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The door to Kell’s cabin would not open when Brooks asked for entrance.
He knew the being was in there, or at least had a very good idea of it. After leaving the Chain, the Ambassador had come straight back to his cabin – still bleeding – and spoken not a word to anyone. Dr. Y and Cenz had both tried to speak to him, but had been ignored.
And since going in, the door had not opened.
Brooks had no eyes in Kell’s quarters. They did not have eyes in anyone’s quarters, but sensors from other parts of the ship could sometimes pick up information – mostly the vibrations carried through floors of movement or talking.
But since Kell had come in here, they’d detected nothing.
Brooks did not know the extent of Kell’s injuries. Was it the equivalent of a scrape on the knee to his kind, or was it serious?
Was Kell even still alive?
“Ambassador, please open the door. I need to speak with you.”
It was the third time that he’d sent the message in. There was still no response.
He clicked the intercom again. “I need to know that you are all right, Ambassador. I will have no choice but to come in if I believe your life is in danger.”
He felt a trickle of sweat go down the back of his neck. The Treaty of Tor was strict in such cases, and Brooks knew that he played a dangerous game. To violate the territory of the Shoggoths was more than simply an unlawful entry, in the treaty the words had left little question;
The Sovereign Territory of the Shoggoth People is inviolable, and unlawful and knowing violation of this right is considered an act of aggression by any being under any pretext.
While Kell was an ambassador, his quarters were considered the territory of his people.
But while Brooks would not actually risk entering, to simply say he would was not a breech of the treaty. He just hoped that Kell did not call his bluff.
“Captain,” Cenz’s voice came through his comm. “I am detecting large vibrations within Ambassador Kell’s quarters. I believe he is moving.”
Taking a deep breath, Brooks steeled himself as the door opened.
Kell was standing there, his expression neutral. There was no longer blood on his face or clothing, he looked impeccable.
“I did not expect such ignorance from you, Captain,” the Ambassador said. His voice was cold, and there was an inhuman quality to it; a sort of echo, as if many voices spoke as one.
Brooks met the eyes of the Shoggoth. A shiver went down his spine and he felt as if he was facing his death.
He kept his eyes locked to Kell’s.
“I had to know your life was not in danger, Ambassador,” he replied. “Even if it was a violation of the Treaty of Tor, I would suffer the consequences.”
“Why?” Kell demanded.
“To make sure you did not die,” Brooks said. “You are under my care, and the Sapient Union chooses life.”
“Not your own,” Kell replied coldly.
Brooks did not back down. “If necessary, I would make that call.”
Kell’s head tilted ever so slightly. “Is this all you required to speak with me about?”
“It is the primary concern, but not the only one. I need to talk to you about what happened on the station.”
Kell said nothing, taking a step back. Brooks was ready for the door to shut, but it did not.
“Enter,” the Ambassador said.
Surprised, Brooks hesitated for just a moment before doing as bidden, and crossing the threshold into Kell’s quarters.
It was dark in the room, almost as dark as a moonless night, and his eyes took a few moments to adjust. He had not seen the interior of the room since before Kell had joined the ship, and he looked around, curious just what kind of decor a being such as it would have picked.
To say it was Spartan was not doing it justice; the walls were bare, as were the shelves. There were no pieces of furniture, even the basic chairs built into the walls of each cabin were folded back up.
A large pool dominated the room; there were only a few meters around the edge that was not taken up by it, and besides that there was nothing.
And it was cold. A deep cold that made his skin prickle, and there might even have been ice floating in the water of the pool.
Kell had moved to one side and was waiting for him to speak.
“Firstly, Ambassador – are you hurt?”
“It is nothing you need concern yourself with,” Kell replied.
“I am afraid you being injured is my concern. Do you require medical care?”
Kell seemed almost amused. “When I say you do not need to concern yourself, I mean that I will suffer no lasting harm. Injuries do not concern a Shoggoth unless they are far worse than this.”
“Do you need antibiotics, or-“
“No illness affects my kind,” Kell interjected. “I consider this a private matter that is now closed.”
Other Terrestrial 