Creatures of God

Another Way

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"Thank you, Dr. Elliot, for sharing all of your new information with us," Dr. Tomas said.

Elliot had shared his newly found hologram to a small group of select scientists and their students. After viewing the shortened segment, they too were convinced of a clandestine creature moving in the background of the recorded scene. It only confirmed what had already been suspected -- that Dr. Berman had been killed by a barbaric animal.

"How did one of the canines make it down to our underworld?"

"Was it only one animal?"

"Could it still be hiding on one of the levels somewhere?"

"Everyone, please," Dr. Tomas pleaded as he held both hands up to settle the chattering crowd. He waited until the group quieted itself.

"It is important that we stay calm and collected," the senior scientist urged. "Although there are unanswered questions, we still have a fairly good idea of what happened."

"What do we think happened?" a stern voice called out from the back of the crowd. It was Tober, Dr. Tomas' apprentice.

"A canine with a forearm fracture recently disappeared from one of our recovery bays after surgery," Dr. Wilem reported. "We have reason to believe that this was the perpetrator who reached the sub-level, and is likely responsible for Dr. Berman's death."

"In addition," Dr. Tuli spoke, "the preliminary results from Dr. Elliot's autopsy are consistent with death by intentional injury and violence; specifically, an animal bite at the victim's neck that led to complete hemorrhage, shock and eventual death. Hair fibers from the scene of the crime and genetic analysis have determined a non-human origin, likely canine, but further specifics are still pending.

"Dr. Elliot's diligent work has also led to the discovery of a hologram from our own pathology lab, clearly connecting a canine to the scene of the crime. Our ground level surveillance of the suspect is disrupted from the canine's use of a cloaking collar device. The sub-level video is also partially disrupted, but there is enough evidence to corroborate when the suspect got into the basement levels and where he went."

"There is a small chance the animal intruder might still be in the building," Dr. Tomas affirmed, "but we believe the canine left the premises shortly after the murder. The search teams have been looking for the killer ever since, and there's been no evidence to support their possible presence."

"The power cells have not been endangered," Dr. Stone spoke up, "and the Center's food stores have not been touched."

"Also, the daily censuses have been complete," Dr. Tuli appeased. "Everyone has been accounted for."

"Except for Berman," a student in the back muttered too loudly.

There was a lull in the discussion.

"We can't assume anything until we've actually caught the killer," Tober spoke up. "We should form a special operations unit, using our best technology and weapons, and hunt down the beast, whether it's still in the building or not."

A spattering of looks and whispers went around the room.

"Your concern is duly noted, Tober," Dr. Tomas replied, "but right now, we need to focus on protecting our personnel -- especially our students -- and our science."

"Agreed," Dr. Wilem said. "Regardless of whether or not the creature is in the Center, we have to assume the safety of the building -- the secrecy of the underground -- has been compromised."