This logfile is imported from aitelogs2 and may contain errors or wrong timestamps.
#RedrockAgency – September 3, 2018
Jason is still seated at the couch with Li, fully engrossed in the adventures of the Galactic Sentinels and their never-ending battle against E.V.I.L. Forearms on his knees, he's perched at the edge of the couch, leaned forward as he watches intently.
Ilyna disappears into her office after the conversation with Vasquez. With Jason is watching Li, and Vasquez is taking care of releasing Mian to the militia, she decides to sit alone in silence before going to make good on her promise to be with Li shortly. Fergus knows where she is, but is unable to contact her due to the systems being unplugged in her office.
Li is watching the cartoons in silence, chin resting on her knees, legs pulled up into the couch. She looks focused - whether on the show or not isn't entirely clear.
Ilyna does eventually leave the office, the short break she decided to take after speaking with Vasquez lasting almost twenty minutes. She forgets to plug Fergus back in despite receiving a lecture from Renala almost every single time she's done that in the past. Ilyna locks the door and makes her way upstairs until she stands in the rec room doorway. She doesn't announce her presence, silently observing Jason
Jason furrows his brow as the titular character does combat with the dastardous Evolved Intergalactic Varren League. "They really don't give up, huh?" he mutters to Li. "Just-... always up to no good. Ruin one of their stupid schemes and they just whip up another. Reminds me of a guy I knew back on Omega." With a shrug of his shoulders, eyes still fixed on the screen as the Super Centurion cuts a swathe through mechs, he adds:
Li has a thoughtful expression, but whatever it is that's on her mind she doesn't voice it, continuing to watch the ridiculous battle in silence.
Ilyna takes a quiet step into the room, the sounds of combat from the screen aiding her stealth as she still opts to just listen in on their conversation. Jason's comment evokes a smile, but it soon fades when it's met with silence. It isn't going to be easy, Ilyna understood that, but she worried she was going to fail her. That the day where she would laugh and converse about giant robots would never come.
Jason manages to tear his gaze away from the screen long enough to look to Li, her continued silence garnering a frown from him. It's impossible to not feel sympathy for her considering everything she's been through in such a short time. And guilt considering their role in it all. Hell, they gunned down pretty much everyone she knew right in front of her- dragged her across the galaxy- separated her from her friends. Still,
there's no doubt in his mind that she's in a much better place now than she was. But that doesn't mean it's any easier on her. "What's the matter, small fry?" he asks, propping up his lopsided smirk, "Not in the mood for cartoons today?"
Li 's gaze turns from the screen to Jason, but it lasts only a moment before she looks down with an evasive frown. "I don't like this show anymore. It's stupid."
Ilyna lets out the quietest sigh of disappointment at Li's response, though there is a look of understanding on her face. At least she thinks she can relate. Ilyna takes another few steps towards the couch, still trying to avoid interrupting their conversation.
Jason's smirk slips away. "How come?" he prods, brow furrowed, "I thought you loved Super Centurion?"
Li 's gaze remains low, and there's a moment of silence before she responds. "Varren Lord is a monster but they never kill him. If someone turns into a monster you're supposed to kill them. So they can't hurt anyone." she says as if it's the most obvious thing in the world, looking up at Jason again with a serious frown.
Ilyna don't know what to think about Li's answer, or to even look deeper into it than it just being about the show. Does she see herself as a monster? Or maybe it is because she's been with Redrock, as that's how they deal with monsters that hurt people. Like a moment earlier, her worrisome mind is probably creating problems where there are none. She continues into the room, and is just behind the couch at this
point, but she remains silent. If there is a reason why this Varren Lord isn't killed off, Jason ought to know it better than she does.
