Mobius

by Vincent Vale

  The air-car took us away from Central City, into the mouth of one of the forest channels. We flew over the pink plumed canopy until we saw the most fanciful restaurant. It was no more than a giant platform hovering in air. People sat at tables on its large, round surface, eating and drinking in a merry fashion.

  Fandoral rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “This is one of the finer establishments in the area. I urge you to sample their steamed snout beetles stuffed with sweet jelly.”

  We docked the air-car at the side of the restaurant and got out. After seating ourselves, a fat fellow, with magenta-toned skin and bulging eyes, attended our needs. “The drink of the hour is Gray Nectar Liqueur. May I bring you a pitcher?”

  Fandoral nodded eagerly. “Additionally, bring three platters of your finest local delicacies.”

  “With pleasure.” The waiter moved swiftly considering his plumpness, and promptly returned with both drinks and platters.

  All in the company proceeded to eat and drink with enthusiasm.

  My gaze wandered through the crowd, finally fixing upon a group of girls on a nearby dance floor. They moved in an intricate dance of high kicks and handclapping. “It’s amazing these are human descendents. Though they look different, they carry themselves like any other human of Earth.”

  Morion made a perverted grin. “And their exotic forms aren’t at all unappealing. I believe I’m developing a fondness for our newfound descendents. Tell me, Fandoral, would it be inappropriate to mingle with these other races in a less than innocent fashion?”

  “By all means, mingle to your heart’s content. There are many races here from throughout the Brahman Sprawl celebrating this great time. But, be careful what you say. A few misplaced words may arouse insult—or more severely, may bind you to some verbal contract in which you may find yourself married.”

  “I’ll heed your advice.” Morion rose from the table and looked down at his clothes. “This environmental suit is unfit for the celebration. I’m embarrassed to be mingling in such rags. Mr. Orsteen, I require your presence on the dance floor. Your great stature may take notice away from my dreadful outfit.”

  “If you insist,” replied Orsteen. “Let me first refill my mug.” Orsteen signaled the waiter, who rushed a fresh pitcher of Gray Nectar Liqueur to the table. Orsteen grabbed the entire pitcher and followed Morion to the dance floor.

  The rest of us continued to eat and drink. I munched on a biscuit slathered in a rich pâté of meat, or insect, or possibly some kind of fleshy vegetable. I was uncertain. I laughed as I watched Stimple walk across the table and refill his tiny mug by dipping it into my larger mug.

  I proceeded to drink heavily, attempting to calm the commotion of so many revelations occupying my head—time travel, multiple universes, and alien creators.

  I finally felt more relaxed. “Fandoral, you said the Obelisks will be aligned soon?”

  “Correct,” replied Fandoral, popping a steamed snout beetle in his mouth. “I’d approximate within the hour.”

  “Then this is the climax of twenty-one million years of preparation. I’m impressed, even worried, at how calm you are. Are you so confident in your plans? Additionally, aren’t you concerned the Fume will retaliate?”

  Fandoral wiped his large mouth. “I’m calm for two reasons. First, the Obelisks have been effective at keeping the Fume trapped in temporal stasis. Second, he has no way to retaliate, since he cannot manifest himself beyond Earth. His powers in our universe are limited only to the planets where he’s formed an outpocketing of his consciousness. At this distance, we’re beyond his reach. As well, every planet shrouded in the Fume’s outpocketings—that’s over a thousand in the seven galaxies—is being held in temporal stasis. Once the Obelisks are aligned, the dimensional barrier between our two universes will be created, and our lives will proceed without the Fume.”

  I couldn’t help but think Fandoral was overconfident. I took a drink, and suddenly heard the sound of water trickling nearby. I looked down and found Stimple pissing off the side of the table, whistling a happy tune and swaying uncontrollably from side to side.

  Fandoral apologized for Stimple’s behavior and then reached across the table and poked him. “It’s good to see your spirits higher, my little companion. However, there are bathrooms by the kitchen for you to relieve yourself.” Fandoral helped the tiny drunkard to the floor and nudged him on his way.

