It’s a little long (1112 words).  Forgive me!  Comments and criticisms welcome and encouraged.

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Southern Nardinia (formerly the British Isles):

Commander Julien wasn’t happy. He stomped around the room changing the scenes on the monitor wall seemingly at random, throwing switches and jabbing buttons like he was mad at them. Only it wasn’t the buttons he was mad at. And at nearly 2 meters tall, he was not an elf you wanted mad at you. Trust me, I’d been here before.

“Are you completely insane? This room monitors every square kilometer of Nardinia and there is nothing on the long range sensors to even remotely indicating that that the humans are mobilizing after 30 years, and I trust these systems far, far more that I trust you or your brother.”

“Sir, I realize that what Nash is saying sounds outrageous, but I’ve known him all his life and I’ve found him to be right time and time again.”

“Regardless Tamarind -”

“Tanaka sir” I muttered meekly.

“Tanaka. Regardless Tanaka, it will take much more than the ‘feelings’ of your nephew-”

“Brother.”

“- brother. Please don’t interrupt me again. I need actual evidence if I am to go to the council and suggest we evacuate based on the ‘feelings’ of your brother.”

Suddenly a scream came from the corner of the room. I glanced over at Nash, my baby brother, just as his eyes rolled up into his head as he collapsed.

“No! Must leave now! Must leave now! All Die! ALL DIE!” screamed Nash as he began writhing in what looked like pain, “MUST LEAVE! ALL DIE!”

“Get him out of here! Now!” the Commander shouted, turning his face turned an interested shade of purple

“Yes sir. Sorry sir. He just gets like that sometimes.”

How embarrassing.

“You might want to consider having him committed. Also consider what might happen if either of you go spreading these rumors around. Last thing we need is to have everyone panicing over the ravings of -”

“Yes sir, I understand. Thank you for seeing us Commander. Come on Nash!”

I heaved him off the floor and walked out of the room, carrying him as best I could.

“We tried Nash. That’s the best we could have hoped for.”

“Tanaka? It is Tanaka right?”

There was a rather large elf standing before us. It didn’t bode well after the events in the Commanders office.

“Yes, ” I replied, “and you’re Vegas if I remember correctly. You’re part of the FSDF.”

“Yeah, Special Ops,” replied Vegas somewhat absently, “Listen, did he really mean what he said about the humans destroying everything?”

“You really shouldn’t get involved sir. It will just cause you trouble.”

“Yes, I can imagine that it would. Truth be told however I think I actually believe him.”

You could have knocked me over with a feather. Here was a high ranking officer in the Security Defense Force telling me he believed my brother’s ramblings. I’ll admit, I was more than a little skeptical. I figured he was trying to get us to say something that could be considered treasonous so he could arrest us. Needless to say what came out of his mouth was something I was not ready for.

” To tell you the truth, I’m not the only one. See some of us on the Long Range Patrols have been seeing evidence that the humans are trying to retake Nardinia. We report it and it gets buried so no one else hears of it. ”

I simply stared.

“Wha… what kind of evidence?”

“Small stuff, like things disappearing, noises and sightings.”

“You’ve seen humans in Nardinia!”

“Not humans but… things. Things that weren’t there that day or the night before. Look, I can get you in to see the council and give you some evidence of human trespassing for you to use, but you have to keep my name out of it.”

“No problem there,” i managed to mutter.

“And if you decide to leave, I can just about promise I can get 10 – 15 others to join us.”

Us? Did he really just say us?

“Others?” I asked, totally confused now.

“Others in Ops that are disgruntled. Elves that have been given the rough and dangerous jobs and positions constantly over time and passed over for promotions. These are all good elves, they just don’t like to play the political game other do and as a result aren’t considered for decent positions.”

I had no idea what to say.

“Thanks for the help. I will try not to let you down.”

