This week’s photo prompt is provided by Jade Wong. Thank you Jade!
‘Hey, Doc, what was that word again?’ Sergeant Foley walked ahead, slashing at the vegetation with a machete, his breath coming short and sharp through the helmet intercom.
Carl stepped cautiously over the fallen creepers. ‘Bioluminescence,’ he said. ‘Mind these vines – the barbs are sharp enough to pierce flesh.’
‘Bioluminescence,’ muttered Foley. ‘Like glow worms, right?’
‘Right. And don’t split the pods. The sap can pass through the protective membrane of your suit, cause hallucinations, fainting, fits …’
‘Phew-wee! Why’re all the plants here so damn unfriendly?’
Carl was tempted to say that though no animal life had been detected as yet on the planet, there must be … something the plants needed to defend themselves against. ‘We haven’t worked that out yet,’ was all he said.
Foley stopped, the machete dropping heavily to the ground. ‘Hey. Look at the bugs, Doc. Like tiny flying skeletons …’
‘What bugs?’
The arm of Foley’s suit radiated green, bright as a glow worm in the darkness.
‘Oh, crap,’ whispered Carl.
Written for Priceless Joy’s Flash Fiction fo Aspiring Writers. See the pic and write a tale. See here to read the other stories and to join in.
Wonderfully scary new sci-fi world, and a great take on the photo prompt. Seems like they need suits with better protective membranes if they’re going to keep exploring here!
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Quite right Joy, I don’t think they’ve thought it all through enough yet! Fun to write a bit of sci-fi though it’s not my genre. I think poor Carl might be introuble now though 🙂
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I think they’re both in big trouble – like, “canary in a coal mine” level of trouble! It’s fun to switch genres, I agree. I read a lot of sci-fi, so occasionally I feel hemmed in by my Eneana commitment, but then, I can do an awful lot of the same themes.
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There’s definitely crossover themes between fantasy and sci-fi, you’re right. Great, expansive worlds to explore
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A doomed sci-fi scenario. Excellent – like ‘Alien’ but with plants! 🙂
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Bit too much like Day of the Triffids, maybe, an idea that worked fine on the page, but always looks very dodgy when filmed 🙂 Though what’s not to like about toxic pods, eh?
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Oooh love the sci-fi take on the prompt, and especially the twist with the prompts. Love the idea of plants as the villains 😀
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Thanks Jade and really glad you liked the idea. Sci-fi’s not my usual genre, but it’s fun to dabble once in a while. Thanks very much for reading 🙂
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It definitely is a good idea to dabble in other genres. It’s how we grow and we might even surprise ourselves by how much we enjoy the other genres 😀
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Very true Jade 🙂
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Bad for Foley, and Carl also…maybe Carl can get out to warn others that try to go there. Great story.
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Let’s hope so, though I think Carl is more a scientist than a rugged, survivalist type, so he might struggle! Thanks for reading 🙂
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Ooops….gonna be a problem here Lynn, love your story…
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Thanks Michael and you’re absolutely right! 🙂
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LOL! They found what the plants needed protection against! Chilling! Great story, Lynn!
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Thanks Joy. It was a fun one to write too 🙂
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See you can even dabble in sci-fi in this space, how fun! Love it. This reminded me of one you did a month ago or so with some soldiers in a forest I think.
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Yes, you’re right it is similar. Could be the same guys on a different part of the planet. And great fun to dip my toe in sci-fi occasionally. Shame professional writers are expected to stick with one genre, don’t you think ? I do quite enjoy flipping from one thing to another
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Oh dear – things are not looking good for Foley. Those plants sound like nasty things! I hope that death doesn’t always naturally follow the fainting and the fits. I also hope they don’t meet whatever it is that the plants have learned to defend themselves against… Great story, Lynn. 🙂
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Thanks Louise. I think they’ll survive – though they may way have a dreadful time! But yes – what else is out there? It can’t be good! Thanks for reading 🙂
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Uh Oh … me thinks there is a problem on the horizon in this situation.
Interesting take on the prompt.
Isadora 😎
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Thanks Isadora. I think you’re right, nothing good is coming their way 🙂 Thanks for reading
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