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Hmm. Well, even if she only got some of them, it would certainly help to thin their numbers out.

He didn't want to risk responding to her vocally, so he texted her instead.

how many can u get?

'Mmmmm... dunno,' she said. 'Hard to say. Odds are, some of them will be naturally resistant or even immune. And the more I freeze at once, the weaker the effect becomes. Soooo... if I had to guess, then I'd say, maybe... somewhere between ten and twenty?'

Holy fuck.

It was a risk, of course. If they became aware of her presence, that could create all sorts of problems. Hector didn't know Abolish's exact policy regarding Sparrows, but Hanton had belabored the general point enough for him to worry about what might happen if word of a Sparrow's nest in Atreya got out into the broader world.

If he allowed Pauline to get involved directly, he would be playing with fire.

But then again, Abolish was on his fucking doorstep. Probably. Technically, there was still a slight chance that these trespassers weren't with Abolish, in which case a lot of people might get hurt for no reason.

Agh.

He supposed he shouldn't play the Sparrow card just yet. He texted her his response.

only do it if they atk me

'Mm, okie dokie.'

In the heat of battle, it would be easier for her to conceal her abilities, Hector felt. Hell, the enemy might even think that he was the one doing it. Human psychics were a thing, too.

Wait, they were? Where had he learned that from?

Eh, didn't matter now.

Hector sensed someone behind him, coming up through the Entry Tower. Was that Joana? He wasn't familiar enough with her spatial outline to tell for certain just by the Scarf alone, but it seemed like her. She had a few others behind her, too. Oh, hey, that was Roman there.

Good.