Samuel Bowen

“Within the Wind” by Samuel Bowen

Submitted to Contest #240

At the brink of the world, thunderbolts lit up the horizon as they struck the dark waves. An eternal maelstrom racked the sea, churning currents into a monstrous tide. The star riddled sky watched the waters dash themselves upon islands of black stone. Jagged edges turned to polished smoothness as the water spilled further onto solid ground. It pooled at the base of a marble tower as a moat of raindrops. The tower stood in defiance of the chaos. A simple beacon of light amidst the vengeance of the sea. White light shone like a star from the ...

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“The Survivalist’s Guide to an Idle Mind” by Samuel Bowen

Submitted to Contest #234

“We have all the time in the world now!” Megan said, brushing her hands off on her apron. Somehow in meeting that twinkle in her brown eyes, I couldn’t be honest. I gave the best grin I could, but it was strained at best. Good enough I suppose, Meg hardly noticed as she darted past to clock out of work. Can’t really blame her. It'd been a long busy season, and today we got the first go ahead to close the bloody shop. Sh...

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“Project Un: The Unamoly” by Samuel Bowen

Submitted to Contest #218

“Humanity must survive.”  - Captain’s log, R. Gunson, Paradigm Prime [Subject: J. Polaris] [Bio: Head Engineer, Rank 01] [Status: Unknown: Last seen aboard The Commission before event 06] [Archive LT: Error] [Designation: Deceased] Jess could not scream. Air fled her lungs desperate to find vocal cords. But no sound escaped. Heat tra...

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“Project Un: Maker” by Samuel Bowen

Submitted to Contest #217

“Time and time again we have surpassed our limitations. We sail the stars. What horizon lies beyond us that we cannot grasp with patience hands?” - Captain’s log, R. Gunson, Paradigm Prime [Subject: Dr. L. Maker] [Bio: Doctor of genetic sciences, clearance level 4] [Location: Lab 09] [Archive LT: Live] [Designation: Protocol 1507_Restricted Observati...

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“Project Un: Margaret” by Samuel Bowen

Submitted to Contest #217

“To achieve the greatness we pursue, we must have unwavering devotion to the most vile of tasks. Else, we will not survive the horrors that await us.” - Captain’s log, R. Gunson, Paradigm Prime [Subject: Dr. J. Manson] [Bio: Doctor of genetic sciences, clearance level 5] [Vital Status: Sustainable] [Location: Living Quarters 155] [Archive LT: Live]

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“Project Un: Jeffery” by Samuel Bowen

Submitted to Contest #216

TW: Violence and gore. Disturbing imagery “Many have left religion to the wayside, claiming intellect is all one needs. But without religion, where is the solace for the damned?” - Captain’s log, R. Gunson, Paradigm Prime [Subject: A.T.A.03] [Bio: Test Subject 03 of the Aexian Trials] [Vital Status: Stable] [Chamber status: Sufficient] [Archive LT:

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“Project Un: R. Gunson - Paradigm Prime” by Samuel Bowen

Submitted to Contest #215

Humanity must survive. The thought passed into the mind of Captain R. Gunson of the Paradigm Prime sitting in the remnants of his ship. The scraps that remained of the 5th generation Starship had been repurposed entirely as base camp for the crew. Laboratories, medbays, and sleeping quarters. Gunson scratched his chin with the metallic prosthetic of an arm. The tablet holding his log book lay on top of his locked trunk. It had been 3 years searching for D.A.W.N. and yet nothing had been found. His crew had scoured Dathanem from Landing P...

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“The Lady of Blood” by Samuel Bowen

Submitted to Contest #213

Drek spat blood. Shikes didn’t have blood. His ragged wings pulsed with his heart beat.  His thin flesh trembled and bulged. Drek’s face swelled to obscure his vision. “Master,” Drek pleaded. “Mercy!” The creature stumbled to his knees. Difficult to do for the shike, for as his bloated legs met the stone floor they burst into pools of crimson. The blood trailed to the dark steel steps that stood befo...

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“Project Un: The Fall of Abal” by Samuel Bowen

Submitted to Contest #213

Abal could feel darkness. It was not an emotion nor was it truly a sensation. The lack of touch blinded Abal as his callus hands gripped the Aexian blade. He missed the cool smoothness of the grey steel. He longed for the subtlety of texture in the leather grip. Yet the darkness of his nerve calluses gave only the indication of pressure. Abal stared at his knuckles watching them go white with tension. Pressure. That was...

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“Project Un: Blood Runner” by Samuel Bowen

Submitted to Contest #212

“Early to rise, early to die.” Wynian muttered as he rolled out of bed. The glow of morning light reflected off spear tips, somehow always shining on his pillow. His calloused hands rubbed gunk from his eyelids. The snoring of his tent mates could still be heard. Some men muttered in their sleep, others rolled over like deadmen in graves. Lancers didn’t have to be ready until Mid-day. Unfortunately for Wynian, he was a runner. News had to get around somehow, and that meant some poor fellows had to make sure letters, packages, and orders w...

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“Life of Devilry” by Samuel Bowen

 Aether, of the Angels of Eldenar, awoke beside a corpse as a failure of a heretic. His torn once white robes were marred with blood and dirt. The sandals that had withheld his feet’s blessing lay broken below the cliff’s shadow. His hands once clean of impurity, now bulged with necrotic disease. His dark hair drifted in the pooling water around his head. The rocky shore pierced his bones that ached. Where now was the.st...

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“Project Un: Expendable” by Samuel Bowen

Submitted to Contest #210

“I began my search across the stars to find natural wonders beyond beauty, to find anomalies beyond comprehension, and find life beyond humanity. Yet all I have seen is mankind alone in an hostile empty universe.”  - Captain’s log, R. Gunson, Paradigm Prime “Just say it as it is Jax,” Mannis said, clicking his helmet into place. “I’m expendable.” “It’s not like that!” Jax protested. Mannis gave a cold stare that silenced Jax even through the visor. Fluorescent light flickered glares off Mannis’s sui...

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“Project Un: Archive 471” by Samuel Bowen

“I’ve condemned a man to a hell before hell, and I feel nothing.” - Captain’s log, R. Gunson, Paradigm Prime[Date: ERROR unsynced with U.R. Standard][Subject:EIU01][Bio: REDACTED][Vital Status: Stable][Species: Unknown][Days held: ERROR Exceeds Allowable Input][Chamber status: Stable][Cam 1: On][Mic 1: On][Archive LT: Live][Designation: Protocol 4_Variant Detainment]

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“Project Un: The Whisper of the Stars” by Samuel Bowen

Submitted to Contest #210

“There are whispers in the stars; A prophecy of things unknown. For the observer, it is chance and circumstance, but to the believer… to the fanatic, it is truth.” - Captain’s log, R. Gunson, Paradigm Prime Sebi, Daughter of Medai, Daughter of Shura, did not like the desert. Of all the many complaints one could have of the wasteland devoid of pleasantries, Sebi disliked only the so...

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“Death of an Angel” by Samuel Bowen

Submitted to Contest #181

Aether, of the Angels of Eldenar knelt by his bedside, repeating to himself the Mandates Unbreakable. A breeze from the open window dared to silence his whispering devotion. Today was an ill day. To Aether, the air reeked with the smell of heathen magics. He knew the scent well, for it was his duty to stamp out such evil. The unseen energy flowed through the morning like a river of power. It urged Aether to feel it, to keep it... To use it. "Do not indulge in the power of the Forbidden." Aether said, breaking the near silence. Thi...

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