* * *
“Well, I've confirmed that Dristane is on his way. He'll be here in two days, probably late in the morning,” Kyell said as he and Sabanda walked through the hallway that opened to the elevated breezeway near the Command Center. “Do you think he’ll give us any real help…or just be a total nuisance?” It was phrased as a question, but Kyell’s tone revealed his very definite opinion.
Sabanda shrugged, “With the arrangement we’ve just completed, we have little enough to do until we hear from Jazon. Besides, I went back and reviewed Dristane’s full dossier. He certainly has an impressive educational background and work résumé. His credentials really are exceptional. Even though his early work was mostly theoretical, his more recent efforts actually have focused on more practical applications. Just before hibernation, he was working on a device that— theoretically— could result in some new mode of transportation. I could barely fathom his theory’s complex physics, but it seems to involve developing an entirely new concept of rapid, controlled movement through interstellar space.”
“Yeah, I saw the brief of his background: Astrophysics and propulsion systems— two heavies. I bet it won't take long for him to brag about how brilliant he is, and then bore us to death with his theories,” groused Kyell. “I wonder if he ever gets tired of carrying his head around.”
He noticed, with gratification, that Sabanda hiding a smile and a certain merriment dancing in her eyes. Oh, well. Right now I’d be willing to suffer any fool if it’ll take her mind off her worries, even for a little while.
Encouraged, Kyell continued his jest, “Or, maybe, instead of one swelled head, he has two smaller ones. That way, when they’re not lecturing at us, they can argue with each other.”
Sabanda, giggled at Kyell’s fresh reprise of his long-standing disdain for intellectuals. Then she remarked dryly, “Well then, you’d better remember not to butt heads with him. You’re outnumbered!”