Something About Duty

by THX 0477

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The Colonel’s voice crackled over the intercom, “People, check and cross-check.”

We looked at one another, a look of befuddled acquiescence on our faces, a look familiar to any civilians such as ourselves so fortunate as to work with the military.

His throat clearing echoed over the com, “Duty, then, is the sublimest word in the English language. You should do your duty in all…” He stopped. The station went silent, well, as silent as that many tons of floating metal and machines ever is.

It’s not that we wanted to hear how yet another of his speeches ended. We’d heard enough all through training. Frankly, this sounded kind of familiar. But we wanted to know why he stopped.

Instead of knowing, we floated, like the station in which our fragile lives were cradled, halfway between the known and the expanse of possibility. The gravity of curiosity drew our eyes to the speakers set in the ceiling, foolish as it was to look for sound. But we had to look for something.

Something had to be out there.

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Sequels

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Comments

Average Reader Rating: 5.0 stars out of 5

  1. Something About Duty

    Ana Cristina's Buddy Icon Ana Cristina

    Posted 3 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    It flows neatly from Mistress Elsha Hawk’s prequel, and it sets up your last line perfectly. Great narration in this.
    LoA

  2. Something About Duty

    Mistress Elsha Hawk's Buddy Icon Mistress Elsha Hawk

    Posted 3 months ago

    Indeed, nice sequel! Hmm, what happened?

  3. Something About Duty

    RCYHAONI's Buddy Icon RCYHAONI

    Posted 3 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Wow. The one I started keeps going. lol.
    Still, it’s a good sequel. I like how everyone is getting involved into this one story.

  4. Something About Duty

    Mighty-Joe Young's Buddy Icon Mighty-Joe Young

    Posted 20 days ago

    were cradled, halfway between the known and the expanse of possibility. The gravity of curiosity drew our eyes to the speakers set in the ceiling, foolish as it was to look for sound. But we had to look for something.
    This was wonderful it made me look to my own ceiling for speakers and then it made realize how we look for sounds even though they will get here anyway seeings that are delivered curbside service to the ears. i really like this one it was kind of a happy medium between the poetic first one

  5. Something About Duty

    Mighty-Joe Young's Buddy Icon Mighty-Joe Young

    Posted 20 days ago

    oh thx sorry i thought this was elsha we are having a contest of who can do the most ficlet comment nirvanas sorry for the long winded critic lol

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