Photo Courtesy of Sarah Ann Hall
This week’s Friday Fictioneers was a photo of part of a structure quite familiar to me! As I’m afloat in France (Canal de Bourgogne) at the moment, I might not get round this week’s submissions as quickly or comprehensively as I’d like. My mobile connection is in the lap of the ‘internet gremlins’. Please bear with me.
Annie was reluctant but I urged her into the canoe.
This old aqueduct was our only chance. Our pursuers were clever, but helpless without the energy they drew from the earth’s crust. Over water they perished.
The government, safely anchored off the coast was promising effective retaliation against the aliens. Huge laboratories floated on lakes as scientists worked round the clock developing weapons, gases, viruses. Those of us still on land sought shelter where we could.
I began to row.
And as Annie screamed and disintegrated into a heap of red crystals behind me, I realised these efforts were futile; the invaders were amongst us already.
castelsarrasin 
Dear Sandra,
Doesn’t look like the government’s too effective in the fight against the aliens. Loved the visual of Annie disintegrating into a pile of red crystals. Nice sci-fi piece.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle, bit of a change for me – sci-fi. 🙂
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Great and grand ideas in this story Sandra – you got so much across in such as short space. But, what I’m not sure about is whether Annie herself has disintegrated, or whether she is disintegrating crystals. If the former, I think you may be missing a small word.
Claire
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Oops! Thanks for the heads up Claire! And for reading and commenting.
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Very well written, darling. I pictured Wells-ian tri-pods and death rays!
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Love H G Wells! Thanks for dropping by.
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I love an alien invasion story and this one is very good, Sandra!
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Thanks Sandra! 🙂
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Pingback: Friday Fiction – Every Journey… | elmowrites
“safely anchored” off the coast indeed! And “as Annie screamed and disintegrated a heap of red crystals behind me, I realised these efforts were futile” best line in flash fiction ever – bar none!
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🙂 Thanks Pirate.
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Oh dear, Sandra! I like what you did with Annie and the idea of creatures which can’t cross water – although I’m perplexed by how unemotional your narrator is by her disintegration.
I hope my story is closser to reality than yours. This is not a happy view of the future.
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Thanks Jen, 100 words was a bit of a limiter on emotions. 🙂
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Oh that sounds like some weapons.. and the government as usually ineffective.
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But they were safe… 🙂
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Row faster!
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🙂 🙂
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too bad she cant be reconstituted
great full story – you give the story so much more than the 100 words
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It was a struggle to get this in 100. Thanks for reading.
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I wonder does everyone disintegrate into RED crystals or does it depend or your DNA/personality/blood line/sex/…???
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Well some are Red Crystals A, some B and some just plain old O. 🙂
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Okay..gotcha 😉
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Great story!
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Thanks!
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I’m a sci-fi nut so I enjoyed your take on the photo prompt Sandra. Quite realistic (from a futuristic, ufo perspective) I love it, thank you. Has the fine makings of a larger story here I think!
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I don’t do sci-fi much, I’m not a great techie! But I’ve overdone the dark side in recent weeks. Thanks for reading.
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Neat that we both thought of aliens/otherworldly creatures in this prompt. I’m afraid that the narrator isn’t going to make it much longer, with their realization that their efforts are futile.
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The end is nigh! Thanks for reading.
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Not what I expect from you but done as I expect from you.
janet
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I’m not much of a sci-fi fan but I wanted to go in a different direction to my usual … 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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red crystals.. shocking. an effective story
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Thanks nightlake!
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Oooh, very nice SF tale Sandra. I hope you’re going to continue this tale.
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Thanks Lyn!
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loved this alien story 🙂 a great take on the prompt
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Thank you!
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Not much hope here, Sandra. Like your use of bodies of water as alien deterants–don’t see that too often.,
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I’ve used that before. Must be something in the theory … 🙂 Thanks for commenting.
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What a shocking ending! I wonder if the narrator escaped, or if he collapses into crystals before he can begin the next paragraph.
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Crunchy! Thanks Sharon.
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Yes! Sci-fi!!!
Scott
Mine: http://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2013/05/15/friday-fictioneers-5172013-genre-horror-humorous-pg13/
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Thanks Scott. 🙂
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Very original take on the prompt, Sandra. Love the red crystals.
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Thanks Mystikel. 🙂
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Interesting! These are very original aliens/scenario described here. I like it a lot. Any chance for more in this vein?
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I’m not really comfortable in sci-fi. I always feel as though someone’s going to pull me up on the technical front. Thanks for reading.
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A nice write-up…
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Thank you!
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I love the sci-fi concept here, really imaginative and great ending 🙂
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Thanks Trudy!
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Great story, as always. 🙂
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Thanks David. 🙂
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Oh, wow, that was heart-pounding! Great job, and the last line’s killer.
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/sex-drugs-and-rock-and-roll/
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Thanks Maggie. 🙂
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Another great syfy movie in the works here. Great job.
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Thanks Shirley!
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Oh, dear, we’re doomed! Except, à la Triffids, suspect these aliens will perish by water. I am intrigued by these red crystals. Of what they consist. Ann
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Blood, I think. 😦 Thanks for reading.
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Doh! I’m slow! 🙂
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Yikes! Good descriptions, good plot, everything good. I think it would make a wonderful Quatermass episode!
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Thanks Kent.
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Third story I’ve read that’s about aliens, each with a different spin.
Well done, Sandra.
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Thanks for reading.
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Man, you gave home and snatched it away in a deft manner! Nice.
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No happy endings round these parts!
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They give you a picture of an aqueduct on a summer’s day and you see aliens! Loved this 🙂
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There’s always another story… 😉
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Red crystals, what a gory touch. You surprised me with this, but I read it twice. Well written as always, well done
Dee
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Thanks Dee; appreciate your comments.
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I’m wondering if the red is based on our interior makeup- say the blood? I like it. But I have to mirror Paul’s thought (which still has me giggling) “row faster!” 😀
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That’s it! 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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Typical government. Let the people fend for themselves. Really good sci-fi story. I could see it in my mind.
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🙂 Thanks for reading Jackie.
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Fantastic writing! You packed so much story into this flash. Great ideas.
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Damn! And I was starting to get really attached to Annie too. I only hope the red crystals mix well with water to make a nice cool drink!
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How wonderfully gruesome!
Loved it.
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Oh no, does that mean there is no escape? I can just imagine the government off-shore, out of harm’s reach, but maybe they aren’t. Really enjoyed this and wonder how the invaders will be defeated.
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