"I see." That was a relief. "I've noticed that larger groups often have difficulty getting anywhere, so we'll be heading up there on our own. I'm glad to know we won't be the only ones." Lloyd's description implied that some or all of them were more familiar with fighting than either she or Ryuuzaki was; both of them knew what to do with a pistol, but there was a difference between training and experience.

And she didn't especially want to remedy that any more than she already had, but she would do what she had to. "If we're lucky, multiple teams might draw off some of the attacks."

Hang on. Sora was the kid who'd met Byrne. She didn't flinch, but it was an effort. She was recruiting children to fight. It wasn't like they would be any safer staying in their beds, an argument Ema had made over and over, and a convincing one, but it still horrified her. Maybe they'd stay in the archives -- but she didn't expect them to. "Ryuuzaki claims to be good with computers, so if we can get into the main security system, he'll have a good chance of getting something useful out of them."