The Turian got to his feet and almost instantly dressed in new underwear, and then, with visible pleasure, put on a jumpsuit.
Arterius sat down on the cot and looked around.
"Thank you, Karin. I will definitely thank everyone who created these clothes for me", He hesitated. "Can I meet with Naylus? And with Benezia?"
"Later, Arterius. You will meet with your student later. And with her, too. Later, Arterius. You will meet with your student later. And with her, too." Chakwas turned off some of the devices and put the sensors in her deck pockets. "You know she has to get dressed too. And she hasn't woken up yet, by the way. You'll have to wait. In the meantime, you can walk around the enclosure and get used to it."
"I was... pushed over the Edge." Arterius got up carefully and unhurriedly, took a few steps, and stopped. "It's hard to believe right away. You did it and..."
"The ship's executive officer, Captain John Shepard. It's just the two of us," Chakwas clarified.
"If anyone had told me that, I definitely wouldn't have believed it." Arterius turned on the spot to Chakwas, took a step towards her. The bony two-meter-tall figure of the Turian did not frighten Karin, she had long been accustomed to the fact that tall Turians towered over most earthlings like towers. "And now I not only believe it, I know it," he bent over Karin. "I am very grateful to you doctor, let me kiss your hands, even though I do not have lips."
"Lips, Arterius, are not the main thing here." smiling quite sincerely, Karin replied softly, feeling how the Turian carefully "applied" to her wrists. "I am glad that you have recovered, but I ask you not to be overly active. Let her get comfortable too."
"Are you suggesting..." said Arterius understandingly, straightening up and releasing the doctor's hands.
"I affirm it," Chakwas replied. "Both of you will need to establish a normal relationship with each other. And it would be better to do it here, within the Medical Bay. She remembers all too well how you, being under the power of the Reaper, acted towards her... abnormally."
"I remember," Arterius frowned. "I... nearly strangled her a few times. At that moment... I wasn't interested in her being a woman. I didn't take this into account at the time, as well as the fact that she was quite possibly physically and objectively weaker than me. She is not a warrior. And she was not prepared for such clashes. She relies too much on her racial weapon, biotics. The Reaper disabled her very quickly, first imperceptibly weakening her as much as possible, and she herself... unfortunately, she does not always know how to use her racial weapons in unusual situations ... effectively. It's still good..." A questioning look bored into the doctor's eyes.
"No, I did not find any traces of such attacks during the examination," Karin answered honestly, noting how immediately, if not instantly, the Turian calmed down. "But it would really be better for both of you to arrange everything here, within the confines of the Medical Bay."
"I'll do my best, Doctor," the Turian sat down on the bed. "Then..."
"The jumpsuit will hold up well enough for you lying on the bed, Saren," Karin chuckled. "So, go ahead and rest. You can even take a nap."
"You've... energized me. How do you define people?..." Saren hesitated.
"Intravenously." Karin became serious when she saw Saren carefully laying down on the bed. "You can wait until she gets used to it." She left the Turian's enclosure and pulled the curtain shut, heading for the enclosure with the Asari.
Benezia was no longer asleep.
After closing the curtain, Chakwas went to the bed, performed a quick manual examination of the patient, looked at the screens of the instrument complex, and turned off some of the units.
Azari silently watched the doctor's actions.
"Your bed is comfortable, Doctor," T'Soni said softly, "especially for the head. We are used to sleeping with our heads turned to the left or right, we often sleep on our sides so as not to pinch the appendages, and sleeping like this is ... unusual, but very pleasant. This," The matriarch glanced at the packages, "for me?"
"Yes, my friends wanted to please you and sewed new clothes. And underwear, too."
"And..."
"You're quite normal, Benezia," the doctor took another look at the diagnostic screens. "So you can sit up in bed first, and then get up."
"Thank you," the matriarch easily pulled back the bedspread, pushed aside the frame and, not shy about nudity, sat up in bed. "It's still good that I... managed to avoid personal ruin. The physical is... less important to me, because I know I've been around for years...."
"Benezia..." Chakvas said a little reproachfully.
"Karin, let me call you by your first name, Doctor." T'Soni put on her underwear and put on a jumpsuit. "I understand. When you saw me, you probably wouldn't believe that I'm... soft and accommodating. Yes, even though I am the religious leader of the race, I am one of the religious leaders of the Asari," The matriarch clarified, "Although I am a member of the Asari Matriarchy, but... I have been absent from my native Asari Space for too long. And I understand that after what happened to me... I've changed too much, deeply and completely. For an Asari my age, such a shake-up is... too iconic. Because... I'm very glad that it was you who helped me get back from there", The Asari grimaced, remembering how she had been in a limp shell, submissive to the will of the Reaper. And I'm glad that it was you, as a woman, who met me now. And they helped me." Benezia was silent for a few seconds. "I will always remember this and I will always appreciate your help and your support...." She glanced back at the screen that hid the Turian's bed. Did he... wake up before me and was already able to move very actively?"
