They did not surrender, which Lee found predictable but still irritating because surrender would have saved everyone time and reduced paperwork, and he had never liked paperwork even when he was technically working for an academy that thrived on it.
The criminals moved as a unit, not like scattered disciples trying to impress each other, but like people who had drilled this formation enough times to trust it more than instinct, and the moment they advanced Lee felt the difference in their circulation, something slightly off, not chaotic, not corrupted, but threaded with authority that did not belong to them.
Trexian's influence.
Lee felt it like a familiar headache returning after you thought you had finally gotten rid of it.
"Don't let them touch you." He said without raising his voice, because shouting wouldn't change physics.
Karn grinned, already charging. "Great advice." He said.
