Tag: Sci-fi

Distant Love (Part 67)

Derek felt queasy. He should have known that Diane would have been aware of his cousin. His cousin, Aoife, lives in Zone B. She is the only family he has, and she always makes a big effort to stay in touch. Her baby, Lucas, is just six months old. He recoils at the thought of something happening to them.

“You wouldn’t!” he snarls.

“You know I would.” She lets out a little laugh to herself.

Derek shakes his head. “How do I know where Maeve is going to be?”

“Already sent to you in an encrypted email. Time to show me what you got.” She stands up and walks out. There is still coffee left in her cup.

Derek goes to the robotic waiter and pays, before heading back to his apartment. The guns are all laid out as she stated. Derek feels his heart racing as he checks his incoming messages on the desktop,

There it is. Maeve will be at lift 12B in under one hour.

No time to waste. I have no option, and at least Maeve will be safe for now.

He lifted one of the guns up.

It’s time to fix some of these to the wheelchair. They’ll never know what hit them.

Wheelchair Wars 2 (ii)

The next morning, they rose early. No words were exchanged between them. Audrey was first in the wheelchair. She looked at her roommate, struggling to catch up, sweat dripping from her brow. The sound of chanting from the main hall was audible. Audrey’s mouth opened, but then closed again.

A few minutes later, Jessica was also ready.

“Ready?” Audrey asked.

Jessica nodded, but did not meet her eyes.

When they reached the main hall, their battle chairs were already waiting for them. Audrey felt elated. The others from their group were still to appear.

As Audrey transferred into the battlechair, she could hear jeering.

“You two, think you’re special, do ya?” As Audrey took control of the chair, she surveyed her surroundings. The comment came from Cian. His jaw was clenched, his face crimson. There were two more, on either side of him, of similar disposition.

They were in Falcon B chairs and armed with long swords.

Shouts of “Fight, fight” went out over the great hallway. The others stopped what they were doing, clearing the arena.

“We don’t want to fight,” Jessica implored.

Audrey’s hand was shaking. She thought of what Timothy would say.

The Falcon X was faster and more versatile. She knew what she needed to do.

Distant Love (Part 66)

“What do you mean where I come in?” Derek gasps in exasperation.

Diane fidgets, looking this way and that before staring right at him. “You are going to break her out. Then you’re going to be a good little spy, and tell me the family’s secrets.”

Derek’s eyes bulge. “What the..”

Her face contorts and turns crimson. She interrupts him. “Listen now. You’ll do exactly as I say. Otherwise, she will face her remaining years behind bars. And you, my friend will have a little, but fatal accident.”

“Wow, you really are such a bitch. Honestly what made you so?” Derek sighs.

For a few moments, there is silence apart from the robotic waiter moving from table to table in the distance.

“I have no choice do I? Not really?” Derek glared at her.

“No, you don’t. And look, we don’t have much time.”

Derek nodded for her to continue speaking.

“When you come back from your next shift, multiple T-35 guns will be left in your apartment. Attach them to your chair and automate as you see fit. I know about the advanced training you received, and that a relative left you a ship. Go wherever she wants and report back.”

Diane smiles. “And no funny business. I know about your cousin.”

“You wouldn’t!”

Wheelchairs Wars 2 (i)

The Emperor is the saviour of humanity – Sister Paletine

“So, what do you think of Timothy?” Jessica whispered from her bed. Audrey had found having a room all to herself strange, so had volunteered for a roommate. Jessica moved in at the last time cycle.

Audrey looked at the triangle in the semi lit room hanging from the ceiling. “I like the way he thinks deeply about battles, the strategies, different formations.”

Jessica giggled. “Not like that. Would you like to know.. you are about the same age.”

“Are you serious? Our lives hang in the balance?”

Honestly, where did I find her?

Jessica continued. Audrey had to stay stillstill to hear. “Well some of us think he’s fit. Daire can’t stop thinking about him.”

Audrey felt her stomach ache. Daire is beautiful.

“Time for sleep.” Audrey’s voice was loud, her tons stern.

