Miss Militia explained, “Be nonthreatening. One hand behind your back while you shake hands, but keep it open, not clenched. Outside of that, I don’t think it’s too difficult. They either know our customs and speak our language, due to Goddess’s enforcement of English as a universal language, or they speak their own language and the translators know us and will adapt.”

“Universal language?” Sveta asked. “Ew.”

“It’s convenient, if nothing else. Divergence was ages ago but the world progressed along fairly similar tracks. They had a very war-torn past that leaves them conflict averse. Wars in their approximation of Europe saw multiple groups fleeing across what our side has termed the Alleghenian Ridge. To them it’s the Spine or the Bridge, in various dialects. Many groups fled, then either conflicted with or mingled with previous refugees and settlers at the end of the long journey. The coalition of nations that resulted is going to be who we’re spending the most time talking to, if we talk to any Shin governments.”

The roof was gradually returning to its normal height. Vista had trouble manipulating terrain that was occupied, so she was just leaving it to revert. She pulled out her phone, and punched in some things. I knew from experience that she was making sure air traffic controllers knew which areas were no-go. We were covering some ground.

“They like Miss Militia,” Golem said, while Vista fiddled and the building we were on returned to its normal height.

“They appreciate the ‘wields a big stick and walks softly’ approach,” Miss Militia said. “I wield a very, very big series of sticks and I try to be gentle, and that seems to be something they respond to.”

Vista began to distort space across the rooftops, closing the distance between us and our destination.

“Do we need to worry about Teacher here?” I asked.

“It’s a consideration, but it may always going to be a consideration,” Miss Militia said, and her voice took on a darker tone.

“I want to think we’ll find a way,” Rain said. “I’ve spent too many years under the thumb of people who wanted control.”

“That may be something to bring up in conversation. Try not to volunteer or force information. They’ll have questions about what came up. They may have questions about the Lady in Blue, too, but don’t bring her up. Be human.”

“The Wardens that have been dealing with them have been taking off their masks,” Golem said. “But we’re hearing about this sketchy underbelly of Shin where they have the rabid anti-parahumans and now those people are talking to people in our world. They might end up getting descriptions or photos there, then using them against us here.”

“It’s up to you,” Miss Militia said.