Tag: Sci-fi

Pegasus (Part 65)

Yves was unlike anything I had ever seen before. A large rotating city made up of many different cylindrical levels. It was home to an estimated twenty million people and was a central trading hub in low Earth orbit. We had docked into the central and main thoroughfare.

A mass of people were walking up and down the narrow, paved street that was enclosed by uniform five-story red brick buildings with ornate windows. The clanging of so many feet and people chattering led to a great cacophony of sound that was almost painful to my senses. There was a smell of fish emanating from some of the restaurants that were at street level. Overhead, to their right, was the polluted, exploited planet Earth with hues of blue, white, amber, and black. Still, I couldn’t but stare at it in wonder. After all, that is where everything started, a relic of the past.

We were safe there. Yves treasured its independence which it saw as vital to its economy and the Emperor had decided that it was more valuable functioning, rather than obliterated.

Tabitha tugged at his shirt.

“You have surely seen Earth before?” she said incredulously;

“Of course, but not so close up. I guess you want my head back on mission.”

“Right,” she replied, “come on.”

With that, we joined the great morass of people

Pegasus (Part 63)

Gradually they came around. Some wanted more drink, but we had bolted it away. It was time to decide what to do next so we went back out to the large meeting hall.

I decided it was my time to speak. For a few moments, I could feel myself grow hot but I persisted.

“Your time with Barabos is over. We saw how you were treated. It was wrong. But you can now become the master of your destiny.”

A voice spoke from behind the crowd, you could sense the fear in the crackling voice. It was from one of the younger ones.

“Will you stay with us?”

I continued.

“No, I’m afraid we can’t. Tabitha’s people need our help and there is something that we must do. But I’m sure that you can manage on your own. The first thing you should do is write up the rules you will live by and select a leader.”

I took Tabitha’s hand and we left them for some time. We had to decide what our next move was too.

The mood was more upbeat on our return. We asked had they selected a leader and it proved to be a familiar face – Padraig.

Pegasus (Part 62)

We could see on the monitors that some of the kids were already pouring into the room.

“We have to tell them.”

Damn, I knew she was going to say that.

I nodded in agreement and replied, “Yes, I guess so.”

We opened and walked in. Their eyes and some of their mouths were wide open in astonishment. Tabitha did the talking.

“Barabus is gone. You are now free.”

There was a stony silence and some of the children looked at each other for guidance.

“And there is lots of food,” I interjected.

Somehow, I knew that would make a difference. And it did.

Suddenly there was a smile here and there.

Tabitha looked at me, her face looked all contorted. Oh yeah, I’d forgotten about the blood and the dead body.

“Just give us a few minutes to get it sorted,” I continued.

Fortunately, they appeared to believe us. We hastily put the body in a side room and washed the blood from the floor and furniture before calling them in.

Their eyes were aghast at the opulence that they saw and the fine food to be eaten. Telling them to partake in the wine was a mistake though. Little over an hour later the room was full of sleeping bodies and vomit.

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.

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.

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.