40K Summer of Writing

2019 | English | Flash Fiction | Full

(*) Photo by Jack B on Unsplash

Details

• Year: 2019
• Language: English
• Word count: 950
• Type: Flash fiction

Text

Character Bios

• Rathan Pesky, the only son of Duke-Senator Pesky of planet Gaharny III, cherished more for his bloodline than his future. A spoiled kid with too much money, too much time and too much freedom for his own good.

• Cletus Lasalle, another fine example of Gaharny III nobility’s progeny, a troublemaker from birth, fond of providing the most unusual, extravagant presents to extended family and close associates at special events. Also, Rathan’s best friend.

• Assira Lux, a security officer of House Pesky assigned to the duties of protecting “young master” Rathan from any harm. She cares enough to accompany him even if it means keeping a secret from the family.

• Masak and Kasam, the “twins”. Grunts Cletus found at a slave auction, genetically engineered to hate each other and share a torso; probably by an older, craftier version of Cletus himself.

• Martina Zhong, an irredeemable alcoholic, constantly depressed middle-aged woman that lost her son to the Korsean pirates. A medicae that fell from grace after failing to save an imperial magistrate, not that much could be done for a man who had just lost half his head. Cletus though for some reason it was a funny story and she was worth buying at the slave auction too.

• Luther Avon, an old, crazy man who lies through his teeth, pretending he was once an Imperial Inquisitor -no less- and imagines to be above the law. He introduced Cletus to the slave market ins and outs, and for some reason he is still with the group.

Summary

Disheartened with the outcome of last year’s birthday present to his best friend -as it turned out the ability of women of Listeria to breathe underwater was largely exaggerated, so much for the marvels of living in an Ocean World of the Imperium-, Cletus Lasalle decides that this is the perfect time to amend his mistake and challenge Ratham Pesky to a death-defying expedition to the moon of Scillus, where it was said -by reputable sources this time, of that he was sure- an artifact of extraordinary value is hidden. Knowing that endangering his life was precisely the only matter his friend’s father wouldn’t allow, and so couldn’t be refused, he employs a local troublemaker to go to the slave market and find suitable “meat shields” for this audacious endeavor.

Writing Sample

“How do you like your present now?” Assira asked, mocking him.

But they were in trouble. Nobody had mentioned the artifact would be protected by a horde of fanatic hermits armed to the teeth.

Rathan called for the medicae, but Martina, as everyone else, was busy taking cover behind trees, rocks or anything in the thick jungle strong enough to stop projectiles, all while returning fire or praying to the God Emperor to live another day. The pain from his shoulder was becoming so intense he almost fainted. Somehow, the monks knew they were coming, ambushed them at the landing site.

“Master?” A worried Assira shouted over the Vox, concern hard to hide in her voice. She then ordered Luther to cover her with suppression fire while she tried to reach for the heavy gun on the ship.

But Luther wouldn’t listen. He had a better plan, Luther’s plan.

“Give me those ‘nades, you freak!” He shouted to Masak-Kasam, pointing at the bag of demolition charges.

“That is one way to kill many flies.” Said one of the heads.

“That is not a good way to kill a fly.” Said the other. Similar thoughts, but different outcomes. The twins were connected in peculiar ways.

“The explosives have another purpose.” Cletus hoarse voice intervened. “We need them to blow up the barriers near the artifact!”

But Luther wasn’t interested in the artifact. Luther concern was keeping everyone alive, particularly Luther. He started fidgeting with the explosives.

Assira knew that an explosion wouldn’t solve the problem. She also knew she had to do something before the phony Inquisitor would blow them all to pieces.

So, she shot him in the leg.

“Where in the Emperor’s name did you learn to shoot, woman?!” Luther cursed. He then went to block the bleeding with both hands and call Martina out loud. She was still nowhere to be found.

“We’re sitting ducks!” Rathan’s voice said over the Vox.

Assira dashed towards the ship, exposing herself to the shootout. Bullets buzzed all around, the ricochets slicing palm trees like onions. She would need extra muscle to move the big gun, and the twins were the only ones strong enough to do it. But they were as slow as they were big, she would need a diversion.

Then, something was fired from the ship, like a rocket, corkscrewing before white powder burst out of it, creating a thin mist that quickly gobbled everything and everyone around them, blocking sight and line of fire alike. The shooting gradually stopped, confusion taking the best of the attackers.

Assira seized the opportunity, the twins followed close. Once in the ship, they found Martina, triumphant.

“I replaced the warhead with medical compounds.”, she explained.

“Well, it worked.” Assira praised. “Nicely done, doc.”

The twins started working on disengaging the machine from its stand, moving as fast as they could. They then pointed it at the enemy and started shooting indiscriminately.

In a matter of seconds, the jungle was turned into a plot, trees fallen as if cut by a giant scythe, the buzzing sound of the rotary cannons lingering over as an angel of death.

Once the haze vanished, only corpses remained. They could take a good look at the monks for the first time. The horribly mutated corpses were something out of a child’s nightmare, distorted and impossible in their foul shapes.

“Heresy!”, Luther purred.