What I’m Reading
Aug
1
No Way Home
Filed Under Choose Your Own Blogventure
This post begins the second of the Choose Your Own Blogventure series. Much like the Choose Your Own Adventure series of my youth, these stories are meant to give you, the reader, a chance to direct the narrative. Rather than write all the story options myself I wanted to get other bloggers in on the action and have them each write a piece. The catch? Well, each of them only had the story section previous to their own to work from. So really, the choices you make could take you just about anywhere. The point is to have fun and enjoy the ride. This time around I added a twist- each story has a science fiction theme! Just one note: all the posts will be up by 10 a.m. today, so don’t start until then unless you want to hit a dead end. Happy reading!
Shaking and queasy, Xinni let her body collapse onto the grassy knoll. Lying there, staring up at the cloudless blue sky, she couldn’t stop the tears from coming any more than she could have stopped the Sea Scorpions from devouring her crew back on Aguas. She felt hopeless, exhausted, and worst of all, completely hollow. She did not cry for her lost friends but for the sheer devoid of emotion she felt deep within her chest. Still, she knew she could not remain here in the cool, sweet-smelling grass despite her body urging her to rest. As her father had always told her, the most dangerous planets were the Unknowns and she had jumped into the Cosmica Rift without stopping to think about why it had suddenly opened up when she needed it most or where it might have landed her.
She felt neither proud nor pleased that she had managed to escape the horde of Sea Scorpions that had risen from the river delta in the night and attacked her camp on the shore. She had fought until she was the last person left, until she couldn’t lift her bolter to send the electric currents through the hard outer shell of the Sea Scorpions, until the Cosmica Rift had appeared and she had jumped through without a thought as to how she would ever get back. What was there to go back for? She had left everything she cared about behind.
With that in mind, Xinni stood up to assess her surroundings. She might not have much worth fighting for but there was no way she planned on dying on a strange planet. Besides, she knew that somewhere out there Jax was waiting for her signal; he had been stationed in the desert on Dunan when her crew had been attacked and she had not had time to send the distress message before half her men and women were stunned and dying. Now Xinni just needed to find a way to send word to Jax and she knew he would locate her and send out a team of Pullers to bring her home. Just thinking about Jax should have brought her pleasure; she remembered how he had looked at her the evening before she had departed for Aguas, like he was willing himself not to beg her to stay. Now Xinni regretted the way she had avoided his eyes and marched out with the rest of the crew, but still she knew he would do everything in his power to rescue her.
As Xinni looked around she unconsciously started to breathe deeply and slowly in an attempt to calm her frayed nerves. There was nothing to see but rolling hills and meadows. To the north she thought she could make out the markings of a path, far in the distance, and with a heavy heart she started out for it. While she walked she imagined someone cresting the hill of the path, coming to meet her, to help her figure out a way home.
And then, suddenly, there was. A man whistling a strange tune trotted briskly towards her. He seemed to have a dull light shining all around him and he carried an impossibly large bag.
If you think Xinni should approach the strangely glowing man, click here.
If you think Xinni should ignore the man and continue on the path, click here.
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38 Responses to “No Way Home”
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[...] Choose Your Own Blogventure! Friday, August 1st, 2008 @ 9:45 am | Personal If you want to get back to the beginning of the story click HERE. [...]
Great opening! So many possibilities! I am reading them all!
[...] following is my part of the Choose Your Own Blogventure I had mentioned yesterday. Start and the beginning and play [...]
It’s so weird to see how the relationships between the characters all started out. Great beginning!
Hmm. I can’t believe my section of the story started here, as it evidently took a left turn somewhere. I can’t wait to find out where!
[...] No Comments Welcome to Choose Your Own Blogventure, take two. Before you read this post, go to Nancy Pearl Wannabe and start reading the story. Eventually, you might work your way back here if you follow the [...]
I literally have no idea how this is ever going to tie in with my ending, but I’m sure as hell going to find out!
[...] the day, and haven’t read any of the other segments, make sure you go back and start at the beginning. Choose wisely to create your own exciting [...]
It’s so awesome how this has nothing whatsoever to do with my conclusion to the tale. Where will those zombies be entering into the story? Hmm, I wonder…
Good, weird start.
[...start at the beginning and see if you can find your way back...]
[...] It’s that time again! Here is my piece of the Choose Your Own Blogventure story, a convoluted sci-fi tale that weaves its way through the blogoverse. My portion is one of the possible endings. I am continuing the story from Kirsten’s bit, located here. To go back to the beginning of the store, go here. [...]
When I get done editing XML I plan to do lots of reading and perhaps get a nice CYOBV cover started!
Yay! Love it!
Thanks for setting things up! This is awesome, can’t wait to read all of them.
My ending could not be anymore different haha. I love it!
[...] second — sci-fi! — edition of Nancy Pearl Wannabe’s Choose Your Own Blogventure. Start at the beginning and then follow along, choosing as you go. Have [...]
Ooh, the anticipation! I love being toward the beginning of the tree because the endings are totally surprising.
Can’t wait to see that awesome cover, Chris! NPW, I vote you drop last time’s cover in the CYOB page! And as always, YOU ROCK.
Great beginning!
Thanks for pulling all of this together!
[...] CYOB: Shelley ignores Aaron and continues watching TV. Posted on August 1, 2008 by abbersnail The beginning [...]
Who’s not getting any work done today? This girl. Actually, I should be careful, I’m reading too quickly because I want to get through to them all! Great set-up, NPW!
LOL. Wow. I was in the middle somewhere, and it’s hilarious that we started here.
Thanks for doing this! I hope I can get in on the next one, too!
You’ve been dugg…
http://digg.com/comics_animation/Choose_Your_Own_Blogventure
Ah, so that’s how the story began.
DIGG DIGG DIGG!!!
Great job organizing all this, NPW!
[...] is all part of the Choose Your Own Blogventure from NancyPearlWannabe. Click here for the first [...]
This was so much fun! Yay for CYOB! This was a great idea NPW. I’m definitely spending the rest of my afternoon reading all the segments.
I was just thinking about the logistics of this and my brain hurts. Very impressive.
God, this is awesome! Can’t wait to read the rest.
You’re awesome NPW. Thanks for making me think a bit and half fun!
err, *have
(I drank wine tonight)
wow, i’m seeing a lot of consistency this time around — it’s going to be a long night of reading.
fun fun fun!!!
Another job well done my little NPW…I think I read them all. Good job to all the participants, all you guys crack me up. I hope some day your idea takes off and you all become famous! Can’t wait to see the book cover now!!!!!!!
[...] this story from the beginning and see if your choices take you to my portion of the story, click here. (please note, the story will not begin until 10:00 a.m. EST, but I’m posting my portion a [...]
I still can’t believe this story started what I ended up writing!
love it — this turned out terrific and I love seeing how the story started!
Oooh! I love it!