Pat Hogan to the rescue.

---

The muzzled boy missed his chance to reply to the gender question as Issac made a heroic comment. He left the fallen guy to get up after his brief sentence and advance towards the dining hall by himself, but it didn't last long until the guy was back on the ground. Pat gasped in alert and went to support Issac by the arm towards the dining hall [for where else would you get food from?], forgetting to consider their height difference; if Issac wasn't able to exert enough energy to stand upright, his ankles would be dragging marks along the ground by the younger, shorter, muzzled boy. At the very least Pat would show little exhaustion at his helping attempts and made sure Issac reaches the dining hall in one piece.

"We'll all be fine, don't worry about that. Let's get you to your food though, together. Right Mya?" Pat spoke as he moved, addressing the girl on the last sentence while his eyes were fixed to the direction of his destination. Even as he voiced those words he started to realize how this may or may not bring upon punishments for all of them in the near future; the officials didn't seem to favour test subjects helping out other test subjects, and he had been enough troubles stemming from this in the past. At least he could see no officials blocking the quickest way to the hall so they were still good and clear, at least to Pat's standards; it didn't cross his mind that maybe, just maybe there were officials coming from other directions. Or maybe that Watcher was still intent on observing them.

Mya had begun to worry now. This was taking too much time. Celeste was probably about to start wondering about where Mya was, normally she'd be on her way there by now. Back at the Rebellion HQ, Celeste had heard the bell echoing through the abandoned city portion of the island, bouncing off steel walls and floors all the way back to just above the surface of the entrance. She had started counting the minutes since it had rung, tallying every minute as she worked with the maps plastered on the walls. They had recently discovered a new route to the Laboratory's waste bins where old and used chemical containers and equipment was dumped when it was deemed no longer useful. Five minutes had gone by now, she wouldn't think anything of it until another ten went by.

Mya nodded in response, "right." She felt guilty that she started to think this would be wasting time. But she couldn't just leave, there was something she felt that made her have to help. They slowly dragged their way along the dull ground to help out the new subject. It occurred to her this would take a while, "umm, w-what's your name?" She asked the boy who seemed to be regaining some of his strength as they went. Mya was careful to keep her senses alert for anyone that might have followed them. No officials it seemed like, good. She used the vibrations from their steps to try and feel where they were but she couldn't pick up on anything which was a good sign. She hoped their luck would last.

Watcher hung back enough for Mya to not notice her. The trio was struggling along and Watcher was painfully aware of how cold a person she was. She wanted to help them. She wanted to help the boy. She wanted to help everyone, but her intellect almost always won out against her instinct. She began to wonder if she continued acting in such a cold manner if perhaps one day her instincts would be beaten into submission. She'd certainly be safer that way. Or at least, safe enough to stay alive long enough for some test to eventually kill her.

Issac felt himself being slowly moved towards the dining hall, his ankles being scraped against the ground. He was somewhat surprised at what Pat said, most people split and ran when Issac attempted to push them away. "I... It's just... I'm not used to being helped out." Issac said as he began to walk alongside Pat, using him as a support instead of being dragged along.

"That's a question most people don't have an answer for anymore." Issac said, thinking about a few of the kids he asked this morning after they got off the boat. No answers to it, only things he could call them. "However, my name is Issac Zattello. I guess that I'm lucky to remember both my first and last name." He said, a slight smile on his face. "Now, if I may, could I know the names of the brave souls who helped me today?"

Pat Hogan.

---

"Call me Pat, Pat Hogan." He said with a grin hidden beneath the muzzle. At last it seemed as though he was going to be making new friends! This development was pleasing to the boy and with new-found energy he trudged on, the dining hall perhaps only twenty steps away. To their right was the dreaded experiment labs which gave off an ominous aura despite being made out of the exact same materials all other buildings were made out of. Perhaps it was due to the fact that there weren't any visible windows from the ground and seemingly no exit; a grey stone prison. To the left was the hallway that connected the dining hall and the school. Pat picked up the faint whispers of cutlery clinking together and what-not coming from the dining hall's direction as they progressed, remembering once again that if he wanted food, he would need to go to the quarantined area in the corner of the dining hall. Hopefully he wasn't too late. Not that he would regret or anything even if he was late; afterall, here he met Issac and Mya and... right, he did not catch the other person whom they met's name. Pat made a mental note to ask later, but then again she might've disappeared again since he didn't see nor hear her ever since he started carrying Issac. There was always next time, he knew; no one in this island ever escaped. Unless they died probably but then they couldn't become his friend so it wouldn't matter.

