Escape from Endeavor by Daniel A. Jones
***
Angelica didn’t want to scare Sara any more than necessary so she didn’t tell her what Shektee was. “I don’t want to get into it right now but trust me, Shektee is not to be trusted.”
One of the things Sara had learned on this planet was that there was a lot that she really didn’t want to know. If Angelica didn’t want to explain, she wasn’t going to push for an explanation. She went back to the control panel for the regeneration chamber to find out who was inside. It took her a few minutes to figure it out. She wasn’t very familiar with the controls of the chamber and didn’t want to accidently hurt the person inside. Finally, she was able to display the patient’s name, Nelson Lopez, the ship’s doctor. The display switched to a diagnostic readout of his condition. It said that Nelson was in cryogenic sleep. Sara didn’t understand; according to the other readouts he was in perfect health. The injuries he had when he was put in the chamber were healed but someone had put him into cryogenic sleep anyway.
Angelica came over to see what was taking Sara so long to get the chamber ready. “Nelson is in the chamber. Someone put him in cryogenic sleep,” Sara said as she took another look at the controls.
“How long will it take to get him out so we can put Mystique in?” Angelica asked, worried that if it took too long Mystique might wake up.
“I don’t know. I’ve never done anything that complicated,” Sara said, looking from Angelica to the controls and then to Mystique. “I wish Mac were here. He could do it. He’s fully qualified on every piece of equipment on this ship.”
“I sensed an injured man in the back section of the ship.”
“Let’s just pray he doesn’t need it, too,” Sara said as she started for the exit.
Angelica and Sara were just stepping into the corridor when Daemon came walking up. “How’s Mystique doing?”
“We ran into a problem. Someone put a guy called Nelson in the regeneration chamber. Sara can’t get him out without risking his life so we’re going to get Mac,” Angelica said as they walked down the corridor.
“Let me go first in case he attacks,” Daemon told them as he tried to move past them.
Angelica stopped him, putting a hand to his chest. “No, he’s weak and injured. We need him calm and cooperative, not scared you’re going to do something.”
Daemon didn’t like it but he dropped back to follow the girls a couple yards back.
When they reached the hatch to Engineering, Daemon ignored Angelica’s earlier argument and insisted on entering the engine room first so Sara stepped aside, and waited next to the controls for the door.
Angelica was about to protest when she felt Daemon loosen his hold on his beast so she kept silent.
Daemon could sense the aggression projected by the man in the next room so he wanted to be the first to meet him. He nodded to Sara, who triggered the door to open. Daemon stepped in, looking around for the aggressor. He relaxed and motioned the girls to come in when he spotted Mac chained to a pipe. It looked like someone had beaten him pretty bad. His right eye was swollen shut; the skin around it was varying shades of purple. His wrists were raw and bloody from where the chain had dug into them.
Sara gasped at the sight and ran over to help her friend and mentor. “Mac, it’s me, Sara. You’re safe now. Daemon, help me get him down.” Sara found a reserve of strength she didn’t know she had as she forgot about everything that had happened to her and thought only about helping Mac. She reached Mac first, gently hugging him and trying to help support some of his weight.
He tried to say something but between the swelling of his broken lips and lack of water only a rasping noise came out.
Daemon reached above him, grabbing the chain with his left hand so Mac wouldn’t fall when it was cut. Sara’s eyes went wide when a battle ax appeared in Daemon’s right hand and he swung it at the chain. The ax sliced through the chain and put a mark in the wall behind it and then it was gone. Daemon helped Sara lower Mac into a chair that Angelica had brought over. Sara almost fell on top of Mac as he fell the last few inches into the chair. Daemon released his grip on Mac’s chains and carefully pulled Sara away so Angelica could give Mac a drink of water.
Mac tried to open his mouth to drink but dried blood kept him from having much success; most of his first few sips dribbled down his chin and neck.
Angelica and Sara spent the next twenty minutes tending to Mac. He was dehydrated and had numerous cuts and bruises but nothing serious or life-threatening. Angelica used her healing ability to reset his arms; they had been pulled out of their sockets by his own body weight while he hung from the pipe. Sara gave him a shot from the med kit they kept near the control panels to ease his pain.
Daemon tried not to think about Mystique and her need for care, instead he busied himself examining the engines and power plant.
Mac slowly regained the ability to speak. “Where’s Jim?”
Sara started to respond when Angelica stated, “Daemon killed him for raping me.” Her tone dared Mac to object to what had been done.
