# Rebirth The Mass Effect is old. part 31-2

Аноним Nytare

Irene is treating Benesia. a heart-to-heart conversation with Rex and Co.

Chapter 31.2 a heart-to-heart conversation.

Liara looked into the control room.

"Nihlus, where's Irene?"

Instead of answering, I raised my hand, drawing the Asari's attention.

"I'm here."

Garrus relaxed his arms a little, giving me a chance to look over the back of the chair. My reward was Liara's absolutely stunned face, staring at me in complete amazement.

"Oh! It's not a good time..." The girl's cheeks darkened and turned a little pink.

"Yes, everything is fine. What happened?"

"Rex asks for permission to stay in the hold."

"Didn't he find another better place on the corvette?" I asked skeptically.

"I like it there." Rex boomed from behind Liara, easily moving the squeaking Asari out of his way.

"If you like, make yourself comfortable." I waved it off. "I don't think Saren will mind."

Liara choked on her breath.

"Is this his ship?"

"Yeah," I replied serenely.

Rex took a close look at our still life, looked at Nihlus, looked at the calm face and serene green eyes, quickly calculated something and chuckled. Then he turned to leave. And then it suddenly dawned on me:

"Oh, Rex! I forgot to tell you. The hierarchy has initiated hearings on the cancellation of the genophage's sanction."

Rex almost stumbled over the news.

"What?" the Krogan whirled around.

"Sparatus reported. One of our secondary tasks is to find a cure for the genophage. Well, or those who can do it. That's right, maybe you'll be interested."

Rex pushed Liara aside, walked over to our chair, and leaned over my face, completely ignoring Garrus' displeased growl.

"This is not a joke!"

"I'm not kidding." I shrugged my shoulders. "Saren, by the way, riveted an army of Krogan on Vermire, and he kind of made a cure. When he wakes up, he'll tell you more."

There really was a cure: Arterius had a memory of the end of his testing, which flashed by casually when he handed me his drone. I suppose the data on the drug is even stored in a modest bracelet on my arm.

Rex slowly straightened up, staring at me intently. I was warm and comfortable lying in Garrus' arms, and the Krogan's gloomy face didn't give a damn. Rex noticed this, of course, and I didn't aim to hide my happy and contented face in any way.

"You say Saren made the medicine."

"Yeah. At least his Krogan are perfectly healthy."

"And you decided to tell me?"

"Aren't you interested in that?" I asked in surprise, staring intently into the narrowed red eyes.

"Interesting." A calm reply, delivered in a low, husky voice. "But what's your interest?"

"I've accepted you into my squad. Even at your insistent suggestion."

Rex chuckled at my words, shaking his massive head slightly.

"And?"

"And nothing supernatural, Rex. You're part of an extremely narrow definition of "your own."" The red eyes widened slightly. "I didn't give a damn about the Krogan problems before. But then someone stubbornly got into my little squad and took their place in my middle circle." Rex squinted at my serene and completely content face. "And this someone cares deeply about his people, even if he defiantly drips poison on degenerates of his own kind. Since that happened, I've reconsidered my opinion of your race." I waved my hand vaguely. "It's as simple as the corner of a barn."

"Aren't you afraid of making a mistake?"

"Is that what you're telling an empathic mentalist?" I asked ironically.

There was no need to explain the meaning of these words to Rex. There is a slight irony in the emotions... bright, drowning out distrust, suspicion and caution, hope. No, the HOPE is that his race will have a future again. The Krogan didn't care at all about the possibility of losing the privacy of his thoughts. An amazing creature!

"I believe you, Irene."

"This... Good."

The Krogan snorted.

"You know how to please, Rin." Rex straightened up. "The future of my race is lying in the infirmary in the form of a skinned body."

"Don't, Rex!" I was genuinely indignant. "Far from being skinned, but very much whole! And quite alive!"

"Has it been worse?" Krogan boomed ironically.

"There was a "assemble yourself" mosaic." I looked into the red eyes and pushed the vision to him.

Rex blinked, squinted in surprise, realized what he had seen.

"Perhaps I find it difficult to imagine what you have done to him to bring him to such a state. If we exclude torture and the desire to deliberately mutilate."

"They've taken away everything unnecessary, Rex." I met a hard look. "You didn't think that you could get into the sphere of interests of a creature as ancient as dirt itself and not pay for it in any way?"

"I guess not."

"Saren stumbled into the Lord like no one else, not even knowing WHAT he was messing with. The result turned out to be... enough..." I stammered, not knowing how to characterize this very result.

"Don't pick your words." Rex raised his hand. "I understood. Our enemy is not Saren, but the one who hid behind his back."

"Yes... And you will have the opportunity to look at such a creature. Practically dead. But still dangerous. If you wish."

In response, a sharp, penetrating look. Rex is faaar from being a fool, and he understood the hidden sentence perfectly.

"With pleasure." Rex turned and walked heavily towards the exit. Already at the very door of the control room, he turned and asked: "How ancient is our enemy?"