“Alright, alright Audrey,. I was only asking. No need to go all fire and brimstone.”

“I didn’t. We have a big few time cycles in front of us, and we need to rest.”

Doesn’t she realise her life hangs in the balance? And that the men have women sent to their room anyway. And she really needs to concentrate on her skills.

Wheelchair Wars (iv)

Once placed on the battle chair, Audrey activated it by pressing the top of her joystick. The flipper swung up in front of her.

Oreus grinned. “Splendid, isn’t it. The finest engineering went into it to ensure the maximum lift. The rest will be open to you.”

Audrey nodded and went back out to the main hall. Where once there was boisterous chatter, now there was silence. She looked around as all eyes fell on her. Then there were gasps of awe.

A group of them then approached. A male voice was the first to speak, but she was unsure of whom. “How did ya get that?”

Audrey spoke with a big smile on her face. The whole was listening. “I’m to test it for Oreus. Who wants to battle?”

Wheelchair Wars (iii)

Oreus nodded to his men, and they lifted Audrey into one of the Falcon Xs. Her face blossomed into a smile.

“Go on, Audrey, have a spin around. You have her for your next battle.”

Audrey pressed the joystick forward. Her hair blew from the acceleration, and her eyes opened wide. She zipped around the chamber.

When she came close, Oreus, began to speak once more, “Halt, Audrey. You can practice with the others for the rest of the day, but first, I would like to discuss your next opponent. He has many kills to his name. But you now have the superior battle chair. I have a suggestion for the tactics you should use.”

Audrey nodded for him to continue.

“It’s a weapon that you have not used before – The flipper. You need to maneuver your chair so that it slips under one of his wheels, and then flip his battle chair onto its side. Then finish him, knowing that he has killed many Na Fianna.”

“It would be my honor, for both you and Na Fianna.”

Oreus grinned and instructed his men to affix the weapon to the battle chair. They retrieved it from one of the walls that was adorned with weapons and joined it to the front of the chair in seconds.

Distant Love (Part 65)

Derek’s muscles clench. He looks around the quaint coffee shop to make sure nobody is watching him. “What in the lunar happened. Like seriously, this couldn’t possibly have been part of the plan?”

For the first time, Derek sees that Diane is nervous. Her hands shake as she struggles to lift a coffee, her eyes averting his.

They had arranged to meet just over an hour ago. Maeve had been arrested hours earlier after the crash on the lunar surface.

“It wasn’t supposed to happen like that. We didn’t think that the flare would damage the ship to that extent; it should have been retired decades ago, obviously.”

Derek’s face was becoming a deep red. “You could have killed them all.”

They both quieten as a robotic server passes.

Derek scratches his hand. “This is such a mess up. It really is. And what now? What happens to Maeve?”

For the first time, their eyes meet before Diane continues. “She is not being forthcoming, claiming that she knows nothing. Her mother will flinch to save her, but we need more.”

“Perhaps, she doesn’t know anything? Have your people thought of that?”

“Of course she does. Don’t be an idiot. I don’t think she’ll be forthcoming here, though. That’s where you come in.”

Jurassic World Rebirth: Stunning Visuals and Engaging Characters

My dear readers, I have something quite painful to admit. I’m old enough to remember seeing the original Jurassic World, way back in 1993. It was different from anything I’ve seen before, and the memory stayed with me. So, when I saw the latest Jurassic film was out, I immediately recorded it to watch today.

Jurassic World Rebirth is a 2025 American science fiction action film directed by Gareth Edwards and written by David Koepp. It is the fourth Jurassic World film, as well as the seventh installment overall in the Jurassic Park franchise. The film features Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Ed Skrein.

In Jurassic World Rebirth, the world’s de-extinct dinosaurs live around the equator, which provides the last viable climate for them to survive. The reasons given for this is modern diseases, needing a warm climate, and there being more oxygen to survive. All of which is pseudoscience, to create the world they want for the film. Any disease wiping them out would have to be across completely different species, very unlikely. There is not appreciable more oxygen at the equator, and even there, the temperature would be cooler than the Jurassic. But I digress.

