Аннотация: A conversation with Saren. Arrival at the Citadel.
Chapter 32.3 a conversation with Saren.
The storm of emotions pouring out of the infirmary began to subside only after a couple of hours. During this time, we managed to cook, chew and eat: as it turned out, Garrus knows how to cook, and Tali is not deprived of culinary talent, albeit with the specifics of naval cuisine. I didn't understand dextro products at all, so I refrained from experimenting, watching with interest how Garrus and Tali were prepared.
"Nihlus, have you finished sorting things out there?" I asked lazily through the intercom.
"Yes," the clearly angry Nihlus replied.
Saren chose to remain silent.
"Then we'll go in now. We'll bring you something to chew on."
We interpreted the mumbled "Uh-huh" as agreement.
Garrus picked up the pre-prepared containers, and I picked up a box of unknown but very tasty sweets, whose stocks Tali and I were actively destroying in the warehouse with the help of our precious sniper, and stomped into the infirmary. Tali chose to stay, sucking on the mashed soup through a straw.
In the infirmary, the disposition did not change: the silent Saren was still sitting on the cot, leaning his back against the wall, and Nihlus was walking in circles, followed by the gaze of steel-blue eyes.
"Well, did you yell your fill?" I asked, handing Nihlus a container of food.
He opened his mouth to say something about not wanting to eat, but ran into my kind gaze and wisely remained silent. I must say, he silently took his food from Garrus's hands, thanking him with a short nod.
Garrus sat down on the cot, examining Saren's impassive face with mild interest, periodically shifting his penetrating gaze to Nihlus, who was rushing around the infirmary. I watched this picture, sighed, climbed onto the same cot with my legs, leaning my back against Garrus' side. In the end, I got sick of this running back and forth, and I barked:
"Demons damn you, Nihlus! Sit down and don't flicker!"
He stopped abruptly.
"And chew!"
His eyes flashed with rage.
"And in silence!"
Nihlus sighed, squinted at the impenetrable face of the chewing Saren, but did not argue, knowing full well the futility of this occupation. Especially after looking at my soulful face. Well, yes, I was in quite a good mood: the goodies from the grocery warehouse had a calming effect on me... until I noticed the skeptical and suspicious look with which the green-eyed ulcer studied the contents of the box.
"Well, it's not Sebastian's cooking." I agreed, and Garrus glared at his kinsman. "But say one word, and you'll be cooking all day tomorrow. For everyone. Understood?"
"Got it!"
Nihlus squinted at Garrus and his unambiguously narrowed eyes, swallowed, and began to eat. Lately, I've started to notice this kind and understanding look behind our sniper, the way he usually looked at reasonable people through the optics of a rifle a moment before the shot was fired. The idealism and naivety of Garrus quickly crumbled, revealing the Archangel's face more and more clearly.
Saren watched our conversation very carefully, noticing subtle details and nuances. I don't think it will take him long to come to the right conclusions. Unless, of course, Nihlus has already enlightened you. Well, yes, this is a matter of the near future, but for now we need to solve one funny question.
"Initially, we assumed that you would sleep all the way to the Citadel." I said matter-of-factly, meeting the gaze of blue eyes.
"Is this a problem?" Saren asked calmly.
"Not that it's a problem... It just so happens that the cabins on your ship are already occupied. Including yours. Of course, we can tamper down."
"But?"
"But in any case, you shouldn't leave the infirmary for another day." Seeing the suspicion in the depths of his eyes, I explained: "After what Sovereign has done, your mind is vulnerable. Just a day later, the protection will rise and you will lose excessive sensitivity. Trust me, such a hard breakdown of control and a set of bookmarks just doesn't go away."
"What do you mean by "bookmarks"?" The cold voice sounded very harsh and demanding.
"Suggestions, distortions of associative connections that cause the desired reaction, bookmarks for the destruction of the mind, triggered when certain conditions are met. Is there anything you can bookmark? It's like a delayed-action mine. Fortunately, because of its enormous power, Sovereign has lost the opportunity for fine work. Or he never possessed it."
"Can you put them on?"
"I can, of course!"
Saren nodded slowly, staring intently into my eyes.