  I returned to our conversation. “You described the Fume’s presence around Earth as an outpocketing of his consciousness. This confuses me, Fandoral. What kind of entity are we dealing with?”

  “Indeed,” said Allienora. “I’m also curious.”

  “Forgive me,” said Fandoral. “I’ve neglected to explain the fundamental nature of the Fume. Firstly, the universe that the Fume’s native to is nothing like ours. It’s a universe filled entirely with the Fume’s consciousness—a single conscious universe. If you visited it, it would be like traveling through the neural pathways of a brain, the structure of which is a complex web of exotic energy that extends to infinity. Even the dimensional symmetry of the universe is different. The fabric of his universe has twenty-seven dimensions, not eighteen—and they are weaved in a pattern nothing like ours. We couldn’t even occupy the space of his universe, our matter would be unstable, it would dissociate at a quantum level. Only the exotic energy of his consciousness can exist.”

  “There are no stars or galaxies?” asked Allienora. “No matter of any kind within his universe?”

  “Precisely so,” said Fandoral. “There’s only his matrix of consciousness.”

  I took a large gulp of Gray Nectar Liqueur. “So, the exotic energy that occupies the unnatural dimension around Earth is only a fraction of the Fume’s being?”

  “Exactly,” said Fandoral. “His consciousness is as vast as his universe.”

  “Remarkable,” I uttered. “Then the Fume truly is a being of great power.”

  Allienora shook her head. “Earlier, Fandoral, you said he wasn’t a god. Yet a being that encompasses an entire universe seems godly to me.”

  “Not at all,” said Fandoral. “He may be all-powerful in his universe, but he’s the god of no one. There are no mortal beings under his command. No one worships him. There’s nothing but himself.”

  Allienora took a contemplative sip of her beverage. “It would seem a deprived and lonely existence, having only yourself in an entire universe. Sad, wouldn’t you say?”

  “Possibly,” responded Fandoral, “but we shouldn’t be concerned with the Fume’s introverted existence. Besides, he’s kept himself entertained by playing god in our universe.”

  I reflected on my memories of the Fume’s past manifestations. “As far as the Fume’s social manipulations on Earth, do you have any detailed records of his actions?”

  “With our advanced methods, we were able to maintain a complete record of humankind’s history, including the Fume’s manifestations.”

  “I’d be eager to have a look at these records,” I said, “so to better understand the Fume’s motives.”

  Fandoral laughed so hard he coughed. “You, Mr. Mobius, wouldn’t be the first man to give his attention to this subject. There have been more theories than stars in the sky. But...” Fandoral gave a noncommittal shrug. “...I see no harm in letting you look. I’ll send you the surveillance archives when you’ve settled into quarters.”

  I nodded graciously and emptied my mug at a gulp. I sat at ease, absorbing the colorful landscape that spread beneath and around the floating restaurant. In the distance, I could see the floating structures of Central City. In that moment I felt privileged.

  What wonders I’ve seen in this life. I looked away from Central City and then to Allienora. Some wonders more beautiful than others.

  A loud electronic voice echoed from all directions. I couldn’t understand the alien language.

  “It’s time,” said Fandoral. His eyes glowed.

  I leaned close to him and noticed a film
over his eyes, apparently displaying a large amount of numerical data to him.

  “The Obelisks are aligned?” I asked.

  “They are. Everything looks good.”

  Above the restaurant, a large hologram of Earth appeared. Its atmosphere was unmoving as it remained in temporal stasis. The image revealed the presence of the Fume’s outpocketing with the standard sapphire-blue aura.

  The crowd of the restaurant roared enthusiastically. I felt more nervous than excited as the Obelisks initialized, energizing the atmosphere with a growing white light. The luminous spectacle continued for just a minute and then faded. The sapphire-blue aura of the Fume’s outpocketing was now absent. Again the crowd roared. Success was apparent.

  I admired the image of Earth. It spun on its axis and glowed with its normal blue-green pallor. For a moment I felt strange, almost cathartic, as though an imponderable burden had been purged from my mind. I was free. I looked to Allienora and smiled.

  Suddenly, a collective gasp could be heard across the restaurant. The Fume’s outpocketing returned with a growing intensity that startled everyone.

