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Arion's Creative Arts Page
Pamela A Shirkey
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Creative Writing
Of all the different types of writing that I do-- professional and technical in the medical field, advertising copywriting, editing, non-fiction articles and interviews-- I enjoy fiction writing the most. I am working on a dark fantasy novel and have had numerous flash fiction pieces published.
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Photographic Arts
I have been a photographer since childhood when my father gave me my first Kodak camera. Fine Art photography is my favorite and I like to find the beauty in everyday things.
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Battle Drop
First appeared in the Winter 2004/2005 FlashQuake e-Zine as the 3rd place winner in a Short Story (500 words or less) Contest.
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We dive to the depths. The behemoth is packed to the gills with our bubble shields. Pvt. Dallison is on my left. She wants a piece of the treasure. Like me. Dallison tightens her harness, then tests her flechette nozzle, pointing it up, down, right, left.
Sarge orders her to stop. "You'll be using that soon enough on the Squidgies."
I frown at the slur. They're Cephalopods. Just because we kill them doesn't mean we should disrespect them.
The behemoth levels out. Even shielded in its belly, we feel the crushing pressure. AquaRangers are born tough. Fighting in the deep water trenches isn't for the weak… or careless.
Sarge's voice blasts through our coms.
"Test directional controls." We press the foot pedals.
"Activate high beams." We switch them on.
"Gun off safety." We thumb it off.
"Prepare to blow." Our jaws clench.
"Blow!" The behemoth sprays us out in a geyser of bubbles.
Twenty of us maneuver away from its undertow as it angles toward the surface. A few bubble shields bounce around but their riders get them quickly under control. We drop into the dark where the Cephalopods wait.
They swarm toward us from the depths. Silver tentacles and pale mouths are all we can see and soon we can't see those when their ink begins to flow.
Flechette guns fire all around me — tiny needles riddle our enemy's bodies. Some of the giant squids get through the assault. Several attach themselves to Dallison's sphere. She spins her bubble trying to dislodge them. Their sharp beaks gnaw at the vulnerable connection between shield and muzzle.
I fire as wave after wave of dark squids attack. The ebony ones are always the second wave.
The com chatter increases as the troops near the cavern. We'll be in the caves in minutes and the squids can't stop us.
A scream cuts through the chatter. "Fortus!"
I look up and see Dallison. The squids have gotten through. Her bubble collapses and blood flows out into the water. She stops screaming my name.
I'm at the entrance to the cavern when my light blinks out. I slam it back on with my fist. Illuminated by the burst of light, a thousand golden squids attack. They cover my bubble. I fire while moving deeper into the cave. Golden bodies pile up behind me.
Millions of tiny globes float in the dark. This is the treasure we fight for. Each pearl-sized egg is the key ingredient in the eternity elixir. I can smell the eggs. Their odor is a mixture of seawater, blood, and gold. Each orb earmarked for wealthy patrons throughout the galaxy. Eternal youth for those who can afford them, wealth for the collectors. Maybe one day I can afford them. I open my scoop and gather as many as I can before the squids regroup.
Sarge's com voice booms: "Hit the entrance now! Behemoth leaves in 60 clicks." Instead, the squids wait for us — a wall of ebony, silver, and gold.
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Writer's Blog
Started a year or so ago, I've been adding to it bit by bit and I find that blogging is the perfecr forum for discussions of SciFiKu, Haiku, Flash Fiction, and "Fibs". Check it out and leave a comment or a haiku of your own.
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Some of my writing online:
Creative Nonfiction from the Emerald Coast Literary Journal:
Want tips and help on writing?
This book (and my chapter on plotting) may be just what you need!
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