Tag: writing

Wheelchair Wars Audrey (Part ix)

Rescue workers helping an injured person trapped under rubble in a tunnel collapse

Audrey winced and opened her eyes, to see only darkness. Blood dripped from a gash on her face. The carbonite battle chair should be fine but her body was pressed down, unable to reach the controls.

This could be the way I meet my death, not gloriously in an arena or battle but alone on an unknown world.

Hours passed. She struggled to move but to no avail.

A clink. Did I imagine it?

The almost inaudible sound of voices.

It grows louder. Is that Brona?

Audrey tries to shout out her name. Her mouth is dry, her throat sore.

Soon, Brona’s voice can be clearly heard.

“Brona, over here,” she gasped.

“Yes, commander. We’re almost there.”

Audrey smiled till the pain hit her. “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.”

A few minutes later a dink of light appeared. The Emperor has looked kindly on me.

Brona appeared peering at her. “A section of the ceiling collapsed on top of you. A piece has cut into your cheek. It could cause a lot of damage lifting it off.”

“Do it, Brona. We could be about to come under attack, for all we know.”

“Yes, commander.”

The debris lifts, pulling at Audrey’s face. It takes every bit of resolve not to scream.

Wheelchair Wars Audrey (Part viii)

Space shuttle burning and falling near erupting volcano with lava and smoke

After a few seconds, Audrey felt her head being pushed back onto her headrest from the change in g force as the ship pulled up from the mountainous lava filled world below. Then relief, as the ship pulled level.

The captain turned his chair, with a large smile over his lined face. “We’re through the worst of it. We will be at our soft crash site momentarily, commander. The ship may even be space worthy after a few repairs.”

The ship shuddered and he swirled back to the control panel. “We’ve been hit. There’s major damage.” For the first time, Audrey sensed fear.

The ship began to rattle and a large erupting mountain came into view.

The captain yelled, “We’re going to have to go around it.”

Audrey gripped her chair as the mountain loomed, coming ever closer..

The ship swerved to the left making a large screeching noise.as it underbelly scraped the mountainside. Then, a plateau appeared.

The ship descended fast despite the best efforts of the captain, who was pulling and pressing every lever.

Audrey said a quiet prayer to the Emperor

A huge thud as the ship crashed.

All her thoughts turned to Timothy, before she blacked out.

Wheelchair Wars 3 (vii)

Futuristic spaceship flying through colorful storm clouds with lightning and rocky terrain below

The aged captain shouted back from the controls, “We came under fire from the planet on our approach.”

Loud cackling noises were coming from the ship.

Audrey shouted once more, “Did you provide the security clearance?” She could see a red and blue planet looming large, and flashes of yellow light trying to hit the spaceship.

“Of course I did. You need to prepare for a crash landing.”

For a moment, time seemed to stop. Her heart was pounding, sweat dripping down her brow. “Brona, inform the troops to prepare for a crash landing.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What about you?”

Audrey pressed a button on the underside of her control panel. Magnets bolted the chair to the floor, and extra safety straps wrapped around her. “I’ll be more fine than anybody else. Now go.”

Brona sprinted out.

“Do you have any preference as to where to land?” the Captain asked.

“Yes, somewhere relatively flat and close to where that firing is coming from.”

The ship began to shake as they entered the atmosphere. Audrey tried to control her breathing. There was still a chance that she might yet survive and have a further chance to serve the Emperor.

The front of the shop was now turning a bright white.

Wheelchair Wars 3 (vi)

Futuristic spaceship bridge with crew working on consoles and battle occurring outside

Audrey gasped for breath. Pain was emanating from every limb and crevice of her body. Someone was talking to her, but she was groggy. She shook her head, trying to regain control of her senses.

A few seconds later, her eyes began to focus. It was Brona, her eyes red with tears flowing down her eyes, who was trying to speak to her. Audrey realized that she was back sitting in her battle chair.

Brona shook her. “Commander, the ship has come under attack. What are your orders? We had to do an emergency evacuation from your pod. That is why you are nauseous.”

Audrey looked around in horror as the stench of burning bodies hit. Most of the pods were alight or smashed. Screams of pain echoed around the ship. We need to get to the deck. The rest of the troopers should try to save as many of their fellows as they can.

Brona nodded and gave the troopers beside her instructions. “Let’s go, commander. I will clear the way.”

Audrey pushed her controller forward as Brona pulled bodies, dead or alive, as well as broken pods and other debris out of the way.

They reached the bridge, the door automatically opening.

