Here's my new story, this time in English. I translated it because... Just because. It's quite ambitious, I will try to keep a steady rhythm in writing. It's a Science Fiction story based on several subjects I like: Space, super heroes, mystery and muscle growth.
Some might notice some similarities with some background stories already existing (in comics for instance) or in more famous writers - fathers of the genre - of course, this is a kind of a tribute.
Anyway, happy reading.
P.S. : do comment, I tried to correct my text the most I could, but English not being my mother language, I may have missed some.
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Flame, a Space Odyssey
I
Rebirth
E.C. 2021 (Earth Calendar).A bolter shot sliced through the air, missing her plane’s wing by a few inches, Flame tried a barrel roll to disconcert
her pursuer then veered to port, releasing a burst of her multi-meltas. Her opponent skilfully dodged and manoeuvred
deftly behind her.
“Shit, he’s good.” She thought.
Her light M4 classed fighter had already suffered a few shots, it felt less reactive and a light smoke tail was leaking
out from its right wing.
– Yeah, so much for discretion. – She grumbled.
At that instant a missile came out of nowhere to take her down, her ship falling like a leaf on the planet Blagor’s
green sky. She tried to straighten it up but its engine had died from the blow and the energy tank was to explode at
any moment. Her altitude sensor still seemed to be running and she waited the last moment to eject herself, the
gravitational parachute kicking off immediately. She landed roughly on the red planet’s impoverished soil, sliding along
a cliff. She managed to slow her rolling to finally stop on a flat small plateau.
She winced in pain trying to get up, her whole body was in agony. She checked her suit, sitting as best as she could.
She seemed to be fine, mostly, but her communication bracelet was damaged. She felt a breath of fresh air on her left
leg and quickly turned on the sealing segmentation of her belt.
“Fuck… No more beacon… Only 15% oxygen left…
Damn!” She fumed while giving a violent blow on the floor which sent a dust cloud flying, her powerful and muscular
arm stretching her suit slightly. An explosion sounded in the distance.
– Aww… And now my ship is blown! – She sighed, laying on her back and thinking how to get out of here.
A voice echoed in her helmet:
– Flame? Check me, Flame? Emma!
– Yeah… I’m there Blue. – She replied in a suffering tone.
– Your ship just disappeared on our sensors, are you okay? Why can’t I see you, Flame?
She sighed again.
– You have the slaves?
– All safe and sound but…
– Watch on your way back, I was shot by two Dirnians M3 Fighters. My beacon is dead and I got… 27% oxygen left… –
She didn’t want to worry him more than necessary.
– Dirnians?! What the fuck are they doing here?! Ok, don’t move, I’m comin’ for ya’…
– Don’t!
– But…
– Mission’s first, get the job done, secure the slaves. – She said in a firm tone.
– Emma… – She heard Blue’s muffled breathing.
– I derived quite a bit while trying to escape them… I don’t know where I am… Cutting down communications, I need
power to filter my air… – She added.
– Flame wait! – Yelled Blue.
Emma smiles in her helmet.
– I’ll contact you later Blue…
– Fla-…
She had turned off her compad, her suit battery gauge nearing 30%, she made a quick calculation in her head,
roughly four hours of oxygen left. She remained laid on her back, softly breathing, her sculptural form in her black
attire contrasting with the red soil. The pain in her right arm was bearable, the rest of her body seemed operational.
Sitting back up, she wanted to estimate the damage and suddenly felt a sharp pain exploding in her chest and left leg.
She cringed.
“Shit… Hmm.” She thought, feeling her ribs.
“Ouch! Ok, broken here.” She looked down to her left leg, a tear of pain
ran down her cheek.
“Fuck…” Her muscular thigh was sensitive, but nothing seemed broken. Panting slightly, she
looked to her surroundings. Nothing, just a hell of a desert. She laid back carefully.
– And I wanted a life change… Hah… – It wasn’t the first time she said that.
She watched at the orange sun, wrinkling her eyebrows, her mind drifting to distant memories, her life before, a long
time ago.
– So long...
12 years earlierA small white light began to dawn on the room, Emma was lying with her eyes opened and glanced at the
apparition in disbelief.
“What?!” She felt it was dangerous but couldn’t move, her limbs refusing to obey, as in a
nightmare. The light grew and wrapped her whole in a white shroud, she discerned nothing else. The living room and
sofa on which she was lying seemed to have disappeared and the night itself looked like devoured by that beam.
