There isn't any doubt in Isabelle's mind where the interlock came from - there's simply no room for it. Disappointment and Sadness have crowded it out, mixing together with Anger into a burning, bittersweet, mess. Because [i]of course[/i] her mother would install something like that in her mech. In [i]her [/i]Emberlight. The Novasurge probably had one too. Along with any other backups Isabelle might make use of. She probably hadn't even feel bad about doing it. It was just a matter of ... protecting her investments.

As if that was all she was. An investment. A project. A ... a [i]thing.[/i]

She'd always known. She [i]knew[/i] this. That was just how Almira saw the world around her. But ... it still hurt. Hurt to have it confirmed. Hurt to ...

She'd just hoped ...

Isabelle reaches out, emotions roiling. A current of anger swirls to the fore, burning the others to the background. The strength of it surprises her, it feels strong enough that she could bend steel. To break something. Instead, she just places her hand on the cool black exterior of the orb. So what, if her mother had never cared? [i]So what[/i], if this was all she thought of her?

Well, if Almira thought she held all the cards, then she'd find out. She'd [i]show [/i]her. Isabelle [i]always[/i] had another card to play.

She holds her hand against it, sharpens her will into a directive - she'd been experimenting with this ever since the dance ... no, before - ever since she'd realised that the nanobots from the facility were still active within her. That they were able to help her make things like her drone interfaces. Help her see the geists and interact with the world around her. There had been a reason the mark-one interface had worked for her when the other six hadn't for Asil. There was a reason her drones had been advancing so rapidly. Why their "illusions" were so realistic now. The construction magic of the arena had been woven into each and every one.

It wasn't proprietary technology. It wasn't programming skill. It had been the Trak'tho. It had been her. It had [i]always [/i]been her.

Taking her hand away, she hopes the nanobots work as intended. 

[i]Integrate. Investigate. Prepare to disable.[/i]

"Well, it looks like everything is in order." she says, smiling at Asil as she closes the panel. "Want to go grab a bite to celebrate? I know a good restaurant a short flight away."

"I ... sure." replies Asil, whose eyes are locked on hers. "Even though, knowing you, it's probably some six star place that costs a thousand credits per dish."

She takes her hand, leading them to the shuttlebay. Inwardly grateful that Asil is smart enough to understand what she's really saying ... and kind enough not to mention the tears dripping down her face.

--------------==============---------------

They'd ended up at a library. One that Asil knew had private study nooks, set aside for patrons to browse or work in private.

Asil had just held her until she'd stopped shaking. Gotten her some tea. Sat in comfortable silence until she'd been ready to talk.

"It's only a matter of time ..." Isabelle finally said. "I'd hoped ... I ... well, I was wrong. If the match against Solarel goes badly, if I lose ... she won't have any reason to hold back anymore ..."

"Yeah, I know."

"No, you [i]don't[/i]. You haven't known her for as long as I have. Haven't grown up with her. Seen what she's done. To other companies. To competitors. To people. Families, Parents. [i]Children[/i]. I can't ... I [i]can't [/i]let her do that to you."

"I'm guessing you have a plan?"

"I ... If it looks like I'm going to lose ... I want you to take my private shuttle and get out of the hanger complex, find a safe place to hide and wait until I contact you. We can get some money set aside. Find a new place to live."

"Isabelle."

"I- I can learn to cook - how hard can it be? It's just the focused application of chemistry after all. And - and you said I'd make a good mechanic, so m-maybe I can get a job. Fix things? And I'll dye my hair, change my name and .."

[i]"Isabelle!!"[/i]

She blinks tears out of her eyes, belatedly realising that her girlfriend had been calling her name for the last few seconds. Asil wraps around her again and Isabelle grips on as if she'd float away.

"Breathe, come on. Count to five."

She does as she's told and the pounding in her chest starts to recede.

"You can't run from her. It won't solve anything. I think you know that ... and ... and I get that it's [i]hella [/i]scary." she says, planting a kiss to the top of her head. Holding her tight. "But you [i]can [/i]do this. You're stronger than you think you are. And I'll be with you every step of the way."

Isabelle snuggles into her, letting her control the situation and finding the comfort that comes from surrendering.

"Whatever comes. Whatever your mom throws at you. We'll figure it out. We'll find a way."

And in that moment, Isabelle believes her.