(no subject)

[initiated]

[whatever the device, suddenly the screen fades to black and the following words blink an alert, saying:] CAN YOU SEE ME?

Comments

[pedigree]

Good.

Now whom else have you shared this new cleverness of yours with?
The other handlers?
Your own?

[initiated]

FORMER MOCKINGBIRD, HARPER LOORY.
YOU ARE THE SECOND.

[pedigree]

[ Ugh. Loory. Far too much vanity. ]

Prove too clever and he may try to steal you.

[initiated]

I AM LOYAL TO MY HANDLER.

[Which... could be a problem, unless they wipe any affection he might have developed for him from his head.]

WHO SHOULD I CALL NEXT?

[pedigree]

[ It could be a problem, which is why Ruth takes note and strikes at the very heart of the matter. ]

How loyal?
If you're as loyal as that, why did you not contact him first.
Were you looking to see if your little trick would hold water before offering it up for approval?

[initiated]

HE GAVE ME THIS PUZZLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO GATHER MORE INFORMATION BEFORE I PRESENT THE RESULTS.

[pedigree]

So I'm little more than a gate to pass through in this exercise of yours.

[initiated]

YOU WERE SPECIFICALLY CHOSEN BY ME.

[Is that a compliment? Who knows with these kids...]

[pedigree]

And did I pass your test as you've proven to pass your own?

[initiated]

[imagine a '?' blinking right above the little boy's head.]

I WAS NOT TESTING YOU, MADAM.