Emma woke up in a heartbeat and looked around her, trembling, eye sight gradually adapting to the room’s
darkness. She was still in her luxury bedroom at the Ritz hotel in Paris. She sat on her bed, putting the sheets back up
her slender body, her bright auburn hair running down in corrugated cascades over her shoulders and contrasting with
her pale skin. Her blue grey eyes, still shocked from the intense dream, were scrutinizing in the dim light. 6:40 am
indicated the clock, time to get up anyway.
She called the room service to order a breakfast and prepared herself quietly. She stepped out of the shower, dried
her hair. She was a little taller than average at 5’7 and weighted a fit hundred and twenty-five pounds maintained by
a regular visit at the gym. A flat stomach where abs could almost be seen when she flexed, shapely legs, firm round
bottom and small perky breasts were completing the set. She knew she was pretty, but not abusing it, that wasn’t
what mattered to her, she just wanted to feel good about her body. And at 39 years old, she was more than satisfied.
When she returned to the bedroom, breakfast was served.
– All right, last day before holidays. – She said.
While she ate absently, focusing mainly on coffee, she looked at her day’s schedule and sighed.
Emma Javuis was a known woman as Bill Gates or the Rothschild were known, worth billions, richest woman in
the world, she was also the richest person in Europe, France and Navarre (sic). Holder of the Legion of Honour for her
Foundation for Social Welfare who cared about the homeless in France and worldwide. She was also known to be the
Star-Tech’s CEO, the largest French high technology company, which she founded with her brother about fifteen years
ago. Sprawling multinational, Star-Tech skills ranged from mobile communication to datacentres and social
networking. Who never had browsed the web on WebV and posted a status update on YourSpace? That was Star-
Tech. Who already went for a MRI or CT scan? Star-Tech again. The latest trendy smartphone? Star-tech once more.
Wind turbine and solar collector fields that were beginning to sprout out of the landscape? Forever Star-Tech.
So when last week, after two years of preparation, she had announced her resignation at the annual Great Blessing
in honour of French know-how – sponsored by Star-Tech of course – this had the effect of a bomb. The journalists
jumped on her, Star-Tech stocks fell by 5.5% in just one hour – they had planned on 10%, guess they managed well –
and the week proved to be exhausting.
“9 am: Meeting with the Council of Ministers.” She read.
She had to reassure them, Star-Tech was one of the few multinational companies which didn’t cheat on tax authorities,
to stand as an example, so the government wanted to know if they could always count on their money.
“11h30 am: Brunch at the Elysée. Pfff… And one gourmet meal paid on the back of the taxpayers. I’ll ask they send me
the bill.” She thought while biting on a slice of bread with strawberry jam, and kept on reading.
“1 pm: Interview at the Maison de la Radio. Claire.”She smiled, it seemed to be the only nice time of the day. Over the years, Claire Ferroni had become a friend
and her show was always nice and smart to listen to. “At least she will have the decency to not overstate my
resignation.” She said to herself. It was also the only official interview she gave, not liking how press was turning tables
about what people said to emphasize what they wanted to hear.
“3 pm: Visit of the 6B artistic squat. Ah, I shall have at least two nice moments today.”She continued on her agenda, several other appointments all more annoying than the last, she stopped at the last
two.
“8 pm: Dinner with Thomas.”Her beloved brother, the second man she loved the most after her husband Richard. It had been almost twenty
years they had worked together, at start just to be able to eat pasta on evenings, writing a poor centralized document
management program that had quickly become the first social network of the internet era.
“Good ideas at the right
time.” She liked to say to anyone willing to hear. But now she was tired and worn form this lifestyle, Star-Tech had
become too big for her and had lost its human dimension. Tom will be able to handle it.
“11 pm: Jet flight to Bordeaux and turn off work phone.”She was so awaiting this instant, her new life. To serve people rather than having them at her service. She was to
take the head of the Foundation, without any salary of course, she could already pay their pension to a million of
retired workers, if not more.
There was a knock at the door:
– Madam, your taxi is ready.
– Coming!
Arriving at Bordeaux, Emma got driven to downtown where she lived and had asked to be dropped a few blocks
away from her residence, she wanted to have a walk at night in the city.
– Are you sure, Emma? I know Bordeaux is pretty safe a town but… – Asked her driver, Richard, former homeless.
– Yes, if it reassures you, just follow me with the car. – She answered, irritated to not feel totally free but at the same
time conscious he only wanted her well-being.
