Here's a little story that came to me as I was riding the fast train from Avignon, France, to Geneva, Switzerland. I hope you enjoy it, and feel free to leave any comments. You may see some more creative writing here in the future! Marcus
Insufficient Data
by Marcus T. Anthony
With a thunderous roar the sky’s lone cloud parted and a most unearthly craft veered forth. Radiating an intense light in the daytime sky, it slowed almost as impossibly quickly as it had appeared, and came to rest upon the parched ground. Shortly thereafter the light emanating from the vehicle dimmed, revealing an oddly plastic-looking assemblage in light hues of grey and white. Suddenly a wall split in two, and from the brightness within, two hominid creatures sprang forth, gasping for breath. Tall and slender, the pair was dressed almost completely in white, in complete contrast to the midnight blackness of their faces and hands. Not quite male, and not quite female, their almost feline slenderness would have struck observers as being completely out of place in the dry, hostile heat; if any such observers had been there.
After a short while, the two regained composure, and turned to each other.
“That was certain genius, Dem. We had seconds of oxygen left.”
The shorter and thinner of the two responded shyly. “Thanks Lor, but I confess it was little more than pure self-preservation. Besides, the data processor informed me that there are no other oxygen rich planets with suitable gravity profiles within light years of here.”
Lor, whose stout demeanor indicated that he was clearly the senior authority, breathed deeply. “Not bad air at all, Dem. Slightly putrid, but breathable.” A small , barely visible beam of light suddenly emerged from his forehead, illuminating a screen in front of his face. He ran his hands across it, feeling the ghostly surface of it with his porous fingers.
“A little high in carbon dioxide. Traces of carbon monoxide.” He tiny eyes flittered a little as he sensed the data. “What do you know about carbon monoxide?”
“Never heard of it, sir. I’m no chemist, I’m sorry. But let me check.” A light beam immediately shone from his head and illuminated a device identical to his colleague’s. “Carbon monoxide. Well, it will kill us in sufficient concentrations, but at the levels detected here that would take about fifty years. This freezing air will more likely be the end of us.”
Lor retracted his data processor and stepped forward gingerly, feeling the rough ground with the sensors contained at the soul of his shoes. Dem followed as they moved over the small hill before them, and walked down.
“I can hardly see a thing, it’s so dark here,” lamented Lor. "Sometimes I wish we modern Truans had the eyes like a beasts of Yorda. Not that they would do us much good back home. The sun would burn them white within seconds.” Suddenly he stopped. “Did you hear that?”
Dem stood fully upright, his ears prickling in the too-cold air. “Yes. A definite rumbling sound, sir. Something large is moving this way, and quickly!”
It was too late. Terrified the two Truans stood frozen with fear as the huge, dark object closed in on them.
