Chapter 1
2:56 NST
2438 Rainbow Negg Drive, Neopia Central
Davix received an urgent phone call. He answered it and listened as the voice
on the other end briefed him to the situation and told him to come immediately
to a special meeting. He hung up, then threw on a suit and rapidly gulped down
a Neocola as he ran out the door, briefcase in hand, to his waiting car.
Thirty minutes later, he ran in and managed to sit down with bare seconds to
spate as the meting began.
Davix was a red Lupe with a fairly strong build and perhaps a touch too round
in the middle.
"I could fix that", he thought," but I don't have time to got to the gym today.
Just like yesterday, and the day before that, and the day..." A flash of light
broke his train of thought, and he mentally chided himself for the lapse in
attention. In the spotlight that shone upon the floor set below, an aging Blumaroo
stepped up to the podium and arranged a stack of papers before him. He thin
looked up and in a deep, yet gentle and wizened voice addressed the audience
about him:
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the senate, I have called this special session to
announce a piece of very important information. Presenting this will be Mrs.
Serena, Secretary of the Division of Space Flight Programs."
Another figure thin replaced him. As he came out of the shadows, the form of
a green Zafara became apparent. She addressed the hushed assembly without preamble:
"It has been decided that the media will be informed at a press conference
tomorrow at 3:15 PM Neopian Standard Time."
Chapter 2
14:31 NST
1765 Soup Faerie Lane, Neopia Central
Strella the starry Shoyru lay stretched out on the floor of the living room,
eyes glued on the television screen. Ever since the announcement had come two
weeks ago from the senate, she had spent most of her time in this fashion, watching
faithfully the special news bulletins that came every hour or so. As long ago
as she could recall, (about one year) she had dreamed about the moon and stars,
traveling to the m exploring them, touching them, ooohhh.... How she could just
imagine treading the soils of another planet! So, naturally, when the senate
announced the creation of a vehicle that was to travel to another star (!?!),
she hung on to every word.
In fact, the only times she hadn't been staying informed, other than sleeping
a little, was when she was applying for the crew of the historic journey to
come. Any time now, 12 Neopians would be selected form the literal millions
of applicants.
"Wait!" said the reporter, "The officials are now announcing the 12 lucky Neopians
who will visit a distant star!"
The tension mounted as 1, 2, 3, 4, and then 5 names were called. The first
several were obvious choices: astronauts, qualified technicians, and so on.
6, 7, 8, Strella was beside herself with excitement. 9, 10, now she was getting
worried. Where was her name? Had her application been lost in the mail? 11,
(she was biting her nails), 12. She stared in disbelief at the television.
"How could anyone possibly be MORE QUALIFIED than me!!!" she exploded. She
continued to yell at the TV while the reporter talked on, blissfully unaware
of Strella's wrath being brought to vent. "NOOOO!!!!!" she wailed. She stood
there in silence momentarily, suddenly aware of how foolish her outburst seemed,
even if no one was around to hear it. She quietly switched off the TV and padded
to her room, where she soon fell asleep between heavy sobs.
Chapter 3
23:06 NST
Neopian Space Control Center, Eastern Neopia Central
There was a problem. At the Neopian Space Center, just east of Neopia Central,
and accident had occurred. The Chaos Drive, capable of accelerating a ship beyond
the speed of light, aboard the ship to be launched had exploded during a routine
maintenance operation. Several workers were injured in the blast and had to
be hospitalized. Among the injured was the foremost expert on the inner workings
of the engine. Although he was too badly hurt to continue the project, he suggested
a replacement to finish in his stead: a student he had once taught during his
tenure as a professor at the university…
23:25 NST
1765 Soup Faerie Lane, Neopia Central
Strella was awakened by the insistent ring of the phone. She picked up the
receiver and groggily muttered:
"Hello?" For the second time in as many days she sat in utter disbelief. "They
want me to fix the drive?!" she almost yelled into the mouthpiece, "I've only
read 2 or 3 books on the things in my whole life!"
The voice on the other end replied: "Apparently, that's 2 or 3 more than anyone
else we can reach."
"What about Dr. VonWocky?"
"We already tried to reach him, but he has gone missing ever since he began
working on his time machine project. Go to the Neopian Space Center. Be at gate
twelve in five hours." -Click-
Strella lost no time in packing and was at the gate in three.
2:27 NST
Vehicle Assembly Building, Neopian Space Control Center, Eastern Neopia Central
"Well, it doesn't look too bad," she said upon inspection of the blackened
mess of tangled wires, "I think." Then, with the books as guides and a
team of Neopia's finest minds to assist her, she started repairing the damaged
equipment.
Thirty-six hours, fifteen cups of coffee, and innumerable circuits, connectors,
lenses, and so on later, Strella jammed a plug in place and slammed the panel
shut with a bang that echoed in the cavernous Vehicle Assembly Building. With
a smile a mile wide and grease stains all over, she proclaimed triumphantly:
"Viola!"
She jumped as an unexpected clapping came from behind. She spun around and
found herself face to face with the director of the Space Program herself. Strella
blushed, suddenly conscious of her appearance.
"Thirty-six hours. INcredible. The most optimistic estimates said at least
two weeks for repairs. You have probably just single-handedly saved the program
from a very costly delay."
"Well, uh… I mean uh… I…" Strella stuttered.
"What can I do to thank you? You name it and it's yours."
Strella thought on it a moment and then gave her reply to a shocked program
director.
To be continued... | 
