Legend

Blind rage filled her as she scurried along the tunnel. The intense hunger had been burning in her and finally she had made a kill to satisfy it, but her feeding was interrupted. These new men were a great disturbance to her. Now she would have to hunt again, waiting for another man to leave the area where they were all gathered for mutual protection. She snarled in fury. The new ones needed to be eliminated…soon.

“A small dark creature?” Jenson repeated as he looked at the dead man’s injury. “The haran stories?”

“That is my guess,” Daven answered.

The doctor sighed. “We may have more victims.”

The man’s brow furrowed. “Why do you say that?”

“Yarden, Nerrin, and Prade took off right after you left.”

The man whirled around to look at the last place he had seen those men. The residual three ore company men from the transport were still there. They were huddled in a corner and seemed oblivious to all that was going on. Shepherd approached. “Do you know where they went?”

Berden looked up. “No,” he answered carelessly. Nerrin didn’t share that with me. I don’t know where they went.”

“But he always disappears when we hear those sounds. Is that what he is after? The creature?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I guess you’ll have to ask him,” Berden slowly looked away.

Shepherd had a sudden flash of anger and wanted to yank the man to his feet. It was the frustration eating at him and he quickly brought it under control. Whatever these Galactic Ore Company men were scheming, they didn’t seem interested in sharing information. Shepherd turned and walked away.

“So the haran stories are… in part, true,” Tolen said. “Some type of creature is attacking. I guess…maybe they were just comparing it to what they already knew,” he offered.

“Yes,” Daven agreed. “It’s a being they probably haven’t seen before, so they related it to what they had heard before…and it sounded like a haran.”

“Don’t be so quick to dismiss the haran,” Jenson responded.

“It is just a legend. All you have are records of ancient civilizations. There are no modern day reports of harans.”

“None of which we are sure. There are reports of deaths due to creatures that weren’t completely identified.”

“You don’t mean to tell me you think…”

“Legends have to start somewhere. Many famous legends have their roots in authentic events. It may be true that they changed with repeated tellings, but they had a factual history.”

“Debating will get us nowhere. I just know that there is something out there that will attack. Tolen and I will be in charge of tracking it and protecting the workers. You take care of these people and keep up your research.”

Jenson nodded. He knew that trying to convince Daven of the veracity of what he was learning from Rouhe’s records would not get him anywhere. Shepherd would have to come to his own understanding.

“He’s right, you know. The haran stories are just from fearful people reacting to something they don’t understand.”

The lieutenant turned to see Nerrin standing behind them.

Daven faced him, arms crossed over his chest. “Where did you go?”

“To the bathroom,” the man said in an even tone.

“And it was necessary for Yarden to go along?”

“Sure. I needed someone to cover my back. There are still a couple of crazed workers out there. I’m not foolish enough to run off by myself.”

“Where did you go last time we heard that noise?”

“I admit it scared me. I went to hide.”

It was very obvious to Shepherd that Nerrin was lying to him. He would be able to get nothing out of this man; continuing to question would only waste time and further frustrate him. He had been learning not to trust him, not that he’d had a high level of confidence in him from the beginning of all this. The man turned from Nerrin. “Come on, Tolen. Let’s have a look around and see if we can locate that creature.”

Nerrin watched the two leave then he stepped up next to Jenson, looking at the dead man. “Nasty wound.”

“Yes.” The doctor had no trust for this man either. He wondered what Nerrin was devising now.

“You know that some other workers tried killing themselves. They were just too afraid. The isolation got to them. They weren’t rational.”

“Shepherd said…”

“I heard what he said. He said that he saw something in the dome where he found this man, but he didn’t actually see anything attack. There is nothing out there. He saw shadows. You know how dark these domes are. Bright light against these dark walls can really play tricks on your eyes. Haven’t you noticed that?”

“Well…yes,” the doctor admitted. He had thought he’d seen things that weren’t there. Shadows did have a way of deceiving on the rounded walls. It wasn’t always clear from which direction a shadow was coming inside the domes. “You don’t expect me to believe this man did this to himself, do you?”

“You’ve read Doctor Rouhe’s records. You know that the guy who overdosed was not the first one to try to kill himself. As I recall there was a man who used a laser on himself. This looks like it could have been done by…more than one kind of machinery. It looks like a fairly clean cut, not a wound caused by something chewing on him. Don’t you think?”

