Rebirth The Mass Effect is old-2

Chapter 32.1: Saren Arterius

The flesh bubbled and flowed, swelled in waves under the brown skin and took the shape I needed, the old scars dissolved, the muscles grew on the bones, and gradually the arm took on the appearance that it was supposed to have by nature. The twisted chitinous plates on his chest crumbled to re-strengthen in a new form... I was doing something that was poetically called "body plastic," but it looked disgusting and sometimes downright creepy.

Plastic surgery is not only and not so much a treatment. Rather, it is modeling and restoration. One of the basic features of the metamorph. Now, due to the large amount of my blood in Saren's body, I could take control of his body by connecting to the nervous and neuroendocrine system. I unfolded the aura, stretching the inner layers onto the Turian, connecting not only to his body, but also to the aura, which was torn and exhausted by the Sovereign. In fact, I was now a kind of symbiont, and Saren was an extension of my body, since I connected physically: through ingrown arms.

The recovery was coming to its logical conclusion, and now I was finishing work on the hand that had grown in five days. I have about two more days to bring Saren back to normal. Small things can be treated later, as well as strengthen bones and muscles.

Rex was watching my work. He came on the second day and got a lot of pleasure from the spectacle: I had not heard such matyugs and highly artistic comparisons for a very long time. However, the first stupor quickly passed, and then he watched with interest, sometimes asking questions and even giving advice. He knew the anatomy of Turians perfectly well: he had cut a lot of them in his time.

"That's it! Ready!" I slowly raised my arms, disconnecting from the body. "Now it's just a matter of strengthening my body and making sure nothing gets out while my blood is processed and assimilated."

"Could there be overlays?"

"Can." I agreed with a shrug. "I had to increase the mutagenic properties of the blood, but the control was gone."

"Isn't it dangerous?"

"No. My body is already adapted to Turian biochemistry, so there will be no conflicts based on incompatibility. When changing the blood, I took Saren's DNA directly as a basis and adjusted it to the characteristics of his body, so there would be no negative consequences. But something good may come up. In fact, any analysis will show me as his half-sister for another four days. Then I will return to the natural state of my chosen appearance."

"I've already told you: amazing possibilities."

"A true metamorph is the pinnacle of the evolution of an organic being." I shrugged my shoulders. "Then there is a transition into a purely energetic form with the possibility of acquiring materiality."

"Have you ever met such people?"

"Yes, I was lucky." I grimaced. "All this wealth is tied not to the body, but to the soul and the aura generated by it. It is not for nothing that almost all religions say that the soul is primary." I met the Krogan's sharp gaze. "That's why I cannot accept and forgive those who ruin their souls for the sake of questionable values of the body. Degradation is just developing. From rebirth to rebirth, until the opportunity to be reborn in intelligent beings is lost. And there is already stagnation and disintegration. A pitiful fate."

"Is death not the end?"

"If death does not imply disincarnation and death of the soul, no. After a while, the soul will lose the accumulated information and go on rebirth. Sometimes there is a funny glitch in the universe, and the soul does not lose its personality and memory. By saving yourself from purging your identity once, you will be able to preserve yourself at the next death. An interesting mechanism that weeds out those who lack the Strength and Will to save themselves."

"And what happens to those who have escaped?"

"They make people like me."

Rex nodded slowly, looking into my eyes with heavy interest.

"I'm glad I approached you at C-SEC."

"Just don't think of me as something like a wise and ancient being!" I snorted. "You're older than me anyway, if you add up all the lives I've lived. In some cases, I only lasted a couple of hours."

In response, a sharp-toothed grin.

"You know how to cheer up an old warrior."

"Are you the old one?" I asked skeptically, unceremoniously examining Rex.

He laughed loudly.

"I'm interested in watching you in battle."

"No, it's not interesting." I rejected the idea of full-contact sparring.

Before his eyes, I grew long claws that clearly shone with a metallic sheen, and easily, effortlessly stuck them into the metal of the bunk up to the pads of my fingers.

"All the more interesting."

"If you don't use the capabilities of my body to kill directly and quickly, but only test the combat technique, it's not interesting at all. But as a murderer... I'm unlikely to have any peers. The Gift of a Metamorph can serve this purpose too well."

"That's right."

