a-Family

He had stolen a lot of items before he was caught. He wasn't a pirate, he didn't go raiding ships, but they treated him nearly as badly as if he had been one. He would sneak aboard stations with lax standards, swipe small but expensive items from cargo holds that were in the process of loading, and escape. Problem is, all thieves get caught sooner or later. And a teenager like him, homeless and no longer caring, didn't normally have a future

Read more »

Challenge #02587-G030: Gung Ho

You say "martyr" and I say "I love my family." Sometimes you have to accept that humans make peace with the concept of sacrificing a life for their loved ones (no matter what species). Get on that bike and RIDE, b@tch. -- Ride or Die

This is why Humans are considered insane. Their sense of self-preservation is subservient to the greater good. They can look at an overloaded sled, figure out the importance of the supplies needed at the destination, and

Read more »

Challenge #02586-G029: A Friend of a Friend

We love, we protect, and we only want you to carry our own with you when you escape. Please, please, take our tiniest and most vulnerable with you when we sacrifice ourselves for an exit (X1000% if it's our pets, who can't even deal with the galaxy we brought them into) ---HUMANKIND c/- Protection

"You lot go on, I'll catch up. Just do me a solid, okay? Make sure Tibbles is safe with you." Human Fil was torn between what they

Read more »

Challenge #02585-G028: The Hand on the Tool

A: This blade, with its razor sharp edge, can cleave through flesh and bone easily. Due to the various materials to make this, no blood or grime will stick to this blade.

B: you know out of context that is scary until you realise it’s a Butcher knife. But the way you hold it and the precision you use it is terrifying. -- Anon Guest

[AN: I derped and did a prompt out of order. Apologies for the inconvenience.]

Cookie continued

Read more »