“Good. I don’t know what got into that kid but he deserved what he got.”
“I doubt that,” Daemon commented as he walked over.
Mac gave him a confused look, knowing only that Daemon had been the one who’d killed Jim, not how he’d done it.
“How are Stacey and Nelson and who are you two, anyway?” Mac asked, changing the subject.
“My name’s Angelica, and this is my brother, Daemon.”
“Nelson is in cryogenic sleep. I don’t know about Stacey,” Sara said. “Angelica, can you sense her?”
“Yes, I think I sensed her before Jim came to get me. She was up near where Jim took me, in another cabin across the hall.”
Mac stared at Angelica for a few seconds. “Are you some kind of psychic? I heard about them but never met one before. Well, I guess it makes sense with all the radiation changing the plants that you would develop some psychic ability.”
“Yes, I guess so. I can sense what others are feeling and I can help people heal.”
“Mac, we need you to get Nelson out of the regeneration chamber. A girl from town got badly burned and needs treatment,” Sara said.
“Screw that. We take care of the crew first. I’m going to find Stacey and see if she needs help,” Mac stated as he got up.
Daemon shot his hand out and grabbed Mac by the neck and lifted him until they were face-to-face. Mac was too surprised to do anything but gasp for air. Sara shrieked in terror as her mind filled with images of what Daemon might do to Mac. Angelica grabbed Daemon’s arm, yelling at him to let Mac go.
Daemon very calmly told Mac, “You will tend to Mystique or I will kill every member of the crew.” He dropped Mac to the floor and turned to leave, ignoring everything said behind him.
“Daemon!” Angelica shouted with enough feeling to make him stop and turn around. He stared at his sister for a few seconds before leaving.
“You need to get to Medical fast; he’s not bluffing,” Angelica told Mac and Sara as she ran for the hatch.
“Screw him and screw you. I’m not helping either one of you,” Mac croaked out as he rubbed his sore neck.
“I’ll try to calm him down and talk some sense into him. Sara, you need to get to Medical and do what you can,” Angelica told them over her shoulder as she left the room.
“Who the hell does he think he is? What gives him the right to board our ship and start making demands?” Mac ranted at Sara as she helped him into a chair.
“He’s the guy that saved my life more times than I can count since we landed on this hell hole. He is also the scariest person I’ve ever met, so please help me,” Sara pleaded with him.
“All right, I’ll help you, not them,” Mac conceded as he climbed to his feet and motioned Sara to lead the way.
31
Angelica caught up to Daemon and followed him without saying a word. She focused on using her ability to calm him down as they walked. She could tell he was still a
When they reached the galley Daemon stopped and turned to her. “I’m going to get something to eat. Do you want anything?”
“Sure. Are you willing to talk?”
“Yeah, but I meant what I said: If he doesn’t help Mystique, I’ll kill him,” Daemon stated as he crossed the small dining hall and entered the galley.
Angelica followed him, thinking how best to talk him out of killing anyone and trying to understand why he was so upset.
Daemon pulled the pin from the handle and opened the door to the pantry. Shektee had reverted to her natural form and was sitting on the floor, leaning against the far wall. The plate of meat was empty and on the floor next to her. She started standing up when Daemon opened the door. Daemon motioned her to come out so she stepped past him as he entered the pantry. Daemon started picking items off the shelves and reading the labels as he looked for something to eat.
Angelica had been so focused on Daemon that she’d missed Shektee and was surprised when she entered the kitchen. Shektee looked at her and smiled. ”Does my appearance make you uncomfortable? I can change it if you wish.”
“What? Don’t talk to me. Stay away from me,” Angelica blurted out as she backed away from Shektee.
Shektee decided it would be best for her to change and look human. She chose the form of the woman she’d been using when she’d first met Angelica. The transformation only took second to complete and thankfully very little energy. “There, does that make you feel more comfortable?”
Angelica watched the transformation in amazement, her mouth hanging slightly open. Daemon stuck his head out to see what was going on and laughed at the stupid expression on his sister’s face. Angelica snapped her mouth shut and glared at Shektee, who only smiled slightly in amusement. She was beginning to understand the ancient’s interest in these other emotions.
“I can teach you some minor magic, if you like. I don’t understand the shape change magic enough yet to teach it to you, though,” Shektee offered thinking if she could become useful to Angelica, she would stop trying to get Daemon to kill her.
“What do you mean? I can’t use magic. All I can do is heal people and sense their emotional state.”
