8. Quantum and the Inter-Dimension

"Where's this, it looks familiar?" Skratch was puzzled. "When we heard a bang we came through a lateral shift," said Quantum. "And what's that thing?" replied Skratch. They paused as the creature crossed the road in front of them. "It's another Buzzak," said Quantum, "he must have hitched a ride." They watched him amble. "Is he going to McDonald's?" ventured Skratch. "I certainly hope so," sneered Quantum, "It'll be the end of the species for this dimension." Quantum throbbed gently. "I'm going to gently lift off. The creature will be left behind." Skratch meaowed vaguely. "Is this a probability echo?" "Probably," said Quantum. He chortled to himself. Skratch touched the controls, He could see another set of paws. "We're looking for a Lattice Drive Rift?" Quantum began to lift. "Easy does it." Skratch was amused. "You sound like the Wabbit." Quantum lifted higher. Have you heard of the Brane and the Bulk?" Skratch purred quietly, "It's a pub in Chatham, near the Slug and Lettuce." Quantum shook with mirth. "Yes, string theory is outdated." Skratch fondled the controls. "Exactly how long is the string?" "Twice half its length," responded Quantum. Quantum gained height rapidly and the Buzzak looked up, enraged. Its wings buzzed. "Time to go," said Skratch. Quantum shook and vanished. "Skratch laughed. "Will we disappear into the undifferentiated chaos of the space time continuum?" Quantum's engines roared as fractals lashed the windows. "Only if we're lucky." 

7. Quantum, Skratch and the Buzzaks

Far off in space, Quantum and Skratch remained on the lookout for a more suitable planet. They dropped out of Lattice Drive to inspect a likely planet but spotted strange creatures on the horizon. "Buzzaks!" snapped Quantum, "I thought they'd been cleaned out by the Hydrolytes of Gamma 3." Skratch tried to appear nonchalant. "The whosis?" Quantum fired up the lattice drive, but it was infested by fluttering twisting wings of the buzzaks. "Filters clogged," said Quantum, "I'll have to reverse thrust and back again." A bang and a gurgle shook the Manifold. With an enormous whoosh, two giant buzzaks shot out. They coughed, they wheezed, they fluttered and of course they buzzed. Static was everywhere. It filled Quantum's cabin and Skratch covered his ears. "There are no sounds in space - except for the Buzzaks," said Quantum. "Whheeee. Squeeee. Bzzt. Wheeee." They were light years away now, but they could still be heard. "Do they bite, Quantum?" Quantum scowled as only a locomotive can. "Oh, Buzzaks are semi-androids and yes, how they bite! They deliver nano particles of breakfast, rendering victims stuporous." Skratch was horrified, "Let's get the Hell out of here." Quantum fired up the Lattice Drive. They shimmered and were gone. Skratch took out a notepad and pen. He struck the whole region from his list and glanced from the window. Fractals flew past. But hanging from the underside, just out of sight, was a giant buzzak - bigger than a tractor - with six toothed needles and fangs like saws ...