uniform identical to
his own. Since he didn't know the woman herself, it seemed pretty clear
he'd been brought to an alternate-universe Empire--and that had to mean
it needed help, badly. It looked like he was getting the challenge he
wanted, though not in any way he could've expected.

He grinned at his other-universe colleague. "I'm James Medart, of
Alternate Alpha Prime. What's your problem?"

"Ariel of Rolian, Zeta Prime." The woman smiled, looking relieved.
"You're all right?"

"Fine."

"Good. Inter-universe summoning spells are sometimes as rough on the
subject as they are on the magician; I'm glad you were spared that.
But I wasn't, so I need to rest before I brief you. I'll take you to
the bridge and introduce you, then let you get acquainted while I
recuperate for three or four hours."

"You're the expert here," Medart agreed. "It's safe to leave the
pentagram?"

"Yes, of course." She frowned. "You're not familiar with magic?"

"Only what I've picked up from fantasy stories and games of Treasure
Tunnels. It doesn't work in Alpha Prime--or in any of the other
universes I've visited till now, either. But when I show up in the
middle of a pentacle with a Ranger who obviously takes magic for
granted, it seems pretty clear this is one where it does."

The other Ranger frowned again. "That's strange. You're from a
high-probability alternate, then--sophisticated technology, no magic--but
my spell was designed to summon a high-powered sorcerer."

Medart chuckled. "Either it glitched, or I am one and don't know it.
I've played Tunnels characters who used magic, but I don't know a thing
about the way it really works."

"In that case, I'd say you are and don't know it. I haven't had a
spell miss its mark that far since I was in middle school. We'll find
out for sure when you meet Captain Chavvorth, though. He's what we
call a Reader, he can sense things about you just being in your
presence." Ariel sighed, showing fatigue she'd concealed before. "And
he tends to worry about me, since an inter-universe summoning can be
tricky. Not to mention dangerous, if you tap into the wrong alternate.
Would you mind if we go there now?"

"Sorry--of course not." Medart followed her out of the
symbol-decorated room and through corridors that looked like a standard
Imperial Navy ship's, though something he couldn't pinpoint right away
seemed odd--something missing, maybe. "I can accept, though I don't
u