“Are you finally taking a break, ser?” Teekay asked as he stood guard, watching uneasily as the Vice General packed a suit case.
“A short one, yes. How many times have I asked you to call me Elkay? You should know by now, I consider you my equal!”
“You haven’t mentioned going away… Not to anyone, including myself. This is very abrupt, if I may say so myself…”
Elkay stopped what he was doing and turned to face the young Ksa. “I haven’t told anyone yet because I decided I needed a break about ten minutes ago when I nearly poured soap into my milk drink, then burnt myself on a soup I’d put in the microwave.”
Teekay shrugged. “You have had clumsy moments in the past. Everyone gets them. Just yesterday, Eksi spilled water all over the floor while cooking dinner because he was clumsy.”
“There’s more to it than that…” Elkay sighed. “I have been making a lot of mistakes lately. Small errors here and there. They may be minute, but they can build up over time, and worse, they could lead to me doing something very, very wrong. This all because of the sheer amount of stress that has been piled on me over the last two years.”
The Vice General continued packing his little suit case. It only really contained hygiene products. Tooth brush and tooth paste for his shiny white fangs, flannel and liquid soap for washing his squishy parts, brushes, sponges and shell-buffer for his armour, and polish for anything not attached to him. There were other bits and pieces too, a few pieces of jewellery, claw varnish and several belts, cosmetic stuff, really.
“Where are you planning on staying?” Teekay interrupted as Elkay checked through all his stuff, making sure he had everything.
“Not sure yet. Definitely not Kolasi. I was considering heading to planet Retha but it’s the middle of summer and it’s going to be scorching everywhere. Portalia’s my best bet. I can deal with some personal things while I am there.”
“Should I inform the other Ksa? And the High General?”
Elkay tutted. “No. I’m going to inform Photeianos in a bit. But I’m only bringing a few of you. Bare minimum. Enkay, Geekay, Veekay, Deekay and yourself. Feel free to bring your floaties because I am definitely going to rent somewhere with a private swimming area.”
Teekay’s eyes lit up at the idea of a private swimming area. “That sounds great! But… what about the others?”
“They get a break too. I’m giving each of my Ksa a hundred Evra for them to spend as they please, and they will have the days that we’re gone as time off, free holiday. You five will get some spending money too.”
“That…” Teekay blushed slightly. “That is very kind of you, ser! Why are you doing this though?”
The Vice General rolled his eyes. “Obviously, it’s been a horrible year. The Soul Rupture, the Feralheart Plague… You lot were locked up for a while with that stupid bloody rebellion… Not to mention that both my mother and my little brother are missing, perhaps never to return. I need a break. You need a break. We all do. So that’s what I’m doing.”
Teekay nodded in agreement. “Should I go tell everyone?”
“Yes, please do. I’ll meet you at the ship in ten minutes…” Elkay smiled as he reached for his communicator, to call the High General.