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"Did it crash?" "Nope. You saw it decelerate, didn't you? But it must have been quite a rough landing." He thought about what they have seen for a moment. "That was a rocket engine as far as I can tell, this thing must be from space." "What is it?" she asked. Marwen asked this question even though she was well aware that Ted wouldn't be able to answer it. Being farmers on Tau Ceti's most agricultural world for all of their lives hasn't given them much insight into space-faring technology. Marwen took a step closer to the half-buried object. "Are you sure it didn't crash? It looks so beaten!" "Yeah, looks like something I'd weld together. But I see no holes in it. At least not from here." "When did you learn to weld?" "I didn't." Ted unholstered his gun and moved toward the smouldering heap of metal. "Wait, do you think it might be dangerous?!", Marwen interfered. Ted scowled, somewhat annoyed: "How should I know? That's why I want my gun in my hands!". The couple got a bit closer to what seemed to be some sort of makeshift pod. They circled the pod at a distance. "Look, the top is open!", Marwen whispered. An animal, looking like what Marwen thought a rat should look like, crawled out of the pod and looked at them, showing its teeth and squealing. "Ted, we need to call the authorities. If this is not the only rat the whole planet's income might be endangered, especially if a quarantine is enacted! Kill it, than call officer Darless and report the incident. How did these creatures get onto a space ship?!" "Just a sec, honey, just a sec…" Ted brought out his communicator and searched the database for a rat. "That is no rat, Darwen. Look. This creature's head is way too big and teeth are not those of rodents." "Than what is it?" Ted raised his gun; "I have no bloody idea but I as sure as hell am not going to wait to fin…" "You will not touch my spawn, food", a voice in Ted's head echoed, unbearably loud. "Why don't you shoot it, Ted? It's gonna flee!" Ted realized Marwen did not hear the voice. And he could not move his arm. Two more creatures crawled out of the pod and all three started to descend. "Shoot, Ted, shoot!" Marwen looked at Ted and saw him turning towards her, bringing the gun to bear. She could see the horror in his eyes. "Ted…" A bullet through her eye stopped the words. Ted was screaming, but on the outside nobody would have known. His face was motionless and as blank as a rock. Only his unseeing eyes might hint of the anguish inside him. His body turned back to the pod for him to see creatures approach. First one jumped, biting into the thigh. With a jerk it tore a piece of meat off. Ted was still standing, despite the incredible pain in his leg. He wanted to fall but couldn't. Then something else climbed out of the pod. It was unlike the three around him but relation was clear. Fairytales his grandmother told him when he was young rushed through his mind. Myths from Earth itself she said. This is what a werewolf should look like. It was not supposed to be real. Its eyes seemed to be glowing. Ted knew this stuff of nightmares was controlling his body, ravaging through his mind. Two other two younglings tore more flesh from him. Legs gave way and he fell into the dirt. "Why…" he thought. "Don't ask questions you can't understand an answer to, food. We are the Zuul, the Chosen Ones. Our arrival marks your departure."