A story based on @xpilar's digital image: The last outpost of mankind.

The last outpost of mankind.

Ben was tending sheep in a cave rich in creeping fiber, just a treat for sheep, when he heard a strange, drawn-out sound from outside.

The sound was painfully familiar, and he didn't want to believe it.

Yes, it was the sound of pain, suffering and inner struggle.

Many years ago, having sold everything he had, he bought an old interstellar longboat and, violating the quarantine for interstellar flights, fled with his family and a small herd of sheep from the Earth captured by the vaccinators.

Yes, there was not a single corner left on earth where they did not stretch their tentacles.

All attempts to remain on earth as a person, for those who did not allow their DNA to be changed, would soon be useless, escape was the only way to save themselves and their relatives by those who can be called a word - a person.

On a small planetoid in the Sagittarius galaxy, Ben found an abandoned mining town, whose generators were able to start up, making life in deep space quite acceptable.

He thought that this was a place where his enemies would not reach, but he was wrong.

Coming out of the cave, Ben closed his eyes, the light of the neighboring star was too bright after several hours spent in the cave.

He had to cover his eyes with his hand to see the source of the sound that disturbed this quiet place.

A brown dreadnought a stronghold of the vaccinators, was slowly approaching the town, who was well known to everyone who fought for their rights.

Vaccinators! They found us!

Well, it's time to get ready for the meeting, Ben thought, and turned on the blaster that had been hanging on his belt, which had been idle for many years.

It's time to try your hand at being a science fiction writer.

I did some work on the digital photo submitted for the competition, I hope I didn't ruin it too much.

Author of the story and editing of the original photo @barski.

Based on digital art made by @xpilar.