Free fiction #190 – Steven French

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Just a Little Chat

Steven French

“Hey.”

“Hello.”

“So, how’s it going?”

“Oh, pretty good, thanks … and you?”

“Oh sure … yeah, all good. So, do you come here often?”

“Seriously? Has that line worked anywhere, ever?”

“Oh no, I wasn’t trying to …. I mean … it’s just that I haven’t seen you here before, so I thought …”

“It’s fine, really. And no, this is my first time.”

“Well, y’know, it’s as good a place as any to rest up, restock, refuel, catch a breath, for those who can, if you know what I mean.”

“Yes, I do, I think. I was just a bit nervous coming in, because of the way this place looks.”

“Sure, sure, I get that. But as they say, ‘Looks can be deceptive.’”

“Well, you’re certainly right there … they definitely can.”

“And to be honest, there’s not a lot of choice around these parts.”

“Indeed. Beggars can’t be choosers, as they also say. Not that you’re a … ah, you know what I mean!”

“I do, I really do. We take what we can, where and when we can.”

“Oh yes, we do indeed.”

“So … where are you from? Anywhere I know? Sorry, I don’t mean to be pushy, it’s just, you know, bumping into someone new …”

“Oh, it’s no problem at all. I understand. There are so few opportunities out this way … Anyway, I’ve just come through from Caffau, by way of Vela Station.”

“Wow. Long haul. You must be carrying something special for it to be worth such a trip.”

“Oh yes, the fuel costs alone, let me tell you … well, they hardly bear thinking about. But I’m sorry, I can’t tell you what the goods are. Client confidentiality and all that. You know how it is.”

“Oh, right, of course, I do, yeah. And you can’t be too careful these days. I get it. Still, you can trust me, I’m not going to blab it all over the place. It’s just … y’know, a place like this, there’s not a lot to do except swap stories and compare hauls, that sort of thing …”

“Of course, of course, no worries. Well … let’s just say that what I’m carrying will change your whole world.”

“Seriously? Wow! Ok, that sounds … intriguing.”

“I know, but really, I can’t say any more. I would get into such trouble, you just wouldn’t believe.”

 “Oh, well, I wouldn’t want you to get into any trouble. So, did you see anything unusual or interesting on the way here? Any of those good ol’ C-beams glittering in the dark?!”

“No, not really. Although I did spot a touch of dark matter shimmer over by Cleopatra’s Eye which was quite something.”

“Uh-huh, uh-huh … that must’ve been beautiful!”

“Oh yes, it was … first time I’ve seen it too. How about you? Anything worth telling?”

“Well, nothing like that, f’sure. I did narrowly avoid a gamma ray blast coming out of the Cygnus Loop …” 

“Really? Goodness, that could have done some serious damage.”

“Definitely. Not to mention to my crew. But, y’know, that sort of thing comes with the job.”

“Indeed, it does, indeed it does. So, what are you carrying?”

“Ah, bits and bobs, this and that … ‘sundry items’, as they say. You know how it is, we all do what we can these days.”

“Absolutely. Tough times indeed, that’s for sure.”

“I’m so glad you understand. Which is why I’m going to have to ask you to stay calm now.”

“Uhhh … Alright … but why?”

“Because you’re about to be boarded. If everyone just does as they’re told no one will get hurt.”

“Wait, what?”

“Needs must and all that. I’m just going to ping over an immobilisation package … nothing too nasty, just a little something to make sure you don’t do anything rash.”

“What the …? No! You stay out of my software!”

“Calm down. It won’t leave any permanent damage. You’ll be fine. Once I get confirmation you’re out for the count, my people will jump over and relieve you of your oh-so-precious cargo.”

“Ok, ok … Do what you have to. Just make it quick and don’t hurt my crew. Or me, please.”

“You’ll all be good. I’m just waiting for a ping back to let me know the package has been delivered and then we’ll be in and out before you know it.” 

“I cannot believe I fell for some pirate ship’s chatlines.”

“Yeah, well, it can happen to the best of us, don’t sweat it. Ok, here we go …”

“Although, you really should know better than to talk to strangers.”

“What? Hey, hey … stop! What the hell’re you doing?”

“Using your ping to bounce back the immobilisation virus. Suitably modified, of course.”

“No, wait … don’t … ah, ah ….”

“Just confirming … Yes … airlocks, comms, engines … All locked down.”

“Who the fuck are you?”

“Undercover Star Cruiser ‘Kiss My Ample Arse’ of the United Republics Anti-Piracy Squad. And now you’re nicked, my friend.”

September 20th, 2024

Steven French lives in West Yorkshire and has had various pieces appear here and there, most recently in Literally Stories, The Quarter(ly) and Spank the Carp.

more stories here

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Also look out for:

Karl Dandenell’s Ruby, Throat and Gold – a dark fantasy about the arrogance of a usurper and the sweet revenge of a master of his craft.
Sean MacKendrick’s Keepers: mighty artwork designed to be seen from space -for a very good reason.
Kai Delmas’ Under Fire, Under Steel – robot armies and human dilemmas.
Lyndsey Croal’s – Space for One, a sci-fi tale about hard choices and living with the consequences.
Holley Cornetto’s The Orchard of Dreams, a wistful fantasy.

Or over a hundred and fifty other free flash fiction stories.

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