Ficlets

The Pillar - Not Quite So Empty Space

“It’s all so…artificial.” Captain Lang breathed heavily. “Thirty years, I’ve been wandering the rim on these hulks, defending Earth from what isn’t even out there.”

Commander Tom Relk sat in his chair, listening to his Captain’s lament passively, swishing the ice cubes around in his glass. He wondered whether he should have another whiskey.

“There’s nothing out here, Tom. Just us. Exploration is a fool’s errand. And I’m ready to turn it in.” Lang concluded.

The silence was uncomfortable. Relk leaned forward as if to say something, but gulped the last of his whiskey instead.

Lang stood at the window in his cabin, staring into the void of space that used to capture his imagination. It disturbed him that he now had contempt for it. “There’s no one out there.” he repeated.

Then, a flash of light outside the window, followed by the appearance of a monsterous machine. A thousand thoughts and emotions. Excitement. Terror.

Then, a terrible noise…followed by a ghastly pain.

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The Pillar - Not Quite So Empty Space
Insert Pen Name Here
Posted about 1 month ago

Oooo! Cliffhanger!

very nicely written. Im very excited for the sequel (pleasepleasePLEEEASE???)
The Pillar - Not Quite So Empty Space
THX 0477
Posted about 1 month ago

Great scene and feeling between the two men. Wonderful set up for a story as a stand-alone ficlet.
LoA
The Pillar - Not Quite So Empty Space
Andrew Plamondon
Posted about 1 month ago

Great piece. Like Pen Name says, definitely deserves some follow-up.
The Pillar - Not Quite So Empty Space
KevMullins
Posted about 1 month ago

Nice piece and I agree, great cliffhanger.
The Pillar - Not Quite So Empty Space
thebetweenspace
Posted about 1 month ago

Very nicely done with the laments of someone who thinks his job is pointless losing validity in a moment of sheer terror