“Ah, but you can, and you can learn to do more. You can manipulate the emotions of others, like you’re trying to do to Daemon right now,” Shektee stated, in her matter of fact manner.
Daemon stuck his head out again. “Yeah, she tries that on me all the time. She hasn’t figured out it never works.”
“The ancient protects you from any influence but its own. I would not be able to affect you and my skills are far more refined then your sister’s,” Shektee said to Daemon, then turned back to Angelica. “I mean no offense; you have a great deal of raw power but little skill in using it.”
“What are you talking about? What ancient is protecting him?”
“Well, according to her and a dream I had there is some ancient spirit or something on the other side of the Rift that has bonded with me. He said he did it so he could experience what it was like to be human or something like that. I really thought it was a dream until she showed up,” Daemon said to both of them.
Shektee knew more than Angelica but she had had no idea that the ancient had actually bonded with Daemon.
“You mean you’re possessed?” Angelica asked.
“I don’t know. I guess kind of, but he doesn’t control what I do. He just observes what I do and feel, or that’s what he told me he’s doing.”
“Ancients are beings that have lived for eons. They have gathered immense power and learned vast amounts of knowledge. They follow their own rules and they do things for their own reasons. You shouldn’t bother trying to figure out what it wants. Your reasoning and logic don’t apply. Suffice that it has plans for you and it will let you know when it wants you to do something.”
“You’re working for this ancient? Is he your master or something?” Angelica asked.
“Yes, any that gain the notice of an ancient either becomes its servant or its food. My current task makes your brother my master. I am to do what he tells me and assist him in any way that I can. The ancient that has taken an interest in your brother seems benevolent. I hope that if I serve it well enough it will allow me the freedom to do as I please while I wait for it to give me a new task.”
“You’re saying you’re its slave. Well, that sucks. Can’t you run away?” Daemon asked.
“No, it can summon me from anywhere at any time it chooses. I am luckier than most. Like I said, it has been a benevolent master. We should change the subject before something is said that upsets it.” Shektee was starting to feel uncomfortable talking about the ancient and she wasn’t sure if it was her feeling or one the ancient had given her.
“You said you learned our language from reading the mind of one of your victims?” Daemon asked Shektee, equally glad to change the subject.
“Yes, I can read the mind of anyone I am in physical contact with. I do not have to harm them if you don’t want me to, but it does take energy. This reminds me, I am still hungry. The meat filled my stomach but it gave me very little energy.”
“Angie, could you give her an energy boost? We don’t want her getting too hungry and attacking someone.”
“What? No! I’m not helping her. Are you forgetting she’s a demon?”
“No, but if Mac doesn’t want to operate the medical chamber for Mystique then Shektee can pull the information out of his head and do it. But she needs to feed to bring her energy levels back up so she can do it. I really don’t want her to feed on anyone, but I will let her in order to help Mystique.” Daemon made the last part a statement of fact to make sure his sister believed him.
“I have recently found I do not have to kill when I feed. I just have to control my hunger and stop before I take too much life energy from my prey,” Shektee reminded him, still trying to convince Angelica she wasn’t a mindless monster that had to be killed.
“I was hoping you could help her with your healing, give her an energy boost like you have been doing for Sara to eliminate her fatigue.”
“If I do, you have to promise not to harm any of the crew.”
“All right, if it works and she can operate the chamber, I won’t kill anyone.”
“No, whether it works or not, you don’t hurt anyone.”
“Fine, I promise.”
Shektee stood silently observing the negotiations, interested in how it worked. She thought that Daemon had the upper hand and that he should dictate the terms of their agreement but he didn’t. Angelica was negotiating from a position of weakness but acted like she was in charge and therefore forced Daemon to concede to her demands. The emotional exchange was even more interesting. She was going to have to think about this for a while; maybe Daemon would be willing to explain it at some point.
“Okay, Shektee, let me know if it works,” Angelica said as she focused on Shektee. She was surprised to find that Shektee was controlling her desires; they were still there but they were being contained. Angelica started to send her energy into Shektee to wash away her fatigue.
Shektee had never felt anything like it before. The energy Angelica was sending her was pure and refreshing in ways that Shektee had never experienced before. It satisfied her hunger and made her feel strong. Shektee lost control for just a second and started to pull at Angelica’s life energy.
Angelica felt the change in the flow of energy and it scared her into breaking the connection between them.
“I am sorry.” Shektee pleaded as she dropped to the floor at Angelica’s feet.