The soft soil under his feet gave way to the hard surface of the building as they arrived at the entrance. Pat's grip on Issac loosened in case he wanted to get off now that they arrived.

Watcher reluctantly hung back from the dining hall. She had a bad feeling about being there, especially with the official's smirk that the testies needed to be prepared. She assumed there would be tests after the everyone ate. However, Mya's abnormal and skittish behavior moved Watcher to risk the hall. She hesitated on more moment before stepping into view. Mya still wouldn't know she was there but the officials would notice her. She figured she still might be able to stalk on the outskirts of the crowd until the girl did something. Watcher had no idea what to expect but some gut feeling was urging her to follow this through, despite her brain telling her it was silly to risk listening to her gut.

Deep within the compound, a middle-aged, lean gentlemen strode quickly through a fluorescently lit corridor, his cane clicking on the smooth metal floor, flanked by two armed guards. His name was known to only a handful of people on the island, but his arrival could mean deadly prosecution. Today, his business included that dirty business, but not for the one he sought, his genetically half-breed son. Even at the mature age of 17 and after years of hard work, and dedication, he was not to be completely trusted under the minimal supervision of his 'Father'.
They passed several cells, some with air-tight glass doors, others looking more like metal vaults. The man stopped before one of these doors of steel, once equipped with sliding observation panels long welded shut. Alistair tapped the door three times authoritatively, the clang of his metal cane echoing down the halls, as a glowing sensor emerged from the wall. He set his hand on the screen, and the locks ground open after his handprint was scanned through the island's databases. . .

Mya chimed in, "And you can call me Mya." she introduced herself to the boy with a slight smile as they slowly trudged on to the dining hall. When they finally made it through the tall steel and glass doors of the Dining hall, she helped Pat set Issac down at the nearest open spot at a table, some other kids who were eating had scooted closer together, making the whole table more compact, to accustom the three subjects. One of the older subjects, who seemed annoyed by their intrusion on the already set table, had moved to a spot at another table for more room. Mya slid into the spot next to Issac, the scent of the food not appealing at all, especially to her level of sensitivity of things around her, magnifying the putrid smoggy air coming in from the vents, mixing with the scent of probably half cooked meals. Anyhow, when she got her food she still ate it. Having being used to the bland taste, she didn't scrunch her nose or make a face like you could see the New Subjects doing at another table farther away from the entrance. The staff certainly didn't but any extra effort into making the meal more enjoyable for the Newcomers, for why should they? There's no sense in giving them false hope that this would be any kind of place for comfort.

Only a few minutes had gone by and there wasn't a single scrap of food left on her plate. It was time for Mya to detach herself from her friends. A pang of uncertainty clouded her mind as she thought that after the testing, maybe they wouldn't be here. No, she knew Pat would push through this round of testing. He always did, he was strong, she just hoped that the boy they had found recovered in time; in this state, there would be no way for him to even come close to passing. Maybe he'll be excused, though that was highly unlikely. Mya rose from her seat, "I- I need to go... I'll m-meet you around again, h-hopefully soon!"

Pat Hogan.

---

Pat didn't make any objections for the trio to sit together on one of the cafeteria tables. For one he wasn't just going to leave the two and spirit away to his designated quarantine area, and besides he was concerned whether Mya and Issac would be able to eat properly. They seemed very fragile and exhausted and he felt obliged to stay and protect them, at least until they were done eating. He took a plate of food as well but made no efforts to actually eat it; hopefully no one would ask about his mask and how he's supposed to eat or anything, but that never really happened. Others were either too busy thinking up ways to transfer their 'food' into their bodies without throwing it all back up or too afraid to talk to him anyway. A movement in the corner of his vision made Pat turned to face Mya just as she rose. Pat raised an eyebrow in surprise; she certainly wolfed down her food in an alarming pace, must've been very hungry or something.

"Aw," Pat sighed at Mya's stuttering confession, his shoulders noticeably sloping down at the prospect of parting. He gave a soft nod though for he wasn't into making others stay when they don't want or have to be somewhere.

"Yeah, see you around soon, be safe." He said as brightly as he could, eyes fixed on the pale girl until she was out of his sight.

"Well," His focus went back to Issac. "Want some more?" He asked lightly out of lack of things to say, even before checking whether the taller boy was actually managing to eat it or not.

