***
In the galley, Sara was explaining to Shektee how to use the various equipment, when they heard the thunderous impact. Sara jumped, sending the vegetables she was carrying on a platter flying into the air. Shektee cocked her head as if she were listening to something.
“What was that?”
“Daemon was making a point to your friends. They should be careful or he’s going to hurt one of them,” Shektee commented offhandedly.
“How do you know that?” Sara asked as she unconsciously shifted the platter into a defensive position.
“My master has created a link between me and Daemon to assist me in helping him.”
“Your master, what master? Where did you come from, anyway? What was Angelica trying to hide when she stopped you from talking earlier?” Sara asked, feeling very nervous as she slowly backed away from Shektee.
Shektee realized her mistake too late. Sara had figured out she was not normal and was about to figure out she was a demon. Daemon hadn’t told her not to let others know but he’d made it clear he didn’t want her showing it off, either. Now what was she going to do.
“Now you understand that you must be very careful of what you say and do around humans. Use this on her and she will forget the past.” Shektee felt the pain of knowledge being implanted into her mind by the ancient and the dread of knowing she’d failed it. She spoke the phrase that was new to her and watched as Sara’s eyes glazed over.
A few seconds later they cleared and Sara looked around, confused. “What happened?” she asked as she looked at the vegetables scattered across the floor.
“I don’t know. There was a loud noise from the direction of Medical. Should we go check it out?”
“Yeah, I guess so. Hand me one of those knives, would you?”
Sara took the lead as they entered the dining room. She looked both ways to make sure it was clear before stepping out into the corridor. Sara skulked down the corridor toward Medical until Daemon came into view. He was leaning against the wall, spinning the battle ax in his hands. Sara wondered what was up with that ax but didn’t waste time thinking too much about it. She picked up her pace, believing it was safer near Daemon.
Shektee drank in Sara’s fear as she followed; knowing there was nothing to be concerned about seemed to make it taste even better.
Daemon sensed Sara coming and pushed off from the wall to stand straight.
He made the ax disappear, which took Sara by surprise. She didn’t think she was ever going to get used to that. When she reached Daemon he was standing opposite the door to Medical, that now had a big gash in it.
“I didn’t hurt anybody. I just scared them a little.”
“You did that?” Sara asked as she pointed at the split. “How?”
“My new ax. It cuts through just about anything,” Daemon bragged as he made the ax appear in his hand.
Sara jumped back, bumping into Shektee. Shektee decided she liked Sara, she was so easily scared and she gave off so much fear.
“But that’s an armored hatch! You know what? Forget it. I’m going inside to see how they’re doing,” Sara said, just wanting to get away before Daemon could say or do something else to freak her out even more. She really hated this planet.
Sara cycled the door open and noticed that it scraped the housing as it slid into the wall. Mac and Nelson were both watching to see who was coming in and sighed in relief as Sara stepped in and cycled the door closed. Nelson opened his arms, beckoning her to give him a hug. Mac turned back to the controls of the regeneration chamber. Sara squatted down and hugged Nelson, happy that he was alive.
“How is Stacey doing?” Sara asked as she turned to look at what Mac was doing.
“She’ll live. Whatever that native girl did to heal her worked wonders; there are only a few minor injuries left. I’m not sure when she’s going to wake up, though. According to her readings, all high-level brain functions have shut down. I think the shock of everything that’s happened to her was too much for her to handle and her brain just stopped working,” Mac said, the frustration at not being able to help his friend clear in his voice.
“Oh, no! Who’s going to fly the ship? I mean with the captain dead and Stacey out of commission there’s nobody to fly the ship. We’ve got to get off this planet.” Sara nearly shouted, the fear and panic in her voice showing just how close she was to a nervous breakdown.
“We’ll figure something out; if nothing else I can get us into orbit,” Mac told her as he pulled her into a protective hug.
In the corridor, Daemon listened intently to what was being said. He had trouble making out most of it until Sara raised her voice. It sounded like they didn’t have a pilot. Daemon was more interested in how Mystique was doing than any of the other problems. Daemon decided he had to get away from them before he lost his temper and broke his promise to Angelica. “Shektee, stay here and make sure they help Mystique. I’m going to see how Angie is doing.”
