Chapter 1

Life in Biosphere 67 was hard for Catheryn. Her reasons were pretty simple:

1. There were only 3 other people in Biosphere 67, ever since the outbreak.

2. There's a large tree (as far as she could tell) growing above Biosphere 67. The roots poking through the ground look like worms that could drop onto your unsuspecting noggin at any random moment! This had happened before, I assure you!

3. Whenever someone produces flatulence, (AKA, for all the dumb kids, farts) the minimum lingering time is 2 whole days, and combined with the unforgettable musty smell of "underground," it is nasty!

Yep, life is just great.

But… um… there have to be some positive things, right? Catheryn thought sarcastically. Yeah! Like how… um… there are, like, chickens?! That… like… roam around?! And… uh... poop eggs…but Animalia says not to eat the chickens, `cause she's a vegetarian. Darn it! I love lemon-pepper chicken!

Oh, wait. We don't have lemons anymore. Or peppers.

"Darn."

"What?" said Prokaryet, who was standing nearby. His expression was puzzled, and he seemed concerned.

"Oh, I just... eh… was thinking about the… um…" She stammered.

Prokaryet smirked, "Oh yeah, the Um. I think about the Um all the time!"

Despite her nerves, Catheryn laughed.

Prokaryet looked like he was about to say something, but just then the walkie-talkie buzzed.

"Ye-llo," said Catheryn, swinging it up to her ear.

"Hey Cat, this is Michael. How's it goin` down there?"

"We're good, but how's Animalia? Still going?" Catheryn asked, amusement creeping into her voice.

"I can almost see you grinning, but yeah. We think she's near the top!"

All doubt and sarcasm vanished with those words. They would finally be out of this cage. A beautiful cage, of course, but a cage nonetheless.

"Do you know what this means, Cat?" Prokaryet asked, his eyes wide and hopeful. "We get to see the surface! Biosphere 1 is up there, and maybe so are people who aren't infected!"

It did sound pretty amazing. Then again, it could also mean the realization that all their hopes and dreams of not being the only people in or on the planet were wrong, and that they were alone. Freaks of nature all alone in this crazy, mixed-up place of a universe.

You might be a bit confused by now. Sorry, but this book goes on a different track than you might be used to. Not everything is spoon-fed to you.

Once again bringing the walkie-talkie up to her ear, Catheryn asked, "Why do we have to use these, anyway? They're inefficient and annoying. Can I do the thing?"

Michael paused before replying. "Sure, but you better not rupture my eardrum this time."

Cat sighed. "Technically I only left your ears ringing-"

"It still hurt!"

"- and I have gotten better," She concluded.

Then she connected the four of them in a mind link.

Roll call; sound off. She thought.

Oh, hi, Cat! Wasn't expecting a drop in, Animalia thought cheerfully. Almost there; I can feel it!

Great! Michael said. And Cat managed to keep from blowing our brains out, too! Bonus!

Catheryn rolled her eyes and Michael laughed. Heard that!

Here, was all that came from Prokaryet, but he winked at Catheryn all the same.

Heard that, too, Michael thought smugly.

Catheryn shut off the link just before she thought: Jerk.

Prokaryet was staring at a chicken doing an atrocious interpretation of the Charleston, and Cat mentally asked him: Bored, much?

He turned his head and nodded, then released the chicken and they shared a small smile.

Look, he thought, and pointed at a tiny apple bud. It immediately blossomed and grew into a large, shiny Golden Delicious. He snatched it from the branch, broke it perfectly in half, and very formerly offered half to Cat with a bow. After a deep curtsy, she plucked it from his hand and daintily nibbled the edge.

The walkie-talkie buzzed again, and before Cat could lift it up, Michael shouted, "She`s through!"