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Daily Deviation
Daily Deviation
October 15, 2015
distortified shows us, in FFM 28 - Ziggy , that a scientist's curiosity can and does go too far sometimes.
Featured by TheMaidenInBlack
Suggested by GDeyke
Literature Text
DECLASSIFIED: CAPTAIN’S LOGS OF SS ROSALYN. (Re: THE DOOR PROJECT/ “ZIGGI” )
Entry # 107 - July 1, 4015
Captain’s log, Major Tom Malverne reporting. We’ve finally made progress, after five years of research. In Tesla’s studies of “The Door” in Death Valley, he suggested it might open into a completely different world, though the reports are unclear on what might be in those other worlds.
We can more comfortably say that we now know. The Saviour Machine has worked exactly as designed, and the good ship Rosalyn is currently parked beside the first manmade, fully-stabilized wormhole. The first probe is already returning, with what appears to be some sort of sediment. Further research needs to be conducted before the wormhole is ready for humans, and I will note progress as it continues. -TM
Entry #115 - July 6, 4015
Research on the Stardust is going almost alarmingly well. The fine, shimmering sand is already displaying a plethora of remarkable qualities, responding to every sort of stimulus that we throw at it. A few granules contaminated a sample of the arachnoid we found on Mars, and some of the dead cells immediately showed signs of growth and regeneration. The implications are mind-blowing. We could be heroes.
I’ve assigned my best researchers to examine the contaminated sample, while we continue to monitor the readings from the wormhole. -TM
Entry #118 - July 9, 4015
The contaminated sample continues to grow. The reanimated cells have been reproducing exponentially for more than 72 hours now, and the swab of trace organic cells has grown into a mass of tissue that is beginning to pulse. Doctor Laskari has insisted that we burn it, but I wish to see where this is going. -TM
Entry # 124 - July 10, 4015
The Wormhole remains stable, though all readings are still inconclusive. Preparing further probe missions. In other news, the lump in the lab continues to grow. It is now approximately the size of a small watermelon, and continues to pulse healthily. The crew is lethargic from long hours of research; I’ll have to ask ground control for energy supplements with our next shipment of protein pills. -TM
Entry #147 - July 14, 4015
The contaminated sample is, and I realise this sounds nuts, becoming some sort of new life form. It grew a pair of eyes overnight, and the cross-slitted X-shaped pupils are not like anything we’ve ever seen. X-rays show suggestions of brain matter, and the starting rudiments of a proper nervous system. I’ve had Doctor Laskari transfer it into one of the secure holding tanks for further analysis.
Entry #149 - July 15, 4015
The creature in the tank seems to be growing at an accelerated rate. It drags itself back and forth across the floor with fleshy flippers, and makes a squeaking sound that’s actually kind of cute. The researchers still can’t figure out how it’s thriving when it hasn’t eaten anything, but they’re all too burnt-out from long nights. We all are, and I’m not sure any of us are going to be resting easier until we can figure out some answers with this thing. – TM
Entry #151 - July 15, 4015
It watches me. I know that it’s in a cage, and it’s incapable of reasoning on my level, so that means I should be the one watching. But all the same, it watches back. Is it already bigger than when I last checked on it for this afternoon’s report? Or am I just getting the space madness, too?
Entry #155 - July 16, 4015
The creature now has four legs, and has developed a reproductive system. We’ve named him Ziggy. Doctor Laskari is taking a few days rest, so I will be directly leading his team on the research.
Entry #156 - July 17, 4015
Ziggy continues to grow healthily, and looks relatively content in his cell. I told the researchers to take the day off and rest; we’re not going to crack this overnight. They rely too much on radiation and chemicals. I’m not sure science is the answer. To be honest, he’s starting to remind me of a dog. -TM
Entry #158 – July 20, 4015
Ziggi has decided to be a female today. She’s also begun to walk on two legs, and has grown a mouth. It doesn’t seem to be connected to any sort of digestive system, but it is remarkably expressive. Her skin has been filling in beautifully as well, with colors that seem to change by the hour. I haven’t seen the researchers in a few days, but I really don’t care. I’ve been having a wonderful time sitting and watching Ziggi. -TM
Entry #163 - July 27, 4015
Radio chatter. Lots of radio chatter. Asking for Tom. Name’s familiar but no real bells. Ziggi says Tom’s gone. Seems like there were people here to answer the radio before, but it’s just me and her now. I think I like it better that way anyway. If only the radio would shut up for a minute. Maybe I’ll ask Ziggi what to do.
