Excerpt from the fourth draft of An Earthling’s Guide to the Larger Universe

Portals

There are two major types of portals: portals established using the crystal network and portals established by individuals. The Voice can teleport people, but these are not considered portals because you do not step through them.

Portals that are not connected to the network almost always go from one point to another point; in fact, most of them are specifically established by a mage. There are two major advantages to these portals: they only cost mana (and any material components the mage requires), not Etherium or some other requirement (such as a dungeon completion) and they are not limited to locations with an established portal. The disadvantage is that they require an experienced portal mage to properly establish, which limits how many of them are possible. Most portal mages are employed by organizations such as the Messenger’s Guild, which delivers packages to many different planets.

Items can be used to create unlinked portals as well. They get around the requirement for a portal mage and replace it with the need for an expensive item, which is usually consumed to activate the portal. Invasion Crystals are an example of this sort of item; they have a limited time window, but during that time they are continuously open unless they are permanently closed.

For individual transit, especially on a particular planet, the crystal network is what most people use. It has defined locations that it can transit to and an Etherium cost, but it is still far more available than …

“What do you mean the caves were already owned? There’s no one there, they’re not marked - they were perfect for starting dungeons! One of them even already HAD an unclaimed dungeon!” Lord Widetail wasn’t happy to hear that he might have to pay for the land his people had already taken. “They weren’t being used, they’re ours now.”

Serenity was fairly confident that there were only two people on Earth - well, two people who weren’t dungeon cores or invaders - who actually knew enough to take over a dungeon: Raz and himself. It was likely that other people would start to pick it up quickly, even though it wasn’t taught in the Tutorial …

Wait, why wasn’t it taught in the Tutorial? That seemed like a significant oversight. Dungeons were important to many cities’ livelihoods. He’d need to make sure that made it into the next edition of his Guide.

“That’s not how it works, at least not here. Land is owned; if they find you on it without permission, they can request the local authorities remove you. There are ways around it, but you’ll have to pay for any of them.” Serenity paused, watching Lord Widetail. It wasn’t the first time he’d wished he could read lizard facial expressions, but the Traa still just seemed to be watching him. “Of course, the process can be expedited and even forced under certain circumstances, such as if the location is necessary for the production of military materiel…”

He’d gone over this piece in detail with his mother and some of the people she’d called in to help. There were limitations on the use of eminent domain and even though they’d been expanding for decades, handing land, even unused caves, over to aliens was going to be a hard sell. If those same aliens were helping defend the country, it would be a much easier case to make. On top of that, using eminent domain for vital locations for the military was well-established. Serenity wasn’t clear if it had ever been used for weapons manufacture, but he’d been told not to worry about that.

The portals were apparently a different case, right-of-way or access or something like that. Serenity had gotten a bit overwhelmed … mostly because he simply didn’t really care about the difference. It was someone else’s job to handle it, thankfully. He had enough things on his plate already.

“You want us to sell our beasts to you?” This time, Serenity could hear the indignation in Lord Widetail’s voice.

“Whether you sell them to us, rent them to us, or send your own handlers with them as mercenaries doesn’t matter. In many ways, I’d prefer mercenaries with their own beasts. Especially if you’re also willing to train some of our people in beast handling. They’d pay, of course.” Well, they would or the military would. It all depended on who they worked for. Serenity didn’t know how common it would be, but he knew just how valuable a good beastmaster could be.

There would probably be a lot of people who’d jump at the chance.

Lord Widetail still hadn’t replied, so Serenity decided to move on to the next piece of the agenda. “So, that’s what we want in the way of your current situation and your beasts. Obviously we’ll have to work out details and you’ll need to register and go through the paperwork part, but as long as you’re willing to talk details with the actual negotiators-”

Longsight interrupted him. “Wait. You’re not a negotiator?”

Serenity chuckled and shook his head. “Does it look like I am? No, I’m the person who makes contact and makes sure you’re willing in principle, then hands you over to specialists to actually make the deals. I’ve been talking to some of them for the past two days to make sure what the limits are.”

“You’re a fighter, not a diplomat or merchant.” Longsight stated firmly. “Who are you really?”

Serenity sighed. He’d need to put it in terms they’d understand. His Name would probably help, even though he’d told it to them before. “I’m Serenity. I’m also the son of the leader of our military, and my mother is - well, she’s a diplomat.” Like his father, she had a Senate-confirmed position, but where he was the Secretary of Defense, she wasn’t the Secretary of State; she was an under-secretary and had managed to mostly fly under the radar for everyone who wasn’t deeply in tune with the political world. “The negotiators are people who work for her.”

