A bonfire was lit in preparation for Tajlon's eighteenth birthday and beach party. It was traditional among the islanders to celebrate a coming of age with a fire festival the night before. Often the ceremony would last until dawn of the following day. The evening had turned cool and the fire was welcome.

Hal was skewering pieces of rabbit meat on a spit to roast and Tajlon was setting up a table of food the general had provided from his ship's kitchen. It was extravagant compared to the normal rations provided for the work crew. The chef had made a decorative centerpiece of carved fruits and appetizers. There was even a bowl of spiced rum punch.

Koutou flew down perched inconspicuously in a nearby bush.

"I thought minacaws went to roost a little earlier," Hal said in a low voice.

"They also avoid fire," Koutou replied. "Nobody will notice me until I want them to."

"When are you moving Gengor's body?" Tajlon asked.

"When I make my grand exit."

Jejliard arrived carrying a bag full of makeshift instruments, drums and rattles crafted from metal food containers.

"Sorry, but these will have to do," he said in apology.

"It's more than I expected," Tajlon said.

Hal picked a drum and began a slow rhythm, signaling everyone it was time to begin. Workers begin to gather and Jejliard passed the other instruments among them. They tested the limitations of their crude instruments and improvised an ensemble. The evening progressed alternating between food, drink and amusement with native chants and song.

They were surprised when Colberton joined them. "I think this party is a good idea," he said. "It'll take our minds off today's events."

"We appreciate your generosity," Jejliard replied.

"Yeah, the food is great." Hal agreed.

"I'm sorry you have to spend your birthday on Turodey, Tajlon," Colberton said. "I'm sure you would have liked to be with your lady friend. What's her name again?"

"Soshe," Tajlon said. He was certain Colberton was probing more than sympathizing. "It's alright, General. She doesn't even know it's my birthday. I'll look her up when we've finished with this project."

Colberton smiled and nodded. Tajlon glanced at his father who was purposefully ignoring their conversation and pretending to be engrossed watching dancers around the fire. Widbho sent Tajlon a message telepathically, "We'll finish this project on our terms."

The music picked up the tempo and Hal pulled Tajlon to his feet. "Okay, birthday boy. Your turn to perform."

Tajlon knew the tradition. Firewalking. He stripped off his shirt, removed his shoes and rolled up his pants legs. A line was forming. As he walked past them, the islanders marked religious symbols on his body with charcoal. By the end of the line his torso was covered in talismans and charms. A bed of hot glowing coals awaited him. The drumming grew louder and more hypnotic as he approached. Jejliard waited at the end with a bowl of spirit water, ritually blessed and infused with sacred herbs.

"You're not really letting him go through with this?" Colberton asked Jejliard. "It's savage."

"It's the custom. He'll be fine."

Chanting grew louder, voices competing with the drums.

Tajlon took a deep breath and walked briskly onto and over the coals. He could feel the warmth passing beneath his feet which were protected by the layer of ash on the coals themselves. It was an ancient ceremony, rather shocking to anyone not familiar with it. Colberton was astounded. The drum and chanting stopped abruptly.

Tajlon reached the sand beyond and knelt before his father. Jejliard pressed the bowl to Tajlon's lips for him to drink the sacred water and reached for Kouto in the nearby bush.

"I offer this sacrifice to bring good fortune to my son on his journey through adult life," Jejliard said in a solemn voice. He pulled the minacaw from its shadowy perch. He held a sleeping Koutou's body above the flames of the ceremonial bonfire.

A low, throaty growl was heard and a black leopard took form in the flames of the fire. Its body glowed but did not burn.

Tajlon was stunned, "No... Nova?" he stammered in genuine surprise.

A gasp went up from the observers. The leopard sprang from the fire and tore the bird from Jejliard's hand. It snapped the bird's neck and tore into its flesh. Blood splattered on Tajlon's face and chest, but he dared not move. The leopard took the remains of Koutou's body and jumped back into the fire. Flames shot up as the feathers flared. A bright flash of light erupted and the leopard was gone.

"What the hell just happened?" Hal asked.

"I've never seen anything like it before," Tajlon said. He stood up and backed away from the fire, the color drained from his face.

Hal started drumming again to break the silence. The islanders murmured among themselves in their native tongue but seemed to accept what had happened. They soon returned to their food, drink, and merrymaking with even greater enthusiam. Each took turns congratulating Tajlon on his transition to manhood.

"What sort of artifice was that?" Colberton asked under his breath.

"I never try to explain what happens at tribal rituals, Robert," Jejliard said.

* * *

A shout went up from the dock. A group of soldiers were running toward them calling for Colberton's attention.

