Write about a character preparing to go into stasis for decades (or centuries).

Posted in Science Fiction on Oct 15, 2020

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✍️ 108 stories

“We Are Not a Colony of Ants” by K M Hasling

Submitted to Contest #62

One by one, she watched the dark lines wriggle up and down, to and from the tunnel entrance in the center. Following foot to feeler, ant after ant after ant wrapped in random yet neat patterns like a spirograph inside the tiny formicarium. She watched for another minute, breathing evenly, and thinking about what life meant to the tiny creepy crawlers.“Dad?”“Yes, Adala.”“Do ants go into stasis the same as us?”“Ants are insects. They aren’t warm-blooded mammals like us, so it’s different.”Adala poised her finger to tap on the plastic frame of ...

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“Sacrifice” by Andrea Kepple

Submitted to Contest #62

“We need to talk.” Ben says taking a seat at the kitchen table. He has some nerve deciding we need to talk now after months of him working 12- 16 hour days, if that is really what he’s been doing. Ben has been AWOL while I take our little angel for her appointments and treatments. He has been AWOL while I try and provide something like a normal home life for all three of our children. He has been AWOL while my parents and his sister Christa have stepped in to fill the yawning hole. It was at out little girl’s third birthda...

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“Chrysalis” by Michael Asselin

Submitted to Contest #62

Chrysalis Michael Asselin Reed watched as the others made ready. He sat, feet dangling just above the cold metal floor. He ran his fingers over the edge of the capsule, the thing was angular, ugly, all hard lines and jagged edges, a design of utility, not beauty. And it would be his home, for what would amount to almost five hundred years on earth. He had been told that when he came back…if they came back, things could, would be vastly different. The films they had been shown were intended to provide comfort, to give them purpose, but they ...

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“A Hope for the Future” by Mathias Nobel Hadberg

Submitted to Contest #62

Hello. I wish I had something better to write, a more quirky, funny opening line, but even if I had one, it would feel out of place. Sorry, would perhaps be a better opening line. My name is Randall Haighes and I am your biological father. I am sure that Melina, your mother, will have told you of why your father was never there, but I wish to give here a more first-hand account of the reasons and my own story. The reasons are selfish, as they will always be for a coming father to travel into space for a voyage that he knows will take nearly ...

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“Something to Look Forward to” by Francis Groleau

Submitted to Contest #62

To whoever finds this, I have mailed this letter to your address randomly. I apologize for assigning you this responsibility, but I do hope that you will take this matter seriously. You may perceive this letter as the rambling of an old man and you wouldn’t be completely wrong, but I assure you that it is in your best interest to read it until the end. I am a very wealthy man and you will be heavily compensated for any trouble this letter may cause you. You probably never heard of me even though I’m one of the richest men in the country....

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“The preperation” by Silvia Skye

Submitted to Contest #62

Way above the dying earth, a huge station orbited the planet it had multiple docking bays surrounding it, its shining metal reflected the sun and people looked out multiple windows and their last glimpse of earth. Inside one of the windows a woman named Tia kept looking out that window pacing and thinking the Earth was beautiful from here. It would probably be the last time she ever saw it, her and 100 other women were being sent to another planet, that had huge oceans teaming with life, islands of lush greenery dotted with a rainbow o...

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“40cm x 25cm x 20cm” by Pablo Mascaraque Glenn

Submitted to Contest #62

He’s here, Dr. Pérez.” Sandra felt every muscle at the back of her throat contract as she swallowed hard, something she didn’t remember ever feeling before. The excitement that had been dominating most of her morning suddenly turned sour as she realised what it was they were about to do. She cleared her throat discretely, a hand over her mouth, before replying. “Thank you, Xavier. I’ll be in shortly. Could you help Mr. Beauchamp into the chamber and start prepping him, please?” Xavier nodded and walked back out the door, which clicked bac...

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“Glacious” by Aran Eagle

Submitted to Contest #62

The man before him was unlike any Mr. Holden had ever seen. His eyes were bloodshot, his clothes bloodstained, and the man was so tightly tied to the chair he was in, that Mr. Holden was tempted to loosen them. The man, a convicted murderer, had spit forming behind the metal gag in his mouth, his chest was straining as he tried to break out of the bonds that held him. Mr. Holden backed off just a little and opened his briefcase. He withdrew a small stack of papers and commenced reading them to the crazed man in front of him. "Atticus Jam...

