Rebirth The Mass Effect is old. part 13

"Your hand." Taking off my gloves, I carefully placed my hands in the thin blue palms.

"Look into my eyes."

Our eyes met, and I saw the previously azure pupils slowly darken...

The merger bore little resemblance to what was described in the game. There is no sexual connotation, everything is simple and at the same time unreasonably complicated: the direct connection of one nervous system to another. I felt Tevos's body as if it were my own, and I suspect she felt the same way about me.

Well... There is a lot waiting for the adviser... It's interesting, though, I'm far from human, and this body has already begun to change. In the meantime, it's worth making sure that this lady doesn't see what she's seeing... not worth it. Tevos's mind greeted me with a light natural shield that could do little to protect the core of her mind and personality, except to cover her surface thoughts. I slipped into her mind, lowering my shields and allowing the Asari to see what I wanted to show her. And already together we watched how the once great Empire was dying. I showed all the most unsightly and stunning moments of cruelty: the destruction of a colossal fleet, the carcasses of Reapers slowly and inevitably entering the atmosphere, burning cities, huskies tearing defenseless inhabitants to pieces, terrifying mutations of still-living sentients on stakes, heavy fighting, streams of flames rushing through the once flourishing world scorched by bombing. I showed how the Protheans found the Citadel: an abandoned station, almost indistinguishable from the current one, showed the repeaters. And the next was the capture of the Citadel, neighborhoods burning with fires, a crowd rushing in search of salvation, intelligent creatures burning alive, howling and screaming, dying from the claws of huskies and modified Rachni. Asari's mind was in silent hysteria, she was trying to break the connection, but I wouldn't let her. I haven't shown everything yet... And Tevos was forced to watch the huskies assemble the bodies of sentients, how they are cocooned and recycled, how new Reapers like these are built... the creatures fly away to other, still living worlds, as they subjugate and break the intelligent ones, turning them into slaves and creatures devoid of their own personality... Finally, I flashed the blueprints and the Forge with a sense of hope... and hopeless despair and disappointment when hope failed to be used: the Citadel closing and the Reapers destroying the useless Forge. And as a finale... flashback: The Lord soaring into the bloody sunset skies.

The merger broke off. Tevos was sobbing freely. Azari was trembling and shivering. Well yeah.. These are not just pictures... The lighthouse conveyed the EMOTIONS of the person who recorded it. And Tevos drank from my generosity this cup of pain, hopelessness, hatred, impotent anger and despair in all its fullness. She'll never forget it. Is it cruel? Absolutely! But the counselor must understand and feel the depth of the abyss into which their civilization is falling.

I looked up at Nihlus. The Turian nodded understandingly, took out a small bottle of strong alcohol from a box on the wall and threw it to me. Sparatus instantly got to the heart of what was happening, and an empty glass landed on the table in front of the sobbing woman. I poured the strong liquor and literally forced the booze into her trembling blue hands.

Have a drink. Tevos obediently raised her hand and drank. The clatter of teeth on the thinnest glass echoed in the deathly silence of the hall.

While the woman calmed down, Sparatus paced silently in front of us. His gloomy face and hard gaze gave him some hope. Apparently, his colleague's reaction shocked him and made him think hard. Tevos is far from a young naive maiden and it is not so easy to impress her! I tried my best with all the sophistication that a mentalist is capable of! Finally, Tevos put down her empty glass and wiped the tears from her face. The sight of the Lord taking off made her shudder: the video was still playing on the projector from my instrument.

"It's monstrous." She said softly.

I nodded.

"I'm sorry you had to see this. But... The Council needs proof. I can't rely on visions that only I see."

Tevos nodded. The recording flashed and started from the very beginning: a booming shot and the howl-roar of the starting Nazara.

"Where was this recording made?"

"Eden Prime." I replied.

"Counselor Tevos, do you recognize this ship?" Sparatus asked dryly.

Tevos shuddered all over.

"Unfortunately... yes. The Reaper." The Asari shivered. "Sparatus... this... Terrifying! Words cannot convey the nightmare that I saw! The spectr described the death scenes, but it turned out to be seen... The Asari's voice trailed off. I can't describe it. It's impossible to describe in words, Sparatus! It must be seen! Then... I'll show you!"

The Turian nodded, thoughtfully shifting his gaze from the agitated Tevos to Nihlus and me.

Irene's Specter believes that we will soon be attacked by these Reapers.

"Seeing this," the blue palm pointed at the Sovereing, "I can't deny that... total. But why is he alone?

"This is the observer." I said calmly. "You didn't see everything, Counselor. "That was just it... beginning. Unfortunately, you cut off the connection before I showed up... other."

Tevos shuddered all over and shivered, correctly understanding my tone.

"Go ahead." She quickly pulled herself together! "I believe the Sovereing is our overseer, overseeing the development of civilization. Before their death, the Protheans were able to reprogram the Guardians, and now the Citadel does not respond to the Reaper's remote commands. Otherwise... The harvest would have already begun."

"What does the Citadel have to do with it?" Sparatus stopped abruptly.

