Tag: writing

Wheelchair Wars Luke’s Story Part VII

Colorful intersecting streaks of light in blue, yellow, and orange on dark background

Luke paced back and forth. “Any idea when he would attempt such a monstrosity?”

“He wouldn’t be foolish enough to attempt anything while he is at full strength in the battle chair. It’ll be during a moment of weakness. There is no chance of it happening on the ship, Timothy is too well protected. The destination planet will be different.”

Luke nodded. “That would make sense. Perhaps, when he is in bed with a woman, or the heat of battle.”

“That’s all I know.” The man with the scarred face turned and left.

Damn it, this is the last thing Timothy needs.Bravado, maybe. I’ll just have to try and stay close to him. If I tell Timothy, he might take precautionary action setting off a revolt.

He walked back to the group.

“What’s up with you, Luke? You look a fright.” John smirked.

“I’ll fill you in later.”

Lukes Story Part VI

Two men arguing in a narrow, dim hallway covered in graffiti and peeling paint

The next and final part of the time cycle was the target practice. A practice gun was passed from one Trooper to the next. The group formed a line in front of one of the many targets – 3-D printouts of various aliens that the Empire had fought against. Many were already extinct.

“Don’t worry John, there’s no need for you to practice,” Luke said in a mischievous tone.

John’s facial muscles tensed. “What do you mean by that?”

Luke laughed. “Someone has to be the worst.”

Shaking his head side to side, John replied, “Give me that .gun.”

He proceeded to take some of the worst shots Luke had ever seen.

All apart from John, laughed to themselves.

Luke went to go to the toilet at the other end of the large room. There were lines of free cubicles, and Luke went to the rear.

When he finished, a goon from earlier was waiting for him. He had long scars down both sides of his face.

Luke stared right at him. “What do you want.?”

“Relax, I’m not here to fight. You need to know. He’s talking about assassinating Timothy. The Emperor would never forgive us, he’ll slaughter our families! You have to do something.”

Wheelchair Wars (Luke’s Story Part 5)

Soldiers in camouflage uniforms confronting each other in a dimly lit barracks hallway

An hour later, the siren went off once more. It was met with groans.

“Time to go, chaps.” John smiled. “Come on, none of that dreariness. We all love doing hours of mindless exercise that may or may not benefit us in the future.”

The group got up from the table and walked to the opposite side of the ship. They entered a gym with a multitude of equipment.

They walked to their usual side and space. Luke sat down and started using the dumbbells, John went straight to the weightlifting. The   others stretched. “All seeing Emperor” played in the background. It was Luke’s favorite, and he hummed along to the words.

Service to The Emperor

Obedience to The Emperor

Love for The Emperor

Slay his enemies

Love his Army

A shout came from close by.

“There’s the lapdog.” A burly, Trooper with a mop of black hair was pointing his finger straight at Luke to a group of men, who immediately went towards him. John put down the weights and stood by Luke’s side.

The Trooper went almost nose to nose with Luke, his eyes bulging. “Tell that commander of yours that we’re sick of it. The food, the routine. This is not what we signed up for.”

Luke’s jaw clenched, he pushed his head forward, their sweaty foreheads touched. “Speak to him yourself, I hold no special position.”

The man grimaced. “So, if we hang you from this ceiling, it won’t send him a message?”

John projected his voice. “Over my dead body.”

“Yeah, mine too,” Lisa added from the rear.

One of the other Troopers whispered, “That’s enough, Jaime. There’s no point us all getting in disciplinary trouble.”

Staring at Luke, Jaime replied, “I understand, boys. We’ll catch up with this guy another time.”

He turned and went to the far side of the gym, followed by the others.

Lisa stood beside Luke.  “Are you okay?”

Luke nodded and shook John’s hand and slapped his back.

“You need to watch out for him,” Lisa continued,” he has a lot of lackeys. He’s been complaining about everything since we first set foot on the ship.”

“Maybe, you should mention it to Timothy,” John added.

Luke shook his head,” No, he has enough problems at the currently. I’d say, we deal with this in house.”

“Whatever you think, bud.” John turned and went back to weightlifting.

“Look after yourself, Luke.” For a moment, she linked a finger with one of his.

