Is she the mountain? The climber? Strong enough to be the victor? Can she best Solarel here and now?

Heck. No.

It's hard to understate the number of reasons why Isabelle is not up to winning this fight. For starters, this is her first time in this new mecha frame. Its body is faster but lighter and less durable than her Emberlight, and the difference is more than enough to throw her off her stride. And then there's the nanites - a new ability, but one she's running on instinct and which will take time to master.  What's more, she doesn't know [i]squat[/i] about Solarel beyond her name, the few highlights from her war record that are common knowledge, and the fact that she looks good in booty shorts. She hasn't done any of the research, planning and preparation work that would normally go into fighting someone in the arena.

The only things going in her favour are luck, nanite enhanced instinct and the fact that she [i]did [/i]study the blade whilst others studied how to run megacorporations. (Note that she was [i]also [/i]studying how to run megacorporations at the same time through an esoteric training regime known as [i]Sleep Is For Those Who Don't Have Access To Unlimited Caffeine.[/i])

Topping all that off though is the fact that she doesn't really [i]want [/i]to fight you here, Solarel. She just wanted you to stop wrecking the installation and - so long as you're focusing on her - that goal is pretty much achieved. If she was thinking rationally, she'd just make a break for it - stop fighting and run. She'd preserve her mecha, possibly preserve her link to the station. It'd get her everything she should want.

But.

But but [i]but[/i].

She can see it in how you move. In how you fly. This is how you connect to your world. This fight [i]is [/i]your world. And something about that means she can't deny it to you. It's stupid, and impulsive, but it's her decision in the end. It's a hand, extended, bladed and glinting. Come and take it in your ones of gold and silver. Let us dance. Let us remember this. Please.

Isabelle raises her arm upwards. Concentrating on the gesture.

[i]Light spell.[/i]

Whiteness, brighter than anything, as the nanite-magnesium coating cooks off. It's light is blinding, overwhelming. Impossible to see through or miss. Come, Solarel. She will burn as bright as she can, in the hopes you won't forget.

[Roll to Entice again - 4 + 4 - 2: [b]6[/b] - the curse of conditions strikes again.]