Rebirth The Mass Effect is old. part 23

"You're not sleeping." — a quiet vibrating voice with a barely noticeable reproach.

A simple statement of fact.

"I can't." I replied softly, turning my head.

The Turian came over and squatted by the bed.

"You can." You're a mentalist, and you can do anything with your mind. I told you so myself.

"She did." I obediently agreed, shivering slightly from the cold. "But you shouldn't force yourself to sleep."

The green eyes narrowed. Who would have doubted that he would notice... A hot palm touched my forehead, physically radiating the energy I needed so much.

"Are you cold?"

A well-posed question.

"yes."

A short pause and another correct question:

Is it cold?

"no."

It didn't take him long to put one and one together.

"The reasons?"

I sighed.

"Everything requires energy. And mentalism, too. It's not critical. The body will recover in a day or two."

"And you're going to be cold all the time?" "What is it?" he asked skeptically.

"I will."

Nihlus fell silent, staring intently at my face. I could literally physically feel his presence: in this state, my body acquired all the features of an energy vampire, absorbing unattended energy from others, and now the only living being in the cabin was a Turian.

Any healthy organism always radiates vital energy into the surrounding space if it cannot direct it to its own needs or if it produces more than it needs to. Gradually, these surpluses form a peculiar aura. That's the feeling of a "lived-in" place. It doesn't matter if it's a house or a ship. That is why it is so unpleasant for any living person to be in burial sites, in abandoned houses or cities, on dead planets and ships. They completely lack this aura, and sometimes ancient buildings acquire the properties of a vampire. Burial grounds and necropolises are especially guilty of this.

The Normandy is a relatively new ship, it has not yet been properly inhabited, the feeling of home has not yet grown to it, and the vital aura has just begun to take shape. A year will pass, and it will acquire all the properties of a residential building. With an active life aura, wounds heal faster, the body rests and nourishes better, the psyche is more stable, and the intelligent are less susceptible to stress. Right now, Jeff is feeding the aura the most, having already managed to sincerely love this ship. But the harder it will be for him to part with it The Normandy is a relatively new ship, it has not yet been properly inhabited, the feeling of home has not yet grown to it, and the vital aura has just begun to take shape. A year will pass, and it will acquire all the properties of a residential building. With an active life aura, wounds heal faster, the body rests and nourishes better, the psyche is more stable, and the intelligent are less susceptible to stress. Right now, Jeff is feeding the aura the most, having already managed to sincerely love this ship. But the harder it will be for him to part with it. I perfectly understand why the Joker was so stubborn in the canon, couldn't bring himself to leave Normandy, and tried to save her until the very end. This is normal. He is her Core. He is the center of the formation of the vital aura, he is attached to the ship as a living being. Moreover, a sincerely adored being. It's a pity that this "Normandy" will die without becoming a full-fledged home for us.

Nihlus took his hand away, and I shuddered involunta

"Can I help you?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

"You can."

Nihlus chuckled.

"Which question is the answer?" There was a hint of sad irony in his voice. "Rin, you know perfectly well what can help you now. I don't think this is your first time experiencing energy exhaustion. Am I right?"

I grimaced and nodded. Of course I do! Not that it's not the first time, but I'm in it with depressing regularity as soon as the problems start! And my life and my problems are synonymous.

"I'm listening to you carefully."

A veiled, but nevertheless tough order. Right now, he won't accept a rejection or a streamlined response. The question was asked with a clear and sincere desire to help. Nihlus is REALLY ready to do everything in his power. And he knows perfectly well that I feel it. He knows and uses it. Trust breeds trust... A mental mirror in all its dubious glory.

Yes, I can block the sensitivity and do it... some kind of decent stupidity, in a mild way, to send the Turian away... but why ? Why should I offend one of the few reasonable people who truly treat me with all their hearts? He genuinely cares about me. Without any subtext or ulterior motives. If I send him away with this concern now, it's like spitting in the soul. Such... He doesn't say goodbye. Never. At the level of instincts and subconsciousness. I know better...

"Mentalism, especially since it is so deep, consumes a lot of vital energy. I finally decided to answer." Any living being produces more of it than is required to meet the needs of its own body. This is a defense mechanism that allows you to compensate for unexpected expenses. The excess is poured into the surrounding space and forms a comfortable aura for life. The Norma has not yet managed to form its life aura completely: the core and main contours have just been born, because the ship is not yet perceived as a home. With a critical drop in vital energy, my body begins to pull it from the external environment, just like any other. Except that it's much more active. But there's nothing to delay here yet. So I'm freezing until my body covers the shortage on its own.

Nihlus silently rubbed his palm, looking questioningly into my eyes.

"Yes, with direct physical contact, you can delay much more and faster. Such a kind of energetic vampirism. It stops when the level necessary for normal functioning is restored, and then the shortage is covered by natural production."

"What is the barrier?"

"Some types of metals, inorganic compounds, or thick obstacles larger than sixteen centimeters. All animal or vegetable components such as wood, leather or natural fabrics are not a screen due to their origin."

"How much exhaustion do you have?"

"Not critical."

"Rin!"

I sighed.

"Half as much as is necessary for normal functioning. That's why it looks like this."

"How fast does your body absorb energy?"

"Depends on the source. Slightly more than the natural release of excess, but no more than one and a half values."

Apparently, Nihlus found out what he wanted. He got up, easily picked me up in his arms, wrapped me in a blanket, sat on the bed with his back against the wall, and sat me on his knees, hugging me tightly to his chest. And almost instantly I felt the deathly permafrost pass, my body was filled with warmth, and the reserve was rapidly replenished.

"Sleep." a calm, vibrant voice sounded above his head.

"Will you keep it that way?"

A quiet chuckle and an ironic question:

"Do you mind?"

"No. Just keep in mind... I can feel you."

"I'll get over it. Go to sleep."

I warmed up and quickly fell asleep. And for the first time since Eden Prime, I didn't have the bloody nightmares of a dying civilization...