La Sentinelle
by @Brisby
Raging waves howled their fury against the granite of the lighthouse. Roiled by the gale force winds, the sea surged an endless barrage upon its foe. Beneath a canopy of leaded clouds, the frothy waters would accept nothing less than surrender.
The formidable tower, La Sentinelle, held firm to its duty. Dovetailed blocks flexed with the powerful onslaught to cleave the wall formed by the angry swells. Torrenting waters split, spraying up into the path of the shining lantern’s light.
Within the lighthouse, Hugo washed his dishes to the accompaniment of thunderous echoes. A seasoning of nine years had inured him to the turbulent storms off the coast of Hirveä. Most evenings the crashing waves were naught but background noise. Tonight though, he savoured the violent melody of this final personal performance. Tomorrow the relief crew would arrive and he'd be bidding his post farewell.
Like the sea, time was always moving. Traditions of history slid away in the face of advancing technology. La Sentinelle's conversion to automation was cost effective and practical. No more need for a lighthouse keeper. Spreading the towel across the drying rack, Hugo clicked off the kitchen light. He chuffed to himself, wondering if he should get one of those cushy ‘tour-guide’ gigs up in Lutia.
Unperturbed by the waves that lashed the third floor window, he considered the packing he'd left to do. There wasn't much left. His plaid bedding and books could wait for the morning. Clothes wouldn't take long to throw into his worn duffle bag. The old radio would fit in there as well. It wasn't his but he figured that nobody was going to notice it missing. What did an empty lighthouse need for a radio anyway?
Hand trailing along the curved black iron of the railing, Hugo climbed the spiral stairs to the watch room. He crossed to the window, making a note to unpack his camera to take some pictures before he left. The low pressure front would have moved on by then and he could sell the daytime view to tourists.
Another monstrous wave broke against La Sentinelle's side. Subtle tremors shook the floor beneath Hugo’s feet as a wash of water blackened the window. He stepped back from the glass, feeling the tendrils of alarm creep along his spine. For an infinitesimal moment, everything went silent. Gone were the reverberating echoes, the creaks from the wooden flooring, and the rush of his hastening breaths.
Sound returned with a vengeance. Sharp cracks and the shrieking shatters of exploding glass from below sent Hugo running to the stairs. The relentless sea had finally broken La Sentinelle’s defenses! Churning waters flooded in, rapidly surpassing the fourth floor. The lighthouse keeper watched the rising waters claim the fifth before turning to flee up the stairs to the lantern room.
Scrambling into the safety of the highest room of the lighthouse, Hugo stopped cold. The beacon, that salvation for sailors, was no longer shining. Instead the room was awash with a haze of emerald light.
My Entry:
An earth shattering screech rose above the clattering of the waves. The lighthouse shuddered, throwing Hugo off his feet. He landed on his back and slid into the wall. He scrambled to right himself as terror overtook his reason. The lighthouse tilted.
The damage done to the lighthouse distressed Hugo, the building was supposed to be impenetrable. The unfamiliar green light continued its regular rotations. Hugo stood, his legs wobbling from the force of the storm battering the shell of the lighthouse. He wanted nothing more than to take up his post, but the automation was new and supposed to be safe. He grabbed onto the railing despite his desperation to take charge of the situation.
A siren wailed in the distance. Hugo swore at his lack of visibility through the rain lashed windows. His pilot suit would have given him a better view and the chance to administer his years of experience.
Red lights rose up out of the waves, a monster the size of a whale breached the surface. Large claws ripped through the surf; armoured skin shedding ocean spray. It closed the distance towards the lighthouse in a few steps. The lighthouse shook, braced for impact.
Hugo tightened his grip, watching the scene unfold, he was powerless to control the outcome. Stripped of his regular authority over the lighthouse. He endeavoured to remain a spectator.
La Sentinelle twisted and expanded. Steel sheets screeched as they passed and spread to their full length. Weapons protracted from concealed locations along the outer shell.
The lighthouse transformed.
