Read Online Mobius by Vincent Vale - Free Book Online Page A

alive.
    Sensimion pulled him from the wall and laid him on his back. He recognized the man as Theron’s friend and colleague, Atticus. There was a metal device lodged in his nostrils. Sensimion delicately extracted it and Atticus showed signs of wakefulness. Sensimion helped the process along with stern words: “Open your eyes! Do you hear me, old man? Wake up!”
    Atticus made inarticulate sounds until, at last, he spoke. “What’s that awful smell?”
    “Never mind your smell,” said Sensimion. “Why have I found you unconscious in a wall?”
    Atticus sat up from the floor. “I was at my desk, reviewing dimensional vector calculations for the maiden voyage, when I heard a thumping coming from inside the wall. When I removed the wall panel, I found myself face to face... with myself. A doppelgänger, if you will. I stood there in shock, until my double knocked me out.” Atticus stood up. “What day is it?”
    “It’s the day of the maiden voyage,” said Sensimion.
    “I’ve lost almost an entire day!”
    “If that’s true, then this doppelgänger, as you call him, has been impersonating you all day.” Sensimion suddenly remembered that fifteen minutes ago he had spotted Atticus. He now realized it was his doppelgänger. He had been making adjustments to one of the dimensional augmenters. “The station’s in danger! Atticus, get to the control room and tell them to abort the maiden voyage. They must not activate the dimensional gateway. I’ll find your doppelgänger and stop him.”
    Sensimion moved through the Brahman Station with speed. When he reached the expansive chamber of the dimensional gateway, he moved with a more deliberate gait, so not to startle the doppelgänger into desperate action.
    He located Atticus’ doppelgänger and stood out of sight, trying to gain a general understanding of his meddling.
    The doppelgänger stood at an open panel of one of the dimensional augmenters, giving him access to its inner workings. Sensimion watched on in secret as the doppelgänger performed a strange act—he placed his hands on his belly and began kneading the meat of it, as if adjusting its contents to his better comfort. He continued to work his belly thoughtfully, and then released a disgusting progression of belches that evolved into gagging. Immediately, something of substance began rising from the bowels of the doppelgänger. A significant bulge could be seen at his throat as the object traveled upward, until finally it came to rest in his mouth.
    A rich yellow light spilled from the doppelgänger’s mouth as a glowing orb breached his lips. He snatched it from his mouth with a three-fingered grip and held it on fingertips, admiring its swirling, plasma-like nature.
    Sensimion sensed it was a thing of force and leveled his weapon. “Move and you die!”
    The doppelgänger turned. An evil expression spread across his face.
    “Who are you?” asked Sensimion. “You’re not one of the Fume’s manifestations. You don’t emit the signature exotic energy.”
    “When you speak of ‘the Fume,’ I assume you’re referring to my master.”
    “And you’re his minion?”
    “I’m his loyal servant, yes.”
    “Why does your master wish to destroy the dimensional gateway?”
    The doppelgänger chuckled, as if the question were humorous. “I doubt I can answer this question to your fullest satisfaction. You see, when my master created me, he gave me only the necessary thoughts and emotions required for my mission.”
    “It seems you’ve failed him, since I’ve stopped your sabotage.”
    “You’re late with your heroics. This is the last orb I must deposit within the eighteen dimensional augmenters.”
    “Remain still,” commanded Sensimion, anticipating the doppelgänger’s desire to lunge toward the dimensional augmenter. In the short while the doppelgänger had been holding up the radiant orb, Sensimion had gained a small understanding of its power, for it exuded such acrid force that it