Orbs II: Stranded Read Online Free PDF Page A

magnetic disturbance outside had something to do with it, but connecting the dots was like putting together a puzzle without all the pieces.
    He shook his head, his mind drifting from one idea to the next. With an audible huff, he pressed his eye against the microscope and squinted. Twisting the dial with his right hand, he magnified the specimen several more levels. The sudden thrill of excitement that only a new discovery could generate rushed through him. He was staring at something new—something that didn’t seem to belong.
    Could it be?
    He manipulated the sample until one of the peppercorn-like clusters came into focus. He leaned back, rubbed his eyes, and then looked back into the scope.
    “Alexia, are you seeing this?”
    “Yes, Doctor.”
    He straightened his back, wondering if he should inform Sophie of the discovery. Not yet , he thought. He needed to know more first.
    Transferring the image to the closest screen, he swiveled the display to face him. He ran a hand through his neatly groomed hair and laughed. For weeks he had been looking for the source of the creatures’ defenses, and it had been right in front of him the entire time. It was just too small to see without an electron microscope.
    “It’s nanotechnology. Nanobots, if you want to be specific,” he said. “How the hell did we miss this, Alexia?”
    “With all due respect, Doctor, there was simply no evidence of nanotechnology in the preliminary samples,” Alexia replied politely.
    He waved his hands. “It’s not a big deal. I’m just glad we finally know.”
    “Sir?” Alexia asked.
    “The source,” Emanuel replied quickly. “The electrical source for their blood. These bots must be electrically charged, and the Organics’ bones conduct the current.” He suddenly paused and pursed his lips, realizing he still didn’t know the third piece to the puzzle.
    “But what charges the bots?” he asked aloud.
    Alexia’s image transferred to the AI console next to Emanuel. Her face solidified into a translucent blue. Blinking, she said, “The magnetic disturbance, Doctor. I believe it’s the source of everything.”
    “That had occurred to me, but I don’t understand how it’s possible.”
    “With all due respect, Doctor, two months ago you probably didn’t think floating blue orbs were possible either.”
    Emanuel chuckled and looked up at the wall camera. “Since when did you develop a sense of humor?”
    “I’m not sure I follow you, Doctor.”
    “I was joking,” he replied. Then he snapped his gloves off, placed the sample under one of Alexia’s interface scanners, and said, “Please conduct a full scan of this specimen. I want any data loaded to my tablet as soon as possible.”
    “Where are you going?” she asked.
    “To grab some coffee,” he replied on his way out of the room.
    Alexia’s voice transferred to the com closest to the door. “Wait,” shesaid.
    He turned, wondering what her scans could have found so quickly.
    “Doctor Rodriguez,” she said. “Sir, do you realize you have discovered a new element?”
    Emanuel smiled broadly. “Indeed I do, Alexia.”
    “Traditionally, the scientist who makes the discovery is tasked with creating a name. Have you thought of one yet?”
    He paused for a second, considering his options. “I think I’ll call it humanitarium,” he said with a chuckle before heading to the kitchen. “Humanity needs something to call our own.”
    By the time Emanuel reached the coffee dispenser, data from the scan was crawling across his tablet. Looking down, he read the first line and almost dropped his cup.
    “What the hell?” he muttered.
    “Remarkable, isn’t it, Doctor Rodriguez?”
    “How?” He felt paralyzed with questions, unsure what to ask first.
    “Even though the Organic entity is technically dead, the nanobots inside the bloodstream are still emitting very small traces of electricity. They are much weaker now, and are not able to power the creature’s defenses.