"The spectr of Nihlus Krayk. Garrus Vakarian. The spectr of Irene Shepard is mine..." then there was an interesting word that has no analogues in my native language and responded with a curious associative chain: ward-student-patronage-sympathy-potential-colleague.

Volus clicked the filter.

"What can you tell us about Rahni?" Nihlus asked kindly. "Where did they come from?"

"They found it on an abandoned ship. The queen's egg. It's left over from the last war. They brought me here." the click of the air filter.

"Have you revived them?" I asked.

"Yes," Olar clicked the filter. "Now I understand that it was a bad idea."

We didn't ask stupid questions about how this cute bun got out of the risk laboratory that had become a death trap. Garrus is too tactful for such a question, Nihlus just didn't want to bring up difficult memories, and I didn't really care. He survived and survived. Volus is no fool: relief and a kind of gratitude flooded his mental, displacing the severity of pain, remorse and acute guilt. Apparently, he really closed the door in front of his colleague and saw how she was torn to pieces. Guilt will be his punishment, as will a good memory. Olar won't forget very soon... if he can ever forget his own actions and someone else's death. Nevertheless, Turians take care of these funny creatures and do not allow them to participate in battles and conflicts. The bloody death of a colleague cut deeply into the psyche of the potbellied man and will remain with him forever.

"Olar, do you know where Matriarch Benezia might be?" I asked softly, squatting down so that my eyes were level with his eyepieces.

"She's there." Olar pointed with a three-toed paw at a turn in the corridor. "In the laboratory located behind the maintenance area."

"How do I get there?" Nihlus asked.

"You need a pass." Volus clicked the filter, looking from me to the two Turians with interest. "To the maintenance area. From there, you can get to the risk lab. If you can pick the locks on the doors."

"Thank you." I stood up.

"Queen Rachni can influence the mind." volus suddenly added. "Be careful."

We thanked Volus and left. I wonder if Ashley has already found adventures on our heads or not yet?

As practice has shown, she found it. The doctors. The one who gave the game a quest for a cure for the toxin and then a pass to the desired risk laboratory. In reality, everything turned out to be much more banal and unsightly. The toxin tested turned out to be a combat variant of the virus, which was developed for a specific race. Which one-the doctor never confessed, although I could see which one in his mind. For everything. It was supposed to be developed for everything in the future, but now a strain for humans and Asari was ready. Interestingly, it was the people who developed this miracle of virology who became infected with it, in the best traditions of cinema, by smashing a flask with a sample during a rachni attack. The virus was HIGHLY contagious, transmitted by airborne droplets, but it died almost instantly, before causing a mutation in the victim's internal organs, which caused her to die painfully from intoxication for a long time. The three moaning victims on the beds in the infirmary were a vivid example of this miracle. I admired the sad face of the doctor, who is not a doctor, at the three future corpses, promised to think about it and left the infirmary.

The Turians only had to look at my spiritual face to understand: we will not go for any medicine! Interestingly, there was no rejection or dissatisfaction with this decision: Turians did not like biological weapons, still considering the use of the genophage as a stain of shame on their race. Ashley walked gloomily, sincerely sympathizing with the three bending microblogs.

We walked back in silence. Tali was still tormenting Elkor, having an emotional conversation with the phlegmatic creature under Rex's lazy supervision. Kayden was dozing at the table, resting his head on his crossed arms. Liara was snoring softly next to us, leaning against our biotic. We decided not to wake these two up: let them play while they have a couple of extra minutes.

Garrus landed on a chair next to her, putting a Harpoon ditched with a toxin on the table. I silently pulled the weapon towards me and quickly disassembled it. The guy turned out to be right: the rifle was completely destroyed, and its combat value was reduced to the value of a metal baton. Nihlus pulled out a chair and sat down in front of me. Ashley settled down next to Alenko. Rex loomed over my soul. Nihlus silently took the half-disassembled Harpoon, examined it, and shook his head.

"Ruined?"

"Unfortunately... yes." I pushed the weapon to the edge of the table. "Garrus, don't look at him like that."

"We don't have another one." he answered reasonably.

"We'll buy it somewhere." I waved it off. "Maybe something better will come across. * A harpoon* is not a weapon worth worrying about. Although it's true, it's a pity for the rifle."

Garrus twitched his mandibles and nodded in agreement.

"What are our next steps?" Nihlus asked calmly.

"For the matriarch."

"Are we going to get the medicine?" Ashley asked.

"No"

Ashley opened her mouth to protest, but she caught my eye and... didn't say anything. Only the mental was stirred up by not too good emotions.

"I can't risk our mission to save three scientists. I do not know how contagious this stuff is, but I don't really want to take the doctor's word for it. Such... things should be buried with those who design them." my cold voice struck the woman unpleasantly. "Biological and chemical weapons are prohibited for a reason, Ashley. The galaxy remembers a recent example, the genophage."

Rex flinched behind me, and so did Nihlus and Garrus.

"Hierarchy... He is not proud of such a victory." Nihlus said dully, "This is a shameful victory. A stain on the honor of our people."

