Fan Fiction Challenges:  CHRISTMAS FAN FIC   

CAPTAIN SCARLET and the MYSTERONS UNOFFICIAL WEBSITE

by Chris Bishop

UPDATE JANUARY 31, 2008:

Now this is really it: The 2007-2008 Christmas Challenge is now officially closed!   With three new postings, this year proves as enormous success as it was the previous years:

• "A Spectrum of Miracles, Part 3", by Chris Bishop.  The members of the conspiracy go in search of the missing Colonel White - but will finding him marks the end of their scheme - and of their careers?   ff 347

• "Sweet Child of Mine", by Sage Harper. A Mysteron threat on Chicago in the run up to Christmas brings a few surprises; and for some, the greatest gifts of all.   ff 352

• "Looking for Real Life", by Caroline Smith. The future Rhapsody Angel , Dianne Simms, is a wealthy society girl who is becoming bored with the whirl of endless fun and parties, until the festive season brings her into contact with someone who will change her life.  ff 353

Thirteen stories have been posted this year (including 2 multi-parts stories and four 'New Captain Scarlet' related stories.  As always, this year's selections provide  with various and entertaining new stories.  Thanks you, and congratulations to all those who participated by writing these stories - and thank you to all of you who came to visit the website to read them.  

So belated Happy New Year - and see you  next year, for the next Challenge!

CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE, 2007 EDITION 

After the Halloween Challenge, now, as usual, it's the much awaited CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE!

For its sixth consecutive year, the Spectrum Headquarters website is launching the Christmas Challenge.  2007  marks the 40th Anniversary of the "Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons" TV show, so as for the Halloween Challenge, a good way for this website to celebrate the event might be to make this Challenge the success it always was in the previous years!  

In all those years, both the Halloween and  Christmas Challenge were equally popular, although each of them presented different kind of stories.  All those stories have been equally entertaining and interesting.

If you are a regular visitor to the site, you already know what the Challenge is all about.  But for those of you who are new to the site - or to the challenge - here how it goes:   

In a few weeks, it will be Christmas day, and then Year 2007 will be gone, and we'll be in 2008.   For the occasion, the Spectrum Headquarters website invites all of you,  to participate to the Holidays Celebrations, by also participating to the  2007 edition of the CHRISTMAS FAN FICTION CHALLENGE.  

The main event of the Christmas Challenge is, of course, to write a Captain Scarlet and Christmas based fan fiction story, but there is also a lesser even in which you might want to participate, by submitting other kind of projects, like drawings or montages.  See "rules" below for more about this subject.

Of course, like every year, this challenge would appear rather short notice,  but so many various stories, or very good quality, have already been submitted to this site during the  Christmas Challenges of the previous years! And this is all the question:  can YOU do the same this year, and answer the challenge?   Will you have the inspiration to write a Captain Scarlet/Christmas related story, be it from the classic series, or based on the new CGI series? Will we discover new writers, as we did in previous years?  

Answer the challenge and find out - and see your story posted on this site!

Remember, the information set on the Spectrum Headquarters site is there to help you write your story with better accuracy of the Scarlet mythos and backgrounds (Classic or CGI series).  Feel free to consult it!  

So if you have a project  for an Christmas story, that you'll be sure will be finished on time, contact the webmaster at scarlet1bishop@hotmail.com, or submit your story your story directly at spectrum_hq@hotmail.com.  There is more then enough time! 

Announcement and submissions of Christmas-related stories will appear on a  list, that you will find below.    Consult it often to know what stories are coming your way!  Also listed below are the stories that had been submitted in the previous years. Feel free to check them out for a good read.

Read for rules and more  information below.

TO PARTICIPATE:

RULES AND CONDITIONS OF THE CHRISTMAS PROJECT:

As always, the same basic rules as any fan fiction challenge project apply:

FAN FICTION:

• The story could be related to the Holiday itself, or to one of the many subjects  generally associated with it, or simply set during the Holiday Seasons.  The story should keep true and faithful to the Captain Scarlet mythos - classic Supermarionation series or New CGI series.

• The story could be as short as one page, or as long as you wish.   

• Slash stories will not be accepted.

• Accepted will be one-shot stories, or two or four-parts maximum.  If more than one part, note that, to avoid an unfinished story,  all the parts should be completed before posting. If you have more parts to present, contact the webmaster with your project.

• The stories will only be accessible from December 1rst onwards, and  January 31st, 2005 will mark the last day Christmas  stories will be posted, giving a little more time to writers to complete their stories for the Holidays Season.  The stories will  STILL be accessible after that,  but the Challenge will be closed.  The limited date to send your story to this website will be  January 25,  so we'll have time to edit it for posting.

