A couple of weeks ago in my main journal, I posted my annual challenge to you (yes, you) to make me write you a story based on a list of possible fandoms and situations. Well, four people decided they wanted me to dance to their tune (note: no actual dancing was involved), and as a result, I have nine shiny new stories to share with you all. So strap in, because here they are.

Oh, and if you want to request another one, feel free. I'm a sucker for challenges.

( This way to FanFicFest 2009! )

Title: No Shelter
Fandom: Law & Order: Mothership
Characters: Lennie, Ed, Anita
Rating: G
Word Count: 100 (woohoo!)

NO SHELTER
By Bill Livingston

Briscoe had been around long enough to know when a storm was imminent, and after the defense's surprise revelation of improper procedure got their search tossed, along with the mountain of evidence it yielded, he and Green knew it was coming.

They didn't have to wait long.

Standing in the squad room doorway, lightning flashing angrily in her eyes, arms crossed like Zeus in judgment, icily radiating authority like a blizzard, Anita Van Buren was a Force Five Hurricane in flats.

"Both of you," she thundered. "My office. Now!"

"Grab your umbrella," Lennie muttered. "It's about to come a cropper."

Wow, it's been quite some time!

In case you're wondering what this is all about, I'm really billfl and this is the journal where (according to the master plan) I would be publishing all my fiction and creative stuff.

So far, not working out as well as I hoped. My productivity has been down, mainly due to lack of inspiration/motivation/energy on my part.

I'm hoping to change that. So I'm going to try and post a mix of old & new stuff here in the next few weeks.

First up - a new drabble I've written for the "Storms" challenge in lawandorder100.

Hey all! OK, after a long break (say about 2 years) here's the latest brand new MiSTing from Bill Brains Inc. This is a MiSTing of two short stories from the unique mind of Stephen Ratliff - Longtime Marrissa Supporter, Moderator of ASCEML, and Defensive Co-Ordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.

OK, I made that last part up.

Anyway, two stories. The first, "All Wet", is how Marrissa managed to get the entire Bridge Crew nekkid - and without once giving a direct order. The Second, "Hello Janeway", is the Captain of "Voyager" Celebrating her return home with a little musical number.

Why are they "Lost"? Because I'm used to getting these off of ASC (the all purpose ST fanfic newsgroup) rather tham ASCEML (the adult-oriented moderated ST fanfic mailing list/newsgroup), and I had to go hunt for them. Also, they were on this Oceanic flight and wound up in some bunker inputting some code over and over.

OK, fine, I made that part up too.

Much Thanks to Stephen for permission to Riff.

In any case, put your feet up, pop a can of Diet Rite and enjoy!

( Explore the Lost Fanfics of ASCEML - IF YOU DARE!!!! )

October 22

( With both parties now running what the Wall Street Journal calls 'their second string', it has suddenly become a wide-open race. )

August 27

( The developments of July have understandably left the GOP chortling with glee. )

July 18

( The next morning, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee is in a quandary. )

July 13
( Rocked by a week of charges and countercharges, the 1992 Democratic National Convention opens at Madison Square Garden. )

July 6, 1992

( As per OTL, preparations are underway for the following week's Democratic National Convention in New York City. )

Well, for those of you reading this who don't live in the US, tomorrow (or today by now, I suppose) is the very first step in the American Presidential Election, the Iowa caucuses. This is occurring far sooner than it ever has before because otherwise, Iowa & New Hampshire would have had to forego their quadrennial tradition of screwing with the presidential nomination process. So with that going on, I figure this is as good a time as any for this.

Several years ago, there was a discussion in the newsgroup soc.history.what-if (which is dedicated to alternate history) about who could come up with a way to get the least likely person ever elected President. Since Dave Barry is always offers himself as an alternative (go to his website for details), I wrote this as a blueprint to help achieve Dave's goal. This is an expanded and revised version, BTW. So anyway, here it is. Feedback, as always, is not required but definitely appreciated.

FOREVER AND EVER, AMEN
By Bill Livingston

After a frantic search, punctuated by frustration on one side and panicked delirium on the other, the three of them had been re-united. It was a happy occasion, but one as full of questions as it was relief: "How did you get here?" "How did *I* get here?" "Have all the effects worn off?" "How long have you been looking for me?" "Do you remember anything you did?"

