Ulrike and Caroline

I ask if I can join the two women.

A husky, red-faced woman who does not appear to be expecting looks me in the eye, nods, and says, "Yes, please join us. Have you just arrived? I do not recognize you. I am Ulrike, and this here is Caroline." Caroline is a tall brunette with long, loosely curled hair. She looks like she was a college freshman or high school senior athlete. She is well advanced in pregnancy, and is acting shy. She is looking up from her soup, but is not making direct eye contact with me.

I introduce myself. I affirm that yes, I feel like I did just arrive. I tell her about the strange object in the supermarket, the murder of the women in line, and the fact that I was assigned to be a surrogate, and have not been given much more information. Is this normal? I leave out the part about the woman that told me about the Vorkons and that she was part of a plan to counter their work.

Ulrike nods slowly. She says, "There are some stupid and rude here sometimes. Are you okay?" Her English is mostly correct, but I notice that she has an accent that I cannot place.

I answer, "Well, under the circumstances, I suppose that I am."

"Good. Keep yourself in a good mood. It is not nice or fair here sometimes, but it is better that we help each other." She points her hand to her heart and then at mine. "This is where our hope is. Okay?" She is addresses me, but turns to look at Caroline, too. This message is for more than one person. I say, "Okay."

1. "Super. Do you have any questions?"

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