Karin nodded.
Benezia, noting the nod, continued:
"And you..."
"I think it would be better for both of you to talk. To chat with each other. Now that you're both normal and reasonable again." Chakwas emphasized the last word she said, which was clearly noticeable to the interlocutor. "We can talk here, in the Medical Bay. Find common ground. You are not enemies of each other. Your subordinate condition to the Reaper is a thing of the past. And now you both have to return to your worlds...."
"Are you sure about this, Karin?" The matriarch's eyes flashed unkindly.
"I am convinced." Chakwas replied. "We will not forcibly keep you both here, aboard our ship."
"There's something you're not telling me, Karin." The matriarch lowered her head slightly, glancing at her companion from under her brows.
"I assume that Saren Arterius, as a Spectre, as the mentor of Naylus Kraik, who is on board our Spectre ship, will join him, his student", Karin said, tracking the changes in her companion's mood. "And you will have to return to the limits of Asari Space. Come back refreshed."
"Are you suggesting that due to your ship's encounter with the Reaper... a lot could change? The matriarch straightened up, adjusted her jumpsuit, and stood up."
"A lot, Benezia," Chakvas said with a certain amount of sadness. "We are on the verge of a major war with hundreds of such ships. And you yourself understand that now they will be on their side...."
"There are many Galactic residents who are affected by these ships...." Benezia stammered a little, "they'll bend me and Saren to their will..." she frowned. "You're right, Karin. I have the same gloomy assumptions.... And now I realize that I must not only return to the Asari space, but also find my daughter. I need to end this prolonged period of estrangement. She is my only daughter, and it will be... very difficult for me if she dies or gets hurt in any way. Are you aware of the Geth threat?"
"In general terms," Karin nodded.
"The Geth are spreading across the galaxy," the matriarch emphasized. "And knowing that the Reapers will easily bend them to their will, I can't be calm about Liara right now. I understand that the Matriarchy..." Azari paused for a few seconds, and Chakwas could see how difficult it was for her to decide to say a lot of things out loud, openly and clearly. "He is sluggish in his thinking and in his actions, so he will try to hold me accountable for everything I have done without self-control. I am ready to bear this responsibility, I understand that they will try to punish me, including demonstratively. But I don't want to be punished, knowing that I'm still at odds with Liara."
"If the ship's command makes a decision, we will help you, Benezia."
"Will you, the Alliance's intelligence officer, Earthlings, and humans help me?" Benezia was genuinely surprised.
"And why not?" Chakwas said. "If we're going to get involved in a confrontation, and then we're going to start a big war with the Reapers, then why don't we humans help you, Benezia? If I'm not mistaken, this is quite on our way."
"You know best, Karin," the matriarch said thoughtfully, sitting down on the bed. "You have restored me so thoroughly that I never cease to be amazed. Although... I understand that you..."
"I've only been rebuilding your body, Benezia", Chakwas confirmed. "And your essence and soul were handled by XO Shepard."
"I would like to thank him. And," the matriarch stood up, stepping towards Chakwas, "thank you, Doctor," she bowed in front of the doctor in a ceremonial Azarian almost waist bow. "I hope that we will be able to meet and talk more than once. And I really hope that while I am here, aboard your ship, we will be able to communicate quite closely. I can't hide that I'm interested in you, Karin. And now I feel the need to learn more about your race, about people. Learn as much as possible, and most importantly, understand."
"For now, you need to stay within the confines of the Medical Bay, Benezia." Karin nodded, accepting the matriarch's bow and thanks. "And first of all, to talk to Saren."
"I won't hide it, I'm a little afraid of him. Still. I can't forget how he almost strangled me several times", T'Soni spoke up. "If you are so convinced that it is necessary to start with a conversation with Saren...." She hesitated. "Maybe that's what I should do. But..."
"He's sleeping." Chakwas glanced at the screen of her omny-tool. "He sleeps soundly," the doctor clarified, looking at the interlocutor.
"And did they bring him clothes too?" Benezia's voice was flat and emotionless. "Created by the Normans?"
"Yes," Chakwas confirmed. "He's already dressed. So you both won't have any problems on that side."
"You have to start a new life in new clothes." Benezia said softly. Chakwas nodded, agreeing with her companion's opinion. "How much we have in common, and how big and significant the differences are.... It's good that we didn't have to fight each other. But if..."
"Let's not focus on this, Benezia. Now you're both alive, you're both recovering, and you both have a life ahead of you. Yes, it is quite possible, in conditions of war with such ships, but ... life. Saren has a student, Naylus Kraik, they are both Spectres, both are warriors-..."