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“Don't go, father, don't go” by Siú Valery

Submitted to Contest #62

Atelic Dickerson is a scientist with an important mission. He's the head supervisor of the stasis process for the colony ship Indomitable that will be traveling to Trappist-1d, a planet almost 40 light-years away. But his mission today had nothing to do with science but family. He came home to say goodbye to his son and wife since they won't be traveling with him."Father, you're home!". Anselmo, a delicate features eight years old boy said with happiness flowing out of every pore in his lithe body. Suddenly, sadness hit him like a comet impa...

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“Endlings” by Jayde Trilo

Submitted to Contest #62

The Last Human on Earth had reached her destination. Beside her Goldie, the probably-last dog on Earth, barked and wagged her tail. The Last Human looked away from the empty billionaire’s house they had come to and patted Goldie. The poor girl was all skin and bones, just like the Last Human. If the upcoming winter was as bad as the previous one, neither of them would survive.“We made it girl” The Last Human said as Goldie leaned in for harder ear scratches. “Let’s see if Richie Rich here actually did it.”And see if his house still had power...

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“Odyssey” by Mwangelwa Kamwí

Submitted to Contest #62

Its the year 2047. Earth has plunged into chaos as a bioweapon was released on US soil by North Korea, killing more than half of the citizens. US responded by raining nuclear hell on the east, leaving a fraction of the population in The South of Korea,Japan and China,who are affected by radiation. India suffered the biggest drought of their history, causing a famine...half a billion people lost their lives. Africa United to form The Great Coalition and waged war on the England,France and Portugal claiming their resources and land as re...

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“Cryolock” by Matthew Turner

Submitted to Contest #62

What will the future hold? Will it be as grand as we imagine it to be? Or will it be more horrific than we could possibly imagine? These rhetoricals were the only thing holding me back. I’d already checked out months ago. Pills and therapy sessions never stemmed the feeling that I don’t belong. Reaffirmations from family and friends never “fixed” me. I would watch people, genuinely happy people, and I would marvel at them. What must that be like? So full of determination. Zeal. They care. They care about something and I can’t find it in me t...

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“Golden Hour” by Avery Malone

Submitted to Contest #62

Thursday June 20,2024 It is like I am seeing everything for the first time. My eyes are open, and the world is finally mine for the taking, only to be snatch away. If someone would have asked me where I saw myself in the future, there would not have been an answer. I was- I am a ghost, I have no family, any friends, no one to say goodbye to. An ordinary life, a disposable soul for no one to mourn for. There was no reason to live, I have nothing to sacrifice. I am the perfect candidate, their best lab rat. Their motto “Pushing the limits ...

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“Saying Goodbye” by Megan Snyder

Submitted to Contest #62

Today is the day. The Day of Goodbyes. We’ve been wondering if this day would come for over six months. Ever since Mom got her diagnosis: small-cell lung cancer, spread throughout one lung. She tried chemotherapy; she tried surgery; she tried radiation therapy. Nothing worked. Last month, Mom’s oncologist suggested applying for stasis. It’s not what you want to hear from your doctor. It means your case is hopeless. It means you’d otherwise be doomed to die. It means saying goodbye to friends and family, perhaps for a little whi...

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“Give Us A Decade and We'll Be Fine” by Calvin Belton

Submitted to Contest #62

The water was churned up from the boat passing, their balance faltering for a moment until a hand steeled them. Mason’s hand, his other still clutching the rock beside him, a face crisp and focused in displaced worry. Tatum just grinned back, picking their feet up lightly as they maneuvered themselves closer to shore. “Do you think it’s safe?”, they had asked, “To like- swim here?” “Umm, short term? Maybe you’d cut your feet up on some old machinery or get caught up i...

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Write about a character preparing to go into stasis for decades (or centuries).

Submissions are closed

✍️ 108 stories

“We Are Not a Colony of Ants” by K M Hasling

“Sacrifice” by Andrea Kepple

“Chrysalis” by Michael Asselin

“A Hope for the Future” by Mathias Nobel Hadberg

“Something to Look Forward to” by Francis Groleau

“The preperation” by Silvia Skye

“40cm x 25cm x 20cm” by Pablo Mascaraque Glenn

“Glacious” by Aran Eagle

“Don't go, father, don't go” by Siú Valery

“Endlings” by Jayde Trilo

“Odyssey” by Mwangelwa Kamwí

“Cryolock” by Matthew Turner

“Golden Hour” by Avery Malone

“Saying Goodbye” by Megan Snyder

“Give Us A Decade and We'll Be Fine” by Calvin Belton

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a character who can suddenly only “remember” their future, not their past.

Write about a character who’s had their future foretold from birth — but isn’t sure if they believe it.

Write about two characters on the verge of a life-changing event, but one has rigged the outcome.

Write about a character putting something into a time capsule.

Contest #62

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

620

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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