Photo: Copyright – Douglas M MacIlroy

‘Gustave’ likes the night-times. That’s when he lights himself up and shines over Paris.

How different it had all been when he’d first arrived. Part of the Martian Invasion force, Gustave quickly built himself a quadruped fighting machine. His role was to ‘liberate’ Paris.

And he would have done it too, if it hadn’t been for those pesky bacteria! Fortunately, unlike his comrades, Gustave was immune…

He received the Mission Abort order, but instead of self-destructing, he made friends and settled down with the Parisians. Gustave became such a hero, he was given the title ‘Champ de Mars’!

This is my contribution to Friday Fictioneers 100 Word fiction photo challenge for 27 December 21013, hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Click the link for more details.

To read the other contributions, please click the logo.