We are unsure if anyone is receiving our transmissions. We
have been stranded here for nearly 10 earth years and have
thus far adapted successfully to life on this planet. The
environment is similar enough to that of human evolutionary
adaptation and it has actually been a relief after such a long
time in open space. Thus, all our transmissions from this
planet have not been of desperate urgency. But just recently
we have encountered a problem that we are not certain we can
overcome on our own.
We are in a period of time that was celebrated as a seasonal
holiday among a particular earth religion centuries ago. The
crew took it as a collective hobby several years back to study
the rituals and beliefs of that holiday, called Christmastide
or Yuletide. During every winter season on this planet, we
have used what resources we have to make festive meals, give
gifts, and re-enact what we have learned from the history logs
on the ship's computer. It has been a little silly, but a
relief nonetheless against the isolation we have felt while
stranded here. Until this year.
This season was the first that one of the children born here
has become socially active. We suspect some of his behavior
may be the source of our problem. But as it seems so absurd,
none dare speak it other than in jest.
The child, just five earth years of age, has caused extra work
for the others, breaking or misplacing tools, making loud
noises during rest hours, and tormenting the fauna we are
trying so hard to domesticate.
But the boy's behavior would be tolerable if that were the
only problem. The real problem is terrifyingly worse. The real
problem is the appearance of a creature that seems intent on
attacking the boy.
It has come at dusk nearly every day for the past few weeks,
and the crew have taken great risks to chase it away. We've
posted extra guards at all points around our ship, and each
day we expect at least one of them will encounter it.
I have not seen it myself, but the others say it is a
four-legged creature, bent over and moving itself on its two
rear legs. It makes a horrible growling and hissing sound like
"grahh-pssss".
We know it wants the boy because it has kept close to the
uncut brush and foliage at the edge of our encampment until it
has seen him. The few times it saw him, it came forward,
screeching and clawing at him.
Luckily we've been able to fight him off thus far. But we've
sustained some injuries. And the labor we've had to expend on
defenses are causing shortfalls in meeting our other needs.
We need help. If anyone is receiving this transmission. We
need help!
--
When you perform the rituals of the past, you may awaken
something that can't be put back to sleep until forgotten. And
we can't forget now.
Can it be, that the gods and demons of our species follow us
wherever we travel in the universe?
Can it be, that we are experiencing one of those demons from
our Yuletide heritage? Is it possible that we are being
attacked by Krampus?
gemini://cosmic.voyage/Minnow/x001ma-3s.txt