Billy and the Zarquans
Major Billy Hannigan of the United Earth Space Corps studied the dials on his capsule’s control panel one more time. He knew what they all said, the same thing they’d said for days now; he was dead in space and running out of air. Worse than that, he was floating into Zarquan space. Slowly suffocating as he ran out of air was the best fate he could hope for. If he was picked up by a Zarquan scout ship then he knew he’d be facing unimaginable horrors. He gripped his laser pistol tightly and squinted out of the viewport to his left. Was that a flash of light? Was it starlight glinting off a Zarquan scout ship in the distance? He swallowed hard.
He faced his fate stoically. This is what he’d spent eight years training for, after all. This is what another ten years in the corps had prepared him for. He would not meet his fate like a mewling child. He would not let the icy grip of fear defeat him.
The flash of light in the distance was growing larger now. There was no doubt he’d been spotted by mankind’s greatest and most fearsome enemies. He would be taken aboard the Zarquan vessel, but he would not die easily. He was determined to take some of the cold blooded, reptilian scum with him.
As the Zarquan ship loomed ever closer, Major Billy’s radio began to crackle.
“Major Billy, Major Billy, this is Mission Control, come in Major Billy,” came a familiar voice over the radio.
“This is Major Billy, am about to engage the enemy, go ahead Mission Control,” he replied.
“Come in, Billy, your dinner’s ready.”
“Aww, mom…”
chrissa
Awwwww!
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Rivka Jacobs
Yeah, I said “Awww” too when I read it.
A sweet and very realistic story. Billy will someday be a very famous science fiction book and movie writer!
Technically speaking, wonderful writing as always. But, the very best part is, not once do you mention the dumpster. The picture stands off-panel, so to speak. You make us aware of it, without coming right out and saying. Great touch!
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