Another story for the Friday Fictioneers. Check out other people’s ideas.
copyright Lora Mitchell
The shells burst in a glorious scintillation of color and the exultant roar of a victor. The world rejoiced.
“Those fireworks are alien signal flares, you know,” Trey said. “They’re not that different from us. Don’t do it, Mike.”
“They killed 200 million people,” Heather said. “Kill it, quick.”
Mike stood over the wounded alien, rifle steady.
“The war is over now. It’d be murder,” Trey said.
“But it’s not human.”
“It’s intelligent, though.”
“We need to kill them all.”
“We need to forgive them.”
Mike wished he didn’t have to decide. But he was the one holding the gun.
The Green-Walled Tower 
January 3rd, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Dear David,
Have you watched “Falling Skies”? This puts me in mind of an episode. I don’t envy Mike his decision. I like the way you left it open ended.
Shalom,
Rochelle
January 3rd, 2013 at 9:09 pm
No, I’ve never heard of it, although if it’s anything like this, I’d probably like it. I wrote this from a theme of a novel I wrote a while back. It’s a dilemma that interests me.
January 3rd, 2013 at 9:18 pm
Falling Skies is one of those summer replacement series. It’s really good sci fi with Noah Wiley in the lead. Aliens threaten to take over earth…old theme but fresh approach. Look it up. I think you might like it.
January 3rd, 2013 at 9:20 pm
I will, thanks.
January 3rd, 2013 at 8:58 pm
Dear David,
Perfect last line. Leaves us aware of the decision that must be made and serves as the jumping off point for our imaginations.
Aloha,
Doug
January 3rd, 2013 at 9:11 pm
Thanks Doug.
Even though it’s hypothetical, it wouldn’t be an easy decision (to my mind) and one everyone would have very different opinions on.
Cheers~
January 3rd, 2013 at 10:04 pm
Truly a dilemma for Mike – not sure which way I’d go. Nice work.
January 3rd, 2013 at 10:58 pm
wow, great story, great last line, great tension, well written. Enjoyed it a lot.
Did I mention that it was a great story?
Randy
January 3rd, 2013 at 11:06 pm
I think in reading this week’s installments we might need a follow up Friday to resolve open conflicts. Nice job.
January 3rd, 2013 at 11:11 pm
I concur with the above. 🙂 We’re watching season 2 of “Battlestar Glactica” and there are similar decision to be made there.
January 4th, 2013 at 2:30 am
Great job David….very well done
January 4th, 2013 at 4:20 am
I’m thinking the Aliens were the victors. Either way, this would be a revenge killing if the war was over. It would be hard to choose… depends on Mike… might depend on his relationship with Heather. I liked how you left me hanging… good story.
January 4th, 2013 at 2:42 pm
Thanks Ted. I was thinking the humans were the victors, which would make it revenge killing, and systematic extermination of the survivors. I hadn’t thought of the aliens as victors, but the story leaves it open for that.
January 4th, 2013 at 5:39 am
I like it…Humans are such savages. Sorry…I agree with Ted. The aliens are the victors, or it’s not a moral victory. Nice, full story.
Hey, I heard from a little bird someone has a birthday coming up. Oh, is it you?! Happy Birthday, David!
January 4th, 2013 at 2:35 pm
Thanks Amy, and thanks for the birthday greeting. 🙂 It’s been a pretty good day so far.
January 4th, 2013 at 1:02 pm
oh darn, now I’m hooked. continued next week?
January 4th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
Hmm, we’ll see. 🙂 This is actually based on a novel I wrote, so if/when it comes out, I’ll let you know. Still, we’ll see what the picture is next week.
January 4th, 2013 at 1:02 pm
Wow, talk about putting me in the moment! Hate, war, compassion, forgiveness, all in one neat package.nice take on the human dilemma. Fight or flight, act or reach out. I know who I am rooting for.
January 4th, 2013 at 2:32 pm
So, what would you do, if you were Mike?
January 4th, 2013 at 2:03 pm
David,
I think of this great nation and how different it would be if the native people just clubbed Christopher Columbus to death….Not sure which way I would go on this and either way the decision would torment me. My kind of story as well and I am not a sci-fi guy.
Tom
January 4th, 2013 at 2:15 pm
Thanks Tom,
I think the stories that stick with us the most are those that pull something out of us, or put us in the story, regardless of the genre. Thanks what I try for, at least.
January 4th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
David,
You do it well. I can’t critique the written word in a scientific manner. It is a skill I lack but after a conversation with another writer I respect I decide that for now on I would stay true to myself and not comment at all if I am not impressed. Great work.
Tom
January 4th, 2013 at 4:36 pm
Wow. The alien touch! I liked that it’s open for interpretations- Did Mike pull the trigger or not. Loved the story.
January 4th, 2013 at 7:26 pm
human beings need to grow up and rise above this “killing” mentality.
January 4th, 2013 at 9:08 pm
It’s true; forgiveness is a better way than revenge. But it brings up the question of when killing is okay, if ever.
January 5th, 2013 at 12:49 am
Hi David,
Nice the way you left the conclusion hanging for the reader to contemplate. Clever take on the photo. Ron
January 5th, 2013 at 1:18 am
Keep working that fictional writing gift David! – you are starting the year on a roll…:)
January 5th, 2013 at 5:05 am
A very real moral dilemma – or is it – how would we be persuaded, purely by our friends? Truly excellent.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:46 am
ooh, nice. there’s a similarity to mine (except yours is definitely better written) but mine is from the alien point of view. well done.
January 5th, 2013 at 11:45 am
A fine story, as human as a blood feud?
January 7th, 2013 at 5:22 pm
And??? What does he decide! You left us on the hook!
Good work
January 7th, 2013 at 6:34 pm
I’ll let you decide what he did. 🙂 Unfortunately, 100 words doesn’t leave much room for expanding the plot.