After talking with the advisers, I absolutely did not want to return to the ship, but I did not have my own place on the Citadel. And I wanted to relax somehow, to get away from the current problems and the nightmare that will soon catch up with us and involve us in a bloody meat grinder. Geth, Sovereing, Collectors... May it all burn with a clear flame! For once, it was a free day, and there was no desire to spend it worrying and planning to save the galaxy. When I crawled out of Sparatus' house, I was greeted by two questioning looks. However, it only took a couple of seconds for Naylus to assess my condition, and the Turian simply suggested that we walk around the Citadel and... relax from the problems. Liara suddenly agreed, and we crept off at a leisurely pace. And they were looking towards the park and the lake. To say that we attracted attention is an understatement! Two heavily armed fighters: a Turian and a human, and a fragile young Asari maiden, silently walking with an easy stroll — an absolutely surreal sight! It's funny, even the SBC didn't slow us down. Either they recognized it in the face, or they just already knew that there were two Spectrums crawling around without any purpose. In the end, the stares finally got to us! Interestingly, Naylus couldn't stand it first.

"Sometimes you want to kill for such views." The thoughtful vibrating voice of the Turian pulled me out of my thoughts about the bastardism of the world and brought me back to sinful earth.

"Did you get it?" In response, a short nod.

"They shouldn't have worn the armor. I shrugged my shoulder. The armor sat like a native and was practically not felt, but it gave a soothing feeling of security." Although... I've already gotten used to it as a skin.

Liara sniffed and said softly: "You can change your clothes."

"Not into anything." I spread my hands. "And there's nowhere."

"You can come to my place." Liara and Naylus gave out simultaneously.

"May. But there's still nothing to change into. And I only have an Alliance uniform on the ship. There was something like pity in Liara's gaze. Sighing heavily, I frowned around at the sentients who were examining us with interest. I lived, damn it... They pity me for the fact that out of clothes there are five uniform sets of the same type and two armor sets. Yeah... But it's true, I can take away my wardrobe in one sitting. Not just the wardrobe, but EVERYTHING.

"And where do you live, Irene Spectr?" Liara asked quietly.

I stopped, looking at the blue-skinned girl strangely. But it's true. Where? My recipient has nothing of his own: childhood in an orphanage, military service immediately after coming of age without a single personal item in his pocket. Now it's the Normandy. Not with Irene Shepard, not with me in this Galaxy... Not at home. The entire property is an identification card and a bank account to which the salary is transferred. And... that's it. Something must have shown on my face, because Liara was embarrassed and whispered softly:

"Sorry..."

"I don't have a home." lowering my eyes, I looked at my hands, and for the first time in this world I felt... awkward. "No need to apologize for asking a perfectly normal question."

Liara was silent, gushing with confusion and something... astonishment. Naylus looked at me with a completely unreadable look. Yeah... And what to say? The theoretical savior of the galaxy is a bum... super simple. No stake, no yard, all the clothes will fit into a military backpack and two trunks. This is if the armor is packed.

"Why are you so surprised?" I chuckled. "A military man has his whole life in the barracks."

"But now you are not the military of the Alliance, but the Spectr of the Council." the low rasping voice caused quite reasonable concerns.

"The job is essentially the same." I waved it away. "So what are your plans, since you won't be able to take a quiet walk?"

"Go to the store to get clothes, change clothes and go for a QUIET walk!" Liara suddenly slapped him seriously.

"I'll change at home." The Turian shrugged his shoulders.

Azari grabbed me by the elbow and purposefully dragged me somewhere along the same type of corridors, and I... didn't mind. Nihlus seemed amused by the situation. I would even believe it if it weren't for the tight, heavy waves of far from bright emotions: anger, misunderstanding, rage, a strange determination that arouses quite legitimate suspicions. What's he up to?

Liara's gone wild! The girl perked up and for some reason took a sincere liking to me. However, it is not clear why all of a sudden! After dragging me into some obviously expensive store, the young Asari retreated with her tribeswoman to a corner, discussed something quietly, and quickly shook me out of my armor, leaving me in only a thin black leotard, more like a swimsuit. I don't understand!