Watcher watched as the trio sat and ate. Mya wolfed down her food which only supported Watcher's suspicions that the girl was hiding something. Watcher leaned against the wall, out of sight. Today was a testing day. The signs were there in the way the guards' eyes darted from table to table. New shipments of children weren't usually tested on their first day but protocol seemed to be getting looser and looser as the years went on. A pang of worry shot through her as she realized that not only were there several children that didn't get food before it ran out, herself included, but of the food that was there, the portions were even smaller than usual.

When Mya stood and rushed an apology as she excused herself, Watcher hung back sticking out of sight as the girl snuck out through the crowd. Watcher followed. She was curious where the girl was trying to accomplish. You couldn't miss your testing. They would notice, and they would most certainly find you if you were anywhere on the plant. Watcher's eyes widened as she suddenly realized that the only logical place the girl could be going is towards the abandoned city, but why? What was out there that was worth risking everything for?

Mya carefully and swiftly dodged anyone in her way as she escaped the dining hall, eager to get to the Rebellion HQ before it was too late, before she ran out of time and the officials would find her. In this place, this chilling, dull place, it was a game of survival every time there was a test, or "mission" for you to perform. Only those lucky enough, skilled enough, strong enough, could live on. However the price to pay would be to count how many companions or comrades, inevitably, didn't make it through. You'd never see or hear them again. And maybe it was for the better, being released from this isolated island. Nowhere was safe, nowhere except the Rebellion HQ that has managed to prevent any rumor or evidence of its existence from appearing.

The blonde girl stayed close to the walls and shadows as she ran, sprinting on the metal that tiled almost every surface of the island. Celeste had looked at the time on the digital clock in the corner of the room she was currently studying in. It glowed a silvery blue in the dim lighting. She frowned to herself as she saw it was already passed the time she had been expecting Mya to arrive at the base. Of course she was worried now, what could have happened? What was happening right now? Had Mya been caught before she could leave? All questions of the like made her ponder the present moments of time.

Mya zig-zagged in complicated patterns around every block of the abandoned city, like she was traveling through a labyrinth, which very much relates to how strange the turns in the road were. There seemed to be no correlation how she managed to find a way through the identical-to-each-other buildings.

(Sorry I took so long to reply ^_^')

"Shit." Watcher cursed under her breath. Despite her heightened abilities of observation she couldn't move as quickly as the blind girl who was darting around every bend like Hell was on her heels. Watcher was having no issue with keeping far enough out of the way to avoid detection, she was struggling just to keep up. The girl darted around a pile of debris and went sprinting down two buildings to the left. Watcher came around the bend moments later. She found herself standing in a clearing of asphalt with buildings stretching up towards the sky and streets snaking in every direction. She spun around, frustration tinging her cheeks. There was no sign of Mya. "Dammit!" she shouted and then covered her mouth, her voice echoing around her. Are you stupid? God! You don't know what you're walking into. That's why you sneak, and don't yell. She ducked into a nearby alley, out of view from the clearing.

The buildings didn't look old. Some were falling apart, bricks littering the streets and dust that kicked up with every light breeze. Some had little seeds of nature nesting in nooks, little sprouts taking over the industry root by root. The buildings had obviously been ignored for years, but they didn't look old. She imagined them without the grim crusted over them and holes in their walls. She could see that once upon a time this was a beautiful city. She walked over to a lone brick and picked it up in her hand, examining it. It looked eerily similar to some of the bricks she'd seen on some of the older buildings in the compound before they'd been torn down.

Suddenly remembering her predicament she dropped the brick absentmindedly and started looking around again. Okay, you don't know where you are. You don't know how to get back, and you lost the person you were tailing. "Not that I know anything about tailing." she muttered. The wind blew a light breeze and a quiet creaking sound like metal on metal came from above her head. She looked up and saw a ladder dangling from the building just out of her reach. She bit her lip. Logically, it would make the most sense to look at a maze from above, she'd be able to find her way out. But looking at the scrappy piece of metal hanging onto a decrepit building by all but a few stubborn nails sent her stomach into her throat. She gulped down her fear before choosing, as always, the logical route. She jumped up and her finger tips brushed the first step of the ladder. She jumped again and this time grabbed it, her weight pulling it down with a shrill scrape. She hurriedly climbed the ladder, terrified that if she took it slowly if would give her the time to be afraid of the height. When she reached the roof of the building she looked out below and gasped. The buildings stretched out for miles. Pillars of metal and brick standing in streets and shadows. Something swiveled in the corner of her vision. She turned her head and squinted at a building a couple of streets over. She held her breath, not sure what to expect, but nothing happened. There was nothing but shadow. She shrugged and just as she was about to look away she saw the shadow on the left corner of the building distinctly move. Her eyes darted back to it and she squinted. Hidden in the shadows hugging the wall was a blonde girl.

