Make it Official

Month 6, Day 13

Dr Drake McGregor

1242 hours

It took several attempts for Drake to get Smitty shaken awake. The engineer’s eyes half opened, but didn’t look focused. “Wha--?” He didn’t sound alert, either.

“How’s your head?” Drake asked.

Smitty took forever to get his thoughts pulled together. “Better. I guess. Still hurts.” He started to roll over, his eyes closing.

Drake already knew that from the medical readout on the wall. “Yeah, you’re not quite done. But you need to get out of here.” He grabbed the engineer’s upper arm to pull him off the bed. “Go. Do your sleeping in your quarters.”

“Why?” Smitty asked, and staggered to keep on his feet. “What’s going on?”

“Ambassadors from Yukosk have arrived, and it turns out they’re not nearly as friendly as the rank and file Yukoskians.”

“Who?” Smitty leaned against the bed, obviously still not sure of his footing.

“Kolla and S’thyme. The doctors and engineers.” Seeing confusion on Smitty’s face, he again grabbed the man’s arm in frustration, to take him to his quarters himself. “Those are the friendly ones. But now the ambassadors - the big-wigs - have arrived, dressed in all the regalia a person can imagine and then some.”

As they headed for the exit, Mac groaned and tossed her head to one side. Smitty stopped short to look at her. “She’s waking up.”

“Not my idea, but they refuse to talk to anyone else.”

Smitty frowned. “They were trying to keep her asleep earlier, weren’t they?”

I know he’s still kind of out of it, but I have no idea what is going through his mind. “Who?”

“What’s her face. Koleen. And the guy, uh… showed up looking for her. For Koleen.”

“Oh, you mean Kolla and S’thyme. Yes, they want her to sleep, to get well. But the others insist on talking to her.”

“The doctors? Or the engineers?”

Man, he is mixed up. “The ambassadors. They refuse to talk to anybody but the original contact Kolla had. And they’re going to be here any min—“

With a drawn-out yelp, Colleen abruptly sat up straight, leaned to one side with her eyes mostly closed, then fell off her bed, but somehow landed on her feet with her knees buckled and her hands clutching at the next bed – the same bed Drake had just pulled Smitty from. She looked around, eyes blinking, as if she couldn’t figure out where she was. Both men started forward to help her, while she straightened her legs and started to climb onto the empty bed she held.

Drake grabbed her shoulders to pull her upright, while Smitty picked up her legs to put them on the bed. “Hey!” she complained, and started twisting around until she could see Drake’s face. “Oh, ‘s you. Lemme sleep, Doc, I feel like—“

Somebody cleared their throat, and they all turned to see who had come in. Just inside the door stood 5 Yukoskians; Kolla and S’thyme with 3 others with white faces. Nothing else could be seen of the 3 ambassadors, as their entire body was covered in robes, hats, shawls, sashes, various pieces of garish jewelry… There were so many colors involved, Drake could hardly tell where one ambassador ended and the next began. Next to them, Jane looked downright plain, even in her dress uniform.

Mac twisted away from the sight so forcefully, Smitty lost his grip on her legs, and suddenly supporting her entire weight was more than Drake was ready for. He landed on the floor, and all the air was forced from his lungs when the young lady landed atop him. She rolled off, and he gratefully pulled air in.

“That made my eyes hurt more than my head does,” Mac muttered, and found her way to her knees. “Sorry, Doc, I know I’m heavy. You okay?”

Drake pulled in another deep breath. “I’ll live,” came out hoarsely. He watched her climb to her feet, then accepted her offered hand. She pulled him up so forcefully, he lost touch of the floor for a second. But once he was on his feet, he could see her eyes were barely open, and her shoulders and back were hunched, as if she were ready to succumb to gravity and fall to the floor. Again.

“Straighten up,” Smitty whispered. “Make as good an impression as you can.”

Her eyes glazed over at the sound of his voice. Before she pulled herself together – again – Kolla skipped forward and pulled her into a big hug. Mac’s eyes grew big in surprise, then sought Drake’s attention. Her lips moved soundlessly, but it was plain she was asking, “Who is this?”

“Kolla,” Drake answered calmly.

Mac’s expression changed to joy, and she returned the hug enthusiastically, but carefully. “I’m glad our crazy scheme worked, Kolla.”

“I wish I could speak to you privately,” the translator whispered.

“Do you remember any Gaelunder?” Mac asked.

“Oh, yes,” Kolla assured her.

Mac broke away and reached up to adjust the translator. “I don’t think anybody else here speaks Gaelunder,” she stated. The ladies said more, but Mac had switched languages, and the translator also. Drake didn’t understand any of it.

Smitty, Drake realized, was frowning at the women in disapproval. What’s his problem? They’ve been through a mess together, so if they want a private conversation, let them. Looking up, he realized the others were approaching. As they crossed the room, Jane raised her eyebrows to silently ask a question. Drake gave a small shrug; he didn’t know what the women were talking about.