Fireworks


T’ksspt parked his space ship in a high orbit over the little blue and green planet.  It was just as pretty as he’d hoped.  A few good shots of this, and he’d at least place in the photography contest.  And then K’ssltt would finally notice him.

 He slipped into his tiny shuttle and flipped on his cloaking device.  He zoomed over the planet’s surface, looking for beauty. 

His sensors blared in alarm.  There was a rocket incoming!  He jerked on the controls, and his craft rolled away from the danger.  He could see the trail of the projectile that streaked past him as he looked up into the night sky. 

Then, the rocket exploded.  Gold sparkles shimmered down through the sky.  Another rocket flew past and exploded high above him.  This one was green and purple. 

T’ksspt filled up his camera’s memory crystal.  He grinned as the sky lit again and again.  He’d have to name their first hatchling after this place.  

 


About Jamie

Jamie Lackey lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and their cats. She has over 160 short fiction credits, and has appeared in Daily Science Fiction, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and Escape Pod. She has a novella and two short story collections available from Air and Nothingness Press. In addition to writing, she spends her time reading, playing tabletop RPGs, baking, and hiking. You can find her online at www.jamielackey.com.

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