Tag: Tabitha

Pegasus (Part 136)

“Let’s go!” I roared.

We ran into the palace, my pulse racing.

Immediately, we ran into fire from the floor above. We took cover behind some of the pillars. I sensed the threat of us getting pinned. This was not something we had time for.

There was a screech of pain. Jeanne had been hit in the leg.

I shouted to the others. “We don’t have time for this. On the count of five, provide cover fire for me and Tabitha. We’ll come back for you once the mission has been completed.”

They nodded, and I began to count. On reaching five, we darted across the large room to the lifts. I pressed the button to go down multiple times.

Tabitha placed her hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay. They can’t target us here.

The lift door opened, and we stepped inside. There was space for many more. I looked into Tabitha eyes. She didn’t blink. A couple of seconds later, the lift opened. We stepped onto the fine carpet that bore images of battles into a wide corridor.

An alarm sounded, and the lights took on a red hue.

Tabitha smiled. “Guess they know we’re here.”

“Apparently,” I replied.

Pegasus (Part 132)

But which way to go? I tried to remember my time with the Emperor for any little hint. Then I remembered that he had looked in a particular direction when he had mentioned my friends. I thought back to where my bed was positioned at the time. I needed to go to my left.

Without hesitation, I quickly walked in that direction. The next door was over twenty meters away. There was a circular red button to the left, which I pressed. The door opened to reveal a darkened room. I stepped inside, careful not to make any noise. I could make out that several people were lying in what looked like hospital beds.

I searched the wall for a light switch and pressed it. The glare briefly closed my eyes. I reopened them to see Tabitha and the rest of the crew lying in the beds, shouting for my help.

Tabitha was closest.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

Tears were flowing down the side of her face as her eyes darted from place to place. “I can’t move, love.”

I guessed what the problem was and lifted her head with care, searching for a tube, which I pulled out.

“What are you doing, love?”

I rubbed the side of her face with my palm. “Give it a minute.”

Pegasus (Part 128)

For too long, I stewed in that bed, longing to touch Tabitha, or at least hear from some of the gang. I wondered where they were and what they were facing. I wasn’t in pain or discomfort; I was just restless for something, anything, to happen.

By now, I had spent hours looking at each imperfection on the ceiling in a trance-like state, wondering if they could be a clue to aid an escape. I could not raise my arms, only move my head slightly. It was like the messages from my brain were unable to reach the rest of my body. I feared it might be permanent.

Every so often, I would hear the electric door and the patter of feet. I would roar out “Help!” but to no avail.

In the service of the Emperor, no doubt.

I wondered about my time since meeting Tabitha. What mistakes had I made?

No, I had made none. She was the love of my life. All I had been doing was dying slowly. No matter what, at least I had given life a try. It might not be about to end well, but at least I tried. And I will always have the time I spent with her.

Pegasus (Part 127)

A familiar male voice came from the other side of the room. “Impressive view, I know. Imagine that all of humanity once lived on that now inhospitable rock. I remember it well. You could breathe the fresh air, look at the sky, and fear nothing worse than getting wet.

Not like now. There were warnings about how bad things could get, but they were ignored.”

I was now sweating profusely. It was the voice of the Emperor. He had heard it hundreds of times on his home habitat, usually speaking in Irish.

“What do you want?” For I could think of nothing better to say.

The voice grew louder and angrier. “What do I want? You’d swear I was the one in the wrong. Don’t think that I don’t know about your plan, and what you signed up for. I’ve been following your actions since you first met Tabitha. There are cameras everywhere in the habitats. It astounds me that the rebels ever thought they had a chance. I found your little adventure quite amusing. However, all good things come to an end, and I’m afraid your little adventure is no exception. But now we must decide what happens next.”

My heart sank. “Please leave Tabitha and the others out of it. It was all my idea.”

The Emperor laughed. There was a sound of an automatic door closing, and I was alone again.

Pegasus (Part 125)

Onwards we went through what could have been a tropical paradise. A pungent smell of flowers added to the experience. I wondered if the mission was really worth it; we could just stop and stay here. I shook my head, trying to regain my composure.

The white pyramids drew closer. No guards were in sight, only drones hovering overhead in a gentle breeze.

When they reached the nearest pyramid, the only option was to go underneath it. A handful of silver columns held the whole structure aloft. It was much cooler. I could hear the thud of our feet against the concrete. It made me nervous, and I noticed that Tabitha increased her pace. Nevertheless, the bright light at the other side grew larger and we were soon back outside at the other side.

And yet, there were more. A chill went down my spine. Something was right. We should have been within view of the nearest settlement. I stopped and looked around. But there was nothing unexpected or out of place.

“What’s wrong?” Tina frowned.

“I don’t know.” And I didn’t.

We turned and walked to the next pyramid, which was even larger. The buzzing of the drones had stopped, and even the gentle breeze had dissipated. Once more we went down the ramp underneath.

We quickened our steps still further. I tried to take solace in the sound of our footsteps. But then I heard an extra set, and then still more.

I glanced at Tabitha, and then behind. Armed men in red uniforms were behind us.

