New year, new story. Well, new to Weekend Writing Warriors, anyway. This crazy, free-wheeling Space Opera is next on my To Finish and Submit list. The snippet is from Chapter Two, after Eli and his pal Rilke have been most inconveniently snatched by slave sweepers while scavenging in Old York.
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From Mars, With Love
Eli maintained his cool through the whole abducted, locked in a giant dustbin, hurled into space thing until the sex swappers arrived on the scene and he got yanked out of line. Watching Rilke dissolve into a puddle of tears broke Eli’s heart, which wasn’t an easy thing to do after the life he’d led. For the first time his survival instincts failed him and he made a futile attempt to wriggle out of a slaver’s metal grasp, if only to say a proper good-bye. This earned him a sharp jab with some sort of stun gun and he made the rest of the trip to the transfer shuttle in a numbed-out, wobbly state.
By the time the doors of the holding pen hissed shut behind them, he’d regained his right mind and returned his thoughts to practical matters, because getting sold into an unlicensed spaceport sex market was just about the unhealthiest thing that could befall a person. He figured his luck was spent and he’d better start getting resourceful fast. Without his other half, the super smart half-Martian Rilke, he’d be flying on one wing and knew it. Through a narrow viewing portal he watched the huge sweeper recede into the distance and his mood blackened.
Because I can, that’s why.
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If you’re cruising for bigger bites of fiction, I’ve posted two holiday stories on this blog; The Wrong Elf Flash Version and The Longest Night featuring Axel and Liam from To Catch A Threeve. Enjoy!
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This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or perhaps their current work in progress. Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! I heartily invite you to participate as a reader, writer, or both. It’s a great way to discover your next favorite book. Click here or use the address: http://www.wewriwa.com
Alexis Duran 
I love it! Even in the midst of disaster, his voice is so snarky. Very Han Solo indeed!
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I’m blown away by your writing. You set a scene so frightening and real and he’s going to find a way out. Applause here.
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Yeah, that does sound unhealthy. I doubt they get benefits or vacation. This really makes me wonder where Rilke is going…
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Great insight and visual description. A tough situation for them but Eli sounds determined to get through this.
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You had me with the Han Solo pic. (he fired first :)) Loved the snippet and Eli’s thought process
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I love the premise and the writing, though I don’t envy Eli for the situation he’s found himself in.
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He seems level-headed enough to find a way out of this. Great snippet!
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Eli doesn’t appear defeated…he’s looking around for a plan and I’m betting he finds it. 🙂
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Oh no! He needs to get back to Rilke!!;)
Love it! Eli has such a great voice. I look forward to reading more.
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Wow, quite the dire situation but I have faith in your hero to overcome it and reunite with Rilke. FUN! Loved the voice…excellent excerpt! (You’re just determined to keep my TBR stack high, aren’t you LOL?)
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I’m trying!
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I loved this excerpt & definitely want to read more
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Well that’s definitely not a good situation to be in. I hope he figures out how to escape, and get Rilke out too.
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Oh, what a nasty situation! There are echoes of reality in the real-life ugliness of human trafficking. One would hope for an escape and the ability to rescue his friend as well, to be certain.
Thank you for visiting me at amodernvampire.blogspot.com
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Compelling and engaging snippet. The matter of fact tone once captured works well and makes the concern for his partner more poignant. Great job. Eager to read more.
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Very much enjoyed this little piece! It’s already a very intriguing story. The narrator is very snarky, which is one of my favorite things about a character. Best of luck on this piece!
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The snippet gives us a great set up and world building without slowing down pace. I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to more 🙂
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