Watcher immediately ducked down. How had she not seen her before? What the hell is going on out here? she thought desperately.

Mya was abruptly halted by the echoing of the expletive shouted by the other girl who had, not long ago, been following her. Having not known of being trailed she stopped moving immediately, pressing her back to the wall as flat as she could while she listened to any more sounds or sensed any vibrations from nearby. Nothing but the slow wind that fluttered her hair through the narrow alleyway for a few moments before another noise came from the street across. The loud ruckus of metal through the air as the ladder was brought down and then a more quiet commotion of scampering feet as her follower swiftly climbed up one of the taller buildings. This was a mistake, she knew, she should have been more careful coming out here. Right now she was risking everything and more, the rebellion, not only her own life, but her companions as well. The fate of everything was in this stranger's hands whether they noticed Mya here now, right next to the concealed entrance, or not. The suspicions would be likely to be reported, no doubt straight to the officials.

Mya couldn't take any more risks so she stayed still and silent, hoping her location hadn't been found out. The shadow-covered girl feared the worst when she got that feeling she was being watched again, she practically held her breath, not letting a single breath escape her thin lips as she waited. All this was happening while Celeste, having finished her portion of files, checked the time again and was growing more and more worried with every second that ticked by longer that Mya hadn't reported back to the Rebellion Headquarters.

Watcher slowly peaked her head over the building's edge and realized it was the blind girl, Mya, the one she had been tailing. She slowly exhaled all of her pent up fear. Here atop the building she could watch Mya without straggling behind her. Then it occurred to her that perhaps it wasn't a good thing that Mya was standing still like a statue, head swiveling around favoring the ear. Watcher bit her lip. She's noticed me. She heard the yell, or the ladder, or any stupid sound I had made in between. She knows I followed her. Then something else occurred to her. But, she doesn't know who I am. I have that advantage at least. She hoped that the girl wasn't going to harm her, for she would no doubt find her. The girl might not know it but her sensory abilities had the potential to make her a top rate tracker. If she put her mind to looking for Watcher then she would probably be found out eventually. It is easy to hide from someone who doesn't know you are there. It is quite another to hide from someone who is actively searching.

Beside her lay a broken glass bottle and she carefully picked it up so that it wouldn't make a sound. If the girl came for her she would protect herself.

Mya felt the latch to the hidden Rebellion entrance beneath her cold hands. She dared not risk going inside now, not while she was under surveillance by someone she did not know. She had to move, if this tracker wanted her turned in to the AISE, she would be without a doubt, just best not to do it anywhere near the Rebellion HQ or they would be at risk of being found as well. Realizing this, she knew that she risked getting lost if she continued to explore the abandoned city. It was a risk she was willing to take. She knew a route, though it was vague in her memory, she would try to figure it out. She bolted into a sprint in the direction of the sound of the ladder, moving swiftly, darting along the walls, her left arm extended so she was barely brushing the steel surface. She focused her senses, not in direction, but in listening for the anonymous tracker. Any movement she would pick up with vibrations and sound waves.

The blind rebel stopped suddenly. What was she getting herself into? She had no reference of how skilled her opponent was, if it came to the need to fight. Mya was at the disadvantage, as the person watching had a clear view of Mya just at the base of the building already. Not only that, but something that could be used as a weapon as well. At any moment she could descend upon the girl and catch her off guard. At this time, Mya didn't stand a chance. She held on to the small ounce of hope that her tracker would not try to fight her. Perhaps they were friendly and just shy, too curious for their own good probably. But having lived on this island for so long, Mya knew taking a chance like that wasn't worth what she was risking. People here were hostile and letting your guard down for a moment could mean certain injury, if not death. The children were all treated as if they were disposable, surviving so long in a place like this was unlikely for anyone.

Davis Cole of the rebellious test subjects.

---

"Knock knock," Davis' baritone voice rang from the entrance of the room with a single occupant. His attire was as distastful as any other day as if he was taught to wear everything unevenly. His pants were seemingly having trouble staying on his waist, but surprisingly would stay there, albeit flashing his bland undergarments when he moved. As usual he was as chubby and as tall as ever, making most if not all other members needing to look upwards to meet his eyes.