Jason's gaze turns to the coffee table, giving a few distant, stiff nods as he draws in a deep breath. It's not hard to see where that's coming from. And it breaks his heart to hear. He forces a smirk that doesn't quite reach his eyes back into place as he looks back to the young girl. "It's-... uhh-... It's not always that simple, small fry. Because-... Well, not all monsters are the same. Right? Maybe they-..." he gestures
towards the screen, "...think there's a chance for them to fix Varren Lord. I don't know about you, but I'm no expert on how to properly combat super-intelligent-mech-piloting-varren, so maybe Super Centurion knows a little bit more about how to handle the situation than we do." The ridiculousness of the statement juxtaposed against the very-real monsters Li is equating these adorable monocle-wearing animated varren to
causes an involuntary snicker. One born more from discomfort than humor. These are things a 7 year old girl shouldn't be worrying about. "But-... I do know that soldiers don't always have easy decisions to make. All we-..." he gestures between himself and Li, including her as an honorary member of Redrock, "...can do when we're out there is try to do the right thing and protect the people we love." A bit of guilt settles
into his chest as the image of Mingxia holding Li comes flooding back to him. Was that what she thought she was doing? Getting her daughter back? Protecting her? A loving mother, corrupted by that... thing? He's quick to shove the thought aside. "Sometimes we make the right decisions. Sometimes we don't. But I have no doubt that-... uhh-... Super Centurion-..." he gestures towards the screen with a small nod of his head,
Li listens closely, remaining quiet as Jason speaks. It's obvious that he has her full attention, and the somber look in her eyes feels tragically out of place in someone so young. Her gaze follows his gesture towards the screen briefly before falling to her hands, which rest in her lap after she's shifted to sit normally. A couple of faint nods follow, her brow furrowing in silent thought as she processes Jason's words. It's hard to
Ilyna listens carefully to Jason's answer, though she pays attention to Li. While she doesn't entirely understand Li's situation yet, this is not the kind of conversation a children's cartoon should inspire. At least not one so serious. "A turian would not hold back if killing him was the best option," she suddenly interrupts. By the same token, a turian wouldn't let a threat persist either, but that's not
Jason gives a deep sigh as Li remains silent, scooting slightly closer and draping an arm over her shoulder to jostle her a bit in a sidehug. Ilyna's arrival causes him to glance her way, shooting the asari an appreciative smile for her assistance. "How about you just let me and your mom-... and Super Centurion..." he's quick to add with a gesture towards the screen with his free hand, the animated turian clearly an afterthought
Li 's head turns when she hears Ilyna's voice. The words from Jason that follow cause her to look down at the back of the couch, frown returning for a moment before softening as she nods. "Okay..." she says quietly, despite the memories that linger strong in her mind. Of hearing Mingxia being gunned down. Of Johnny bleeding out on Ilyna's living room floor. She pulls her legs up close to her chest, arms wrapping around them as her gaze
Ilyna nods, but a sigh does escape her. She of all people should know that this is an impossible request. "Yeah, that's our job," she says, "but right now, we all watch cartoons." She goes around the couch, planning to slip in between Jason and Li.
Jason nods along with Ilyna's initial sentiment. As she continues, he gives a snort and scoots a bit to provide room for her to slip onto the couch. "Sounds like a plan." he says, glancing at the asari as she settles down next to him. He passes a look past her towards Li, concern briefly slipping back into his features before turning his attention back to the screen. "You missed a hell of a fight scene." he says lightheartedly.
Ilyna wraps an arm over Li's shoulders. "Are you sure about that?" she says, though she doesn't sound as lighthearted as she means to. "When was the last time you looked behind you?" She looks ahead at the screen, but she is not paying it much attention.
Jason had already assumed Ilyna was listening in given the way she entered the conversation, but he merely gives a snicker and a shake of his head. "So..." he begins, eyes remaining on the action on-screen, "...everything good...?" he asks, shooting a brief glance Ilyna's way. As much as he'd like to get more specific with his question, now isn't the time. Not with Li in the room.
Ilyna closes her eyes for a moment and gives the tiniest shake of her head. "We have no reason to believe that Mian is a danger to Ehanis," she says, "but that also means we are out of leads." Ilyna takes her eyes away from the screen and looks at Jason. "This isn't right, Jason," she says. "Ehanis and Mian have known each other for thirty years. They've lived together. I've lived with them for a while. For
Jason draws in a deep breath, gaze still fixed on the screen for the moment. "Of course something's wrong, Ilyna..." he says, the underlying exhaustion that has mounted over the past week slipping through in his tone, giving away that the events have worn on him, too, far more than he's willing to let show. He swallows at the lump in his throat as he looks Ilyna's way. "...You were there. You know what she went through-... What we
Ilyna frowns, and looks back at the screen. "I cannot blame her," she says. "It's just... I don't like the thought that she... is out there, alone with these thoughts and... and...." She lets out a sigh. "I don't know, Jason, I... I," Ilyna says, moisture forming under her eyes. "It's my fault that she's like this," she says. "I wasn't there when it counted. I... failed her."
Jason's gaze falls briefly, knowing all too well the feeling of letting down those you care about. He reaches out with a synthetic hand to give Ilyna's leg a pat. As his distant gaze is pulled back to Li, he draws in another deep breath and forces a small smile back into place for her sake. She doesn't need any more stress. "You mind if I borrow your mom for a second?" he asks, cocking a thumb towards the door, "We'll just be