If ever you require the service of a beta-reader, ask the webmaster for the possibility of finding one.

PICTURES:

You can also contribute other projects, like drawings or pictures  - to be put with your story if you are a writer, or as a stand-alone artist rendition of a Christmas/Captain Scarlet  scene.  Your contribution would make a nice addition to the Christmas Challenge, and will be posted on the CHRISTMAS PICTURES page.  There's already a few items from previous editions, so you can visit the page, if ever you want some inspiration or ideas to what you might send.

Accepted will be original drawings, paintings, pictures, montages, collages,  comic strips, gif animations, etc.  Just contact the webmaster and propose your project(s).

We hope a lot of you will be able to contribute something.  Don't be shy, and contact us to inform us of your projects  at this site regular e-mail scarlet1bishop@hotmail.com. 

Announcements and postings  will be announced on this page.

A SPECIAL NOTE: As always, we won't refuse multi-parts stories ,  or stories out of theme, that will come along during the time this Challenge will last.   These stories will be posted as 'regular' Captain Scarlet stories, but they will not be considered part of the Christmas Challenge, and won't have a link through the Christmas page.  Depending on the webmaster or this website's collaborators' availability, for beta-reading (if required), these stories might get posted only after the Christmas Challenge.  The webmaster will contact you in case of delay.

CHRISTMAS  FAN FICTION CHALLENGE, 2007 EDITION:

• "Looking for Real Life", by Caroline Smith. The future Rhapsody Angel , Dianne Simms, is a wealthy society girl who is becoming bored with the whirl of endless fun and parties, until the festive season brings her into contact with someone who will change her life.  ff 353 Posted January 31, 2008.

  "A Spectrum of Miracles, Part 3", by Chris Bishop.  The members of the conspiracy go in search of the missing Colonel White - but will finding him marks the end of their scheme - and of their careers?   ff 347 Posted January 31, 2008.

• "Sweet Child of Mine", by Sage Harper. A Mysteron threat on Chicago in the run up to Christmas brings a few surprises; and for some, the greatest gifts of all.   ff 352 Posted January 31, 2008.

• "Mistletoe", by Lydia Sheridan. Teenager Serena Lewis goes to a wild party.  New Captain Scarlet story.  ff 351 Posted January 28, 2008

• "A Spectrum of Miracle, Part 2", by Chris Bishop.  Scarlet now plays a big part in Magenta's conspiracy, but he didn't count on a few problems when he accepted to give a hand!   ff 347 Posted January 19, 2008

• "Compromising Positions", by Skybase Girl.  While spending Christmas on Skybase, Colonel White discovers that the most unwelcome presents are not always given by the Mysterons. New Captain Scarlet story.   ff 350 Posted January 13, 2008

• "Sibling Rivalry", by Marion Woods.  Christmas is a time for families, and as Captain Scarlet and Captain Blue discover , you should never underestimate the brotherhood of strangers.  ff 348 Posted January 6, 2008

• "Careless Whisper", by Marion Woods.  It's Symphony's birthday, and Captain Blue is trying to cheer her up.   ff 349 Posted January 6, 2008

• "A Spectrum of Miracles, Part 1", by Chris Bishop.  During their Christmas furlough, Captain Scarlet and Rhapsody Angel stumble upon a very curious conspiracy..  ff 347 Posted January 1st, 2008

• "Spectrum Maximum Vacations",  Captain Scarlet Unofficial Calendar for 2008, by Caroline Smith (Pictures and Calendar pages) Marion Woods (Title and captions) Mary J. Rudy (Captions) and Chris Bishop (Presentation).  Available for Forum members through a download page.  Non members can obtain the calendar by asking for the download link by e-mail). ff 346  Posted December 31st, 2007

• "Reunion, Part 2", by MMK.   Former members of Spectrum met for a Christmas celebration, twenty years after the last Mysteron threat.  Also a Multiverse story .  ff 324. Posted December 25, 2007

• "A Twisted Trinity", by Skybase Girl.  A family Christmas in the Canadian Rockies forces Scarlet and Destiny to confront their inner demons. Meanwhile, an old adversary has some shocks in store. R rated. New Captain Scarlet story.   ff 345.  Posted December 25, 2007

• "Uisge Beatha", by Marion Woods.  While celebrating his birthday, Captain Scarlet gets up close and personal with some whisky...  ff 344. Posted December 17, 2007

• "With Love", by Lydia Sheridan. Short story.  Lieutenant Silver can't seem to share the Christmas spirit on Skybase.. ff 343. Posted December 11, 2007

• "Reunion, Part 1", by MMK.  Set years after the end of the War of Nerves, Adam and Karen talk about the past, when they were part of Spectrum... also a Multiverse story  ff 324 Re-posted as a Christmas story, December 11, 2007.  TO BE CONTINUED.

