FaceFic

“Sir! They’ve turned around for another attack!” “Bring all cannons to bear, Ensign.” “Aye Sir. Targeting online.” “Incoming Transmission: ‘Surrender or die’… Nice to see they’ve worked on their social skills…” “OPEN FIRE, ALL BATTERIES!” “AYE SIR!” “INCOMING MISSILES!” “HARD ABOUT!” “Aye Captain!” “Brace for impact! In Three… Two… On…” The transmission reached the newly lifeless Earth, 23 years too late…

A sound wakes you from your slumber, it wasn’t a normal sound for your house. Quietly, you get out of bed and fumble in the dark for your slippers and your old squash racquet (kept close for such occasions). You move silently down the hall, a little nervously. Your heart is making enough noise to fill a stadium as you round the corner… to see your partner at the fridge, holding the ice cream bucket and spoon close.

“They’re inconvenient is all I’m saying. Sure, I can get from A to B fairly quickly and they’re great for avoiding traffic – especially in the larger cities where no-one ever looks too closely anyway – but when all is said and done, they just get in the way. And,” he continues, “have you ever tried to find a suit to fit over wings? It’s not easy!” I laugh quietly, my eyes glowing red. Angels, whiners the lot of them!

The world didn’t end with a bang. Disappointing. I had always hoped it would. But instead it slowly choked, while weeding out the very elements that could have lead to its salvation. Like a parasite consuming its host, the creatures upon it devoured everything in their sight. Poor, beautiful, Pyraxia never stood a chance. An interesting exercise… I think I might give it another go. I think I’ll call this one Earth.

The silicon chip inside her head gets switched to Overload. “I guess that’s it then.” She looks out over the city, from a 15th floor window. Using one hand to steady herself against the wall, she uses the other to keep her innards, well, in. The timer counts relentlessly down and down… soon the chip will trigger an explosion, and these bastards will pay for that they did to her son. “Soon now Jeff, I’m coming home”

It’s the waiting that’s the worst part… sitting here, knowing that events are happening outside of my control, and that these things are working towards my eventual downfall. I try to do my best – to fight and win the battles I can, but there are too many I have to yield. And every time I do, my enemies have new ammunition – another reason. A quiet knock at the door. “Mr President? The press are ready for you now.”

The blackouts always strike him when it’s least convenient. At family parties, during dinner with friends, and once at a child’s birthday party. Any questions he asks are met with silence. It makes him wonder what actually happens. What does he do that no-one wants to discuss it later. Is it too embarrassing? or Illegal? Evil? He woke in a pool of blood yesterday, full moon shining above — smiling its mocking smile.

Andrew writes that this “owes a large debt to Sean Williams’ work A View before Dying…”

The crew of the “Enterprise” are going to be surprised on arrival – but then wouldn’t you be? Think about it… You sign up for the first ever “Sleeper” mission! You drift through the vast reaches of space for 650 years, held in a deep, sleep-like trance. When you awake to conquer a brave new world, you find it not only inhabited, but by the same society you left behind for good! Would it be Surprise? or Anger? Fear?

As I looked deep into her eyes, I knew. This was it — She was the one. Nothing had ever been more perfect, our courtship had been full of wonder, and the life we were building together was without flaw. “This, then, is Love,” I thought with a smile. “I think I could live with this Forever.” That was when the knife struck home. Die now! for your life will never be better than in this moment! An ancient victory cry…

He turns. A look of pure horror crosses his face as his brain struggles to interpret the scene before him. “Blood” says his brain, describing the scene before him, “Lots of blood…”. A muffled sound vies for his attention. A phone? Yes. Over there… with that round object. He picks up the phone which has stopped ringing. The round object rolls toward him. As he gazes on his own severed head, blackness swallows him.