"Huh. Anything like that in our world would probably be malicious, or at least not very friendly to humans..."

"The Incubators claim to not understand the concept of friendship. Or malice."

"Do they at least have an idea of working for or against someone else's interests?"

"Yes. But they don't attach any- affect to it. It's all cold calculation, nothing personal."

"I suppose as long as the calculus is on staying allied with humans, then..."

"As long as we're producing more energy than they're spending on magic, I guess. Though I'm not sure they'd take the time to step on us even if that changed."

"A lack of grudges is one benefit to a lack of emotions, I suppose."

"Yeah. Most of us find them a little creepy, honestly."

"I can see that; humans rely on emotions a lot, in communicating."

Makoto nods.

"Anyway. I guess that makes one problem solved tonight."

"Yes. Thank you - both for helping the poltergeist and the affected family."

"No problem. Do we need to, uh, explain anything to them?"

"I don't think they'll have noticed what's happened here, and they should notice the poltergeist having left - but I can come by during the day and explain to them that a friend of mine helped their house's spirit move on."

"All right. Are there any more in town?"

"Poltergeists? Yes, though none quite as thoroughly - prone to acting out."

"This one wasn't too costly. I could see if I can help the others."

"Thanks. You're a good kid. Let me arrange us a ride around town, okay?"

Makoto gives a thumbs up.

And she gets them transportation shortly thereafter.

Then it's off to do some good.

The poltergeists are for the most part much less present than that one had been. Less capable of effecting the world, and fading away far faster. Their reasons for lingering are numerous, but mostly tied to a traumatic death related to or inside the house, and how they died seems to influence how they act out.

They can all be handled that night, at least.

Her ambitions are lofty, but the size of her bite is precisely calculated.

"Thank you for doing this. It's a small thing, from one perspective... But I think it means a lot."

"Big things are made of small things. I'm happy to do it."

"A good philosophy, yes, though perhaps it is late enough you should rest, now."