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Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (29)

Those faces would be etched into his mind with all the others that fell with him during battle. Some tears rolled down his eyes as he continued his lonely journey. There was a deathly silence apart from the intermittent sound of gunfire.

Thankfully, the lift that would bring him to the depths of the city was still functional albeit covered in blood.

“Floor 122”, he commanded.

The lift descended for several minutes.

The lift door opened revealing a Tyranid right in front of him.

It lunged at him. The wheelchair’s automatic defences kicked in leading to immediate machine gunfire that pushed the monster back. Shaken, he nevertheless drove forward. Horrible shrieking came from it before it slumped lifeless to the floor.

Timothy could see his ship now and his wheelchair raced to its destination. The loading bay automatically opened creating a ramp and then closed once he was inside.

His care-bot automatically activated.

“Do you need a wash, sir? There’s much dust and other detritus on you?”

“Not till we’re off this world.”

He immediately went to the control panel. The care-bot strapped down his wheelchair and then itself. A few moments later they were leaving the atmosphere. Timothy looked back at a planet ablaze but there were still pockets of green and blue here and there. All that destruction but there was still hope, especially without the Emperor.

Then he had a moment of clarity about what he should do next. He would bring Wheelchair Wars and the fight against the Emperor to the Imperium. Now, to find a planet in a different quadrant so that he can start again.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (28)

Timothy looked down at his hands. He expected them to look different. He had just annihilated the Emperor’s representative and all of his troops that were on the ship. He expected a physical change but maybe that was just more nonsense to keep people under control.

He stayed at the helm for a few more hours. The remaining Tyranid forces were now the hunted and being cut down without difficulty. It was time to activate his escape plan. The President would never forgive his large-scale use of nuclear weapons and he expected arrest once the civil authorities were back in full control.

Hence, he had developed the escape when he had been given full control. A spaceship was waiting with his trusted care-bots in one of the lower decks of the city. Instinctively, he knew now was the time.

He commanded that the large door be opened. Then saying nothing he simply drove out. They could figure out the rest themselves.

Once outside, the smell and scenes of death were everywhere. Partial human bodies and Tranid corpses were littered everywhere. Fortunately, his wheelchair had a setting for tracks and he was easily able to drive over it all. It was tough though when he recognized some of the faces.

Pegasus (Part 61)

It was a majestic feast. Eventually, I felt fully satiated. I looked over knowingly at Tabitha who was slouched back on her chair with her arms wrapped around her stomach.

“That was good, wasn’t it,” I said sheepishly.

She smiled.

“Yes it was, I’m stuffed.”

For a few minutes, we rested.

“So, what next?” I asked.

“We have to do something for those kids,” she replied shaking her head from side to side.

“Come, we’ll see what other treasures we can find.”

And there were. The next room was the surveillance center where Barabus would have ensured that his little minions were constantly at work. There were screens all over each of its walls showing black and white video images.

They were struggling to lift weights and other tasks that were too difficult for them.

There was a large red circular button in the center of one of the walls. We both looked at each other. Then I pressed it. It set off a familiar siren. It was the calling siren that Barabus had used to summon his workers. It was time to update them about recent developments but I was unsure what way they would take it. Would we be heroes or murderers?

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (27)

Over the next few hours, the battle moved decisively against the Tyranids. Their ships tried to land on the planet as a desperate last measure, perhaps attempting a rescue of sorts so they could still attack a different planet but the orbital defense cannon tore one ship after another to shreds.

Timothy stared at his screen astonished. The ambassador’s ship had returned to orbit and was seeking to open communications with him.

He pressed the button to accept.

Immediately, the decrepit Ambassador appeared in a holographic display – I see the Tyranids have been stopped as willed by the Emperor. It is now important that his dominion is once again established over this planet. You are to seize the planet’s civilian leadership and have them summarily executed. Long live the Emperor.

Timothy paused for a moment and then said – Long live the Emperor.

A moment a blast from the orbital defense cannon blasted through the Ambassador’s ship tearing it to pieces.

Gasps of shock went around the room.

Timothy had given in to chaos. The people had done so well without the Emperor, that he couldn’t just stab those who remained in the back after such a heroic battle against the Tyranids. The Ambassador likely hadn’t yet contacted the capital world about the outcome of the battle. He would have waited till full control was re-established. It could be a full thousand years before the Emperor truly knows what has happened.

Pegasus (Part 60)

We nodded at each other and attacked. I went high grabbing him in a headlock but Tabitha got blocked by chairs. I held on as tightly as I could hoping to choke him out. However, it backfired badly when my feet left the ground and I was thrown across the table.

Then I heard a large smack as he punched Tabitha hard propelling her backwards, I felt a surge of adrenaline flow through my veins. I picked myself up off the floor and punched left, then right. For a brief moment I thought that I was getting on top till a massive blow in the stomach put me back on my knees. Then immense pain as he slammed my head on the table.

Then I heard the sound of gunfire and a large thud as Barabus hit the floor. I looked up to see a bloodied Tibitha standing over him as he gasped, then fell silent.

“I had to do it. He would have killed you,” she said silently.

My head was throbbing.

“Yes you did and thanks,” I slowly responded.

She hugged me tightly.

The room was full of full of fruit and meat, more than I had seen for a very long time. I found myself shoving as much as I could into my mouth. Tabitha did likewise.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (26)

Timothy sized up his options. The Tyranid would eventually get through the door. Then an important shield in the event of artillery fire or even orbital bombardment would be useless and immediately be fatal.