"Now what?" Colberton wondered aloud.

"It's gone, General," the first man said. "The beast's body is gone."

"What! Fools! You were supposed to be watching it."

Colberton motioned for his personal guards to accompany him and headed toward the docks. Unrest spread through the beach party and the festivities came to a halt.

Further investigation proved futile. There was no sign of the creature. Only a dark stain on the dock where his body had lain.

"I want it found," Colberton yelled into the faces of his guards. "Search everywhere. Obviously, the beast wasn't dead."

A coarse howl echoed from the jungle beyond, and an indistinct figure could be seen moving through the trees with loping strides.

"After him!" Colberton shouted.

The men hurried to obey but came up empty handed. The creature had vanished.

Colberton called out more orders before returning to Jejliard and the others.

"I don't want any casualties. With that beast roaming about, everyone needs to get inside now."

"The tents won't afford any protection, General," Jejliard said. "Move everyone inside the research building tonight."

"Do it," Colberton agreed. "I don't suppose you have an explanation for this either?"

"No, I don't," Jejliard replied. "I'm not sure what you're implying."

"Hell, man! I'm not implying anything." Colberton said, his face flustered with anger.

"Let's get going then" Jejliard said. "Don't leave any food out," he said to the others and picked up a platter of meat. The others followed his lead. They soon cleared the tables and moved inside the building.

"It ripped the door off before," one of the workers said. "What's to keep it from doing the same thing again?"

"I don't think it's alive," Tajlon said.

"They saw it running right past here," the man said.

"It's dead," Tajlon insisted.

"So what are you saying?" Hal asked loud enough to be overheard. "Is it a phantom?" He winked at Tajlon as he walked past.

"Let's not speculate on anything," Jejliard cut in. "The general and his men will take care of it."

They set up some tables for gaming and tried to calm the men down, but all thoughts were on the alien creature.

Tajlon found a quiet corner. He took a pitcher of water and a cloth to wash his body clean of the charcoal and, more importantly, Koutou's blood.

Hal sauntered over and helped wash the markings from his back.

"I'm really going to miss Koutou," Tajlon said.

"Yeah, I guess we all will, " Hal said. "Not that he's really gone."

A loud disturbance was raised by the guards again and sprays of gunfire could be heard from around the tents outside.

"Sure you want to wash off these protective charms?"

"He's not after me."

"No, but it looks like he's going to be out there causing Colberton misery all night," Hal said hiding a grin from the others.

The men crowded around a couple of windows on the far side of the building. Jejliard was trying to keep order and prevent a collective panic as rumors of ghosts and demons spread through the room.

"How did Koutou appear as Nova and withstand the fire?" Tajlon asked.

"You're asking the wrong person," Hal answered, "But apparently he's flame retardant."

* * *

Earlier that evening Widhbo had placed Koutou into a deep sleep, so deep he could not awaken on his on, and waited. He could peer through the eyes of Tajlon and Jejliard when he was this close to them. They had no idea he could see and feel everything they did, even read their thoughts.

Tajlon was scared of the fire walk and his heartbeat quickened as he drew closer to the coals, Widhbo was tempted to help calm his fears, but knew Tajlon would object. He watched as Tajlon performed the feat unscathed. When Jejliard grasped Koutou and held him over the flames, it was show time. Widhbo teleported from the minacaw's body into the fire. His energy form loved the fire and he used its power to take Nova's form and carry through with the plan. Once Koutou was ceremoniously sacrificed, he dissipated the leopard form back into the flames in a dramatic finish.

From the fire he teleported straight to Gengor's remains and then out to sea as far as he dared go. Controlling the corpse for even a short while was disturbing, but he kept his mind on the task ahead.

"Work before pleasure," he thought.

He jumped back to the Sora to recharge before taking to the jungle and imitating Gengor's ghost form. He howled to get the attention of the guards. They were easily fooled and fighting back panic.

"This is for you, Gengor," Widhbo said to himself.

It was enormous fun leading Colberton and his men in circles. Widhbo was teleporting from place to place, a ghostly image, drawing their gunfire and teleporting again. He was finally running short on energy and had to return to the Sora. He decided it was time to wrap it up and let Colberton return to his battleship. It would do no good to tap the communication lines if the general wasn't on board to use them.

The Sora was now a communication powerhouse. Widhbo could intercept, descramble and even co-opt a channel if he wanted. He needed proof for Jejliard to see what Colberton was really up to. Hal and Tajlon had already come to the conclusion that Colberton was bad news. Jejliard was hesitant to pass judgement until he saw hard evidence. Widhbo threw the switch to monitor and record.