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Daniel Rogers

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Mar, 2023

Stories (97)

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Library

519 Followers

268 Following

97 Stories

5923 karma pts

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The League of Nine. Well, Actually Only Eight

Submitted to Contest #336

“When you don’t have a plan, you’re frozen, and when you’re frozen, you’re useless,” Bob said. “Well, I don’t have a plan, does that make me useless?” There are times when Bob’s words of wisdom are plum annoying. “If the robe fits, wear it.” “Can you use normal words like yes or no?” “Having the ability and having the desire are two different things.” “I’ll take that as a yes.” Bob means well, but I need more than wise sayings to thwart the traitors’ plans. I need a plan. Unfortunately, I’m horrible at planning. And if that weren’t bad enoug...

8 likes

Chairs Don't Just Float Around

Submitted to Contest #335

We sent Tanbit to play Flak Florm and sniff out the traitor, but he got kidnapped instead. “Now we know why they kept inviting Tanbit to play Flak Florm,” Alora said. “It’s my fault,” Captain Cleeber said. “I gave them exactly what they needed.” “Don’t be so hard on yourself,” I said. “No one could have guessed what they had in mind.” Cleeber pounded his fist on the table, “I should have. It’s my job to know.” “No. It’s your job to respond. You can’t predict the future. So, how are we going to deal with the traitors and get Tanbit back?” I r...

34 likes

A Little Arm-Tearing Should Do the Trick

Submitted to Contest #334

The three of us stood on the deck of the Praveen, looking as uncomfortable as a stone pillow. We had to do it, but if Captain Cleeber gets mad about our accusations, there won’t be a happily ever after for us. “Treason? Not possible!” Captain Cleeber said. “This planet isn’t technologically advanced enough to manufacture a magnetic disruptor,” Alora said. “I refuse to believe it. None of my men would share our technology with a primitive race. It’s against the law.” Alora and I looked at each other, shocked by his Pollyanna view of his crew....

34 likes

She Doesn't Do Dishes

Submitted to Contest #333

Targon licked his plate clean, throwing it on top of a pile of dirty plates. Alora came from the kitchen and grabbed the stack. I could hardly believe my eyes. Alora doesn’t do dishes. I slowly breathed in through my nose and exhaled through my mouth, as Drock taught me. I couldn’t allow myself to burst out in anger. The Knock-Woks counted on me to signal them when Targon retired to his room. I continued to spy through the window, wondering how Targon got Alora to serve tables. He had to have some power over her, but what? She’s stronger tha...

32 likes

It Needs to be Awesome Sounding

Submitted to Contest #332

An average person has fifteen points where a Knock-Wok can poke, pinch, or karate chop to put that person to sleep. If successful, the person gets a good night's sleep or a nap, depending on the time of day. But if the Knock-Wok botches, the person could easily turn on him. And if that person is an Elite Guard, the results could be really bad, like the kind you don’t wake up from. Knock woking can be very dangerous. But knock woking is what we have to do to rescue Alora. “Why knock woking? Why not something awesome sounding, like taking out,...

43 likes

Should I Grovel at His Feet

Submitted to Contest #331

I need some guys who know how to kick butt and take names, but all I have are priests who sweep and meditate. "I'm at my wits' end. I've got to do something to free Alora from that madman." I said as Bob meditated. "Don't interrupt." I know Bob's a shaman, and he loves to meditate, but I'm too worked up to stop now. "Who knows what Targon is doing to Alora. Not that I'm too worried, she's tougher than most, well, than everyone, but it's the principle that matters." "What part of don't interrupt do you not understand?" Bob said without openi...

44 likes

Friends Don't Stick Friends In Prison

Submitted to Contest #330

What happens when a Talmarian ship gets caught with its ladder down? Fifteen years of hiding inside a chameleon shield, and a whole lot of game nights. Not to mention a few unwanted sacrifices. "And this is where we keep the sacrifices." Captain Cleeber pointed to a large reality room. "They believe they're in heaven, well, what they believe to be heaven. We based the program on local lore and sacred texts." I have to hand it to Captain Cleeber. He's done the best he could under the circumstances. His mission to study the pre-industrial cult...

51 likes

Can You Touch Your Forehead With Your Foot?