"And if anything happens, they'll stay on board your ship... just the two of them", The matriarch, who did not hesitate to repeat herself, spoke while thinking.
"Maybe," Karin agreed. "And you need to find your daughter and restore your relationship with her to the fullest extent. You both need to get back to Asari Space. And, I will not hide it, you can let your compatriots and fellow tribesmen understand which enemy is now facing us better than any experts and specialists in the position will do. And not according to the fact."
"You're right, Karin. I've already thought about it, but you've formulated this task much more clearly than I did internally, for myself. I take your wording as a basis," the matriarch confirmed. "You..."
"Let's wait for the excavation results, Benezia. I am convinced inwardly that we... will have to stay on this planet. Stay for a long time," Chakvas clarified.
"But... the war..." the matriarch cautiously and quietly remarked.
"It can't start right away, Benezia. We humans have been at war with each other for millennia. And we clearly understand that a military clash, especially a large-scale one, is not a quick matter. Now, it is likely that the pre-war period has begun, and for now we, the inhabitants of the Galaxy, can at least try to prepare for the confrontation with the Reapers. Both you and Saren will be able to initiate proper training. What you have seen and felt will be valuable for other intelligent people to learn and understand. Not just those who belong to your races. The war will affect the entire galaxy and all its inhabitants."
Benezia thought for a few seconds and nodded curtly. Chakwas stood up, sensing that Asari wanted to be alone, stepped to the screen, pulled its curtain behind her, heading to the work table.
The ship's doctor sensed that Saren was already awake and felt that it would be better if the meeting between the Turian and the Asari took place without her personal medical presence. They're both mature, intelligent organics, and they need to talk in private.
Sitting down at her desk, Chakwas sent a message to her friends saying that both patients liked the clothes. A few minutes later, messages came back: the friends were glad that their efforts had not been in vain.
Typing a more detailed message on the keyboard - Chakvas had not yet planned to use video and audio channels beyond the medical bay - the doctor rejoiced with her friends.
Indeed, you need to start a new life in everything new, including clothes. The ship became new to Saren and Benezia, its inhabitants became new acquaintances, and the clothes were new. And now, quite possibly, they, who were previously forced enemies, will find mutual understanding and new grounds for normative interaction.
***
Benezia raised her head from the screen of her wrist omny-tool when Saren carefully and quietly stepped into her "enclosure". The eyes of the Turian and the Asari met. There was no malice in them, no wariness.
Silently pointing Saren to the chair where Chakwas had been sitting, Benezia closed the omny-tool screen. The turian came over and sat down in the chair. The matriarch felt that he was hesitant to start a conversation, and if he did, it would be with unnecessary apologies.
"Saren," the Asari matriarch said softly, remembering the sharp Turian hearing and not wanting Chakwas to appear in the enclosure right away. Benezia had no doubt that the doctor would hear their conversation. I know what you want to tell me now. So... don't bother. Back then, when you held me by the throat... several times... and did many other things, including not with me, it wasn't you. And I don't want to remember the past now. It wasn't too good for you and me. Let's leave the past to the past."
The Turian hesitated, then nodded cautiously and slowly, remaining silent.
"I know that your student, Naylus Kraik, is on board the Normandy. I think you should meet with him and talk to him. But I... if I am given the opportunity, I want to find my daughter, with whom, for some reason, I have not communicated for a long time."
Benezia looked at Saren more closely.
"As you can see, each of us has... urgent matters to attend to. And more," She hesitated, as if hesitating to bring up the subject abruptly. "I probably won't be staying on board the Normandy. As soon as I find my daughter, I will return to the Asari Space. What will happen to me there, I don't know in detail right now. It is quite possible that I will be judged and punished... for my transgressions. I don't expect them to understand fully enough and well what it means to be a husk."
"They won't punish you," Saren said softly. "The Normans... won't allow it. They understand what you've been through." Saren did not mention the Asari by name. "And, I think, they understand it better than any other reasonable organics. I'm sure of it."
"Maybe. Nevertheless, I am an adult Asari, a matriarch, and I must understand that all reasonable people cannot be considered too perfect." Benezia paused. "So inwardly I am ready to be condemned and punished. "At a minimum, I will be permanently excluded from the Council of Asari Matriarchs, given... a certain minimum "social" pension so that I... do not starve to death yet, after which they will try to forget," The matriarch did not sigh, although at that moment she really wanted to take a deep and heavy breath. "Forget about my existence, that many of the useful things that my fellow tribesmen are using now were done either on my initiative or with my active participation." She was silent for a few seconds. "The main thing for me is to do everything so that, by punishing and condemning me, the Council of Matriarchs does not affect my daughter's life and fate with its... negative punishing influence."
Saren listened to Benezia in silence, without moving or trying to look her in the eye. The matriarch calmly reacted to his apparent indifference - she listens, understands - and that's enough for now.