***
Daemon sat in the co-pilot’s seat and Shektee in the pilot’s seat. Mac and Sara were at their controls in Engineering. Angelica had decided to join Nelson and Stacey in Medical. Mac was running the power plant up to full power in stages. He was up to fifty percent and everything was working within acceptable limits. Nelson had retrieved the gauss canon mounts while Daemon and the girls had been out collecting plants. So when they returned, the ship was ready for the final power-up for takeoff.
Daemon had asked everyone to meet him in the mess room for a quick meeting when they got back. He had Mystique and Shektee waiting with him as the others came to find out what he wanted. Sara had been forced to drag Mac to the meeting. The effect Shektee had on him was wearing off more each day and he was avoiding her and Daemon as much as he could. Sara almost turned around at the hatch once she saw that Shektee was in the room but Nelson and Angelica arrived just in time to boost her courage.
Once everyone was seated at the dining table, Daemon announced, “I have worked out a plan with Shektee. Once we reach Nebular 4, she will shift back to her home plane. Either Mac can fly us to the planet or we can call for help. I am sure there is someone that can come help a ship that is in trouble.”
“That sounds good, but what is to stop her from coming back whenever she pleases?” Mac demanded.
“Her kind can’t cross the planar barrier. The only reason they are here is because of the Rift which allows them free access,” Daemon said, trying not to get upset at Mac’s tone.
“How do we know that’s true?” Mac continued, looking from Daemon to Shektee.
“Simple, if we could cross over when we pleased then what happened here would be happening on every inhabited planet,” Shektee stated as if she were trying to explain something to a child.
“Okay, it sounds like a good plan to me. Thank you for sharing it with us,” Nelson said cutting off any more of Mac’s questions.
“Mystique’s the one that pointed out we needed to figure out what to do once we got to Nebular 4. I just thought that if she was thinking about it, then some of you would be, too,” Daemon said. Angelica gave Mystique a smile as everyone got up to go to their duty stations.
Angelica stayed to talk to Daemon after the others left to complete the preparations for lift off. She knew that Daemon had hidden something from the rest and wanted to know what it was. “What didn’t you tell them?”
“Nothing to worry about,” Daemon replied, trying to avoid the conversation.
“That means I really want to know now. Come on, out with it.”
“There is a way for Shektee to return to this plane; she taught Mystique how to summon her,” Daemon said sheepishly, hoping Angelica wouldn’t get too upset.
“Why would she do that? Won’t she have to serve Mystique then?” Angelica asked a little relieved but still concerned.
“No. Mystique won’t have any control over what she does. Shektee promised that she wouldn’t kill any innocent people and would leave once Mystique was done needing her help.”
“So you got a promise from a demon. What makes you think she’ll keep it?” Angelica demanded, exasperated at her brother’s naivety.
“Because if she breaks her promise the ancient spirit will punish her.”
“And why does this ‘ancient spirit’ care what she does?”
“Because it’s connected to me, so what I care about, it does, too,” Daemon admitted. He looked at his sister for understanding and she looked back, trying to judge how truthful he was being but she already knew he was telling her the truth.
“Fine, but don’t expect me to trust her. Anyway, I don’t think Mystique is going to be in any hurry to summon her,” Angelica conceded as she hugged Daemon before heading off to Medical.
Escape from Endeavor Page 60