Daily Flash Fiction Challenge

This is my first entry and first post on writing.com for that matter. Hope I'm doing it right.


With a hiss of air, Mark and Austin stepped out of the airlock onto what should have been the marketplace. All except one unit was empty; the one that wasn’t, “Trevor’s” had various neon signs and loud music, just in case you were deaf or blind. If you weren’t, you probably would be after enough visits.

Along the walkway several scantily clad women were either looking for men to talk to or already talking. Most of the men seemed amicable though some of them were getting a little too friendly. One man, having been pushed away for the third time felt the force of Austin’s fist and fell to the floor.

In the entrance of “Trevor’s”, a small, greasy haired man wearing a purple suit called them over. Before he could speak, another man in a stained flight suit stumbled out between them. Trevor grabbed him. “Security chief Brownite, meet Mark Johnson.”

Mark looked at Trevor and wondered how he knew.

“It’s a small station,” Trevor said as if reading his mind. “News travels fast.”

“Shouldn’t you be doing something about this?” Mark said, grabbing Brownite.

Brownite slurred something incomprehensible then passed out.

Mark dropped him onto the floor and turned to Austin. “Looks like I’m going to need a new security chief. Want the job?”

Austin surveyed the carnage before him. “I’m probably going to regret this.”

Mark smiled. “There’s no probably about it. You in?”

Austin smiled too. “Of course. Drink?”

“Here? No. This place is a dump. I’ve got some Talgorian ale in my hold,” Mark said as the two men walked away.

“Talgorian ale is illegal,” Austin said.

“Who’s going to tell?”

“I am security chief you know.”

In his doorway, Trevor checked his takings and wondered if things were going to be different this time.



300 words