This is the 106th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.
Mutiny on the Bounty, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 17th March 2013
Word count: 569
The story:
“Do your duty,” the captain said menacingly.
“Listen,” the navigator said, his gun pointed firmly at the captains head, “This man has betrayed Arsene, he has threatened us, he has led us to slaughter, and he has led us to murder. Profits are down massively, and the ship is in a bad way. If we don’t take back our ship, he’ll doom us all.”
“Don’t listen to him, shoot him. Arsene was a weak fool, as were his officers. I did what I did for the cause. Everyone gets a bigger share now, and today I’ll double it.”
The crew in the conference room remained seated no one daring to move.
“Arsene doesn’t care about you, he has a lofty position. Josef is only trying to chase is down to take the ship. He’ll kill everyone remaining behind as traitors. I can beat him,” Captain Andrew Chivenor said. “We’re all in this together, now arrest this traitor.”
Two men at the end of the table stood up, their hands on their guns. They were new officers, brought in by Chivenor, the navigator noted as he turned and fired, burning a hole clear through the shoulder of one.
The navigator, Ketone Pally quickly pointed the gun back at the captains head as he began to move. The barrel of his laser pistol hot enough to caused the captains hair to curl and sizzle a few centimetres away.
“The real Captain is coming back, he’s out there now, if we stand together now, win back the ship we still have a chance. If we don’t we’ll die with him,” the navigator pleaded. Four men at the table of twelve stood up.
“I’m with you,” Wolf said drawing his weapon and pointing at the the two that had stood for the present captain. Others began to stand all drawing their weapons and pointing them against whichever side they weren’t taking.
“You’ve gained nothing,” the captain said, “I control this ship, there’s enough of my men to hold it, this is your last chance to stand down,” he was barely containing his anger.
“You are a mutineer, and a thief, and you’ll be the death of us all,” Presley said calmly, and then pulled the trigger.
Pandemonium broke out weapons went off all across the table.
Just four men were left standing, two for the captain, and realising their predicament they placed their guns on the table. Presley picked himself up from the floor where he’d ended up after being hit in the shoulder.
“Take those two to the brig, send medics for everyone else,” he said grimacing.
“Yes, sir,” Wolf said.
“I’ll go break it to the crew,” Presley added, “We need to send a message to Josef.”
“What about Arsene,” Reiner asked, “Won’t he want to know first?”
“Arsene isn’t really coming back, not for now. He’s got a cushty government job he’s been forced into. Josef will be captain. He’s got a crew ready to take the ship back – we need to let him know we’ve resolved the situation.”
“What about the Breachers?” Wolf asked at the door as his two prisoners filled past. The Breachers were the Dilligent’s answer to the Marines,
“They’re currently locked down, hopefully workout Captain Arsehole here, they’ll stand down,” the navigator paused, “Just in case make sure everyone who’s with us is armed, anyone dubious isn’t. If we lose now, there’s no going back.”
Aspiring 