****

The council members sit high above the chambers floor. Each has their own seat on a tower that is probably 50 feet tall. I guess it gives them a feeling of superiority. There are supposed to be 4 council members, each an elected representative of each district, however the representative of my home district of Carta died a couple weeks ago and they haven’t filled the position yet. Figures.

The inquiry, as they called it, had been going on for 2 days. We had said everything we knew twice and even brought some of the evidence Vegas had collected over the past few months. Of course his name was never mentioned.

“Tanaka. Step forward.”

I did, staring up at the current Council President, convinced that he was going to simply exile Nash and myself from Nardinia. A prospect Nash relished, and one I didn’t.

“This is a very serious situation before us. You and your brother are claiming that the humans are coming back to Nardinia after being forced out by us over 30 years ago. After reviewing the supposed evidence and listening to the testimony of you and your brother we have decided not to pursue the matter any further. And further more, you and your brother are never to speak of it. You will have noticed that there is no one in the Council Room, no witnesses and no spectators. No one who can substantiate what occured here. No one who will be whispering in the streets and refreshment houses about the ‘Human Invasion’. When we leave this room, this matter will disappear. Any further discussion or rumor be grounds for immediate trial.”

He banged the gavel, then they all got up and left.

Silence.

I should point out he actually used air quotes around human invasion.

****

I walked out of the Council chambers with my eyes glazed over. Stunned was the only word for it. Not only were they going to ignore everything we has said but they were going to pretend it never happened and we were to never mention anything that had happened.

I glanced over to Vegas, waited for him to see me and held his gaze.

“Gather your people, ” i said quietly when I walked up to him, “We leave tonight.”

This isn’t my strongest piece and considering that I’ve been bad sick all week I probably should have stayed in bed and left well enough alone.

Yea, right.

This is also an experiment.  I’m decent at description but wanted to try doing something in pure dialog to see if I could carry a story that way.

Anyway here is my September 18th #fridayflash. Please comment below!

He sat watching the television.

It wasn’t on but that hardly mattered since he wouldn’t really be able to pay attention to it anyway.

The pills were starting to take effect.  It wasn’t much, just enough to make him feel just a little drowsy and woozy.  The world had taken on a bit of a glowing haze.  He had just began to realize he wasn’t able to really focus on anything.

The realization that he had passed the point of no return hit him slowly.  He was past the point where, if he called the police right now they would never arrive in time.  The thought was pleasing, but he didn’t smile.

He had read somewhere that people who left notes were simply crying out for help, but he had left one anyway, not wanting his family and friends to live in doubt and wonder.  He wanted them to know why.  Wanted them to know he had simply reached the point where he couldn’t deal with anything anymore.  Wanted them to know he had simply given up.  He wasn’t sure how they would take or deal with it, but it wasn’t something he would have to worry about.

So he had the note.  He had purchased and taken 2 bottles of the pills. It hadn’t been easy, especially the last half of the second bottle, it had hurt badly, his throat being raw from all the swallowing.

The room was rented through the end of the month, but he was sure someone would look for him in a day or two.  If nothing else, to find out why he hadn’t been to work.

The feel of the room changed again.  It had gotten darker but the light hadn’t changed, almost like the sun had passed behind a cloud.  Slowly he realized there were only minutes left before he wouldn’t be able to keep his eyes open any longer.  Not much longer after that and all his worries and problems would cease.

He leaned his head back in the chair, partially surprised he still had that ability and closed his eyes.  The world swan for just a second and settled in around him.

He took a deep breath.  And let go.

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He walked steadly down the sidewalk.  He patted his coat pocket to make sure he hadn’t left anything behind. The timing had to be precise but it helped that he knew exactly where he was going and exactly what to do, after all he had been here and done it before.  Well, HE hadn’t actually done it, but it had been done and he had done it.

The circumstances ran circles in his mind, threatening to confuse him again even though he had a firm grasp on what will and had happened. As he approached the door he reached into his back pocket and removed the room key.