Fully distended the lighthouse waded into the ocean, each step slowed by the overrun interior of the lower decks. La Sentinelle faced the red monster alone. Metal clashed against metal as the two opposing forces collided.
Sounds similar to thunder traversed the sky as the lighthouse pummelled the aqua-machine. Ripping holes in its steel scales. Tearing off limbs. The creature shrieked as it was peppered by a barrage of attack runs.
Waves entered the conflict, crashing against each form with equal force. The sea-monster tumbled, its red lights flickering to nothing as its silent husk submerged to the depths. La Sentinelle creaked from the impact. Satisfied at the enemy's demise, the lighthouse returned to its post.
Hugo scrutinised the black tide, seeking out any signs of life. The lighthouse, detecting no further threat, retreated to its granite perch. All extremities and armaments withdrew, folding back into the placid sentinel.
A tear slipped from Hugo’s eye as he understood the magnitude of what he was giving up. The lighthouse had not just been a home to him these last nine years. La Sentinelle had become a protector and friend.
He found his way down the stairs as the lower decks released the unwelcome water. The storm raged on outside but Hugo felt nothing but calm. A pang of grief wrapped around his heart, knowing the lighthouse no longer needed him.
The green light continued to whirl. La Sentinelle was always on duty.
This is my entry to the @bananafish Finish The Story Contest #53. Find out about it here.
Yay FTS is back, and with a truly great intro from @brisby, you created such a personality for La Sentinelle that I had to make it the hero of the story.
Image from Unsplash.
Wow, what a fun story. The action at the heart of it kept my interest throughout as the conflict got resolved.
Ahhhh battle show down! I love this so much, the concept and the execution are just spot on. You take the focus on the lighthouse in the first half, and pull at the threads there, to weave this tale of a great protector, a mecha lighthouse, that goes considerably further than most to save people from the storm. The way you shift the meanings in the first half is fantastic, automation not of the lighthouse shining it's light, but of the piloting of La Sentinelle. The pilot of 9 years no longer needed, despite the bond between them. The strain of Hugo having to watch really helps add to the idea of a bond between, and then his sadness when autopilot works perfectly, only then facing the reality of no longer being needed. That really hit home, just amazing <3
#sbi-skip
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The lighthouse personified. We both saw a personality in @brisby's lighthouse. Yours was benign. Mine was a bit malevolent. Didn't she serve us up quite a treat? Good job @gaby-crb!
AWWW! 🤗
Your personal Hungry Squirrel GIF. I tried adding footprints but that really looked weird. Didn't work out the way I planned, but it's all yours.
Life is much more fun with you in it
😍😍 THANK YOU, Agmoore! 🤗🤗🤗 I LOVE this gif and am truly touched that you made it for me. (I was feeling like a grump before reading this but you've blasted that away better than a stick of dynamite. 💜)
I can not properly express to you what these words mean to me without putting in at least a chapter's worth of writing in this reply. I'm sincerely happy that you feel so. 💕
That GIF didn't come out right...but yours is just priceless. Thank you!!
Though it may not have come out the way you wanted, I love it and that you made it for me makes me very happy! I hope that you're having a lovely Sunday, Agmoore!
Oh, WOW -- La Sentinelle is NOT playing with the perils of the sea! What a sadder sense of the world, to lose such a protector and a friend! Great story!
Mann, La Sentinelle was a war machine!! Nice interpretation. The story works wonders. 😊
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My love of anime has me fangirling so hard over your story, Gaby!! Transforming La Sentinelle into a mecha was inspired and I was hoping that someone would take this angle. To have it come from someone of your talent has me beaming!!
You elevated the lighthouse to fully form the meaning of its name. Beyond simply a placid structure protecting seafarers from the dangers of the rocks and reefs. This La Sentinelle means business. Fantastic work and absolutely a pleasure to read. Thank you!
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Have a terrific day and happy Steeming! 😎
What a battle! I'd like to be up in the lighthouse as it does battle. What a ride!