Intelligent

I woke up lying on part of the ship's hull, floating just off the coast of an island.

As my memories came into focus and I remembered the storm, I suddenly felt something pushing against the wood.

I looked down into the water and saw dolphins, taking turns to push me towards the shore.

By the time I was awake enough to think through what was happening, I saw the figure on the beach, and I was happy.

Until I saw the look in his eyes, and the basket of raw meat in his hand that looked like a reward...

Write Down

"And in the room with Mr Francis is Detective Sergeant Peter Garten and Corporal Robin Michaelson. Now, for the tape, you have been informed of your right to a lawyer and are waiving that right?"

"Well, we're just chatting, right?"

"That's correct! We just want to get a grip on what happened, is all. So why don't you start at the beginning?"

"Ok, well, for the last few years I've been working in the Stonecutter building-"

"On 42nd Street?"

"Yeah, right below the Police Commissioner's offices, and-"

[Note: At this point, the tape malfunctions until after the subject's medical episode.]

Power Ratings

As Glory threw Greyscale into the cell, Entropy (as they'd come to call the cosmic entity) asked a question of her.

"Why do you not swap locations?"

Glory paused as she was reaching for the paperwork.

"What?"

"These enemies you fight here in Los Fransisco, you are evenly matched. If you were in Night City, you could easily overpower those enemies."

"That's Solanaceae's territory."

"But-"

"And this is my home. I don't want to fight somewhere else just because it's easier."

Entropy seemed to consider this while she filled out the paperwork.

She should have glanced at her power scanner.

¶

He opened the door to find the two women he'd been dating standing side by side, looking angry.

In the following twenty minutes, he said fifteen words, eight of them at the start as he began to try to placate them.

The next four were all 'No', said with decreasing confidence as they both asked him pointed questions about his motives.

The next one was pnly technically a word, as it was more of a grunt as he acquiesced to their stated plans.

The final two were simply "I'm sorry", which didn't solve anything, but did prevent further words spoken.

Loophole

The Demon appeared in a burst of flame.

"Who dare summon... Elica?"

The woman was much older than when he signed the contract to cure her disease, but he recognised his love even in his new form.

"Hello, my love. I summoned you, I drew the circle of protection."

He fought against the evil in his body as he looked down at the salt and chalk.

"My darling, it's good, but reversed, I'm protected, not you, not the others."

"Oh I know. It's the only way."

He didn't understand until she began casting the spell to destroy all demons, everywhere.

Post Apocalypse Contact

I walked in after a long day tending the potato field and switched on the computer. After loading things up, they sent me a message.

"Hey man! How you doing?"

After I wiped away some dirt from my hands, I typed out my question slowly.

"Are you real?"

The reply was quick.

"What? Why do you ask?"

I noted they didn't answer as I typed out my explanation.

"Because after the plague, just as I was giving up and was about to off myself, I finally made contact with another living person."

The reply was simple.

"Don't think about it."

Die On Your Feet

The Rebel General was dragged up the steps to where the Prince was waiting, as the Prince held his sword out to be sharpened.

"Kneel."

The Rebel General remained on his feet.

"My troops may be in chains, but they are still behind me. So I will not yield, especially to the likes of you."

The Prince smirked as the blade was to his satisfaction.

"So you'd prefer to die on your feet?"

"If that's my fate."

"Well, you're half right."

The Prince made a big show of laughing, hugging the Rebel General, and walking them inside.

Rumor grew fast.