How This Came Together
In Initial Batch, a sci-fi fantasy short story, Jarvis and Cecile prepare a desperate defense as monstrous raiders gather beyond the settlement walls. With minotaurs joining the horde and the next assault looming, Cecile’s newly replicated plasma cannons are deployed before the weapons are fully ready, forcing the defenders to test them in the middle of battle.
As the enemy mass shifts outside the settlement, Jarvis scrambles to organize marksmen, coordinate the new weapons, and hold the line long enough for Cecile to finish the remaining cannons. What begins as a battlefield test quickly becomes a struggle to determine whether the defenders can survive the next wave.
Music Pairing
The story is paired with my original blues track, “Still Got Something,” a steady and resilient piece that underscores the defenders’ determination as they push back against an overwhelming force. Its confident pulse mirrors Jarvis and Cecile’s attempt to reclaim momentum during one of the siege’s most dangerous moments.
Behind the Scenes
When I sat down to pen this tale I had just finished the negotiations with the dwarves. So I wanted to highlight the weapons that Cecile was tasked to duplicate. Armed with this knowledge, I dove into the thick of an important moment during the horde's recent siege. I needed this moment to run the emotional gamut, so I started with dejection before steadily increasing the costs, pressure, and tension of relying on unfinished weapons while the enemy continues their assault.
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Excerpt of Initial Batch
“Cecile, how many plasma cannons were you able to complete?”
“I completed three and a half, Jarvis.”
“Oh, goodie,” Fenton said, shaking his head. “What’s the benefit of the unfinished one?”
As a groan escaped Jarvis’s lips, his fingertips massaged his eyes. “Go man the wall, Fenton. Once there, order a handful of the best marksmen to the nest.”
“I’ll see to it,” Fenton said, his gaze lingering on Cecile.
After Fenton left, Jarvis’s attention drifted toward the screen. His finger traced a few of the hideous monsters lining the monitor. Jarvis enlarged the image and studied one of the new critters. “It looks like the beasts have diversified. We’re fortunate that Tarian’s notes contained detailed descriptions of our foes. We’ll focus on the newest monstrosities before their rampage starts.”
“What are they?”
“Tarian called them minotaurs.”
“After all these assaults, you’d think I’d be accustomed to this.” Cecile batted Jarvis’s hands away from the screen and magnified the picture. She glanced away, biting her lip. “However, that beast appears to combine the traits of a bull and a man.”
Jarvis nodded and restored the image to its regular size. “Based on Tarian’s logs, they are stronger than you might imagine. Still, that original crew didn’t have our weaponry. Your cannons should cut through those monsters.”
“What should the gunners concentrate on once they’ve destroyed the minotaurs?”
“Target the biggest threats, while the automated turrets handle the green-skinned menace.”
With a grunt, Cecile examined the image. She pointed at another section of the screen and sighed. “I guess that means these are the secondary targets for the cannons.”
“Unless something bigger emerges.”
“Are you expecting a dragon to rise over that horizon?”
“That’s a sample of the fanciful beasts attempting to annihilate us. The moment the marksmen arrive, drag them up to the crow’s nest.” Jarvis rushed for the exit, pulling to a halt in the doorframe as he licked his lips. “Do your cannons require a team?”
“With this configuration, they do.”
Jarvis hit the frame and drew in a long breath. “Given the number of creatures massing out there, I doubt Fenton could spare that many.”
“I suppose we can make the weapons work with just a pair of gunners.”
“I don’t care how you get the numbers. Find them and move!”
“On it,” Cecile said, squeezing past him.
Jarvis nodded, turned, and bolted down the corridor. He scurried to the bank of elevators and waited for one to arrive. When it dinged, he walked inside and jabbed the button for the top floor, and the car shot up the shaft. When it reached the nest, he strode out and ran to the hatches, waiting for the plasma cannons.
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