“As you wish. Do you want me to motivate them or just observe?”
“Just observe. If they do anything to harm her, stop them, but don’t kill them, got it?” Daemon instructed her as he walked off down the corridor to find Angelica.
Shektee knew what the punishment would be if she failed again so she turned and cycled the hatch open. The three occupants were all watching to see who entered and relaxed a bit when they saw that it wasn’t Daemon. Shektee observed that Mystique was in the same position she’d been in when they had left with Angelica.
“Why isn’t Mystique in the medical machine?” Shektee asked as she stepped up next to the examination table.
“We’ll take care of her after we have taken care of the crew,” Mac snapped.
“You are the ship’s engineer correct?” Shektee asked, unaffected by the venom in Mac’s voice.
“I am. Why?”
“Good, the parts you require to fix this ship are here. I think it would be best for you to go start the repairs. Your help is no longer required here,” Shektee stated dismissively before turning to Sara. “Sara, would you please return to the galley and finish making dinner?”
Mac just stood next to the control panel glaring at Shektee, while Sara, sensing the hostility in the air, left, glad to avoid witnessing whatever was going to happen next. Sara would have felt sorry for Shektee on any other planet, but here she was worried for Mac more.
Shektee watched Sara leave and waited for the hatch to cycle shut before looking back at Mac.
Shektee was about to demand that Mac leave when a sharp pain stabbed into her right leg just below the hip. Shektee reacted without thinking and backhanded Nelson’s hand away from her. The strength of the hit numbed Nelson’s forearm and hand causing him to drop the injection pistol.
Mac lunged for Shektee, intent on grappling her to the ground.
Shektee had anticipated his attack and brought her leg up and side-snap-kicked Mac in the chest just above the sternum. Her instinct was to drive the ball of her foot through his sternum, snapping it off and driving it through his diaphragm but she was under orders not to kill him.
The kick lifted Mac off his feet and flung him into the wall behind him with a crash. To his credit, Mac was able to remain conscious and on his feet as he struggled for breath.
Nelson pushed the wheelchair back away from Shektee, hoping the sedative would take effect before she could hurt them anymore.
Shektee ignored Nelson as she cycled the hatch open and stepped up to Mac. He feebly tried to raise his arms to defend himself but Shektee brushed them away as she grabbed him and threw him into the corridor. “I told you to go start repairing the ship,” she said as he slid down the wall, barely able to remain conscious.
Shektee reached over and cycled the hatch closed, then turned to Nelson.
He was staring at her, a mixture of amazement and terror showing on his face. “You’re n-n-not human.”
She looked down at him. “No, I’m not. You should not be concerned with what I a
m. You need only concern yourself with tending to Mystique. I strongly suggest you start her treatment as soon as possible. My master has forbidden me from killing you but if she is not taken care of soon he may change his mind and then you will learn how to scream.” Shektee smiled as she drank in the man’s fear. She was an expert at manipulating the emotions of humans and this human knew enough to be truly afraid of her. She knew she was taking a chance that Daemon would be upset that Nelson knew she wasn’t human but she hadn’t told him. Plus she was using it to motivate him into treating Mystique.
“Now, how may I be of assistance?” she asked in a pleasant voice, which was almost as disturbing as her smile.
33
Daemon found Angelica sleeping peacefully in one of the cabins, so he sat down next to the wall at the foot of her bed and tried to relax. He hadn’t realized how tired he was until he woke up to the sound of Sara’s voice.
She was standing at the door whispering his name like she wasn’t sure if she should wake him or not. When she saw him waking up, she motioned for him to join her in the corridor.
“Food is ready in the galley. I thought you would be hungry,” Sara whispered to him once he joined her outside the cabin.
“How long have I been out?” Daemon asked as he rubbed his face.
“Not long, maybe an hour. Nelson and Shektee are in the galley eating already. Shektee suggested I come get you.”
“I’ll be right there. I’ll wake up Angie and get her to eat, too.”
