Meru

Chapter 8

Captain Mohini, Chief Engineer Lulu and Chief miner Raghuram watched through the windows of the Medbay as Doctor Fatimah Begum and Nurse Neelima Fernandez worked on Tara.

She was placed in a semi-automated treatment pod. It resembled a glass coffin with several visual displays on the transparent lid, showing relevant medical data.

Mohini looked away and wiped her tears as she took a moment to compose herself. It was hard watching the charred mass of flesh that was once Tara, labouring to breathe, as automated syringes and scalpels and spraying nozzles worked on protecting her skin.

"It's even more important that we get to the space station now. As soon as we can," Mohini said. "They have better medical facilities on board the Sudarshana."

Another stream of tears threatened to erupt from her eyes.

"What do you think made her do it?" Raghuram asked.

"Neelima thinks it is a psychotic episode,"

Lulu slammed his fist into the nearby wall and walked away. He was distraught about what had taken place. This was the first time, something like this had happened on his watch. in 35 years of his service.

Mohini opened her mouth to say some consoling words, but then decided against it.

"Let's head back too. There is not much we can do here," Mohini said.

Raghuram looked away from the scenes unfolding in the medical bay.

"It will take a while for the engineers to complete the checks on the coolant before we can switch on the FTL. You should try to catch up on some sleep," Mohini said to Raghuram.

"She is in good hands. Fatimah and Neelima will take good care of her," Mohini said to Raghuram, as they walked the corridors of the ship that linked the Medbay to the living quarters.

"I don't know if it's my place to say this. But I know you feel responsible for what happened," Raghuram said.

Mohini let out a sigh. "The lives of my crew members are always my responsibility"

"I know how you feel. I...I feel the same about not being able to save your husband."

Mohini shot a look at Raghuram, as if a bolt of lightening had hit her, "I never blamed you for his loss. No one would ever dare to. You suffered an injury while you were trying to get to him. You did your best"

"Did I? Because if I did, he would be here with you."

"No. No Raghuram. Dev always spoke highly of you. And you lived up to his expectations."

Raghuram did not respond.

They reached the entrance to Mohini's quarters.

She opened the door.

"I still relive that moment you know, every day. It's my personal hell," Raghuram said. " I see him hanging by the tips of his fingers on the broken catwalk. I see the steam and the chunks of black rock flying everywhere. I feel helpless and distraught all at the same time as I fall and...then, then I can't seem to reach him no matter how hard I try."

Mohini grabbed his face with both hands and kissed him.The she pulled back and watched his response.

He gazed at her with tearful eyes.

Something powerful transpired in that moment.

Something unsaid, sealed behind a wall of restraint broke loose and flooded their body with fire.

Raghuram kissed her back and she returned his kisses with the same intensity. They ripped each other's clothes off.

They fell on the bed. Him on top of her, and after a passionate bout of lovemaking, they reversed positions.

Their naked flesh merged and became one, as wet organs sought each other in a manic frenzy.
They have very little to say. They grunted and moaned as they surrendered to each other's hunger.

Outside the door, Sudhir listened to the sounds of their union and seethed.

<break>

When Sudhir had enough of seething with anger as he listened to the carnal celebrations inside Mohini's cabin, he stormed off to his room.

He didn't have the patience to get to the bathroom to vent his fury on the pillow.

First, he went for the items on his table, then the contents of his locker. He threw bottles at the wall and smashed some his valuables on the floor. In a matter of minutes, he trashed the whole room.

He was about to head into the bathroom to smash the mirror, when he noticed someone on his bed.

Mohini. Naked. Inviting.

Her playful eyes twinkled as she spread her legs for him.

"The bitch couldn't possibly fuck that other guy and quickly return to him," he thought.

He had lost his mind. There was no other explanation for it.

Sudhir was so lost in his rage that he didn't care for his sanity.

He needed to punish Mohini for her betrayal.

He rushed at the figure, his face a mask of fury and hate.

She complied with a smile as he pushed her onto the bed and held her arms down. He pulled down his pants hastily and entered her.

She let out a big moan. She looked even more sensuous - graced with a glow of satisfaction, like a predator who knew she had trapped her prey.

At first he was enjoying fucking the thing, whatever it was. He needed the release.

Sudhir was so thrilled to be immersed in this madness that he didn't notice his skin gluing onto its skin.

His arms stuck to the apparition's arms, His mouth stuck to its mouth. Thousands of tiny transparent spiderweb like strings bonded their body together.

They became one body and soul, as Sudhir's will to escape the torment diminished. The protestations lodged by the limbic system in his brain slowly transformed into acceptance.

Then came the searing hot pain.

It burrowed into his skin like a thousand millipedes with razors for feet, trying to find its way into his very being.

Ice and fire filled his mouth, his eye sockets. His scaly hands and feet grew claws.

Sudhir leapt out of the empty bed, clawing at his skin.

His skin came off like melted cheese and when he placed it back on himself, it merged into him with ease.

He rushed to the bathroom, to witness the horrors willed on the parts of his body he couldn't see with his own eyes.

"Agasura. Reveal yourself," The voice said.

When he looked in the mirror, the cheesy texture of the skin had transformed into the scales of a serpent. His hair had disappeared. It was replaced by a grey cap of throbbing blue veins. His teeth had receded into his bleeding gums - instead he had the huge fangs of a viper, from the tips of which yellow venom leaked. Finally the black of his eyes turned elliptical, cat like and cruel.
Half man. Half Snake. Only he did not have the beauty and the elegance of those serpentine creatures. His form was a mass of malformed muscle and tissue and veins - white, red, yellow and grey.

"Agasura. Come forth."The voice said.

Sudhir had surrendered to a dark energy from another dimension. It had taken the rage and jealousy he felt for Raghuram and Mohini, and all that was dark and evil in his soul, amplified it and given him a vile gift.

As he looked on his visage in the mirror - he alternated between his human and his serpentine forms. He would use this special gift. He would' wreak havoc. He would have revenge.