Jenson hated to admit the man sounded reasonable, and wouldn’t admit it out loud. It was a comparatively clean wound, not a ragged tearing of the flesh. However, he reminded himself that Nerrin was not trustworthy either. It may be true that Shepherd could have been fooled by a play of shadows, but the doctor had come to learn what a careful observer Daven was. The lieutenant was very attentive of things going on around him, not to mention his proficient use of the unordinary senses that the Bartones possessed. If there was a creature here, then Daven Shepherd would have readily detected another living being nearby. Was Nerrin serving his own mysterious purposes, or merely trying to convince himself that there was nothing to be afraid of?

“There is still much to be learned of what occurred,” the doctor responded. “I’m sure that an examination of the body will help us discern the truth.” He turned and walked away.

Nerrin watched Jenson closely. This doctor might be of use to him. He wouldn’t be a willing helper though, Nerrin was certain. However, that didn’t matter. It would work out. He had recognized the cycle, and soon it would be time for the next step. Nerrin would have to be ready to act…and make sure Jenson was ready to assist, whether he wanted to assist or not.

Daven Shepherd was poking around the hole where he’d last seen the dark creature. It was unlikely that it had come back so soon. Nevertheless, this was the last place he’d witnessed it, and he hoped to find something that might lead him to it. He couldn’t sense anything from the dark opening either. There was no life force in the immediate area.

“It must have tunneled straight down into the ground,” Tolen observed as he knelt next to the man. “If it came up on the outside, there would be cold air coming in.”

“Yes, you’re right,” Daven responded while continuing to stare at the dark maw. I wonder if it has tunneled up into other domes. It seems likely. Having only one entrance into the research station would present too much risk of being trapped.”

“But we don’t know where to look. We still haven’t found the other missing workers. This thing will be harder to find.”

“Perhaps. I’d be willing to bet that it’s probably not as hard as you may think. The creature probably has several entrances to the station. Let’s look in the adjacent domes. For now, let’s narrow the search to the domes immediately adjacent to this one. Be careful.”

“Of course.” Tolen turned and hurried out.

Shepherd went the opposite direction. His long legs took him quickly down the connecting corridor. He pressed a button to open a door. Rather than turning on the lights, he decided to work in the dark. The creature seemed to prefer the dark. This dome was not completely dark. There was a single dim light on overhead, enough light for the man to see the outlines of the equipment and other furnishings of the room; enough to keep him from running into things.

She hissed. A man, one of…them, the ones who had been causing her so much trouble and distress. The tall one. Watch and wait…watch and wait.

The lieutenant drew in a deep breath and extended himself to attempt sensing anything in the vicinity. Almost immediately he recognized what he had felt before when they last saw the dark being…the cold and dark feeling. It was here. He drew his blaster, but only planned to use it for self-defense. If there was a way to capture it live, that was his preference. Slowly he walked in and tried to narrow to the area where the creature lurked. He heard scraping along the tiled floor. Shepherd stopped to listen and look. All he heard, however, was silence. He stood completely motionless to keep from startling the creature.

It was still here. He could feel its cold presence. However, it wasn’t giving itself away with any more movement. So the man began slowly moving again. He sensed more from the creature now that he was in its company for more than a second or two. There was something he understood from the creature that told him it had long-range plans for the occupants of the research station. So, it was a creature of intelligence and not just a dumb animal. Shepherd had a new understanding of what he was battling.

Daven peaked around a tall metal equipment rack. He saw nothing and he walked around the rack, keeping his back to it. The creature was still in the room with him and it was reacting like a hunter. He could comprehend its instincts. The lieutenant knew he would have to proceed with great care. He had already seen what this thing could do to flesh and now it was hunting him. It had the advantage also. The creature was already hidden when he had entered. Shepherd knew that he was the exposed one.

Suddenly, there was a loud screech and Shepherd felt something hit his back. Even though the creature was smaller, it had launched itself with enough force that it was able to knock the startled man off his feet. The lieutenant knew he had to get the thing off his back. He had to fight it face-to-face. At once he rolled over. Daven could feel it clawing at his back. Yet his weight on the creature, after rolling over on it, caused it to abandon its attack in favor of not being crushed under the man’s body.

