The SST AlterNet
Explore writing-prompt responses by character, arc, theme or available text.
Browse the collection below.
Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
"This is your last chance to back out," the giant-red-skinned man said. He stood between a group of three college kids and an enormous obsidian gate that dwarfed the 10-foot tall demon. "There is no going back after this
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Marvin stepped back from the purple-haired young woman as she rushed at him with open arms. He backed up against the alley wall where he approached her. He frequently spotted her bright purple hair over the past couple o
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
"Thank you for your time Ms. Sharp," Satan said. He sat behind a large obsidian desk in a wide-open cavern interior. Large windows behind him gave his guests, Ms. Dana Sharp and her assistant, Melody, a view of the Helli
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Billy followed Vanilla into a black stone castle and through the wide open hallways. She led him to an indoor swimming pool filled with crystal clear water. A tall pale woman floated on her back in the center of the pool
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Perla smiled to herself as she watched a group of children playing around the yellow slide. She did not use her ability on them; she didn't like using it on children. After almost a decade of practice, the most important
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
"Bye, mommy!" Jack waved from the curb as the woman drove away in a candy-red two-seat Porsche. She sighed with relief when she pulled out of the drop-off.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
The sun was setting on another day. Zachary wandered around the edges of the large ranch he claimed as his own turning on the perimeter lights. Thanks to solar panels, and unclaimed generators he never worried about wast
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
"...and the whiskey is in case the snake bites you," Tom heard someone's voice to his left before he opened his eyes. When he did, he found himself in the driver's seat. He was holding a bottle of whiskey in his right ha
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Violet leaned against her closed door and gave a small sigh of relief the moment she entered her apartment. She got home as quickly, and indirectly as she could; but, she knew it was only a matter of time before her capt
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
"Are those...," Cherry pointed to the sun-drenched glade surrounded by tall, narrow conifers. "...or are they not unicorns?" she asked Cassie. The scrawny girl with a green backpack did not reply; she was too entranced b
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
"Well...," Jenkins stared at the young, tanned, dirty-blonde girl while she doodled. "...shit." He sat in the mostly empty library and watched her from the table next to her. She and he were the only two at the cluster o
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
"Okay, close your eyes," Duke said. He stood in front of his girlfriend, Lena, in his bedroom. The decor was sparse, almost spartan. A queen-sized bed with simple white linens matched the white walls. A cherry-wood night
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
"I promise I'll be careful," Marcus looked up at his mother with pleading eyes as he asked for permission. She looked down at him with tired eyes and gave him a soft, sad smile.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
"This message is being broadcast on every possible frequency and device in every language. Ladies and gentlemen, please do not panic," the short, stocky woman said into the microphone. Several of the soldiers around her
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
"Ready for the final touch?" Mundo asked. The surly, heavy-set woman held the tattoo machine inches off Maxwell's forearm. His tanned skin was covered with a freshly-inked potted ivy. Long green strands crept their way d
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Kyle sat alone at a small table in a barren coffee shop. Golden sunlight dragged long shadows across the empty tables and chairs. Dozens of pedestrians wandered by, their shadows sliding over the lone, bookish man. He wo
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
"Thanks, Cassie," Torque said. "My hands feel a ton better already. What's in it?" She leaned against the rough, dark brown trunk of a towering pine tree. She was massaging a slick golden liquid between her wounded hands
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
"Decided yet?" Hannah asked. She looked over Mick's shoulders at the pamphlet he was reading: An AlterNet Existence. Both of them sat on their towels in the shade of a giant plaid umbrella. Despite the brilliant, sunny d
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
"Are you sure you don't want to go with me?" Drake asked Margie. The lean bearded man in a grey robe smiled at his best friend with his best puppy dog eyes. They hadn't worked on her once during their 12-year friendship;
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
"... and my assistant Melody,..." the pale woman wearing a white suit gestured at a shorter pale woman in a black suit next to her. "...will read the questions." Dana Sharp, the woman in white, stood at a wooden podium w
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Billy placed Vanilla's body in the shallow hole gently. He lowered her legs first, being extra careful not to dirty her bright orange dress more than he needed to. Then, he guided her head to rest on a green, leathery pi
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Peter's bedroom door slammed open; the sudden 'bang' jolted him awake. He sat up in time to half-catch a cool, heavy shotgun. His mom tossed it to him as she entered the room. She was dressed and covered in protective la
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
"I forgot the cookies!" the young, red-headed girl dashed out of her pink room. Elena heard her small feet patter down a flight of stairs. She sighed in relief now that she had a moment alone. Bubblegum pink walls were d
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Thorne sighed when he noticed the missing information. He looked up at his contact across the table. They met in a 24-hour diner on the 24th hour. Both men wore suits. Thorne's bright cactus-green suit looked clownish wh
