Tag: disability

Distant Love (Part 72)

Two cloaked figures walking on wet path near lit stone cottage during rain

“Oh God, come in! Your soaked. And Maeve, your not much better. Come on in the two of ye.” She gets a towel and starts patting him down.

“I’ll be okay,” Derek insists.

“It’ll be the death of ya. People get sick with a soakin’ ya know.” A deep now hung on her face. Then she continues. “I forgot to mention it earlier to either of you, there are a few people coming to meet Maeve later.”

“Who, auntie?” Maeve’s eyes open wide.

“Marcus and some of the others. They’ll be here in a couple of hours.”

The room goes silent.

“Who are they?” Derek enquired.

The older woman replied. “Oh friends of the family.” Both women looked knowingly at each other.

Derek thinks to himself. This is interesting. They must be resistance members that they are meeting, Best to play dumb.

He says, “Sure it will be good for me to meet your friends Maeve. It’s important that I get to know your circle.”

She looks at him with a smile. “Yes, it is. I hope you like them, they can be a raucous bunch. You won’t be seeing them that often anyway, they only come round every so often.”

Wheelchair Wars Audrey 3 (v)

Human figure frozen in cryogenic chamber with frost and tubes in sci-fi lab

Within minutes, all the other troopers were in their pods.

Audrey shuffled herself forward in her chair and put on arm on the pod for support. “I’ll need your assistance, now.”

Brona supported her to stand and then to lay down into the pod. Her long hair draped over Audrey, she smelled of soap. Audrey felt a tingle run through her body.

Timothy would like her.

Pushing back her hair with her hand, she smiled. “Are you okay now?”

Feeling warm all over, Audrey smiled back. “That is fine. Go to your pod. When you wake, I will need your assistance once more.

Brona placed her hand on Audrey’s. Her hand was warm, soft. “I’ll be just over there.” Brona pointed to a nearby pod.

Audrey nodded, then pulled the translucent opening closed.

For a brief moment she wondered what awaited her on the other side. A strange new world full of horrible Sisters, no doubt Then her thoughts turned to Timothy, the love of her lfe and if she would ever see him again.

The pod turned cold. The hairs on her arm stood up and her breath became white. A few seconds later a white gas gushed over her body.

Wheelchair Wars Audrey 3 (iv)

Three people inside illuminated futuristic cryogenic pods emitting mist in a sci-fi chamber

The bridge was small and difficult to drive the battle chair around. A man with long grey hair was standing in front of the viewport.

“Are you the captain?” Audrey enquired, her voice echoing around the deck.

He tuned around, adorned with deep lines across his forehead and crow’s feet. in a shabby, torn blue uniform. “Yes, I am. My name is Carthage. Sorry that the bridge is so cramped. Not very accessible. It’s not a priority where this ship is from.

Audrey shuddered. “Is there anything I need to know about it?”

He rested his hand on the captain’s seat for support. “It’s more of the shock when you come back, We will be travelling close to light speed. While you are in stasis much time will pass.”

Audrey swallowed. “I know. All in service to the Emperor.”

Carthage then continued. “Well then, you should go to your pod. When I next see you, we should have arrived.”

Audrey turned and went to the back of the ship where her pod was waiting for her. It was in the center, with row after row of other pods surrounding it.

“Enter your hibernation pods,” she bellowed.

Brona went to leave before Audrey hushed, “Not you.”

Wheelchair Wars 3 (iii)

Military officer in wheelchair inspecting lined-up armored soldiers in futuristic space station

“We have been given a mission of the utmost importance by our most beloved Emperor. At all times, your total obedience and loyalty are expected.”

With that, she watched her troops, a mixture of stern-faced men and women, walk up the long ramp to the ship.

A sound of feet clattering. Audrey turned to see one of her troops running towards her.

A young woman with long, blonde hair and piercing blue eyes spoke. She was trembling. “I’m so sorry for being late. There is no excuse.”

I should really punish her. Set a good example for the others.

Audrey looked behind her. All the other troops are inside.

However, I could use an assistant. And she does look good.

“What is your name, trooper?” Audrey asks in a softer tone.

“Brona,” she replies, standing upright.

“Well, Brona, as punishment, you will be my personal assistant for the mission.”

Bron’s eyes flicker towards her and then away. “Okay, as you wish.”

“Walk behind me at all times. Speak only when spoken to. Now come along.”

Audrey pushed her joystick forward, and they made their way up the rampway into the ship. Inside, the troopers were already readying their hibernation pods.

Audrey headed to the bridge to talk to the captain.

Wheelchair Wars Audrey 3 (ii)

Rocket lifting off from a launch pad with fiery exhaust and city buildings in the background at sunset

“Your destination is over eight light-years away. It is a planet of ice and fire. Make sure to bring plenty of warm clothes. We lose heat quickly compared to the walkers. The ship Empericus 546 is awaiting you, along with over two hundred troops at your direct command.”

He turned his wheelchair around to face her.

“You will be travelling at light speed. I will have aged greatly by your return, if I am alive at all. Know that this is an important mission for the Empire.”

She replied, her voice cracking, “I will do as the Emperor commands.”

“Then, that is all, Audrey. Report to port 46Y2 in under an hour.”

Tears welled in Audrey’s eyes as she drove her chair away from Oreus’ room.

I know that I must serve the Emperor, but I thought that at least I would have Timothy by my side. I may never even see him again.

She stopped and wiped away the tears. There was much for her to do and little time.

Over fifty minutes later, she was addressing her troops, who donned white uniforms and were armed with light machine guns as they prepared to board the Empericus 546 or what they would simply call the Empericus, while on mission.

Distant Love (Part 71)

Couple embracing inside cozy cabin with rainy window showing spaceship outside

Derek puts his hand through Maeve’s hair. “You feel so good. I love your beautiful eyes.”

