Category: Daily Flash Fiction Challenge

This is the 76th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

Space Swarm, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 15th February 2013

Word count: 1000

The story:

“The odds are stacked against us,” the soldier, Private First Class Eric Whitehead stated.

“Yep,” the mysterious civilian said. Eric had some suspicions.

“We’ve barely got any ammo,” Eric pointed out.

“That’s true,” the civilian acknowledged.

“And I don’t know you from Adam,” Eric pointed out flatly.

“Funny my name is Adam,” the civilian said.

“Somehow I don’t believe you.”

“Fair enough, it doesn’t matter what my name is. I’m presuming you can put two and two together. I outrank you in this, so believe me when I tell you that if we don’t even try the Earth is doomed,” the civilian said. Eric was now sure he was Earth Defence Intelligence. “We’re in the ultimate behind enemy lines situation. This ship is on a direct course to Earth.”

“So the two of us are going to single handedly invade their cavernous engine room and destroy it?”

“I was hoping to be discrete about it, but that’s the general idea, yes.”

Continue reading “Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 76: Space Swarm”

This is the 74th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

Master and Teacher, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 13th February 2013

Word count: 514

The story:
“You must learn discretion,” the wizened old man told the impetuous youth. The old man was Enlee Erasdio the Fourth, grand master wizard of the Kingdom of Eglasia. The young man was his apprentice Badger, formerly a homeless orphan from the neighbouring village of the Grand Master’s Tower in the Eastern edge of Eglasia overlooking the sea.

“We have all the power though,” the apprentice said.

“Power yes, it’s true, and yes it’s important,” the Grand Master acknowledged, “But the wisdom to use that power, and more importantly when to use it, is what you need to learn. There are few others that have mastered fireballs over the centuries, as quick as you have… But a fireball won’t put food on the table. Understand?”

“I could shoot a rabbit with one,” the boy pointed out.

The Grand Master waved his hands, and a rabbit sprang forth, “Go on then.”

The youth thrust his hands out, and a swirling ball of flame impacted on the stone floor, the rabbit looked back.

“A coin brings food far more readily then a ball of flame. Plus you are strengthened by it, not weakened.”

“Why not conjure coins?” the apprentice asked.

“Coins are complicated, intricate pieces of magic all on their own. The belief people apply to them gives them protection. It is easier for a fraudster to make fake coins than a magician,” the old man said.
“What like this?” the boy waved his fingers and a gold coin appeared.

“That coin is an illusion, and that has draw backs. For instance, if the receiver of said coin didn’t check it, he would notice it missing later. You could spend as many of those as you liked, but you’d never be welcome in that town again. The same goes for most physical objects you might convert.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” the apprentice said, “So what do we do?”

“Well, that’s when we sell things that we can conjure and conjure well, or we can sell our services,” Enlee Erasdio answered. “When I was a young apprentice, not much older than you are now, I went out into the world’s adventuring.”

“Like Incingo De Janeiro?’ the apprentice asked.

“Very much so,” the wizard said. “He amassed a fortune, and a lot of exciting tales in his time. And it was on his long hard journeys that he founded not one but two schools of thought within magic.”

“Is that what I’m to do?” he asked.

“That’s up to you,” the Grand Master said, “There comes a time in every students education when they believe there is nothing more their teachers can teach them. They’re usually wrong, I know I was, but the experience we gain outside of this tower shows what we know and what we don’t in stark contrast.”

“I’m not ready yet,” the boy acknowledged.

“No, not yet, but I fear it won’t be too long. But for now, let’s try some spells that will help you when you are ready.”

This is the 75th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

The Interview, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 14th February 2013

Word count: 845

The story:

Sometimes my imagination runs wild, and reality fails to live up to what I intended. It happened a lot, but the time I remember most was a few years ago, there I was minding my own business when a colleague comes over:

“You’ll do it, won’t you?”

“Do what?” asks I, not having the faintest clue what he’s on about.

“We’ve got some people coming in to do video interviews, just three or so questions, for a board meeting.”

“I’m not sure.”