Heels noises echoed at rhythmic pace on the sidewalk followed by her suitcase rolling sounds and the silent wheels
of her electric sport car – from Star-Tech of course – city streetlights throwing their pale shadows on buildings. She
smiled, blissfully breathing lung full of fresh air, certainly a little polluted, but the city had that sweet smell of freedom.
She arrived at the square next to her home and her smile faded off slowly seeing a homeless trying to sleep on a
bench. Winters are never really cold in Bordeaux, but still. She walked toward the red grand double doors that closed
the courtyard of her building, which was hers entirely in one of the affluent neighbourhoods of the city. It automatically
opened on car’s approach.
Emma called her driver.
– Park over and take your day off tomorrow. – She told him while looking at the homeless.
– Ma’am? – She answered worried.
– Please. – She added softly.
Bertrand smiled, that dude won’t sleep under the stars anymore.
She climbed up the steps to her large flat she shared with the love of her life, Richard. She walked cautiously,
swiftly fetched a thick blanket, then emerged from the building and walked straight toward the homeless. He opened
his eyes when she stepped closer, surprised to see her drop a thick blanket over him. He was young, about twenty-five,
she sighed and asked with her sweetest voice.
– Good evening, if it pleases you, there is a nice bed awaiting you in that building.
He looked at her incredulously, and sat up quickly on the bench, Emma smiled. He nodded.
– Good evening ma’am, that’s nice but…
– …You don’t want to bother. Listen…
– No… – He said, cutting her off. – Rather… Why?
– Because I can. If everyone who can afford bothered to help those who need, the world would turn much rounder,
wouldn’t it?
He smiled softly and gathered is ‘home’, a backpack full of his stuff. Emma took back the blanket she had brought and
led him toward the building.
– My name is Emma Javuis. – She said presenting her hand which he took carefully, feeling like messing her white skin.
– Joshua Marchet, thank you a thousand times… E-Emma Javuis?! THE Emma Javuis?
– Hehe, that’s me.
They entered her building’s courtyard and headed to the entrance, walked and advanced through a hallway on the
ground floor, she stopped in front of a metal box on the wall and opened it, taking a key which lightened an orange
LED above its hook, alongside other lit LED. Several doors were lined on both sides of the corridor.
– Where are we? – Asked the young man, a little lost.
– This is my house. The first and second floor have rooms for homeless. There are about twenty centres like this one
in France, usually larger. Each orange LED indicates a busy room. – She explained, closing it.
She led him down the hall and opened a door to a small bedroom of about twelve square meters.
– Here, it’s rather small but it has all it needs, bed, individual facilities, a phone and a small kitchen. – She said calmly.
Joshua entered and sat awkwardly on the bed, Emma handed him the key.
– Take it, put it back at its place when you’ll leave. Now, it’s up to you. Enjoy a good night and nice shower then keep
on living that way. Or, try to get out from there, if you do so I suggest you read that panel, if you know how to read…
– I can read… – He said cutting her short and frowning slightly.
– Sorry… I met some who doesn’t, so I prefer ask. How long have you been living in the streets?
– Eight months, I think. – He replied in a tone expressing all his fatigue.
She nodded slowly.
– I see. You will find a list of useful phone numbers here, doctor, social centre, etc… If any component is faulty or if
you have any specific needs, ask Mr. Chapuis. He’s the concierge. A bit of a rustic man but nice. Everything is explained
on the ‘Rules’ panel there. It’s more of a user manual than actual rules really. – She mimicked the quotes.
– I-I don’t know what to say… I don’t have any money… I… – Stammered Joshua lowering his head.
– Everything’s free, but if you decide to stay, I expect you do well. I only provide a key. – She looked at his hand. – Use
it your way. – She added, smiling warmly.
He nodded, his eyes shining with fatigue and gratitude. Emma yawned violently.
– Mmmf. If you excuse me! I had a long day.
– Certainly! I understand Ms. Javuis, thanks for everything…
– Call me Emma, all residents already do so. Good night Joshua!
– Good night.
She slowly climbed back up the stairs that led to her huge loft which used the third and fourth floor integrally.
Light hearted, she entered her living room, not much of ostentations signs of her immeasurable wealth were on sight,
no servants, no outrageous décor or manor/villa at St-Trop’, she didn’t care about that. Simply happy, it was without
any behind thought that she helped those people, or at least, with the satisfaction that her money and she were to be
of use.
She hung her jacket on the coat rack and stretched, reached the laundry to change from outfit. Wearing a night
shirt, she cupped her little round breasts that pointed through the fabric. “I still do look good.” She thought while
returning to the living room, her eyes caught the clock showing 1:20 am.
