What [i]does[/i] she feel?

It's certainly not surprise - the opening blast from Quar is predictable, it's been used before, so Isabelle already knows to bend Novasurge out of the way, spinning up and aound the beam, before blasting forward on its thrusters to close the distance.

It's certainly not anger - there's only a cold detachment as she steps through the choreographed moves of this fight - returning fire with a few of her missiles and adding a blast of cannon fire for good measure.

It's certainly not the thrill of the chase - she's already ending this phase as Quar begins her predictable retreat. Break the rhythm, as her mother instructed. And Novasurge speeds towards the cover of the platform's chasms.

There's no ancient facility to explore, no pirates to be captured by, no moon to be spirited away to. No swords of gold and silver to cross. So there's certainly none of the fear, of the insecurity and panic, giving way to adrenaline and the tentative hope of a connection. There's no tragedy, no tears, no recriminations, no soul searching, existential, worry about what she's turning into, no fear of her mother's reaction. And no constant lonli --- well ... there's always that. That's normal.

Back in the cockpit, back in a match, back to following her mother's instruction. Back to family, to expectations and to a job she has to do. Back to the stable orbit in her assigned place. All of this is normal.

That's how she feels: Normal.

But that's not to say nothing has changed. This time, she's done her own reading, her own research on you Quar. She's read up on more than just the dossiers that she's been handed.

And, as she swings into the chasm, her hand slaps the rim. A small patch starts to melt and glow as one other change makes itself apparent. 

Zaldarian glyphs, a single word: Exile. 

No, not quire right.

[i]The[/i] Exile. 

Speak not to the outsider, indeed, but what do you do, Quar, when they can speak to you?

[Roll to figure out a person: 4 + 2 + 2: [b]8[/b]

- What are your feelings towards Solarel?
- How can I get you to dance to my plan?
- Bonus combat question: What do you fear is your destiny?]