Submitted to Contest #328

Too bad they won't sacrifice women. Alora wouldn't hesitate. She's not afraid of heights. Why does it have to be so high? You'd think the Ladder God would have been more considerate and shortened the distance between heaven and the planet with a shorter ladder. I asked Alora for ideas to overcome my newly found fear. "I thought about your dilemma, and you're just going to have to get over it," Alora said. "That's your brilliant idea? Why didn't I think of that?" "Probably because you're human." Alora doesn't get sarcasm. She continued, "You'...

51 likes

It's So Fluffy

Submitted to Contest #327

The Elite Guard is waiting on the other side of the temple gate to arrest me. Which is going to make it very hard to get to the Ladder God. And if I can’t get there, there’s no way I can sacrifice myself. “You could stuff me in a saddlebag again,” I can’t believe I just said that. Not that I have anything against saddlebags, but the beast the saddlebag is attached to is a whole different ball of wax. Those tiger-like dignits and I don’t get along. Actually, it’s just me, but who can blame me. They have very sharp teeth, and their bone struct...

37 likes

Look Who's Righteous Now

Submitted to Contest #326

Oh! No, he didn’t! I reached the garden out of breath, sweating profusely. I’m supposed to do that! Curse my middle-aged legs. The young twit just finished pulling the last weed from the Shaman’s garden, giving him the lead in righteous acts – for now. I still have time to prove I’m the most righteous, assuming I don’t die first. And if we keep running like this, I might. The twit ran towards the temple to perform some other righteous act, but instead of giving chase, I moved deeper into the temple grounds – walking, not running. Bob the Sha...

38 likes

A Well-Timed Butt Pinch

Submitted to Contest #325

"Why two personalities?" Char didn't want to have this conversation, but he loved Sarcoo too much to ignore it. "You might as well ask how the stars got here." Char's dad answered. "It's just the way we are." "But my Frawn personality keeps breaking up with her, and if he keeps it up, I’m going to lose her. She’s at her breaking point." "I didn't say it's easy. Believe me, there's nothing easy about being a Binal. There isn't another species in the entire galaxy like us." "I hate him," Char spat, his fist slamming against the wall, pain shoo...

50 likes

Pleased as a Peach

Submitted to Contest #324

Why is this alien city obsessed with picking the perfect sacrifice? Wouldn't any schmoe do? I mean, all he has to do is climb a ladder to the Ladder God's abode, and die, or live happily ever after, or whatever happens up there. But, no. They have to put on an elaborate tournament to find just the right one. And now Bob is not telling me anything about the next elimination round. I didn't want to get this far in the first place, and now I'm forced to tackle the semifinal without a clue about what to expect. Alora keeps hearing whispers about...

35 likes

I'm Allergic to Death

Submitted to Contest #323

Seventy-seven. That's how many idiots are vying for the "honored" position of climbing the sacrificial ladder to god knows where. Correction. Seventy-six. I'm not an idiot. Call me a party pooper if you want, but I'm allergic to death. So, I'm a little less than whole-hearted about the contest. Although Alora continually reminds me that there is no Ladder God, it's just a ship using a chameleon shield to look like a storm cloud. "Well, at least," she says, "There's a ninety-five percent chance it's a ship." Crazy androids and their stupid pe...

30 likes

Stop Winking at Me

Submitted to Contest #322

Alora and Bob want me to volunteer, although for entirely different reasons. Heck, even Grinfo and Freena think it's a fantastic idea. Why am I the only sane person around here? Everyone knows it's a bad idea to volunteer to be a sacrifice. Alora believes it's the only way for us to obtain the dylanium inside the Ladder God's stormy abode. And I agree we need it. We're not flying off this rock without dylanium. My dispute is whether this is the only way. Bob believes I'm a god because I can say Bob - it's a long story. Anyway, he thinks I wo...

31 likes

What About Bob

Submitted to Contest #321

"We've got to make a great first impression," I said to Alora while kicking a rock off the path into a garden. A priest I hadn't seen retrieved the rock and placed it back on the path, giving me a dirty look, in a holy way, of course. "You need to stop kicking rocks. It never works out well for you." "Forget the rock. Focus. How do we impress the Shaman?" "I still don't know enough about their religion. The priests are not cooperative. Although I can understand why. None of them are happy with us for bringing the Elite Guard to their front ...

39 likes