Sci Fi

The Countdown. Winner in Leave the Light On Challenge. Top Story - December 2025.
A deafening cheer erupts from the crowd outside Danny’s hotel window in New York City’s Time Square. The sky darkens as a giant, electric-blue ball begins its final descent. Danny’s heart races, his nausea amplified by the rising tide of outside voices counting down in perfect sync. “Fifty-nine, fifty-eight, fifty-seven-”
By Kenny Penn3 years ago in Fiction
Nemesis
"They're coming!" – I whispered to Ben. He was sitting behind another car a few steps away. He was holding a brand new ACR in his hands, ready to shoot.
By Anna 3 years ago in Fiction
The countdown. Content Warning.
Tick, tick, tick. The digital clock on the bomb read 00:60, counting down mercilessly. Jack stared at it, his heart pounding like a sledgehammer against his ribs. Sweat trickled down his forehead, mixing with the dust of the dimly lit room. He had sixty seconds. Sixty seconds to defuse the bomb and save everyone in the crowded subway station above. Sixty seconds to wrestle with his fear and doubt, to channel his training into swift action. With trembling hands, Jack reached for the wire cutters. His mind raced through the steps, the diagrams he had studied countless times. Red wire or blue wire? Which one would stop the countdown? He hesitated, his fingers hovering over the tangled mess of wires. His mind was a blur, his thoughts clashing like cymbals in a storm. He closed his eyes, blocking out the panic threatening to consume him. "Focus, Jack," he whispered to himself. "You can do this." Taking a deep breath, Jack made his choice. Red wire. He snipped it with precision, his heart pounding in his ears. For a split second, nothing happened. Then, the digital display flickered, the countdown freezing at 00:45. Relief washed over Jack like a tidal wave. But there was no time to celebrate. He still had to disarm the rest of the bomb before it was too late. He turned his attention back to the maze of wires, his hands steady now with newfound resolve. Sweat dripped onto the floor as he worked frantically, each second ticking by like a drumbeat in his head. Thirty seconds left. He cut another wire, then another, the countdown pausing with each snip. The bomb seemed to taunt him, its metallic casing gleaming in the dim light. Fifteen seconds. Jack's heart raced as he approached the final wire. His hands trembled with anticipation, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. Ten seconds. He closed his eyes, blocking out the chaos around him. In that moment, there was only him and the bomb, locked in a deadly dance of life and death. Five seconds. With a final, desperate lunge, Jack cut the last wire. The bomb went silent, its digital display blinking out of existence. Zero. For a moment, there was only silence. Then, a roar of triumph erupted from the onlookers, their cheers echoing off the walls of the subway station. Jack slumped to the ground, his body trembling with exhaustion. He had done it. He had saved them all. As paramedics rushed to his side, Jack allowed himself a moment of relief. But even as he basked in the warmth of their gratitude, he knew that his work was far from over. There would always be another bomb, another crisis waiting just around the corner. But as long as there were people in need, Jack would be there to answer the call. For in that fleeting moment of chaos and fear, he had found his purpose. And nothing would ever take that away.
By Anna 3 years ago in Fiction
The Chronicles of Galacta-Guardians: Rise of the Cosmic Crusaders
**Title: "The Chronicles of Galacta-Guardians: Rise of the Cosmic Crusaders"** In the distant reaches of the cosmos, where stars twinkle like distant memories, and galaxies swirl in a cosmic dance, there exists a realm known as Galacta Prime. This celestial kingdom is home to beings of unimaginable power and wisdom—the Galacta-Guardians. In the heart of Galacta Prime lies the Astral Citadel, a shimmering palace of crystal and light, where the Galacta-Guardians gather to safeguard the cosmos from threats beyond imagination. Led by the noble Galacta-King, they vow to uphold peace and justice across the vast expanse of space. Our story begins on the planet of Lumina, a peaceful world bathed in the soft glow of its twin moons. Here, we meet our heroes, Zara and Kael, two young Luminites with dreams as vast as the universe itself. They long to join the ranks of the Galacta-Guardians, to soar among the stars and defend the innocent from harm. But their dreams are shattered when Lumina is attacked by the nefarious Warlord Zorgon and his army of shadowy drones. The peaceful streets are thrown into chaos as buildings crumble and screams echo through the night. Amidst the chaos, Zara and Kael refuse to stand idly by. With courage in their hearts and determination in their eyes, they embark on a daring quest to seek out the legendary Galacta-King and plead for his aid. Their journey takes them across the galaxy, through asteroid fields and nebulae, until they finally arrive at the Astral Citadel. But their trials are far from over, for the Citadel is guarded by ancient traps and formidable sentinels. With quick thinking and teamwork, Zara and Kael navigate the treacherous corridors and stand before the throne of the Galacta-King. They recount the horrors that have befallen their world and beg for his assistance. Moved by their bravery and resolve, the Galacta-King bestows upon them the power of the Cosmic Crusaders. With a flash of light, Zara and Kael are transformed, their bodies infused with cosmic energy, and their minds enlightened with the wisdom of the ages. Armed with newfound strength and purpose, Zara and Kael return to Lumina to face Zorgon and his minions. The battle that ensues is a spectacle of light and sound, as the Cosmic Crusaders clash with the forces of darkness. But victory does not come easily, for Zorgon is a cunning foe, and his power knows no bounds. Just when all seems lost, Zara and Kael unleash the full extent of their abilities, channeling the very essence of the cosmos itself. With a blinding flash of light, Zorgon is vanquished, his army scattered to the far corners of the galaxy. The people of Lumina rejoice, their world saved from destruction, thanks to the bravery of two unlikely heroes. And so, the legend of the Galacta-Guardians grows, as Zara and Kael continue their adventures across the cosmos, protecting the innocent and defending the light against the encroaching darkness. For as long as there are heroes willing to fight for what is right, the universe will know peace.
