Chapter 86: Handling changes

A meeting between the USEG council members was in session and there was some tension in the air.

Pollux says "What do you mean we are going to just abandon the Wefantz system?! The people trust us to protect and guide them when need be. Are you seriously considering breaking that trust?!"

Castor says "I wholeheartedly agree. The Wefantz system is also where our god sacrificed her eye to observe the abyss, TzuluzT. Abandoning the system would cause us to lose the power to respond in time should the abyss start to expand. This is madness, I tell you. Algol, do you think we should abandon that advantage?"

Algol responds "While I agree that giving up on that system would mean a great loss for us and the trust of our fair lady. But as much as it pains me, we did all agree to let Elysium choose the path ahead in our previous gathering, so we should move forward as we have been instructed."

Vega laughs a bit and says "For you to defend those people, I find it kind of amusing. 4/10 character development. Not really good enough for a major audience to believe."

Algol says "Now misunderstand, I would love to not go with Elysium’s decision out of spite, I was even against trusting this matter to them in the first place, but we already agreed on one decision, revoking that decision would make us look like petty children."

Pollux says "Like a mamma’s boy can talk about not being ’petty children’. Hilarious."

Castor comments "You go bro."

Vega turns to look for Altair and asks "What does our elder council member say? Wait, no need. Your answer will be obvious since you were the one who brought the idea to trust this matter to Elysium in the first place, so don’t bother."

Altair looks at her terminal where the matters that are discussed at the current gathering are written. Then she says "I didn’t expect Elysium to make the same choice as I was contemplating as well."

Algol says "Mother?! You considered abandoning the Wefantz system as well?"

Altair says "I talked about it with lady Ao as well and she told me she was fine if we chose that option."

Castor asks "That’s what you proposed to our fair lady? You didn’t have any other ideas? You really are starting to show your age."

Altair throws a bottle at Castor and says "I’m old, and I don’t want to be here, but as an elder, I have the unfortunate duty to deal with you little shits. But back on topic, I also proposed that Ao would send Babylon 12 to somewhere far, far away from any star system, then the matter would be solved. This was also one of the ideas Elysium came up with as well. But..."

Pollux asks "What?"

Altair continued "Ao considered it at first, but when I mentioned the sample that Arcturus might have used to make Pluto, she immediately shut down the whole idea."

Pollux asks "What? Why?"

Altair shakes her head and says "She wouldn’t explain it to me even if I asked her. She looked very uncomfortable the whole time after that."

Vega asks "Where did Arcturus even find that sample? From what I heard, he spend huge amount of resources to acquire it." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

Altair says "What Arcturus did mention about it, was that the sample was an information hazard."

Pollux asks "What’s an information hazard?"

Castor explains "It is basically information that is dangerous to have."

Pollux says "I see. But in any case, are we really still just gonna abandon the whole Wefantz system?"

Algol says "I believe that it is our only option at this point."

Castor says "I’m against it, but since the other option is to risk Pluto spreading to other systems, I guess I have to agree."

Pollux looks at Castor and asks "You too brother? What about all those people?"

Altair says "We are dealing with a trolley problem at heart right now, Pollux. Either we make an action that saves plenty but our hands get dirty, or we don’t take action and let even more people suffer as well."

Pollux looks downtrodden and Vega says "Don’t worry too much about it, young one. This won’t be the last hard decision you’ll have to make as a council member."

Algol asks "Was that supposed to cheer him up?"

Vega shrugs and says "As their senior, I have that much of a responsibility to keep them, well since the trolley problem was mentioned, I’d say on the rails."

Altair says "So it is four against one, is that right?"

Vega shrugs again and says "No objections here."

Algol nods and says "I’ll follow your example, my dear mother."

Castor replies "No objections from me either."

Pollux looks down and doesn’t say anything.

Altair says "Great. We are then in agreement. Now do you have anything to add, high elder Betelgeuse?

Betelgeuse is the oldest 9 pointed star elf, who, according to records, has lived over 100 000 years. His exact age is unknown, since he lived in the times long forgotten by the rest of the star elves and he is one of Fein’s victims on multiple occasions. He is 2,5 meters tall, has a long white beard and hair. He is very muscular and wears a simple cloth that covers most of his body.

Betelgeuse says "May we be shown mercy when we arrive on that starry northern shores."

Altair nods and says "Very well. With this, this meeting is concluded."

With that, the meeting ended and all traffic in or towards the Wefantz system was banned indefinitely.

There had to be people who had the unfortunate job to make sure no ship from the Wefantz system came close to another Babylon. No matter the means.

Meanwhile, Li contacted Atkoosa to come and have a chat. Atkoosa happily obliged and brought some divine treats with him as well.

When Atkoosa and Li were sitting facing each other on what was basically a white void, Atkoosa asked "Why did you call me out so suddenly? Should I have brought some other friends with me?"