“What is happening, captain?” Audrey shouted.

Exploring Dean Potter: The Dark Wizard of Extreme Climbing

My dear readers. As a person who never walked, climbing was way out of reach. It is something that occasionally fascinates me. I’ll be honest, if I was able bodied, I wouldn’t risk it. I definitely wouldn’t free climb.

If you want to know how nutty people can be, then you need to watch this.

From the very first frame, The Dark Wizard Episode 1 grabs you with the raw, exhilarating energy of extreme climbing and never lets go. Titled “The Death Consequence,” this opening installment serves as a powerful introduction to the legendary—and often controversial—figure of Dean Potter.

It masterfully blends breathtaking footage of his daring feats with intimate glimpses into the man behind the myth, setting up what promises to be one of the most thought-provoking docuseries of the year.The episode opens by immersing viewers in Potter’s early years in Yosemite during the 1990s, where he bursts onto the scene as a fiercely talented, renegade climber. We see him forging new ascents, setting world records, and connecting deeply with a tight-knit community of like-minded adventurers who thrive on the sport’s intoxicating mix of freedom and adrenaline.

The cinematography is nothing short of spectacular—sweeping shots of towering granite walls, heart-pounding sequences of free soloing and base jumping, and slow-motion captures that make you feel the wind and the exposure. It’s viscerally exciting, the kind of footage that leaves you breathless and in awe of human potential.

What elevates this episode beyond a simple highlight reel of athletic achievements is its honest, unflinching exploration of Potter’s inner world. Friends and contemporaries, including Alex Honnold, share candid reflections on his restless energy and the darker undercurrents that drove him. One particularly poignant thread is how Potter used the “death consequence”—that razor-edge awareness of mortality during his most extreme pursuits—as a form of therapy to quiet his racing mind and battle personal demons. Journal entries come alive on screen, revealing a sensitive, introspective soul seeking clarity through emptiness and risk. Lines like “I need to quiet my mind” hit hard, transforming the narrative from pure adrenaline into a profound meditation on mental health, self-medication through danger, and the complex relationship between joy and struggle.

Five stars out of five. Just don’t copy him. A ticket to an early death.

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.

Magnus Carlsen’s Dramatic Face-off: A Netflix Review

Chess pieces on a board with a tornado and lightning storm in the background

My dear readers, as you may all have gathered by now, I love Chess. So when I saw Chess Mates on Netflix, I immediately watched.

It revolves around Magnus Carlsen, the undisputed greatest chess player of his generation, facing off against Hans Niemann, a brash young American talent who rose through online chess during the pandemic boom. What starts as a dramatic over-the-board victory quickly spirals into one of the most bizarre and talked-about controversies in modern sports history.

Magnus Carlson is convinced that the young Hans cheated. The first question that arises is how. They search for devices before each match.

It deals with the Carlsen-Niemann scandal with such intelligence, balance, and cinematic flair that it feels more like a high-stakes thriller than a standard sports doc. From the very first minutes, the film hooks you. It masterfully sets the stage:

The production quality is outstanding. Netflix spared no expense with crisp archival footage, sharp interviews, and smooth pacing that keeps the nearly 75-minute runtime flying by.

The directors weave together player interviews, expert analysis from grandmasters, journalists, and even some of the wild online speculation (yes, including the infamous “anal beads” rumors) without ever feeling exploitative. They let the story breathe while providing real context about the pressures of elite chess, the explosion of online play, and the challenges of proving (or disproving) cheating in a game where engines are stronger than any human.

I was particularly impressed by how even-handed the documentary feels. It gives both sides a voice — Carlsen’s deep frustration and skepticism, Niemann’s defiant personality and claims, and the broader chess community’s divided reactions. No cheap villain-making here; instead, it explores the human elements: ego, genius, paranoia, ambition, and the blurry line between intuition and suspicion at the highest levels.

The talking heads are excellent — thoughtful, articulate, and sometimes refreshingly candid. The way the film builds tension around key games, analyzes critical moments without drowning non-chess players in notation, and examines the aftermath (including the lawsuit and lingering bad blood) is superb. Even if you only have a passing interest in chess, the universal themes of rivalry, trust, and scandal make it incredibly accessible and entertaining.

Overall, I was more inclined to agree with Niemann. Carlson comes across as very smug to me. The fact that Niemann cheated online when he was 16, 17 hardly proves much. Lots of people cheat at that age I’m sure. At leasr he wasn’t on drugs, right.

This gets four out of five stars from me.