"The one I'm offering you to look at is thirty-seven."

"Thousands?" Krogan asked skeptically.

"Millions, Rex. Thirty-seven million years old for this particular thing. Maybe more."

Short-term stupor and... rising excitement.

"I think I'll reconsider my opinion about Spectr Arterius." Rex said dryly and left the control room.

That's it, Rex! Now you're all ours! You will never give up the medicine. This is not a game, and for the mighty Krogan, the interests of the race are ALWAYS a priority. Even if he has to step over himself and his principles to save the race, he will do it. Even if he despises himself later. And I just gave him hope and filled his life with new meaning. Moreover, so that he does not have to twist and bend himself over his knee. Rex is an adult man, he has been living for hundreds of years, and he perfectly understood what gift I gave him and WHAT I offered with the direct permission of Sparatus.

I have no doubt for a moment that the Hierarchy of the Union will put the squeeze on and push through the necessary decision, ignoring any resistance and discontent of the dalatres. The Turians understood the war with the Krogan and the way to end it quite correctly, and they drew conclusions. The image of knights without fear and reproach, standing guard over peace in the Galaxy, did not arise for a reason.

Damn it! Rex, the brute, killed all the good mood!

"Garrus, would you put me on my feet, please?"

The Turian turned around with the chair, giving me the opportunity to get up from his lap.

"It's time to finish Matriarch Benezia's treatment. And so, I tightened it."

"Is there much more fuss?"

"Take down the bookmarks and put the shields back in place. The defense of the mind is almost completely destroyed. The Overlord does not spare his victims."

"I've noticed it already." Garrus nodded in agreement.

Liara listened attentively, and made her conclusions, but did not voice them. She just watched me carefully, looking from Garrus to Nihlus.

"Liara, let's go."

The girl nodded and followed me out of the control room. We walked to the infirmary in silence, preoccupied with our own thoughts. It is generally very quiet on the Kratos, and only a measured, barely audible rumble constantly accompanies the journey. The Normandy, literally bustling with life, after the silence and tranquility of the corvette caused a dull irritation, despite the fact that I even began to get a little attached to it. The specifics of my gift had a small side effect: I dislike large groups of sentients, preferring the company of my inner circle. Kratos suits me better than the noisy, crowded Normandy.

The infirmary greeted us with the beeping of life support equipment and the heavy smell of blood, which the air purification system and ventilation could not defeat. Liara followed me like a shadow, silently, deep in thought about something. I didn't find out about what. He'll tell you if he wants to. Sitting across from Benezia, I put her in a trance state and slipped into her mind.

The passage of time had a good effect on her mind: the consequences of the rude intrusion were slowly fading away, some of the bookmarks, unsupported and unused by the sleeping mind, fell apart on their own and saved me from unnecessary work. Now, with a fully active gift, uprooting all this filth will require much less effort and time, and you can start removing key bookmarks, and not as before, from the lowest and most insignificant ones.

I immersed myself in my work, watching Liara's behavior out of the corner of my mind. Azari wandered around the infirmary a bit, tried to ask something, but when she saw my completely blank face, she fell behind, taking her usual place next to her mother again.

The bookmarks, which had already been eroded by the gradually strengthening and unfolding protection of the mind, gave up quite easily, although they required increased attention and accuracy. But this is always the case: control nodes, points of contact with the victim's mind, with its associative connections and memories, links to other bookmarks and the emotional sphere are monitored. It's a delicate piece of work that reminds me of untangling a tangle of colorful and fragile yarn that cannot be damaged. But if I put in a little more effort, the unstable chains will crumble, the memories will lose their order, and the mind will become unstable until the damage naturally recovers.

Whoever created the submission matrix provided for almost everything, not giving the victim any chance to escape in direct contact with the Anchor. But once you remove the very concept of Anchors, the whole delightfully finely crafted structure collapses and falls apart, leaving only minor unpleasant consequences, which I removed.

When I finished putting away my bookmarks, the Kratos had already passed the repeater and was flying on autopilot through the tunnel. Garrus was sitting on the cot behind me, carefully hugging my shoulders, Nihlus was standing over Saren and staring intently at the face disfigured by the extraction of nanites and pins. Liara was dozing on her cot, carefully covered with a thin blanket. Rex was crunching some food by the door, reading something from a datapad and grumbling with displeasure, stirring up a mental irritation and anger intertwined with irony, sarcasm and a share of unhealthy interest.

I rolled my shoulders, flexing my slightly stiff muscles, and blinked. His strong arms tightened, wrapping me in a full-fledged hug, and Garrus rubbed his cheek against the top of my head, snorting faintly into my hair.

"Are you done?"

A quiet, vibrating voice caught my attention: Nihlus moved away from his mentor and approached me. Rex stopped reading, and Liara, muttering sleepily, woke up, blinking her eyes absently.

"Yes, Rex, let me chew."

