#FFFC 121 — Swarm

on

image from Reddit

Inert, stiff shadows, arrogant in their perceived dominion over all of everything on the planet, raised their electronic devices and popped off flashes of the swirling life in the giant tank. Little did they realize that they were orbiting earth, confined in pods, cables running in and out of their paralyzed forms. The jack input in their foreheads beamed the pleasant images in. The jack output sucked the electricity from the firing synapses as they watched the images.

The scurrying insectoid maintenance crew watched gauges with their multiple eyes making sure flow remained in the optimum range. They couldn’t afford to have the warming eggs and larvae too hot or too cool.

Soon they wouldn’t need to kidnap random humans from the surface of the planet to power their mobile nests. Their numbers were reaching critical mass for swarm and a full-scale invasion would commence.

[147 words]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fandango is the host of Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge.

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26 Comments Add yours

  1. ghostmmnc says:

    oooh Creepy! Disturbing to think this could happen! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Barbara, I stole the idea from The Matrix but I’m sure the swarms of insects I’ve seen this year influenced it also 🙂 Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Ohhh. That’s disturbingly scary. Great story, Li.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Thanks, Shweta!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Images like this of people at aquariums always make picture humans as underwater dwellers. How nice to think that sea creatures wouldn’t eat us up and fast, even if the bottom of the ocean is where we called home.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Yes, Gia. Maybe one day we will return to Atlantis!

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Sadje says:

    A frightening story Li.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      I know! Hoping it’s just fiction…

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sadje says:

        Oh yes! 😅

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Fandango says:

    Are we in the Matrix?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Yes, except the captors are insects not machines. Which scenario do you think would be more horrific?

      Like

  6. Fandango says:

    Are we in The Matrix, Li?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Uh huh only Mr. Smith is Mr. Preying Mantis.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. memadtwo says:

    You do have a way with apocalyptic visions. Let’s keep this one fiction. (K)

    Liked by 1 person

  8. badfinger20 (Max) says:

    Love your scifi stories Lisa…the endings are not usually good for humans but that is probably true to life.
    Sorry I’m so far behind Lisa.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. msjadeli says:

      Glad you enjoyed the story and please no worries on the reading ok?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. badfinger20 (Max) says:

        Ok Ok….I haven’t been able to keep up lately…Hope you are having a good Sunday

        Liked by 1 person

        1. msjadeli says:

          It’s cooler here today (only 80) which makes a big and better difference. I hope you are also.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. badfinger20 (Max) says:

            It’s 92 today…Martha and I went out for a few minutes and in we came quickly.

            Liked by 1 person

            1. msjadeli says:

              Have you ever shaved your dogs in the summer? How about a kiddy pool? Right now I’m about ready to go run in the sprinkler!

              Liked by 1 person

              1. badfinger20 (Max) says:

                We did and were told by breeders don’t do it because Saints are so fair skinned…. Go RUN!

                Liked by 1 person

                1. msjadeli says:

                  Ah! Ok! I can hear the kids next door yelling like they are running through a sprinkler.

                  Liked by 1 person

  9. budhathokiasmin997526 says:

    Nice

    Liked by 1 person

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