the first of todays pieces. took me 15 minutes. inspired by some of the gothic fiction on sue's site, a deisre to climb again, and wondering whether leisure planets exist in the WOP.


Free Climbing

by Adam "dUm" Page

The acidic rain bit into the scrapes on his fingers. He blinked water droplets from his eyes.

The latest StyleWear skin tight climbing suit began to warm the thin layer of gel, combating the rapid cooling effect the drizzle was having on him.

His muscles tensed as a Kilcopter banked round the corner of the building, its rotor's creating a powerful draft that threatened to rip him from the buildings side.

His headset began to buzz, the words transmitted to it lost into the wind. He reached to the nearest window ledge with his left hand, gaining a more secure hold than he currently had and touched the ear piece with his right hand.

The message became clearer and he increased the volume.

"Unauthorised climber, desist your activities immediately or we shall have to remove you forcefully."

He realised his right hand from the ear piece, the words becoming a blur again. He reached behind him and unzipped the suits built in pocket.

He felt around for his SCL badge, hoping that by showing them it, they would get lost and he could get back to climbing the building.

His hand came across two flat objects, his SCL badge and something that felt like a dataslug. He withdrew them both.

The kilcopter hovered in closer and he flashed his SCL badge up at the pilot.

The kilcopter swung away and the backwash wrenched the dataslug out of his hand. He watched it fall rapidly to the road below.

He planted his right hand back on the wall and took a deep breath. The next window ledge was a good metre above him. He tensed his body and launched upwards, dynamoing for it.

His fingers found purchase but pain flared through his body as he tore the skin off them.

He rested for a few seconds then carried on upwards, hoping that there would be no more need for moves like that.

He could see his friends anxious face looking over the top of the building, her hair wiping around in the wind. She cupped her hands together and he could barely catch what she shouted.

"DO YOU WANT A ROPE?"

He shook his head. He wanted to top out without any artifical aid.


"Fun?"

He thought for a moment as he wrapped the bio-patch round his fingers.

'Dark Lament's chapel was much better.'


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