Prologue

The ancient being floated through the vastness of deep space. All around him, stars flew by and often collided with one another, in vast silent orgies of destruction. The being watched the visual display, untouched by the chaotic release of massive energies. He watched impassively as a star appeared in his field of sight. He watched it appear closer and closer. It was clear to him that it was on a collision course with him. He reached out with his senses and could see that it was a red giant star. It was in its last stages of life and would’ve gone supernova if other extenuating circumstances hadn’t changed its destiny. He re-oriented himself to face the direction in which both he and the red giant were traveling. Up ahead was a virtual symphony of fire. Stars of all sizes and colours were moving towards a single point in space. The being was too far away still to see this point, but as he reached out with his senses, all he could feel was utter and complete blackness. There was a vortex of light and at its centre was a point of darkness. The gravitational pull of this vortex was so great that even light bent around its edges, creating the illusion of a spinning disk.

So, the ancient astronomers had it right after all. The ancient being thought to himself. It’s a black hole. In the centre of the universe, at the end of all things, a black hole will swallow everything. Now who said that? I don’t remember. It’s been so long since I thought about Earth. Earth, where I was born.

The being felt an approaching object. Turning, he saw that the red giant had caught up with him. He reached out with his hand and caught the burning orb.

Maybe I’ll have a light snack before the final show. He thought. Geez, it’s so lonely here, I’m beginning to talk to myself. Maybe I’m going crazy again?

The being looked at the burning orb in his hand. Using powers that have long since become second nature, he drained the star of every bit of energy. When he was done, all that was left was a cooling piece of solid matter. He released it and watched briefly as it continued its journey towards the end.

Or is it the beginning? Earth astronomers once theorized that the universe was created in a “big bang”, and that it was continually expanding. Then one day, the universe would finish expanding and start to contract. Who would’ve thought that I’d be here to see it?

I wonder what’s on the other side? In my long life, why have I never bothered exploring one of these before? Only now, at the end of the universe do I finally get the perverse notion to see what’s on the other side? Or is it that’s I’ve lived too long? There I go again, talking to myself. Maybe I am going crazy again!

The ancient being closed his eyes. Using his senses once more, he estimated that he was about 10 million light years away from the centre of the maelstrom. Time enough to reflect upon his life. A life that has spanned billions of years. A life that started innocently enough and was soon finally about to end.

Part 1 Fledgling

1

It was Devil’s Night, 1997, at a time when most kids had already found their Halloween costumes and were busy trying them on, Michael Wellington was trying to cram for a math test. Math had never been one of his favourite subjects. Now that he was in high school, he disliked it even more. Maybe hate would be a better word, he thought to himself. Geez, why do I have to leave these things until the last minute?

His parents had left earlier that week on a business trip, leaving him to his own devices. “Study hard and do your homework” was all they said to him before they left.

That’s not fair and you know it. They trust you enough to leave you alone for 2 weeks. He looked around his room. There were clothes on the floor, and books and CD’s in total disarray. Some trust! Serena is going to have a fit tomorrow! Serena was the Spanish speaking housekeeper that his parents had hired to clean the house and to look in on him every week. At 14, Michael was just old enough by law to not require a babysitter, although this wouldn’t be the first time they left him home alone to go off on one of their business trips.

Although this wouldn’t be the first time they’ve left me alone! Sigh… I enjoy the freedom, but it can get so lonely all the time. They’re lucky I don’t run off and join a gang or something!

Pushing the thought away, he picked up his glasses from where he dropped them down in disgust earlier and tried to focus on the problem at hand.

“If car A were traveling north at 50 km/h, and car B were traveling north west at 60km/h…HOLY SHIT!!”

The window to his bedroom suddenly shattered inward with a loud boom. Glass was flying in all directions. Michael felt a stinging pain on his face as a piece of glass narrowly missed his eye. Looking up from the floor where he had thrown himself in total reflex, he could see that his window was gone. He could also feel stinging pain on his arms, legs and chest from where the glass had hit him.

All those quarters at the arcade has paid off! Thank god I’ve got reflexes like a cat! Too bad I can’t use them on the field. Maybe then the chicks would look at me!

Michael surveyed his room. On the surface, it looked even messier than before – if that were possible. There was glass all over the floor. On the far wall, about 3 feet of the floor, there was an object embedded in the wall that was not there earlier.

Some damn kid threw a rock through the window! No point in running to the window to look. They’re probably halfway down the street by now.

Walking to the wall, Michael examined the object. It was too round to be a rock. It looked like a flat half circle. What is this? Some kind of steel Frisbee? He gingerly touched the object. It was cool to the touch. Wait a minute. There was some kind of boom as the window broke. Windows do not go boom when they break!

This time Michael did go over to the window and look outside. Everything appeared to be natural, except that some lights were turning on in the neighborhood. Dogs were barking somewhere in the night.

