Written for Alastair’s Photo Fiction.
Genre: Techno-Thriller
Word Count: 150
Story begins after the image.
Copyright: Alastair Forbes
A Shot Must Ring Out
Xu stepped before Dr. Suiza at the steps. “I’m sorry doctor,” he said sincerely. “I cannot let you pass.”
“It’s you they sent?” Asked the elderly scientist.
“Yes.”
“I knew it would come to this, but I still don’t understand.”
“If you climb those steps to the institute, your energy system will destroy my country’s economic advantage.”
“But this system will be available to all countries, even yours. The benefits to all humanity will be enormous.”
“I know that,” said Xu, gripping the pistol in his jacket. “I have my orders. A shot must ring out, and someone must die.”
“If I pass, the entire world will change for the good.”
“I know.” Xu fought back his emotions. “Yet, my instructions are clear.”
“Do what you must,” said Suiza and he advanced to the stairs.
A shot rang out. Dr. Siuza turned back, gasping.
Xu’s body slumped to the ground.
____________________
Each week, Alastair Forbes presents an photo and encourages all to write up to 150 words of flash fiction/poetry based upon the photo. Anyone and everyone is encouraged to participate. This week’s challenge page may be found here: http://alastairsphotofiction.wordpress.com/2013/06/16/photo-fiction-sunday-june-16th-2013/
EagleAye
Momus News 
Nice. A bad guy with a conscience 🙂
Like this
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Thanks much!
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You led me down a different path…excellent!
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Thanks so much, Lyn. I appreciate it.
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Very nice story. I enjoyed it. Thank you for visiting mine, as well. I look forward to reading more of your work. Thanks again! Skye
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Thanks, Skye. I look forward to more of yours too.
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Always a pleasure reading your stories 😀
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Thank you very kindly. Always a pleasure to get a visit from you.
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It seems he couldn’t bear living in a world like that.
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He knew his duty, and he knew the right thing to do. It was the only answer to his problem.
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But not to ours.
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True. The scientist had the answer to ours. Luckily, he survived the encounter.
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Umm. That was grim, or evil…
are you chuckling and rubbing your hands together?
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Oh this was a case where the scientist had a truly beneficial energy solution. He was a “good” scientist who, if he lived, would improve the lives of everyone. The assassin, had to choose to maintain the status quo, or allow the world to improve. He chose the latter and sacrificed himself to do it.
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Ahh. See why I’m an artist, not a scientist?
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Nah. Scientists just have a bad rap with all the movies portraying them as evil or catastrophically naive. It’s a knee-jerk expectation any more. Most likely it will be scientists who solve many of our problems. In the end, they will be saviors.
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I will tell my geeky son you said so. 🙂
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“For the good of the cause….” (actually our volunteer fire-fighter meetings end with that line.) … or the cause of the good?
Reminds me of Jim and Spock, Jim in the latest prequel and Spock in one of the older flicks.
Each thinking they’d take a hit so others would survive.
Thanks for your visit.
Catching up on e-mails…ain’t easy, but I’m trying!
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“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.” Yup, sometimes self-sacrifice is needed to advance society. Love the Star Trek movies. This last one was so great because it drew so many parallels to previous works. We ended up watching the first episode with Khan from the original series so my wife would know about the origins of Khan.
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I like how they tied that in…Kirk and Spock. 🙂
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