Hope Renewed

HOPE RENEWED

They showed up as expected in their drab brown robes adorned with sheaves and their swords in hand.  As soon as my sword started smoking in contact with the poisonous gas, I knew they were close.  We’ve done this dance before; I would think they would have learned by now it was fruitless.  Their gas had no effect on me.  My sword, given to me by Thorin, Sharon’s father practically wielded itself.  I named it Whirl.  All I had to do was hang on. 

As the attack came, Whirl flew into action, parry, block, and thrust.  I think I might have had some control in the fight as I envisioned how it would go for them without their gas mask.  Then as quickly as the thought came to me my wrist twisted and neatly sliced the filter canister from one mask off.  The agent of despair hit the floor as almost as quickly as the filter.  In seconds, he dissolved and like sand poured through the cracks in the floor and was gone.  

The others hung back circling looking for an in so one could get by.  I knew they didn’t care about me.  I was just an obstacle to them.  They wanted Sharon.  I saw her in the corner of my eye on the roof ledge doing her thing.

I could feel the hate and frustration emanate from them as they search for an opening.  Then a couple lunged from two sides.  Whirl kicked in with a burst that cleaved one sword in half and thrust through the center of the other's chest.  He followed his comrade through the floor. 

I glanced at the clock tower glowing in the distance.  Another hour and the moon will be beyond its apex and no longer be full.  These poor wretched things will go away when they fail to stop Sharon from her entreating the spirit world that we draw our life force from.

Every full moon she captures the essence of hope, love, and charity and spreads it around the world.  These creatures come every time and try to stop her.  I’ve resigned myself to my role as her protector and when I’m unable to withstand the forces of despair and deceit Whirl will release me at which point Sharon’s father will select another.  For now, I am her protector.

I don’t know much about Sharon.  She was doing this when I got the job.  She never seems to age; I suspect she will be going on with her task after I’m gone. 

It always works this way, the closer to the shift of the moon their attack intensifies.  I drop into a squat and roll through four attackers as their swords come together in the spot I was just in.  Whirl and I twist like a storm and two masked heads roll across the floor the other two retreat.

The fighting is always the same.  But, wait.  This time is different.  Instead of attacking me again the two start to climb the wall trying to access the roof – and Sharon.  They have never done that before.  Three more put themselves between the two climbers and me. 

I have never attacked them before.  I’ve always just fended them off.  Even as wretched as the creatures are and also in their desire to kill the hope of humanity and instill despair and loathing, I’ve only felt pity for them. 

I plowed through the three like they weren’t there and struck the hilt of Whirl on the wall.  The building shook, and the two miserable attackers fell to the ground.  I raised Whirl to dispatch them when Sharon turned and waved.

I felt the renewal of hope instantly radiate through me.  I lowered Whirl as the poor creatures crawled away and disappeared into the shadows.  I sheaved Whirl and headed for the door feeling good about the fate of mankind.  She makes it all worthwhile for everyone somehow.    

Celebrating the Season - Flash fiction

Photo: Paul Chadeisson

Celebrating the Season 

"Milk man's here."

"What?" Susan cocked her head at her husband, Samuel. Punching him on the arm, "Got me again," she retorted.

His blue eyes twinkled with green specks. "Na, you're far too clever. But the replenishment shuttle is about to dock."

"Oh, good. Send the kids down to the rec bubble for docking, and we'll suit up."

He flipped the lever on the squawk box hanging next to the air-tight hatch door. "Rae, and William, the shuttle is inbound. Go to the rec bubble and batten down or suit up."

A quarter-turn and Susan's helmet snapped in place. She tapped a flush button at the temple activating the Bluetooth communications. "Receiving? Sam?"

"Loud and clear," came the reply from Sam. He had his back to her while he monitored the docking video. "The shuttle's in range. Assuming shuttle control." The joy-stick in his hand moved slightly correcting the shuttle approach.

The control room door opened and William stuck his decal flame streaked helmet into the control room. "Mom, you want me to man the airlock?"