Daemon entered the cabin with Angelica while Sara returned to the galley. Daemon thought about splashing his sister with water to wake her up but decided against it. Instead, he crouched down next to her and gently shook her shoulder. When that didn’t get a response he started saying her name as he shook her.
Angelica slowly opened her eyes and looked at Daemon with a confused expression on her face. “How did I get here?”
“You passed out after healing Stacey. How do you feel?”
“I’m fine. I’m hungry.” Angelica sat up.
“What did you do to Stacey? I’ve never seen you glow before,” Daemon asked as he helped her to her feet.
“I don’t know; it’s a bit fuzzy. I remember I reached out with my mind to heal her but she was so badly hurt I couldn’t help, which made me upset so I tried harder until I could do it. It hurt but I was doing it, every injury she had healed as fast as I found it. I need a few minutes to freshen up before we go.” She went into the bathroom. “Remind me to have Sara show us how to work all these things; I don’t feel like taking another shower trying to figure them out myself.”
Daemon needed to relieve himself when Angelica was finished. When he came back into the cabin, Angelica had fallen asleep again. She was much easier to wake up this time but it showed the fact that she still needed more sleep. Daemon offered her his arm but she refused to be treated like an invalid. She even led the way to the galley where they joined Sara, Nelson, and Shektee.
Shektee stood up immediately and bowed as they entered. Angelica shied away from her and Daemon gave her a disapproving look. Sara also stood up and showed them where to find the food and plates so they could serve themselves. Nelson sat across from Shektee, eating silently. Daemon and Angelica took a full plate of pasta and sauce and joined them at the table. Sara brought them both a cup of tea before sitting down herself to finish her meal. Shektee seemed to be the only person enjoying her meal.
“Daemon, Doctor Lopez has deduced part of my situation,” Shektee told him as Nelson looked up at the mention of his name. “I told him it was private and not to share but I don’t think he will be able to keep this a secret.”
Daemon stopped eating and looked at Nelson, then turned to Shektee. “Bleen. I was hoping we wouldn’t have to explain this to everyone.”
“They have the right to know how much danger they’re in,” Angelica put in.
“They are not in danger from her.” Daemon sighed in resignation before turning to Sara to ask her to bring Mac to the galley. He figured it would be best to explain this once and with everyone present. He also hoped he would only have to answer all the questions once.
Sara knew for a fact she didn’t want to know anything about dangerous situations; she was back on the ship—it was supposed to be safe here. She used the intercom and called Mac in Engineering and asked him to join them for dinner. Mac was already upset so she didn’t bother mentioning the discussion they were going to have.
The group ate while they waited for Mac to join them. Sara and Nelson only picked at their food while Daemon and Angelica ate hungrily of their portions. Shektee finished hers and sat sipping her tea.
Daemon abruptly stopped eating and dropped his fork to his plate, not worrying about the mess it made when the fork missed the plate and the spaghetti splattered on the table. Angelica was a little more careful putting her fork down before standing up. They both looked in the direction of Engineering as if they were looking through the wall at something.
“Everyone get in the kitchen; Shektee, you stay with me.” Daemon ordered.
“Daemon, don’t kill him or let her, he’s not himself,” Angelica demanded as she herded Sara and Nelson into the kitchen.
“What’s going on? What’s happening? Kill who?” Nelson asked as he was pushed toward the kitchen.
“Mac has a weapon and is coming to kill me and Shektee,” Daemon replied. “We won’t hurt him much, I promise.”
Daemon and Shektee took up positions on opposite sides of the hatch and waited. Daemon could feel Mac as he reached the other side of the hatch. He tensed.
Shektee stood waiting dispassionately. She knew how slow most humans were and had no doubt that she could knock Mac unconscious before he got a chance to use his weapon.
Daemon made no such assumption. He went over in his mind exactly what he was going to do.
Mac hit the button to cycle the hatch open and raised the shotgun to his shoulder. He wasn’t sure where Daemon and Shektee were and he didn’t much care. He was going to step in, aim and fire, screw anyone who got in the way. He was done being beaten up and abused by those two. They were going to pay, no matter what. The hatch slid to the side and Mac stepped forward.
