On the one hand, I should be pleased to know more of my friends are likely on their way; and on the other, I would not wish to see them put in harm's way, like this, without their permission.

Yes, that is right: there are a great many people here who do not have powers at all, but have seen some form of combat, and it does not seem fair to me that they be caught by that entity unawares, when Laurence and I might offer some way of evening the score.