Not too many Leshers had the constitutional fortitude to mingle around outside on a breezy autumn evening such as this. The wind off the ocean chilled their blood, causing discomfort. Despite that, there were always a few people walking around this recreational district, and there were some carriages putting by.

The minor commotion and the darkness was enough to obstruct Hissar's vision from his target. She had just left the Lounge a moment ago, so she couldn't have gone far, and Hissar wasn't about to give up the chase before it was started. His analytical suspicions had been piqued, and his friend was in dire need. He wasn't about to let the mystery of this female escape without further review.

Using his keen vision and natural tracking instincts, he managed to see a small figure walking in the shadows toward the waterfront. He couldn't make out her face or features, but by the way she walked it was easy to assume that it was Sophia. No other Lesher walked so rigidly, and few would have reason to visit the boardwalk at this hour.

Making his way across the street, Hissar kept his eyes fixated on the slowly moving figure, which kept itself mostly hidden among the row of trees which lined the path beside the boardwalk.

Walking toward the boardwalk, a strong breeze sent shivers down Hissar's spine. The temperature wasn't that cool, still tolerable for his reptilian physiology, but the wind just didn't feel good. The thin material of his medical cloak was little protection, and his pants only reached his knees, leaving his legs exposed to the elements.

As his body adjusted to the cold and his blood temperature dropped, Hissar lost sight of the figure by the boardwalk. He couldn't have been more than fifty feet away from her, yet his eyes could not locate her figure anywhere.

Stepping out onto the boardwalk, Hissar found it devoid of life. Looking out across the long stretch of planks, he saw no one. The handful of shops that operated during the day were long closed now, and nobody had any business on this waterfront. The industrial port was several miles to the south, making this section of the coast vacant after dusk.

He'd lost her, and whispered an old curse under his breath.

Ready to head back to the warmth of the Daemon Veil Lounge, Hissar turned away from the ocean, only to see the shadowed figure of Sophia standing in his path, arms folded across her chest and legs braced in a very stern pose.

"Why are you following me?" she asked harshly.

The crispness of her voice made it hard for Hissar to understand the words, but he could figure it out.

"Do you believe I could just let you run out on my friend like that, after the way you behaved?"

"Are you going to fight me?" Sophia asked. "Is it your custom to challenge females to duels when they walk out on you?"

"I am not here to fight with you," Hissar assured. "I merely want you to come back to the Lounge with me, and answer a few questions."

"I don't have to go anywhere with you," Sophia said, unfolding her arms. "I'm sorry about what happened to your friend, but like I said, I can't help him. Now, let me go about my business."

"And what business would that be?" Hissar asked. "What are you doing here? What's your profession? Where are you staying in Laushek? Exactly who are you?"

"Please, just leave me alone," she said, turning away and charging down the boardwalk.

Hissar chose to pursue, and found himself able to keep pace with her, even as his blood temperature cooled and his muscles ached. Sophia's pace seemed equally impaired, despite her hefty clothing. She was obviously not an athlete.

The boards clacked underneath their feet as they ran, Sophia remaining barely eight feet ahead of her pursuer. She turned back twice, seeing him nipping at her heels, and she realized she wasn't going to outrun him. She felt the strain of the chase. His body was far superior for such a contest.

Spotting a break in the boardwalk's railing, Sophia darted toward it, finding a set of steps leading down to the beach. They were her chance to elude capture, to lose her pursuer among the rocks and pilings on the shore.

As Sophia began racing down the stairs, Hissar managed to close the gap, and grabbed for the neck of her coat. He only managed a momentary grasp, but it was enough to throw the fast-moving lady off balance, sending her tumbling down. Falling head over heels onto the hard wooden steps, several snaps could be heard as she flopped over and over again, finally stopping on the cool sand at the base of the boardwalk.

Hissar hurried down to attend to her, filled with sudden guilt for his obsessive chase. Why did he have to be so impulsive, he asked himself. What was it about this woman that had made him lose his senses so, just for the sake of curiosity?

Reaching the base of the stairs, that answer became more complicated than he could have possibly imagined.

Staring down at the injured being at his feet, Hissar's eyes strained to see the alien face of this woman who a moment ago had held the appearance of a normal Lesher. Her features were no longer reptilian, now a soft pink instead of the scaly brown that she had been. A small nose protruded out above her mouth, in place of a pair of breathing holes on a mound, and her skull had strange strands growing upon it, unlike anything he'd ever seen.

Hissar almost didn't believe it. At first he thought the dim light was playing tricks on him, but then the first light of the moon poked out across the ocean, further revealing bizarre features. This creature was truly unlike anything he had ever beheld.

Sophia cringed in pain, coming to her senses. "Oh, I think I broke a rib, and maybe an arm."

"What in the depths are you?" Hissar asked, terrified.

"What do you mean?" Sophia asked, reaching for her neck. Feeling around under her collar, she suddenly realized why Hissar was so horrified. "Oh, no! My imager's broken."

