The Flame Thrower

Situated on the banks of the small, winding river flowing through the quaint town of Oldhamlet, the only monastery within a hundred miles stood. Its original stained glass windows and privacy quarters had survived a difficult period of unrest. The town's citizens ensured it remained intact. Having served the townspeople for several centuries, Brookthawne was the last sanctuary for believers.

Sliding the small opening back in place, Friar Anaytoli closed it gently so as not to disturb the abbey's newest resident. He briskly jotted notes on the official log. Day 2 - No progress.

She had yet to stir.

Before meeting her, the abbot's highest priority was to help all manner of men according to his Father's wishes. Now, she stirred Friar Anatoli's faith and worried him. Until two days ago, neither he nor his fellow brothers had rescued and attempted to restore one of their Father's exemplary children.

But of Phaenz, he'd pondered for two days. Whether to categorize her as exemplary or how to restore her wasn't contained in the old manuscripts.

Outwardly, she resembled a female. But that was as far as he could reconcile.

He performed surgery as best he could. Trembling, he prayed once more before cutting into her flesh. The next layer revealed a disturbing sight.

Quickly closing her wounds, he finished and ran to his study. Records must have been kept to classify this strange child.

Rumors foretold of such beings. Neither human nor machine. Theories spread through the secluded town. Beings of unknown origin sent from the sky. Questions for decades simmered, resurfaced, then retreated from the loose tongues speaking in vague references to the text keepers.

Friar Anaytoli and his brothers vowed to steer clear of rumors.

Phaenz rose and sat upright. Coldness from the concrete slab penetrated her lower body. A tingling sensation coursed through her body. Rotating the sockets in a clockwise motion, she detected arms missing. Calculations quickly determined her outer casing felt lighter than normal.

She looked down. Legs were also missing.

She'd lost body parts before. But how she reached this strange place without the tools to walk or defend herself worried her. A prisoner in the enemy camp.

She must formulate a plan, she thought.

The reflection grew larger as the markings initially registered a blank outline. Looking beyond the room's wall, suddenly orange, brown and green patterns came into view. They flashed intermittently as search lights crowded the once sparse sky. Even the stars' illuminated shapes blurred.

An alarm in the distance stimulated her breast region. She hesitated, waiting for activation.

Commence. Stop. Power source disconnected.

A quick calculation narrowed the list of targeted assailants. She had yet to be detected.

Her retinas bulged then retracted as though controlling veins running through bloodshot eyes. Her nerves separated, then repeated sparked as though clamping down on a migraine attempting to spread down to her neck base. These practices she learned from her mentor.

But where was Colquit?

Separated in the crash and ensuing fight, Phaenz looked up from the deep trench. Movement was impossible.

Her eye locked onto a glowing figure, dressed in white garb, straddling her. Willing the flame thrower, she heaved her breast, then exhaled. A quick burst, then a fizzling sound as if it had short-circuited.

Unable to respond body wise and vocally, she watched as the hooded figure knelt beside her. Studying her outline with a frown on his face, he spoke strange words, then reached underneath, picked up her frame and secured it within his powerful arms.

What happened next didn't registered. But a strange feeling overcame her as if being lifted into the air flowing aimlessly across the dense wooded area.

Phaenz woke under the stained glass windows.

A shadowy, hooded figure came into view. When he spoke, his words seemed familiar. However, she interrupted him.

"My data informs me that you know the region of this planet succumbed to evil two centuries ago. You also know that foreign galaxies bribed the competing factions for control of this planet. The most powerful group fought and won. Our planet was annexed illegally. The population still don't realize what happened or the severity of what that meant."

Friar Anaytoli eyes grew larger. He stood silent, listening in disbelief.

"I am called Phaenz. But that isn't important. What is important is that there are others being sent that are are infiltrating the enemy camps purging the dissidents. In their effort to control the entire planet, millions have been already exterminated."

"If I were to believe you, when did this all happened, if it actually did?"

"My question is how did you and your people in this small hamlet survive the initial slaughter?"

Friar Anaytoli could only murmur, "we answer to a higher power. Our protection comes from the true source."

"Don't you understand your town rests in the middle of the zone!" Phaenz was becoming irritated.

"Is that why whoever sent you, a girl, to defend our race?"

"Yes. and my guardian. But were were separated when our ship crashed." Processing his remark and categorizing it as an attempt at sarcasm, Phaenz overlooked it.

"And I understand you were sent as a man of the cloth. No judgement should enter your thoughts."

Taken aback, immediately Anaytoli apologized.

"No, you do not comprehend the situation."

"Well, it seems as we're both in a world of trouble." Apologize for the pun."

"Pun?" Phaenz refused to continue this conversation. More pressing requirements flooded her bank.

"I must evacuate the city immediately."

I was delighted to bring this current fractal art project that highlights one of my pure fractals I created a few days ago. On first glance after completion, the image reminded me of an emblem. Then I pondered the idea of a special weapon. Gold yellow, and purple colors would suffice for the female heroine I had in mind for my short story.

To complete my story, I needed a heroine and a symbol of her encounter. I turned to two stable diffusion programs I've used previously, Night Cafe and StarryAI. My unique text prompts I feel are the elements that gave the images their ethereal quality.

Below are my steps:

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My vision for the stained glass would be some type of church setting or abandoned location the heroine discovered. It had to bring some significance to the story. Utilizing Canva, I was able to blend my pure fractal the diffusion art pieces. Here is the final version:

Thanks for taking the time to view my post. I hope you like my fractal and generative art project.