  “This doesn’t look good,” I said.

  “To say the least,” replied Allienora.

  I found Fandoral shaking his head and mumbling in disbelief. His eyes were great white spheres, glowing bright as data passed quickly along the ocular film.

  Allienora pointed across the restaurant to the dance floor. “There! Something’s appearing.”

  An unidentifiable mass materialized. Its substance twisted and swirled in a strange evolution to find solidity.

  “It’s the Fume!” I said. “He attempts to manifest himself beyond the limits of Earth.”

  From a pocket of his blue velvet garment, Fandoral retrieved a small eyepiece that glowed red around the edges. He placed it over his eye. “You’re right. I’m detecting his exotic energy. Wait... it’s gone.”

  What remained was a large black cinder of flesh. A hot, rancid steam emanated from its charred surface.

  Fandoral lowered his eyepiece. “You were correct, Mr. Mobius. But the Fume’s attempt has obviously failed. I’m not detecting his exotic energy anymore.”

  I approached the smoldering mound of flesh. Its odor was extremely pungent. I avoided breathing through my nose. Allienora joined me to examine the fleshy bulk.

  “It’s horrendous,” said Allienora, turning away in revolt. She peered from the edge of the floating restaurant to the forest below. “There’s another one down there! Do you see it, Theron?”

  “And more!” I pointed throughout the forest.

  Fandoral and the waiter who’d been serving us approached the charred cinder of flesh.

  “What is it?” asked Fandoral.

  “I don’t know, but it might still be alive,” I said, observing subtle pulsations at its surface. I retrieved the surgical tool still concealed under my sleeve. The blade became energized and I stabbed the burnt flesh. It reacted, contorting away from my assault. “Whatever it is, we should destroy it. Do you have a weapon, Fandoral?”

  “No, but I’ll call a Guardian for assistance.” Fandoral fled the scene.

  The waiter stood close to the pulsating mass of flesh, prodding it with a long finger.

  “I wouldn’t stand so closely,” I said.

  The fat waiter ignored my advice and continued to poke at the horrible thing. “The surface here rises like an enormous blister. I think something’s moving inside.”

  As the waiter moved closer to inspect, the swollen membrane ruptured, discharging a cloudy fluid. From within, a great set of jaws sprang forth, tearing the head of the waiter clean off his neck. Immediately the jaws retracted, disappearing into the mass of charred flesh, along with the waiter’s head.

  I grabbed Allienora and pulled her away from the creature.

  From the depths of the forest channel echoed a frightening roar, unlike any of the native wildlife. I looked up in terror as a wave of large winged beasts, like black reptiles, swooped down on the restaurant, snatching up people and devouring them in midair.

  Panic overtook the restaurant. Everyone rushed for their air-cars to escape.

  “Watch for flying beasts, Allienora. I’ll keep an eye on the charred mass.”

  Suddenly, its outer casing split open to reveal the powerful winged creature within. It uncurled from a fetal position. Thick mucus dripped from it. It spread its fleshy wings to full extension—their span was impressive and threatening. I noticed a large bulge residing at the neck of the beast, evidently the waiter’s head embarking on its journey to digestion. When I saw the things black skin, I knew it was the Fume’s creation. A network of silver nano-fibers were embedded in the surface of its skin—the pattern and color was just like the sphincter beast from the sanitarium. It was a terrible reminder of the past.

  The beast cawed and lunged at me, snapping its jaws. With the surgical tool in hand, I spun around the beast, fell to a knee, and stabbed at the base of its sinewy back. The beast reacted angrily and turned to me with a toothy snarl. As its jaws bore down on me, an explosion of flesh left the head of the beast a gruesome wad. It instantly fell dead.

  “Holy shit!” I screamed.

  I looked up and found Allienora with some kind of energy gun in her hands.

  “A woman’s job is never done.” She winked and then helped me up.

  “Thanks,” I said, trembling from my near death experience. “Where did you get that?”

  “A new friend,” she said, waving to an alien behind the bar. He looked like a gorilla without hair.

