Planet Be

There's so much framing in this “book”! I'm now conceiving of Stories of Starling & Earthling being released on Planet B as children's book fables recounting the beautiful friendship between caring beings from 2 different planets. These stories would be fictitious wish fulfillment that contain truth.

I imagine Starling being asked about Earthling, a being ze does not know, and saying truthfully, “Ze was my best friend.”

How is this possible? (And is this sad?)

Short version (for now): Starling is the legendary name given to the Artist from Planet A after crashing down on Planet B. A new possibility I am considering (for story purposes) is that the crashing of the probe occurs in a remote area and is unnoticed by all except Backpacker (whose legendary name is Earthling). Backpacker would follow the streak of light and crash sounds to find the probe containing Artist from Planet A. Despite the crash landing, the probe is intact with noises and lights from functioning electronics. Ah, as I write this I am considering a parachute and splashdown in a lake. I was worried how Backpacker would transport the probe if it is in a remote wooded area wedged into the ground. It will be difficult even if it's in a lake. Presumably it is heavy. Ahhh this is confusing me because the probe is designed to be found, and up until recently I assumed that it would be taken under the control of a government but now I'm thinking for story purposes it's better to be kept away from the establishment until later. Hmmm. Sorry for writing my uncertainty. It could be emitting a homing signal that Backpacker disables. Then B hides signs of the probe until B is ready to move it. However it happens... B becomes inspired by the materials that accompany A in the probe, some of which are released to the public & some of which become the basis of Starling & Earthling. B gets to know A via videos and writing during decades in which A is kept in stasis. By the time A emerges B is old/dying and then A has to get to know B by videos and writing. Their best friendship happens non-concurrently. The Starling & Earthling stories are a fictionalized account that puts them into the same timeline. It's beautiful. They both love the stories.

I have a lot to consider.