Sarifael

The wave of scarlet, airborne sand crashed over the squad and hid each man from his neighbor. Sergeant Drake tensed, glad for his mask and goggles protecting his face, but the impact of millions of granules still stung through his clothes. The armor helped, guarding limbs, chest and back, but all in between hurt more than he'd have thought possible for sand so soft when still and lifeless. What had The Commander brought him into? He'd been ecstatic when he'd ordered him along. His first chance to prove himself in front of Commander Rulik! He'd accepted the position on Mars in hopes of gaining experience in tough conditions, but he didn't wan

There they ran, good ol' Aladdin and his djinni, straight from the fairytale, peering over their shoulders with casual disdain. Likely the ruffian street-rat hadn't known what he'd gotten himself into when he summoned the Mars god. Where was the lamp that captured the djinn? Wasn't there a lamp in the story? There was a sorcerer too. Perhaps that was him in this version of the tale. He was the "bad guy" after all. Rulik snorted and took hold of the ion rifle at his back, taking careful aim. Run all you want, djinn, you won't escape this shot. No, he could and he would. Better yet to target the urchin. He was the master after all, even if h

He thought for sure he was as goner. Ears ringing, he waited for the surge of ions to rip him open and incinerate his insides, but the pain didn't come. Nicklas peeled his eyes open and unstuck his goggles, pushing them up his forehead and into his mess of brown hair. The black velvet class burned, the cannons beneath each wing spewing a dark cloud on either side of the aircraft. Whatever had the djinni done? Seizing him where his hood met his collar, Zalim wrenched him upward and dragged him alongside him until he caught his footing. "I can walk!" He shouted louder than necessary, the blaring hum in his ears not yet silent. The djinni let

Nicklas bolted, powering on his hoverboard as he zagged left and right, making himself an erratic, unpredictable target. Bolts of ionic energy scattered flash geysers of sand high into the air as the gunners sought a kill. He lost sight of the djinni, but the sand spirit could take care of himself. Zalim had said they were friends, but that didn’t mean they actually were. Besides, who was in more danger here, flesh and blood him or the fire and spirit other? Scrambling atop the board, he zoomed away from the black velvet class, swerving to avoid the bursts of laser fire still after him. A blast struck the upward slope of the dune befo

“I'm going to look for another wife. You’re going to help.” The djinn shrugged, offering yet another false reason for what he wanted from him. “I’m not going to help you bloody marry anyone.” Nicklas struggled to keep up with Zalim’s strides up the soft hillside. “Why?” The djinn spun about and slid down the side of the dune towards him. “Would it make you jealous? Pucker up.” He leaned in, a gentle hand on the back of Nicklas’ neck. “Back off!” Nicklas squirmed away from the zombie and retreated down the slope. The djinn doubled over and guffawed with glee

Rulik twirled a lily before the right side of his face, his left eye having abandoned his flesh in the careless days of his youth. He savored the soft white petals and delicate aroma. It wouldn’t last long outside the climate controlled confines of his office. He shouldn’t have plucked it, but it would send a message to the djinn. Lilies, symbolic of death for as long as anyone could remember, a holdover from Earth’s past. Regardless of whether or not the Mars spirit new the connotation, he’d see the flower wilt before his eyes and make the connection. "The thief, sir, what about him?" Commander Rulik snorted. "Snuff

Rulik tapped his fingers on the desk while the connection buffered. Something interfered with the signal, likely those blasted morons managing the satellites were slacking on the job and they only needed recalibration. "This had better not be a waste of my time, Sergeant." The green, young new officer squirmed under his gaze. Each replacement got younger and more inexperienced, but he had to take the blame for that. If he hadn't knocked off the first after a botched job he wouldn't have to deal with these fresh-out-of-boyhood aides. The last three had been dickheads, though. He hoped this one had his brain located in his cranium instead. "I

The sand devil’s red eyes flickered, windows to the blaze within the furnace that was the dead reclaimer’s chest. He half expected smoke to blow from his nostrils as he breathed, but no such smog enveloped him. What did he want from him? No story ever told of djinn granting favors or or wishes without ill intent. Friend. All his life he’d wished for nothing more. He hadn’t cared his parents were dead or that home was this barren heap of sand and sulfuric acid seas. If he had one friend, he’d have a reason to live beyond mere survival’s sake. “You know my name, what do I call you?” He worked u

The sandstorm ceased whirling about and Nicklas perked up, jerking his eyes open and rising to his knees. His sand blanket slid from his shoulders and he stared about dumbstruck, mouth open beneath the protective bandana. The storm floated still in the air, a red fog made of sand and dust suspended as if frozen in time. The perished reclaimer impaled on his baton tipped over as if pushed by his ghost. Sand and dust drifted his way, slowly at first, lured by the magnetic pull of a supernatural center of gravity. Nicklas scurried backwards and stood while the quickness increased. Sand poured into the openings of its new epicenter, behind the