Snippet #2525145

Elementary Russian?, Del was taken aback but not surprised - maybe these youths only studied the advanced language later?

Del was surprised however at the human's extended hand... though not as insulted as she would have been had this human companion been male. Del thought extensively, this hand movement strongly implied a part of the bonding ritual - an action she would have to undertake at this time, one Terran year ahead. Could she return this gesture? what did it mean to Terrnas?, she could only assume it meant some sort of greeting but... could it be as committing as the Ky'R relative gesture?

"Do excuse me, but I wish to understand to what extent you signify your social advances through your hand? Among our people's Empire, we do take to ourselves meaning of hand bond, I do not know what the hand bond signifies to people to... English speaker".

Del had struggled with the sentence, with this English. Her earlier presentation had been memorized, but she hadn't thought to prepare herself for extended adaptive use of English.

The ‘People’s Empire’? That is Russia, right? Sorry for not knowing. I haven’t actually been there, so some of the lingo goes over my head a bit.”

Del was puzzled, Ky'R where the people and thereby to Terrans people's Empire. Russian was the advanced dialect, not a place - did the Terran mean she had not studied Russian? and what could be lingo? had the Terran meant she did not posses the aptitude to manage Russian words? Was the Terran asking if she had studied Russian? no... it seemed more likely that the question was weather all Ky'R spoke Russian... was the great cast of Terrans so segregated it did not communicate with the inferiors, was this Terran wondering if Del was one of the technology speakers?

"Of my understanding of your query, I am not certain. People's Empire is of my people, I deliver the meaning of Russian but the people do not manage through Russian. We know of Russian, but the people speak as we move - sing our intent though trials and adversity". - Del paused, could it be possible that the Russians had not informed her companion of the mission?, Del did not know how to explain.

Del stepped back and looked towards her bunk and back to "Gem", gesturing for her to follow her as she walks towards her things. Del opened her canister and removed her collection of chats - marked data nodes which stored much information. Each chart was black, blank but for a series of designations stating the chart's function. It was a triangular shaped object, the size of a opened hand. one of the three points to the triangular was a finger high while the depending lines to the other two points lowered to the point of but a mere nail of thickness at the ends.

Del put the chart down on the bunk and told it (mind to machine) to expand outwards as the housing height contracted to a nail's thickness. The eventual deployment claimed the size of a Terran "pillow". the dark matter faded at small tiny points revealing differently colored round objects, patterns, borders and systems.

Del didn't know if the Terran understood, the many objects where little different then grains of Terran sand.

"This is the people's Empire, we fly, swim and walk in the light but our hearts drive us from the beacons of our paradise to the darkness of the horizon".

Del could not find the words, they lost meaning and significance through direct talk but could she belittle her meaning?