"Technically, Nihlus and Garrus are much stronger than me." I honestly admitted. "I'm a lousy hand-to-hand combatant. I had to learn how to wield a blade, as well as shoot, but hand-to-hand combat..." I shrugged my shoulders, not really upset by my lack. "When I have to fight without a weapon, I look completely different."

"You have the opportunity to learn."

"There is. And I will use it. But not now."

Rex understood my satisfied smile quite correctly and chuckled.

"You've become attached to them."

"Yes." I didn't argue with the obvious.

"It's good." Rex closed his red eyes. "It's hard to be alone. I know."

"Heavily..." I nodded in agreement.

"There will be a lot of problems because of them."

"When have I ever worried about other people's problems?" I grinned into his red eyes.

Rex grinned knowingly.

"With that attitude... I believe that you can protect your little clan."

"Oh, I can be very... I'm resourceful when it comes to protecting those I care about."

"What about him?" a short nod at the Turian lying next to us.

"He is dear to Nihlus. Mentor. Friend. In fact, he is an older brother. I personally have no reason to hate or dislike him, despite his fame."

My answer satisfied Rex's curiosity, and the Krogan ended the conversation, as usual, by simply walking away. He just nodded at me. He's an interesting guy.

Saren wheezed faintly, twitched. The new lung wasn't quite up to its duties yet, but it would get stronger in a day or two. Maybe faster, but in the meantime, not the most pleasant moments await him. I covered the naked Turian with a thin blanket and was about to leave when Benezia came into the infirmary.

After finishing the treatment, the Lady came to her senses the next morning, but I was already busy with Saren, and no one was allowed in the infirmary. Except Nihlus and Garrus. And then Rex showed up with his usual arrogance and impudence. Well, at least I got some impressions, and I expanded my stock of obscene Krogan and Turian, which, as it turned out, the warrior masterfully mastered. As a result, we got along well, spending long hours talking while I worked on Saren's carcass. And he became the third intelligent person who found out the truth about me.

"Am I interrupting?"

The soft murmuring voice of the Asari pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Not anymore. I've finished his treatment. Come On In, Lady." Benezia came over and stood over Saren, who was fast asleep, staring intently at his scarred face. After removing the pins, I had to assemble his jaw from pieces. Literally! I don't know how he did it... Did you catch a rocket in your face? Or did someone beat him up so badly that he broke his mandibles and lower jaw into trash? I don't know, but I've been collecting his face for a long time.

"I didn't believe that he could be saved." Asari whispered softly, touching the hard chitinous plates on her face. I saw that indoctrination had already affected him. She knew how deeply Sovereign had penetrated his mind. You've done the impossible, Irene.

"It was... difficult."

"I won't ask you how you did it."

I nodded gratefully.

"You treat him well."

The lady smiled.

"I knew Saren as a child, as well as his brother, Desolas." There was a short pause, and the Lady's slender fingers lightly stroked the sleeping man's forehead: a gentle, caring gesture... completely devoid of even a hint of sexual interest. That's how a mother can stroke. "At some point, I became interested in their fate."

"And then Desolas died."

Benezia nodded.

"Do you know the reason for his death? The true one, not the official one."

"The monoliths of the Arch. I know."

The matriarch shuddered, staring intently at my face.

"Your attitude towards Saren is touching me... surprised me. Without hate. Without prejudice. Without fear."

"Why should I hate him?"

"For hating people." seeing the expression on my face, Benezia corrected herself: "For his attempt to kill Nihlus."

"After which he dropped control three times while aboard this thing?" I asked skeptically.

"I didn't know."

"Sovereign quickly suppressed the rebellion." I met his gaze. "Due to the constant resistance, Saren's mind is much more mutilated than yours."

"The Healer of Souls," the Asari whispered, gazing intently into my eyes. "The Krogan was not mistaken." The lady smiled faintly. "Thank you."

And... she left.

And what was that? She came in, asked a couple of meaningless questions, looked at Saren and left. Or... or her questions were just a title, a reference point by which she tracked my reaction, my attitude, and my plans. An interesting Lady. Dangerous. VERY dangerous!

* * *

The doors opened and Nihlus literally flew into the infirmary, quickly crossed the short room and froze, staring intently at the sleeping Saren.

