Damage Assessment Team
In his shielded shell, Korix of Ascov II could have been lowered into a nuclear reactor without ill effects. A mile from the drop, the burn was still obvious on the planet’s surface. Radiation, the real killer, spread far beyond. One way or another, they’d exterminate these indigenes and make this place home.
Korix walked amid the charred remains, sweeping his biodetector. Puffs of ash rose at each step. In a stone’s lee, a signal. He leaned on one knee, brushed blackened soil from the spot to discover a green tendril, a sprout. Damn Earthlings just would not give up.
Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers: 100-word stories
photo prompt: Yarnspinner
Muninn's Memories 
April 4, 2017 at 12:23 pm
Hahaha! Great story! Love the ending where the “damn earthlings” are sprouting from the devastating soil.
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April 4, 2017 at 12:35 pm
Thank you.
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April 4, 2017 at 12:35 pm
I meant to say, “devastated soil.” Great story!!
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April 4, 2017 at 2:57 pm
Oh my goodness. The second I saw the title of this piece I wanted to read more. Fantastic! And surprise, surprise, now that I’ve finished the 100 words, I want to read more of it, Kecia.
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April 4, 2017 at 3:00 pm
Hehe, thanks for your enthusiasm, Mandie! That will please my DIL, who stalks my comments. She watches out for me.
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April 4, 2017 at 6:41 pm
You tell so much then left me to wonder about earths future. I really enjoyed what you did with this story,
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April 4, 2017 at 6:56 pm
Well, thank you. That’s very nice of you to say.
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April 5, 2017 at 2:47 am
BLEAK! And a good closing line…
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April 5, 2017 at 7:59 am
Thank you, Martin.
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April 5, 2017 at 8:09 am
Sci fi is always gripping. But it is commendable to express so much in a few words. Well written!
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April 5, 2017 at 8:14 am
Thank you.
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April 5, 2017 at 12:50 pm
Ha! I wrote about aliens, too.
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April 5, 2017 at 9:24 pm
Great story. Good old earthlings never give up!
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April 5, 2017 at 10:17 pm
Yup. Let’s hope. Thank you for reading.
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April 10, 2017 at 6:41 pm
Great story! There’s something powerful in the image of that persistent sprout.
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April 10, 2017 at 8:38 pm
Thanks! I liked this one, too. 🙂
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