Lord Widetail shook his head. Even Serenity could see that much. “Such a strange world. Well, at least you have good connections. I’d never have expected to see dragons dealing so much with humans.”

Serenity grinned, showing his predatory teeth. “Keep watching. There’s a lot more to come. Earth is a planet full of surprises and contradictions.” He was from Earth and he kept being surprised; it couldn’t be easier for strangers. “Beyond the military, we need to talk about trade. Are you willing? I’d prefer to leave much of it to the negotiators, but first I need to know if you’re open to the idea.”

“We are,” Lord Widetail stated, “but other than beasts, I’m not sure what we’d trade. That’s why we went to your world, after all.”

“I’m sure we can find something, even if it’s just high-energy food. We trade all sorts of things…”

Longsight interrupted Serenity. “Well, there is one thing.”

Both Serenity and Lord Widetail turned to look at Longsight.

“The banshee’s trainer came to talk to me after the fight. Apparently you taught her to use a skill Fallenleaf’s been trying to teach for months. Would you be interested in coming back to train some of our other beasts?”

Serenity was relieved when he finally walked back out of the portal with a Traa on each shoulder. He’d managed to get them to agree to at least talk about everything that had been suggested, but it’d taken hours. He couldn’t wait to call his mother and get someone to make these two someone else’s responsibility.

Why was there a car parked behind Rissa’s SUV?

Serenity headed over to the driver’s side door, only to be intercepted by a woman who came around the vehicle from the other side.

She smiled brightly. “I’m Madelyn Alexander. I assume you’re Thomas Rothmer and these two are the Traa?”

She had to have been sent by his mother. “You’re with the State Department?” When she nodded, he introduced Lord Widetail and Longsight.

:She’s legit; I already checked with your mother. She’s here to take the Traa problem off our hands. I think your mother is happy to take it over.: Rissa’s voice momentarily surprised Serenity until he realized he’d left the link open again. He hadn’t been able to feel her from the Traa world, but it seemed like the link hadn’t closed on its own.

Serenity couldn’t think of a good reason to ever close the link. It didn’t cost anything to keep it open, and it was very convenient at times like this. :Good. I’ll hand them over to her and we can get on with things. How’s your brother doing?:

:Eh, so-so. Thank goodness it’s Friday; I’d make him take a sick day tomorrow if it wasn’t. He’s really showing the strain, even with your shield. I’m not sure a weekend will be enough; what he really needs is several weeks with very few minds around him, but I don’t think I’ll convince him of that easily. Did you catch what Path he took in the Tutorial? I don’t think he ever told me.: Rissa sounded concerned but nothing more than that.

Serenity thought for a moment. :No, he never said. I’m pretty sure it’s not a weaponed combat path, but that’s all I know.:

“Are you paying attention?” Madelyn Alexander’s voice pulled Serenity’s attention away from his conversation with Rissa.

“Ah, no, I wasn’t. What do you need?” Serenity realized he should probably handle the problem in front of him and leave Jacob to later.

“Give me the Traa; we’ll take them somewhere comfortable and have a long talk. Initial contact is … well, it’s something that doesn’t happen very often anymore. I have the feeling we’ll have a lot to discuss before we’re actually ready to come to any agreements. At least I know why I was picked now…” The last sentence was only muttered; Serenity suspected that she hadn’t actually meant to say it out loud.

“Yes, there will be a lot of talking. First I want to know how you are talking to us. The dragon I understand; he is speaking Bridge. You are not. You are speaking Traa, even though I reply in Bridge.” That was Longsight. Serenity was certain that Lord Widetail had thought the same thing but decided not to say anything yet. He seemed to be more relaxed than Longsight, and gave Serenity the feeling that he was playing a deeper game, even though Longsight thought he was the better game-player.

Of course, Serenity could be wrong. He was bad at judging people; why should he assume he was guessing right about lizards?

As far as Serenity could tell, Madelyn Alexander was speaking in English. “New translator gadget?” It seemed like a different version of the one his mother had given Raz.

She nodded. “Yeah. It burns through cores quickly, but I was told it’d help. I don’t think I’d be understanding them otherwise. You speak their language?”

Serenity shook his head. “I speak Bridge. It’s a commonly used language even if it’s a second language for basically everybody. It’s good enough for most things, especially trade.”

Madelyn Alexander smiled. “I’m surprised your mother doesn’t have you teaching lessons. Unless she has other people who can speak it?”

“She’s asked. I haven’t had time. For now, the translation devices should be better, but I’m sure we’ll need people at some point.”