The Rat Chronicles

Chapter 1 The Return of Hayden ISS research facility: April 15: 0300 GMT “So what do I call you?” Annie says as she opens the door to the incubator where the cloned rat resided since her conception. The all clear to remove her from the controlled environment recently received from Commander Smyth to end her quarantine because the virus that created her, self terminated. “You may call us… Myra.” “So you are more like a female version of Kirac then?” “Yes, Kirac my mate, we foresee a time in the future when we will be together for all time.” “You can really see into the future? What does the future hold for us? Will it be a good outcome?” “We can foresee a time when Kirac and us will be united. As for the future of your race, the vision is distorted. The rift the Xzebulien race created in our universe caused cosmic ripples that echoed out into the void and beyond. Now that our universe, as well as theirs returned from where they belong it will be some time before the universal quantum matrix affected by these ripples dissipates and then we can see more clearly what the possible outcome may provide for you. There are too many variables to consider.” Commander Smyth enters the research facility. He approaches Annie with Myra on her shoulder. “Is she ready to go Annie? I am about to proceed to the dome to participate in the Christening ceremony to celebrate the completion of the biosphere but I need to know what to call her.” “She calls herself Myra sir. She is looking forward to the event.” Myra jumps onto the Commanders shoulder from Annie’s as he approaches her and then leaves the research facility with Myra’s tail wrapped around his neck. “Myra, I like that.” Smyth remarked as he proceeds down the corridor to the transport tube. The other rats in the facility begin to brux and boggle as they will witness the event through Myra’s eyes. A space shuttle is positioned just outside of the dome as the groups of high ranking officials that are visiting or residing on the station congregate inside the biosphere to witness the event through the panels in the dome. The rest of the stations occupants are witnessing the event on the video screens in the common areas. The event is transmitted via satellites for the entire world to see. Commander Smyth joins them with Myra the rat on his right shoulder. A small object is jettisoned from the nose of the supply shuttle stationed several hundred meters outside the domes panels. The object is spinning end over end as it approaches the outer perimeter of the dome. It is a wine bottle with the labels logo displaying its origins, Earth2, the first bottle of wine produced from the winery on the station from the grapes collected in the biosphere vineyard. It is also the very first bottle of wine ever produced off world, in space. The picture behind the caption displays the vineyard and the domes clear panels with the sun’s rays shining through them in the background. The congregation inside the dome witnesses the bottle as it draws nearer to the airlock at the top of the dome. The bottle collides at the top and displays a fantastic array of breaking glass and the frozen contents exploding into a colorful display of ice crystals and glass shards before they dissipate into the vacuum of space. The congregation applauds after the remarkable display. The same is heard throughout the station and from around the world upon the completion of the event. After the ceremony a group of vineyard workers approach the Commander with the second bottle ever produced off world on the station to present for him. “We present this second bottle of Earth2, representing our thanks and gratitude for the wonderful job you did in protecting and saving this station from certain destruction sir. We all are forever in your debt.” Commander Smyth accepts the bottle, visibly moved by the offer. “Thank you. Thank you all for your generous offer and well wishes. I will have a special place to display this in my quarters but I am not the only one to thank. If it was not for Myra here… it was a combined effort to save this station. She and her mischief are just as much to thank, in fact even more so. I offer my sincerest apologies to Myra for attempting to jettison her into space. If I had been successful then none of us would be here today. Can you ever forgive me girl?” The Commander faces her as he scratches her behind her ears. Myra begins to brux and her eyes start to boggle. “You are forgiven Commander; in fact we commend your actions. You were merely trying to protect this facility and the lives that reside here. You were simply dealing with the unknown and you had no idea what the outcome would be. It was natural for you to assume the worst outcome. We had to earn your trust and we found the means to do so to insure a favorable one.” The group of people begins to applaud, louder and louder as the Commander proceeds to the transport tube to return to his duties. April 15:0400 GMT Shortly after the rift in space facing the moon collapsed into nothingness when the alien moon base exploded into a ball of highly charged plasma energy a similar rift appears in another part of space for a brief period. When it too begins to collapse into non-existence an object appears spinning out of the vortex before it closes. It is a ship. The name on the side of it says USMS Hayden. The red emergency lighting in the interior of the ship goes out and replaced by the normal lighting that accompanied it before.