The creature leapt aside. Then, virtually as if it had bounced, it was back. At least it was coming at Shepherd from the front. He could feel its breath on him as the creature snapped its jaws shut. He held it back, managing to avoid a bite. Drawing in as much breath as possible and drawing his strength, Daven shoved hard and threw the creature backward. At once he was on his feet and looking around the floor for his blaster. The dark animal screeched and hurried away. It disappeared behind some machinery and then there was quiet. Slowly Shepherd approached, still wielding his weapon. He shoved the machine aside and there was another tunnel into the ground. Once more it had gotten away. The lieutenant huffed a sign of frustration.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” Jenson pressed.

“Yes. Those scratches are the only injuries. I was able to keep it from wounding me further.”

“I’m going to have to remove your unisuit to have a look at them. Daven, you realize you have been exposed now since your protective gear has been ripped.”

“Yes, I understand.” He started to unfasten the suit.

“Wait.”

“Why? I’ve already been exposed. I think it makes little difference how much I am exposed.” Without waiting for the doctor’s response, he peeled off the protective garment.

Nerrin and his group had come closer after hearing Daven’s tale. They were trying to get in a position to see Daven’s back as he removed his tunic. Shepherd could hear their whisperings behind him.

“Excuse me,” Jenson gently shoved Nerrin and Yarden out of his way. “I have to treat this man.”

The small group backed up only a little and continued to watch and whisper.

“Did you see it, Tolen?” Daven asked.

“No, Daven. I don’t know where it went after it attacked you, but it didn’t come my way.” He looked worried.

“I’m fine, Tolen,” the Shepherd tried to assure him. “It’s just a few small scratches.” But then a shiver passed through the man as he remembered the encounter. He had battled many kinds of creatures, droids, animals, and machines before. However, this creature was unique. Shepherd realized that the thing consciously tried to use the terror of its intended victims against them. Daven knew he would have to keep a strong hold on his feelings as he fought this being so his concentration would be on the battle and not on his fear. He put the uneasy impressions about the thing away and turned his attention to Jenson. “Were you able to find out anything from your examination of the man who was attacked?”

“Ah…no,” he said guardedly. “My preliminary exam revealed…little.” He stared at the lieutenant and seemed in concentration. The tone of the doctor’s voice and the touch his mind had received told Daven that Jenson had something that he didn’t want to talk about before the others. Shepherd noted that and let it go. He would talk to Jenson later. “The scratches aren’t serious, but I have to be concerned about infection. I also want you to be very aware of how you feel, now that you have been exposed to this environment. If you begin to feel ill to any degree, I want to know at once.”

Nerrin, Yarden and the others withdrew to their corner again and were huddled close as they talked. Jenson glanced at them. He didn’t like what he felt. Also, he had things to tell Daven Shepherd.

Rage only boiled inside. It never went away, not any more. It was becoming like the hunger that seemed insatiable. The best opportunity she’d had to try to eliminate the tall man…and he’d bested her. The instinct to survive burned hot in her. Kill…eat…survive…live. That’s all she knew. The man must die. He must die.

“Nerrin tampered with the body?” Daven Shepherd said.

“I can’t be completely certain that it was him, but I think so,” Jenson answered. “He had ample opportunity. He showed a lot of interest in the injury. And he was trying greatly to convince me that it was not an attack; that the man had tried to kill himself.”

“What exactly did he do?”

“I think he was trying to cover up evidence of the creature having attacked, such as saliva, for example. When I was trying to take samples around the injury, I discovered that the area had been doused with alcohol. I don’t know who else would have done it. There’s a room full of sick and deluded people, but I don’t think even the deluded ones would have been lucid enough to figure out to pour alcohol to get rid of any evidence of a creature having had contact with the dead man; I don’t know why they would do it, in their state. I think it had to be Nerrin or one of his men. As I said, he was trying to convince me that this was not an attack.”

“I don’t know what he and Yarden are up to, but they seem to have a great deal of interest in this creature. They are planning something…but I don’t know what.”

“I don’t trust them,” Jenson stated the obvious. “I don’t get a positive sense about what they are doing.” He held out a hand, palm up. “Whatever it may be.”

