Journal Entry 223 / 0252 As the elevator doors rattled closed behind us, I sagged against the brass railing and groaned.Journal Entry 223 / 0252 As the elevator doors rattled closed behind us, I sagged against the brass railing and groaned. "Why do I do this to myself?" "I was about to ask you that very question," Vence replied, staring out the glassed half-cylinder of the elevator down to the lobby below. As per regulations, he and I were alone in the elevator. "You do seem to be driving yourself far too hard for your own good." I nodded, smiling tiredly. "Don't these people realize I'm trying to save their nearly ruined ecosystem? I mean, just lightening the load on their food production by six percent could restore millions of cumets per hour of oxygenating territory. They're going to die if they don't accept the offer." "Shardik," my bodyguard began, "You should leave this sort of negotiation up to negotiators." "Diplomats," I snorted. "I have no time for diplomats." He turned to face me, leaning up against the brass railing, just as I was. "You don't have to do everything, Shardik. I don't expect you to be superhuman. I don't think anyone does. A century ago you nominated yourself as a representative figurehead, and I think it's time you went back to that role." "Did Joshua put you up to this?" "No, Sir, I put me up to this." The elevator seemed to sag as we came to a stop. The bell emitted a soft "ding!" followed by the doors opening. He led me out and continued as we walked down the hall. "You're a engineer, Shardik, not a diplomat. No matter what stance you may want to take, we do respect you for what you've done in the past and what you continue to do now as a member of the medical establishment. You're an ideas person, Sir, not an interactive person. And I suggest you leave it at that." "But..." "No offense, Sir, but you are a poor diplomat. Your obsession with your homeworld is admirable but not helpful." I stared at him in open, slack-jawed shock. "Vence-" "You could have me fired, Sir, and that would be an enormous loss of respect for me. But you also have pride in your ability to take good advice from good advisors. Now, in real life I'm nothing more than a body that's supposed to insert itself between you and a potential assassin, but that also makes me a Satryl with an ear on everything you hear and say, and as a Pendorian I think you should go home and leave the diplomacy to diplomats. |