Wheelchair Wars (Luke’s Story Part 4)

Five unique ceramic plates with colorful sauces and garnishes arranged on a wooden table

Luke looked at the bowl in front of him and, with trepidation, put a spoonful into his mouth. He gulped it down, averting his eyes. Continuing to do so, he tried his best to think of happier times.

“God, that was disgusting, ” John whispered.

Silence at the table.

Lisa spat, “It’s not right.”

Yvonne put her hand on Lisa’s shoulder. “If only we had wheelchairs, we’d be in the lap of luxury.”

Luke glared. “It’s not like that at all. Timothy showed us what he eats, and it’s the same as what the rest of us eat. I told him he should only eat the best but he insists on being treated like one of his Troopers. Ask John if you doubt me.”

John nodded in agreement.

“We didn’t mean Timothy,” Lisa responded. “He is a great commander. It’s just people are so annoyed over this long journey.”

If the people I know best talk like this, what about the others?

The table closest to him has plenty of people with sullen and angry faces.

We’re not far off mutiny.

Out of nowhere, John said, “So what kind of planet are we hoping to land on?”

“Hopefully, somewhere warm,” Lisa replied.

The Bus: Exploring France’s Football Scandal Documentary

Football players in navy training gear seated on a bus marked 'Away Team' on a rainy day.

I still remember this with glee. You see France had knocked out my country, The Republic of Ireland with a very dubious Thierry Henri handball. So, feeling somewhat nostalgic, I decided to give this Netflix documentary a try.

The Bus: A French Football Mutiny is an outstanding, riveting documentary that transforms one of the most infamous scandals in modern sports history into a compelling, nuanced, and deeply human story. Released on Netflix in May 2026 and directed by Christophe Astruc and Jérôme Fritel, this 81-minute film revisits the 2010 FIFA World Cup debacle involving the French national team (Les Bleus) with fresh interviews, sharp editing, and a refreshing willingness to let participants speak for themselves.

The 2010 tournament in South Africa became a nightmare for France. After a lackluster group stage performance, tensions boiled over following a halftime clash between coach Raymond Domenech and striker Nicolas Anelka. What followed was extraordinary: players refused to train, staged a strike, and famously holed up on their team bus—refusing to leave while the world watched in disbelief. France exited early, the squad was vilified back home, and the incident exposed deep fractures I if you like slow carn team dynamics, media relations, leadership, and broader societal issues.

What makes The Bus exceptional is its structure. The directors craft it like a mystery with subtle Citizen Kane echoes—piecing together perspectives from players, coaches, officials, and journalists without forcing a single narrative. This approach feels fair and inquisitive, allowing viewers to weigh the accounts themselves.

The French Manager Domenech comes across poorly. Overly self-absorbed, there were multiple opportunities he lost to rectify matters.

The players, particularly Patrice Evra, deliver the most powerful testimony. Evra’s reflections on racism, classism, the pressure of representing a nation, and how football offered an escape are moving and insightful. William Gallas and Bacary Sagna also provide valuable context. These voices humanize a group long portrayed as overpaid prima donnas.

A must watch if you like slow burn car crashes.

Three stars out of five from me.

Wheelchair Wars (Luke’s Story Part 3)

Bowl of beef stew with chunks of meat, carrots, potatoes, and celery topped with chopped parsley

Lisa and Yvonne joined them at their table. Their hair unkempt, their eyes bloodshot. Luke perked up on hearing Lisa’s voice.

Lisa was small sassy Trooper. She was five foot with brown hair and freckles. Yvonne was tall, with long red hair. Lisa was talkative, friendly whereas Yvonne tended to be more terse, at least when talking to the guys..

“Ladies, how are we today,” John asked. His eyes averted to where the food was being to next.

Lisa frowned. “Stinky.”

“I hate that there no showers. I feel disgusting,” Yvonne added.

Connor, a bald and pot bellied Trooper joined and completed the table. “Yuck, stay away from me then.” The group laughed.

“We could even if we wanted to with all the locked doors and cameras.” Yvonne smiled.

“Bet he won’t be saying that when you get a chance to doll up” John added.

For a moment, Lisa and Luke’s eyes meet across the table.

The great had filled by now. In the distance punches are thrown, but it received little attentions and was broken up with fanfare. A regular ocurence.

The brown slop that passed for food reached their table. For a moment, they all gazed at it.

Lisa stabbed it with her fork. “It looks worse every time.”

