"If everything went smoothly, it would take about three weeks to re-derive it in full, but if I'm willing to settle for something that just functions I might be able to do it in one, though it might not be as good. Researching with you would go much more quickly!"

"I'm sorry if this is obvious, but couldn't you just find someone who already has the spell and learn it from them?"

"She could, but rederiving it is more fun. I don't think either of those is going to work for scouting the ford today, but I would love to help you with it later!" To think that she ever thought Time Enough For Love might not be useful. "For today I think I should stick to one Gate and get all my scouting done in a minute and a half." It's very convenient that she already DFEWed a hawk and will be able to see a lot from high up. While she's thinking about it she DFEWs a bumblebee, for the ultraviolet vision.

"Okay!"

Nenio is still halfway paying attention to the world around her, but the rest of her attention has already gone into figuring out the first steps on reverse engineering Fly. She'd say she couldn't help it, but that would imply there was a reason she would want to try, and for the most part the only thing that can divert Nenio from science is other science.

That's so reasonable but they need to do a bunch of stuff at the same time. She does the Nondetection and the Invisibility and then asks, "Nenio, are you ready to do the illusion on the Gate as soon as it goes up?"

“Yes!”

She puts her hands in the starting position for the somatic components, and prepared to time it to finish exactly alongside Brenda’s casting.

Arueshalae will get her bow ready, then, and enhance it with Gravity Bow before following the transmutation up with Cat's Grace and Eyes of the Falcon. It's not enchanted like her old bow, and the draw weight leaves much to be desired, but between the magic and her knowledge of demonic anatomy it should still let her help a little in a fight. If one of them does try to chase Brenda back the gate, she'll be ready.

And Wenduag will string her own bow, because she's not going to be outdone that easily.

Seelah has her sword out for the same reasons, though she hopes the stealth works well enough that it won't be necessary.

Brenda smiles appreciatively at the backup,akes eye contact with Nenio, and counts down "3, 2, 1, now." The Gate goes up, small and horizontal, and an invisible cloud of glitter drops through it.