Wait a minute, people don’t investigate the sound of a broken window, and dogs could care less in this neighborhood. That was a sonic boom! Then why am I not deaf? Why am I not passed out on the floor? Why am I not rolling around on the floor with blood coming out of my nose and ears? There I go, talking to myself again… geez, I really gotta stop that!

He carefully walked back to the wall with the object still stuck in it. Putting his hand around it, and quickly gathering his strength, he yanked on it – and abruptly lost his balance and nearly fell on the floor. The object was not embedded very tightly in the wall.

A mysterious object traveling at least at the speed of sound, should’ve done a heck of a lot more damage than this. What the hell is going on here?

He looked at the object in his hand. It was flat, oval in shape, and there appeared to be design on some sort on the face of it. The design was a circle with a jagged line running the middle of it.

Looks like some sort of medallion or something.

The medallion was about 2 cm thick and about 7 cm long and about 4 cm wide. Turning it over in his hand, he noticed that it appeared to have almost no weight. It was as light as a feather. He ran his fingers over the design and suddenly heard a hiss, like the sound of gas escaping. The medallion started to glow…

Oh my god, it’s a bomb or something! I gotta toss –

Blinding light filled the room, and this time, Michael did pass out.

I’m dreaming. I must be dreaming. The last thing I remember, that thing I found blew up in my hand. Oh no! Maybe I’m dead! I can’t feel my hands! I can’t feel anything. Wait, what’s that? I can see. I’m flying! In space! Look at all those stars flying by. Wow, I must be going pretty fast. Whoa what was that? That was not a star. It looked like a beam of light, or a laser of some sort. Hey there goes another one! What’s going on? I’m being chased?! One, two, three… Hey there’s at least 5 things chasing me. Owww! I felt that! They’re firing on me! Are they trying to kill me? Owww that hurt! Take that! Wow, did that blast come from me? Take that too, you sorry excuse for space scum! Ha! Got one of you! Not so scary are you now, eh? Here’s another blast, eat laser! And another, and another! Only one of you left. Are you sorry you sorry you tangled with the Mikester? Hey, where’re you going? Come back here you coward. Not so tough when you’re all alone, eh? Wait, what’s that up ahead? Looks like small barren rock of ice. Well, that looks familiar. Hey, isn’t that Saturn? I’d recognize that ring anywhere! And look, there’s Jupiter. I’m in my solar system! Is that Earth? I’ve seen the pictures on TV, but they’re nothing compared to this. Whoa, the ride’s getting a little rocky. Must be the atmosphere. That looks like North America, yup, and there’s Canada. Hey, isn’t that Lake Ontario? My house, I see my house! Wait, slow down, I’m gonna hit my house! STOP!

Michael opened his eyes and sat up. He could hear birds chirping outside. They sounded louder due to the fact that he didn’t have a window anymore. His whole body ached. He surveyed his room. There was still glass everywhere, and outside, he could see the sun starting to rise.

Man, I’m sore. Must be from sleeping on the floor all night. What the hell happened? My window broke, and I found that thing, and it blew up! Where is it?

He looked but couldn’t find it. It was as if it disappeared into thin air.

Man, I gotta take a leak. And I’d better get some Polysporin on those cuts. Wouldn’t want to get an infection…wait, I can’t feel those cuts, but I could’ve sworn I got cut when the window broke. I distinctly remember one on my hand… My hand, what the hell?

Michael stared at his hand. Except, it wasn’t his hand anymore. It was covered in soft feather-like scales. He looked at his other hand. It too was covered. He looked down. His legs were covered too. On the floor, he saw the remains of his clothes. They looked as if they exploded from his body and were in tatters. He stumbled to his bathroom. He steadied himself and looked into the mirror.

Holy shit I’m a chicken!

His entire body was covered in the feathers. Even his face. Suddenly, he heard something.

I beg your pardon young one. You do not look like a chicken.

What the hell? Now I’m hearing voices in my head? Who the hell are you? Am I going crazy?

I assure you, you are quite sane. As to who am I, did you not pay attention when I was showing you last night?

That was you? I was seeing through your eyes?

In a manner of speaking yes. Although I do not have eyes.

Riiiight. Then how could you see? Are you like a machine or something?

I am most definitely not a machine! I am a bio-engineered organism specifically bred for the rigors of space travel.

Bred for space travel? So that was you? You weren’t in a ship or anything?

Correct. I was created to travel space the same way you would walk down the street.

So, where are you now? Why can I hear your voice in my head?

I was dying when I fought off those Valeans. When I crashed into your abode, I had mere seconds left to live. What you saw as a “medallion” was merely the symbol of my people. Just before I entered your atmosphere, I was able to transfer my essence into it. This is normally done by my kind when we die. This way, when the pod is found, my memories are preserved and my masters can learn my fate.

Ok, so you’re like dead or something? And I’m talking to a ghost?

It appears that I am very much alive. Except that I seem to be an observer in your mind. We seem to have merged somehow. You are me, and I am you. We are one.