Ono remained in a catatonic state. She was physically unable to break the spell of the raindrop crystal that she held in her gloved hand. The memories of Theriac’s horrific massacre of the Lodrican prisoners here on Cirix was overwhelming her consciousness.
In an instant, she found herself standing alone. Nude in the darkness. A saucer-like pair of gilded eyes—with narrow black pupils appeared in the distance ahead of her. They did not blink. Not even once. Her heart rate increased—she was frightened but still in a state of paralysis.
Who are you?
The eyes gradually began moving towards her. She could hear the footsteps, one after another, however, the only thing she could see aside from her own body—were those gilded eyes. The eyes moved higher—the closer they became. Her head tilted along with them. Eventually out of the darkness appeared a creature. One that was at least seven-feet tall.
Please let me go.
The creature smiled. He stood on two slender, yet hairy legs. His face was also hirsute, but majestic—like a stunning greyish-black feline. Like her, this creature was also nude.
Hello, Contessa Ono.
How? How do you know my name?
Why the AccuHomi, of course.
The creature opened his hand revealing the AccuHomi. It was the same raindrop crystal—she had discovered inside the corpse. Only now the crystal was pink and lighting up the space between them.
You need not be afraid. The two of us will soon become one.
Theriac.
The creature revealed his jagged smile. It was him. His energy was unlike what her consciousness had shown her, moments ago. The warmth to him—that eased her soul.
Raise your hand to me.
And just like that, the paralysis that she had been feeling withered away. She raised her left hand. Theriac placed the AccuHomi in her palm. She felt the crystal’s prowess surge throughout her body. It was orgasmic. The type of feeling that just felt right in every way imaginable. Ono gazed upon the Conesan once more.
What is happening to me? I feel different.
Theriac smiled.
You are empowered. Do not try to impede it. For you cannot. You must only heed the cull.
His words were chilling to her core. The Conesan leaned closer and kissed her, but she did as he instructed and did not resist his affection. Her body jolted and in the blink of an eye Theriac had departed—leaving her alone in the darkness that surrounded her.
“Tess? Tess, can you hear me? Tess?”
Ono opened her eyes. She was back in the containment chamber on Cirix. The hollowed-out skeleton in front of her was Theriac. She felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Sarker kneeling beside her. She squeezed her left hand tighter, not wanting to reveal the AccuHomi.
“Oh, thank God. You had me worried there for a second, girl.”
“This was a very evil place, Kalene.”
Sarker looked around them. She seemed taken aback by the skeletal remains of the Sehnackian tribes.
“Yeah, you can say that again. Which is exactly the reason we’re not sticking around. I know when I’m in over my head. Come on.”
Sarker rose to her feet, grabbing Ono’s right arm to help her. She headed for the exit while Ono took one more look around the containment chamber. The cries of the Lodricans filled her ears as they pleaded for Theriac to show mercy on them. But they didn’t understand. He was freeing them—from a lifetime of misery and pain. In death—there would be peace.
Ono took a deep breath—placing both hands underneath her helmet. She disengaged it from her suit, lifting it just far enough that her mouth was exposed. There was zero oxygen in this room. She opened her left hand. The AccuHomi was no longer clear. Its outer ring was now colored a solid pink, while its inner rings were a shade lighter until reaching the center.
She opened her mouth and began trying to swallow the crystal. It was much larger than her mouth could move and yet she was still stuffing it down her throat. Her esophagus protracted—allowing her to swallow it in its entirety. She re-affixed her helmet to her spacesuit.
Suddenly, loud screams exploded all around her. They were coming from the deceased. She could feel their souls rising from the bones. She closed her eyes, just trying to quell the voices that were penetrating her consciousness.
Stop. Please. I’m sorry.
“Tess! You coming or what?”
The screams stopped as Ono was freed by the sound of Sarker’s voice. She looked to the opened door. She could hear herself breathing again. She glanced back to the remains of Theriac before heading for the exit.
She returned to the corridor and paused again. All of the Conesan souls that Theriac had freed were in here as well. They were rising from their slumber.
“I was beginning to think you were gonna take a nap in there.”
She snapped out of the spiritual haze again, thanks to Sarker’s voice. The lieutenant was with Hots, Seneca and the two Lodricans. Ono gave her a thumbs up.
“Nope. All good.”
She approached them.
“Glad you finally decided to join us.” Sarker said. “I was just telling them—our best bet here is to seal this place back up and move on. I’ll download the captain on what we found so—let’s get the heck out of here.”
“Lead the way.” Ono signaled.
Sarker led the way as everyone followed after her. She stopped in front of the digital control panel. Ono turned back to get one last look at the mayhem caused by Theriac and the AccuHomi. How could something so violent be so virtuous at the same time?
The metallic wall separating the corridor from the stairwell came up—breaking her trance.
“All right. One down. Two to go.”
Sarker headed up the stairwell as everyone followed.