It’s Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday. Snippets of ten to fifteen sentences designed to reel you and leave you screaming for more!
Last week, Blade ran the gauntlet of temptation from holding cell to release, thankfully without killing anyone. Blade is home on medical leave (or AWOL) and suffering from PTSD.
***
“Prisoner release,” the guard said. “Name of Dev Fossey.”
The uniformed clerk on the other side of the transparisteel opened a strongbox and began removing items, placing them into a drawer and identifying them aloud as he went.
“One Unitek chrono…one wallet…four hundred eighty-seven Commonwealth credits, hard currency… one com-set… one pair of sunshades… three finance cards, one belonging to Dev Fossey, one belonging to Chase Fossey, one belonging to Blade Devon.” The clerk peered up at him, his red-rimmed eyes filled with mistrust. “We’ve run them all through the system and none were reported stolen.”
Blade craned his neck to see into the box. “I had a couple of pocket knives, too.”
The clerk consulted his list. “A Mergent Arms TJ-65 blaster pistol, leather shoulder holster, twelve throwing knives, ten throwing discs, fuseform knucks, bolo, and a government issue RK-129 have been confiscated and taken into evidence.” He pressed the controls sending the drawer out to Blade. “Please verify the contents of the drawer for records.”
Blade glanced down at his things, sighing over the missing contraband. “Yeah. That’s my stuff.”
***
That’s where the natural break was. I hope you enjoyed this teeny peek. Come back next week to find out what happens once Blade begins the process of re-entering civilization. While you’re waiting, I’m still busy with BARRON’S LAST STAND. If you’re interested in reading more about Blade, you can pick up your ebook copies of SOVRAN’S PAWN and HERO’S END for Nook and Kindle at Amazon or Barnes & Noble or you can follow the links to the right over there.
If you’d like to read a sneak peek at BARRON’S LAST STAND you can find the first chapter at the end of HERO’S END and here on my website.
Also, in a personal note, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is an affliction that hits close to home. With three family members who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan I have seen first hand that it is something very real, and very much an unending nightmare for the men and women returning from war. There is a reason combat vets have that 1,000 yard stare.
If you know someone who suffers from PTSD, I urge you to support them and encourage them however you can. They will not be the same person they were before they went into hell on earth. They won’t want to talk about the evils they’ve seen and done. Sometimes having someone be there without judgment is all they ask.
There are many support groups for veterans and their families. Personally I support the Wounded Warrior Project. For more information on the Combat Stress Recovery Program, follow the link to their web site.
Other helpful links:
www.ptsdsupport.net/
www.operationnotforgotten.com/PTSD
I love the difference between Blade’s “couple of pocket knives” and the complete list read out by the clerk! Made me grin.
Yes, at one point in his life, Blade was little more than a young punk trying to pull a fast one.
They took his bl…and his kn…aw, man! And, what’s he doing with Chase’s card?
I’ll admit that, when I read the first sentence, another line of dialogue from a famous movie flashed through my head: “Prisoner transfer from cell block 1138.”
Blade can’t help himself. I’m sure Chase won’t mind…really!
Actually when I was going through this, I kept picturing the Jake Blues release from prison at the start of THE BLUES BROTHERS with Frank Oz sitting on the other side of the desk going through his personal effects.
“a couple of knives”! Does he get all those weapons back?
Somehow, I doubt he will. I wouldn’t worry, though. A young man with his resourcefulness will always be able to find a source for contraband weaponry.
Ha. JC, I was thinking of the exact same scene from Blues Brothers as I was reading this. I’ve always loved these scene when a character is released from prison and their personal belongings are returned – it can really tell us so much about the character. This one is no exception!
I did toy with the idea of describing a Yoda-esque character on the other side of the desk, but I thought that would be taking it a bit far.
Poor Blade…hopefully he can procure a “couple” of additional pocketknives after he gets out. Just glad he made it this far without killing someone.
I’m sure if Deo the banger decides to follow through on his threat to kill Blade, he’ll bring something useful with him that Blade can “borrow” indefinitely…or at least until the next time he’s arrested.
Reminds *me* of Guardians of the Galaxy and Starlord finding his Walkman confiscated, lol. His reaction was a bit more…aggrieved than Blade’s. *snigger*
LOL! A man’s gotta have his priorities, right? And this isn’t the first time Blade’s toys have been confiscated.
Welcome back, by the way!