Instant Story

Challenge #02329-F139: Playtime With Humans

There was one human who always pack bonded with others the same way: laying on the floor and talking, softly singing, and telling stories. -- Anon Guest

Some habits are hard to shake. For Human Steve, it was bonding with the ships' babies. Not every cogniscent species has the same lifespan as a Human. Some have very brief lives, indeed. After twenty years with assorted short-term ships, it was hir habit to go directly to the nursery and play with the little ones. Lying on the floor to be less intimidating. Speaking in a soft, singsong voice so they could get used to hir. Telling stories because babies loved them and would soon love Human Steve.

Then ze got an assignment with a long-span ship, and the habit, so ingrained, became a quirk. Instants after introduction, Human Steve lay down to play and took twenty minutes to realise... there were no babies.

It was impolite to mention it now, so Human Steve just made it part of hir bonding ritual. Besides, everyone had fun after a few moments and it always helped to get in touch with one's inner child. Some even recognised that the willingness to be silly was a powerful thing with a Human on board.

Support me on Patreon / Buy me a Ko-fi

Prompts remaining: 45 Submit a Prompt! Ask a question! Buy my stories!

Challenge #02328-F138: Recommended Serving Size

(I thought of this and didn't know what to do with it. My apologies if it is not your style.)

"If you got drunk ONCE by ACCIDENT then you CANNOT call yourself an alcoholic!" -- Anon Guest

Most intelligent creatures have something close enough to alcohol for Humans to drink it and find it close enough to get drunk on. Elves have a potent honey brew that, after a few beginning incidents, were served to the Humans in thimble-sized glasses. Elves drink

Challenge #02327-F137: That's a Lot of Samples

An Exploratory Team stumbles upon a Pirate Hideout and gets ambushed. The scientists make peace with their imminent demise and the pirates begin to prematurely celebrate....Until the ships human shows up, very very angry. -- Anon Guest

They had been excited to see smoke. Specifically, controlled columns of smoke. That meant controlled fires. This, in turn, meant that there was intelligent life present. Science Team Four proceeded cautiously. They didn't want to pollute a starter civilisation with sightings of alien life.

Challenge #02326-F136: At Least They Don't Speak Owo

Humans meet a species that looks very similar to a creature from a franchise. -- Anon Guest

Ensign Jans was vibrating in her seat. She was evidently using every atom of restraint to keep her reaction to a minimum, but Captain Thorne had learned to react to crew-member's tells before said crew-members could explode. In this case, Ensign Jans was a lit keg of fandom enthusiasm and would therefore be unfit for duty in seconds or less.

Therefore, Captain Thorne said, "Ensign

Challenge #02325-F135: Where the Mouth is

"That will never Work!"

"Bet you a (Insert Currency) that you can't."

"Be ready to lose that (Insert Currency)!!!" -- Anon Guest

If there is anything that a Human can be relied upon, it is their ability to take on ridiculous wagers and then win them. No matter how impossible the task. No matter how ludicrously low the bet. Humans will move galaxies to get those bragging rights. Even the tenderest and least offensive Havenworlder can goad a Human into action with,

Challenge #02324-F134: Quill Dip'd in Poison Vile

Humans write a Letter in the style of Titus to Joseph Stalin to an Alien-Aggressor.

Fun for the Humans. Nightmares for the other Race. -- Anon Guest

[AN: I have immense trouble getting that style, but I shall attempt the spirit of it]

From: Admiral Eddington, Commander in Chief, Vanerio Colonial Armed Forces. To: Lord Commander Warchief Xyrkyrkyz, Head of the Vorax Raiding Fleet.

Sir, we had left you alive in Panrinton, chiefly so you could warn your fellows in regards to

Challenge #02323-F133: And Then They Kiss

You cannot tell me that there wasn't at least a SMALL group of humans who took one look at the Karmorp'se and got super happy! There are people who LOVE horror movie monsters! I bet SOMEONE was excited! -- Anon Guest

[AN: This prompt references this thing for those of you who don't want to do an archive trawl]

Humans have an astonishing number of sayings about their own mating habits. Just one is: Love is many things, none of them logical.

