Wednesday, 20 November 2013

FRIDAY FICTIONEERS - DAWN RAID - MY 100 WORDS BY LINDA PALUND




DAWN RAID

            We arrived in the city before dawn, when most of the inhabitants were asleep.  No one saw us land in the alley behind Bloomingdales.
            We had been watching the humans with disgust.  They were keeping our kind in glass cages.  The entire city was nothing more than a vast zoo.
            The more depraved were toying with their captives, dressing and undressing them late at night, festooning their cages with humiliating decorations.
            Throngs walked by each day, staring through the glass; they called it “window shopping”.
            The R6-Series Robot brigade rescued as many as we could.  Sadly, we left many behind.

This Dabble in FLASH FICTION is from FRIDAY FICTIONEERS courtesy of:
http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/
and you can comment on mine below:

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43 comments:

  1. Unknown20 November 2013 at 17:40

    Linda - love the idea of the city's shops being seen as a giant zoo. Something very 'planet of the apes' going on here (in my mind). Good stuff.

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    1. Linda Palund22 November 2013 at 07:56

      Thanks, Mike, I like to think about what we all look like from an alien point of view...

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  2. Sandra Crook20 November 2013 at 17:52

    A great take on the prompt. You made me feel almost sorry for the mannequins. And boy they sound angry...

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    1. Linda Palund20 November 2013 at 18:08

      Thanks, Sandra. I have to say that I couldn't use my R7 Robots for this, because they are much to smart to think that mannequins were robots, but I liked the idea that a casual look at Bloomingdales by a planet of Robots might cause them to think such a thing.

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  3. janet20 November 2013 at 18:18

    Good one, Linda, and an unusual viewpoint. I like it.

    janet

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    1. Linda Palund20 November 2013 at 21:11

      Thanks for liking my unusual view point. At least I didn't kill anyone the way most folks have done this week!

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  4. Russell20 November 2013 at 18:34

    looks like they are even dismembering the poor things. How horrible!
    Clever take on the prompt, Linda.

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    1. Linda Palund20 November 2013 at 21:12

      Thanks, Russell, Sadly, that is one we had to leave behind. We were too late for him...

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  5. vb holmes20 November 2013 at 18:38

    Perhaps your R6s plan to return disguised as mannequins with the goal of taking over the world. Of course, they may be discouraged by the disrespectful treatment their predecessors have received and decide to move on to Mars. Good story.

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    1. Linda Palund20 November 2013 at 21:13

      Yes, you are right. I think the R6's are not smart enough to take over our world, but Mars is a likely prospect.

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  6. Perry Block20 November 2013 at 19:12

    I like this story! Could be a tongue-in-cheek Twilight Zone episode or even a scary one. Until the end I was fooled; I actually thought it could be hamsters or something, not mannequins. Good writing! (P.S. I want to know about the band you were in and what kind of music you played. When you get a chance.)

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    1. Linda Palund20 November 2013 at 21:14

      Phew! I was worried my long winded answer was going to wind up here. Thanks for enjoying my little story and yes, it was totally inspired by Twilight Zone!

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  7. Anonymous21 November 2013 at 08:33

    you did an excellent job introducing us to a very interesting viewpoint. if i were in the R6's place, i'd also think that the humans' treatment of the mannequins was indeed very horrible and messed up.

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    1. Linda Palund21 November 2013 at 12:43

      Thanks, but you have to bear in mind that these robots are not very smart. But good natured. That's what counts in a robot.

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  8. Rochelle Wisoff-Fields21 November 2013 at 11:24

    Dear Lindaura,

    It took me a second to realize what was going on here. But when I did I laughed out loud. One of my favorites this week.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. Linda Palund21 November 2013 at 12:44

      Thanks, Rochelle, any chance to sneak a robot into a story and I'm taking it!

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  9. Anonymous21 November 2013 at 13:49

    This reminds me of that very first episode of the new Doctor Who with the plastic mannequins coming to life!