"Sure, Billy. Where's Rae?"

"She went to the rec. Said she had a blog to finish."

"Okay. Don't deactivate the airlock until you have a good seal indicator."

William's head disappeared, and the air seal rotated back into place on the door.

"Sam?"

"Yes, Dear."

"You did remember to order the diode interface set for panel six, didn't you?"

"Yes, Dear. I did."

"I hope the kit’s in this load. I'd really like to get six back on line."

"We'll see."

"Mom, Airlock seal indicator is green. Opening now."

"Okay. I'll be right down." She rapped the back of Samuels helmet. "You coming?"

"Go ahead. I need to adjust pitch because I bumped us a little too hard. I'll be right along."

When Susan stepped into the receiving area, William had already started unloading boxes. He was walking backward from the shuttle carrying something. "What do you have, Billy?"

He turned and presented a two-foot high green Christmas Tree fashioned after the Noble to his mom. The tree was replete with lights, tinsel, and ornaments. Flicking the switch on the battery pack, the multicolored lights lit up. 

"Oh, my goodness," Susan said. "It's beautiful."

"And look," William said. He pulled a large red canvas bag to the door and pulled the cord holding the top closed and looked in with his mom. There were a dozen boxes wrapped in Christmas paper and a single envelope. She opened and read the card.

Samuel stepped in from the peripheral corridor that led to the junction. "What do we have?" Then he noticed the tree sitting on the rack. "Wow, how thoughtful. Especially for our purpose."

"Here. A card too." 

He took the card. "Merry Christmas from 2085, signed TTZ, The Time Zone, with ten signatures. That's everyone in control."

William was floating a ten-foot cardboard box from the center of the bay. "I think this is our LED array kit. Never would guess there's a few trillion-candle power in this thing." Stopping at the hatch, William cocked his head at the box. "Dad, I'm not sure the box will fit through the workshop hatch."

"Hold on for second, Billy," Samuel said.

Samuel rummaged through some more boxes. "Here's your diode interface, Hon."

"That's great. Rae and I will get that in right away so we can test the interface before we go live. We're going to need the ampere from six when we light the array."

Samuel stuck his hands in his coverall pockets and looked around. "Anybody got a yo-yo?"

"Here," Susan answered. "I have the tape measure." She floated canister over to him.

"Thanks. Let's measure the box, Billy. I hope we don't have to unpack and piece all the parts down to the shop. Better here than in the junction though." He stretched the tape across the top of the box and then the side, squeezed the corners. "It'll fit."

~~#~~

Samuel and Susan stood by the power distribution panel in the rec bubble. Samuel leaned against a wooden rail protecting the controls as Will and Rae floated in. "Grab a seat before they’re all taken, Kids. It's almost time." 

Rae rolled her eyes. "Dad, we're the only ones here."

“Got ya.”

“Samuel, stop teasing,” Susan admonished.

The Christmas tree was magnetically attached to the gaming table and sparkling. Presents beneath it.

"Susan?" Samuel asked. 

She tapped the touch-screen monitor one more time and turned. "All the panels are aligned and the capacitor bank is fully charged.”

"I know the past two weeks were hectic. Good job on affixing the LED array kids. Your mother and I are proud of you. "He grinned. "Although, you two jump at every opportunity to go outside."

Rae piped up, "Gee, Dad. Putting that thing together was starting to feel like work after the first couple days."

"You did a good job. All the resistance checks on the array were positive first time. Well done."

"Hon." Susan put her hand on Samuel's shoulder and nodded at the clock.

"Is everyone ready?" Samuel asked as he stood by the remote switch.

Everyone nodded.

Samuel checked the manually set atomic clock affixed to the bulkhead. "Time." He pressed the switch.

~~#~~

On the ground, the Magi, in the East pointed to the heavens at the sudden appearance of a bright star shining down. One of the three turned to the others, "Praise God, the time has come. Let us follow the star. The Savior is born."