[ a grim turn of his mouth, conceding on that point. ]

We're well on our way. It won't fix all our problems, but it'll buy us some time.

[ it's not total separation and they'll have far from fallen off the grid, but it's something. no more third parties wandering through their midst. no more strangers who aren't in the same boat. ]

And I'm going to follow up with Maeda. [ they made a solid start. he doesn't intend on leaving it there. ] I know you will too. But you need to be careful. If the things that have changed since we've been back are anything to go by, she's going to be after you more than she was before.

[ maybe him too, by extension. but she only knows his face if she remembers anything about him at all. that's something to work with. ]