This logfile is imported from aitelogs2 and may contain errors or wrong timestamps.
#Halisi'sApartment – June 27, 2018
It's afternoon on the 3rd of December when Vasquez buzzes the door to Halisi's apartment. She's wearing her olive-green winter coat to ward against the cold outside, the hard look on her face brought on by exposure to the biting wind more than anything else. Her long, black hair is, as usual, tied back into a ponytail. Her hand withdraws to the pocket of her coat after touching the interface. In the apartment, Li is lying on
the floor, scribbling silently on a piece of paper. She has been doing so all day, showing little interest in talking or other activities. It's mostly variations of the same motifs, clearly drawn from the last few days: Ilyna, Jason, Li herself, a skull-faced, armored figure that must be Oxaris, a... questionable rendition of Collector drones, and what must be Mingxia, although the latter has been scribbled over with a black
cloud of sorts, with many legs or tendrils sticking out. It's reminiscent of one of her earlier, spider-like drawings. Halisi isn't around to answer the door, her work at the hospital keeping her busy as on most days.
Ilyna has taken it easy for the most part, but Li's activities has not been without her well-meaning interruptions. In the last hour or two though, she has mostly observed her artistic works without comment. The buzz at the door evokes a raised eyebrow, because nobody had said they'd be coming today. It couldn't be Halisi, since she would have just gone in. And anyone from Redrock would see her back to work
in the next few days anyway. Regardless, she stands from the couch. "I'll get the door," she says with a glance to Li before making her way across the living room to the entrance door, opening it slightly to see who it is. Given recent events, she cannot be too careful answering the door.
Vasquez ' expression quickly softens into one of sympathy when Ilyna opens the door, a faint smile actually crossing her lips. She remains in place, waiting for her to open the door fully. "Ilyna." she says with a small nod. "I was hoping to-... do you have a moment?"
Ilyna opens the door completely with a quiet sigh of relief, though there's a hint of confusion in her face. "Hey," she says softly and steps back to let her pass. Ilyna has been up since the very early morning, which is not hard to notice. "You should have sent a message," she says. "I could have prepared coffee and something to eat."
Vasquez snorts slightly, giving a small shrug, hands still in the pockets of her coat. "Guess I should've." she agrees, her smile widening briefly before fading. She seems in a decent mood, although it's not hard to tell there's a lot on her mind by the distracted look that never entirely leaves her face. She steps inside, unzipping her coat and hanging it up as she looks around the small apartment. She spots Li over
by the couch, off in her own world, and her gaze falls for a moment before turning to Ilyna. "How-... how is she doing?" she asks quietly, unable to mask the sigh that slips into her words.
Ilyna stays near the door after it closes behind Vasquez, looking at her. Even if her fatigue clouds her mind, she does notice there's something she wants to say. Although, it would have been obvious as Vasquez wouldn't have come for a visit otherwise. The question about Li does snap her out of her thoughts though, and she looks over at her. She quietly considers it for a few seconds. "It… still bothers
her, of course," she says, "but I think she's doing better." Ilyna frowns. "I don't think anyone came home without scars from this mission."
Vasquez nods softly, her gaze going back to Li, who doesn't really seem to have noticed her presence. "Of course..." she agrees. A few moments of silence pass before she speaks again. "What about you?" she asks, a hint of another sigh accompanying the words. Her concern seems genuine as she looks back to Ilyna, staying near the door since that's what Ilyna has been doing. "If there's anything Redrock can do... for
either of you, we're here. Just... wanna make sure you know that." she offers, her voice still quiet as she flashes another small smile.
Ilyna nods, looking a bit thoughtful. She's under a lot of pressure right now, but there's not much Redrock can offer in that regards; unless talking about it to Jason counts. "I have been better," she settles on, "but thanks, I trust that you are; just like I am when you take your break." There's an implicit hope that Jason can convince her to relax when the later stages of pregnancy come. She then casts a
glance towards Li. "You'll be seeing us at the office more soon, I promise. Maybe tomorrow, or the day after, but it would be one small step in getting things back to normal."
Vasquez nods again. "Take the time you need. You're welcome around the office whenever you're ready though. I'm sure Jason would be happy to spend some time with Li if you need a break." she says. Vasquez lets it go unsaid that she'll be far too busy with work herself. The rescue operation was a major hit to their finances, and they need to invest in more hardware if they want to be better prepared the next time
they're pulled into a situation like that. Jason's right, it will happen again. Of course it will. A heavy sigh sounds as her shoulders drop. "Haven't nailed down the date for the debrief yet. I'll keep you posted on that." she says, her mind drawing closer to the second thing she came here to talk about. Ehanis.
