Gareth Matthews has served his country through the Falklands War, in the Gulf and in many spots in between, in both the Parachute Regiment and latterly in the SAS. Indeed, he was badly wounded in the first Gulf War, to the point his left leg was amputated below the knee.
It was enough to have him medically discharged – but it didn't stop him from working for private contractors doing very similar work – until cancer hit him, to be followed by a divorce and eventual retirement.
Gareth didn't really believe in Heaven or Hell but had faced death so often that he was not afraid of it. The manner of his passing concerned him...
“I always wanted to die a hero, not as some dribbly, incontinent vegetable who doesn't even know what planet they're on!”
Retired now, and dying – having been diagnosed with the return of cancer – this time terminal; his life is filled with walking his devoted Labrador Lola, catching up on a lifetime of avoiding reading and appreciating locally brewed cider in his local. They had given him eighteen months at the most.
He thought the chances of dying a hero had long passed, but it happened on one of his walks with his dog. Not able to go so far or at any great speed. Gareth came across a man and a woman in the middle of the New Forest. Being a hero and dying in order to be one were both about as far from his mind as they could be.
The man was dressed for Special Ops and appeared determined to restrain the woman. The woman was clearly not a willing participant in this activity and was doing her best to fight him.
Gareth's instincts kicked in and of course, he intervened. At which point the man produced a handgun, believing that he could frighten off any do-gooder who might prevent him from his mission.
He threatened the wrong man.
Gareth knocked the man unconscious, but, as his false leg failed at the last second, the gun went off and Gareth was hit at point-blank range in the chest... he got his wish...
...despite not intending to...Gareth Matthews died a hero...
In the meantime, the man who shot him – a US Marine who had supposedly died in action in Afghanistan eight years ago was arrested and was now looking at long prison time and the girl... the girl returned to where she had come from taking something precious with her.
...Gareth awoke, wondering why they had floral lampshades in Hell...
...Gareth then wondered how he had managed to acquire two legs again...
...Gareth wondered how and why he was now a woman; not that he was complaining!
Genre: Science Fiction
It was enough to have him medically discharged – but it didn't stop him from working for private contractors doing very similar work – until cancer hit him, to be followed by a divorce and eventual retirement.
Gareth didn't really believe in Heaven or Hell but had faced death so often that he was not afraid of it. The manner of his passing concerned him...
“I always wanted to die a hero, not as some dribbly, incontinent vegetable who doesn't even know what planet they're on!”
Retired now, and dying – having been diagnosed with the return of cancer – this time terminal; his life is filled with walking his devoted Labrador Lola, catching up on a lifetime of avoiding reading and appreciating locally brewed cider in his local. They had given him eighteen months at the most.
He thought the chances of dying a hero had long passed, but it happened on one of his walks with his dog. Not able to go so far or at any great speed. Gareth came across a man and a woman in the middle of the New Forest. Being a hero and dying in order to be one were both about as far from his mind as they could be.
The man was dressed for Special Ops and appeared determined to restrain the woman. The woman was clearly not a willing participant in this activity and was doing her best to fight him.
Gareth's instincts kicked in and of course, he intervened. At which point the man produced a handgun, believing that he could frighten off any do-gooder who might prevent him from his mission.
He threatened the wrong man.
Gareth knocked the man unconscious, but, as his false leg failed at the last second, the gun went off and Gareth was hit at point-blank range in the chest... he got his wish...
...despite not intending to...Gareth Matthews died a hero...
In the meantime, the man who shot him – a US Marine who had supposedly died in action in Afghanistan eight years ago was arrested and was now looking at long prison time and the girl... the girl returned to where she had come from taking something precious with her.
...Gareth awoke, wondering why they had floral lampshades in Hell...
...Gareth then wondered how he had managed to acquire two legs again...
...Gareth wondered how and why he was now a woman; not that he was complaining!
Genre: Science Fiction
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