Turning to Donny, Ariett made a patting gesture in the air, followed by hands clasped momentarily in mock prayer—roughly translated, the meaning was [i]please don't shoot anyone[/i]. She didn't really know what ticked him off last time, and she was hoping to figure out their intentions [i]before[/i] bullets started to fly this time around.

"Technically we—or rather, [i]he[/i]—shot first."

Ariett then faced the newcomers and spoke up so as to be heard over the loud humming emanating from the orb transfixed above the street. "Are these men yours? If so, I'd like to point out we're still armed, and the police are on their way. I assure you, we aren't worth the trouble." The threat was only half-true. She had not yet retrieved her phone since the dive, and she really had no idea whether or not the voice on the line had been able to locate them without Ariett's help.