Day 9 LA: Crodino

[Galatea]

There seemed to be a degree of stillness in the air tonight. Perhaps is was the exhaustion. Perhaps the city was finally able to take a breath after a few harrowing months and a particularly brutal finish.

Then there was the conference.

She let out a sigh

What a mess

She had made her way to a pond and sat on a bench, getting a small bottle of crodino out of her purse

[Bee Haw]

Bea had realized that the refuge - the 200 square kilometers of natural territory - grass and forest - for camping, leisure, and survival training - was precisely where animals might flee during a disaster.

She was searching a large section, in bee form, when one of her bees came across the familiar form of Galatea. Oh! She wanted to talk to her.

She manifested at the location of that bee. Near the bench.

"Galatea! It's good to see you. I ... am trying to process it all. Yesterday. Today. And all the sudden revelations of why some of it happened. If the accounts can be trusted."

"I'm glad you stood up for what is right. And so eloquently."

[Galatea]

Galatea had seemed serene for a moment, alone, before Beatrice's arrival. There was a change then, incredibly subtle, but a change in how Galatea was.

''Good evening Bee'' she began ''Yes, the last few months have been trying but yesterday was something else. I am glad you spoke true as well...I do not believe the UNJE was right in redirecting the blame.'' she frowned lightly ''We may have caused them a big hurdle and that might cost us down the line''

She reached inside her bag to get another small bottle and extended it to the cowgirl

''Crodino?''

[Bee Haw]

"It's non-alcoholic right? And not caffeinated?"

She took it gratefully, but waited for her to confirm.

"It must be better to work together. To unify. We are all together in this, every person on earth. Every living thing. And the Pantheon folks we have interacted with haven't been so bad. They need to know what really happened."

"Ah, I wish I was skilled at science, at multiple universes, and travel, and physics, and all that is likely needed to understand this door and shut it."

[Galatea]

''Italian digestif, made with bitter mountain herbs.'' she specified ''It is not for everyone's taste but I enjoy it''

She took a sip of hers

''There will be always conflict, that cannot be helped. Be wary of judging supremacist by how they interact with you: you are an Elite and thus worthwhile to interact with. I am not sure your interaction would have been the same were you a baseline.''

Galatea stretched, looking up at the sky

''The door is being worked on but I am not sure it will be enough''

[Bee Haw]

"Who is working on the door? Is there a chance to help? Or find those they need to help? My skills do run more to helping the right people shine. Helping them work together well."

"It seems like we need to cut ourselves off from all other universes. Perhaps make them believe our universe not only is inaccessible but that it was destroyed."

"It is too late if they arrive, maybe. That one blue herald... The destruction that she could do... If there are more like her. Equally cruel. It is horrible to contemplate."

[Galatea]

Galatea kept her gaze to the skies

''Ayesha of infinite Horizons is working on it on the behalf of the UNJE. I am not sure I can say more without betraying trust, sorry''

She paused then turned her head to lock eyes with Bea's

''You are afraid. It is expected and understandable...but acting out of fear will not be our salvation. To seal ourselves in may might have more dire consequences then facing the invasion.''

She returned to her stargazing.

''I have other ideas''

[Bee Haw]

"What are you thinking? Can you say?"

She looked at her curiously.

"Is Ayesha an expert in dimensional treasure? Is there a door somewhere? An actual door? I know the warlord opened it? And she's an alien from the Ultrum universe? Rather recent discoveries, I fear."

"Do you know anything about the Ultrum universe, or the blue herald?"

[Galatea]

One of the last tidbit of information caught Galatea's attention

''Ah...so she is from that dimension.'' she frowns ''Very interesting. Her father too perhaps?''

That would explain the high level of tech from the DCP

''Very interesting indeed. We should learn more about the DCP...I don't think the UNJE is telling us everything.''

She straightened herself

''I do not know anything about the blue woman beyond what we have seen. Somethings can be deduced, however. Unless Nuani and her ilk were scouts...then these Ultrum are so confident in their power that they simply arrive somewhere show their might and expect people to surrender. That could have several implications but most would be speculation.''

''But yes, the door is an actual thing. Ayesha is our closest expert in this field since Nuani left and Cardinal is with Pantheon.''

[Bee Haw]

"What is the DCP?"

She was trying to track all these details, but she felt like she'd somehow missed a lot.

"And Cardinal is not a person? Cardinal is ... an artificial intelligence? I do intend to reach out to Pantheon. It would be better to work together. Or, at least, some of us work in the space between Pantheon and UNJE."

[Galatea]

''Limited cooperation could be beneficial but do not make the mistake of thinking they are your friends''

She sighed

''DCP: Democratic Congo Protectorate. Big part of modern history. I guess the LDS church's curriculum has blindspots.''

[Bee Haw]

"It is the American education system that emphasized American history. I only have a high school education. I'm sure there are many American scholars who know international history better than I do."

But it was a point well taken. She was over her head, here. In ... so many ways.

"I want to help the world survive. I want to keep people free and alive. I think I could help in some way. But I'm trying to figure out how. What are you going to focus on?"

[Galatea]

She paused, unsure on what to reveal but ended up simply saying

''Politics. Three years is a short time but I hope it will be enough.''

[Bee Haw]

She nodded.

"I think it may be hard to coordinate and unify if we are not even telling each other what we are working on. But maybe other benefits outweigh that risk."

Or she did not trust her.

"Perhaps a moment will come when we can share what we've learned, and consider what is then possible. Three years is a long time. Can we at least ... stay in touch. I feel sure we are on the same side of this. If you don't think so, help me understand why you don't."

[Galatea]

Galatea took a deep breath

''Bee, darling...what do you know of me?''

[Bee Haw]

"We are ... were ... roommates."

"You strike me as calm, rational, honest, beautiful, and profoundly persuasive. You have worked as a model, and had some interest in owning your own modeling agency. You are ideally skilled for diplomatic work."

"I guess ... I don't actually know much beyond that."

Which was awkward. Bea was more of an open book.

[Galatea]

Galatea quirked an eyebrow

''There is no need to feel bad dear, no one knows more then that...not even ADINA or the staff here. That is why she placed me in business and marketing rather than what I am truly better at.''

She enjoyed the silence for a moment

''All that is known of me is what I allow to be known.''

[Bee Haw]

That made sense. Maybe.

"And that ... that ... that secrecy makes it more likely the world is saved for reasons I can't guess?"

"Or, I am foolish to think you want that, given how little I know about your background and motives?"

[Galatea]

''I could tell you dear. However I will ask you to keep that a secret between us.''

She frowned

''You can't reveal it to anyone, not to a priest, not to any member of your church, no one''

[Bee Haw]

She thought about that.

"Maybe its better not to know, then."

"I am definitely going to tell the church the truth. All that I know."

"But I don't want to trip over what you are doing. Maybe I could just keep you aware of anything going on that i know about so you will know if we are at risk of undermining good work inadvertently."

"Let me ask you this much. Do you know something about the Ultrum empire or the blue herald or the door between worlds that would help others plan? That's all I might want to know now."