Challenge #02322-F132: Unexpected Reaction

One human captain has a very, intense, reaction to adrenaline. Thankfully, the crew is understanding. (I was thinking crying/sobbing but if you get a better idea then that's perfect.) -- Anon Guest

Adrenaline is a powerful chemical. It does not, as many expect, make Humans violent. This is just one way for Humans to react. The typical reactions caused by Adrenaline is one of two: Fight... or Flight. Without emotional direction, the side-effects include nausea, an urgent need to vacate the

Challenge #02321-F131: It Says 'Dood'

What if crop circles were just that species' way of leaving a calling card? -- Anon Guest

When tumbling along uncharted byways of Space, it's considered polite to leave something in the way of a marker. A tag, a sign that you were there. A temporary message that will soon be absorbed by nature, lasting just long enough for others who may follow to see... I was here, or, I'm headed this way. All the better for finding your way back if

Challenge #02320-F130: Little Souvenirs

Tattoos are a big part of some Human cultures.

Others see it as an expression of their youth.

And some see it still as a thing, that should only be worn by prisoners and sailors.

How react Aliens (especially Havenworlders and other Deathworders) when they first make contact with a Human and their tattoos? -- Anon Guest

Human Stef was favouring their right arm, being very careful about it colliding with random surfaces. This was not the first time that the Human

Challenge #02319-F129: Not Paranoia If...

A ship's captain is particularly paranoid and adds stun guns to all areas of the ship, for emergencies. -- Anon Guest

In the years that ze was captain of the Twitching Whisker, Thragaak was derided as a delusional paranoid with a persecution complex. Now, we know hir as visionary who was years ahead of hir time. Plying the sargasso as ze did, surviving close calls with Deathworlders and unfamiliar peoples, it was, perhaps, wisdom to believe that They really were out to

Challenge #02318-F128: We Don't Eat That

In the Time of Spring, Easter Grass is often sold for little Money.

It's nearly completely without Problems. All it requires are Water and Light + Heat

(i even Recall someone saying, that it would also grow in zero G, If provided with the above).

Ideal for the Use as easy to eat Food supply for Herbivore Aliens and their tiny children...

Another Product from Earth with high success. :-) -- Anon Guest

[AN: I looked this up and even a minimum amount

Challenge #02317-F127: Unexpected Mineral Deposit

Toilets are necessary. Each species their own. Some don't even produce waste, because they literally use EVERYTHING they have. Others recycle.

Toilets in outer space are subsequently vital for Most species of Aliens and so as Clean as they can only be. You could AND can literally eat from them.

However, they didn't realise the hygienical nightmare of an outer space toilet in an Asteroid used by Humans.

(I think everyone knows, how a toilet on an interstate section with Zero Maintenance

Challenge #02316-F126: Versus Machine

We have Vending Machines. We use the regularly to get stuff easy and convenient.

(If you want) This story can be about a vending machine for Deathworlders and Havenworlders alike with various Special Items. -- Anon Guest

They've had many names over the years. Dispensing machines. Conveniences. Some species add the suffix 'bot' to whatever their contents are, like "drinkbot" or "foodbot" or "findingsbot", but such practices have fallen by the wayside since the rise of the AI Alliance. It was the

Challenge #02315-F125: Lightning Bottles

"Because it's people like us who do the strange stuff who think up all the technology you take for granted." -- C. M. Weller/InterNutter -- c/- Anon Guest

Anything invented before one turns ten is normal and everywhere and expected. That's what they say. Anything invented between the ages of twelve and forty is new and cool and interesting. After that, there is an increasing risk of it becoming strange and frightening and alien. Such is the theory put forward

Menu

Flash fiction fresh from my fingers to your mind!

Challenge #02329-F139: Playtime With Humans

Challenge #02328-F138: Recommended Serving Size

Challenge #02327-F137: That's a Lot of Samples

Challenge #02326-F136: At Least They Don't Speak Owo

Challenge #02325-F135: Where the Mouth is

Challenge #02324-F134: Quill Dip'd in Poison Vile

Challenge #02323-F133: And Then They Kiss

Challenge #02322-F132: Unexpected Reaction

Challenge #02321-F131: It Says 'Dood'

Challenge #02320-F130: Little Souvenirs

Challenge #02319-F129: Not Paranoia If...

Challenge #02318-F128: We Don't Eat That

Challenge #02317-F127: Unexpected Mineral Deposit

Challenge #02316-F126: Versus Machine

Challenge #02315-F125: Lightning Bottles