Page 115 of Every Almost

"You're quite welcome,Solas," Kess replied. Reyna whipped around and...oh, yep, there's the fourth look.You know, if Charlie didn't know any better, she'd think Kess and Reyna were sisters. "I'll have Charlie's full diagnostic results later on, Captain. You can return then and we can make sure we haveeverythingwe need to care for Charlie while she's here."

Reyna stopped and turned on her heel. "Thank you, Pheras. I'll return later on to discuss."

"I'll be waiting," Kess replied.

"Now," Reyna said, pulling Charlie's attention. "I need to brief the Admiral about your arrival. My office is just down the corridor. And on the way, I'd like you to meet the rest of the crew."

Charlie hopped off the med bed. "More aliens to meet?"

"More aliens to meet," Reyna confirmed with a smile. "Try to contain yourself."

"No promises," Charlie said.

Reyna's officewasn’t as big as Charlie expected. It wasn't cramped at all but instead felt personal. A desk that looked like it had seen decades of use with a chair behind it, and several seats arranged in front. Shelves along one wall held objects Charlie couldn't identify. The room had the feel of a place where decisions were made and lived with afterward.

Torvax approached them, coming up beside Reyna. "I've called everyone in as you requested. All present and accounted for, ready for introductions."

"Thank you, Torvax," Reyna said. "Would you like to start?"

Torvax stood at attention, stock straight and all business. "Though we have already met, I am First Mate Torvax, a Droven, and have been with the Emberkind for thirteen years. My credentials include a First Sigil of the Judortanica Assembly, a First Manjoriam for the Coalition Council for Effective Protocol, a Second String placement on the?—"

"Torvax?" Reyna interrupted.

"Yes, Captain?"

"Perhaps, instead of letting us know how impressive you are, you can ask our resident Earthling here any questions you may have?" And then almost immediately, Torvax began firing questions at Charlie with the precision of a formal interrogation.

"How long were you unconscious before you awoke in the vat of Gula Cake batter?"

"Uh..."

"Were you aware of any sensory displacement before materialization?"

"What does that even?—"

"Did you experience temporal distortion?"

"Does that mean 'did I lose my mind?!'"

"Do you have any weapons on your person?"

"No, I have opinions about the Second Amendment."

"What is the current political structure of your planet?"

"Oh. WELL... that's going to take a while to explain. You see?—"

"Okay, Torvax," Reyna cut in, her voice carrying that easy authority Charlie was starting to recognize. "Maybe we can leave the questions for later."

Torvax straightened. "My apologies. We can continue."

For a half-second, Charlie's brain started drafting the answer. Three branches of government, checks and balances, the whole civics-class rundown. Then the distance between here and there hit her like a wave, and the answer dissolved before she could speak it.

"Don't take it personally," Reyna said to Charlie as Torvax stepped back. "Droven, they're just... thorough."

"Thorough. Alright," Charlie said, noting that for future.

"They show care through diligence," Reyna added. "Every question he just asked you was his way of making sure you're safe here, as a guest."