Daven nodded. “I get the same negative feeling. I can’t go after this creature, protect everyone and watch them too. I may have to lock them in one of the domes and hold them there. Not my first choice, but I feel they should be contained.”

“Daven, I know you don’t put much credence in my ideas about the haran, but….will you at least hear me out?”

The lieutenant started to end the conversation, but the doctor was being very open with his feelings, and he had great concern. “Very well,” Shepherd capitulated. “It won’t harm anything to listen.”

“I know that I only have legend to go on, but the similarities between the old stories and this creature are curious. And…most interesting of all is that it was said when the haran merely bit someone, it did not leave just a puncture mark. According to Rouhe’s research, the haran’s bite also left a large red mottled area…like a rash.”

Daven Shepherd’s eyes widened just enough to be noticed. He stared at the doctor. “Go on.”

“The toxin from the haran caused the same symptoms that we are seeing in these people. Most of the old civilizations didn’t have sufficient medical practices to treat those who were attacked. Many died from the toxin. I believe that the people here are suffering effects of toxin, not an illness. The reason that the haran tale has been reduced to a myth is because the people who lived in areas where harans nested fled after seeing so many people die. They passed the stories down to the next generations as a warning. No one would go back to the haran-infested places. The harans were limited to a small number of planets. The stories were spread by travelers who heard them on those planets. Because most people haven’t seen any of the creatures, it becomes easy to think of them as something invented.”

The man planted his chin in his hand as he listened. “But…if all you say is true, how did a haran get here?”

Jenson shrugged. “I don’t know. Rouhe was wondering the same thing. He was trying to find out if there may have been other expeditions to Tellous. Someone may have inadvertently given it passage here.”

“Or purposely given it passage.”

“Yes. That is a possibility also. At any rate, the doctor did his research well…and I think he is right. I think there really is a haran here.”

“All right. For the moment, I’ll grant that all you say is true.” Daven paused to gather his thoughts. “Can you tell me more about the creature itself? It’s very fast and seems to have made a network of tunnels connecting the domes. I need to know enough about it to decide how to find it and destroy it.” After his encounter with it, Daven had discarded the idea of capture.

“I still have some reading to do. Rouhe has quite a lot of material. I’ve only been able to look it over at odd moments. However, now that I know what you are looking for, I’ll give that priority while I am reading. And there still is his diary as well.”

“That’s personal. Are you sure you should…”

“If it has anything in it that will help us, then yes, I am sure I should.”

“All right. I’ll talk to Tolen about this, but let’s keep it among the three of us. And…if you can confirm we are not transporting some contagious germ from here, we could evacuate and get away from this creature before it attacks again. I’ll have to check the weather to see if it has calmed enough for us to try to leave.”

“I’m working on it.” The doctor turned away to begin his task.

Daven Shepherd stood to leave. Outside the door a man had been listening to the conversation. Nerrin hurried away before the lieutenant had a chance to see him. He entered the engineering dome and sat down.

Damn! That nosey doctor knows too much for his own good now. I didn’t know Rouhe had that much information about the harans. I know the creature is almost ready to lay eggs. After it does that, I can take the ship and get out of here. I have to be able to hold them off until it does though. But…the creature is in its pre-egg laying feeding frenzy. It will do more than just bite anyone it comes across. It has already killed its first victim…but didn’t get to eat. It must be anxious. Bait. I need some bait for it. If people start dying from being attacked, maybe that will slow those lieutenants down. I have to do it. I have to deliver…and I have to save my own butt. I’ll have to keep this to myself though. I don’t think even Yarden would be willing to go along with my ideas.

Shepherd was explaining to Tolen about the harans and they were discussing plans quietly in one corner of the infirmary. Jenson was tending his patients. One man in advanced stages of the toxin effects had died. The doctor wanted to be able to remove him quietly, without arousing much attention. The half-delirious and half-crazed patients reacted strongly to anything that went amiss. For them, anything that happened was a sign they were all going to die.

“Where are you taking him?” the man on the adjacent bed asked. “Is he all right?”

“Don’t worry about him. He’s not any sicker than he was. I only want to run tests on him.” That was true. Jenson intended to do close study of this man in light of his new discoveries.

The man pushed himself up on an elbow and watched closely. “He’s awful pale. Is he…alive?” he asked in a trembling voice.