"You are beyond belief," Hissar said, stepping back, wedging his spine against a vertical support post of the boardwalk.

"Please, help me up," Sophia pleaded, trying to sit up with broken bones.

Daring to step closer, Hissar reached for her outstretched hand. Gripping it firmly, he skillfully slipped her glove off, revealing her soft, alien hand beneath.

"You have an extra finger," Hissar mentioned, stepping back with the three-fingered glove he'd snatched.

"Could you please help me? My ribs hurt like hell!"

"Like what?" Hissar asked.

"I mean the depths. That's your approximation of the expression," Sophia replied. "The pain is too sharp for my muscles to get me up."

Calming his nerves, Hissar gripped her pink hand and pulled her up.

"Your hand is so warm," Hissar mentioned, releasing it.

"That's because I'm warm-blooded. My body temperature doesn't change with my surroundings."

"Like a bird," Hissar said, more in astonishment than fear.

"Well, in a basic sense, I suppose so," Sophia said, checking her left arm. She couldn't tell if it was broken or not, but it certainly hurt.

"May I have a look at it?" Hissar asked, growing bold.

"You're a doctor, right?" Sophia said.

"A very good one, in fact," Hissar replied, looking at the arm. "I can't tell anything through this thick leather. Can you remove it, or is it part of your hide?"

"It's just a garment," Sophia said, unfastening the collar and sliding her arms out of the sleeves. It left her arms bare, the rest of her torso covered by a dark t-shirt.

Gently prodding the arm with his scaled hands, Hissar came to a quick diagnosis. "I don't feel anything broken, but it does appear bruised."

"No kidding, considering you pushed me down the stairs," Sophia said with irritation.

"I wasn't trying to push you. I only wished to halt you, learn why you behaved so peculiarly," Hissar replied.

"Well, it looks like you've got your answer," Sophia said, taking one step up the stairs.

"And many questions," Hissar said nervously. "What are you? Where did you come from? I must know."

"I'd really love to stay and chat, but this was never supposed to happen. I'm not even supposed to be here. My presence is supposed to be a secret, so I don't interfere in your cultural development."

Sophia made her way up the steps as quickly as possible, though with her broken ribs and bruised muscles it was pretty slow. She wasn't going to be running away.

Hissar followed her up the stairs, bringing her leather coat with him. It was quite heavy, with several pockets filled with unseen objects.

"You're not getting away from me now," Hissar said. "I don't know who or what you may be, and as a learned man I cannot permit you to simply walk away, back to whatever spiritual domain you come from, without at least answering my most basic questions."

Sophia tried to laugh lightly, only to end up coughing in pain.

"You'll need a bandage on those ribs, as well," Hissar mentioned.

"I'll be fine," she said. "You should probably get back someplace warm before the air gets any colder and your blood starts to thicken."

"Nice try, but I'm not going anywhere," Hissar replied, spotting her new tact. "I don't ask much from you, just some answers."

"I can't give you answers. Your people aren't ready."

"To depths with my people!" Hissar shouted. "I'm not interested in exposing you to the world. But I must know, for myself, what you are doing here. Is it the time of the reckoning?"

"The what?" Sophia asked.

"The end, when the savior will return and lead us to paradise?" Hissar replied, falling back on his religion. "Tell me, are you a harbinger?"

Sophia felt demoralized, seeing what a drastic effect her presence was already having. So many years of research, and on her first outing among these creatures she had been easily exposed. What could she do to lessen the damage? She had no choice. She had to tell him the truth.

"Hissar, I am not a spirit, or mystical entity. I'm a flesh and blood creature, just different than you."

"How is that possible?"

"What is the extent of your scientific knowledge?" Sophia asked. "Do you understand anything of astronomy, the universe in general?"

"I'm sorry, I don't follow," Hissar replied, baffled by her words.

"The universe," she said, staring at the sky and raising up her right arm toward the stars.

Hissar understood, and enlightened Sophia as to the proper Lesher words for Universe and Astronomy. "I still don't understand what you're getting at," he said.

"You understand that your planet revolves around its sun, as do a dozen other planets in this system, and that each star is another sun, far distant from here, with planets of its own."

"Except for the last part, yes. I don't know about other planets among the stars, but I do know the basic truth about our own world," Hissar replied.

"Hissar, there are countless planets among the stars. I come from one, almost two hundred light years away."

Hissar was left in such shock, he didn't notice the leather coat drop from his grasp and hit the boardwalk.

"I know it must be hard to believe. Your culture is years away from conceiving the possibility of life beyond your own world, but you must believe me."

"If you were not standing before me, I would not," Hissar said softly, still coming to terms with the revelation. "Yet here you are, and I cannot deny it."

"Do you understand why I didn't want to be exposed, why I can't be known to your people?"

"I think so," Hissar replied.

As Hissar stood in silent contemplation, Sophia struggled through the pain of her ribs and reached for the coat at his feet. Throwing it over her shoulders, she fastened the neck like a cape, and let the arms hang back.

"Goodbye, Hissar," she said, turning to walk away.