• "Thank you, my dear", by Gabi Howard. Short story.  Gifts from the heart can bring comfort to lonely friends. ff 342. Posted December 3, 2007.

The stories from the  previous editions of the Christmas Fan Fiction Challenge are available for you to read!  Go visit them and see what kind of stories were presented to us last year.  You can do the same!

CHRISTMAS FAN FICTION CHALLENGE, 2006 EDITION:

• "You Belong to Me", by Marion Woods.  Spectrum's officers discover the truth in the saying that 'Having children doesn't make you a parent any more than having a piano makes you a pianist'... Rated R.   ff 313   Posted January 15, 2007.

• "Christmas with Adam's Family", by Chris Bishop.  A snowstorm forces Captain Blue to take Captain Scarlet and Symphony Angel to his family home in Boston at Christmas - and  the evening gets even more eventful than everyone expected. . ff 311 Posted January 7, 2007.

• "Spectrum's Christmas Drabbles", by Sage Harper, with a few additions by Marion Woods. A series of Christmas theme-inspired drabbles - starring your favourite Spectrum characters. ff 312 Posted January 7, 2007.

• "The Substitute", by Chris Bishop.  Captain Scarlet is asked to take over the job of a very old friend. ff 310 Posted January 1rst, 2007.

• "Mixed Doubles", by Mary J. Rudy.   Nature's own lookalikes - identical twins - add to the confusion as Spectrum determines the target of the Mysterons' latest threat. Originally updated and posted June 22, 2001 - Re-listed as a Christmas Challenge January 1rst, 2007.

• "Spectrum Previous Vocations" Captain Scarlet  Calendar for 2007", by Caroline Smith (pictures), with some assistance from Mary J. Rudy (title), Marion Woods, Clya Brown (captions), and Chris Bishop (presentation). ff 309  Available for Forum or Archives members through a download page.  Non members can obtain the calendar by asking for the download link by e-mail) Posted December 30, 2006.

• "Safety First", by Polly Amber. Things are not what they appear when Captain Scarlet goes to a family Christmas in Winchester. ff 307   - Posted December 25, 2006.

• "Consequences", by Marion Woods. There is always one present that stands out from the rest. ff 308 - Posted December 25, 2006.

• "Christmas Cheers", by Keryn. A series of fifteen limericks for the Holiday Season. ff 305 - Posted December 17, 2006.

• "The Darkness of the Mind", by Marion Woods.  To be blind is not miserable; not to be able to bear blindness, that is miserable. Marion's 2006 story for Captain Scarlet's birthday.  ff 306  Posted December 17, 2006.

• "A Willing Sacrifice", by Marion Woods.  Christmas is a time to count your blessings...  ff 304 - Posted December 6, 2006.

CHRISTMAS FAN FICTION CHALLENGE, 2005 EDITION:

• "The Ghost of Christmas Past", by Lezli Farrington.  Set in a distance Future, in the "Rose Metcalfe Saga" storyline.  For  his 300th birthday, Captain Scarlet asks his daughter a favour that might have dire consequences for both of them. Posted January 8, 2006.

• "The Nightmare Before Christmas", by Polly Amber. Colonel White goes to spend Christmas with family and friends - but ends up facing a very strange threat!  Posted January 8, 2006.

• "A Busman's Holiday", by Marion Woods. When Colonel White attempts to spend a quiet Christmas with a friend, the latest Mysteron threat seems predestined to thwart him.  Posted December 31, 2005.

• "Silver Bells",  by Scarlet Lady. This story is set the year following Lieutenant Green's proposal (Love, Life & Duty and Celebrations).  The couple plan to get married for Christmas, but will all go to plan? Link to an outside site -  Posted December 31, 2005.

• "Spectrum at Ease", a Captain Scarlet Calendar for 2006, by Caroline Smith (pictures), with assistance from Mary J. Rudy (title), Marion Woods (captions), and Chris Bishop (presentation). (For Forum or Archives members.  Non members can obtain the calendar (For Forum or Archives members.  Non members can obtain the calendar through e-mail)  Posted December 31, 2005.