"The genophage is relative... Merciful. Don't get mad, Rex. I know what I'm talking about. At least you have live children. Normal, not disfigured by gene mutations. Nevertheless, the genophage is a biological weapon. The virus that these darlings were developing... reasonable... It could be something more terrifying. Therefore, they will die."

"But the doctor survived!" Ashley exclaimed.

"He survived." I replied peaceably, meeting the sharp gaze of Nihlus' green eyes.

* For how long? * — a clear, calm thought.

*He will die of a brain hemorrhage while trying to continue working on the project or transfer information about it.*

*Bookmark?*

* yes. The mentalist has them too... opportunities.* the green eyes softened somewhat. * And you voluntarily let me into your brain.*

* I trust you.* and the subtle mental equivalent of a chuckle.

He will be trusted... happy that he just doesn't know what any intelligent mentalist can do with the mind of his victim!

A Krogan grunted behind him. Rex got me right, too, and interestingly, he approved of the not-so-kind decision. Ashley was shocked and unpleasantly surprised.

"When will you please the doctor?" Garrus asked.

"Never. We're going to go talk to Captain Ventralis now. Rex! Don't get hung up on my soul. It irritates my instincts."

The Krogan snorted, but did what was required, settling down next to Nihlus. Don't I understand? When did they manage to come to an agreement? The Rex's face was impudent and eerily pleased. Making a note to myself to deal with this entertaining man, I said, gazing intently at Ashley's face:

"We have only two goals on this planet: Matriarch Benezia and Queen Rachni. Everything else is not essential. Do you know what is at stake, and what consequences can unnecessary mercy and a desire to do good to everyone lead to?"

Ashley nodded dejectedly. The Turians didn't give a damn about the locals, even to the somewhat idealistic Garrus. Rex doesn't give a shit. I have a good team! Liara was sleepily blinking her eyes, awakened by our conversations.

"Since you understand this perfectly well, in that case, I hope I won't hear any more stupid ideas about saving all the suffering. If there is an opportunity to help, we will help. No... Well, no, not really. After all, I'm a Spectr, not a rescue service."

Nihlus chuckled.

"That's why they don't like us."

"And I'm not eager to please everyone." I smiled at the Turian's knowing grin. "Rex, go get Tali and hurry up our young technical genius."

The Krogan grunted, but went to the Quarian woman, who was frantically haggling with a burly Elkor. Without this little girl, I'm afraid we wouldn't have gotten far. Still, there must be a genius technician and a hacker in the team anyway. Just like a professional thief. But we will solve the problem of the absence of a thief later.

"Nihlus, let's go brainwash the captain. We don't have time to wait for them to swing there. Garrus, look after our dormice."

Garrus grinned, spreading his mandibles a little, and nodded in agreement. Nihlus stood up smoothly, easily intercepting my gaze. We need to teach him to set up a mental channel without direct visual contact.

* Are you going to push?*

* If necessary.*

The channel is anchored, overgrown with anchors. We left the dining room and walked briskly to the entrance to the complex, where the sought-after reasonable was standing at the barricades.

* What will you do with the matriarch?*

* To begin with, I'll put you to sleep, cutting you off from the channel of mental submission, if there is one. If not, just go to sleep, pick up the carcass and go to the ship. I'll deal with her mind in a safe place.*

* And the queen?*

* This will solve the conversation. Let's see how reasonable she is.*

* And yet. What are your ideas?* a mental analogue of a smile and a light cloud of irony. * Don't tell me you don't have plans for her.*

* Also, how I have! The Rachni are powerful allies in the war against the Reapers. But again, it all comes down to protecting the mind. However, only the queen needs to be protected.*

*Do you want to suggest that the Council take them under protection?* Nihlus immediately got into my idea.

* And why not?*

* And it's true.* Nihlus shook his head slightly. * The hierarchy will not give up on such a vassal.*

Of course they would refuse! That's what, that's what, but you can't deny the practicality of the Turians! These are not Azari, who, due to their longevity and slowness, can smear snot for years. Look, the Voluses were instantly warmed up, as soon as the puffins expressed a desire to get under the protection of their belligerent neighbors.

Captain Ventralis was still standing at the barricades, his tired eyes glancing at the twisted grilles of the technical manholes. Somewhere on the verge of hearing, the claws of the rakhni were clacking, which did not add optimism and calmness to the exhausted fighters.

The captain shifted his gaze to Nihlus.

"Captain." the colleague politely inclined his head in a nod.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" There was a distinct note in the captain's voice: * What else do you want from me?*

"You can." The Turian grinned. "I need access to the maintenance area."

I didn't even need to enter the captain's mind directly. Fatigue, the recent storm of emotions, the remnants of adrenaline running through the blood, all this undermined the already not very strong defenses on the mind. All it took was a slight shift in priorities, and the captain, ignoring our safety and his duties, took out a card and handed it to the Turian.

"Do you understand that I am not responsible for your safety?" The man asked dryly, looking from Nihlus to me and back again.

"This is not required." The captain nodded curtly and lost interest in us. Out of curiosity, I looked into his mind: he had already mentally given up on us and buried us in absentia. That's great, they'll be less interested in what we're doing there and who we're dragging with us.

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