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SRSmith — Guerillas in our Midst

Published: 2006-11-02 04:51:44 +0000 UTC; Views: 374; Favourites: 3; Downloads: 7
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Description Janko was living the high life, running guns along the fringe and reaping the rewards just outside regulated space.  People brought their goods to him, and he delivered them to those in need, those who could afford them at least. That was until the Clef brothers started hijacking his freighters and stealing his product.  The worst of it was he knew exactly where to find them, but they were holed up inside regulated space, and he wasn't about to risk his own neck going in after them.

One of his suppliers, a small arms vendor with the dubious moniker 'Gunner' offered to hook him up with 'A platoon of freelance Guerillas' that would 'get the job done' for a fee. Money wasn't an issue, neither had been the idea of hiring Guerillas, until now.

The troop ship blotted out the afternoon sun as it landed alarmingly close to his hanger doors. The dust barely had time to settle before he was being overrun by the biggest, blackest creatures he'd ever seen.  They clambered down from the ship and set about helping themselves to his fuel lines and food stores, and began picking through his maintenance equipment. One hoisted an entire welding cart over his shoulder before climbing up the side of the ship to begin plasma torch repairs to a nasty looking tear below a gun turret.

Janko stood spellbound, unsure of whether to confront them, or run and hide. Instead he stood unable to move and just watched. A particularly massive of the unwelcome guests lumbered past and began popping open gun crates the way one might flip the tops off beer cans.  Massive thumbs flicked, effortlessly sending metal crate tops high into the air, defying both their locks and hinges, to land noisily in crumpled heaps on the floor.  The interloper grunted his displeasure at the contents of several crates before hoisting a two meter long anti tank weapon out of its packing, snapped off the bulk of it's tripod, and stood waving it around with one hand, seemingly admiring its heft.

Janko was only peripherally aware of the warm fluid running down his leg to pool in his boot as the giant swung the mammoth weapon towards him and slowly advanced.

'Right then.  You'd be Janko, yes?' Heavy eyebrows raised over jet black eyes. 'Gunner did mention we'd be coming?' The giant tossed the weapon easily from his right hand to his left and still advancing angled it carefully so that it slid past Janko, barely a hands width from his right ear.

'You... you're... you...' he struggled for words, any words with which to gain some modicum of control, but none came.

'Gunner promised you Gorillas, yes?' The giant simian paused a moment, then stretched upwards releasing a sound that Janko prayed was a laugh as it boomed and echoed off the hanger walls.  He didn't dare look, but he was sure all activity behind him had stopped, and imagined an entire platoon of apes now nudging each other and pointing at him.

'I..., yes... yes I suppose he did tell me that, I just didn't... expect...' Janko's voice faltered and then failed outright. He would have to have Gunner killed next, of this he was certain.

'S'alright mate!' The big ape grinned down at him, nostril's flaring and black eyes shining. 'I'm guessing these are the only real guns you've got then?' He rattled the cannon beside Janko's ear.  'You'll have to cut these trigger guards off, the boys hands aren't quite as little and pretty as yours.  We'll need two score of these, and a half dozen crates of shells for each. You've no beef with us taking your guns, eh?  I thought not.'  The simian stepped past Janko and ambled back towards his ship, still speaking over his shoulder. 'We'll stay here for a couple of days and rest up. The boys haven't had shore leave in months, so they'll be wanting to head into town and avail themselves of the facilities, be a good lad and make suitable arrangements.' Janko's mind boggled at the prospect.

The giant ape had almost reached the bay doors before he turned and yelled back into the hanger. 'Consider this, you're scared near to death of us, yes? And we're working for you. I think your problem's as good as solved, don't you?'

Janko had to admit, he had a point.
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Comments: 19

levi88 [2007-07-15 17:17:43 +0000 UTC]

Damn man, this is pretty good stuff. Kept me chuckling for quite some time.

No crits i can think of.

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SRSmith In reply to levi88 [2007-07-16 03:18:33 +0000 UTC]

Thanks - I'm glad you liked this. It was a fun idea that I enjoyed committing to words.

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madnimadhatter [2007-06-05 02:01:18 +0000 UTC]

This is wonderful!!

M

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SRSmith In reply to madnimadhatter [2007-06-05 02:51:49 +0000 UTC]

Thanks very much - you are going back a ways

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madnimadhatter In reply to SRSmith [2007-06-05 11:31:08 +0000 UTC]

I know baby...I've told you before I make time to sit and read your writes...I have not had time in quite a while...
So I read them as soon as I can Planning on catching up with all the rest this week and next...

M.

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SRSmith In reply to madnimadhatter [2007-06-05 12:43:56 +0000 UTC]

No worries - take your time - it just throws me whenever someone brings up a story from the past

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madnimadhatter In reply to SRSmith [2007-06-05 21:01:28 +0000 UTC]

LOL me too

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madnimadhatter In reply to SRSmith [2007-06-05 18:04:09 +0000 UTC]

lol! It does me too sweet

M.

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salshep [2006-12-18 08:24:54 +0000 UTC]

Ok, that's it. I am hereby volunteering to be your official proofreader. Somebody has to.

:\

(Love the story, btw. I'm dropping back a bit later with a crit and a PROOFREAD)

Sal

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SRSmith In reply to salshep [2006-12-18 13:50:36 +0000 UTC]

You are truly fantastic. Thanks for the comment and the , and I look forward both to your thoughts and your shining a spotlight on my linguistic misteps.

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exquisiteoath [2006-11-08 14:32:09 +0000 UTC]

There are some points where I can see you pulling stuff out.... extra words here and the there, the whole bit with the gorillas attacking the ship itself....

but that being said, I enjoyed it thoroughly and it didn't fee long until you said that it was over.

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SRSmith In reply to exquisiteoath [2006-11-08 17:56:32 +0000 UTC]

Thank you - I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'm getting less concerned about the length as I get more comfortable with the format, I just need to be sure I'm not including content that doesn't really need to be there. I'm sure I could have cut this down some more, but I got to a point where I liked the way it read and stopped there.

The gorillas weren't attacking - the ship was theirs, they just starting climbing all over it making repairs as soon as it touched down.

I appreciate your reading and commenting,
Cheers,
:Steve

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exquisiteoath In reply to SRSmith [2006-11-08 20:10:42 +0000 UTC]

That paragraph was rather unclear. I couldn't, for example, tell whether the hole was appearing or disapearing in the hull.

I see why the passage is important now, but I think it could use some work.

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SRSmith In reply to exquisiteoath [2006-11-08 23:19:53 +0000 UTC]

Ah - yes - I see what you mean. I've reworded that slightly, hopefully it's a little more clear.

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exquisiteoath In reply to SRSmith [2006-11-09 15:00:33 +0000 UTC]

Yes, much better.

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drRansom [2006-11-02 17:31:40 +0000 UTC]

Again, you do an excellent job. I'm very pleased with your work, as it has been known to inspire mine. Keep it up.

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SRSmith In reply to drRansom [2006-11-02 17:50:08 +0000 UTC]

Thanks very much for the kind comment and the

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penguinpaape [2006-11-02 05:58:10 +0000 UTC]

hehe I love how you write.. so i can imagin everything in my head makes me happy

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SRSmith In reply to penguinpaape [2006-11-02 13:16:20 +0000 UTC]

Thanks very much - I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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