Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday (SFFSat) is a place where a bunch of us post snippets from our written works and also shoot the breeze a little. And before I get ahead of myself, thanks and appreciation as always to those who stop by and leave fantastic comments.
A little preamble for those who don't know: Two characters on an old ship that looked like it originated from the 1960s. They discover a creature that looks suspiciously like a dinosaur, but more like a dragon...they scramble.
You can catch the previous ones:
Part 1: here.
Part 2: here.
Part 3: here.
Part 4: here.
Part 5: here.
Part 6: here.
Part 7: here.
And now for this week...
The
beast barreled into the doorway, the metal frame bent and spread wider and the
distinct sound of old corroded metal snapping and screaming terrorized the air.
Mason made a pining noise, his eyes riveted to the drop ship’s open hatch, his
legs pumping across the deck. Unable to stop myself, I kept looking back; the
dragon seemed stuck, but with a heave forward, it burst through,
roaring with indignation. I made the pining noise now.
A
hot rush slapped against our ankles, the bitter scent of smoke and char spurred
us on. Mason dived into the drop ship first, like a rugger player slamming into
the scrimmage. I followed, uncaring if I landed on him.
“Shut
the doors, Elmo!” The computer’s name. “Take off now-now-now!”
If you are interested in participating in next weeks SFFSat, just click HERE, and follow the rules. Sign up is open every Wednesday - and if you're on Twitter, use the #SFFSat hashtag.
Cheers!
What's a pining noise?
ReplyDeleteI think it's sort of like, "Nnnnnn..." Personally, I often pine quite quietly whilst alone, though it's usually with a bag of potato chips in hand, so my pining is accompanied by the pronounced sounds of wistful crunching. I didn't get the sense from this scene that there were any potato chips involved, so I'm still going with "Nnnnnn..."
Delete;)
Exactly that! Haha, Cary, you are too silly. ;P
DeleteYou've got me working my brain over Elmo now (computer names always have to mean something, you see): Shipboard (El)ectronic (M)aintenance & (O)perations?
ReplyDeleteI need more caffeine.
Would you believe I was actually thinking of the most silliest name for a computer, and up popped Elmo...like The Elmo from Sesame Street. :)
DeleteActually, in the original draft of Arthur C. Clarke's 2001, the act of interfacing with the HAL 9000 involved gently prodding the computer just below the main processor - the act was referred to as 'tickling' - so I can see the connection.
DeleteLove the computer's name...although for the life of me, I'm not sure what distinct noise corroded metal makes when it finally snaps. That said, love the action sequence, and can't wait to see another snippet.
ReplyDeleteHaha! Thanks. Well, I once heard a corroded garden shovel break. Like dry wood, but squeaky and very dusty. So, magnify that a few times.
DeleteI had a great visual of this scene playing out and enjoyed their undignified dive into the lander. E.L.M.O. - Evac Landing MOdule - or a red fluffy puppet.
ReplyDeleteOh, I like that name!! Can I use it? Of course, as I explained to Cary, it was more in line with the fluffy red puppet... :P
DeleteHopefully Elmo has quick (computer) reflexes. Evac Landing MOdule gets my vote...red fluffy puppet or not :)
ReplyDeleteI especially like the hot rush around their ankles.
ReplyDeleteWow, nice action scene! Love Evac Landing MOdule! "I followed, uncaring if I landed on him." Love that line!
ReplyDeletePulpy, fun adventure--that's why I love reading your stuff, T.K. :D
ReplyDeleteHaha! Thanks Heidi!!
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