A team travels to a former island research facility where three specific gigantic species of dinosaurs reside, to extract samples that are vital for a heart disease treatment. The team also rescues a shipwrecked family, and both groups struggle to survive after becoming stranded on the island.

Visually, the film is nothing short of spectacular. The cinematography captures both the majesty and terror of these prehistoric giants with stunning clarity. Lush landscapes, sweeping aerial shots, and intimate ground-level chases create a dynamic sense of scale. The dinosaurs themselves have never looked better — each creature is rendered with remarkable detail and personality. Whether it’s a tense standoff in a dense forest or a pulse-pounding urban pursuit, every action sequence is crafted with precision and restraint, making the danger feel real and immediate.

What truly elevates Jurassic World Rebirth above previous iterations is its character work. The ensemble cast delivers grounded, emotionally engaging performances that give weight to the spectacle. The protagonists feel layered and human, grappling with responsibility, fear, and hope in ways that resonate beyond the screen. Their arcs intertwine seamlessly with the film’s larger themes about scientific ambition, ecological balance, and second chances.

The cast is a major upgrade. Scarlett Johansson brings sharp intelligence and physicality to Zora, making her a compelling, resourceful lead who carries the action without ever feeling like a Pratt stand-in. Mahershala Ali as Duncan Kincaid provides gravitas and quiet strength—his chemistry with Johansson grounds the team dynamic beautifully. Jonathan Bailey (fresh off Wicked and Bridgerton) shines as paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis, injecting warmth, wit, and nerdy enthusiasm that reminds us why we fell in love with these stories in the first place. The supporting players, including Rupert Friend as a slick Big Pharma rep and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as a shipwrecked civilian dad, add layers of conflict and humanity without ever slowing the pace.

The film gets five stars out of five. Relive your childhood.

Wheelchair Wars (ii)

There were men and women in wheelchairs, whichever way she looked. Their wheelchairs were armed, though with all manners of swords, hammers, and knives.

“Audrey” reverberated through the hall. It was Oreus, sitting imperiously in a battlechair, with two muscle-bound men at each side. She goes towards him, her heart throbbing.

“Yes, ssirr.”

He looked at her with contempt. “You must speak with conviction if you want to be a warrior. Demand respect.”

“Yes, sir,” she replied, her tone raised.

“Better.” He looked her up and down. “You have good control of your chair. Spatial awareness is as important as savagery. Without either, there is little hope of you lasting long.”

He scrunched his face. “Your next opponent is going to be formidable. I watched as his last opponent pleaded for his life. The crowd laughed.”

Oreus stared at Audrey, but she didn’t flinch.

She has the fire.

“Follow me.”

Oreus drives his chair to a narrow side tunnel, then down a long, downward ramp, using his jaw, with his goons and Audrey following closely behind. The din of chatter dissipates behind them.

They enter a large, cool chamber filled with rows of battlechairs of various makes, shapes, and sizes. Oreus led them to the back of the room. “This is the Falcon X.”

Audrey’s face lit up. “Is it as good as they say?”

Oreus smiled. “That’s what I want you to tell me.”

Wheelchair Wars (i)

Oh my Emperor, please let me suffer and die in your name – A nun’s prayer from The Order of Deliverance

The Emperor is our God; may we suffer greatly for our salvation – A nun from the Order of Retribution

Our Emperor, who doth rule from Earth,

Hallow be thy name,

Thy Empire conquer all,

What is done on Earth pervades the Universe

Give us your spirit and courage,

Forgive us any trespass

And deliver us to your Service

The chanting reverberated through Audrey’s body. Her two surviving roommates were on their knees on each side of her, and her wheelchair. In front of them, holding a wooden triangle, in her habit was Sister Nora. A tall woman with an aquine face, she towered over them. Her face is stern. The chanting has been going on for nearly half an hour in the small prayer room.