"Looking into the eyes of a mentalist is like an invitation to look into your mind." I said ironically.
Saren chuckled slightly, but did not look away.
"Would averted gaze hurt?"
"No, of course not!" I snorted. "But I don't count those I've decided to let into the inner circle."
The blue eyes widened in surprise. I rummaged through the box, fished out something like a cookie, and took a bite with pleasure under Saren's gaze.
"Is there no point in saying that this food doesn't suit you?" There was a hint of irony in the cold voice.
"Nope." I actively crunched cookies. "Garrus, do you want to?"
"Come on." Our light blue-eyed sniper perked up.
I handed him the box, and the two of us began to destroy the sweets in front of Saren, who was surprised by this behavior. Think, think. You're smart, you'll figure out the right result on your own.
"Anyway, you'll have to stay in the infirmary for two days. I advise you to get a good night's sleep these days. The mind needs rest. Especially after the recent one... stress due to someone's clumsiness. Nihlus lowered his muzzle guiltily at my words, which did not go unnoticed by Saren.
"I won't be able to sleep." a calm response without a trace of irritation or dissatisfaction.
"If you want, I can put you to sleep for a day. The usual sound sleep. The body itself will reset it when the need for rest has exhausted itself."
"Do you need my consent?" There was a hint of skepticism in the icy voice.
"Yes." I met his gaze. "You are not a prisoner on the Kratos."
"Weren't you sent to get my head?" Saren twitched his mandibles in mild annoyance.
"No."
"We were sent to bring you back, not destroy you." added Nihlus.
"Councilor Sparatus is looking forward to the return of Saren Arterius' Spectr." I smiled, seeing the shock in his blue eyes and disbelief. "And he's VERY eager to find out how one of his best Specter"s got into SUCH trouble..."
Saren closed his eyes, inhaled slowly, exhaled just as slowly, barely calming the slight trembling in his hands.
At this cheerful moment, the conversation somehow died down by itself. Saren digested the news and squinted at Garrus and me. When Nihlus came up to us and began to ruin the remains of the cookies, stealing them from the box, surprised blue eyes warmed my dark soul. However, he quickly pulled himself together. But then he agreed to accept my help with sleeping, so soon we left the infirmary, leaving Saren sleeping alone. He is guaranteed to sleep for a day and wake up shortly before arriving at the Citadel.
***
The rest of the flight was not particularly different. Nihlus accelerated the ship to normal cruising speed so as not to drag around for too long, since we had done everything that we had planned. Liara and her mother spent time talking, which surprisingly attracted a bored Rex to them. Tali was meditating in the engineering room, having found something extremely exciting to do.
Saren woke up six hours before leaving the stage, and managed to recover, adjust his armor to fit his figure, and now loomed like a gloomy black shadow behind Nihlus.
Finally, the flight ended: in front of us, in all its dubious glory, stretched the Citadel and the bucket of the "Path of Destiny" dangling against its background.
Garrus squinted at my expressive face.
"I don't see any excitement from the sight of the Azarian dreadnought." He drawled maliciously in a purring voice.
I grimaced.
"You know how I feel about this disgrace of design in shipbuilding, right?"
Garrus laughed impudently, but Nihlus just snorted.
"You've heard. A bucket with legs." Nihlus grinned. "No respect for the museum ship and historical value."
I almost choked on my breath.
"What? Is the Path of Destiny a museum trough?"
"Yes." Garrus shrugged, glancing at the silent Saren. "Such dreadnoughts have not been built for two thousand years." At the time, we showed how ineffective and vulnerable such ships are. "All the dreadnoughts hanging around the Citadel are museum ships, including ours. They were not disposed of: they are fully combat-ready, and at least they will be of some use."
I couldn't find anything to say to this news, and I just watched the huge bulk of the "Path" float majestically past us.
An incoming call icon flashed on the panel: the Citadel was calling us.
"Control Room, this is Kratos." Nihlus said calmly and coldly, turning on the connection. "I'm coming to the Citadel on Council business."
The pause was suspiciously prolonged.
"The spectrum of Saren Arterius?" asked a surprised, incredulous, vibrating voice.