Then the captain turned - and saw doom approaching.

( Edward! )

WHAT'S FOREVER FOR?
By Bill Livingston

After a frantic search, punctuated by frustration on one side and panicked delirium on the other, the three of them had been re-united. It was a happy occasion, but one as full of questions as it was relief: "How did you get here?" "How did *I* get here?" "Have all the effects worn off?" "How long have you been looking for me?" "Do you remember anything you did?"

Then the captain turned - and saw doom approaching.

( Edith! )

FOREVER CAME TODAY
By Bill Livingston

After a frantic search, punctuated by frustration on one side and panicked delirium on the other, the three of them had been re-united. It was a happy occasion, but one as full of questions as it was relief: "How did you get here?" "How did *I* get here?" "Have all the effects worn off?" "How long have you been looking for me?" "Do you remember anything you did?"

Then the captain turned - and saw doom approaching.

( Edith! )

FOREVER MAN
By Bill Livingston

After a frantic search, punctuated by frustration on one side and panicked delirium on the other, the three of them had been re-united. It was a happy occasion, but one as full of questions as it was relief: "How did you get here?" "How did *I* get here?" "Have all the effects worn off?" "How long have you been looking for me?" "Do you remember anything you did?"

Then the captain turned - and saw doom approaching.

( Edith! )

For some time, there have been various rumors circulating around the internet (and you all know what a reliable information source that is) concerning the brand new Star Trek film scheduled for release during Christmas 2008. The latest in this parade of smi-half-possibly-maybe-truths is that the plot of the film will involve the Guardian of Forever, which you may recall was the big smoke-filled half-doughnut that let McCoy (then Kirk and Spock) travel backwards in time to the 1930s in the classic episode "City on the Edge of Forever". A fact that has, in turn, pushed Harlan Ellison's buttons. (The latest in a series! Collect them all!) Harlie, supposedly, is royally honked off that the producers have dared use characters that he originated without asking him. The issue is complex (he created them for hire, for a regualr TV series, but there's some separation of Intellectual Property stuff involved) and it's not even a certainty that there *is* an issue.

However, reading this got me thinking about a debate that took place a few years ago on either RATMM or ASC about the validity of the ending of Ellison's original script (Kirk can't bring himself to allow Edith Keeler to die, and it's up to Spock to set things right) vs the denouement as it was finally aired. Someone pointed out that while Ellison's original script may have been superior in many ways, letting it end like he originally wrote it would have seriously changed the way we looked at Jim Kirk - what good is a hero eho's willing to let trillions of beings (including you and me, I might add!) die to save one life? Sure, it might play better today, but 1967 was not the time for a conflicted anti-hero to be the centerpiece of any series, let alone one as morally high-minded (or high-handed, depending on your point of view) as Trek.

Anyway, a couple of years later, that was on my mind when I wrote these four stories as part of a challenge issues on ASC by the estimable Alara Rogers to take the plot of a Star Trek episode from one series and redo it to fit in one of the others. I chose to take this episode and alter it to fit each of the other series. Of the four, I think that, surprisingly, the Voyager version works best, and the DS9 ep is the weakest.

Judge for yourselves, though.

Oh, and there's also this:

Disclaimer: "Star Trek" and all related characters and situations are trademarks of and © Desilu/Paramount/Viacom. All rights are reserved.

Well, it's Halloween (no, really?), and as such, I'm reactivating this moribun attempt at fanfictioning to repost a MiSTing I made many years ago. "No Trick This Year" is the heartwarming story of the Kids' Crew, and the cruel fate of those who would deny them their candies of choice.

( So sit back, relax, and enjoy this classic offering from Bill Brains Inc. )

This was my very first ever piece of Fanfiction, originally published eight years ago this very month. It was originally written in response to a challenge by the author Sydvick (a darn good ST writer, incidentally), who challenged the denizens of ASC (alt.startrek.creative) to write a story while online, with only their spellchecker as a tool, that had to do with swimming. This is what I came up with. Enjoy.

Title: And She Told Him
Author: Bill Livingston
Series: Star Trek: TOS
Rating: [PG]
Codes: P/1
Original Publish Date: May 11, 1999
Summary: A captain and his first officer take shore leave.

( And She Told Him )