She leans down kisses him again. “You too, and such lovely thick eyebrows.”

He places his hand on her right breast.

She squirms and takes it away. “I’m sorry, love. Can we take our time.”

He smiles. “Of course, when we’re both ready. There is no need to rush. You are worth waiting for.”

She kissed his forehead. “Thanks, for being so understanding. Now come on, I’m starving, and my aunts makes such great breakfast.”

Derek smirks. “No need to tell me that. Talk about sausages to die for.”

With that, they both laugh head out of the ship and back to the house over the gravel surface. The sky begins to darken.

“Now Derek, no need to get despondent over the threat of rain. It happens way too often for that sort of thing.”

He stops the chair and smiles. “You have a point in fairness.”

The first drops begin to fall. Then more, before a downpour. Derek is soaked on his return. Maeve’s auntie holds her hand to her mouth on seeing him.

He shakes his head and drops of water fall off either side of his head.

Oreus 2 part (v)

Soldiers in combat-ready wheelchairs strategizing around a holographic table in a wasteland bunker.

Oreus glared. “You cannot be serious! The Fianna Warriors will be torn to shreds.”

The Governor’s eyes narrowed as he stared back. “Do you think you know better than the Emperor’s representative?”

Looking downwards Oreus replied, “No, of course not. It’s just that it would be over too fast. What entertainment would there be?”

Brigid grinned. “Remove the weapons restriction. That should liven things up a bit.”

The Governor slammed his hands on the table. “Done. Now, how do we get our a Gargantuan?”

Oreus felt sick as the conversation switched to how exactly the Gargantuan would be procured. The name Galvius was mentioned and then various prices. But it all blurred into his background.

“What do you think, Oreus?” The room went quiet. The Governor was looking right at him.

Oreus shuffled in his seat. “It all sounds in order.”

The Governor took a fit of coughs. “Good, then it is all settled. You can inform your warriors of their next challenge. Let’s hope they can make it interesting. That is all.”

The Governor, took a step back, then left followed by the others. At all Oreus made sure that he was ready to fire, just in case. Better to be seeking forgiveness than dead. He was last to leave, shaking his head in disbelief.

Distant Love (Part 70)

Couple sitting in a cozy room holding hands and looking out a large window at a galaxy of stars and nebulae.

He goes straight to the control panel. “Ship, turn on communications and enter code Alpha, Three, Six, Nine, Two Beta.”

Diane would want an update. His heart sinks at the thought of having to speak to her.

He shudders as he hears her voice.

“About time Derek, I’d ask where your gone to, only the ship has a tracker. What a strange place they have brought you to! Any updates so far?”

Derek’s face turns crimson. “Nothing, so far. You’ll be the first to know. I’m really only checking in.”

“Fine! Report back when you know more. Over and out.”

The line went dead. Derek let out a big breath.

He thinks he hears someone.

“Somebody there?”

Maeve appears. Her eyebrows point inwards. “I was just checking up on the ship. I thought I heard talking.”

Derek turns to face her. “Ah, that was me, probably. A bit habit, talking to myself.”

They both laugh.

He continued, “Come on let’s go back to the house. Everything is fine here. You must be dying for something to eat.”

She smiled. “I sure am. But we have a few minutes.” She leaned down and kissed him.

He kissed her back. “Yes, we can wait a few mins. What’s the rush?”

Oreus 2 (iv)

Soldiers in combat-ready wheelchairs strategizing around a holographic table in a wasteland bunker.

A pause as if for effect.

“The people must be distracted.” He took a moment for another breath. “We need something big that will take people’s mind off other concerns. It needs to be something novel that catches the imagination.”

Roisin spoke up. “Maybe a fight to the death between all the teams?”

Brigid let off a little laugh. “That won’t generate the kind of interest that he is looking for. It’s been done to death, pardon the pun.

O Murchu then spoke, “Maybe a team battling a creature or something.”

Brigid tapped the table. “I’ve got it! As we all know, the Fianna are the in team at the moment.”

Oreus’ jaw clenched. What is she going to say?

“How about say a battle between the Fianna and say, a Gargantuan”

Gasps went up around the room.

Oreus’ heart sank. “That would be preposterous. They wouldn’t stand a chance.”

The room erupted in chatter.

“Quiet!” shouted the Governor. The room went quiet. “This is the kind of idea I was talking about. I like it. And if any of the Fianna survive, then they will have earned their place serving the Emperor. I can see it now, an epic battle that will be shown not only in this system but throughout the quadrant.”

Oreus 2 (iii)

Soldiers in combat-ready wheelchairs strategizing around a holographic table in a wasteland bunker.

Oreus’ eyebrows raised on seeing them. Both suffered from some sort of paralysis or at least that was what they claimed.

The Mangans embraced the color red, sporting in on their chairs, jackets, and even dying their hair.

The Rangers were despised by all the other teams, as they took delight in torturing their victims slowly.

A stench entered the room. Oreus’ face twitched.

Roisin grinned. “He’ll doon be here.”

The Governor entered the room. He looked like death. “Ah, good, most of you are here.”

“You never informed me that this would be a Gathering!” The anger in Oreus’ voice was palpable.

“None of us were informed,” Brigid replied, staring right into his eyes.

“Stop it!” The Governor shouted. “There is no time for your squabbles. You will be quiet and your grievances aside for now.

He took a large breath. “There is an issue with the supply of grain to the planet. Prices are about to rise by fifteen percent. A percentage of the population, relatively small will starve. However, that concerns me not. There must be no disorder. A new enemy has entered the quadrant, and production must not be affected.”

After rubbing his nose, he continued, “That’s where the Wheelchair Wars come in.”