Tag: Pegasus

Pegasus (Part 64)

I decided to speak first. The language remained in English so that all could understand.

“Congratulations. I believe you have made a fine choice of leader. But I recommend that you hold him to account with elections every certain number of years. Democratic systems have proven superior over the years.

You should also think about having a constitution and a set of laws that you all agree with. That way, you can be clear with one another about what is and what is not allowed.

We have checked Barabus’ accounts. The ship is generating enough economic to sustain everybody and much more on board. If you all work together and care for one another, great good can still come out of this.

We, however, must leave you. We are on an important mission that we must complete at all costs. But we do have some time to show your new leader how things are to be managed. We have examined your flight path. Your next stop is the metropolis of Yves and that is where we will leave you.”

I stopped talking but felt that something was missing.

Then Tabitha spoke.

“But we’ll never forget you. And we’ll be back. It might be a long time, but we will.”

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (24)

Timothy banged his hand on the console. The hive mind had altered its tactics. The majority of the Tyranid forces now inexplicably move towards Timothy’s position. Tyranid spies must have relayed details of the defense network before they were exterminated.

For the first time, Timothy surveyed his surroundings and felt fear. Not for himself but for everybody else. This would be a very bloody and long battle. He roared out the command “Contingency 21 (a).”

All non-military personnel were to be evacuated through secret tunnels under the huge mega city. Most would not get the opportunity to use them but that is all he could do.

Wave after wave now attacked the city. Defensive artillery cut a swathe through them but some of their forces managed to enter the lower levels of the city. Timothy viewed the close-quarter fighting that ensued. Humans were being ripped apart piece by piece but occasionally taking a Tyranid with them.

Hours passed and the massive number of casualties only increased. Inch by inch, the Tyranids went forward. The ultimate war of attrition continued and they were now closing in on his position.

Timothy ordered the larger metal door to be opened and summoned his most loyal troops. The ones that he had fought with on Irideon 5.

Pegasus (Part 57)

In the next cycle of the coming and going, I tried to coax the two boys to chat with me.

“Cad is ainm duit?” – What is your name?

Their eyes opened wide when they heard me speaking their tongue.

“Labhair liom.” – Speak to me I continued.

Just then Barabus entered. They and everyone else immediately turned their intention to him.

My heart sank at the thought that any chance of freedom was slipping away.

Batababus followed the same routine. Asking each child for updates on their progress at whatever task he had set. This time he seemed more reserved. That was until he reached the two Irish-speaking boys.

I couldn’t quite make out their conversation but he lashed out striking the oldest boy in the face and then roared out –

“I am tired of your excuses. I paid a good amount for you because I was told that you could fulfill this requirement. I’m sick of you and I’m sick of hearing you speak your gibberish. Continue this, and you will end up like the rest. You hear me,”

Tabitha gripped my hand. Her face grimaced.

Fortunately, that was the end of the violence at least for now.

Once more, the room emptied quickly.

“Why does he treat those kids so badly,” Tabitha said silently.

“There are no words,” I replied.

Pegasus (Part 56)

We languished for hours in the cage alone. Then we could hear the tapping sound of feet coming closer and closer till the room once more burst into life. They were largely ignored to the rear. Most of their conversations were indecipherable. But, my heart suddenly lifted when I heard some Irish being spoken between two of the boys and learned that their leader was called Barabus. Both of them were in shabby, dirty clothes. The red-haired freckled boy looked the elder at about thirteen years of age. He had a bruise on his left eye. The other boy with brown hair and light blue skin looked no more than eleven years of age. There was a great sadness in their eyes.

Then the man they called Barabus returned and immediately set about interrogating his minions about the status of their progress. At times he shouted his displeasure, or else he would hit them with his fist reducing some of them to a bawl of tears. Each boy and girl nervously awaited their return.

“He’s a monster,” Tabitha whispered in my ear.

I gently nodded in agreement not wanting to catch his attention.

Then they dispersed as quickly as they had gathered.