Dayshift 62: Sun Room [Third Shift]

[avengingfists]

Last night had been a nightmare. That had to be what it was, but Ilia couldn't deny reality. In her anguish, Ilia had slept through the first half of the day plagued by nightmares. In her dreams she saw Rose's broken body all over again with Gamzee standing over her, his club raised to strike again. Somewhere, she could hear Martin Landel laughing.

Much like the battle last night, Ilia was overcome by her powerlessness. Was she really so useless? Why did it have to be the children who suffered pain and death? Why was she left alive here? She didn't wish for her own death, but if she could have given up her life to save Rose... But nothing could be done now

Ilia had failed to save an ally in need. If only her Captain could have been here, then just maybe his uncanny luck and drive might have saved them. He had a miraculous touch that could solve anything. Ilia now understood why she would never be on equal footing with him.

Miserably, Ilia roused herself at her nurse's insistence that she come eat. She didn't take a moment to brush her hair or wash her face. She just followed along as directed, trying to ignore the hallow feeling in her chest. Ilia wasn't hungry, but she took one of the bags offered to her and trudged to the bulletin. She addressed a few notes then added one herself. It wasn't the prettiest note, but Ilia couldn't produce the level of prose that Rose deserved. Instead, she wrote it quickly, like ripping off a band-aid. Short. To the point.

Her task done, Ilia found seat in the corner and sunk down into the cushion. Burying her face in her hands, she concentrated on breathing. She couldn't face the sun today.

[For her children Claude and Anise]

Comments

[fonichymn]

She accepted the note with a calm countenance, mind working to prepare for anything. Information could be positive, negative, or neutral; each category held a different kind of contingency. Tear would rather be mindful of all possibilities than overestimate any particular one, a virtue she had attempted to exercise throughout her military career. Her perspective, therefore, remained relatively objective and without scrutiny as she looked over piece of paper, allowing her to take in the whole.

When she finished, the Melodist scanned over the print once more, brows furrowing in concentration. What had Guy told her the day after the end of the military's control? "An acquaintance of mine thought there was a device that was limiting our powers," she began to explain. "Without warning, apparently. The knowledge just came to his head."

Tear paused, bringing a hand against her chin. "This must be what happened to the device." A plausible explanation, at least. "This also does explain a bit about what happened to Jill." The same information Marc could not elaborate due to his mental block. "On the whole, this is very valuable, even as a simple conjecture."

Blue eyes moved upward, on level with Renamon's. "Is there any way I can copy this note?" she asked.

[diamondstorm]

...The same information she had received from another. "I heard the same," she said cautiously. "From an associate of my own." If multiple people had 'known' the same thing, then.... "Peculiar," she murmured. "What was the attribute that allowed certain individuals that knowledge? An ability they shared, perhaps, amongst themselves?"

Tear, at least, seemed to hone in on what Renamon had. The aspect of Jill--Lydia. "There are still some questions that can be applied to her existence, but for the most part-- Yes. This is something to be shared." Which brought her to a nod at Tear's question. "Please do. And share it if you can."

[fonichymn]

She did? That meant the knowledge had been planted in more than one subject. It made Tear wonder as well. "That is one possibility," she acknowledged. "Unfortunately, I can't theorize anything concrete without further information." Tear should have questioned Claude herself. Another day, perhaps.

Besides: "I wish Marc was more accessible for questioning. If this account is accurate, we missed the chance to find out about her for ourselves." She ended that on a sigh. It was disappointing in retrospect. "But thank you. This should only take a moment."

Quickly, she produced her journal and pen and took to writing.