Therefore the monster must be confronted.

He knew that the fate of this world and many others now rested on his demur shoulders so he gave the command –

“Open the door.”

For a brief moment, they were hesitant to comply.

But that changed once I activated the wheelchair’s weapons systems.

The people crowded to the rear of the large cavernous room.

The banging stopped as the door slowly opened and then the Tyranid slithered in once it was able to, its stench engulfing the room.

The six-legged monster prepared to pounce.

Timothy bobbled back and forth as his heavy machine guns fired.

Blood splattered from the Tyranid and it darted from left to right.

Timothy turned with the creature mowing down many of the civilians and many of the computers in the process.

But the creature was spent, many of its limbs now blown off as it curled up and died.

Timothy stopped firing and ordered the door closed once more.

One of the survivors limped to do so.

“Did the Tyranid injure any of you?”

Two women hobbled forward, their legs lacerated.

“Shoot them.”

One of the officers shot them on the spot before they could even plead for their lives. No chances could be taken.

Timothy went to a control panel that was still functional. The planet’s forces were in the ascendancy.

Summer Writing Update

Hi everyone, I do hope all my readers whether occasional or habitual are in good spirits. I am in great form, nearly halfway through a months-long break. But all of you know I don’t really take breaks, there’s always writing to be done if nothing else.

You may have noticed that I have removed all my romance short stories and my previously released novels from the menu. I’m hoping to release a new romance novella of short stories later this year and maybe make a push on previously published works. All are part of the “Make Mark Rich” plan. We’ll see how it goes LOL

Hopefully, I will complete Wheelchair Wars this year. My plan is for it to become a stand-alone novel. However, I think major revisions will be required. I keep getting new ideas about how it could be slightly improved such as a greater variety of medieval weapons being used. Paradigm by contrast has a very long way to go.

There are plenty of book and TV reviews to be done over the next few months. Actually, I’m just after finishing watching Under the Banner of Heaven on the RTE player. I thought it was a great series. It really attracted me to it. It paints Mormonism quite poorly. Give it a watch.

Finally, a big well done to all our Athletes. Hard to believe the number of medals we have won.

Till next time!

And don’t forget to subscribe!

Pegasus (Part 59)

I told the two boys to go back to their jobs. That myself and Tabitha would look after Barabus. Tears were rolling down their eyes.

Tabitha instinctively seemed to know what to do.

She got on her knees, rubbed the sides of their faces, and said, “Don’t worry. We are going to sort out this bad man. Now go to your quarters and everything will be fine.”

With that, they left. Myself and Tabitha went to the top of the room. Barabus had exited through a heavy grey hatch. It took both of them with all their strength to twist it open. Tabitha was the first to view what lay behind.

Her eyes bulged open, her mouth ajar.

“What is it?” I asked.

But then I could see for myself.

The floor was covered in an exquisite carpet with murals of God-like creatures on the side walls. Anxiously, they stepped forward into the unknown. One corridor led to another, all immaculate. Then there were the rooms. Each was filled to the brim with gold and other rare metal artifacts.

Then, there was a strong scent of meat just as we heard a slobbering sound in the distance. It was him.

Each step was done silently.

Then he was in the room adjacent.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (25)

They had been kept in reserve for just when the fighting was most intense. Maximus immediately saluted him and gave him a tactical update.

“Overall the city’s defense is holding up. The use of tactical nukes has helped greatly However, a sizable Tyranid force is approaching our current position. I recommend a tactical retreat.”

“That is not possible Maximus. If this position falls, we lose the war. It must be defended to the death.”

Maximus nodded in acknowledgment.

Timothy knew that this might be the last time to see them. But this was not the time for goodbyes.

He re-entered the control and ordered it sealed.

The battle ebbed and flowed throughout the planet. Some cities had already repulsed the attack and were now on the offensive.

Closer to home, his troops were fighting valiantly but suffering greatly. It pained him to watch his valued troops slain one by one. After another few hours, it became clear both sides were close to exhaustion.

Then there was a large bang on the steel door. The people in the room gasped. The enemy was at the door. Timothy looked at his monitors covering the vicinity. A large six-legged Tryand was the sole survivor. Everyone and everything else outdoor that door was dead.

Pegasus (Part 58)

We were alone once again in our cage in the deathly silence having long run out of things to say.

“Did you hear that?” Tabitha murmured.

“Hear what?” I replied.

But then I heard something too.

It was faint but getting louder.

Then the two Irish-speaking boys appeared at the top of one of the stairwells.

My heart jumped.

I immediately spoke to them in Irish and said –

“Come down and chat to us. We mean you no harm. Where did you learn Irish?”

The two boys looked and muttered to each other. Then slowly they walked down the creaking stairwell towards them.

“What are your names?” I asked.

The eldest boy spoke.

“I am Padraig and this is Sean.”

“How did you get here?”

“Our transport vessel was attacked. My parents were merchants. They were murdered and we were sold as slaves to Barabus.”

The two boys were shaking with tears trickling down their faces.

“This is Tabitha, and my name is Ciarán. You have nothing to fear from us. We see the way that you are treated, it’s not right. If you help us out of this cage we can help you.”

The boys looked at each other. Then Sean went to the top of the room to retrieve the keys and then unlocked the cage.

Tabitha couldn’t but hug the two boys as she left the cage.