Daemon grabbed his sister and pulled her behind him, not sure what was going on. Shektee didn’t move; she kept her forehead pressed to the floor, waiting for Daemon to kill her and hoping he wouldn’t.
“Angie, are you okay? What happened?” Daemon demanded, upset he’d put his sister in danger by trusting a demon. How stupid could he be?
“I’m all right, calm down, she didn’t hurt
“I am sorry. I didn’t mean to but the energy you were giving me was so pure and strong. I couldn’t stop myself. I didn’t mean to take any, I just couldn’t help myself,” Shektee said, looking up at them from the floor.
“It’s okay, it just caught me by surprise. I’ve never felt anything like that before, either,” Angelica told her as she reached down to give Shektee a hand standing up. She didn’t like seeing anyone grovel, not even a demon.
“I take it, it worked. Are you still hungry?” Daemon asked as he relaxed. He looked at the food he’d brought from the pantry and decided he wasn’t going to try figuring out how to cook it.
“I am satisfied for now. Thank you both.” Shektee stated bowing her head slightly. She was still hungry but it was not close to being uncontrollable so she hoped a little lie would be allowed.
“Okay, let’s go find Mac and see if he’s helping Mystique or not. Angie, can you tell where they are?”
“Yes I think they’re in Medical.”
Shektee touched Daemon’s arm to get his attention and when he stopped to look at her, she told him. “I can take control of anyone here, other than you, of course, if you wish.”
Angelica stopped in the corridor to wait for them. Daemon turned away from Shektee and left for the corridor. He hadn’t thought about having Shektee take control of anyone. Shektee followed Daemon out and down the corridor.
It only took them a couple minutes to get to the medical facilities. Sara was standing next to Mac at the regeneration chamber. Mac was manipulating the controls as Sara watched. Mystique was sleeping on the examination table in the middle of the room. Angelica went to check on her as Daemon stood watching Mac and Sara. Shektee waited behind Daemon and reached out with her senses to determine the health and emotional state of the two new humans.
Sara had heard the door open and turned to face them. Mac continued his work, ignoring everything else. “We are going through the steps to revive Nelson so we can remove him from the chamber. It will only take a few more minutes.” The pleading look Sara flashed Angelica told Daemon she was lying.
“Sara, would you help me find and bring Stacey here? Angie told me where she is but she may be more cooperative if she sees a familiar face,” Daemon asked in a subdued voice. He could feel her fear of him and he felt a little ashamed.
Mac turned at the mention of Stacey’s name. He realized for the first time what Daemon was wearing. “Take those cloths off! Both of you, Sara, get them some coveralls. How dare you wear the captain’s clothes?”
Daemon reacted to the authority in Mac’s command and started stripping. Shektee followed Daemon’s example and stripped, too.
Sara opened a drawer with decontamination coveralls. She pulled out one triple extra-large and one medium and brought them over to the two. Daemon took his and almost ran out of the room in embarrassment at being naked in front of all these people. Shektee didn’t understand the concept of shame so she just stood there naked and took the package and looked at it, not sure what to do with it.
“Who are you again?” Sara asked a little nervously, remembering Angelica’s warning that Shektee wasn’t to be trusted.
“My name is Shektee. I am here to help Daemon.”
“Let’s not get into that right now, Shektee. Here, let me help you put that on,” Angelica interrupted as she stepped over and took the package containing the coveralls.
Shektee didn’t understand but she decided if Angelica didn’t want her to talk about why she was there, then she wouldn’t.
Angelica opened the package and pulled out the coveralls, shaking them as she did. She guided Shektee into them as Sara watched, confused at how anyone could not know how to get dressed.
“Angie, you coming with us?” Daemon asked as he stuck his head back in the room.
“No, I’m going to stay here with Mystique. You three go get Stacey.”
“I know you don’t trust her, but do you want Shektee to stay in case Mac tries something?”
“No, I’ll be fine, now get going, would you?” Angelica replied, looking at Mac.
32
Daemon motioned for Shektee and Sara to join him in the corridor. The three headed to Stacey’s cabin at a brisk walk. It didn’t take long before they were standing at her door.
Sara knocked softly at first and called to her but she didn’t answer. Sara tried to open the door but found that it was locked. She motioned for Daemon to do whatever he’d done to get her door open. Shektee stood back and watched what was going on and stayed out of the way. Daemon called forth his ax which made Sara gasp in surprise. He told her to step back as he stabbed the tip into the door’s control panel the way he had before. He was ready for the shock this time as the electricity passed through him when the door shorted out. He put his ax away and pushed on the door to slide it open. Daemon and Shektee waited in the corridor as Sara went inside to check on Stacey.