“It’s a great opportunity to get your face out there,” he says, showing his hand. It trumps mine, filled with reservations as it is.

“Okay, I’ll do it.”

I get told the questions standard stuff, best and worst things about working for the company, what I’d like to improve, etc…

So fairly straightforward really. Yet my mind starts directing a very polished seeming professional pitch, the kind no one would forget.

Here’s how my fantasy went:

Continue reading “Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 75: The Interview”

This is the 73rd in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

Mutual Defence, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 12th February 2013

Word count: 935

The story:
“How does it feel to have cracked the case?”

“I’ve felt better,” Jack Maisey said, his hand pressed against the wound in his side.

“I’m sure you have kid, I’m sure you have,” the MP said crouching low, cleaning the knife wound with the contents of a first aid kit he’d brought down with him. “You’re going to need stitches.”

“Yep,” the young private detective said, “If I live long enough.”

“Don’t be so melodramatic, of course your going to live, I’m not a cold blooded killer,” the MP pressed an absorbent pad into the wound.

“Aren’t you worried I’ll send you down?”

“No, I’m a trusting soul. especially  when people’s self interest is at stake. Remember, Mister Maisey, as you think you’ve got on me. It’s on both our interests to leave this place alive, and never mention a word of it again. Understand?” the MP said, pulling the detective to his feet.

“Yeah, I understand,” Jack said. “Okay if we go left at that corner we can make our way out.”

“The quickest way would be back that way,” the MP pointed with his free arm.

“And that’s where they’re waiting for us both, in force.”

Continue reading “Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 73: Mutual Defence”

This is the 72nd in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

The Alignment, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 11th February 2013

Word count: 520

The story:

“One roll of the spin more, just one more,” the gambler said to his long suffering wife.

“Come on honey,” she said,knowing that getting angry and making a scene didn’t work, “We’ve got a restaurant booking at the top of the tower at half past ten.”

“I know, I know,” he said putting the last of his chips on the table, fifty dollars on zero no less.

“Aww hun,” she said as the dealer set the wheel running.

“I feel like my lucky stars are in alignment,” he said.

The wheel ran and ran, bouncing around the spinning wheel. It felt like an eternity, and then it slowed and slowed.

Bop bop bop.

Continue reading “Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 72: The Alignment”

This is the 71st in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

Wrong Man to Piss Off, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 10th February 2013 (Okay, the 11th, I may have forgotten to do Sunday’s, so the 72nd is coming in a few minutes)

Word count: 970

The story:

“You’ve missed,” the young boy pointed out unhelpfully.

“Sometimes kid, you’ve got to miss the target to win the prize,” the gruff middle aged gunman said, as he started packing his long sniper rifle into a block holdall.

“Huh?” the boy asked, he was younger than ten, the assassin felt certain.

“You’ll understand one day, especially with a job like mine. Which reminds me, great eyesight. Best spotter I’ve had in a long time,” he gave the kid three hundred American dollars, “Remember, I was never here,” with that he jumped out the window, on to the fire escape.

The kid watched as he dashed down the steps and into the shadows of the alley. In the distance he could hear police sirens getting closer. He decided to go back to bed.

Continue reading “Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 71: Wrong Man to Piss Off”

This is the 70th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

Bait and Switch, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 10th February 2013

Word count: 625

The story:

“Hell, boy, you ain’t got nothing to show for it,” the masked gunman said in a Southern US accent.

“Had to try,” the middle aged man in a business suit said.

“Guess you did,” the gun man chambered a round in his shot gun. “So where’d you want it, head or the chest?”

The middle aged man took a deep breath, “I don’t suppose neither is an option?”

“Sure it’s an option, then I’ll pop you in the balls and stomach, that your choice?” the good old boy said.

“Well, I guess I’ll have option four. Drop your weapon, get on your knees, and lace your fingers behind your head,” the business suit getting up.

“What?” the gunman asked confused.

“You ask a lot of question Mister Strong,” the business suited gentleman brushed himself off, “But you haven’t asked the right one yet.”

“Who are you?” the gunman said, gripping firmly to his shotgun, but somehow held in thrall.

