Pinholes: Traveling through the Curtain of the Night (episode #2)

Synopsis:

The brilliant scientist, Portage McPeeve, does not want to take over the world.

He’s discovered a way to travel the stars, using them as gateways into other realities. With his Gateway Manipulator, he hopes to rule all the worlds of the multi-verse with an iron fist. However, when his beloved kitten becomes lost through the machine, he does not hesitate to cast plans for multi-world domination aside; instead, he follows her through the cosmos – encountering zombies, higher education for Supers, Greek gods, and killer ninjas along the way.

Will Portage find Mrs. Bumblefrost before it’s too late?

Episode #2

Several hours later, the Gateway Manipulator was still being tested.

Hephaestus had fallen asleep, his forehead pressed against the window, his breath fogging the glass.

Portage peered at the device, sweat dripping off his brow. I really need to fix that air conditioner soon, he thought.

The Gateway Manipulator didn’t work. It almost worked, but some vital component eluded him. But what could it be?

The theory was sound. He knew that. Since black holes were once incredibly massive stars, his Gateway Manipulator would target stars destined to collapse under their own mass and form Einstein-Rosen bridges. The machine would accelerate the process, as well as cancel out the problems of size, stability, and spegettification. Black holes would be the entrance to other worlds, white holes the exits. Using the GM, he would punch holes through the fabric of Space-Time itself.

At least that is what his device should do – would do, making those stars into gateways, without tearing the space around them. He would travel through pinholes in the curtain of the night.

Portage wished to travel the multi-verse via the stars, not rip apart the universe. It would be difficult to rule in pieces.

While he fiddled with the device, his minion, Snap Decision, set the toolbox down next to the distraught scientist on her way to the kitchen. The smell of chocolate chip cookies wafted throughout the laboratory.

When Portage had first told others his theory, they had thought he was mad, and by others he meant – of course – Mary McPeeve. The super secret scientific community bent on world domination were not known for sharing among themselves. By definition, they were super and secretive: super intelligent and innovative, while secretive about theories and plans lest their contemporaries should steal them. However, Mary McPeeve was the one person, not including his minion, that Portage would confide in. Besides being saddled with a hideously unimposing name, Doctor Mary McPeeve was Portage’s father.

Portage adjusted the final component. All thoughts of cookies and inappropriate names vanished as the machine hummed to life. He stepped back, nearly tripping over Mrs. Bumblefrost. His excitement was so great, he barely glanced at the offended kitten.

“Snap!” In his excitement, he reverted to using his minion’s personal name. “Snap, get over here quick! I think I’ve done it!”

The sounds of the machine grew louder, eventually waking even the hero sleeping on the roof. Soon a glowing sphere grew before them. Even Mrs. Bumblefrost took notice and paused in her tongue bath.

“What the-” gasped Snap; the woman stood beside Portage with a steaming cookie sheet clutched in oven-mitted hands. Portage began to put his arm around her waist, noted the cookies, reached for one, then decided on something more dramatic for the occasion. He laughed maniacally. “I’ve done it! I’ve created a working Gateway Manipulator!” He popped the cookie into his mouth, chewing the sweet dough and chocolate. His cheeks puffed, filled with crumbs. He swallowed.

Snap stood, mouth gaping. “You’ve done it.”

“Yes, of course,” said Portage, in full mad-scientist mode. “Did you ever doubt me?”

 “No, I…” Snap stammered. “I mean, you… Doctor McPeeve, I can’t.” She turned to place the cookie sheet on a nearby table.

 “Wait,” said Portage, snagging a paricularly chunky chocolate chip cookie. “I’ll take that.”

 Snap smiled. He’d always loved her cookies.

 “It’ll be perfect for the first test.”

“What?”

 “I need something organic to put through the portal.”

“You’re going to throw my cookie in there?” Snap’s voice cracked. Her lower lip quivered.

 “Don’t worry,” said Portage. “I’ll send animals and robots through before going myself. I’m not crazy.” He smiled the smile the melted her heart. “Besides,” he said, “it’s just a snack.” He chucked the cookie through the glowing portal-

 -and Mrs. Bumblefrost leaped through the Gateway after it.

*All episodes listed here.

**Look for the next exciting installment of Pinholes next Tuesday, same cat-time, same cat-channel… uh, blog. I meant, blog.