We were in a car, and the landmarks or geographical changes I could make out were limited to what I could see out the window. Narrow slices of world. I wasn’t sure I recognized this area, but I could guess.

“We’re going to Earth N?”

Tattletale didn’t answer, but Snuff glanced at her.

“You might as well be the bigger person and tell her. She’s going to figure it out,” Sveta said.

“Original deal we struck in the heat of the moment was that I’d negotiate a preferable trade setup for the Earth N settlement with the Mayor. If I didn’t follow through she’d get to borrow a member of Breakthrough for six months. I went to the mayor, struck some compromises, and got Bluestocking some of what she wanted. She wasn’t flailing her arms around and crying out ‘penalty clause’.”

“We’re good to go, then?” Tattletale asked.

“I feel like walking into her territory with her providing favors or oversight might be an excuse for her to bring it up. I think I’d have been happier pretending she didn’t exist for a while, let the deal disappear into distant memory.”

“Well, that sucks, because I reached out to the people who matter and this was their preferred neutral ground. If we need a referee, Bluestocking’s that.”

“We’re close to the station. Which way in?” Snuff asked. “We parking?”

“No. Car and truck entrance,” Tattletale replied. “Right road.”

“Got it,” Snuff said, taking the off-road.

“That’s usually closed,” I remarked. “Has been since the portal incidents. They’ve stepped up security.”

Tattletale snorted. “Welcome to the big leagues, kiddo. Paying to be able to drive your own truck in is worth it, if it means you don’t have to ask for a ride or worry about the danger posed by whoever is escorting you.”

The station was at the end of the road, and we were approaching by an angle I hadn’t seen it from. There was a gate, and people stood on either side of it. In the warmer months, when the portals had been open to service, this would have been how the trucks of construction material would have come in, along with any vehicles anyone was attached to.

“This is Big Picture’s contact?” Sveta asked.

“Contacts. There are a few people I keep tabs on because they have a lot of sway over the city and even things that aren’t the city. I break this down into categories. Threats, cultural, financial, information, and powers. Some people are influencers for reasons that don’t tie directly into their abilities, like Dido from Auzure and her effect on finances.”