This was clearly a reasonable request.
"Go on."
"You also have to do me a favor."
Ian did not answer immediately. "What kind of favor?"
Diana rose to her feet and walked to the window, looking out at the streets and the outline of the city. "You should have seen it when you entered the city. This world has retained some of its structure, but it can no longer return to its original state. This land's carrying capacity is declining."
"The order I can maintain only covers limited boundaries. I can't restore more land to its former condition. You come from other universes. Since you can cross structures to reach this space, you should also possess some ability to adjust or repair things," Diana said softly.
Ian asked curiously, "You want us to restore this world?"
"Not completely. I know that's no longer possible," Diana said. "I need you to help stabilize this region's boundaries so they don't keep contracting inward."
Ian thought for a moment. "We can handle that for you before we leave."
Diana turned around. "Deal."
She sat back down behind the desk and pushed the rolled maps aside. "When are you leaving?"
"After we finish the adjustments here."
Diana nodded once without asking for a specific timetable. Her gaze swept over them again. "The composition of your team really is rather unusual."
"As long as it's useful," Ian said. Diana did not argue. She sat behind the desk, her gaze lingering on them for a moment, as if confirming she had completed this round of positioning, then reached out and pulled the map back in front of her. "Then let's deal with the problem here first."
Ian looked out the window. The streets were still functioning, and the city continued operating at its own pace. The