"Littlest cherub wandered into a new world. It has one of you each in it."

"One of Rayne, too, right?"

"Did I not say that's invariable? I'm sure I said that. Yes, one of Rayne too."

"I wasn't sure I remembered. So am I supposed to go say hi?"

"Optionally after checking that your local alts aren't up to anything it would be poor form to interrupt."

"That does seem worth verifying for mine."

Shell Bell holds the door.

"...Um," says Miles.

Cath makes a quiet comment to Milo, who struggles not to laugh.

"Somebody you know?"

"That is the Empress of Cetaganda," says Miles. "Her name is Lisbet Serise. I would not recommend interrupting her no matter what she's doing."

"...Okay, that makes... the second Empress Libby we've run into and the first one we found definitely needed interrupting, what's this one's story?"

"Of the Cetagandans I've met, she struck me as the most reasonable, practical, and friendly," he says. "I would and have trusted her with my life. But she operates under such a heavy mantle of security at all times that I would expect her first reaction to anyone contacting her unexpectedly through unusual channels would be extreme alarm, and I don't think that's the kind of first impression you'd rather make, even if you clear it up very quickly afterward."

Both Bells glance at the local representative of Libbies.

"Well, she told me I have nice eyes," he offers, smirking.

He shakes his head. "It'd have to be one hell of a disaster. There are humans living on something like two hundred planets."

Shell Bell applauds lightly. "Okay, so - contact her in some conventional manner, or don't, it's probably not urgent. Ripper?"

"I don't actually have whatever fancy superpowers Libby was using to spy on her alt. Mine probably isn't up to anything where it would be that bad if I brainphoned him..."

"Do that or take thirty seconds of pastwatching, up to you."

"Eh, I'll take the thirty seconds of pastwatching just in case."

Pentagon.