The Krogan silently slammed the box shut and tossed it to Nihlus. The Turian caught it, opened it, and handed it to me. What's there? Fried meat cut into thin strips, obviously cooked by Sebastian.

"What's wrong with my mom?" Liara asked quietly.

"The mind is already clear." I popped a strip into my mouth, chewed with pleasure, and swallowed. "All that remains is to raise the protection and you can wake up. But this can only be done after a day."

"Why?"

"After a set of mental bookmarks, the mind is vulnerable. It will take just a day for him to lose his excessive sensitivity and receptivity."

"Will there be any consequences?" Rex asked.

"If you don't touch it these days, no. So I'm asking everyone to get out and not enter the infirmary without my permission. And yes, Liara, your mother does not need nutrition, because I support her with my vital energy. When she regains consciousness is another matter."

The sentients left the infirmary without a single squeak, meeting a bored Tali in the hallway. Rex just grinned ironically, seeing me emptying the box with a happy face.

"Sebastian is a real magician!" I swallowed the last strip and quite rudely licked my fingers.

"I agree with you." Rex chuckled. "What are our plans?"

We went into the recreation area, which is also the dining room, and sat around a large table, which for some reason was octagonal.

"No plans for the near future. We'll walk to the Citadel as long as it takes me to treat Saren. I can't show Sparatus the "skinned body," as you kindly called him. If I turn around, I'll reach it in five days. Well, a day to restore the body after such bullying. Maybe we can do it faster."

"What about his mind?" Nihlus asked quietly.

"Plowed over like a field after the explosion of a warehouse of grenades. If Benezia received only a strong program of submission, then Saren came under the personal influence of the Ruler, and spent a lot of time with him."

"Can you restore it?"

"I can. But, unlike Benezia, Saren will have to manage all this when he is conscious and has a clear understanding of what is happening."

"Why?"

"Because he broke the mental channel and submission on his own by sheer force of will!" I said. "With conscious help, recovery will be much faster and easier, and I won't have to do jewelry darning. Some things will have to be done, of course, in an unconscious state."

"But are there any chances?"

"The odds? Undoubtedly. He has a strong will. He will be able to piece the personality back together with my help. Without the joys of mental disorders."

"What should we do?" Rex asked curiously.

"Whatever you want." I replied kindly. "The main thing is, don't blow up Kratos and don't put pressure on my brain. Especially when I'm busy with work."

"Is it useless to ask how you do it?" Rex asked.

"Is that what it is?"

"How you treat Arterius."

"Body features and some knowledge."

"Human?" Liara was surprised.

"No."

Liara could only say:

"Oh!.."

Tali flashed with restrained interest, but Rex was not shy and clarified:

"So you're not human?"

"Nope."

"And who?"

"A metamorph." I raised my hand and deliberately slowly grew long curved black claws. "I'm actually a unique being. Don't ask me HOW I got here. I don't know."

"Appeared?"

"yeah."

Rex nodded slowly and boomed:

"I assumed you weren't from here."

"Where do such ideas come from?"

"The Alliance couldn't produce a trained Soul Healer. People don't even know about the existence of people like you." The Krogan shifted his heavy gaze to Liara. "I've heard that the Asari have someone like that, but they're nowhere near the true capabilities of a Healer."

Op-pa on... What interesting facts have suddenly surfaced...

"What makes you think I'm a Soul Healer?"

"I've been watching you work. I heard the words. Only a Healer can fix the damage done to the mind. You know exactly what you're doing. This is not a rescue based on instincts, but the work of an experienced craftsman who knows what he does and how he does it. You have received a complete and competent education. Not here."

"The logic is impeccable." I spread my hands.

"I don't care how or why you came into our world." Rex said calmly and steadily. "Your actions speak for you. I see what you're fighting for. I can see the decisions you're making. I see how you look at our world."

"How?" I asked with interest.

"As if it were your own home, without dividing it into states and species. And you're ready to defend this house." Rex inclined his head slightly. "I'm ready to stand by your side."

"Thank you, Rex. For..."

Rex waved it away.

"I get you. Don't explain the obvious to me." The Krogan chuckled. "I suppose the crested ones know?"

The Turians grinned in perfect sync. And well, exactly the same! Rex broke into a grin.

"I have no secrets from those who enter my inner circle." I smiled.

"Worthy." The red eyes looked at me with a slight malice. "I can understand your choice. As well as the reason you ran away from the Normandy."

Garrus looked a little embarrassed, which did not escape the eyes of others. Rex laughed out loud, and a moment later we were all laughing. Even Liara and Tali. The thin ice cracked and melted without a trace.

Rex is something! I didn't regret for a moment that I agreed to take him on board then. He's very intelligent, even though he tries to look like a phlegmatic blockhead. Then the conversation turned to meaningless chatter, and we no longer raised serious topics. Just friendly gatherings and conversations about nothing, which ended well after midnight, when we crept into the cabins.