– Ugh… Already… – She yawned and walked cautiously toward the bedroom.
Her husband was already asleep and slipped beside him, placing a soft kiss on his forehead. She had hoped he
would awake but he had no reaction, just slight hum. He must have had a hard day as well. Walking back to the living
room, she turned the television on and started browsing for an available replay show, she just needed to chill out. She
found the recording of a F.I.F.A Champions League match, football.
– Perfect for brain. – She said.
Her only regret was to not have any child yet. They tried, many times. Up to use some “fishy” shamanism
techniques. Emma and Richard had of course consulted doctors and specialists, whose had come to the conclusion
that “Madame’s nest is too wild and Mister’s champions are too weak.” nothing abnormal they had to persevere. It
still seemed as their luck was bent against them though.
A small white light began to dawn on the room, Emma was lying with her eyes opened and glanced at the
apparition in disbelief.
“Again…” She felt it was dangerous but couldn’t move, her limbs refusing to obey, as in a
nightmare.
“No!” The light grew and wrapped her whole in a white shroud, she discerned nothing else. The living room
and sofa on which she was lying seemed to have disappeared and the night itself looked like devoured by that beam.
She felt her body dissolve, the molecules of her skin, her blood, her hair flying toward the source. And suffering was,
ripping.
“AaaaaaaAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!”Emma woke up in a jolt, panting, the yell had awakened her. She slowly sat on the couch, catching her breath.
“It… It got more intense this time…” She thought.
She felt like losing her body for a moment and stared at the room for reassurance. The TV was off, not a sound in
the room lit by the warm light of a sweet sun passing through the large picture window. It wasn’t the first time she
had that dream, it came to her since three or four nights already. A piece of paper on the coffee table caught her eyes,
a note from Richard.
“You were sleeping so well I didn’t dare to wake you up.
Have a good day, my heart.
Hugs.
P.S.: Don’t forget we eat at my sister’s place tonight!”She suddenly felt much better, got up while checking on the clock, 10:19 am, and walked sleepily to the kitchen to
start a coffee. While the espresso machine was working, she returned to the lounge and put on a CD “Crude” from
“We insist!” After a frugal breakfast and a most effective musical wake up, a call to her maid to give her day off, she
started to work on the cleaning herself. Not that there was much to do.
– Damn it feels good! – She screamed while dancing with the vacuum cleaner on the vinyl album of “Songs for the
deaf” from “Queen of the Stone Age.”
Emma ate a small dish and settled herself on the PS3, starting a “GTA IV” new game, she finally had time to play.
One hour and a half later:
– Ouchy! Already 2 pm, lost myself a bit there. – She said standing up.
She changed into a sport outfit which snugged her perfect curves tightly, prepared her music on her smartphone and
called Valérie, one of her best friends, with whom she partnered for fitness.
– Hello Val’?
– Ah gosh, about damn time! I was expecting you! – She answered.
– Rhoo, okay, I’m what… Twenty minutes late? We meet at the gym? I’ll be running, should be there in ten minutes.
– Right, see ya.
She went down the stairs quickly, getting in condition for her footing, met some residents hailing them all by their
first name. Stepping in courtyard, she started at a good pace for a sustained running, her firm round bottom dancing
in her spandex. She arrived exactly ten minutes after her departure, entered the gym when her favourite song of
“Radiohead”, “Paranoid Android”, ended. She took her headphones off and saw Valérie waving at her.
– Finally! You’re there. – Noted her friend.
– Ugh, you know it’s my pleasure to have you wait for me. – Replied a chuckling Emma, hugging.
Valérie was an old high-school friend, and had remained so unconditionally to Emma’s professional success. Valérie
was a brunette with a deep tanned skin, her Spanish origins featured on her beautiful face. Taller than most from her
6’ point of view, Valérie was also much beefier, fitness being more than a hobby for her. She showed a pronounced
musculature, visible abs even at rest, broader shoulders than average, sinuous arms, powerful legs. Emma admired
her perseverance and stubbornness in always wanting to improve her physique.
They were doing back exercise, Emma working with an empty bar.
– Tell me, now that you’re on vacation and that your job will be smoother, you’ll be able to accompany me more often,
right? One time, you said you wanted to be like me… – Valérie asked while making sure her friend was doing the moves
right.
– Hmmmf… Yes, I do hope so. Phhhf. You’re jealous of my money. Hmmmf. I envy your body, you know.
– Haha, stop, you are stunning. It’s you people watch, not me.