Shektee stepped out far enough for Mac to see but not in front of his gun and then stepped back.
Mac took the bait and swung the gun in her direction as he took another step forward. Daemon saw the barrel of the shotgun enter the room and grabbed it, and jerked it down. Mac pulled the trigger as Daemon gripped the barrel, sending flechette ricocheting across the room. Daemon grunted as the barrel heated, burning his hand. Mac pulled back on the shotgun, trying to wrench it free of Daemon’s grasp but Daemon wasn’t letting go. Mac started firing rounds as fast as the semi-automatic could, hoping to heat the barrel enough to get Daemon to let go.
Shektee grabbed the barrel to each side of Daemon’s hand and pulled forward. Daemon released his grip once Shektee had the barrel and gave Mac an open-handed slap to the forehead. Mac’s vision went black for a second. Shektee wrenched the gun out of his hands while he was still dazed from the head slap. Daemon grabbed the front of Mac’s coveralls and yanked him into the room. Mac flew across the room and crashed into a chair, toppling it over. Daemon charged after him, grabbing Mac before he could recover and pinned him to the ground.
Shektee went to the kitchen door and yelled through it, “The danger is over. You can come back in now.”
The group came out quickly, eager to know what had happened and wanting to see for themselves that nobody was hurt. Shektee stopped Angelica and handed her the shotgun before going back to her tea. Daemon had Mac lying on his stomach with his hands laced on the back of his head. Nelson and Sara knelt down next to him to check for injuries and were relieved to find only the beginning of bruises. Angelica looked over Daemon and found a few small spots of blood on the side of his leg.
“You know you’re going to have to get those out before the holes heal shut.”
; “Yeah. You got this?” Daemon asked her.
“Yeah, you took most of the fight out of him.”
“Be right back,” Daemon left for the kitchen.
Nelson and Sara helped Mac get to his feet as Angelica stepped back to give them room. Shektee watched as Mac got up, ready to attack if he made a move for Angelica and the shotgun. Mac just limped over to the table and sat down. Sara got him a plate of food while Nelson and Angelica took their seats.
“Where did Daemon go?” Sara asked as she handed Mac his meal.
“He went in the kitchen to dig out the bullets Mac shot him with,” Angelica replied calmly. “He should be right back.”
“He got shot? Does he need my help?” Nelson asked as he looked at the kitchen door.
“No, he’ll be fine. If it were serious Mac would be dead. Ask Sara what happens when he gets hurt bad enough to lose his temper,” Angelica said, trying to give them an idea of how dangerous it was to attack her brother.
“Thanks a lot; there goes my appetite,” Sara said as she dropped her fork and pushed her plate away.
A few minutes later Daemon came out of the kitchen to join them. He sat across from Angelica and resumed eating like nothing had happened. Mac gave Daemon a look that left no doubt Mac would try again.
Daemon felt Mac’s aggression and knew that Angelica was feeling it, too. He had no idea how they were going to deal with Mac without killing him, so he left it up to Angelica to figure it out.
“There’s something you all have a right to know. Shektee isn’t human. She’s one of the demons that came through the Rift,” Angelica told them.
Nelson showed no reaction since he’d already guessed Shektee’s true nature. Mac looked at Shektee, trying to see the difference between her and a normal woman. Sara went pale and looked away. She looked for the exits and tried to think of where she could run if she needed to.
“It’s all right, you’re safe. She won’t hurt anyone,” Daemon told them before they started protesting.
Shektee stood up and walked over to stand next to Daemon.
Angelica projected tranquility, hoping to keep everyone calm and rational.
“Liar! She’s no more a demon then I am,” Mac challenged.
“Shektee, would you show them your true form,” Daemon asked.
So Shektee transformed back to her true form. She hopped up on the table to give them all a clear view of her. They stared at her in awe as she pulled off her shoes since they no longer fit properly.
“Why is she here and what makes you so sure she isn’t going to kill us all?” Nelson asked.