Wheelchair Wars (Lukes Story Part 2)

Two police officers walking down an institutional hallway facing away from the camera

“Another hour and a half,” Luke replied.

“Wow, we have to wait for over one hour to go from one small cell into a slightly bigger one.” John shook his head from side to side before clambering back onto his bed. After taking a large breath, he lied down.

There was silence.

“Timothy said it won’t be much longer?” Luke whispered.

“Really?” John replied. “He has to say that. The troops are on the verge of revolt from boredom and revolting food. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame him. He’s following orders like the rest of us.”

Nothing more was said between them.

An hour and half later a long beep when off.

The two men put on their uniforms and the opened the door to a barrage of noise as other troopers passed. Everybody was heading in the same direction to the kitchen. Their noses long used to the foul smell of unwashed bodies.

The room was set out with multiple round tables, some of the places already taken. They went to the same table as usual. Murals of family life were painted on the wall. Ostensibly to increase morale, but there were now faded. Kitch staff were busy going from table to table giving out the food..

Wheelchair Wars (Luke’s Story Part 1)

Two men sitting on a lower bunk bed inside a small, dim prison cell with peeling paint and rusty metal bars

Luke sat up at the side of his bunk bed. John was busy snoring away on the top one. The room was small, warm, and cramped with their meagre possessions; some clothes and reading materials. A screen was on the wall in front of him. It was during the resting period of a time cycle.

He stared at the screen, then the metallic ceiling, slapping his legs in the process. Reaching down, he got a powder from under his bed and placed a few grains under John’s nose.

Then he waited. John began to sneeze.

“Are you okay, John?”

“God I don’t know why that happens. Sorry about that.”

John stands up and see his friend’s red nose. “I don’t know either. You’re in a deep sleep one second, and the next.. You should see a doctor maybe, when we reach our destination.”

“Yeah, I might do that. Anything on the box?”

As he sat back down Luke replied, “No nothing, we’re too far from an inhabited star system.”

John got up and paced the small room. “We are literally in the middle of nowhere. And for what?”

Luke looked and pointed to his own ears.

“How long till we can leave our cell?” John asked

Distant Love (Part 87)

Old wooden desk with computer and documents in a large, dimly lit warehouse with colorful light trails above

It amazes Derek how he remembers most of the coding. Every now and then, like a flash of lightning going off in his head, that bit more comes back. At the time, he thought it was a waste of time. There were already better languages, even then.

Funny how things can work out.

A hand gently lands on his shoulder. He turns his neck. “Are you okay, Maeve?”

She nods. “Are you more like? I would have killed them if they hurt you. You could have trusted me with your problem.”

Looking back at his screen, he replies, “I know, and I was going to tell you. I was waiting for the right time.”

“Love you, no matter what.” She rubs the back of his head and walks away.

For the next five hours, with only the occasional break, he works away. Then bingo. He now has full control of the system.

Turning his chair around, he shouts. “I’ve done it.”

Claps come from the back of the warehouse where they are sitting.

Aaron gets up and runs towards him. “The security and all?”

Derek nods.

“Well then, you’d better join the rest of them at the so we can plan for tomorrow.”

“What about my relations?”

“My contacts will be able to bring them to safety once they get the message to proceed.”

Distant Love (Part 86)

Two people in dark clothing in a rundown warehouse with one holding a knife

“So, what is it?” Mick pulls out a Lurcha laser gun and points it directly at Derek’s head.


Gasps go out from the others.

“Don’t shoot him anyway. At worst, we’ll keep him prisoner,” James implores.


Derek grins.


“What’s so funny, Derek? You think I won’t pull the trigger?” Mick’s turns beetroot red.


“I think there’s a good chance you would. The blood might destroy some of that lovely equipment though. That would be a shame. And then there’s the whole shooting the person in the wheelchair after he saved the girl. That should go down with the public, really well.”


“He has a point, Mick.” Aaron nods.


“And anyway, I’m on your side. I was waiting for the right time to tell you the full story.”
Mick lowers his weapon. “You better not be lying to me.”


Derek takes a large breath. “Look let me a look at this code for a few hours. And you see if there’s something you can do for my relatives. How does that sound?”


There is silence amid node of agreement.


James speaks. “I know people who could get your relations somewhere safe. I’ll contact them now and see what sort of timeframe they can make their.”