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Brooks was, at this moment, messaging Ks’Kull.  But even if the Overlord jumped at the chance to meet with them, it would still take a few hours for such a meeting to take place.

“In the meantime, Executive Commander – get some rest,” Brooks had told him.

Urle wasn’t going to argue, but he was not ready or desiring of sleep.  Without the girls here, he had no reason to even keep to normal human activities like rest.  His body no longer strictly required it.

Even if interfacing with a ship’s computer as he had on the Bright Flower was draining, even for such a short time.  But he’d done it for far longer at times, in worse situations.

He did have work waiting, though.  Preparations to make, things to triple and quadruple check.  Every department had been on high alert, and he wanted to make sure that they were not losing their edge.

He was so distracted with such thoughts that he almost did not notice Kell’s presence.  Almost.

“Ambassador,” he said, jerking upright.  For a moment he felt irrationally annoyed that so many people around him had the same title, but that was only his weariness lashing out, and he pushed the feeling aside.  “What are you doing here?”

Kell was clearly making no effort to hide, nor sneak up on him; he was simply standing next to Urle’s office door.

Kell’s face was impassive, as it nearly always was, but his eyes swept over Urle probingly.  “I wished to ascertain for myself your condition,” he said flatly.

It took Urle a second to realize what he meant.  “You mean you wanted to know that I was all right?”

“Yes,” Kell replied.

“I am,” Urle said.  “I’m just distracted is all.”

Urle waited a moment, not sure what else to say.  His mind just didn’t come up with anything.  Kell made it no easier by saying nothing else.

Urle opened his door, stepping into his office.  Kell turned and began to walk away.

And then Urle remembered.

“Kell!”

The being turned, looking at him, then came back as Urle beckoned him.

“I have something for you, Ambassador.  It’s on my desk.”

He went into the room, and Kell didn’t seem to want to follow him until Urle said so.  “Please, come in.”

His office was a very busy space, he knew.  But it was not a slovenly one.  Sure, he had many piles, but they were organized piles.  This one was tech augments, all stacked neatly in storage boxes.  These were hard print-outs of manuals for parts of the ship – if the computers went out they’d be handy to have – and over there was his work station proper.  It had a screen that he didn’t even use for himself, only for when others were in.  When alone he’d just hook in himself.

And, of course, all over was art by his girls.

Taking the folded sheet that Persis had given him days earlier, he turned back to Kell.  He hadn’t meant to wait this long, but . . .

Unfolding the drawing, the crease marks disappeared, and he offered it.

“My daughter Persis drew this and wanted me to give it to you as a gift.”

Kell studied the drawing with what seemed to be severe confusion for a long moment before looking back up at Urle.

“What is it?” he asked.

“It’s a drawing of a Puffer Slug.  I, ah, hope that’s not insulting,” he added, remembering how he seemed to keep upsetting N’Keeea.

“I see,” Kell replied.  He didn’t reach up to take it, though.

“She meant for you to take it.  You don’t have to, Ambassador, but I would request that you do.  It is something that would mean a lot to her.”

Kell’s brow furrowed quizzically.  “What is the significance of it?”

“Well . . . her class were making things for members of the crew who didn’t have family aboard, and she thought of you.  So it represents her well-wishes for you while we are out here.”

“Are all of these totems the same?” Kell asked, looking past him, to the many pieces of art around his desk.  They were in crayon or paint, print-outs or repaintable sheets.  But they were all made by the two girls for him.  They often depicted him, or they and he, or sometimes the Craton itself.  All of them childish, but things he cherished and was proud of.

“I suppose so,” he replied.

Kell studied it again.  “I do not see how it represents that.”

Urle wasn’t sure he could either, but wasn’t sure what else to add.

“She did ask if I resembled this animal,” Kell noted.  “It is not that dissimilar in general shape.”

Still holding it, Urle wished that Kell would make up his mind about-

“I will accept it,” Kell said, reaching up for it.

“Persis will be very happy to hear that you did,” he told Kell.

“Ah,” Kell replied.

“You could put it up on your wall.  Just press it to the surface, and most walls will adhere.  If you want me to show you-“

“Unnecessary,” Kell replied.  Still holding it, he let his hands drop to his side and began to walk away.

“Kell, uh – thanks for checking on me,” Urle called after him.

Kell said nothing else, but continued away, and Urle went back to his desk, trying to decide just what might be going through the being’s mind.

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