From Inside

I wrote this a long time ago, probably in the very late 80's, maybe early 90's. Certainly after 1988 (based on clues from the original document I type this in from.)

I understand that some of the numbers and other scientific facts may not stand up to close inspection, but I didn't want to update what I originally wrote; this is intended more as a retrospective as to what I did, rather than as an ongoing project. So, if things bother you, feel free to correct it in your head, e-mail me, or better still, live with it.

Upon re-reading it, I realize that what's going on may not be entirely clear to the reader, so here's an explanation.

The main character is a parasitic creature that starts out in the body of some unknown alien who develops technical problems when entering earth's atmosphere. (When this happened in the greater scheme of things is unimportant; it could be millions of years ago, it could be last week. When the parasite is in hibernation mode, time is meaningless.)

After exiting the doomed vehicle, it's not clear whether the host was killed by impact or by the parasite. It is highly possible that the parasite cares nothing for the well being of its hosts and let this one die upon impact, or it is possible that the parasite killed the host painlessly prior to impact.

At some point, the parasite is taken into another host, possibly a bear or wild dog, or even some prehistoric animal. Finding it unsuitable, the parasite elects to exit the host. Again, it is not clear whether it does this by killing the host, or in some manner non- damaging to the host.

Later, the hibernating parasite finds its way into the water system and ends up in the ice maker of the humans. As the ice melts, and the human drinks the parasite, it wakes up and begins communicating with the human male.

Still, the intentions of the parasite are unclear. Is it completely disinterested in the desires and needs of its hosts, as perhaps we might first assume? (And if so, is that bad? If a bear ate you, would it be "bad", or would it just be a bear?)

On the other hand, perhaps the parasite is not uncaring, but wants to work together with its hosts? Perhaps the first, clearly inferior host was only able to achieve space travel because the parasite worked together with it to develop the technology? Perhaps this is humanity's big break?

It is up to you, the reader, to determine in your own mind, what the situation is, or better still, leave it as an unresolved question for future enjoyment...