“That’s enough now, girls. You can go back to your room.” Sister Nora spoke in an authoritative tone, devoid of any love or intimacy.

The two girls on either side of Audrey rose, their faces twisted in pain from their stiff knees.

Audrey struggled to reverse and turn her manual wheelchair in the small space between two aisles of pews. One of the girls begins to push her and whispers into her ear. “I’ll let you take it easy, since it’s your last night with us. Ya lucky bitch.” Audrey looked back at her friend, Grainne, with a small smile. The other girl was Mary.

The few minutes it took to reach the dormitory down narrow, dark corridors were spent in silence.

Their dormitory was large with enough space for thirty girls. But there were only the three of them, and they clustered near the door. A pang shot through Audrey when she thought of all those that were missing. Disease had taken many, batterings from the sisters took some more. The others were sold to slave in the brothels.

Audrey’s movements were slower than those of others. It took longer for her to remove her purple uniform. That, and she couldn’t walk.

After lifting up her footplates and parking beside the bed, she used her hands to propel herself onto it.

This was a time to sleep, and the lights would switch off in a few minutes. But that rarely happened. The darkness was the only time they had when they could be sure they were not being watched.

Grainne was the first to speak. “Going to miss you Audrey.”

“Yeah, me too,” Mary whispered.

Tears rolled down Audrey’s face. “Yeah, me too. And I hate the thought of leaving you here.”

“I doubt we’ll be here much longer,” Grainne replied. “One of the sisters told we’re being sold to Richies in a few days. I hate the thought of having to please all those old, smelly men. I’d rather have an opportunity like you, even if it risked death.”

“I don’t know if I could be as brave as Audrey,” Mary murmured, “You have already had so many great victories. And now tomorrow, you get to leave this place. The Na Fianna compound has to be better. At least one of us has a chance.”

Then there was silence.

When Audrey woke in the morning, they were gone. Instead, Sister Ita stood at the side of the bed. A round woman with piercing brown eyes. “Come on, get dressed. I’m to bring you to the Na Fianna compound. Give me a shout when you are ready.” With that, she turned and went to wait outside.

Audrey grimaced. Sister Ita was the last person she wanted to spend her day with. She was renowned for her vicious nature and taste for some of the younger girls. She tried to put such thoughts in the back of her mind.

As they left the convent, they paused in front of the large metallic triangle hanging from the ceiling. “To the eternal power of the Emperor,” they said in unison.

Outside the central door, they were immediately hit with the smell. A foul mixture of sweat and excrement. The thoroughfare was crowded with children in rags. “Why doesn’t the Emperor just annihilate this scum?” Audrey knew that the Sister wasn’t expecting a response.

The thoroughfare was a large area with a high ceiling. But the rest of the journey was down narrow passageways with poor lighting. Some of the living spaces they passed didn’t even have front doors. Audrey could see into the little hut rooms that passed as their abodes.

It took two hours to reach the Na Fianna compound. Audrey smiled with glee every time the Sister moaned about having to push her creaky wheelchair and her meagre belongings.

Serves the bitch right after all she has done.

Oreus was waiting for them as they entered the bright and clean compound. The Sister gasped at the limbless man in the powerful, armed wheelchair. Audey had met him previously and said a warm hello.

Oreus ignored the Sister as if she were not there. He ordered one of his men to lift Audrey into an electric wheelchair.

“Now, you can come and go as you please, Audrey. Never again will you have to rely on a walker for movement,” Oreus voice boomed, “now follow me.”

Audrey looked around to see that the hated Sister was gone before pushing the joystick to follow Oreus. There were others there with all different manners of shapes, sizes, and malformations. She hoped to get to know many of them better in time.

“This is your quarters. Battle practice in an hour or so. See you again then.You should take every moment here very seriously. Your life depends on it.”

The room was more spacious than she had anticipated. There was a single bed with white sheets and a pillow. There were no stains like back at the convent. There was even a drawer for her clothes. There were some blotches on the green wall, but that wouldn’t bother her.

An hour later, she had unpacked and gone to the great hall for training.