Setting 04: 1533 DAY 1, Great Salt Lake Perimeter

-W. R. Inge

<Well, keep searching> Imperative directive and indifference

<Where do you suppose he is>? Specifically directed interrogative, information interrogative

<If I knew, do you not think that you would know too>? Rhetorical question and scorn

<That is not what I meant> Reflex defensive assertion and disconcertedness

<I know what you meant> Complacent declaration and haughtiness

<I know you know what I meant> Ruffled retort and slight exasperation

<Then we understand each other>? Complacent, rhetorical question and indifference

<Crystal-clear, but where do you suppose he is>? Punchy, reflex dismissal and assertive interrogative

<If somehow I knew and you did not know, would we be randomly flying around>? Rhetorical question and vestigial condescension

<…> Internal conflict and strained suppression of ire

<…> Self-satisfaction and pleasure

<Why didn't the Carrier send more ships besides just ours>? Earnest interrogative

<Obviously the Carrier thinks one scout ship is enough locate him> Reflex ludicrous response

<We both know that is not true> Rebuff and strained patience

<I know you know that we both know the same thing> Self-righteous clarification, feigned admiration, and slight exasperation

<We have been through this many times already> Declaration, disapproval, and mild annoyance

<Then stop bringing it up>! Snappy retort and scorn

<…> Pause and discomfiture

<…> Indifference

<You have not answered my question> Declaration and impatience

<Search me> Malicious, absurd suggestion

<…> Pause and frustration

<If I had the answer, you would have it already too> Supercilious explanation

<…> Helplessness and dissatisfaction

<…> Dismissal and indifference

<I fear the worst> Earnest opinion

<I know> Complacent, self-evident declaration

<…> Tested tolerance

<…> Indifference

<Where could he have gone>? Nonspecifically directed rhetorical question, befuddlement, and slight exasperation

<For the last time, I do not know>! Sudden expletive and flood of annoyance

<It was a rhetorical question. I was not addressing you> Preplanned self-assured clarification and latent affront

<Well, I heard it> Indirect plaintive declaration and annoyance

<Then it is not my fault> Childish declaration of self-exculpation

<Just mind your own business and keep searching> Brusque imperative directive and dismissal

<What are you going to do>? Semi-interested interrogative, information interrogative, and blatant check

<You already know> Patronizing reminder

<What good is looking through the archived data of this planet's sample population>? Interrogative and skepticism

<You already know that too> Patronizing reminder and deliberate condescension

<Do you honestly believe that by knowing everything about the whole you can infer each individual's every possible action in any given situation>? Derisive rhetorical question, slight amusement, and intimated challenge

<What do you think>? Rhetorical question, information interrogative, and contemptuousness

<I know you just meant for me to search your thoughts> Complacent observance and purposive display

<I know we both know what I meant and that I would know what you would know> Self-righteous retort, contemptuousness, and intimated challenge

<…> Disappointment and frustration

<…> Internal revel

<Well, I think we should not assume anything before we know everything> Solemn declaration, indirect caution, and hint directive

<I knew you were thinking that, so please do not remind me> Complacent declaration, haughtiness, imperative directive, disdain

<…> Ire

<…> Self-assuredness and indifference

<Where could he be>? Nonspecifically directed rhetorical question, information interrogative, and curiosity

<Can you not even stop thinking for more than two seconds>? Sudden expletive, imbedded imperative directive, and annoyance

<I just think it is peculiar that after all our time here, he is the first data collector who has not returned from his routine run> Hasty declaration and mitigating clarification

<I know what you are thinking, you do not have to tell me> Complacent declaration, exasperation, and need directive

<And you do not find that peculiar>? Interrogative and lurking suspicion

<You already know what I think> Reflex argumentative assertion and intimated challenge

<You think the timing is peculiar because our data collection here is just about complete> Calm declaration and casual dismissal

<Yes, I know, because I was thinking that, and thank you for reminding me> Overly agreeable concurrence, brusquely feigned deference, and blatant causticity

<You have also considered the possibility that he has defected from the Clan>! Scrutinizing exclamation and marvel

<Yes I have considered that possibility>! Sudden expletive, condescension, and voluminous annoyance

<My apologies> Awkward concession, shock, and fading effervescence

<Stop repeating everything I think>! Directive with imbedded threat and annoyance

<Again, my apologies> Mitigating concession and daunt

<…> Disgust

<…> Discomfiture and uncertainty

<…> Pause and mild annoyance

<…>! Awareness and curiosity

<I detect it, do not repeat yourself> Blunt dismissal, imperative directive, and annoyance

<How clever of them>! Approving exclamation and admiration

<The ability to shift a city out of the visibility spectrum does not make the society intelligent> Offhand derogatory dismissal and pomposity

<…> Adverse skepticism

<Land over there> Authoritative directive

<I know they cannot see us, but wouldn't we be breaching protocol distance to the samples>? Considerate interrogative, suggestive reminder, skepticism, and latent criticism

<It does not matter because they will not detect us anyway and we need to recharge> Dictatorial dismissal and didactic explanation

<…> Doubt

<Do not worry; even if they notice power surges, they are not advanced enough to discover us> Assurance and disdainfulness

<Fine> Conceded accordance

<Now that we have landed, launch project Archangel> Authoritative directive and eagerness

<I will> Casual acknowledgement

<Have our unit investigate the one they call 'Squall'> Directive and disdain

<Will do> Casual acknowledgement and agreement

<Our recording incriminates this 'Squall' as the possible perpetrator> Stalwart declaration and biased speculation

<The recording is not definitive, and I would make no accusations just yet> Earnest declaration, reminder, intimated compromise, and purposive check

<The Archangel unit will soon prove my worst suspicions> Self-assured declaration, anticipation, stimulation, and deliberate inattention

<…> Hesitance and mistrust

<Anyway, I am going to go check on the prisoner> Self-important dismissal and indifference

<Fine> Callous acknowledgement

<I wonder if we should abduct another specimen to ransom PuPu back in case he is their prisoner> Nonspecifically directed declaration, consideration, and interest

<That is hardly necessary at this juncture, KyKy> Jeering declaration, hint directive, and purposive interference

<We shall see> Self-assured dismissal and disregard

* * ** *** ***** ********

Jeremy's Scribbles:

If you didn't catch this in the notes after the prologue, I have a unique method of transcribing what the aliens are communicating.

The "stage directions" after each line they communicates are necessary, and they aren't stage directions; PuPu's alien clan does not communicate with their voices, only their thoughts. They don't have facial expressions either, which means to communicate elements such as sarcasm or emotion, I have to add the "stage directions" and, if you noticed, keep the emotion-denoting punctuation marks (question or exclamation) outside of the <brackets>.

In actuality, those "stage directions" are called the "pragmatics" of language. The words they actually "speak" are called the "semantics" of language. Because they aren't actually making any sounds with their mouths, I used <brackets> instead of "quotations" to indicate what they want to <communicate> with their thoughts. Also, throughout the rest of the story, thoughts are italicized and speech is unmodified. So what the aliens want to communicate show up <like this>.

However, even by including the pragmatics after the semantics, there is still no way I can differentiate for you which alien is which. If they did not greet each other when a third or fourth being waltzed in, or say their respective names in each line, we would have no idea who the addresser and addressee were for any given statement. That is the flaw of indirect narration, I'm afraid, and I will try to find was to rectify it.

I would appreciate your reviews for this chapter and every chapter so I can see what you are thinking and go back and make corrections for other readers if I see that everyone is stumbling between the same two chapters. It would also facilitate correcting spelling or grammar errors if you would report them in that chapter's review.