Sara slowly inched behind Angelica. She always felt better around Angelica.
“My master has forbidden me from harming any of you except in defense of his sister and Mystique. I will not disobey him,” Shektee stated.
“And we’re supposed to believe you,” Mac sneered.
“I don’t care what you believe. I actually hope you convince my master you are too dangerous to live and then I can eat your soul instead of this matter you call food,” Shektee told him with an evil smile.
Everyone shied away except Daemon, who just gave her an exasperated look. “That’s enough. You can get down and change back to your human form, please.”
“As you wish.” Shektee hopped down, shifting back to the form of the woman she’d been in.
“How did you become her master, if I might ask?” Nelson asked, a little nervous about offending Daemon.
“I don’t know for sure. I killed her old master, I guess. She just showed up in the woods and started swearing her loyalty to me. She could have killed Mystique and me while I was unconscious from Jim’s attack, but she didn’t. I’m not sure how much I trust her, but she has done everything I’ve asked her to. She also has some abilities that we may need.” He looked at Angelica for support, knowing that she knew he was lying.
Shektee also knew he was lying, but didn’t care; whatever he told them she would swear it was the truth.
The others looked thoughtfully at both Daemon and Shektee, not sure how to take this new information or what they should do about it.
“Mac, how long will it take to repair the ship so we can take off?” Angelica asked, hoping to change the subject.
“You call me Engineer Smith. Only my friends are allowed to call me, Mac.”
“Okay, Engineer Smith, how long will it take to repair the ship?” Angelica asked politely.
Daemon wanted very badly to reach over and slap Mac but if Angelica was willing to concede to his petty demands he wasn’t going to upset things.
“I can have the ship ready for takeoff in about a day, maybe two, less with Sara’s help. But it doesn’t matter—we aren’t going any farther than orbit. Stacey’s the pilot, her and the captain were the only two that knew how to astrogate enough to plot a jump, so we aren’t going far until she wakes up.”
“The woman he is talking about will never wake up. Her spark of life is close to extinguished; there is almost nothing left of her soul. The body may live on for a while, but it is nothing but an empty husk now,” Shektee told them.
“How do you know?” Mac demanded, his anger making him forget what he was talking to.
“I know because your life energy is what I feed on. I can sense the amount of life energy each person has, as well as their emotional state. It helps me choose my meals,” Shektee explained calmly.
“You said you can make telepathic contact with anyone you touch. Do you think you could read her mind enough to learn how to astrogate?” Daemon asked.
“Maybe. Her mind is intact; it is her will to live that is gone.”
“Is there any way to help her?” Sara asked, almost pleading.
“I do not know. My kind does not waste energy healing others. Angelica may be able to help her,” Shektee said.
“Angelica, will you help her, please?” Sara begged.
“I’ll do what I can. I‘ve never healed anyone’s soul before.”
“You have the ability to extract information from people just by touching them?” Nelson asked Shektee, intrigued by the idea.
“Yes. It helps me understand what a prey desires so it is easier to manipulate them.”
“So that’s how you learned our language. Interesting.”
“Let me get this straight, you’re going to have your pet demon there mind-rape Stacey to learn how to fly the ship and then put her in the pilot’s chair. No way! There is no way I’m going to let that thing anywhere near Stacey,” Mac stated, challenging Daemon or Shektee to argue with him.
“Look, Mac. The only reason you’re alive is Angie told me not to kill you. The only person I take orders from is her, and my goal is to get her off this planet like Dad wanted. If you don’t stop causing problems and start helping, I’ll break you in half,” Daemon stated as he stood and leaned toward Mac in a very intimidating stance.
“You think just because you’re bigger and stronger you can push me around. Screw you. I’m the ranking officer on board this ship which means I’m the new captain. We aren’t going anywhere unless I say so. Sara is a good engineer but she doesn’t know how to fix what’s broken, so without me, you’re stuck,” Mac stated with a satisfied humph at the end.
“Shektee, enslave him and put him to work fixing the ship, please,” Daemon instructed to everyone’s horror.
