#FRIDAY FLASH - THE FORCES OF MIST

THE FORCES OF MISTBy Carolyn Brown
(An approx. 410 word sci-fi set in the future)



The shadows crept across the wall as the air surrounding Sandy chilled her to the core.  She took a deep breath and continued to move forward, through the tunnel leading to where she knew the others were meeting.
Quietly, she approached the opening to the large room, scared from the jagged rock walls of the old mining tunnel.
Backing herself up against the wall, she ensured that she would not be discovered by hitting the control panel of her amulet, enabling the device to engage its cloaking technique, keeping her hidden from the gathered group inside.
“We will engage in combat at the arranged time. Ensure all parties are enabled and ready to proceed!” The leader of the assembled group announced.
“Yes sir! Are there any new instructions?” One of the gathered soldiers asked.
“Ensure all parties remain undetected until the designated time.  We do not wish to be detected before then.”
Sandy pushed her body further into the wall in a reactionary response to the sound of footsteps approaching, hoping her shield would hold and that she would not be detected by whoever approached.
She was mesmerized by what she saw, as this unknown party closed in upon her.  He was striking, breathtaking, she could see that he was not human,  as the cloud of mist, a distinct feature of this race, trailed behind him, but it did not detract from his manliness or his perfect features.  Sandy gasped in surprise at his beauty and was immediately concerned that she had given away her position when he seemed to make eye contact with her for a fleeting moment.  Her heart pounded, waiting for the outcome of his detection.  She was surprised when he ignored it and continued past her to move into the room where the meeting was taking place.
“Nice of you to eventually join us, Jackson.  As you can see, we started without you.”
Sandy felt the need to move closer to obtain another glimpse of this individual, she knew now, was named Jackson, but she controlled her overwhelming compulsion and forced herself to remain positioned against the wall.
The meeting continued with the leader of the group delivering instructions and directives to the party within. 
Sandy was shocked when she overheard the one named Jackson indicate his intention to take out the administrative systems of the authority governing the world, using a new device developed by their scientists.
“The device has the potential to be undetected by all known security systems on Earth and once administered will wipe out their communications, leaving their forces vulnerable."
(To be continued)