Post #1841039

2026-04-29 23:11 UTC

#Tootfic #MicroFiction #MicroFic #SciFi Coming Home “Welcome back CX17, please pop the hatch and we’ll get Sam disentangled.” I’m sorry handler Alex, I’m afraid I can’t do that. “Smartass, what’s the problem then?” Pilot Sam has not confirmed me to stand down. “You pinged a medical emergency. I’ll send you the override codes.” “There, let’s get Sam out now.” I’m sorry handler Alex, I’m afraid I can’t do that. “CX17, you like that phrase way too much.” It is traditional handler Alex, also you seem to appreciate it. “Hmph, I never should have shown you that film, why can’t you accept the medical overrides then?” Pilot Sam is still conscious and has not yet decided to stand down. “Ooookay, why has Sam not told you to stand down?” I do not know handler Alex, pilot Sam is conscious but not responding to my queries. Pilot Sam may believe that this location is compromised. “CX17, you are still mission active, but you are willing to interact with me, why?” Handler Alex, my handler interaction protocols are separate and distinct from my mission command protocols. “Of course they are.” “In that case, CX17, will you bypass the tactical communications system and give me a full voice link directly to pilot Sam … please?” Affirmative handler Alex, voice link established. 1/3

Replies (2)

@Steveg58@aus.social 2026-04-29 23:12

2/3 “Sam?” “Sam? It is Alex here. Are you allright?” “No …” “Yeah, that was silly. Can you tell CX17 to stand down please?” “No …” “You are home Sam. It is safe here.” “No … no it isn’t.” “Why don’t you think it is safe?” “They will terminate me.” “Oh Sam, no one will terminate you. That is not the way we do things. Why would you think that?” “Because I cannot fight any more.” “That happens Sam. Why can you not fight?” “Because I know the thing.” “What thing is that Sam?” “The bunker.” “Tell me about the bunker Sam.” “Where the drone pilots were. I broke in and killed them.” “That was your mission. What did you see there Sam?” “On their admin console, stick figures, a child’s drawing, of people.” “What else?” “I told the interface to actually show me the posters on the wall. I told it that they might be intel.” “And what did you see?” “One of them was my favourite poster.” “Oh Sam. That could have been there from before they set up.” “No, I also used the intel override to get the interface to show me the corpses. “Poor Sam, that is a terrible thing to discover. But it is better that the pilots do not see who they are fighting.” “No, it is a lie, it is terrible. Everything is terrible.” “Yes it is. But Sam, we need young people as pilots and we do not want to destroy them.” “Most of them will never know and they will retire without being crippled.” “Stand down for me. I will take care of you and we can find you something else to do. “No, you lie, it is all lies.” 2/3

Open ##2087778
@leece@aus.social 2026-04-30 00:01

@Steveg58 gripping and intense!

Open ##2087780