The Monosyllabic Lifestyle

[STSF Shadow 0]

The Monosyllabic Lifestyle

 

Communication was the key. The Odile used long, complicated words, detested monosyllabic chatter, and shuddered when speaking in the third person. The Odile was definitely one of them – like the other biologicals on the ship. Tay, on the other hand, spoke succinctly, used few words, wasted less energy and powered-down (in her own way) when she was not needed. Shadow, being an energy being and concerned with conservation of energy, preferred that type of speech and that lifestyle. However, dealing with the two of them – the Odile and the Tay – presented problems, since they essentially spoke the same language, but they didn’t.

 

Shadow paused in his musings to consider that last point. Perhaps it would have been better to say that the Odile and the Tay used the same words but spoke a different language?

 

No. Incorrect.

 

The Odile and the Tay used the same words but employed a different syntax. Complication and waste versus simplicity and conservation.

 

Yes, that was the correct thought.

 

Complication and waste seemed to pervade the atmosphere of Agincourt, and it seemed to Shadow that, were the ship to survive until they reached their ultimate destination – which seemed to the crew to be a long way from their present location, a puzzlement to Shadow who still struggled with time and space – they would do well to conserve what energy they had. Would it not be prudent, then, for Agincourt to adopt a more monosyllabic lifestyle? And would it not be prudent for the Tay and Shadow to teach the crew said lifestyle?

 

In that regard, it seemed to Shadow that perhaps the Marines would be the best starting point. They seemed to deal extensively with monosyllables. Hair and Troll replaced Lt Major Hanna-Beth Rieve, and Captain David Merril. Granted, the others nicknames were more extensive, but it was a start. And when on a mission, the Marines tended to use few words, opting for hand signals and other means of communication. Yes, the Marines seemed to be a good place to start.

 

At that point Shadow’s thoughts shifted yet again, to the current mission, and the waste of energy and the damage the assault team might incur. Not a pleasant thought to Shadow and apparently not a pleasant thought to the Tay, judging by her reaction.

 

“Marines fight?” she said, a profound sadness in her tone and posture. “No Marines hurt?”

 

“Fight yes. Damage biologicals,” Shadow replied with an equal amount of sadness. Having maintained close contact with some of the crew, Shadow had formed a type of bond to their energy signatures. This bond primarily served to identify individuals when they approached, but in some it had become so strong that when one was injured or in danger, Shadow felt the fluctuation, no matter how minute, in the energy signature. He knew the Nimetti had been injured, no matter how minor the injury may have been.

 

And it bothered Shadow that he could not be used during a mission because he was a Seeker, and not a Marine. The JoNs was not a Marine and the JoNs went on missions. Tay and Shadow were energy-efficient. Why could they not be used during the missions? Why could they not employ their energy-efficient techniques to save the Marines from more damage? With each successive mission the thought grew so he could ignore it no longer. He would have to approach the Harper, and soon. It was a matter of efficiency, and communication was the key.