At first Sara couldn’t find her; she’d squeezed herself under the bed, under a blanket. Sara slowly pulled the blanket away to reveal Stacey’s battered and abused form. Stacey had her face turned to the wall so Sara couldn’t see the worst of the abuse. Sara tried talking softly to Stacey, reassuring her everything was all right now and that she was safe.
In the corridor, Shektee touched Daemon’s arm to get his attention and then stepped back down the corridor a little way so they could talk without being overheard.
“The female hiding in there is dying. I have seen it before. She has lost the will to live and is allowing her life energy to fade.”
“What? How can you tell?” Daemon asked, confused, and not sure why Shektee was volunteering the information.
“She is allowing her life energy to dissipate, and without it her body will succumb to the wounds she has suffered. She will die very soon without Angelica’s help.” Shektee wondered if he was going to act on her information or keep asking her questions while the female died. It didn’t matter to her, but she was curious what emotions he would feel.
“Why are you telling me this?” Daemon asked, looking into her eyes, trying to figure out if she was telling the truth. Before Shektee was able to respond, Daemon realized there was no reason for her to lie so she was telling the truth, which meant he had to get Stacey to Angelica fast if she was going to live. Daemon burst into the room and dropped to the floor next to Sara with such speed Sara instinctively jumped back away from him. He snaked his arm under the bed and grabbed Stacey by the arm and pulled. In her weakened state, Stacey didn’t even try to fight him, she just slid out. Daemon carefully picked her up and passed her out the door to Shektee. Sara got to her feet and followed Daemon as he stepped out and took Stacey back from Shektee.
Daemon tried not to jostle Stacey too much as he ran back to the medical compartment. Sara was right behind him, worry written across her face as she tried to figure out why Daemon was in such a hurry. Shektee walked along behind them in no particular hurry, glad her leg was finally fully healed. Angelica was waiting at the hatch to Medical, aware that Daemon was on his way and worried, but not why. Mac had just gotten Nelson out of the chamber when Angelica had felt the change in Daemon.
“Something’s wrong, Daemon is running back here with Stacey.”
Daemon passed Stacey through the hatch to Angelica. Angelica took Stacey and lay her down on the table next to Mystique. Mac started to pull Mystique off the table when Daemon growled at him. The sound carried so much menace Mac froze out of instinct. Daemon carefully picked Mystique up and carried her to the empty chamber.
Mac shifted into the emptied space to get a better look at Stacey. Her face was covered in bruises, both eyes were swollen shut. Her jaw was misaligned, meaning it was either dislocated or broken, possibly both. Her lips were cracked and swollen with broken teeth visible between them. Bruises and friction burns covered most of the rest of her body. Mac could see at least three broken ribs as they shifted with each shallow bre
Mac turned away in disgust. He’d seen beating victims before but never this bad. It was a miracle she was still alive. To Mac’s surprise, Daemon stood next to the chamber, cradling Mystique in his arms. He’d expected him to put her in the chamber as soon as he got her to it. Stacey was in desperate need of the chamber but Mac knew he had no way of forcing Daemon to let her use it first. Mac resigned himself to the fact that the fastest way to get Stacey into the regeneration chamber was to help Mystique first.
He positioned himself at the controls and told Daemon, “Lay her down in the middle and make sure her arms and legs are straight,” but Daemon didn’t move. He just stood staring at Angelica.
Mac realized that Angelica was holding Stacey’s head. Her hands were pressed against Stacey’s ears and temple and she was staring into Stacey’s eyes. A faint aura of light was radiating from Angelica as Mac watched Stacey’s jaw pop back into the socket and the bone realign.
Sara slowly inched over to Mac and took his hand for strength. Shektee watched with interest having never seen healing magic before. They all watched as Angelica poured every ounce of energy she had into healing Stacey. When she had nothing left to give, Angelica collapsed; only Shektee’s supernatural reflexes kept her from hitting the deck. Sara got a wheelchair from the supply closet and helped Shektee put Angelica in it.
“She needs rest and when she wakes she will need a lot of food,” Shektee instructed Sara.
“I’ll take her to my cabin and then make us all something to eat,” Sara volunteered
“Shektee, please go with her and help with whatever you can,” Daemon said.