An hour ago, she was timid about my status, but now, having discarded all conventions and hammered the bolt on subordination, officialdom and all ranks wholesale and retail, she shook and disposed of my carcass as... like an older sister who finds nothing but jeans and a stretched, moth-eaten sweater in her younger sister's wardrobe. The same for me, I found a live doll! My objections weren't even considered. No objections... They didn't even ask me! I didn't even try to resist, I just cast a longing glance at Nihlus, who was openly having fun, leaning back against the wall and watching the whole mess with interest. Having driven me onto some kind of pedestal, the ladies took my measurements and it began... Half an hour later, I howled:

"Liara! I need ONE suit to walk around the Citadel RIGHT NOW, not the whole wardrobe! We're leaving in two days! I wear either a uniform or armor on the ship! Liara waved it away. Nihlus laughed, and I felt my ears turn red. Scribe... the statutory colleague-colleague relationship began to crack even during our gatherings in the infirmary, beginning to be covered with a touch of friendship and common mystery, and now... However, one friend is better than a hundred colleagues...

A call signal came to my drone, as well as to the Nihlus one, but they did not give me an answer.

"Are you done?" A rumbling voice full of mirth rang out. "Yes, we're going to have a rest. Seriously. Follow my bearing."

HOLY SHIT!

"Garrus?" I asked resignedly.

Nihlus grinned and nodded. I groaned softly.

"Liara, that's enough!" They waved me off again, and the blue beauties whispered about something. Vakarian managed to arrive VERY quickly and now both Turians were watching me being tormented by two cute Asari, twirling as they want and dressing up in whatever they want. When I was ready to take action from glancing at a powerful pistol of life-affirming black color, they mercifully released me and allowed me to put on my native armor. I got dressed and ran off to the merrily grinning Turians, shamefully hiding behind Nihlus broad armored back, and the Asari were whispering about something again. They only reached us:

"Where should I deliver it?"

"Frigate Normandy, dock 1254-36." Liara looked at my angry face. "In my name."

The girls whispered again, agreed on something, and Liara, taking a couple of branded bags, went to us contentedly.

"Irene's spectr!" There was a gasp behind him. "I don't even want to hear any objections! Spektr Naylus, can you tell me where I can leave my personal weapons and armor for your colleague?"

The only reason Garrus didn't laugh was because he met my gaze in time, but a mug, a mug! And I also thought that a Turian's chitin-covered physiognomy wasn't capable of conveying emotions. WHAT THE HELL! Also, how capable! While I was calming down, these three dragged me into a taxi, and we flew somewhere. Damn it! Both laughter and sin! I was torn between banal shame and gratitude. And the truth had to come out right now! A couple more days and we would have gone on a protracted raid, but for now... It's still a relatively peaceful time... And Naylus is good, damn colleague... Looking up, I met the ironic and full of hidden amusement gaze of bright green eyes. He's what... Does he approve of this lawlessness? I could tell by the pleased expression on his face that he approved! And he gets some kind of pleasure that only he knows.

The taxi dropped us off somewhere in the residential area at the petal station. As it turned out, Nihlus dragged us to his house because, as a Spectre, he had a legitimate right to keep military weapons and armor in the house. He even had an arsenal set up in one of the rooms. Liara is a civilian, and she doesn't even have a light pistol, Garrus, as a fighter in my squad working for the Spectrum, doesn't have the right to keep heavy weapons in the house, but it's fine to carry a light personal one. I had a thought: maybe I should buy a place here, too. Maybe this station will stop annoying you.

Nihlus led the guests into a small room, left Garrus and Liara there, and showed me the arsenal: a fairly large square secure room that looked like a bank safe. And the weapons were stored here...

"It's like a branch of a Special Corps arsenal." I whispered in a barely audible voice, looking at the long rows of assault rifles, dozens of pistols, five sniper rifles standing on stands, armor in weapon boxes.

"Trophies. And personal weapons." Nihlus chuckled. "Get changed before Liara comes for you."

I whirled around, staring intently into the green eyes.

"You won't tell anyone about this!" In response, a toothy, satisfied smile and a quiet purr:

"Clear Warren! And you'll forget about that shot."

"I'll never forget about him!"

Niall broke off, catching my eye. The green eyes blinked, guiltily lowered.

"Me too."

