Here’s another entry for Chuck Wendig’s Flash Fiction Challenge. You can find the challenge here. This weeks task was to put our own spin on an invasive species. I’m not sure what else to add to that, so here it is.
The aliens brought them along. At least, that’s the first time anybody saw them. They’re called “Kelinci”. They’re horrible, the kelinci, not the aliens. The aliens are okay, I guess. Really, the aliens benefited everybody. We have a trade agreement with them and it’s helped both of out peoples progress faster than any of us thought possible. They’ve been good for us, but the kelinci haven’t.
Those terrible things have spread to every corner of the world and caused the extinction of around ten different species (that we know of). They’re actively harming so many species that it’s been declared open season on them worldwide. If we see one, it dies, not a single one spared. Despite that, their numbers haven’t seemed to gone down at all, they actually seem to be thriving.
On top of all that, they’re just plain disgusting. They’ve got too many legs and their bodies are covered in these disgusting fibers. They’ve got these protrusions on the top of their heads that seem to move on their own. Plus, their whole body twitches. I’ve never seen anything so disgusting, and that’s when they’re fully grown and not in their goo-covered larva stage. Like I said, disgusting. Nobody wants to get close enough to kill them. I know I don’t, they’re scary.
There are several outside of my building, and I’m scared. I haven’t been able to go outside for a couple of days. I’m safe for now, but I don’t know how long that can last. I saw one try to slip in the door behind somebody yesterday. One of them is scratching at the outside door right now!
Sure, nobody’s come right out and said they’re dangerous to people, but come on. They’ve caused the extinction of entire species. Don’t try to tell me they aren’t dangerous. Plus, I’ve heard of a few kelinci related deaths lately. I’m just not taking any chances.
Besides, the aliens have finally acknowledged they were the ones who brought the kelinci. There’s supposed to be a world-wide broadcast soon addressing it. They’ll be able to fix this and get those terrifying little creatures out of here before they kill everybody. Oh! It’s starting.
***
“Good evening everybody. Tonight we have a live broadcast from the Alien Envoy addressing the kelinci menace. We bring you to their embassy in…
3…
2…
1…”
“Yes, hello. Let me introduce myself. My name is Nina Rodriguez from the United Earth Coalition. I am the human ambassador to your lovely planet.
I would like to start by saying that our alliance has been mutually beneficial and it is my sincere hope that we can move past this incident and continue working together. That being said, on behalf of the United Earth Coalition, I apologize for what has been done to your wonderful planet. We take full responsibility.
It would appear that on our first voyages here, our non-infection procedures were inadequate and some Earth fauna escaped into the local ecosystem. By the time the missing rabbits were noticed, they had hidden themselves completely. It was thought that they would not be able to survive in your ecosystem. That was… incorrect. We deeply regret the harm these assumptions have caused.
The United Earth Coalition has been in talks with the World Government and we will pay all appropriate reparations. We know it will never bring back your extinct species, but we hope it will begin the process of repairing the tainted relationship between our two peoples.
Thank you.”
***
Oh.
So they’re not going to?
Oh shit.
Modern Authors 