He slipped the plastic card into the slot and waited for the door to click.  Carefully he turned the knob and stopped, glanced at his watch and he waited.  He counted to himself and when he reached a number that satisfied him, he pushed into the room.

The room wasn’t dark, but it wasn’t exactly light either.  It reminded him of a sunny day when the sun was behind a cloud.  He again smiled.  Glancing around the room he saw the other sitting in the chair by the window just as he remembered, the  empty pill bottles on the nightstand next to him.

Again he patted his coat pocket then, satisfied that everything was in place, he reached in and pulled out a syringe.  He removed the cap and held the needle straight up in the air and pushed the plunger, removing all the excess air, just as he had seen in the movies.  Again the smile.

Slowly he walked over to the figure in the chair, pulled up his right sleeve and plunged the needle into his arm.

When it was empty he replaced the cap and stuffed the syringe back into his pocket and waited.

He wasn’t impatient or nervous, he knew what would happen.  It had happened already so there really was very little mystery.

Slowly the other’s eyelids fluttered and he woke slowly.

“Wha… where am I?

“Still in the hotel room.”

He smiled as the other started at him and squinted trying to focus.

“Don’t worry,” he told the other “everything will be fine. “

“I don’t want to live!”

“Yes, you do.  You just don’t know it yet.”

“What happened?”

He laughed to himself, “I saved you. “

“Who… who are you?”

“No one.”

“I’m confused.”

“Yes, you would be.  You won’t remember this conversation for a while, but you will live.  Things will change and they will get better. ” he said watching the other struggle to grasp hold of reality and as the medication began to take effect.

“You can’t know that.  No one can.”

“I do.  I know it for a fact.”

“How?”

“I can’t tell you that.” he said as he turned his back to the figure in the chair and smiled again.

“I can tell you that Ray will be here in about 10 minutes and that the drug I gave you will never show up on any toxicology reports.  It will appear to others as though he arrived in time to save you.

“Ray left this morning for New York.”

“No, I cancelled his flight and set it up so that he can’t leave until tomorrow.  The details are unimportant right now.”

He walked over to the door, opened it and started out.

“I don’t understand!” cried the chair bound figure.

Pausing he looked back at him still in the grip of the medication he had given him.

“You’ll receive a letter in about 15 years explaining everything.  It will take you another 5 years to accomplish your goal.”

“How do you know that!”

He reached into his other back pocket and pulled out a worn looking envelop, “Because you did.”

I was determined, come hell or high water (as my grandma use to say) to use some form of ’skitter’ in this.

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Harley sat and waited.

He continued to sit, and continued to wait but now added ‘glare’ to his action list.  He had considered simply staring but glare had more menace and considering that as a Silky Terrier he was taller sitting than standing it made more sense to glare and sit.  It hadn’t moved for several minutes, teasing him. He remained perfectly still, only his hair moved now and again blowing in the occasional breeze.

Suddenly it twitched!  A slight wind was starting up again so it made sense that it would move, but he had to be on his guard in case it decided that was the perfect chance to escape.

Carefully, he raised his back haunches and shifted, with extreme care, into a position more suitable for stalking.

Slowly he lifted his left forepaw.  No movement.  He slowly extended it out in front of him and shifted his weight slightly.  Still no movement.  Carefully, oh so very carefully, and slowly, he lowered it again and shifted his weight forward more.

A twitch.

Harley froze.

Had he been seen?  Did it know he was there?  Should he pounce now?  It was too far away to get to in a single jump, but it might be possible in two.

The breeze came again.  A double twitch!

He crept forward a tad faster now.

Suddenly the wind gusted faster, lifting it into the air.  It was escaping!

Harley gave chase.

It drifted upward slowly, just out of leaping range.  He was about to give up when the wind died a little and it sank back to earth, skittering across the ground.

He sped up and just as it began to lift into the air again when the wind picked up he pounced.

He grabbed it securely between in his teeth, lifted his foot to free it, turned and trotted back to the porch with his head held high and a grin on his face as he carried the yellow candy wrapper.