Resting on laurels was not something I could afford. I took the other device and Dolan down to the lake. I was able to trade a bullet for another ruby from a young female white merfolk. Dolan traded a bullet as well. He was not a fan of the slime from the male red merman. After doing the analysis, we did find that they did produce some slimy mucus. It probably was useful to keep them from drying out when out in the open air. After that, he went back to sit on the grass. That was more than enough of a signal to get going with the new device I was given. I turned it on and put it in the air. The engineers could remotely control the drones and find out what they were doing to get them. I then sat down next to Dolan. He was sketching something in his journal. I decided to wait for him to be finished. My job for the day was done. After giving him about half an hour more, I looked at him. "Can I see what you are drawing?" I asked. He flinched. "It's nothing. You don't have to worry." I smiled and said "I won't judge." He rolled his eyes and passed it. I nearly dropped it when I saw.
Seeing the picture surprised me. It was a near photorealistic capturing of the merfolk at the mouth of the river. They looked like they were having the time of their lives. It was amazing. Even the young ones trying to get our attention were in this sketch. "Dolan, all this is amazing." I praised. He roughly snatched the journal back from me. "I told you it's nothing. Drawing pictures isn't going to help us conquer this planet. Leave it alone!" he snapped. I just narrowed my eyes. "You listen to me right now, you fucking savant! You do remember that our tasks to explore and conquer the planet, right!? You really do not see how having pictures of things we're seeing would make it better to explain things during our briefings!?" I shouted at him. Dolan looked at me and said "I don't get it. You have the camera. The pictures are enough and it has color, right?" he pushed back. "Photography and drawing are both artforms. I could take a picture, but I couldn't capture a scene like you. I'd have to take at least twice as long." I said, taking out the camera. "You have skills. Use them." I said.
I was getting really into it. He could be a great explorer. That would help me out a lot. It would also be great for our mission. He looked at me firmly. "I don't want to be an artist, David. I want to be a Ray of Osolario. My father is waiting for me to succeed. I'm already a deviant and I know it. He's not going to be proud if I'm drawing pretty pictures while the others hog all of the glory." he snapped. Rolling my eyes, I pushed back on him. "That's fucking bullshit and we both know it! Haroon totally despises you and Corey. You're gay. He's never going to give you credit for anything you do there. I give you and Corey credit for everything you've helped me with. People hate the children of veterans anyway. They think that they get everything served to them on a sliver platter. Some do. Not all though. You have the skills to get out from his shadow right here? Are you going to take it or not, Dolan!?" I spat as I pointed at his journal. Stomping off towards the ship, he left me there. I followed behind him. They were very happy we set up their drone. Hopefully something came of it.
