Encyclopedia of the Known Universe Vol I (excerpt 12 – appendix to “L” entry on language) cont
On the planet Druont, the beings speak a language called Filot (sounds like ‘pilot’). It can be traced back to the very early time of the culture, during their gendered period, millennia RET ago. The very early genetic ancestor of the Druinte was a creature similar to the sloth on Earth, but considerably faster in their movements, and it communicated using a series of sounds it made with its vocal chords as well as clicks that it made with the long nail of its opposable thumb. To an observer from Earth, this display would sound as though the early Druintes sang to one another and provided instrumental accompaniment with the percussive sounds their long nail could make. Vestiges of this system still exist today, though there is considerably less involvement of the long nail.
Druintes refer to themselves as such in a universal context. They call themselves ‘durine’ in the way that Earthlings use the non-gendered form of the word ‘man’ or ‘human’. Druintes mark time in the same way that Earthlings do, by measuring the various movements of its planet around its star. One full revolution of the planet Druont around the star D’ot takes about seven years RET, and the Druintes refer to one revolution as a rount.
– Issue 1 – New Plenary
Duraq 33 is troubled. One of eris advisors, Falstraq, is not eris usual self and it has been noticeable to the Lead Scientist who depends on Falstraq in the very lofty endeavor underway at the Hall of Orphans.
Duraq half listens to eris other advisors who brief erim on the MDDS agenda for the day as they sit around a large table in conference room theta. E fights distraction and the urge to watch Falstraq.
Falstraq is lost in eris sorrow over eris role in the sentencing of eris former charge God to hard labor. Falstraq doesn’t question if e did the right thing when e recommended God for labor, e was completely out of hand and Falstraq worried that e would only cause more chaos at a critical time in Druinte history.
“We will be testing the theories out of the Hall of Atmospheric Research in a very short time, your excellency,” the durine briefing the distracted leader concludes.
“Excellent!” Duraq says, more enthusiastically than the moment calls for because e had only been half listening. “Break for food and smaller group discussion. I’d like to revisit the Bromeris proposal for the teleportation chamber installation when we reconvene.” Duraq stands and raises an arm toward the conference room exit; e points with eris three fingers, the long nail of eris thumb protruding the furthest. As everyone stands to leave, e sits next to Falstraq at the large table.
“I knew it. Be wary, dear leader,” Falstraq says facetiously, “the durine eyes do judge hastily. We do this after every morning briefing.”
Duraq motions with eris hand to another Druinte who has fought the current of bodies leaving the room and stands on the opposite side of the table. E closes the door when everyone else has left.
“Say hello to Pegraf 7, master of the top secret durine experimentation program.” Duraq says grimly. “E is here to update you on the status of your charge.” E cannot look Falstraq in the eyes. “I believe that this update will help you to work with the feelings you are having to feel better and more…I cannot speak cogently on this. Understand that I see your distress and I believe that this may give you some solace. Pegraf, please.”
Pegraf speaks as every other mainstream durine, with an efficient monotone to allow for easy conveyance. “The worker assigned badge ID 2-231-6 excels at all manner of physical labor, so much so that forced labor is ineffective as a form of punishment. 2-231-6 has the fortitude of a Druinte that is unlike anything ever recorded in the annals of Druinte biological science. To be thorough, the Plenary line [the Druinte Plenary had 200 iterations and lived at the start of the Druinte hermaphrodite period] is recorded as the most ideal Druinte form to ever walk the planet Druont because of their towering height and vast intellect, though the Plenary line has not existed for many rounts. 2-231-6 exhibits many of the genetic qualities documented in the Plenary line, though obviously eris height is not even comparable to eris peers. Eris intellect far outpaces that of eris captors. E is now under my supervision. I am trained in the psychoanalytical sciences pioneered by the legendary Eakran 15. I am also a preeminent biological scientist. 2-231-6, your God, is a true marvel of Druinte evolution and e could be the start of the next great line. E could be in another circumstance of course. I am meant to break erim and make erim a tool of the state. And there is no one better at that. God, I would call erim New Plenary, could be of great use to the future of our civilization, eris offspring should be confiscated and groomed to be custodians of the halls on Druont. A God for every hall in my opinion. That is my current plan for 2-231-6.”
Falstraq is sick to eris stomach. E feels rage for the first time ever and e leaps over the table when Pegraf is done speaking, intent on ripping the heartless durine to shreds with eris long nail.
Falstraq was not the only social Druinte who worked for the MDDS at the time of the social Druinte movement into the hall of orphans. This goes against the conventional wisdom that Falstraq has been the only social Druinte to work at the MDDS since the death of eris partner Belfrat. It would be a surprise to everyone, including Falstraq to learn of another social Druinte in the ranks of the MDDS.
The social Druinte who is not Falstraq has lived as a mainstream Druinte for much of eris life, though e was born in the city of Changuzi and lived there well into eris adulthood. The undercover operation is organized by the informal government of the social Druintes, a group that formed out of necessity because it seems that all social beings of the known universe are inclined to designate leaders who they look to for guidance in many things. The informal governing body consists of five couples who do not necessarily make decisions on behalf of the social population, but they meet and discuss the trends of their group, debate the things that are productive or otherwise, and then they go back to their lives and promote the ideas and habits that they feel will most benefit the community at large. They are trendsetters who have an outsized influence over others in their community because many durines admire them for various qualities, including their skills at parenting and in the various sciences. It was the governing body that decided to encourage Falstraq and Belfrat to seek employment among the mainstream Druintes because they knew the couple could be ambassadors for the social population while coping with the pressures of living amongst the mainstream durines.
This informal governing body chose Pegraf to go undercover at the MDDS because even though e was born a social Druinte, e had no problem shunning social interaction and e preferred to be alone accomplishing things. Initially, the governing body was interested in the limits of Druinte interstellar travel and the technology that enabled it. They wanted details that were not available to the public. Their motives for seeking this information is unclear to-date. Pegraf accomplished his mission of learning about the most advanced Druinte travel technology and e is steadily sending information to the informal governing body. They have also become extremely interested in the New Plenary.
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