And he went out, closing the door. Quickly removing my armor, I unpacked the bags and laid out what Liara had prepared for me. Appreciated it. Should I hit her?.. I don't even know... Sighing, I just... I changed my clothes. COMPLETELY! Because under SUCH a dress, my military underwear and a leotard do not fit in any way... Liara even provided for this... hmm... And the fucking shoes... on the heel... At least it's a reasonable height. After packing my things and putting my armor in an empty box, I opened the door and walked out of the arsenal, feeling better... naked and defenseless...

For the first time in her life, Irene Shepard wore a dress...

My appearance drew the approving gaze of Liara and the strange Turians. Nihlus went to the armory to disarm, and I sprawled out in a comfortable upholstered chair. And who said that Turian furniture is not suitable for people?

It's very suitable! If you get it right. Liara, pleased with my appearance, went somewhere into the next room with a package under her arm. I guess I have to change clothes too. The ship's uniform didn't look good against our completely civilian background, and Asari rushed off to fix this flaw. And I, laughing, turned my attention to Garrus, who was happy with his life. Our sniper looked very good...

It's unusual without his usual black and blue armor. Garrus Vakarian looked like him in civilian clothes... the usual hooligan guy: a black T-shirt with a wide hood thrown back and a short sleeve to the middle of the shoulder, dark blue skinny trousers tucked into high black boots with metal magnetic locks, somewhat hideously reminiscent of high-tech grinders in the Turian manner, a wide weapon belt, short fingerless gloves on the wrists There is an instrumentron bracelet on his left forearm. And the unchanging visor. A high-end, unique professional combat visor that looks nothing like a civilian toy. The wide hip pocket bulged suspiciously. There's no way Garrus is carrying a gun there!

"Did you find out something?" Garrus shook his head.

"An amazing lull."

"Like before a storm."

The Turian nodded.

"There will be more information tomorrow. Maybe something interesting will come up." Heels clicked, and Liara returned to the hall, straightening a short dark blue dress with a loose skirt.

"That's better!" Asari sat down lightly on the couch.

"Nihlus, did you fall asleep there?" Garrus growled.

In response, there was the rustle of a pistol going into non-combat position and a voice above his head:

"No" Satisfied with his life, the Spectre hung the pistol on the magnetic clip of his weapon belt. Second.

He looked like Garrus' older brother, except for the clan tattoos. He is dressed almost one-on-one, only completely radically black. Except that there was a red stripe along the collar of the T-shirt.

Nihlus silently extended his hand to me, unobtrusively suggesting that for today we forget that we are both soldiers of the Special Corps, and remember that we are just intelligent beings who were going to take a banal break from worries and troubles, walk around the capital of the Galaxy and enjoy its charms and temptations. And really, why not? I reached out, put my fingers in a hard, strong palm, accepting the rules offered to me.

The mood somehow crept up imperceptibly. For a while, we even forgot that soon we will face a brutal war with an enemy that is almost impossible to defeat, and that we ourselves are not just tourists at the Citadel, but fighters... We were just enjoying a calm day under the illusory azure sky. The Presidium Park turned out to be a very beautiful place. Liara took on the role of a guide, and she and Garrus showed us around... I like the sights. They took me to the lakes, and even showed me a system of small waterfalls and fountains. Everything was fine until we reached the center of the park and I saw HIM.

Channel. I stumbled and shivered. Nielus blinked in surprise, but when he followed my gaze, he frowned.

"I don't want to see him!" I muttered, turning Nihlus around by the elbow with his back to the repeater monument. "It's not enough to remember now who built this station and for what purposes!"

"And it's true..." Garrus roused himself, grabbed my elbow, caught Liara gawking, and pulled me toward the parking lot of the flyer. "To residential areas?"

"Say "to the bars," Vakarian." Nihlus snorted. "Not enough extremes? Or have you forgotten how the locals raided you a couple of months ago?"

Liara pricked up her ears.

So you've known each other before?

The two crested ones laughed merrily.

"Yes, there was a case." Nihlus chuckled. "During one investigation, I crossed paths with security guards. They pinned down the red sand merchants at the technical compartments in the Lower City, and only low-powered pistols were used. Rifles aren't really allowed to be carried. Vakarian then took a sniper rifle from the corpse of a drug dealer and shot the bandits who were attacking the barricade with it. He sits in the ventilation outlet and counts the shots until the end of the operation of the thermoclips.

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