Story Time, Volume 19

This week's Daily Micro Fiction stories, plus a bonus story at the end!

Nov 21, 2021

“Which way?” the Tiller-man asked.
“I’ll consult my charts,” the Navigator said. “With an easterly wind, moving at 17 knots, with our current heading…”
“West,” the Captain interrupted.
“West? But the wind-“
“Will change.” The Captain smiled. “It always does.”

Everyone had their reason for leaving Sol:

Adventure. Escape.

Riches. Debt.

Pride. Shame.

They all have one thing in common — when they awoke from their long cryosleep, everyone they ever knew had been dead for over ten thousand years.

"This is the worst Engine in the fleet," he said. "Half a dozen Guild Engineers have quit on me in the last year alone."
With confidence, she said: "I'll be different."

"You've managed to normalize the output completely! What's your secret?"
She shrugged. "I listen."

"I don't get it." He shook his head, admiring the heartfelt note her students had left her.
"What's not to get?"
"I've read your feedback. You're brutal! You eviscerate these kids!"
"Well, I don't sugarcoat things. But while I might not always be nice, I'm always kind."

"—but this school has better reviews."
"Their academic teams are much worse, though. And you have to consider the teacher-to-student ratios."
"What about this one's library? It's got almost double the square footage."

After her first day, they asked her what she thought.
"I love it!" she responded excitedly.
"What did you like most?" her dad asked.

"The walls are purple!"