Li answered "Depending on your answer, there might not be need for anyone else."

Atkoosa started eating the treats he brought with him and commented "Well, it isn’t like you want to talk to us gods for funsies anyway, so I figured not to take anyone else with me. In any case..." Atkoosa gulps down the treat he had and continued "Ask away, since you seem to be wanting an answer from me."

Li asks "Does this world have a concept of ’prophetic dreams’?"

Atkoosa rubs his chin and says "Prophetic dreams... I’d say that there used to be, but I haven’t heard of anyone with the ’prophet’ ability in millions of years. Though granted, you never know if Fein has had a hand on that. As to if normal people can see dreams of the future, I’d say not exactly. And those who often claim so simply dreamed of something abstract and the events of their dreams happened to happen."

Li says "I see."

Atkoosa then asks "I take it that there is someone who you believe might be having those kinds of dreams?"

Li says "It is my lord who predicted the situation at the Wefantz system recently."

Atkoosa rubs his chin and mutters "Is that the case? Hmmm... Do you know how detailed those dreams were?"

Li says "I haven’t heard the details myself, but Ms. Zolotifa seems to think they are very clear dreams, as if they are lifelike."

Atkoosa ponders as he keeps rubbing his chin for a while. Then Atkoosa asks "Has the lad predicted anything else?"

Li says "There seemed to have been some sort of tragedy that happened in my lord’s dream that directly caused the loss of my own child, but I don’t know how it happened."

There is a brief silence between the two men as Atkoosa is processing the information. Eventually Li breaks the silence and asks Atkoosa "If I may continue my questions, then may I ask you if you know a person known as Kuo Lemansa?"

Atkoosa makes a slight jolt and then calms himself a little before he asks "Is this also something the young lad dreamed about?"

Li says "It was one of the stories he made a report on. He said that in that dream, Mr. Lemansa asked my lord to meet him somehow, and once they made contact, through some nonsensical rambling, Mr. Lemansa asked my lord to grant a person named Samael a peaceful death."

Atkoosa thinks for a moment and then says "It seems that there is some possibility that the young demigod may have seen some sort of prophecy. Kuo Lemansa and Samael are people that actually exist, though the more telling part is the former name."

Li says "I take that Mr. Lemansa is quite an important figure."

Atkoosa says "That is to put it lightly. If there was a god of undeath, he’d be the one, but sadly he is but a mortal with the power of a god most unnatural ingrained to his very being. If I would use some star elven slang to describe him, I’d call him the goat of all mortals."

Li says "Oh? I thought that title would belong to my lord."

Atkoosa chuckles a little and says "That might have been the case, but he is widely no longer classified as a mortal, though still, I get your point."

Then Atkoosa made a serious face and said "Regardless, it seems I’ll have to make some actions of my own. I might even need to wake up an expert and chat with a madman. I think things will get busy soon."

Li says "Before we end this meeting, I’ll also mention that we know of Ru’ugwell and where he slumbers."

Atkoosa makes a smile and says "It seems I have to take this even more seriously than I initially thought. But for now, I’ll be off. Let’s stay in contact."

Li says "I’ll stay alert."

With that, Li’s worries had been confirmed and his next move was to inform Tifa about what he heard. After that... Lud also mentioned in his dream report that they’ll have a pair of twins coming soon with Toki.

And low and behold, Toki later came with Mara and Kaina. Like before, they were introduced to the important people of Elysium with few minor changes. One of which was that Lud was way less enthusiastic about the whole ordeal than last time, and Mara seems to notice Lud’s heart isn’t fully there with them. And with Mara noticing, soon after Tifa notices it too and tries to talk to Lud in private when the kids were talking to Zenith and Liz.

Tifa asks "What’s wrong? Is your dream affecting you somehow again?"

Lud says "No, it’s just..."

Tifa tilts her head and waits until Lud says "I feel like I’ve done this song and dance way too often, but I still know that it is first for you all, but still... but still."

Tifa hugs Lud and says "Don’t worry. We’ll get through this." Then she tightens her hug a little too much and says in a dark tone "You’d better not hide things for me again, since you know I’ll always find out."

Lud, trying to gather breath, barely manages to say "Yes... dear." And then Tifa lets go of Lud.

The kids’ meeting with Li went like last time, patting and all, but Mara did mention Li "Also please take good care of my grandpa. He isn’t doing so well."

This surprised everyone, but Li kept on smiling like last time and nodded "Of course."

Toki’s and Perkele’s meeting also happened this time as well, with nothing changing.

.

Meanwhile, a message came to Lud in a dream. It was weird and hard to understand, but it went something like:

StaaaAAAAaaay focused friend.

IiiiIIIi’m sure you’ll make it.

ThiiiiIIIIIiis road will be long, buuuUUUUUut carry on and you’ll see the end.

FoooooOOOOOOOooooor you from the past.

EeeeeEEEEEEeeeecho of myself.