The Boy From Shinju: The Perilous Port by C F Shifflett II

Author:C F Shifflett II [Shifflett, C F II]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: X22
Published: 2021-08-15T04:00:00+00:00

Stopped dead in his tracks, drained by the struggle and weapons fire, the HMD stood on the dock, motionless, covered by the CIC, both inside and out.

Seeing this, Johnny targeted the area of the pier where Sidekick stood and fired one of his last charges. The resulting blast toppled the inundated robot into the clear, blue domain, reducing the weapon to a dwindling display of burning embers, bubbling harmlessly on the water’s surface.

“We did it, Lieutenant!”

But there was no response from Talkie-Book, only static.

“Talkie?” said the boy, searching the sky for his drone, only to find it yards away in the grass, grounded and inert.

Hoping his friends were still alright, Johnny realized they were on their own until they could be recovered.

“What is our plan after we run out of bombs, Master Seiko?” asked Jules.

“Um...I’ll let you know when we get there,” the boy said as the chamberlain handed him the next grenade, before being knocked over and dragged back toward the dilapidated staircase spiraling up the cliff’s precipice.

The Shard was much smarter than Johnny could have ever imagined. Unaware that creative improvisation was a key aspect of the Shard’s ability, the boy stood horrified when he saw it appear out of nowhere to rip Jules into two pieces and toss him over the cliff’s edge.

“Jules!” he cried out, frozen in fear as the he looked on.

The sharp crack of Killer’s second ever blast rang out in defense of the boy.

Hitting its target with pinpoint accuracy, it destroyed the closest portion of the Shard only meters away from Johnny.

Her-hrreck! Her-hrreck! Her-hrreck! Killer cried in frustration, as the young landgrazer tried prematurely to generate another defensive emission before its little body could produce it.

Quickly raising his rifle, Johnny fired again – but the Shard was way ahead of him.

Expecting the incoming grenade, it made a hole in its mass, allowing the bomb to pass harmlessly through it and into the stairway’s landing where the resulting explosion caused the once permanent structure to collapse.

Squeezing the trigger again, the empty click of the launcher told the boy he was out of options.

Too far away from the Fly-Rider to retrieve more ammunition, the Shard now stood between them and their only means of escape.

Backing away from The Shard’s advance upon him, Johnny tripped and fell down onto the grass. Hunched over his little defender, acting as a human shield, Johnny shut his eyes and tried to focus on “something nice” before the end came. Sensing the boy’s fear building, the pup whimpered in his arms, repeatedly kissing his face.

“Don’t look, little one,” said Johnny, bravely trying to swallow his fright while Moebius stood his ground between the boy and the alien assassin, hissing ferociously.

Annoyed, the Shard reached out and casually flicked the catsimile off of the cliff.

“Moebius!”

Enraged by the sight of its playmate’s elimination, the pup wriggled out of Johnny’s arms to take Moebius’ place.

“Killer, no!”

But as hard as it tried, the pup found it could not yet build up a charge.

Amused by the little defender, the Shard shot a wispy tendril out with lightning speed to taste the pup.

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