ALBATROSS 1
Monday, November 16, 2009
River Tam was once a student at The Academy. Now she has disappeared into the black, and all official records of the years she spent in captivity there have been erased or smoothed over. They no longer exist. But the girl does. Her diary is the only remaining commentary on the horrors of a future deceived.
This is her story, told in her own words.
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Thanks and big props to patient betas gilove2dance, Steamer, and most especially Bytemite, who has so far stuck through this moonbrain narrative all the way through with true browncoat tenacity. Bravo. Thanks also to ncbrowncoat and a few others who encouraged the concept.
[River copyright Joss & Co., text copyright me, Joss is boss, etc. et al, ad nauseum...]
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 5193 RATING: 10.0 (PG13) SERIES: FIREFLY
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Private inter-departmental correspondence, Academy file 6678, subsection 15:
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Hey John,
Remember this? I could never decide which was more boring—the great white whale or Milton. So glad to see they still teach it, torturing new generations. Ha, ha. Hopefully someday we’ll get to those “secrets not below the heavens” or rather, those guys in MC 660 will, and maybe they’ll deign to let us mortals have a few.
"I remember the first albatross I ever saw. ... At intervals, it arched forth its vast archangel wings, as if to embrace some holy ark. Wondrous flutterings and throbbings shook it. Though bodily unharmed, it uttered cries, as some king's ghost in super natural distress. Through its inexpressible, strange eyes, methought I peeped to secrets not below the heavens. As Abraham before the angels, I bowed myself..." --(Herman Melville, Moby Dick)
Just a thought, figured I’d give you a lead before you begin analysis of the official file, as it’s mentioned by reference in the last words we have from subject 406-A. It seems to have been a theme of hers. Buddha’s luck.
--Derrick
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OFFICIAL INTERPLANETARY ALLIANCE COMPFILE:
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FILE 1065782 # 1443, Section C
The below may give some insight into the mental processes of the subject 406-A in Mental Processes 660, MPC 660 colloq. It was found in physical form, (here transcripted) location inside a self-made compartment beneath the bunk of 406-A. Also inside the compartment was a half-used impin, without prints. No other personal effects were in the compartment on entry or found upon a completed sweep of the room.
The entries appear to be unordered, although it is not currently known if subject was using another method of aggregation or additionally, if
Ooh posted! I'll have to read through this again in a few, but this first line made me wonder:
"Hey John,
Remember this? I could never decide which was more boring—the great white whale or Milton. So glad to see they still teach it, torturing new generations. Ha, ha. Hopefully someday we’ll get to those “secrets not below the heavens” or rather, those guys in MC 660 will, and maybe they’ll deign to let us mortals have a few."
The jokes about a the written torment of "a girl exploded" are just... You have to wander if this is the same guy who joked about "scary monsters" while shoving needles into River's brain to give her nightmares. Special guy, or maybe all Blue Sun human experiment scientists set the bar for high calibur in character.
Is it clear where the entries start?
Maybe I've been staying up too late. Spelling and coherency have degenerated.
1. It's a play on words, actually this whole section is--she's literally hoping whoever reads this diary is looking between the lines.
2. Simon is 'ignoring' her--remember her parents kept the letters from him in the Safe flashbacks?
3. Yup. Alliance censors, represent.
General guideline is if something confuses you or freaks you out, or Mal-like, makes you go "what does that even MEAN?"--read the entry again. Slowly.
It is meant to be that complex.
All comers welcome to get their own pet theories together and post like crazy epileptic trees.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EpilepticTrees
"Poor River, what have they made you do?"
Read on to find out.
Aliasse: I am truly honored, thanks. Were there tears? I'm glad to hear the contrast was as jarring as intended. Honestly, do come back for another read-through when you've got the time.
1. It's a play on words, actually this whole section is--she's literally hoping whoever reads this diary is looking between the lines.
2. Simon is 'ignoring' her--remember her parents kept the letters from him in the Safe flashbacks?
3. Yup. Alliance censors, represent.
General guideline is if something confuses you or freaks you out, or Mal-like, makes you go "what does that even MEAN?"--read the entry again. Slowly.
It is meant to be that complex.
All comers welcome to get their own pet theories together and post like crazy epileptic trees.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EpilepticTrees
"Poor River, what have they made you do?" --->Read on to find out.
Aliasse: I am truly honored, thanks. Honestly, were there tears? I'm glad to hear the contrast was as jarring as intended. Do come back for another read-through when you've got the time.
1. It's a play on words, actually this whole section is--she's literally hoping whoever reads this diary is looking between the lines.
2. Simon is 'ignoring' her--remember her parents kept the letters from him in the Safe flashbacks?
3. Yup. Alliance censors, represent.
General guideline is if something confuses you or freaks you out, or Mal-like, makes you go "what does that even MEAN?"--read the entry again. Slowly.
It is meant to be that complex.
All comers welcome to get their own pet theories together and post like crazy epileptic trees.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EpilepticTrees
"Poor River, what have they made you do?" ---> Read on to find out.
Aliasse: I am truly honored, thanks. Honestly, there could be tears? :D I'm glad to hear the contrast was as jarring as intended. Do come back for another read-through when you've got the time.
Heck, I plan to read through this probably once a day for as long as it's up to try to see if I can find any new stuff. I already think I've seen one or two hints of the other beta readers through the trees, which is kind of fun. Hi guys!
But your enthusiasm is impressive and potentially adorable.
Byte. Go lie down. You aren't supposed to look for the OTHER BETAS OR READERS OR EVEN THAT BIG BAD WOLF THROUGH THE EPILEPTIC TREES! That is known as missing the forest. They're not responsive, and I'm going to pretend you didn't make a sound.
Unless you are a leaf on the wind. In which case this becomes the definition of interesting. Huh.
Okay questions:
Does 'you' and 'we' always refer to Simon? 'We understand gravity, we put it in standard drives.' (What IS gravity???)
The disagreeing dictionaries? – again is that members of the Tam family
And am I to take the theme of water going through the fic as something worth unpicking?
'You' and 'we' don't always map to the same people across entries. So if you want to get an idea, look at the specific entry.
Yes. What do you think gravity is?
You'll see a lot of contradictions to do with the Tam family.
Yes, water is a theme. Along with some other 'objects' that will become clearer when you have a few more entries to think about. Remember, these "aren't in order" and so they will skip around in style and level of coherence.
I'm posting part 2 in a few days, so stay tuned.
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