Entry #164 - July 28, 4015
The creature seems to be adjusting to his new habitat well. The excess of stimuli, I believe, was too much strain on him. I’ve relocated him to the tank, and he seems to be doing much better. As of now, he only rocks in the corner, whispering to himself. I will monitor further changes and note them as progress continues. -Z
Entry # 107 - July 1, 4015
Captain’s log, Major Tom Malverne reporting. We’ve finally made progress, after five years of research. In Tesla’s studies of “The Door” in Death Valley, he suggested it might open into a completely different world, though the reports are unclear on what might be in those other worlds.
We can more comfortably say that we now know. The Saviour Machine has worked exactly as designed, and the good ship Rosalyn is currently parked beside the first manmade, fully-stabilized wormhole. The first probe is already returning, with what appears to be some sort of sediment. Further research needs to be conducted before the wormhole is ready for humans, and I will note progress as it continues. -TM
Entry #115 - July 6, 4015
Research on the Stardust is going almost alarmingly well. The fine, shimmering sand is already displaying a plethora of remarkable qualities, responding to every sort of stimulus that we throw at it. A few granules contaminated a sample of the arachnoid we found on Mars, and some of the dead cells immediately showed signs of growth and regeneration. The implications are mind-blowing. We could be heroes.
I’ve assigned my best researchers to examine the contaminated sample, while we continue to monitor the readings from the wormhole. -TM
Entry #118 - July 9, 4015
The contaminated sample continues to grow. The reanimated cells have been reproducing exponentially for more than 72 hours now, and the swab of trace organic cells has grown into a mass of tissue that is beginning to pulse. Doctor Laskari has insisted that we burn it, but I wish to see where this is going. -TM
Entry # 124 - July 10, 4015
The Wormhole remains stable, though all readings are still inconclusive. Preparing further probe missions. In other news, the lump in the lab continues to grow. It is now approximately the size of a small watermelon, and continues to pulse healthily. The crew is lethargic from long hours of research; I’ll have to ask ground control for energy supplements with our next shipment of protein pills. -TM
Entry #147 - July 14, 4015
The contaminated sample is, and I realise this sounds nuts, becoming some sort of new life form. It grew a pair of eyes overnight, and the cross-slitted X-shaped pupils are not like anything we’ve ever seen. X-rays show suggestions of brain matter, and the starting rudiments of a proper nervous system. I’ve had Doctor Laskari transfer it into one of the secure holding tanks for further analysis.
Entry #149 - July 15, 4015
The creature in the tank seems to be growing at an accelerated rate. It drags itself back and forth across the floor with fleshy flippers, and makes a squeaking sound that’s actually kind of cute. The researchers still can’t figure out how it’s thriving when it hasn’t eaten anything, but they’re all too burnt-out from long nights. We all are, and I’m not sure any of us are going to be resting easier until we can figure out some answers with this thing. – TM
Entry #151 - July 15, 4015
It watches me. I know that it’s in a cage, and it’s incapable of reasoning on my level, so that means I should be the one watching. But all the same, it watches back. Is it already bigger than when I last checked on it for this afternoon’s report? Or am I just getting the space madness, too?
Entry #155 - July 16, 4015
The creature now has four legs, and has developed a reproductive system. We’ve named him Ziggy. Doctor Laskari is taking a few days rest, so I will be directly leading his team on the research.