“As you wish,” Shektee replied, intrigued by the pleading undertones in his voice. She led Sara out into the corridor.
After they had left, Nelson asked, “Who was that? And what the heck is going on?” He was sitting in another wheelchair in the corner where Mac had left him. Nelson tried to stand but his legs wouldn’t hold him and as a result he collapsed to the deck. Mac stepped over to help Nelson get back into the chair before explaining.
“Jim went crazy and almost killed you. I was able to get you into the regeneration chamber before he could finish the job. I was worried he would attack you again so I set it to put you in cryogenic sleep once the regeneration cycle was finished.”
“Who was the glowing girl?”
“Angelica, my sister,” Daemon told him in a voice barely above a whisper. “She was healing Stacey.”
“What happened to Stacey?” Nelson demanded as he wheeled himself to one of the drawers and started looking through its contents.
“She’s alive but I’m not sure how bad her injuries are. Angelica is some kind of psychic healer,” Mac said.
“Who are those two?” Nelson asked as he indicated Daemon and Mystique. Nelson pulled a small pistol-looking device from the drawer and wheeled himself to another drawer, though he had to unlock this one before he could open it. He retrieved a small red vial and attached it to the top of the pistol and then shot himself in both legs.
“My name is Daemon. This is Mystique. She got badly burned during our fight with Jim. Are you the ship’s doctor?” Daemon asked.
“Yes.”
“Good. My sister almost killed herself saving Stacey and I’m sure she needs more treatment, but so does Mystique.”
“Mac, put Stacey in the chamber and run a diagnostic on her. You can put Mystique on the examining table once it’s clear,” Nelson instructed. Mac reached to pick up Stacey as Daemon stepped out of the way. Mac carefully placed Stacey in the chamber and started operating the controls.
Nelson wheeled himself next to the examination table to get a better look at Mystique. ”Could you wait outside, there isn’t a lot of room in here for spectators.”
Daemon didn’t move. “I told Mac if he didn’t help I would kill every member of the crew. I‘m sorry; I was just so worried about Mystique. I’ll try not to hurt anyone. I promise,” Daemon said to Nelson before leaving the room.
“Pleasant fellow. One of the natives, I take it,” Nelson commented as the hatch sealed behind Daemon.
“Yeah, Sara says he saved her life a couple of times. I guess insanity and over-aggressive behavior are common on this planet.”
“How’s Sara?”
“She’s pretty badly shaken up. I don’t think she’s had time to think about what’s happened. Once she does she’s probably going to lose it. On the positive side, she was able to get the parts I sent her after. Jim dropped them in Engineering after he got back from picking her up. I should be able to get us flying again,” Mac told him as he waited for the medical program to run its course.
“Stacey looked pretty bad. Can you pilot the ship back to Nebular 4?”
“I can get us into orbit, maybe to the jump point, but that’s it. There’s no way I can figure out the jump coordinates. I wouldn’t know where to start.”
“Well, at least we can get away from the Rift and this cursed planet. Stacey can get us home once she’s healed up.”
“The natives think we are going to give them a ride off planet. We’re going to have to figure out a way to get them off the ship, or at least that brute. The girl, Shektee, would fetch a good price on the flesh market. Angelica being a psionic is worth big money to a lot of different groups,” Mac said.
Nelson was surprised. He had never heard Mac talk about the slave trade and had always assumed it repulsed him as much as it did himself.
“I know you have some strong sedatives in here. You call him back in here and while you’re talking to him I’ll get behind him and shoot him full of drugs,” Mac suggested.
Nelson was starting to worry about his friend when the hatch cycled open to reveal Daemon waiting to come in.
Daemon was shaking his head as he walked into the room and cycled the hatch shut. “I just promised not to hurt you and you started plotting to attack me. Dumb idea.” Daemon hoped a show of force was all they needed to give up their plan of attacking him. He had felt Mac’s aggressiveness building and when it focused on him, he knew he was Mac’s target. Nelson wasn’t being hostile at all and now that he saw him, Daemon thought he might be a little scared already.
“I killed Jim while he was fully armored. Do you really think you stand a chance?” Daemon called forth his ax and swung it hard into the hatch. He wasn’t surprised when it sliced right through, leaving a large gash. “My sister isn’t the only psychic in the family. I’ll be out in the corridor.” He smiled broadly as he cycled the door open and stepped into the corridor.
The two men just stared for a few moments before turning back to their tasks in silence.