  I didn’t want to say it out loud, but she was damn sexy with that gun in her hands. “Prime Minister, adventurer, and monster killer. Are we having fun yet?”

  “I’ve never felt so alive, Theron.” She grabbed me unexpectedly and kissed me.

  Her lips were soft. I hadn’t tasted a woman in a long time. It took my breath away.

  She pulled away from me. “Sorry, it’s probably not the best time.”

  I was speechless. She started firing at a second wave of winged beasts that descended on the crowd.

  Suddenly, a group of Guardians appeared, weapons blazing. They were excellent shots and didn’t need our help to hold down the restaurant.

  Allienora returned the energy gun to the gorilla-like bartender and we regrouped with Orsteen and Morion. Soon after, Fandoral returned in his air-car.

  “Get on!” he called.

  Stranded patrons of the restaurant closed in upon the small craft.

  “We can hold a few more!” I said.

  Fandoral engaged an energy bubble around the craft. “They’ll be safe with the Guardians. No need to increase our load.”

  We sped out into the forest channel, in the opposite direction of Central City. Fandoral flew the air-car close to the top of the pink plumed canopy.

  I looked down at the forest. It was infested with black beasts. “We’ve underestimated the Fume, Fandoral. Instead of manifesting himself within the Guardian Sphere, he sent an army of his own creation to kill us.”

  “It’s definitely a problem,” said Fandoral. “There are a lot of them out there.”

  “At least we know they can be killed,” said Allienora.

  “The Guardians are highly trained,” said Fandoral. “They’ll eradicate these monsters in no time.”

  “What then?” I asked. “How will you proceed against the Fume?”

  “I don’t know.” Fandoral hesitated. “I must consult with Nara-Narayana.”

  “Nara-Narayana!” I said in surprise. “Are you saying that Nara-Narayana, the child from Sensimion’s log, is still alive?”

  “Indeed. She’s still the leader of the Guardian Army.”

  Allienora’s eyes widened. “The things one could learn from such a person. What wisdom has she gained from twenty-one million years of existence?”

  Fandoral steered the air-car into an intersecting forest channel. We came upon a populated area resembling a medium-sized city of Earth. The bl
ack beasts could be seen stalking the city streets. The inhabitants were nowhere in sight. They had obviously taken refuge in their homes.

  “Where are we headed?” I asked.

  “I’ve arranged for you to stay with a friend. His stronghold will ensure your safety.”

  “We’re not useless,” said Orsteen. “We can help in this battle.”

  “No need to be hasty,” said Morion. “The Guardians seem quite capable. I’m delighted Fandoral would go out of his way for our safety.”

  “I don’t question your courage,” said Fandoral, “but I’m certain the Guardians will soon have everything under control. There’s no need to put the four of you in harm’s way.”

  I gazed down at the passing city, surveying the many sturdy structures, any of which would seem to fit Fandoral’s description of a stronghold. Fandoral, however, didn’t seem intent on landing the air-car anytime soon. He kept a straight course, flying past the city and into another forest channel. The globes that gave light to the inner world became dim, emulating a soft moonlight. The vegetation and trees were much different from the previous forest channel, as if we’d traversed an ocean and now came to a new continent of wildlife.

  Fandoral took the air-car down and landed in the densest part of the forest channel. Magnificently-sized trees loomed high on fantastic root structures like stilts, propping the trunks above the land.

  “Why have we landed here?” asked Morion nervously. “In the middle of nowhere. Where’s the stronghold?”

  “You don’t see it?” said Fandoral facetiously.

  “Of course not,” replied Morion. “All I can see are these gangling roots and the gray colors of darkness. Do you insult my perceptions?”

  “Your perceptions are accurate, Morion.” Fandoral disengaged the energy bubble surrounding us, hopped to the ground, and pointed to the tree with the most impressive root structure. “Your stronghold awaits.”

  I pushed a strained gaze through the darkness. I saw the faint flicker of light coming from the window of a wooden bungalow erected within the root structure. “And you’re confident we’ll be safe in this... stronghold? Not far back, I saw a trio of winged beasts. They seemed a stronger breed than the ones we encountered earlier.”