[center] [h1]Voice of Reason[/h1] [img]http://i.imgur.com/ytozL8X.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/n1b6iEd.png[/img] [h2][color=palevioletred]Zoe[/color] | [color=00ffbb]Lawrence[/color][/h2] [img]http:// i.imgur.com/3R5vYYi.png?2[/img] [hr][color=silver]π•Žπ•–π••: 𝕆𝕔π•₯. 𝟟, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘 / / 𝔹𝕒𝕝𝕕 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕕 π•€π•€π•π•’π•Ÿπ•• / / β„€π•™π•’π•Ÿπ•˜'𝕀 𝔼𝕀π•₯𝕒π•₯𝕖 / / ~𝟘𝟝𝟘𝟘[/color][hr][/center] For his part, Lawrence took the evacuation of procedure, it was far from his first emergency wakeup since joining USARILN East. Not that it made things any less of a pain in the ass. Not bothering to put them on yet- there'd be time for that when his life wasn't immediately at risk- Lawrence grabbed the pants he wore yesterday off of the floor and his jacket hanging by the door. With a quick motion for Lizzy to follow, he opened the door only to find someone already waiting on the other side, poised mid-knock to get his attention. With a sigh, starting to button his shirt with his free hand, Lawrence and Lizzy walked past him into the hallway. β€œ[color=00ffbb]So where are we going?[/color]” ***** Unsurprisingly, Zoe was a little off-balance after the sudden evacuation - not to mention that she looked like a goddamn mess. Being dragged out of bed at this time wasn't good for anyone, and it had taken her a while to try and figure out what's going on. But one particular statement had caught her attention, a panicked shout. A quick glance around the room confirmed it. [color=palevioletred][i]We're missing people.[/i][/color] But they [i]were[/i] in the middle of being evacuated, so she'd held on and waited in the hopes that they'd turn up. It didn't happen. As Aldrich finally arrived, his words didn't do much more than make her certain it wouldn't. Hostiles on the island - the Amigos, even. Hadn't the guy in town mentioned them? Regardless, it left very little doubt in Zoe's mind as to the situation. Whatever had happened to their teammates, they weren't coming. The order to leave said as much, but she wouldn't accept that they were dead. Angel and Gregory were out there somewhere. And these guys wanted them to just up and leave. To 'evacuate'-- more accurate to say they'd be running away like cowards. Fleeing while their teammates were exposed to who-knows-what. It didn't take her long to make the decision, hell, it was hardly a decision at all. The expression on her face was resolute, cold anger the overriding emotion in her gaze as she nodded to herself. Instead of following their plans and leaving like they were supposed to, she turned to run straight towards the hatch that led outside, even as several of the staff members shouted after her to stop. She didn't get far. Almost immediately her right leg was enveloped in a white light and went entirely rigid- throwing the aberration to the ground mid sprint with more force than Lawrence (Now fully dressed) would have preferred. Still, he hardly cared at the moment, a few bruises were preferable to a suicide charge. An [i]insanely stupid[/i] suicide charge. To say he was annoyed would be an understatement, but at the moment he had to try to push those thoughts back the way he always had. It'd be too much of a pain in the ass to transfer irritation into Zoe at the moment. As soon as the redhead hit the ground the glowing around her leg stopped, and was replaced by the familiar aura of Lawrence's power. The mild irritation was still present, but it was a minor element of what he was transferring at the moment. For the most part there was simply... calm, rational calm that was slowly forcing its way into his teammate's psych. He was not going to be taking any chances today with two members already dead, or most likely dead. β€œ[color=00ffbb]Zoe, [i]what the Hell[/i] do you think you're doing?[/color]” Taken off guard and winded by her sudden crash to the floor, Zoe didn't even have time to try and stand before a sense of calm set in. Feeling the effects of the power, it wasn't exactly hard to figure out who had been responsible for prematurely ending her flight. She had an idea how pissed she'd be if he wasn't messing with her thoughts, but for now she was forced into being mostly reasonable. So, as it was, she got to her feet slowly, turning to look back at Lawrence. It would have been logical to assume the lack of panic might bring her to her senses, but her voice was firm. [color=palevioletred]"I'm going out there. If nothing else, I can do some damage in the forest, and there's no point wasting time."[/color] β€œ[color=00ffbb]And what [i]point[/i] is there in doing damage? We've been here for over an hour, most of us are accounted for. You're going to run off and... what exactly? Did you tell me everyone needs to know what the priorities are? The team is [i]here[/i] and at any moment The Amigos might be too.