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Daniel Rogers

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Mar, 2023

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99 Stories

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Green Chip

Weekly Contest #371

A green sobriety chip turned in John Quigley’s pocket as he steered into the truck stop. His heartbeat quickened and his fists clenched as he tried to ignore the truck stop's massive display of beer. He’d have to tell his AA group about this craving. Eleven months without alcohol—he found it hard to believe, and so did his family and friends. They had watched him spiral downward for over fifteen years. When he first joined AA, they met his efforts with skepticism, but after he earned a few chips, their doubt turned into cautious hope, and fi...

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Now Where's That God-Ship

Weekly Contest #339

Many things in life are invisible: air, gravity, love, a cop when someone else speeds by, and a ship behind a chameleon shield. But even though they can’t be seen, they sure can be felt. “No! Not that way!” I shouted. “But we haven’t searched there yet,” Drock said. He wasn’t wrong. We haven’t searched there because if we did, we’d walk straight through my ship’s chameleon shield, and then we’d have a real problem on our hands. “I know, but let’s just leave that alone for now, and camp here.” Drock had many qualities I found annoying, but ob...

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The League of Nine. Well, Actually Only Eight

Weekly 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...

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Chairs Don't Just Float Around

Weekly 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...

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A Little Arm-Tearing Should Do the Trick

Weekly 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....

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She Doesn't Do Dishes

Weekly 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...

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It Needs to be Awesome Sounding

Weekly 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,...

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Should I Grovel at His Feet

Weekly 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...

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Friends Don't Stick Friends In Prison

Weekly 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...

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Can You Touch Your Forehead With Your Foot?

Weekly 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'...

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It's So Fluffy

Weekly 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...

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Look Who's Righteous Now

Weekly 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...

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A Well-Timed Butt Pinch

Weekly 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...

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Pleased as a Peach

Weekly 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...

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I'm Allergic to Death

Weekly 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...

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