Entry #156 - July 17, 4015
Ziggy continues to grow healthily, and looks relatively content in his cell. I told the researchers to take the day off and rest; we’re not going to crack this overnight. They rely too much on radiation and chemicals. I’m not sure science is the answer. To be honest, he’s starting to remind me of a dog. -TM
Entry #158 – July 20, 4015
Ziggi has decided to be a female today. She’s also begun to walk on two legs, and has grown a mouth. It doesn’t seem to be connected to any sort of digestive system, but it is remarkably expressive. Her skin has been filling in beautifully as well, with colors that seem to change by the hour. I haven’t seen the researchers in a few days, but I really don’t care. I’ve been having a wonderful time sitting and watching Ziggi. -TM
Entry #163 - July 27, 4015
Radio chatter. Lots of radio chatter. Asking for Tom. Name’s familiar but no real bells. Ziggi says Tom’s gone. Seems like there were people here to answer the radio before, but it’s just me and her now. I think I like it better that way anyway. If only the radio would shut up for a minute. Maybe I’ll ask Ziggi what to do.
Entry #164 - July 28, 4015
The creature seems to be adjusting to his new habitat well. The excess of stimuli, I believe, was too much strain on him. I’ve relocated him to the tank, and he seems to be doing much better. As of now, he only rocks in the corner, whispering to himself. I will monitor further changes and note them as progress continues. -Z
Literature
31.15 Undaunted
“Anagnorisis, chiaroscuro, cicatrize, defenestrate, eldritch, excelsior, pulchritudinous, skank.”
Eric couldn’t decide whether to gape at me or at the paper that had been shoved under our door. “What the hell does that mean?”
“It’s a message.” It was a catalyst. Well, at least it was better than dealing with ennui.
“Ah. Well, if it’s not someone just being facetious, I’m going to have to google some of those definitions, then.”
I chuckled and shook my head. “The words themselves don’t matter; the legend is the initials. It’s a bit clumsy, but not bad
Literature
21.15 Mnemonics
He awoke to sunlight in his eyes and the smell of her. Every day, he would stay in bed just a little bit longer than he ought to, just to bask in the glory of smell she had left behind. It was roses and mint and sandalwood and woman and a million other things he couldn’t have described, even if he tried, but it was her, and he would never forget it, as long as he lived, and probably not for a long time after he died.
But every day, the smell grew fainter, the sheets seemed to grow colder, and it was one more day since the last time he woke with her actually there.
Literature
FFM 14 - Red Tape
Maria scoffed at the protesters outside, loosely organized and shouting non-uniform It was true they finally submitted the proper forms and so was legally allowed to congregate outside, but they were still an unappealing sight. The very thing they campaigned for was anathema. What would the world do without the forms to tell them? How would we know when someone did something, where someone went without proof? How would the drones know to keep the water units outside to be fully stocked so that the protesters wouldn't dehydrate? A world without paperwork would be a logistic disaster, events happening without being recorded, actions done and no
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Flash-Fic-Month July 29, 2015
Challenge: David Bowie Day, Score 150 David Bowie Points using the following criteria
I got EXACTLY 150 points. This was a tremendous exercise in self-restraint. My natural inclination is to go for the high score and use every possible prompt available, so I made sure to get exactly the bare minimum instead. Counting out the Z's was the hard part, and even forced me to spell a few words the English way.
Challenge: David Bowie Day, Score 150 David Bowie Points using the following criteria
Score one point for every letter “Z” in your story. (10)
Score 10 points for each:
…David Bowie song title X3 (Five Years, Saviour Machine, Rosalyn)
…quote of more than three words from any David Bowie song X1 (We could be heroes.)
…character called Ziggy, Major Tom, Aladdin, Jareth or Jean X2
…made up word
Score 20 points for including a:
…goblin king
…spaceman or raygun X1 (Major Tom himself)
…spider from mars X1 (The contaminated sample)
Score 50 points if:
Your piece is 565 words long (“David Robert Jones”)
Your story features an androgynous character, or a character who changes gender or sex X1 (Ziggy transforming into Ziggi on a whim)
Your story features a man who fell to earth
Your story features a man who sold the world.
I got EXACTLY 150 points. This was a tremendous exercise in self-restraint. My natural inclination is to go for the high score and use every possible prompt available, so I made sure to get exactly the bare minimum instead. Counting out the Z's was the hard part, and even forced me to spell a few words the English way.
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Comments27
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The restraint paid off. The flow and storytelling in this piece feel natural, not at all as if you tried to accomplish anything but your own designs. Well, in hindsight, the dead 'arachnid' cells maybe.