Fraudlin finished his cigarette in no time. His only breakfast was a cup of instant coffee — all he could afford after a night at a casino. Instead of brushing his teeth, he rinsed his mouth with another bitter sip, then sprayed himself with cologne to mask the smell of sweat and questionable places. The young gambler, fired up on adrenaline, often neglected basic hygiene, but today there was another, far more serious reason: an informant had delivered alarming news. And he had to move fast.
His head felt like a dusty chest that had suddenly been thrown open. Fraudlin rushed out of the house the moment he realised something irreversible was about to happen. Nearly tripping over his own feet, he reached the comms point to send Spacelunch the coordinates through a secure channel. His thin fingers trembled as he dialled. The first call was declined. The second…
“Yeah?”
“Urgent! Cat is with you right now — and he’s in danger!”
“What are you talking about?!”
“Well, technically, he’s with another you. One of the Aerospace Corporation’s goons stole your smart-bracelet. They activated the portal and sent a double after your friend to eliminate him and frame you. I’m sending the location!”
The professor sprang to his feet, turned suddenly pale, and fainted. Strained nerves mixed with alcohol made a toxic blend. Now, only luck could change the course of what was coming.
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Fraudlin finished his cigarette in no time. His only breakfast was a cup of instant coffee — all he could afford after a night at a casino. Instead of brushing his teeth, he rinsed his mouth with another bitter sip, then sprayed himself with cologne to mask the smell of sweat and questionable places. The young gambler, fired up on adrenaline, often neglected basic hygiene, but today there was another, far more serious reason: an informant had delivered alarming news. And he had to move fast.
His head felt like a dusty chest that had suddenly been thrown open. Fraudlin rushed out of the house the moment he realised something irreversible was about to happen. Nearly tripping over his own feet, he reached the comms point to send Spacelunch the coordinates through a secure channel. His thin fingers trembled as he dialled. The first call was declined. The second…
“Yeah?”
“Urgent! Cat is with you right now — and he’s in danger!”
“What are you talking about?!”
“Well, technically, he’s with another you. One of the Aerospace Corporation’s goons stole your smart-bracelet. They activated the portal and sent a double after your friend to eliminate him and frame you. I’m sending the location!”
The professor sprang to his feet, turned suddenly pale, and fainted. Strained nerves mixed with alcohol made a toxic blend. Now, only luck could change the course of what was coming.
The night felt almost mystical. The flickering of neon signs brought to life the trash bins and fire escapes — street romance in its purest form. But not everything fit together as neatly as it seemed. Foul-smelling steam rolled out from sewer grates. From deep within a nearby alley came distant screams, followed by hurried footsteps. Somewhere above, the shriek of a police drone was concealed by the noise of the district.
Not far from there, at the corner of a food stall, Cat sat. Poking at cold noodles with a pair of chopsticks, he gazed at the stars and thought about home. Then, suddenly, he froze, his eyes locked at something in front. Someone was approaching fast, with a familiar stride.
“Heads up, fluffy.”
“Doc…”
“We don’t have much time. Let’s shake hands and forget about the fight.”
“You think you can just vanish and then reappear like nothing happened?”
“I was being an idiot. I know that. But it’s not safe here. I’ll explain on the way.”
Cat nodded and followed silently. Memory and logic tangled into a knot — clinging to the professor’s voice, his tone, his face. Something felt… off. It wasn’t just the apology. There was something weird about him. The doubt that was creeping through him gave way to determination. They had a lot to talk about.
spclnch
Fraudlin finished his cigarette in no time. His only breakfast was a cup of instant coffee — all he could afford after a night at a casino. Instead of brushing his teeth, he rinsed his mouth with another bitter sip, then sprayed himself with cologne to mask the smell of sweat and questionable places. The young gambler, fired up on adrenaline, often neglected basic hygiene, but today there was another, far more serious reason: an informant had delivered alarming news. And he had to move fast.
His head felt like a dusty chest that had suddenly been thrown open. Fraudlin rushed out of the house the moment he realised something irreversible was about to happen. Nearly tripping over his own feet, he reached the comms point to send Spacelunch the coordinates through a secure channel. His thin fingers trembled as he dialled. The first call was declined. The second…
“Yeah?”
“Urgent! Cat is with you right now — and he’s in danger!”
“What are you talking about?!”
“Well, technically, he’s with another you. One of the Aerospace Corporation’s goons stole your smart-bracelet. They activated the portal and sent a double after your friend to eliminate him and frame you. I’m sending the location!”
The professor sprang to his feet, turned suddenly pale, and fainted. Strained nerves mixed with alcohol made a toxic blend. Now, only luck could change the course of what was coming.