Ilyna nods. "I'm sure Li would be happy to as well," she says. "If only he wasn't so generous with sweets when she's around...." A small chuckle does escape her before she moves on to the topic of the briefing. "Thank you, I'll be there no matter how soon," Ilyna says. "I'll need to find someone to look after Li though, depending on how long it'll take. We have much to discuss."
Vasquez sighs. "Yeah..." she says with a nod. "There's... actually something I wanted to talk about right now. I talked to Ehanis not too long ago. It's obvious the mission has rattled her. She also seemed pretty intent on quitting. Immediately." she says, looking over to Ilyna with a serious expression. "She was talking about... leaving. Today. I tried to talk some sense into her, but... yeah, she wouldn't have it.
Ilyna raises her brows and casts a few glances around as she considers her options, fatigue temporarily giving way to frantic concern. "No, she has not," she says, bringing up her omni-tool. Still looking through her messages, she continues, "Where is she? Has she left? How long ago did you see her?" Ilyna still doesn't look up as she awaits an answer, instead starting a call with Ehanis. "Answer," she
Vasquez mutters a quiet "Shit..." as it becomes clear that Ilyna has no idea what Ehanis is up to. She'd expected the younger asari would at least inform her sister before leaving. "It was... a few hours? I-... fucking hell, I figured you knew." she says as she watches Ilyna start the call. She brings up her own omni-tool as she waits to see the results of the asari's call.
Ilyna looks wide-eyed at the omni-tool as the call fails to connect, but she tries again. "Goddess," she mutters. "Ehanis doesn't talk to me, it's always I who has to reach out." Ilyna lets out a deep sigh as the second call also fails in the same way, but after less time. She sighs. "Mian called last night," Ilyna said, still looking at her omni-tool as she places a third call. "She's her roommate. I
declined the call, because... I figured she was inebriated again and decided to be unpleasant. Maybe she was trying to tell me something...."
Vasquez draws in a long breath as she thinks. Ilyna's worry is obvious, so what can she do? "Try her?" she suggests as she brings up a larger window on her own omni-tool, typing. "Think she's planning on going off-world?"
Ilyna considers calling her for a moment before choosing instead to write a short but urgent message. She'll try that first, at least. She sighs at her question, looking increasingly worried at the thought of that. "I suppose anything is possible at this point," she says. "Have any ships left since you spoke with her? Do we have someone at the spaceport?"
Vasquez is still typing on her omni-tool, trying to find out just that. "I can make a call..." she says, stepping out the door as she digs her headset out of a pocket, putting it on.
Ilyna is still not getting a response, and event if it hasn't been a minute yet, she is already considering it a failure. "I think my key to her apartment still works," she says. "Could you look after Li for a bit?" Ilyna doesn't await an answer before entering the bedroom (closing the door behind her) to change into something more practical to wear under a jacket than her long dress.
Li finally looks up from her drawing as the commotion starts to get her attention, sitting on the floor as she watches Ilyna disappear into the bedroom. Her gaze then turns to Vaquez, remaining silent as she tilts her head a little.
Ilyna returns from the bedroom a minute later, wearing a simple black long-sleeved shirt and gray pants. She looks over and meet Li's gaze. Ilyna was about ready to run out, but it wouldn't be fair to her to do so. Especially after what she went through. "Li," Ilyna says, approaching her and crouching in front of her. "I need to go speak with Ehanis. Will you be fine here with Vasquez?" The stress and
tension of the situation is betrayed in her voice despite her attempts to appear calm. "I'll be quick, I promise."
Li 's eyebrows furrow, obvious unease filling her expression at the thought of Ilyna leaving, even if it's only for a little while. "Promise...?" she asks, searching her face.
Vasquez takes a few more steps into the apartment, offering Li what she hopes is a friendly smile, waiting for Ilyna to finish before she says anything.
Ilyna places a hand on her shoulder and gives a reassuring smile, but her expression does waver in her simultaneously stressed and fatigued state. "Promise," she says. "I'm not going far, and you can call me at any time and I will tell you where I am. Okay?"
Li goes silent for a moment as she thinks, her gaze falling. "O-Okay." she agrees reluctantly, worry lingering in her face.
Vasquez stops to remove her boots before walking over to Li and crouching down next to her. "Your mom's gonna be back soon. I'll keep you company in the meantime." she says, offering a reassuring smile.
Ilyna nods, patting her shoulder before letting go. "I won't be long," she repeats, her expression more one of guilt than reassurance this time. "Thank you," she says to Vasquez before standing and crossing the room, grabbing her black winter coat on the way out.
Vasquez gives Ilyna a quick nod to assure her that it's no problem. She hesitates for a moment before taking a seat on the floor, not seeming entirely sure how to approach interacting with Li, but decidicated to easing her worry none the less. "Why don't you show me what you've been drawing?" she suggests, reaching out to turn one of the papers.
Ilyna leaves without a word after putting on her jacket, and can be seen tapping on her omni-tool before the door closes behind her.