[/color]” It was one thing to lose Gregory and Angel- even if he had never spoken much with the former- but right now everyone else was alive and accounted for- and potentially surrounded by enemies that were more capable than most of the team. If they had found Angel and Gregory by this point with the intent to kill them, he was 100% sure that they were already dead. If for some reason they wanted the two alive, then they were still alive anyone. If neither had been caught yet- well it wasn't a scenario that was worth throwing away everybody's life over. β€œ[color=00ffbb]We [i]know[/i] everyone here is still alive. What do you think is going to happen if they get attacked and you've run off?[/color]” [color=palevioletred]"Well, I could kill the fuckers. Amigos can't come for any of you if they're dead. Simple enough."[/color] Zoe shrugged, seeming almost uncharacteristically dismissive of Lawrence's reasoning - but then, it wasn't like she had no ulterior motive here. A cowardly one, perhaps, a selfish one, and certainly not something she'd ever reveal to the rest of them. But a motive all the same. [color=palevioletred]"Besides, you can handle yourselves--"[/color] she frowned before correcting herself, [color=palevioletred]"you [i]should[/i] be able to handle yourselves without me. It's not like I can babysit forever."[/color] Though she couldn't help but be aware of her hypocrisy, being cocky was as good a defence mechanism as any. [color=palevioletred]"And even if I don't win, I can be a hell of a distraction while you guys get out."[/color] β€œ[color=00ffbb]I seem to remember you telling me that you don't trust them to keep each other alive, Zoe. So where the hell is this newfound confidence coming from- because I don't recall this team winning [i]any[/i] fights in the meantime.[/color]” Irritation was beginning to pick at him more strongly now, and he drew closer to Zoe as he spoke, trying to at least keep [i]some[/i] privacy to the argument, even if that was a far secondary priority. His intention right now was to keep her- and by extension probably everyone else- alive. If it meant airing some dirty laundry in the process they could settle that when their lives weren't in imminent danger. β€œ[color=00ffbb]If Angel and Gregory are out there, you're abandoning more than a dozen people to go after two. If you [/color]'[color=palevioletred]don't win[/color]'[color=00ffbb] then we've just lost three people, including one of the only ones that can help everyone else stay alive right now.[/color]” Zoe was beginning to get the distinct feeling that she would have punched Lawrence if he wasn't zapping her; her brow furrowing into a scowl at his first comment, which only added to the number of things that would have set her off by now. Like him, she lowered her voice slightly, but subtlety wasn't exactly her strong point. [color=palevioletred]"So I'm supposed to leave them to die? I doubt I'm the only one that plans on staying."[/color] What she [i]wanted[/i] was to run - to go out there and do whatever it took to not lose people again. Even if it meant her own life, Zoe knew she'd make that sacrifice gladly for a chance that one of her own wouldn't fall. But thanks to the arbiter's power, her head could rule over her heart, and that clarity changed her decision. It wasn't like she hadn't made necessary sacrifices before - wasn't like she hadn't agreed to make more even while on this island. She looked towards Callan, appearing to think something over before nodding. Pragmatism. Necessity. Somebody has to. Even if she hated what she was about to say, she had a role to fill and promises to keep. [color=palevioletred][i]I hate that you're right about this.[/i][/color] [color=palevioletred]"If we're going, everyone [i]here[/i] comes with us whether they like it or not. I'm not leaving anyone behind that we don't need to. I don't care if that means I have to cripple these dumbasses and drag 'em down that tunnel myself - [i]no-one else gets left behind[/i]."[/color] Zoe sighed, forcing herself to lock eyes with Lawrence. [color=palevioletred]"If that's not something that can be done, then I'm going out of that hatch even if that means taking you down to do it."[/color] β€œ[color=00ffbb]I'm trying to keep everyone alive Zoe- including you. I don't really care how injured we get in the process as long as Christmas and Lily are there at the end of the day to patch us up.[/color]” He answered her gaze with a shrug. Of course he didn't [i]want[/i] any of the team injured, but there was the bigger picture to focus on. The Amigos would probably do far worse to them than Zoe, although dealing with the ill will generated would be... troubling. Still, death was a far more permanent problem than distrust, and he was willing to take on some of the former in exchange for avoiding the latter. β€œ[color=00ffbb]I want to keep my power on you until we're out of danger. This isn't really asking permission, just- You can sort it out with me afterwards all right?