“Now that’s a question worth asking,” the businessman said, “I’m a private in the US Army.”

“Bull,” the gun man said, “Your British.”

“The name’s Robert Randolph Routledge the second. So, are you going to surrender or do I have to call my friends in?”

Continue reading “Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 70: Bait and Switch”

This is the 69th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

For the Good of the David, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 8th February 2013

Word count: 873

The story:

“Are the Russians with us on this?” Colonel John French asked the young man.

“They have concerns, there’s a lot of risk, we are on a space station,” Luke said.

“We all know the chuffing risks, but are they in?” French asked.

“They are, but they have a price,” the young man said.

“Vodka?” the retired colonel asked.

“Vodka,” Luke agreed, “But they’re fine with you being in charge of the operation. They’ll provide everything they can.”

“God love the Russians,” the colonel said.

The operation was not fast, and keeping it a secret in community as small as the David Space Station in L1 orbit, was increasingly difficult. However the participants pressed on.

It was a full time job for French, a retired colonel in Britain’s Royal Engineers, also known as Sappers, as he worked to keep the operation safe and discreet. The Colonel had retired to the space station for health reasons, but now his life was filled with purpose again.

Continue reading “Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 69: For the Good of the David”

This is the 68th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

The Careless Word, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 7th February 2013

Word count: 789

The story:

So, you want to understand? You want to take an interest? Nonsense. What you really want is to be a voyeur. Don’t worry, the least we can do is be honest with each other. Besides I want to tell you my tale.

I’ve always prided myself in being a more or less honest bloke. So what happened was really quite amazing.

I should explain, my job was in politics, I wasn’t an actual politician, I leave that to far more public spirited and vainglorious individuals. I was a tax consultant, working for the treasury as a special adviser. It’s honestly more interesting than it sounds. My specialty was digging out loopholes that people used to avoid tax, so the treasury knew what it was ignoring, ready for when they didn’t want to ignore it. Such as when a company annoys the government.

The stories I could tell you about tax avoidance, like the multimillion pound rock farm on a tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic. However, that’s not what you were bugging me about. You want to know how I near single handedly caused a whole government to collapse.

Continue reading “Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 68: The Careless Word”

This is the 67th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

The Adjustment, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 2nd February 2013

Word count: 816

The story:

“Most of you will have read the briefing,” John Lucas stated, “But if you’ll indulge me I’ll recap.”

The collected Admirals of the Star Core, politicians of the Commonwealth, and business men from all over the known systems all nodded their head in consent. many having been too busy to read the briefing packs before arriving.

“This,” John indicated the seven foot, model just behind him, “Is your standard S five hundred thirty medium range phased gun. It is the main stay of the Star Core  defensive and offensive weaponry. It fires slugs of metal up to three quartet light speed through the use of a Keeling field, which reduces the mass of the shot. It’s am awesome and terrific gun. It’s also one of the most accurate guns fitted to ships.”
John walked to a console in front of a seven foot screen.

“This footage, unfortunately it’s real,” he said sombrely, “Is from the GX Twenty-three Hundred C3 that was on patrol in orbit around Orion Sierra Alpha.”

The footage played, the video showed the POV from the guns, the Orion’s gun camera. It spins around, and clear in view is a speck. John pointed at the screen, and then spread his fingers and the image enlarge losing the barrels as it zoomed past.

The speck became a ship, the halo caused by it’s engines clearly visible even at the range.

“As you can see, this was the renegade ship that breached the security cordon around the Shortle Collective’s cluster of planets and stations. It carried no weapons, so wasn’t flagged as a concern. It did however enter into a high burn. The brave and intelligent pilot who’s gun camera caught these pictures has seen the threat, now he’s analysing it, and trying to raise the ship on comms. Exactly as he should.”

The ship in view was getting larger as it approached.

“Satisfied this is a significant threat, the trajectory and speed of the ship is obviously kamikaze. He chooses to open fire,” John waves his fingers and the image zooms out, the guns are visible, suddenly the guns flash causing light wash on the image.

Continue reading “Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 67: The Adjustment”