100 Words a Day 696

Once the car was on the lift, the damage to the underside was easy to see. The spike had punched a hole through the plating protecting the engine. Fluid dripped from the hole.

“Well, shit,” Zugzug said.

“Yeah,” agreed Bashuk. “We could have limped home without the armor, but how are we going to fix the leak?”

Zugzug rubbed his chin, tilted his chin, and scrunched his brow in thought.

“We could push it,” suggested Runty.

“Not now Runts,” said The Fox.

“Sorry Fox.”

Zugzug released his chin. “I’ve got an idea. But you won’t like it.”

The Fox sighed.

100 Words a Day 695

“So what traits do you have that would make you a fit for the position?”

“I don’t care much what others think. Because of that, I consider and implement solutions without worrying about the social impact.”

“Oh, wow. Um, why do you think that is an important trait for someone in this position to have?”

“Absolutely. I’ll be making decisions that impact the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of people. If I stopped to consider the lives of our workers or the impact our product has on the environment, do you think I could ethically engage in this job?”

100 Words a Day 694

The car sailed over the dune and began tumbling end over end. It was mid-flip when it slammed back into the sand. It bounced once before coming to rest right side up. The dust settled, showing the bits and pieces of car that had been shaken off by the impact. The occupants were dazed or dead, she couldn’t tell which. The driver’s head lolled out the window, her face was covered with blood from where her nose impacted the windshield. Her black helmet was cracked and blood was beginning to mat her brown hair. The passenger was slumped forward, unmoving.

100 Words a Day 693

Kaz and Hazaf crawled up the shifting dune, ignoring the sand seeping into their clothing. By the time they reached the top, the whole fronts of their bodies were stinging from the hot particles. When they reached the top, Kaz pulled her battered binoculars from their case on her belt. Putting them to her eyes, she was able to see the defenses of the camp below. The wall around it was festooned with spikes, likely poisoned, just like a stinghog. Behind the wall was a large tower with four men standing atop it. One had a rifle with a scope.

100 Words a Day 692

They heard their new ride before they saw it. It had a throaty growl, like Zubar plains cat. As it crested the hill behind the workshop it gave a mighty roar and seemed to leap into the air. The landing sent the frame bouncing. The driver recovered quickly and pushed the accelerator, sending the metal machine shooting down the road. As the vehicle neared, more details became apparent. There was a ram mounted on the front and spikes under the windows, to prevent anyone from climbing through them. The open bed in the back was mounted with a harpoon launcher.

100 Words a Day 691

A massive hand thrust out from behind the curtain and pushed the leather hanging to the side. It revealed a large orc who was forced to stoop as he exited the hut. He took in the camp with his single eye before stretching his massive limbs. Ugly scars ran riot over his large frame, where it wasn’t covered by looted bits of ill-fitting armor. In his other, equally massive, hand, he gripped a large club. It was composed of a strange metal that the orcs were unable to work; the original owner scavenged it from the ancient ruins that abounded.

100 Words a Day 690

I tilted my head and saw our pursuers out of the corner of my eye. I jerked the wheel, sending our nose smashing into the side of their ride and pushing them off the road. The rattling of their tires across the stony incline mixed with the screams of the occupants before ending in a thunderous crash, out of sight.

I drew my hand across my forehead and then wiped the sweat on my pants before returning my focus to the asphalt. There was still one more rattling road machine behind me, and this one had a front mounted ram.