Had it been inconsiderate? Had it shown disrespect? Even The collective knowledge of The Korvax Convergence knew little of The Travellers and their culture - and no matter how deeply Kezh dug into the archives, it could not find anything that indicated it'd offended The Traveller in any meaningful way. Perhaps it should note this and add it to the archives? That Travellers did not take well to gifts? -no, this sort of thing had yet to be vetted. Kezh, as a more esteemed member of the Scientist-Entities, would surely face ridicule should it submit such a pithy report, especially alongside such detailed research concerning A Traveller's innards. If it had managed to obtain such conclusive data on a living Traveller, yet failed to learn anything at all about his culture, his desires, his nature and his habits - then Scientist-Entity Kezh was a poor scientist indeed.
click...click...
Not to mention Kezh's mood was dreadfully dour after being told off in such a manner by The Traveller it'd tended to for the past few days. It had, perhaps, foolishly expected some show of gratitude from The Traveller, but instead it appeared the creature was far more utilitarian than Kezh had presumed. He was quite correct in saying the scans and samples of his innards were valuable - and, in nearly every situation, their value more than paid for the life-saving treatment he'd undergone... but to show such grave offense at the pillow Kezh had hand stitched? Why, The Korvax scientist could make neither heads nor tails of it. The Traveller had seemed to appreciate it very much whilst unconscious. Why show such contempt now?
click... thump...
The Korvax-Entity buzzed in disappointment as it stood in the incinerator room and gazed down upon its handiwork, suddenly hyperaware of the smallest stray string, the slightest imperfections in the silk, and unevenness of the pillows filling. To be fair, much of that lumpiness was due to The Traveller himself squeezing at it in his sleep - but, Kezh presumed, if The Traveller had rejected its offering, it had no right to complain. He was, for all intents and purposes, almost divine. And perhaps he had expected he'd be treated as such. This lowly gift was not fit for him, and so - with a stammering of resignation, Kezh undid the stitching along the seam and took out the Galactic Positional Transponder it'd stowed within. It would find another use for the technology. The rest of it would disappear in The Space Station's Galactic incinerator.
-kzzt- What a pity The Trav-*
"K-korvax."
Kezh startled as its musings were interrupted by a rasping from the hallway. Briefly panicked, it whirled about to catch The Traveller's hunched form shivering crookedly in the threshold. He seemed to be having much difficulty breathing after venturing off the observation deck and stumbling his way all the way down to the nuclear core. Indeed, his eyes were shadowed and the great red scar that snaked from his collarbones to his groin had loosened their stitches and were weeping blood. He leaned heavily upon his IV hook, which was on the brink of snapping under his weight. It all looked quite gruesome, and it threw Kezh into a panic.
Traveller-Entity! What is your intention? It is cold here, and you are unclothed. Do you wish to fall ill? Come I will escort you back. kzzt*
Yet even as Kezh spoke aloud its intentions, it was far too apprehensive to lay a finger on The Traveller. It simply fretted and hovered until The Traveller spoke aloud, his voice rough, weak yet driven by great effort. Now that he was standing still, his teeth chattered audibly between his words. His gaze lingered on the floor. He refused to raise them and meet Kezh's gaze.
"Korvax...I apologize for my harsh words."
Kezh chittered and hovered, half eying the IV hook's slowly bending frame. After a moment - the thing snapped in two- and The Korvax Scientist swooped down to catch The Traveller before he collapsed to the ground. The Traveller clung to it's arms and continued speaking against its breastplate, completely undeterred.
"I am s-so unused to kindness, I can scarcely remember when I last received a gift from pure goodwill... please, don't destroy it."
He reached weakly for the 'happy' pillow leaned up against the edge of the incinerator.
"If you return it t-to me... I'll treasure it."
Kezh passed it to him and couldn't help but feel a warm mixture of both relief and amusement as The Traveller wrapped it in his arms and tucked it beneath his chin.
"T-thank you."
Eheu! Your gratitude is appreciated, Traveller.*
"...I-I w..."
The Korvax felt far less warm and fuzzy when he glanced down and realized The Traveller's eyes were half lidded and his lips had began turning blue. And so, for the second time this week, Kezh hoisted The Traveller over it's shoulder, and carried him back to the observation lab.