constraint of custom, full of all corruption,
why have you not been driven from the world?"
-Alighieri, Dante
Inferno XXXIII
QyQy! What have you been up to? Specifically directed interrogative and agitation
Are you soliciting an actual answer? Rhetorical question and smugness
Tell me, because this time, I do not know! Imperative directive and testiness
Easy there, comrade Mitigating concession, surprise, elliptical imperative directive, and fading effervescence
I am your colleague and I have the same stakes as you in completing this mission by the book Critical declaration, referential reminder, and implied, imputed warning
… Pause, surprise, and uncertainty
I should have been consulted before you made any moves Critical declaration, indirect plaintive declaration, and anger
My apologies, FeFe, but you were comatose at the time and such a trivial matter did not seem to merit disturbing you Preplanned explanation, wishful thinking, declaration of self-exculpation
You deem direct interaction with a sample individual without the Carrier's order a trivial matter? Derisive rhetorical question, implied, imputed warning, and intimated challenge
It does not interfere with the rest of our data collection because no one will know she is missing, including her father, as we both know you already know, on whom we have experimented for quite some time Mitigating clarification, referential reminder, steadiness, and slight humor
I still think you are out of line Quasi-patronizing declaration, implied, imputed warning, hint directive, and hesitancy
Just think of it as my gesture to reunite the girl and her father Mitigating ludicrous explanation, imperative directive, and humor
Unlikely even if were not a lie Rebuff, false concession, latent affront, and dissatisfaction
Again, I apologize, but at least consider that I have not put her through the testing process yet Mitigating concession, passive directive, and declaration
Why else would you have 'Archangel' intercept her and take her to the test site? Specifically directed interrogative, suspicion, and self-satisfaction
Clearly in the interests of the father and daughter's well being and reconciliation did I act Reflex ludicrous response and feigned benevolence
Right Scorn and doubt
I made the decision under duress Mitigating explanation and impeding reminder
From what source? Interrogative and curiosity
I have learned recently that the two of the specimens have been tailing us Declaration and pensiveness
You were so sure that they were too primitive to detect us, though Quasi-dismissal, jeering reminder, and humor
What do you propose we do now to amend the situation? Sudden interrogative, deliberate deference, and intimated challenge
… Pause, uncertainty, and fruitlessness
We both know we can not just set her back where we found her Self-evident, didactic declaration
You did not just happen to 'find her' – you targeted her Brusque correction and purposive interference
So I did, but I had a reason Preplanned explanation, smugness, declaration of self-exculpation
And what would that be? Derisive interrogative, information interrogative, and intimated challenge
You already know Patronizing reminder
Even if your theory that one of their kind kidnapped PuPu is accurate, you need not target an individual so closely associated with the one they call 'Squall' Critical declaration, false concession, curiosity, latent affront, and dissatisfaction
In the eventuality that our comrade is still alive, I think we should have one of theirs to ransom for his release Preplanned clarification and intimated challenge
Would not that other girl be enough? Derisive rhetorical question
Precaution minimizes the unexpected Didactic quotation, pride, and imbedded excuse
But why the one they call 'Rinoa' out of all the possibilities? Interrogative, curiosity, and reflex defensive protest
You already know that too Patronizing reminder
All you have is circumstantial evidence; what makes you so sure Squall was involved in PuPu's disappearance? Critical interrogative, curiosity, mistrust, and amusement
Turn your attention to the recording Calm directive and smugness
I have heard it already and noted how ambiguous and inconclusive it is Reflex dismissal, aloofness, and quasi-patronizing reminder
Turn your attention to our new digital recording Preplanned explanation, imperative directive, calmness, and high hopes
What is that? Deferential interrogative, interest, uncertainty, and closer inspection
My attempt to reveal the true, depraved nature of these self-destructive savages Stalwart declaration, biased opinion, deliberate denigration, and pleasure
My word! Awareness, shock, and disgust
Yes Casual acknowledgement and internal revel
The entire lusty band is converging on the one they call 'Quistis'! Declaration, shock, fading confidence, and internal conflict
Now is this the behavior of a species at peace with itself? Rhetorical interrogative, superiority, and self-satisfaction
Unbelievable! Sudden exclamation, suspicion, internal conflict
Their actions as a group reflect negatively on their leader's character, the one they call 'Squall' Didactic declaration, stalwart proposition, biased conclusion, and disdain
I never would have guessed Passive declaration, imbedded concurrence, and resigned admission
The one they call 'Squall' is no less impure at heart; he would have been perfectly capable of abducting, or killing, our comrade Stalwart declaration, self-assuredness, and accusation with finality
I am still inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt Earnest opinion, hesitancy, and internal struggle
True innocence reveals itself, and so far his has not done so Didactic quotation, self-assuredness, and insinuation of stalwart conclusion
I hope you know what you are doing Earnest opinion, hint directive and implied, imputed warning
We both know I do Complacent, self-evident declaration and passive reminder
* * ** *** ***** ********
Jeremy's Scribbles:
If you didn't catch this in Setting 01, the syntactical structure might seem a bit weird at first glance, because 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 so I can see what you are thinking or feeling, so as better to go back and make corrections for other readers if I see that everyone is stumbling between the same two chapters. Also, if you catch any spelling or grammar mistakes, would you please notify me via email so that I may correct them as soon as possible? Thanks in advance.