Angelica started to protest but the anger Daemon was holding back stopped her. She would wait until they were alone before talking to him about what to do with Mac.
Shektee quickly did as instructed and focused her considerable manipulative talents on Mac. First, she projected her will on his, destroying his ability to resist her. Next, she heightened his desire for her by enhancing his lust for her to the point he would do anything to have her. Mac got out of his chair and ran to Shektee, knocking over chairs as he went. Shektee greeted him with a hug and a loving kiss that held no love. He was hers. “Lover, before we can be together I need you to fix the ship,” she whispered i
n his ear and then gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before pushing him away. “Hurry, my love.” Mac almost knocked Sara to the deck in his haste to get to Engineering and start working on the repairs. “I didn’t harm him. I just made him want to do as I asked. I believe I can release him later,” Shektee said to the group, knowing everyone except Daemon was worried she would enslave them. The only one she was truly concerned about, though, was Angelica; she was still able to influence Daemon and in turn, the ancient.
“What do you mean you ‘believe’ you can release him? You don’t know?” Nelson asked.
“I’ve never had reason to release anyone. So I’m not sure what lasting effects he’ll have, if any.”
“Wait! You were at the star port. I remember I saw you and felt this overwhelming urge to go to you but then it stopped. Is that what you did to him?” Sara asked as she realized how close she’d come to being one of Shektee’s meals.
“Ah, yes, I remember you. Yes, I started to summon you but decided against it, seeing how easily your group had killed the others,” Shektee replied, thinking it would be better to let them think she’d been scared of them.
“What’s stopping you from doing that to all of us and making us all your slaves?” Nelson asked nervously.
“My abilities won’t work on my master and if I use them without his permission, he would surely kill me.” Shektee said, looking at Daemon for approval.
“I am going to head back to Medical and see how my patients are doing.” Nelson told them as he turned toward the hatch. He’d heard and seen enough.
“I think I’ll go help Mac with the repairs,” Sara said as she hurried to leave with Nelson.
“Daemon, how could you?” Angelica demanded after the hatch closed, leaving the three alone.
“What? You know he would have done something else and next time he might have hurt or even killed someone.”
“But to have Shektee mind-control him. How is that better than killing him?”
“It’s only temporary. Death is permanent,” Shektee interjected.
“Was that all you did to him?”
“No, I mind-raped him, as he so sarcastically put it and learned about his past and how to be an engineer, though it will take time for me to comprehend the engineering skills.”
“You didn’t take a little energy boost?”
“No, I was not given permission to drink anyone’s life energy and I didn’t think you or my master would approve.”
“Damn right, I wouldn’t approve,” Daemon said.
“Why do you care what I think, anyway? He’s your master.” Angelica asked.
“My master will do almost anything you ask of him, and if you truly demanded it, I believe he would kill me. So my survival depends as much on me keeping you from getting angry with me as it does serving my master.”
“My name is Daemon, not master, so please stop calling me that.”
“As you wish.”
“So every action you take is meant to enhance your chances of survival, not because of some desire to hurt and kill us?”
“Yes, it is the most basic instinct of every living creature to survive. I do what I think will increase my chances.”
“Then why do you torture and kill humans?”
“For the same reason you kill and eat the flesh of animals. Everything needs to eat to survive. My food is human energy; life energy is the most powerful, but emotional energy will suffice. The pleasure I get from consuming a person’s life energy is the same as what you feel eating those pieces of meat Daemon brought you earlier.”
“That’s different, animals aren’t people,” Angelica protested.
“True, they are a lesser life form so it is acceptable to kill and eat them.”
“Not when you put it that way.” Angelica didn’t like the way this conversation was going. It was seriously making her consider becoming a vegetarian.
“I had always assumed humans were a lesser life form. I am learning that may not be true for the entire species. The barrier between planes has kept our two species separated for as long as anyone can remember. Normally, the only time one of us crosses into this plane of existence is when a mage like you summons us and that is a very rare occurrence.”
“Why do you keep calling me a mage? I told you I can’t cast spells.”
