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Lightspeed Severance

sci-fi◐ Teen
5 contributors · 4 paragraphs deep

I slid into the pod and slammed the hatch. The ship's voice filled the tiny space. "Crewmember Vey, this is not your assigned launch time." "Too bad," I said, and yanked the manual release. The pod dropped away from the ship like a stone into the dark.

The pod hit hard and skidded through wet grass. When the dust cleared, I climbed out into warm air that smelled like rain and something sweet. The planet was quiet. Then, on the far hill, lights blinked on one by one, moving toward me. I wasn't alone, and they knew I'd come.

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A possible continuation

The lights formed a ring around me but came no closer. One drifted forward and hovered at eye level, pulsing softly, like it was asking permission. I held out my hand. It settled into my palm, warm and weightless, and a calm voice filled my head: "We chose you because you would listen." And finally, I did.

DH
Dov Hale
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