In Darkness

This is a story fragment… the first scene of a first chapter that will likely never be finished. Unlike most of the other “From the Archives” stuff I’ve posted, this one is relatively recent. I wrote it last year, shortly after returning from a trip to New Orleans. When I finished this bit, I was surprised at how dark it was… a good bit darker than the stuff I usually write, if you can imagine that. And if you can’t, then just read it for yourself. More details follow the story.

(more…)

It was amazing what fools could be talked into doing. Those who knew better were either not there at all, or were standing far enough back to ensure their safety. Smoke pacified them somewhat, but its wielder got too close. Being attacked by angry wasps was bad enough, but NOW the wasps were on fire…

“I’m so embarrassed-”
“Don’t be. I’m programmed for human interaction. I have realistic responses… false memories… it’s not your fault you thought I was real.”
“Yes but… I LOVED you!”
“Loved? Past tense? Why? Nothing has changed.”
“Yes it has! You’re just a computer program pretending to be a person!”
“Yes. And so are you.”

Guns. What a joke. Do you know how hard it is to deliver consistent head shots at anything approaching a “safe” distance? And what happens when the bullets run out? Back were the days of plate armor and longswords; good for all occasions. Dead or alive… it can’t chase you if it doesn’t have legs.

It was an ancient strain that had existed for millions of years… stable and harmless. But after generations of infection-paranoid hypochondriacs assaulted it with antibiotic drugs and antibacterial soap, it finally went extinct. No one mourned the loss of a common, harmless bacteria… least of all the alien invaders who were fatally allergic to it.