Tom’s Comments (group member since Apr 16, 2016)

Tom’s comments from the Science Fiction Microstory Contest group.

Jot wrote: "Mine's up. A 'little' dark as my stories tend to go..."

An interesting take on a robot revolution, Jot.

Justin wrote: "Great story Tom! I liked it a lot!"

Thank you very much, Justin.

Happy Veterans Day, everyone.

Here's hoping for peace.

DOORWAY TO FREEDOM

1831 –

Jabari roared in rage as he shattered his chains, swinging them at his white captors.

His rage intermingled with joy as he struck the slavers down and picked up one of their swords. The slave ship rocked wildly on the pitching waves, spray and blood intermingling in the cold breeze on his face as he and his brothers fought the white men for control of the ship.

A clear sky turned to storm, the sea into a churning whirlpool of milky white, then blazing fire like sun and starlight intermingled. Jabari gaped into a growing misty portal that rose like a sunrise out of the ocean. Power like lightning crackled about the edges of the cosmic abyss.

He roared as a deck cannon fired, a deafening crack, the deck exploding under his feet. He was hurled over the rail by the shock wave, plunging into the strange alien portal below.

He rolled with the impact, grunting in pain. There was now solid ground under him, instead of the ocean there should be. He gasped. He stood upon a world of dry ocean beds under two blazing suns in a pale silver-blue sky. Over the distant horizon of crumbling, antique silver-spired cities there loomed an immense planet of lavender, shimmering rings rising over distant mountains. Merciful Allah…had he perished?

He barely had time to react as he realized he was under attack. He gasped at the sight of his enemy. What manner of demon was this? Not a man. A hulking, man-like creature…scaly green flesh, claw-like hands and feet…blazing red eyes, fangs. The creature swung something like a whip, lightning crackling along a thick silver chord. It encircled Jabari like a living serpent, its energy paralyzing him. He roared in anguish.

A shadow passed over him. He looked up and gaped in shock at the sight of a strong, beautiful white woman astride a winged beast, like a dragon with outstretched leathery wings. The woman’s flaming red hair flowing in the wind, her emerald eyes sparkling in the suns, she swung a curved sword, severing the reptilian creature’s head. As the strange whip fell to the ground, feeling returned to Jabari’s limbs. The woman tossed him the bloodied scimitar.

Looking about, he realized there was a band of the reptilian things all around him, in battle with a wild assortment of beings. Only some men and women…others, creatures of all manner and description, fighting as one against their common enemy.

Without hesitation, he joined the fray, slashing away at the lizard things. He came to the aid of a towering, gray-furred man-like giant, surrounded by a dozen of the scaly brutes. Jabari roared as he cut down one lizard warrior after another, his furry, horned comrade taking out more. The fire-haired woman joined in, leaping from her dragon mount, twin swords flashing like lightning as she cut down more.

Panting with exertion and covered in blood, Jabari stood in awe of her as the last of the lizard warriors fled. He looked at her, this woman warrior…her eyes were green fire. The sky grew dark. He looked up, his eyes widening at a new alien wonder. An immense ship of grey metal…flying through the sky, held aloft it seemed by glowing, crackling crystalline globes of soft white light.

“Let us fly, my brethren!” The woman shouted. She extended her hand to Jabari, as though in invitation. He actually smiled in reply.

He straddled the winged beast behind the fire-haired woman. Around him gathered a flock of the winged beasts, carrying his assorted alien allies, swarming down upon the strange flying ship. “Who is our enemy?” he finally found the presence of mind to ask.

“The Kaarg,” she answered as she led the attack. “They were our overseers, servants of the alien overlords who stole us from our homeworlds as slaves to mine this outpost world. The overlords left long ago to fight a war among the stars, leaving some of their machines behind. Some of the old stargates still function, though we don’t know how.”

“And, that flying ship below?”

“A slave ship carrying more like us. The accursed Kaarg now sell us as slaves to trader ships from other worlds that come here to pick at the bones.”

Jabari’s teeth clenched. More slavers. “Then, charge, my brothers and sisters!!” he shouted, holding his sword aloft, roaring the war cry of his people. He didn’t fully understand his predicament, but…the cause was freedom. That was enough.

Congratulations, Chris - well done.

A touch of speculative fiction based in current events:

https://tomolbert.blogspot.com/

Justin wrote: "It is so interesting to me where my own stories meander. Sometimes I have a definite idea in mind, where I want to go and what I want to do. With other stories, like the one I just posted, it just ..."

Interesting choice, Justin. Reminded me a little of James Bond. Good suspense...intrigue cloaked in luxury.

Jot wrote: "So happy I was able to find time to put a story together. Awesome to be able to read again, and look forward to checking out each of your stories tomorrow a.m. Good luck to all!"

Glad to have you back, Jot. Interesting story, or the opening chapter to one. Very intriguing set-up.

Chris wrote: "Mines up, though I hope while trimming it from about 1200 words to 750 my story didn't lose some of its effect - lol."

It was very entertaining, Chris. Good pace and atmosphere.

Thank you, Justin (But, I'm not a Halo fan - I had to look that one up just now. Purely coincidental.)

