Page 30 of A World Enough

“Usually? That’s great. By the Great Mother, how did I end up in a spaceship, with silver cuffs on, relying on someone who can’t pilot a spaceship?” Brogan hit her forehead on the panel in front of her.

“Don’t panic.”

Camber got a small computer pad out of her pocket. “The Abnobians use programmable matter, as I told you. That I know. I’m just trying to check my notes that show me how to activate it.”

Brogan threw her head back on the headrest in frustration. “A how-to manual at this moment isn’t good.”

Camber waved her away. “Just give me a second.”

“Transport five, is there a problem. Do you need assistance?”

“Fuck. What now? They’ve noticed us,” Brogan said in panic.

Camber hovered hands over pilot controls. A golden light enveloped her hands.

“One more second.”

“You said that thirty seconds ago.” Brogan said. “Do something.”

“So it’s this symbol to the right.” Camber swept her hand in the shape of an infinity symbol. “Now I’m in autopilot…”

“Transport five, please respond.”

“Camber, we’re about to get shot out of the sky.”

“Now I enter the destination and—”

Brogan slammed back against the seat and rolled onto the floor. “Fuck.”

Camber chuckled. “Sorry, I should have warned you. But we’re on our way to a safe little space I know.”

Brogan dug her hands into her hair. “This is going to be a nightmare.”

Camber laughed.

Chapter Eight

“This would be easier if your Map Keeper told us where the portal was,” Morrigan said.

The small shuttle that carried Margot and her portal guardians had been waiting in space about two hours away from Oipra, far enough away not to be identified as a threat, but close enough to monitor communications on the planet.

Margot shook her head. “The people down there are oppressed enough. At the moment the Abnobians have to use ships for transport and transporting their minerals from this world. If they had access to a network of portals from here, it would make them richer and their plans for realm-wide control a reality.”

“I understand.” Morrigan sat herself down on her seat.

Jhosa turned around to face Morrigan. “Why did you stay around on Gaia, when our ancestors left? The Danu monks ordered everyone back.”

“They call it Earth now, but we didn’t all leave,” Morrigan said.

“Your brother, for example,” Margot said.

“I liked the people, and there wasn’t a good reason to come home. My mother and I don’t see eye to eye, so I did come back, just not to Vetia.”

“Really?” Thane said with disdain.

“The people of Earth are not to be underestimated. Given that the human population raced so far forward in technology so quickly, and the paranormals there are descendants of our realm, I think it was always likely our peoples would come running towards each other, even after the Tuatha De Danann hid the portal to their world.”

“We need to find them,” Margot said. “This wolf will be more trusting if you are there.”