“You admit you can channel energy to heal others and you can sense the emotional energy of others. The use of magic is simply the manipulation of the energies around you. Humans have many names for it, but they all mean the same thing,” Shektee said. “You’ve learned and developed only a few of the skills or spells that are available to you. The more you push your limits the more powerful you will become until you reach your full potential.”
“Okay, let’s get back to you and why you aren’t sucking the life out of all of us. What about morals and doing things because they are the right thing to do?” Angelica asked, in a hurry to change the topic; she wasn’t comfortable talking about her abilities with Shektee, at least not yet.
“Moral codes are decided upon by the society you’re in. What is a terrible act in one society is perfectly acceptable in another. The society I come from has no use for morals so I never learned any. We’re very simple creatures when you break it down: We do whatever we can to satisfy our hunger and gain power to improve our chances of survival.”
“Fine. I understand and I won’t demand your death if you don’t kill anyone.”
“Thank you. I suggest you go rest. You are still low on energy.”
“She’s right. You need more sleep and I could use some myself,” Daemon said.
“Daemon, why don’t you lock me in the pantry? Angelica will sleep better knowing that I’m locked up and I need time to meditate on what I learned from Engineer Smith,” Shektee asked as she walked into the kitchen.
“After what you did to Engineer Smith, I don’t believe that would hold you if you wanted to get out. You can stay in Stacey’s cabin; it will be more comfortable and nobody will accidently walk in on you,” Angelica conceded.
“Thank you, I will.”
34
The next few days went by in a blur of activity. The repairs took longer than Mac had estimated. The parts Sara had gotten would work but they needed to be modified to the newer systems. Mac and Sara had to fabricate adaptors for most of the parts but they were making progress. Sara was eating and taking short naps between jobs, but Mac never stopped, not even to eat.
“Excuse me, Daemon, I am worried about Mac. He hasn’t eaten or slept since he started the repairs. I’ve tried to convince him to, but he refuses,” Nelson told Daemon when he came to check on Mystique.
“I understand. I’ll talk to Shektee and see that he gets some food and sleep. I didn’t want to force him that way, but he wasn’t leaving me any choice,” Daemon tried to explain to Nelson before he left to talk to Shektee.
Nelson watched him go, wondering if he’d imagined the sound of regret in Daemon’s voice or not.
Daemon found Shektee on the Bridge. “Shektee, could you go talk to Mac and get him to eat and sleep? I guess he’s been working nonstop since you told him to fix the engines.”
“As you wish.” Shektee replied, as she got up to go to Engineering. She could use a break from trying to understand how to fly the ship and most likely Sara would be in Engineering. Sara was such a well-spring of fear, just walking into Engineering would cause her to start radiating fear for Shektee to feed on.
Daemon and Shektee spent most of their time away from the others. Daemon understood that they were nervous around Shektee and he didn’t want to distract or upset anyone unless he had to. He had sneaked Shektee into Medical while Nelson was having breakfast so she could read Stacey’s mind and learn how to pilot the ship, just in case. Shektee gained the knowledge she needed and after that the two of them spent most of their time on the Bridge. Shektee was able to figure out how to program the computer to run flight simulations so she could get used to the controls and Da
emon learned the basics of how to pilot with her.
Angelica spent most of her time with Nelson in Medical. Mystique spent a little over a day in the medical chamber as it regenerated her damaged tissue. She had bright pink new skin where the burns had been and her hair was starting to grow back. Nelson assured her that she would be as good as new in a few days. They had transferred Mystique into Jim’s old cabin, where she spent most of her time sleeping.
They put Stacey back in the chamber but it informed them she was in good health and that there was nothing further it could do to help her. After that, they kept her on the examination table so they could look after her. She showed no signs of being aware of her surroundings. Nelson tried to get her to eat or drink but she wouldn’t, so he finally had to spoon feed her a protein paste. Angelica tried to figure out how to help her but was having no noticeable success. Angelica didn’t like the idea but she was resigned to the fact she needed Shektee’s help. She just couldn’t bring herself to ask a demon for help, though. Nelson understood her hesitation but kept trying to convince her to ask. He was worried about Stacey.
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