Noam navigated through the near-empty halls of the University towards one of the larger examination rooms. An air of uneasy tension had fallen over the school and city after the death of Jack Pine and an uncertain future before the nation. “Why me?” The tall, lanky, blue-skinned Senti man was thinking while he wiped the sweat from his nervous brow Noam, despite no management experience, had somehow been chosen to act as the Interim Principal for Osman University while Talos was away dealing with issues of state. Stopping at the end of the hall from the examination rooms he paused, and he peeked around the corner watching as a few students and professors were busy taking the Gunja artifacts into the examination room.
“How did I let him convince me this was a good idea.” He asked himself, thinking back on the presentation Jansson had done, using phrases like 'first of its kind' and 'a landmark achievement for them both as well as the school'. Everything had been fine so far with the transport of the artifacts to the University, but Noam could not escape the anxiety that something would go wrong and the thought of the humiliation it would bring made him sweat even more. The Senti pulled back behind the wall and closed his eyes then taking a deep breath, a loud bang from down the hall startled him. Jumping into the hallway Noam saw that it was a large box that had been dropped by a Pythus student that was holding his hands over his face embarrassed at the spilled contents of an ancient painted mask made of bone, wood, and feathers.
“What do you think you’re doing!? Do you understand what would happen if these artifacts are damaged? The whole university would be humiliated and not to mention the diplomatic incident!” Noam’s face was red with anger and his voice reflected it as he approached the student as Zach stumbled back into Otieno almost causing the Abwehran “Easy there, Zach.” Otieno said almost dropping his own wooden box.
“Principal Noam, I wasn’t expecting to see you.” Jansson said calmly obviously trying to deescalate the situation as he walked over to mask and picked it up to examine it “Doesn’t look like there was any damage, what can I do for you, Noam?”
“I want this student sent home immediately.” The Senti said his voice finally lowering “Come on Noam don’t you think that’s a little extreme?” Jansson asked.
“I don’t think it is Professor Jansson.” The Principal answered
“Be reasonable, let’s talk about this Noam” the Minkan said as he motioned for the other to continue moving the artifacts. Otieno nudged Zac with his free arm and whispered to him “Why don’t you go help Kayla with archiving the stuff we already brought in?”
“Sure, I’ll do that now.” Zach said his face bright red from embarrassment, the Pythus slither into the room and greeted Kayla then asking her where he should begin.