Permanent Mutation
“Captain, for the love of all that is holy, we need to open the airlock now.”
Raker shook the captain by the shoulders hoping to snap him out of his haze, but Captain Tiller would not move. His gaze remained fixed on the twisting mass of flesh jiggling and writhing inside the chamber. It was growing faster by the minute and filling the room. The rest of the crew crowded into the narrow hallway with their ears pressed to the door, too afraid to voice their opinion to the captain.
“We’re going to lose the ship. We need to get rid of it,” Raker pleaded.
The captain turned to face his second in command. “Give her time. We need to exhaust all of our options before we do anything.”
“We’ve gone over everything already! The lab jockeys say it’s a permanent mutation. Weapons don’t work. With all due respect, sir, that is not your wife anymore. We need to open the air lock or lose the ship.”
“No. We do nothing. And that is an order.”
The twisting hulk surged against the window. Its veiny pink flesh throbbed and cracked the window in multiple places.
“Captain Tiller, as second in command I am officially relieving you of command. You are emotionally compromised and endangering the crew and this vessel. I’m opening the airlock.”
“No.” Tiller said, pushing Raker away from the control panel. The window cracked even further.
“That window is going to break and that thing – “
“That’s my wife, dammit.” Tiller drew his pulse pistol and pointed it at Raker.
“Jack…Jack…come on now. Think about what you’re doing.”
The window groaned against the weight. Tiller lowered his gaze for a split second and Raker ran. Inches from the airlock switch, he felt the pulse gun ripping a hole in his heart.
Lying on the floor, Raker watched Tiller hug the mass as it poured through the broken window and engulfed them.
—-
A story for the latest challenge from the Trifecta Writing Challenge. The challenge was to write a story between 33 and 333 words that included the 3rd form of the word “exhaust”.
EXHAUST (transitive verb)
1a : to consume entirely : use up <exhausted our funds in a week>
b : to tire extremely or completely <exhausted by overwork>
c : to deprive of a valuable quality or constituent <exhaust a photographic developer>
2a : to draw off or let out completely
b : to empty by drawing off the contents; specifically : to create a vacuum in
3a : to consider or discuss (a subject) thoroughly or completely
b : to try out the whole number of <exhausted all the possibilities>
This is great. Held my attention and interest all the way through. One small thing: “on flesh” should probably be “of flesh”. Just a typo, its OK. I really liked this story. Sort of reminded me of Jabba the Hut, in a way (mass of flesh). Well done.
Thank you for your kind comment and thank you for catching that typo!
Ack! It’s his wife — that is such an awesome twist! I loved this.
Thanks!
He must have been wearing a red shirt.
Ha! That didn’t even cross my mind. You might be right!
This was truly gripping. Just the right amount of description of the… thing.
Thanks Sandra!
This is. . .awesome. That’s not your wife anymore. Perfection.
Terrific story!
wow this is really awesome. action-packed and i can see the scenes running in my head. Raker should’ve shot Tiller. >< great story
great suspense!
Though I was with you from the start, that’s not your wife anymore had me sit up straight and pay close attention. A touching story, in all it’s mutation. Great work.
I think I’d be the same way if it were my significant other. I really enjoyed reading this!
I found myself holding my breath at the end.
This had me on the edge of my seat. Sometimes when we let our heart rule, we reject logic.
Now, see? That’s why women have never been accepted on ships.. Gripping tale!
Wow. I would love to know what happened to her! Great scene.
Eeks!Poor Raker-he should have known that the Captain was not going to come anything between him and his beloved wife-enjoyed the story-I could literally see a gross bulky pink mass undulating and growing by the second:-)
*let anything come
Strange, gross and also touching, a perfect combination.
Oh, I loved this, H.L. A little bit twisted, and a lot bittersweet. Poor Captain Tiller.
The dialogue was great, too–punchy and intense. Great job!