This had drawn Shepherd’s attention. He came to see if he could help. Jenson asked him to remove the body and then he went to comfort the upset man.

As the lieutenant took the bed from infirmary into the adjacent area where Rouhe’s lab was set up, Tolen tagged along. “Nerrin is gone again, with one of his men.”

Daven stopped and stared at Tolen. “When did he leave?”

“I’m not sure. I just noticed that he wasn’t there.”

The senior partner sighed and continued his chore. “He’s going to be greater trouble before this is finished.” He pushed the bed to a position where it would be out of the walkway and turned to speak to his associate. A shriek broke the air. At once the two men were on the move. It was hard to be certain where the noise had come from, but standing around listening would gain them nothing.

Shepherd reached out as he ran, hoping to sense something that would lead them. Another scream. It helped narrow the area of concern.

“I can sense it, Tolen. The haran is nearby.” Daven slowed down to concentrate on what he felt. “This way.” He passed through the engineering dome and into the adjoining one. The door opened into darkness. Shepherd drew his blaster as he reached for the light switch. Light flooded the room and they caught a glimpse of the dark haran scurrying away. Shepherd gave chase. He saw it disappear behind an equipment rack.

“No!” he cried. “Not again.” He pushed the rack aside revealing another of the haran’s tunnels. At once he ran out toward the next dome. Tolen was right behind. They ran as fast as they were able along the corridor and burst into the dome. Shepherd stopped at once. “Not here.” He closed his eyes, concentrating. “I’ve lost it. I don’t know where it went,” he said in frustration.

The pair turned and headed back to where they had first spotted the haran. In that dome a body lay on its back, a red, gaping wound in the man’s chest. Daven Shepherd knelt down. “Berden,” he whispered.

“He was the one who disappeared with Nerrin,” Tolen replied.

“Nerrin. I wonder where he is.” Something occurred to Shepherd and he activated his comlink.

“Jenson,” the doctor responded into his comlink.

“Is Nerrin there?”

“Uh…yes. He is. Over in the corner where he always is. That noise. Was someone…”

“Berden. Killed by the haran. We’ll bring the body back for you to have a look at. I’ll take it to the lab.”

“Good idea. Nerrin won’t know. Lock the dome. He won’t have a chance at this one.”

She had eaten enough to relieve some of the hunger but not enough to make it completely go away. She was never able to do that any longer, not since the tall man had arrived. The hunger would not be denied and he wouldn’t give up. She snarled and hissed, releasing her anger. The other man had been here just before the tall man…the one who watched her. The one she killed had been with him. He ran out of the room and left his friend alone. Perhaps the watcher could be frightened after all.

“Hmm,” Jenson hummed as he looked over the fatal wound. “Interesting.”

“What?” Daven Shepherd asked.

Previously the haran has only been biting people, not attacking like this. Now two victims.” Jenson turned to face the lieutenant. “Its behavior has changed suddenly and drastically.”

“Do you know why?”

“If the doctor’s research is correct, the haran goes into a feeding frenzy just before it lays eggs.”

“Do you think that’s what is happening? What did it eat before it began…eating people?”

“I don’t know but it does require large amounts of food before it can produce the eggs.”

Daven was silent for a long moment. “We are all in grave danger now.”

“Yes. We are. I feel pretty certain that toxin is causing people to be ill rather than a sickness. I think it would be best if we got away from here soon. We don’t have to go straight back to Genoa. We can stop at some isolated station. There are other research outposts that could give us a place to be separated from their workers. We should leave as soon as we can.”

“Yes. You’re right. Tolen and I will ready the transport. Then we’ll move everyone on board. Even if we have to wait out the weather, we will be safer there.” Daven hurried away to locate Tolen.

Outside the door at the opposite end of the dome, Nerrin sneaked away.

No, Shepherd. You are not going to take me away from here yet. I have been waiting on this moment. The haran is valuable to me. Even more valuable than the ore I was trying to find. There are great uses for the chemicals that it produces and contains. Our company was able to see that. You didn’t know that’s why Yarden came, to help me capture and transport it. But Yarden crashed his ship, the fool. However, there is still transportation. And I have found a way around the problem of trying to catch that blasted creature. One of your team will be the means of helping me. You are in for a surprise, Daven Shepherd.