"You're crazy!" said Johansen. "That's----that's a myth!"573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaUpYOKWSm
"Upon once a time, idea of life upon planets alien was," commented Jakar Thul.
The Great Bird, in the airlessness of space, continued to move its wings. It crackled with power. Extending its jaws, it gobbled up floating chunks left over from Centauri Prime....
.....and then it seemed to turn its attention to the starship Universe.
"Uh-oh," said Johansen.
"I do not like the looks of this," Rush agreed. "Aren't baby birds hungry first thing after they're born?"
"Customarily," Soleta said.
"What if it moves to attack the other ships?"
"It doesn't seem interested in anyone else but us, Johansen," said Rush. "Probably because we're the biggest."
"Sir, shall prepare it fight we?" asked Thul, fingers already moving to the tactical station.
"Fight the Great Bird of the Galaxy?" said Rush. "Even we have to know our limitations."
The creature moved toward them, and Johansen said, "It seems to have a bead on us."
"I think you're right. Okay---move us out at warp factor one. Let's draw it away from our area and give everyone a chance to clear out."
"Sir, message incoming one vessels the of," Thul announced.
"Save it. Now's not the time. Mr. Greer, get us out of here."
The Universe went into reverse thrust, pivoted, and moved away from the shattered remains of Centauri Prime, with the Great Bird of the Galaxy (or whatever the thing was), in hot pursuit.
"It's picking up speed," said James.
"Jump us to warp four," Rush ordered, sitting calmly with his fingers steepled.
With a thrust from its mighty warp engines, the Universe leaped forward. The Great Bird (if that's what it was) flapped its wings and kept moving, pacing them.
"According to legend," Wren was saying, "there can be only one Great Bird at a time. And when it senses its end is near, the Great Bird imparts its essence into a planet, gestates over centuries, and is then reborn. It guess that's why it was 'mythological'---it takes centuries for the 'egg,' if you will, to hatch."
"But you told me 'May the Great Bird of the Galaxy roost on your planet' was a blessing," Rush pointed out.
"Obviously it was. Look at the prosperity that Centauri saw during the time of the roosting."
"But when it hatches, the planet's destroyed! What kind of blessing is that?"
"It's oral tradition, not an exact science, sir," Greer commented.
"Thank you, Lieutenant," Wren said.
"Sir, it's catching up."
"Pull out the stops, Mr. Greer. Warp nine."
The Universe raced away, and this time the creature seemed to let out another squawk before the Universe left it far behind. It dwindled, further and further, to the farthest reaches of the ship's sensor, and then it was gone.
There was a slow sigh of relief let out on the bridge. "Well," said Johansen brightly, "that wasn't too much of a chore."
"Collision course!" shouted Greer.
The Great Bird was directly in front of them, its mouth wide open. Faster than anyone would've thought possible, Greer course-corrected and tried to send the ship angling out of the way of the creature's maw.
No good. The Universe flew straight into the Great Bird's mouth....
.....and out the other side of its head.
The ship was jolted, shaken throughout, and it was all that the bridge crew could do to keep its seats. "Damage report!" shouted Rush.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xGQIGlaIq
"Slight dip in deflector shields! Otherwise we're clear!" called James.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSh6Upavj4a
The creature appeared on their rear monitors. It seemed to be watching them go with great curiosity. Indeed, if any of the crew were given to fanciful interpretations of events, they would have said that the creature seemed just as curious about this new life-form that it had encountered as the new life-form was about them.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Xvqs94hMa
And then, with a twist of his great powerful wings, the Great Bird seemed to warp through the very fabric of space...573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKVB7tva1e
....and vanished without a trace.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMnikZgu7L
This time there was a long pause before anyone took it for granted that they were safe. And then Johansen said, "Where do you think it went?"573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4ldLNh0M8
"Anywhere it wanted to," Greer commented, and nobody disagreed.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwiAXNoQgi
"Captain----I suggest you get yourself down to life station. You need to be patched up," said Johansen.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETsLJUpRd5
"Good advice, Commander." He rose unsteadily from his chair, and found himself leaning on Thul. "Ah. You wouldn't mind escorting me down there, would you, Lietuenant?"573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfPeDzdaWJ
But Johansen stepped in and said, "Don't worry, Thul. I'll handle this. After all...if you can't lean on your second-in-command, whom can you lean on?"573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlMhy5o2fN
"Good point," said Rush wearily.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTWOa1LDEb
"And a word of advice: Don't keep the second scar on your face. The one is enough."573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFM1TGzPudh
"Sound suggestion, as usual."573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQBnj8yFtx
As they headed to the turbolift, he paused and said, "Oh----we had an incoming message? What was that about?"573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGtGVmQLSO
"Sir, only audio it. Put it on will I."573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdQxZeFCy8
Thul tapped his comm board and a voice filled the bridge. A voice that was instantly recognizable as Cartagia's.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyXx7rqrz5
And Cartagia said, "Vito---I just wanted you to know----I lied before. Your sister is alive. Try and find her, O Prince."573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeU1TXwnxA
And his chilling laughter continued in Turhi's memory long after the message had ended.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDLVUzyZ9h
