Science Fiction Microstory Contest discussion
Congrats to Tom Olbert, eight-time champion of the Science Fiction Microstory Contest
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Put another feather in your cap sir! Nicely done!!
Congratulations, Tom! A wonderful story, lean yet cinematic, and full of heart.
Nice one, Tom. Many good stories this month, people!
Thank you all, very much. Terrific theme this month, and some great stories. I have a theme in mind for next month which I hope will provide opportunity for a wide range of opinion and experimentation. I've enjoyed your past entries and look forward to next month's.
Tom, finally got back here to congratulate you. Wonderful story.
By Tom Olbert
The metallic triangular door split in two. Barrett stepped cautiously into the dark chamber. He began scanning with the instrumentation concealed in his clothing, looking for any weaknesses that could be exploited in humanity gaining the upper hand over the aliens.
He started as the lights blazed on. His eyes widened as multiple immense, serpentine, clawed, fanged alien monstrosities shrieked, their eyes blazing with fire as they charged at him from all sides.
“Freeze program,” Space Security Director William Smythe ordered, the holographic replay of Carl Barrett’s last sane moments freezing in place. Smythe stepped through the 3D hologram of an alien and stood beside the frozen hologram of Barrett. Barrett’s face was contorted in that same expression of primal terror he’d worn when his spacecraft had returned through the wormhole from the alien system.
Dr. Marie Santiago studied Barrett’s face. “You say he suffered no physical injury?”
“Not a scratch,” Smythe replied.
“And, he’s shown no sign of improvement?” she asked.
“None. Deactivate program. Commence Barrett live stream.” The holographic display created from Barrett’s brain scan disappeared. A live-streaming vid of Barrett strapped down and wildly screaming appeared on the wall of the holo chamber. “Completely mad with fear. Hopelessly insane, according to the best psychs in the United System.” Smythe shook his head. “Carl Barrett is…was…not a man who frightens easily. He was the best agent we could find for the first contact mission. As gutsy as they come. He was decorated for valor for his service with the Space Corps, suppressing the clone revolt in the Ganymede mines. He personally led the attack on the mutant sanctuary city on Mars. Now, look at him. Discontinue feed.” The wall faded to opaque slate gray.
Smythe shrugged. “Their sub-space beacon is still inviting us. The wormhole is still there, linking the Solar System with that…outpost of theirs, or whatever it is. In short, the welcome mat…or, honey trap…is still waiting. You still intend to go?”
Marie snickered. “You know I’ve nothing to lose. My cancer’s in stage 4. Med section has given me, at most another six months. If the deal stands, I’ll go.”
He nodded. “The Defense Directorate will keep its word. Complete the mission successfully, and your daughter will be looked after.”
#
The saucer-shaped alien space station orbited the dead planetoid, the lurid bloody light of the red dwarf star Trappist-1 washing over its dull metallic surface. As her automated shuttle cleared the wormhole, Marie thought of her daughter. “Be safe, Laura.”
#
Docking with the station, she opened the shuttle hatch. And, there it was. The same triangular doorway Barrett had stepped through. Her blood raced as the door began to split open. Her hand clenched the device in her jacket pocket.
She winced, astonished at the burst of warm, yellow sunlight.
Laura laid flowers at her grave. The little girl looked up, tears in her large brown eyes. “Mama…Why did you leave me?”
“Baby, I didn’t want to. I’m doing what I have to, to keep you safe when I’m gone.”
Laura stepped up to her. “Have you no hope?”
Marie cried and laughed, gently stroking Laura’s face. “You’re my hope, baby. You.”
Marie found herself back on the shuttle. It had all been a telepathic illusion, she realized. She understood. They could read our minds. We’re all defined by our greatest fear. That’s what’s behind that door. A mirror, where we see what we fear most. Barrett’s greatest fear was what he couldn’t control or understand. His fear manifested in violence. It was all he understood. Her greatest fear was Laura losing her. Losing all she was. She removed the nuclear device from her pocket, and deactivated it.
The mirror shattered. She was surrounded by a vast hive mind of light and knowledge spanning light years. She saw them as they really were. As they were long ago. As they might become, changing as in a dream. Shared race memories of their evolution across eons. Of the future they aspired to. Dream and memory merged into one. They shared their knowledge…
#
20 years later…
Marie smiled as she gently touched Laura’s smiling face. “I am so proud of you.”
“You paved the way, Mama,” the young woman said. “You brought back a cure for cancer, and opened the door for future visits. Wish me luck.”
They held each other close, one last time. Laura turned and boarded the outgoing shuttle, bound for the wormhole.