By Jafar Sadique3 years ago in Fiction
The Golden Valley. Top Story - May 2024.
The difference between light and dark could be as quick and simple as a flip of a switch, the drawing of a curtain, the opening of one’s eyes. It could be more gradual like the slow adjustment of the diaphragm on a microscope, the turn of a planet on its axis, the growing light as you approach the end of a tunnel. A flicker in the dark, a steady glow in the distance, a flash in the night sky.
By Alyssa Musso3 years ago in Fiction
How I Put 4 Million Suns into a Black Hole Above New York
Introduction to a Cosmic Scale Model in Manhattan In this engaging thought experiment, we embark on creating a scale model of our solar system in the expansive environment of Manhattan, New York. Here, Earth is scaled down to the size of a grape to provide a tangible perspective on the vastness of space.
By Bình Trần3 years ago in Fiction
The Insane Biology Of The Sand Worm
Frank Herbert introduced giant sandworms to the list of creatures, unlocking a new fear. Could these beings really exist? Looking at paleontology books, we found that giant insects once dominated the Earth. The largest worm ever recorded was aquatic and measured 1 foot. Currently, the largest worm on Earth is the giant Gippsland earthworm in Australia, measuring up to 10 ft. But on the planet Arrakis, sandworms reach 1300 ft in length, playing a vital role in the ecosystem. While it sounds plausible in theory, scientists say such worms couldn't survive on Earth due to gravity and physics. This makes them larger than even the biggest dinosaurs. Bringing sandworms to Earth would have many challenges, so let's hope they stay on distant planets
By Kenedy Njuki3 years ago in Fiction
Endless Room
My eyes widened as I slowly emerged from a fog of grogginess, finding myself in a cold and unfamiliar room. Confusion danced with disorientation, and my heart beat deepened into my chest cavity. There were no windows, no doors—just solid, unforgiving concrete, stark fluorescent lighting above my head and a bare bed in the room's centre. Solid dark metal framed it's edge as I lay on a crisp white sheet trying to focus my thoughts.
By Erzsébet3 years ago in Fiction
Soulless
According to some, they are our mindless gods... They created us... But this idea doesn't seem very possible to me. Others think just the opposite. How could beings like us, superior entities, be created by such feeble and flawed creatures?
By Yasemin Yiğit Kuru3 years ago in Fiction
1:23 PM . Top Story - May 2024.
I tell you, I miss mornings, fella. I miss the taste of coffee. The feeling of a newspaper in my hand. The sight of the soft light of daybreak.
By BK3 years ago in Fiction
A robot suit from future
There are a lot of things in life that I can't explain to anybody except myself, and this is because I never got the correct words to express what I really felt and many more. I can't explain to these mortals what I really come to know about life. Actually, life is not a single path; it's actually very helical in nature. It is not as simple as a singleton set; it's actually as complicated and full of thrill as an adventurous, unexpected, strange nuclear reactor core, which was accidentally discovered.
By Abhinav Goel3 years ago in Fiction
From Beneath, It Devours
On a calm and warm sunny day, Zach Hollis was sitting at a control board and watching readings from a submersible as it ventured toward the deepest part of the Mariana Trench system. From aboard the two-billion-dollar research station, Zach’s job was to check on the crew at five-minute intervals and monitor the gauges. The Mythic Explorer Station was as isolated from the world as any place he could imagine, so staying safely aboard and running operational analysis suited him fine. As he watched the timer, Zach finished a cup of coffee he’d been nursing for a while.
By Jason Morton3 years ago in Fiction