[center][img]http://www.ezimba.com/work/150401C/ezimba19697234506200.jpg[/img][/center]

[color=gray]If one could see behind the Harp's mask, they'd know 'it' was smiling. It was a soft smile, for all intents and purposes, and though 'it' knew no one would see it, the sentiment still remained.

[color=palegoldenrod]"I didn't expect you would, Kaalia."[/color] It spoke, a hint of a smile in it's machine-like voice. [color=palegoldenrod]"It's nothing too terribly interesting, I'm afraid. But it does have us curious. And, if you want me to be honest, we [i]are[/i] simply probing to gauge a reaction. The numbers are off. There are more and more Lost appearing each day. The affected towns and cities can't handle the increasing numbers. And it's not just the numbers, some of them are showing signs of evolution, like nothing we've ever seen before. I need your group to go down there and give us eyes on what happening down there and relay whatever information you can back up to us."[/color] It explained, crossing arms pensively. [color=palegoldenrod]"I don't trust anyone else with this mission. I hand selected this group myself, the counsel aside. They'll get over it."[/color] It explained, an ominous tone about it's voice. 

The Harp turned to look out at the window, looking through black lace at the sky before it. [color=palegoldenrod]"The casualty numbers are skyrocketing, it's not something we can afford to stand around thinking about much longer."[/color] It explained further, turning back to stare at Shae and then at Kaalia. [color=palegoldenrod]"I know you may not like it and it may seem like I am keeping things from you. But you must trust me. I would never turn you towards something I did not think you could handle."[/color] It told them, wanting ever so desperately to give a gentle squeeze to their shoulders but knowing it's limitations. 

[color=palegoldenrod]"Now, take these forms. They detail the places you will be visiting and which ones I recommend you visit first. Please, take care of your team mate, I am entrusting them to you. Isa can be... rough at times but she has a good heart. Linta and Indigo are both strong fighters and well disciplined. They may not know our ways just yet, but give them time and be patient with them. They want to help."[/color] Finished with it's piece, the Harp turned sharply and walked away, waving briskly at the two behind it, the men following.

[center]≾ ❖ ≿[/center]

Isa found herself following Sylvia for some reason. After the meeting was over, she didn't really want to be alone and she didn't know what would be happening now. She'd never actually been deployed. 

[color=moccasin]"Hey! Wait up!"[/color] She called over, running to try and catch up to the wolf feren. However, Isa was too preoccupied with watching Sylvia, that she failed to notice the foot that popped out from no-where and fell on her face, landing with a rather comedic "splat."

[color=lightgray]"Hah! Watch where you're going, Easy Isa! Didn't you know that walking is Isa Easy?"[/color] the male yelled, already walking away, laughing with his friends. Biting her lip, Isa sat up on the floor, crossing her legs in a fit of embarrassment, her cheeks red as beets. 

[color=moccasin]"Isa Easy, I understand but... I'm not easy! In fact, I'm one of the few girls on this ship you can't get into the pants of!"[/color] She spoke, starting as a whisper but slowly growing into a yell, mostly at the world. [color=moccasin]"Ugh! I don't even date!"[/color] She groaned, falling backward as she succumbed to the plight that was her life. Staring up at the ceiling, she thought about Sylvia Sterling. She must have just kept walking. She wouldn't want to be seen with "Easy Isa." So what if she couldn't do anything other than the easy difficultly on the simulations. It wasn't that Normal was particularly hard, it was just the pressure. If they didn't tell her it would be even a bit harder, she might actually do well. But she always got nervous when someone told her it would be on Normal that day. And since then, people have used "Isa Easy" as an adjective for things that are so easy, they have to be paired with the failure that can't even get past the normal difficulty. 

...

It was always the fear... 

The fear of failure...

The face of Isaac always came to her in those moments, those clutch moments. She needed to get past it. But something about the way he looked at her just before the beast took him away sent chills down her spine. H-Had it been her fault? Had she been trained, she could have saved him. She had failed him, and she'd seen it on his face that day. Since then, all of the children looked at her differently. She heard the whispers they swapped in the night. 

[color=lightgray][i]Isa... She just... let him die, didn't she?[/i]

[i]I'm scared, what if she's cursed?[/i]

[i]Yeah, everyone around her gets eaten by Lost. Even her parents.[/i]

[i]SHH. I think she's coming.[/i]
[/color]

...It had been a big part of her decision to come here. To get past that difficulty, to prove to them that she wasn't cursed. But... Was she? Was she just naturally unlucky?

For the next few moments, Isa simply sat in the middle of the hallway, slouched with her eyes staring listless at the floor. A strange appearance for the usually plucky girl.
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