• "Christmas of Loss", by Chris Bishop. Set a few years in the Future.  At Christmas time, a father and a child must deal with a recent, terrible loss. Posted December 25, 2005

• "Year in a Spectrum", by Sage Harper.  A series of vignettes, one for each month, depicting a short episode in the lives of Cloudbase officers during one full year. Originally posted April 19, 2005 - Re-posted December 25, 2005 for the Christmas Challenge.

• "Moonlight Shadows", by Marion Woods.  Sharing a furlough with Rhapsody Angel in Chelsea, Captain Scarlet has a strange encounter.  Not really a Christmas story as such, but the date this story is set warranties its presence here!  (Posted December 17, 2005)

• "A Beacon in the Snow", by Tiger Jackson.  A failed attempt to capture Captain Black brings back a long lost memory from Captain Scarlet's past. (Posted December 17, 2005)

• "The Society for the Prevention of  Ba'Humbug", by Sage Harper.  Captain Grey is brought a little unexpected Christmas cheer. (Posted December 12, 2005)

• "Dateline: 2074, December", by C.S. Armitage.  Captain Black meets with Captain Scarlet on Christmas Eve - with a message from the Mysterons. (Posted December 6, 2005)

• "Secret Lovers", by Melissa Gaffney.  A short story, in which two people meet in London on Christmas Day. (Posted December 6, 2005)

CHRISTMAS FAN FICTION CHALLENGE,  2004 EDITION:

• "The Last Flight", by Chris Bishop.   Symphony Angel flies through a blizzard, in search of Captain Blue whose plane had recently disappeared. (Posted January 9, 2005)

• "Afterwards", by The Rabid Kookaburra.  The officers of Cloudbase slowly wake up from their latest mission... (Posted January 9, 2005)

• "The Holly and the Ivy", by Polly Amber.  Why would the Mysterons choose to air a Christmas Carol for their new threat?  What is this new riddle hiding? (Posted December 31, 2004).

• "Every Picture Tells a Story", by Ronda Curtner, reporter.  A Christmas cracker starring Captain Scarlet and the members of Spectrum, which features a special Christmas and New Year gift for the all fans: "Spectrum is Gorgeous", a Captain Scarlet Calendar for 2005, offered by Caroline Smith. (Posted December 31, 2004).

• "Rockabye Angel", by Chris Bishop and Marion Woods.  After a Mysteron attack in Tibet, Captain Scarlet and Harmony Angel find a baby boy and bring him back to Cloudbase.  (Posted December 25, 2004).

• "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", by Lezli Farrington. Set a few years from the regular plot.  On Christmas, Captain Scarlet investigates a series of murder at Spectrum London R&D - and needs the help of his six-years old daughter, Rose. (Posted December 25, 2004).

• "Celebrations", by Scarlet Lady.  The Spectrum senior staff - and some guests - forget the Mysterons to join in Christmas celebrations. (Posted December 25, 2004).

• "I just wanna be your Teddy Bear", by Marion Woods. While doing some shopping in London, Captain Blue and Captain Scarlet make a stunning discovery. (Posted December 19, 2004).

• "The Christmas Rose", by Tiger Jackson. While shopping in Paris, Rhapsody Angel meets a little boy who has a very special wish for Christmas, one that only an Angel can fulfill. (Posted December 12, 2004).

• "Seasonal Adjustments", by Marion Woods. The new threat from the Mysterons strikes close to home when Captain Blue goes back to his home town of Boston - and his family for the Holidays Season. (Posted December 4, 2004).

• "The Spirit of Christmas", by Alan J. Porter.  When the Mysterons threaten to destroy 'the Spirit of Christmas', Spectrum must discover what target hides this new riddle. First published in Comicopia #74 - December 2002. (Posted December 4, 2004).

CHRISTMAS FAN FICTION CHALLENGE,  2003 EDITION:

• Twelve Days of Spectrum Christmas, by Flic City. A set of vignettes, about the Christmas before the Mysterons. No real plot, but lots of fluff!  Posted January 15, 2003.

• "A White Christmas Carol", Part 1, by Chris Bishop, Mary J. Rudy and Sue Stanhope.  Colonel White has been in a very irritable mood since the beginning of the Holiday Season, and is making life miserable for his officers on Cloudbase. Posted December 24, 2003.

• "A White Christmas Carol," Part 2, by Chris Bishop, Mary J. Rudy and Sue Stanhope.  Colonel White's journey continues with visions of the Present and the Future, as he is visited by two new Christmas Ghosts.  Posted January 15, 2004.

