#FFFC 121 — Swarm

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.

26 Comments Add yours

  1. ghostmmnc's avatar ghostmmnc says:

    oooh Creepy! Disturbing to think this could happen! :)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar 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. Lisa or Li's avatar 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. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

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

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Sadje's avatar Sadje says:

    A frightening story Li.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      I know! Hoping it’s just fiction…

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sadje's avatar Sadje says:

        Oh yes! 😅

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Unknown's avatar Fandango says:

    Are we in the Matrix?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

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

      Like

  6. Fandango's avatar Fandango says:

    Are we in The Matrix, Li?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

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

      Liked by 1 person

  7. memadtwo's avatar memadtwo says:

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

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar 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. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

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

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar 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. Lisa or Li's avatar 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. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar 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. Lisa or Li's avatar 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. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar 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. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

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

                  Liked by 1 person

  9. Asmin's avatar budhathokiasmin997526 says:

    Nice

    Liked by 1 person

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