[/color]” [color=palevioletred]"You..." [i]Don't trust me.[/i][/color] Zoe looked faintly hurt. While it was more than justified from her track record, the implications that she couldn't help but read into weren't exactly fun to confront. Concerns for later though. A tentative nod, knowing he'd probably do it regardless. [color=palevioletred]"Fine. You can keep using it. This time's fine."[/color] She really wasn't okay with it, but also had enough sense not to start a fight with Lawrence right now. Like he said, she could talk to him about it later, though it was clear that part of her wanted to argue as she looked away. For now, the main priority was securing their escape. After a moment's thought, she gestured towards the tunnel, speaking quietly. [color=palevioletred]"Think we could block it somehow? Don't want to risk any attackers getting through."[/color] Of course, that'd remove the servants' escape route as well, but she didn't particularly care. β€œ[color=00ffbb]Maybe, but I think getting a head start on moving would be a better use of our time. We're taking a big enough risk just standing here and talking.[/color]” With that he turned away from the door, and checked his pocket for the flare gun he usually kept in his jacket. [i]Any[/i] other gun would have been appreciated at that time, but bitching wouldn't change what he had to work with. Silently he did a quick head count, forgetting Zoe for the moment. Then with a frown he did another. And a third. β€œ[color=00ffbb]Speaking of, we might be getting left behind as it is. Am I going blind or there fewer of us now?[/color]” Eyes widening, Zoe looked around the group, double-checking Lawrence's count. She hadn't seen anyone flee, but it didn't take her long to join him in realising there were definitely people gone who shouldn't have been. As for who... as she caught sight of the dog in Ernie's arms, the pieces came together all too quickly. [color=palevioletred]"Shit."[/color] But that wasn't right, was it? No-one had tried to exit through the hatches, she knew that. So how-- Of course. [color=palevioletred]"Siena can fucking teleport."[/color] And why the hell hadn't Zoe thought of it sooner? Because she'd been too caught up in her own suicide run, probably. Great going - not only was she still around, her actions had let her classmate zap off somewhere to be killed. Shaking her head guiltily, Zoe sighed. [color=palevioletred]"Should've shut her down before she had the chance."[/color] β€œ[color=00ffbb]... Looks like Brent hopped along with her.[/color]” Right, the guy he had tied up and stolen from during that flag match ages ago. Siena he'd never had much interaction with, but her teleportation abilities rang a bell. Still, were they teleporting out of, or into danger? It was callous to leave the rest of them behind if they were just heading to the boat, but utterly stupid to take on The Amigos with just the two of them. Cowards or idiots? He didn't know either well enough to judge. β€œ[color=00ffbb]All the more reason to get moving now. With any luck they've gone to the ferry ahead of us.[/color]” [color=palevioletred]"Maybe. Waiting around here won't do shit either way, but still..."[/color] Zoe sounded unconvinced. There'd be no reason for them to warp over to the lighthouse - if anything, it would be taking a risk for no reason. If it turned out their secret escape wasn't so secret after all, walking into an ambush with the whole class on-side seemed way better odds. [color=palevioletred]"You can stop anyone else that tries to run, right? I'm gonna have a word with those two about this,"[/color] nodding towards Ernie and Marcus, [color=palevioletred]"see if they know what happened."[/color] β€œ[color=00ffbb]I think you've seen that I can stop running, Zoe. Teleporting is a bit out of my league though if anyone else has [i]that[/i] up their sleeve.[/color]” [color=palevioletred]"Just seemed worth asking."[/color] Zoe shrugged. [color=palevioletred]"But I haven't ever seen anyone else teleport, so unless somebody's got a new trick, you're good."[/color] At the very least, Lawrence's insistence on keeping her artificially calm meant that she was taking this [i]remarkably[/i] well - relative to her usual behaviour, anyway. At the very least, she wouldn't blow up on anyone right now. Glancing down at the light that coated her hand, she smiled drily, a momentary hint of warmth entering her tone. [color=palevioletred]"Just yell if anyone's giving you trouble, alright?"[/color] And without another word, she turned to walk away.