Pegasus (Part 119)

There was not a second to waste as I heard laser fire blasting. I ran into the ship and straight to the bridge. Wide-eyed I took a moment to take in the different control panels and visual displays before sitting into the soft pilot’s chair.

Multiple cameras viewed outside the ship from every conceivable angle. From one viewing the rear, I could see that Leanne and her companion had hobbled in. The next minute seemed like an eternity as white flashes appeared. Then, I saw Tabitha, standing and returning fire.

Get into the ship for fucks.

Then the others appeared scurrying into the ship before Tabitha made a run for it.

Immediately, I pressed the button to close the cargo bay door and fired up the thrusters rattling the ship. Pulling back the lever, the ship began to rise just as the blue flashes of its force shield activated.

My finger hovered over the red button to return. Then I pulled it back.

Tabitha came up beside me, kissing me on the mouth. “That was close. I wasn’t sure I’d see you again.”

I reached out and held her hand.

The habitat receded into the distance and my heart began to beat more slowly.

Pegasus (Part 115)

We ran out the door to a narrow carpeted hallway with multiple wooden doors just like the one we were after exiting.

“Follow me.” Her tone was confident. “We need to take the stairs to catch them by surprise.

We went down the hallway, turning left and then right. It was a labyrinth. Then much to my relief, the stairs appeared in front of us.

She looked back at me over her shoulder. “Quiet.” I nodded.

Each step was taken slowly. Chrissie had her gun at the ready. Then her steps grew faster. I looked up and saw that Leanne and her sister waiting for us. They waved with their gun to follow till we reached our destination.

Leanne took one side of the door and Chrissie the other. Leanne shot at the door lock, and then they barged in shooting at everything that moved. There was Innumerable shots and blood flowed out of the room.

I entered the room to see three riddled bodies. Tabitha’s face was bloodied and bruised. Still, she managed a small smile when she looked at me. I ran and embraced her.

She wasn’t the only battered woman in the room. Leanne was untying her. She was slender with long, blonde hair.

Pegasus (Part 112)

I gulped down what was left of my drink and followed him. Tabitha didn’t bother finishing hers.

We went to one of the side walls where he pressed a well disguised button, Part of the wall opened up revealing a silver lift. We got in, and it immediately closed behind us.

The man inputted a long line of numbers. My heart skipped a beat. Our friends outside would be of little use. The lift took what seemed to be a few minutes to reach its destination. The doors opened revealing a large, comfy sitting room. I walked forward before feeling a strike to the back of my head.

It must have knocked me unconscious, because the next thing I know is my eyes are closed and I feel a massive headache. The kind where you wonder f you would be better off dead. I open my eyes to an unfamiliar room. It is very small, with white walls. I am tied down to a wooden chair in front of a door, that is the only piece of furniture. Instinctively, I roar out but it is muffled.

“Tabitha, Tabitha.”

There is no response. This is not good.

The seconds turn to minutes and then hours before I finally hear the sound of footsteps outside

Pegasus (Part 109)

It was difficult to make headway but I persisted. Every now and then, I would glance behind me to make sure I didn’t lose the others. They followed closely behind in a line to take advantage of every step forward I made.

The wall of people was made up of people from throughout the system. There was every hue of skin color – white, black, purple and orange, you name it. Humans were evolving to their various habitats, and some were starting to not look like humans at all.

There were large shopping malls on each side, followers by floor after floor of apartments and offices.

The streets that had been chocked by people, gradually became easier to navigate, and I soon broke out into a brisk walk.

I heard Chrissie comment about the thinning crowd from behind, but I was just anxious to reach our destination. I would look up the majestic, tall buildings, that seemed to rise up forever and ensure that the next was getting closer and closer till the light started to dim.

We had arrived.

There was little point in us staying as a group. It would complicate the matter of building trust.

I turned around to the rest.

“Tabitha, myself and you will head into that place called Toibins.”

Then Casey interjected.

“And, what are we supposed to do?”

Pagasus (Part 107)

A large electronic sign pulsed FAILTE as they drew closer.

“What does that mean?” asked with a frown.

“Welcome,” I replied.

“It’s Irish. The main language here,” Tabitha added. Her eyes were wide open.

“We need to find a set down area. Somewhere close to the centre, I reckon,” I continued.

The bustling city surrounded us as the ship sailed between the tall buildings. People thronged the choked city streets below us. Even the air tunnels that connected some of the taller buildings looked at their capacity.

I saw a “Parcail” sign in blue down the side of a building in the distance.

“Go there,” I said pointing at the building in question. It’s a dull monochrome grey without any windows.

As we approach, we get a message in Irish suggesting we allow the autopilot to take us in. Once I translated, Tabitha pressed the button to accept.

The ship then went into an ascent, before hovering over the top of the building, where we could see the stars again.

Then the ship descended. Ships of varying sizes were docked up against the wall. Then an empty space appeared, and the ship moved forward before it jerked slightly as it was clamped into place.

“Right, we’ve docked and the thrusters have all been switched off. Time to go,” Tabitha commanded.