• "Renewal", by Caroline Smith.  After the death of a partner, Captain Ochre has difficulty  trying to come to terms with his loss, but he finds help from an unexpected source. Posted January 8, 2004

• "Christmas Angels", by Devon Ricks. A special delivery is ordered to bring back to Cloudbase a Christmas item dear to Symphony's heart. Posted January 8, 2004

• "Silent Majority", by Marion Woods. There are other people than Spectrum agents serving on Cloudbase - and the Mysterons want to use them for their latest threat... Posted January 1rst, 2004

• "Underground Heroics", by Kimberly Murphy-Smith. A short story in which, after a day of shopping, Captain Scarlet encounters a group of violent robbers in a subway train.  Re-posted January 1rst, 2004

• "Black Christmas", by Polly Amber. The Mysterons threaten to destroy the 'home of a Christmas Legend'.  Posted December 24, 2003

• "Washing Day", by Clya Brown. When Mrs Muriel Tippett's washing machine is repaired in time for Christmas, the technical expertise comes from a rather unusual source. Posted December 15, 2003

• "I'll be home for Christmas", by Tiger Jackson. All holiday leaves have been cancelled this year. But everyone has memories, of Christmases and other festivals past.  

  Prologue

  Spectrum Christmas Parang

  Remembering the Children

  Cotton to Paris

   Rare Avis

  Posted, December 8, 2003

  The Holly and the Ivy
  Model Officer
  Winter Solstice
  G'Day

  Posted December 15, 2003

  Skywatching
  Absent Friends

  Complete, December 24, 2003.

• "All in a Night's Work", by Scarlet Lady.  The Mysterons threaten to use a legend against a tradition... what can it mean? Updated and re-posted December 8, 2003.

• "To hear the Angel sing", by Tiger Jackson.  An emergency call from the RAF makes Rhapsody Angel's Christmas Eve watch less dull than she'd expected. Posted, December 8, 2003.

CHRISTMAS FAN FICTION CHALLENGE,  2002 EDITION:

• "The Gift", by Lezli Farrington. In the lead-up to Christmas, Captain Indigo thinks that her fatigue is all due to overwork, but then she receives the gift she thought she'd never have...  (Posted January 15, 2003)

• "All in a Night's Work", by Scarlet Lady.  The Mysterons threaten to use a legend against a tradition... what can it mean? (Posted January 1rst, 2003).

• "Room of Amber", by Mary J. Rudy. First posted on June 2, 2002. Set some time prior to the arrival of the Mysterons.  This story uses Captain Scarlet, in a minor role, and a new character to tell how a series of events affected life on Cloudbase forever. AUTHOR'S NOTES. (Posted January 1rst, 2003).

• "Cindy's Angel", by Chris Bishop. Trying to escape armed men who had taken an embassy on Christmas Eve, a young girl encounters a certain red-clad gentleman on the roof. (Posted December 23, 2002)

• "T’was the Night before Christmas ( Spectrum Style)", a poem, by Valuth, inspired by the work of Clemet Moore. (Posted December 23, 2002)

• "Mixed Double", by Mary J. Rudy.  Updated June 22, 2001. Nature's own lookalikes - identical twins - add to the confusion as Spectrum determines the target of the Mysterons' latest threat. (Posted December 23, 2002)

• "The Mistletoe Bough", by Marion Woods. On Christmas Eve, Captain Scarlet finds the ghost in his family's closet is out for revenge.  (Posted December 15, 2002)

• "Miracle at 40,000 feet", by Chris Bishop. Spectrum must find out what is 'the Spirit of Christmas' the Mysterons want to destroy, while Captain Scarlet discovers an intruder in his quarters. (Posted December 15, 2002)

• "The True Meaning...", by LadyHawke. Peace is all Captain Scarlet wishes for this holiday. Getting it is a different story...(Posted December 10, 2002)

• "The Christmas Wish", by Kelly Haycock. Extra duties just before Christmas gets Captain Scarlet down, but his friends get together to try and cheer him up. (Posted December 10, 2002)

• "The Gift of Oneself", by Marion Woods. When Colonel White gives permission for a Christmas party, Captain Blue discovers that not all the best presents come gift wrapped. (Posted December 3, 2002)

• "Just Another Winter's Day", by Kelly Haycock. This time of year isn't Christmas for everyone. For some, it's just another winter's day. (Posted December 3, 2002)

• "The Land of White Rivers", by Tiger Jackson. Christmas should be a time of peace and love. But the Mysterons threaten 'the land of white rivers'. Spectrum must discover where it is and act - soon! (Posted December 3, 2002)