WORKING HOLIDAY

Harv Schlemmer shielded his eyes against the blazing blue-white light of the double suns.

He smiled, the unfamiliar warmth of the binary stars of Mizar A & B an exotic luxury after the artificial light of the underground cities back on an overcrowded and polluted Earth. His eyes teared in the blinding light as they traced the skyline of the capitol city, the glass and alutensteel office towers shimmering silver in the sunlight, anti-grav transports weaving to and from the residential terraces. Outgoing starliners generating a shimmering wave as they lifted off from the spaceport, his clothes rippling in the hot wind.

He froze as he saw them. Was he dreaming? Was that really Arthur Bragg, 1st Minister of the Alpha Centauri Star Federation? And, that gorgeous blonde with him…was that really the legendary Cassandra Roberts-Bragg? He winced as he pinched himself. The dream-like haze over his eyes lifted as a malfunctioning robo-cab swerved out of control, skidding straight towards Mrs. Bragg.

Now, he was convinced he was dreaming as he hurled himself straight at her, tackling her and knocking her out of harm’s way.

#

He was still expecting to wake up any minute as he found himself in the Braggs’ palatial hotel suite, which floated on an anti-grav field, thousands of meters up, looking down over the city and green jungle expanse of Mizar II. His hand trembled as Bragg poured him a strong drink.

“We’re certainly beholden to you, uh…” Bragg snapped his fingers a few times.

“Harv.”

“Right. Harv. You’re a very brave man. I could use a man like you in my administration.” He laid a large hand on Harv’s shoulder. “I could make you governor of one of the new subject colonies. They need a firm hand. Those native uprisings and nationalist colonial rebellions. I’ve gone through too many governors of late. Too soft. Sentimentalists. Mama’s boys. Burn out the scum…level their cities…slaughter their young in front of them. It’s the only way to let them know we mean business. Don’t you agree?”

Harv’s blood ran cold. He tried to conceal his trembling. Half of him hungered for the wealth he was being offered. The other half of him wanted to run like hell to the nearest aero-transport pad. The sight of the beauty across the room was perhaps the only thing keeping him here.

#

In the night sky, Alcor shimmered feebly in the constellation of double-binary systems. All Harv could think was how beautiful Cassandra looked, the silver light of three moons shining off her golden hair and across her soft shoulders. “I thought dinner would never end,” she muttered, her long, graceful strides carrying her towards him.

He choked, his blood burning. “Uh…Mrs. Bragg?”

“Cassie,” she said, slipping her arms around his neck. “I despise him,” she whispered, kissing Harv on the neck and whispering in his ear. He trembled, thinking his heart would explode.

“Cassie!” Bragg shouted.

Harv froze as Bragg pulled Cassandra roughly aside. Harv’s eyes fixed on the sonic knife clutched in Bragg’s hand, the killing anger in Bragg’s eyes. “Sir…uh…”

“You bastard!” Bragg roared as he lunged at him.

Harv’s life flashed before him. Cassie pushed Harv aside, knocking him to the floor. “Cassie!” he roared as Bragg drove the blade into her shoulder. Harv choked, his head swirling. Cassandra turned and swung backwards, her arm slamming into Bragg’s back, hurling him with surprising strength over the balcony railing. Bragg screamed as he fell, his scream fading into the distance.

Harv could barely speak as Cassie helped him to his feet. “Cassie…Thank you. You saved…” His heart sank with crushing disappointment as he saw the sparking, damaged micro-circuitry showing through the wound in her shoulder. “Robot,” he muttered under his breath, turning from her.

“Assassin model 117,” she stated coldly as the nano-tech inside her synthetic body repaired the damage to her shoulder, artificial blood oozing realistically to the surface, making it appear as though Bragg had merely grazed her.

A perfectly plausible case of self-defense, he realized, feeling more used by the second. “Who programmed you?” he asked quietly. As if the question needed to be asked.

“The Nationalist Inter-Colonial Alliance,” she stated.

He held back the tears, the last of his illusions evaporating like steam. “That scene at the spaceport was staged somehow, right?”

“You were hypnotically programmed to react to the robo-cab, during your last medical exam prior to leaving Earth.”

Numb, he flopped on the sofa, his head in his hands.

Congratulations, Jack.

Jot wrote: "Eyes are mending, but trying to take it easy this month. Hoping to write a story for next month.

Wanted to mention that I just got an email from what seems like an AI generated email from a "Carol..."

Science fact catching up with science fiction.

My vote's in.

Glad you're on the mend, Jot. Don't rush it.

Excellent story, Justin. Marvelous imagery and period feel.

Best of luck, Chris. (I've no experience in that myself.)

Jot wrote: "Still barred from reading as per the doc. Will have to wait until next month to really participate."

Wishing you a speedy and full recovery, Jot.

A biting look at the horrors of war, Chris. Good imagery and sensory.

Justin wrote: "Good story Tom!"

Thank you, Justin.

Paula wrote: "Great, Tom. Pro-labor, pro-public-health, pro-what's-left-of-the-once-was-the-environment, I hope--?"

Very well put, Paula. Yeah, nowadays, when you march against the status quo, it's hard to remember if you're in a protest or a funeral procession.