"The Citadel and the repeaters were built by the Reapers. This is a trap for young civilizations to develop in a way that suits them. And the main thing is that we don't create our own unique ways of interstellar travel. After the death of the Protheans, the Citadel and the repeaters were restored. Councilor Tevos saw how Feros's repeater was destroyed, for example. But now it's completely intact!

Tevos nodded. It is very convenient to destroy us, because ALL our colonies and central worlds are located next to the repeater. Turn off the network, and we're helpless! We won't even be able to come to our other world for help! And the Reapers don't need to look for us."

Oh, how the rage flared up! Sparatus must have the imagination to imagine such a war.

Are the Reapers capable of this?

"Yes. The citadel is the control cell of the repeater system." She is also a colossal repeater that was supposed to open the way for other Reapers to our Galaxy. I find it difficult to answer why Saren is looking for the Channel, since it is a monument to the repeater in the Presidium. And yes, it is fully functional. Do you understand HOW that sounds?

Sparatus rasped.

"How... The apocalypse?" I shrugged my shoulders. "Counselor, I'm at a loss and don't know what to do with this information.

If it becomes public, panic cannot be avoided, as well as the appearance of strange religions, sects and other things... an outrage. Something else is worse. I have absolutely no idea how we can escape. The only thought: build interstellar ark ships and... fly away wherever your eyes look. Only a miracle can save our worlds. But at least the race will survive. Somewhere. If you don't believe me, ask Advisor Tevos."

Tevos was dejectedly silent, her eyes downcast.

And this silence impressed Sparatus much more than all my words. I specifically chose the most terrifying and hopeless shots to impress her properly, and it seems like I overdid it a little. I haven't felt such despair and hopelessness for a long time.

"If at least some of the visions are true... Just a little bit... We have almost no chance." Asari whispered.

Sparatus shuddered.

"At the moment, the Sovereing has not yet managed to send a Call to his relatives. For this, I believe he needs a Channel. And he sent Saren to find him."

"We want to capture Saren and try to rid him of the Reaper's influence." Nihlus continued.

"A single Reaper is a strong opponent, but it is possible to destroy it or... capture."

"The Sovereing can give us the opportunity to create weapons capable of destroying people like him. It needs to be studied." I added. "And build new ships with new weapons!"

"We must be prepared for the arrival of SUCH an enemy!" Naylus pressed it.

The advisers exchanged glances and stared at our trio with some strange interest. And it doesn't matter that Liara tried to pretend to be part of the decor.

"Do you think this is possible?"

"There is always a chance. We have a lot to lose!" I shrugged my shoulders. "We must take any chance, even the most remote one!"

"Your evidence..." Tevos shrugged her shoulders, "they are quite convincing and reliable. Your conclusions have been approved." Tevos and Sparatus exchanged glances. "We will bring up all the research we know about an alternative way of interstellar travel. Your task becomes a priority."

"Find Saren and the Sovereing! Find out what the Reaper needs!" Tevos hesitated. "And try to get Saren's Spectre back."

"I could barely contain my sigh of relief. The way the counselor highlighted the word "Spectrum" gave hope that Asari understood what was shown correctly, and that Saren, this frostbitten liquidator, would have a chance to return to the ranks if we... I can fix his brain."

"Where are you going to go next?" Sparatus asked calmly.

"On Noveria." I replied. "We've heard some strange rumors, and we want to check them out. We'll buy supplies and leave. It's quite possible that we won't be returning to the Citadel anytime soon.

"Keep us informed. As soon as new information becomes available, we will send it to you. Councilor Tevos finally calmed down completely."

"Can we count on the fleet's support?" Nihlus suddenly asked.

"Yes," Sparatus said dryly. "But the responsibility will remain with you."

"Do you have anything else to tell us?" Tevos asked.

Nihlus and I shook our heads almost simultaneously. You're free to go. Already on the way out of the hall, I was hit in the back:

"Irene, hold on." Nihlus looked into my eyes with concern. I shook my head, gesturing that everything was fine. The Turian nodded slowly and disappeared through the door with Liara. And I returned to the hall and froze under the probing gaze of Councilor Tevos.

"Spectr, tell me... Are you a human?" Sparatus choked on his colleague's question and coughed. And I just smiled.

"No, Counselor. I am a metamorph. But one of my parents was human."

"Are you a half-breed?"

"No. Like the Asari, metamorphs are not half-breeds. I do not know who my parents were — I am an orphan. I consider myself to be somewhat of a human being, but if I wish, I can become a representative of any race, although it will take time for the complete restructuring of the body. Taking off my glove, I showed the stunned Turian and the Asari, who were looking at me with interest, a long curved black claw.

"Yours... Excuse me, does the Alliance know who you are?"

"Absolutely not." The councilors exchanged glances, and once again I saw that look of hungry cats looking at a delicious juicy piece of meat. Yes, yes, I absolutely don't mind you getting your hands on me! And yes, it is not necessary to give such a curious creature to the Alliance. I must have seen something like that flash across my face, as both advisers exchanged glances in unison, nodded to something, and I heard a sacramental:

"Dismissed, Irene SPECTR."