"Leader ma'am, I've been looking all over for you. I heard an interesting rumour and came to check; something about the laboratories?" He addressed Celeste, quite uncaring if he was interrupting her from anything. It's not like he would normally have been any more caring, but today he had a look of complaint clearly visible on his face. Before Celeste could even utter a word, he continued speaking, expressing why he was not in a good mood.

"Oh and I hear there's newcomers today. Haven't seen them with my own eyes but thanks to that I had to hurry out of the cafeteria before things got messy. Last thing I need is some trash of an experimenter at my back but I only had two servings. Do you have anything to eat too while you're at it?"

The Rebellion Leader would have been lying if she denied that the presence of someone else in the room with her now brought her slight comfort, that at least someone had managed to escape testing for the day, but it still didn't stop her from worrying about where Mya was at the moment.
Then mention of the Labs. Oh yes, wasn't it inevitable? More rumors about the Laboratories, probably some other made up lead trying to throw the Rebellion off track. Still, it doesn't hurt to be cautious, in fact it never does. Especially here. However, for now, it would be important for him to be informed about the newcomers. Celeste stood up from the chair at her desk and turned to face him, looking to him with her cold, perceptive stare, though her voice suggested otherwise, in a somber, troubled tone, "I saw them. This morning while I was up on the rooftops, they were brought in approximately at 7:30.... But they were different..." Celeste frowned, an expression of concern washed over her now as she walked forward, "they seemed so emotionless, walking straight and uniformly when they arrived. Not at all like previous groups had been, all nervous and frightened." She began pacing, speaking what was on her mind, "No, these children were quite the opposite.... I have strong reason to believe the AISE has started using a new method... This should be the focus of our next meeting. And then we should organize a mission as soon as possible." The last part she said more quietly, less clearly, as if she were speaking to herself. She stopped and turned back to him, "Now, what is it about the laboratories that has you so worried." Celeste looked over him, reading his expression instantly when she actually took a moment to stop pondering the possibilities of what was going on with the new test subjects. Of course, in the back of her mind she still thought, working non-stop, gears always in motion like a clock, always turning, never ceasing to halt their work.

Davis Cole the rebellious test subject with an appetite.

---

"I'm not worked up as much to consider my curiosity as a worry." He spat, partially irritated that the leader decided to not even bother replying to the food comment; not that she was ever humoured enough to play along with him in those trivial aspects. Even so he left it at that, for he knew she didn't mean any harm but rather was her personality and all. Besides he wasn't able to keep up with his attitude for long when she had one of those stares, as if she was looking into his heart or something. He knew that was ridiculous, but at the same time it was a feeling he could never seem to shake off. Regardless, he resumed talking in his normal voice onwards. The talk about the irregularity on the new test subjects failed to intrigue him in the slightest, letting that information go in one ear and leave by the other.

"I hear we've found a new route to the labos via the waste bins or something? I have to say I wasn't sure if it was another one of those jokes the runts spread out for laughs so I wanted to keep my questions vague. Oh well." His mind wandered back to the scene a few moments before coming here. He wasn't in a good mood, being forced to retreat to the rebel hq so early in the morning. It just so happens that the hq wasn't entirely deserted as it was at times, with runts younger rebels who caught whiff of the situation quickly and decided to hide. Those skittish brats rebels got on his nerves, making him flex his ability over them, showing them nasty images of what the experimenters would do with them. One of them however, a boy of about eleven whose name escapes him, must have thought Davis was oppressing them for something bad he did in secret, confessing to Davis about overhearing some of the older rebels talking about the route to the laboratory waste bins.

He reminiscence ended when he realized he had accidentally sent that exact scene straight to Celeste's mind and cursed at himself.

Celeste's eyes narrowed slightly, she took a moment before speaking finally, "and terrorizing the younger children is something I would think you would know better than to do." she muttered and sighed, "As for the secret entrance for the labs? That would be a false report." She stated flatly, staring off at the wall in the direction of the map of the lunch area, a red circle around where the waste bins were and a note tacked beside it with the mission's description; she hadn't taken it down yet, "I had a couple of the others run an exploration of that area, turns out the only thing they found was construction of a new trash shoot out to the ocean, which explains why the pollution around here has increased in the past couple of weeks." the leader spoke irritably and paused for a short moment before adding, "I would have gone myself for clarification that that's all the AISE was actually doing, however the surveillance in that area would be tuned higher than usual, especially since it's under construction."

Celeste turned her gaze back to Davis and crossed her arms, "Did you happen to see Mya on your way here?" she asked finally, doing well to hide the growing apprehensiveness and to seem as casual as possible.