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
"You think that's all?" Billy asked Cherry as he lowered his arms. He raised them to protect his head from an onslaught of stones that came flying out of small black holes; they seemed to stop coming.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Kelsey sighed contentedly. The man she loved had his arms wrapped around her as they sat on the roof and watched the stars. A cool breeze glided across her skin.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
"The view could be worse," Elijah thought again. Every time his mind wandered he kept himself sane by focusing on the bright side. He may have been time-locked, but he was sitting outside on a beautiful orange and purple
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] Two human-like figures step off the galactic vessel. One, holding a piece of parchment, states loudly "This land, known as Earth, was purchased long ago. The landlord has issued an eviction of all trespassers on their premises with immediate effect or action will be taken"
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You're sitting next to someone on the bus with an interesting tattoo. You ask them about it, and immediately realize how stupid your question sounded.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] Your life is normal but when the new students join your friend group, you notice your friends becoming cliches of a generic story. You all one day randomly decide to go into the school basement....There before you 30 minutes later is a glowing object and its whispering to you to get it.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You are blessed with the power to see the power level of a person, most average humans have a power level of 2, while trained fighters have a power level of 5. You get married, and when your child is born, you see his/her power level, it's 1003.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You are waiting for the green light at a cross walk. The moment it finally turns green, you start walking. Mid-way, you look to your left and see a car approach very fast. There's no time for you to dodge, so you prepare for impact. Car is in arm's reach now, and suddenly, time stops.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] The man who raised you was brutal and cruel, forcing you to fight to survive. But now, many years later as you stand against him, his eye sare full of pride.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] A drunk master poet and his friends try to court some ladies and impress them with their skills. They fail miserably.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] It's the year 2121. Everyone is lean and dietary related health problems have been eliminated. Cooking in any form has been forbidden by the government. Your virtual assistant appears in a hologram, reminding you to eat as your pills drop in front of you. But all you really want is a burger.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You fall asleep on a train. You wake up to an announcement: "Welcome to Hell. This is our last stop, thank you for using our services."
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] Interdimensional travel has become well established. For the most part you ignore it, but today interdimensional police have brought in you and several other versions of you to help them arrest another version of you that is a criminal mastermind.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You live in a world where every person has a unique ability. The most famous of these in your town is the grave keeper who has the ability to see the future. One day, you visit the cemetery and see 50+ empty graves being set up.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Original prompt heading [WP] Smash 'Em Up Sunday!
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You start noticing something is off about your friends and family. You aren't quite sure what it is at first, but once you realise, the terror sinks in.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] Your S/O is a superhero, with a secret identity. Not to keep you safe from enemies, but to keep them safe from you. The latest arch-enemy just learned the secret identity. And they're coming.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] After several hours of fighting through the dungeon and into the final chamber. The heroes begin fighting the last minions and the Evil Wizard himself. "Hold on, one moment! Time-Out!" the Evil Wizard declared. "My staff isn't working, just... give me a moment to talk to tech support."
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] Years ago, you were granted a wish to commit any crime without being caught. Now, tired of how easy it is to get away with anything, you entertain yourself by trying as hard as possible to get someone to notice you breaking the law.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] An immortal girl traveling the world just exploring from place to place. She can't stay in the same place for too long because people get suspicious of her so she lives in a new place every 25 years or so. She looks like a teenager, even though she's hundreds of years old.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] Your dad has always anxiously checked his watch in the evening since you can remember. As soon as it turns 6:59, he bolts downstairs to the basement. After his death, you head down to the basement to see what you've been missing. The next thing you know, a portal opens in front of you.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt You're an average office worker, other than the fact you can see how dangerous someone is by a scale of 1-10 above their head. 1 being an infant, 6 being a skilled soldier with a firearm. One day a new coworker arrives and everyone seems to like him. Above his head, is the number 10.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] Every screen in the world broadcasts the same message: "This concludes Simulation No.01843. In accordance with federal guidelines on the humane treatment of simulation participants, you will now have 24 hours to say goodbye to your loved ones. Thank you for your participation."
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] The most quiet kid in your class had gone missing for the past month. But when you were mugged in the street, you were saved by someone who resembled the quiet kid - even though they were clad in a cape and bodysuit.
Read the moment ↗