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    1. Linda Palund21 November 2013 at 16:01

      Oh, golly, I love Dr Who, but I don't remember that episode. Still, it is always wonderful to be reminded of Dr Who!

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  10. Anonymous21 November 2013 at 18:01

    Hi Linda,
    I have to plead guilty. Dressed and undressing mannequins late at night has sustained me for many years. But that's all over after the R6 brigade raided my residence. Now all I have left are my paper dolls. Ron

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    1. Linda Palund21 November 2013 at 20:32

      You are so funny! I knew you would like this, but I didn't know about your stash of mannequins, so it wasn't me who grassed you out! Paper dolls are fun, but really no substitute.

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  11. Anonymous21 November 2013 at 18:41

    Trés clever, Linda. The idea of a stores being zoos... the humanization of mannequins is really well done here! Really enjoyed this piece. Nice work!

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    1. Linda Palund21 November 2013 at 20:33

      Thanks for enjoying this, although it is the robotisation that I was aiming for...

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  12. draliman21 November 2013 at 19:31

    That was great - either the shop mannequins are carefully hiding their true identity, or the R6 robots are going to end up disappointed when the newly freed captives "refuse" to communicate :-)

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    1. Linda Palund21 November 2013 at 20:54

      You are absolutely right. The poor R6's are just not as bright as the later R7 Series. They are going to be very disappointed when they find out what the mannequins really are. They meant well, though. They were programmed with human type sentiments.....

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  13. Anonymous22 November 2013 at 01:42

    So cool. This is definitely a cautionary tale. We should be careful to treat our mannequins with respect. Give them coffee breaks and such things that OSHA might demand. Something like your story might happen. I enjoyed this a lot. Well done! :)

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    1. Linda Palund22 November 2013 at 07:57

      Thanks for enjoying it. I wonder what the robots would think if they saw the mannequins being served coffee and donuts....

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  14. Anonymous22 November 2013 at 02:55

    Robot and mannequin rights: that will be the thorny political problem of the next century, I'm sure. :)

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    1. Linda Palund22 November 2013 at 07:59

      Well, robot rights anyway. These poor robots were a bit misguided this time around. The next batch will be a lot smarter.

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  15. Linda Palund22 November 2013 at 07:55

    Hey glad you enjoyed it!

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  16. Anonymous22 November 2013 at 08:59

    What an original take on the prompt, Linda! I enjoyed this very much.

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    1. Linda Palund22 November 2013 at 17:35

      Glad you liked it. Just another world view - from another world, that is...

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  17. Anonymous22 November 2013 at 11:24

    I love the angle from which you've told this story; well written, and insightful, and a good read!

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    1. Linda Palund22 November 2013 at 17:35

      Why thank you for all that lovely praise. Just a good read is good enough for me!

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  18. Lisa22 November 2013 at 12:29

    I really liked this! Sort of Twilight Zone-ish, which always gets my vote. Great take on the prompt!

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    1. Linda Palund22 November 2013 at 17:37

      Yes, I am a big fan of both the Twilight Zone and Philip K Dick. Both were always wrestling with the concept of humanity....

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  19. Anonymous22 November 2013 at 15:39

    Enjoyed this one.

    :-)

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  20. brudberg23 November 2013 at 21:37

    Unique and innovative.. like the thought of the mannequins being another specie...

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  21. Linda Palund24 November 2013 at 09:17

    Thanks, Bjorn. I like that they are not, but the robots think they are!

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  22. Jules24 November 2013 at 13:29

    Oh, I like this - fan of science fiction and all. ...makes me think of crop circles (which have been well debunked) and space ships coming down to save scarecrows...

    Thanks for your visit to my spinster sisters. ~Jules

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  23. Linda Palund24 November 2013 at 16:35

    Hi, Jules. Thanks. Yes those crop circles...and I know people who really believe in them - really believe aliens are making them. Your story was amazing!

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  24. Anonymous24 November 2013 at 23:59

    Oh, I love it, Linda! What a great take on this prompt.

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