Emma stopped her series for a break.
– I don’t care who they looking at… Now that I have time, I want to be muscled like you. – Emma said with a confident
tone.
– That’s why you force like that?
– Yep, and to pre-compensate the delicious meal awaiting me at my sister’s tonight.
– Rhhoo, is she the one doing this delicious dessert? The kind of citrus Mille-Feuille…
– Yes she is. – Emma replied, smiling.
– Oh, can you bring me one piece if she cooks some? Please, please, please, please!
Emma Laughed.
– Heh, ok, if any. Put 25 pounds on the bar, will you?
– Hmm, really serious I see. – Noted Valérie while doing so.
The meal hadn’t been cooked by Christiane, Richard’s sister, but by a Chef friend of her. It was nonetheless
marvellous, though Valérie wouldn’t get her citrus Mille-Feuille. Emma had a pleasant evening and was enjoying her
romantic way back with her man, she was holding on his arm tenderly while they were walking through Bordeaux’s
quiet streets. It was about 1 am, night was clear, so clear that without much effort you could see the stars through the
city’s lights. Almost. Richard placed a kiss on his beloved’s forehead.
– Say Emma. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately… And maybe, we’d could adopt. – He said calmly.
Emma said nothing, interpreting his words, walking slowly.
“Why does he have to talk about that now?” She wondered.
– Adopt? – She finally answered. – Could you love this child as much as your own?
– I don’t know. – He sighed. – But you’re nearing forty years old, and we’ve been trying without success, the more
time goes, the more it will become unsafe for you and unsuccessful…
– I know that! – She snapped, letting his arm hang and walking slightly faster.
“He always spoil the good times… Does he believe I don’t worry about it too?” She raged in her head.
Richard, a little taken aback by her reaction, stopped, starred at his hand a second and then trotted back up to Emma.
– Wh-Why do you react that way, my love?
She exploded, that was too much.
– Because! You think I don’t care?! You think I’m all happy to see years are passing by and nothing happen?! – She
yelled.
– N-No but... – Muttered Richard, surprised.
– We were fine there! Peaceful! A couple at last! It’s been months since we hadn’t a time together!! – She gasped,
anger was suffocating. – I do think about our child… And I know I’m getting older… – She began to sob.
– Fuck you Richard. – She blurted out, walking fast again.
– Emma…
E.C. 2021“Richard…”Emma straighten up slowly in a sitting position, wincing in pain and holding her sides. A tear was running down
her cheek, she gritted her teeth and watched the valley. She had seen in her dreams, except it stopped when her ship
was taken down. “Focus, replay the scene. You can do it, Flame.” She thought. She closed her eyes, trying to breathe
calmly and emptying her mind. Her nightmare came to her immediately, clear, just as real. Managing to focus out of
her ship falling like a leaf on the planet Blagor’s green sky, she saw it – about a kilometre away – a mining complex.
She opened her eyes quickly and turned around, her body screamed in pain but she didn’t care. She couldn’t afford to
suffer now. In the distance, her destroyed ship was casting its smoke behind the hill and she was able to orientate
herself toward the mine. Stumbling and limping, she began her slow ascent of the red and bare slope.
– I shall see it from up there. – She said aloud, as a motivation.
The sun was at its zenith when she finally reached the top, casting the shadows of her powerful physique on the
rocky ground. Her body was only pain, her muscles barely responding, her left leg hanging miserably on the dusty
ground. She sweated abundantly, the heat was stifling. It had taken her a good twenty minutes to climb up and a look
at her oxygen gauge was not to reassure her.
“Great, no more than two hours and fifteen left…”But she was seeing the complex, spreading its black metal structures into the distance. Emma resumed her trek
slowly, her progression made easier by walking down the hill.
For nearly an hour she limped, approaching slowly. As she was getting closer to was seemed to be an entrance,
she was out of breath, her leg and ribs sending waves if blazing pain through her body. She gritted her teeth once
more. A sudden violent cramp started in her right leg, caught her off guard and she fell face first.
– Ahhh… Haa… Mmm… Shit… Pheww… – She huffed, trying to calm down.
She looked up, caught ground on her strong arms – which seemed as weak as a new-born right now – and began
to half crawl half walk on fours. Her vision blurred, drops of tears and sweat beaded down her face, her red hair stuck
to her cheeks. She was at barely fifty meters, she collapsed, exhausted. Her mind clouded while the door disappeared
from her field of vision. She raised her arm in a last effort.
– Blue…
(Continued...)