"I finished." I said softly, lightly touching his shoulder. "He is completely healthy. Another day or two to restore and strengthen the body, and that's it."

Nihlus abruptly turned around, dropping to one knee, scooped me up in his arms, burying his forehead in my collarbone.

"Rin..."

"T-sss... Don't say anything!" I put my hands on his shoulders. "I promised you that I would do everything to save him."

Grabbing his arm, I led Nihlus out of the infirmary. There's nothing for him to do there right now and meditate on the sleeper.

On the way to the cabin, we met Liara. The Asari just smiled encouragingly at the gloomy Turian and squeezed his shoulder lightly.

"He'll be fine."

Nihlus nodded gratefully at the girl.

The attitude towards Saren has changed dramatically these days. Lady Benezia did not even think to remain silent, describing with utmost honesty the Sovereign and his methods of influence, her feelings during control and the full power of mental attacks. She also talked about Saren and his breakdowns. In such expressions and choosing his words so carefully that Rex still walks thoughtfully, digesting the news.

Garrus appeared in the cabin: the guy was sprawled comfortably on the bed and was reading something from a datapad. When he noticed us, he moved over, giving me the opportunity to seat Nihlus and settle down next to them.

We were silent for a while. I just sat next to Nihlus and stroked his head, while Garrus stared intently at the distant face and thoughtful green eyes.

A quiet voice sounded suddenly:

"Saren... dear to me. Even though he tried to kill me..." Pain flashed in his green eyes, "obeying the Reaper's orders."

"I know." I stroked the long comb, running my fingers over the brow pads, lightly, on the verge of sensitivity. Nihlus closed his eyes and exhaled faintly. "He must gain strength now."

"You've done the impossible."

"Nothing is impossible." I moved to the edge of the bed, lightly pushed Nihlus in the chest, forcing him to lie down. He did not resist and obediently fell on his back. Your older brother is physically completely healthy.

Garrus blinked in surprise, shifting his uncomprehending gaze from me to his kinsman.

"Saren is not my brother." Nihlus objected softly, propping himself up on one elbow.

"Who are you trying to prove this to?" I kissed him on the nose. "Because I don't feel your attitude towards him? The fact that he is not your blood relative does not prevent you from considering him a brother."

Nihlus sighed, slightly closed his eyes, silently agreeing with me.

"How old were you when he took you on as a student?"

"Nineteen." he whispered. "A year later, I became a Spectr. We worked together as a team for six years, until we were given different missions. I've been working alone for the last few years, occasionally meeting Saren at the Citadel." a brief regret. "If I hadn't left.".. maybe it wouldn't have happened."

"You know it would have happened anyway."

The green eyes narrowed sharply.

"I'd already forgotten..."

"But in vain." I caught his eye and switched to a mental connection. "Perhaps you will be pleased that now Saren, like you, has fallen out of the interests of reality. He's free."

"And Garrus?"

"It's not too soon yet. He'll need to be looked after. The chance to get him out will appear only after Omega. I'm afraid he's going to get there, regardless of whether I get to Cerberus or not... There is still enough time to prepare before the key point." I sighed, rubbed the bridge of my nose tiredly, and said out loud: "Right now, I'm more concerned about your sworn brother and his state of mind."

"How bad is it?" Garrus asked quietly.

"How to say it... After Eden Prime, he reset the bindings three times. And twice he almost put a bullet in his head from the realization of the hopelessness of the situation, fortunately, Sovereign managed to suppress his rebellion. I think I'm even grateful to Nazara for not letting Saren blow his brains out." I was met with a steady and heavy gaze of green eyes. "You don't think it was his first attempt back on Vermeer, do you?"

The bright green eyes made it clear that this was exactly what he thought. Garrus just shook his head, as if he had received confirmation of his conclusions.

"The decision was made consciously and with cold-blooded calculation, but the reasons that brought him to the brink of suicide were different. After Eden Prime, there is an awareness of what has been done. Saren is sure that you, Nihlus, are dead."

"What?!" Nihlus shuddered.

"I was also surprised by Benezia's reaction. Later, I found out that Saren sincerely believes that he killed you on Eden Prime. He heard rumors about your survival, but he didn't believe it. He has a good memory, and Saren saw perfectly well that the wound was fatal.