Rebirth: The Mass Effect. Book 1 old V2. chapter 2

 "That's the answer."

 "He's still alive!"

 "Kayden! Turn on your brain and open your eyes! Where did you see a man there?!" I couldn't resist cursing. "Look at what they look like! SHOOT!"

 The short-lived battle with the Huskies has put the last points in the situation on Eden Prime. Now even the stubborn Alenko did not ask stupid questions, looking at the bodies hanging on pins. His attempt to shoot them was stopped by a short phrase:

 "They're already dead, Kayden. It's useless to shoot until the transformation is over."

 The man lowered his head, nodded briefly, putting the heaped-up pistol into its fastenings. Ashley wasted no time searching the remaining houses.

 "Commander! The security system is enabled here!"

 The fighter waved her hand, pointing to one of the surviving modular buildings.

 "Pick the lock."

 The woman nodded, bent over the lock plate, and I noticed the golden sheen of the instrument. The lock gave up quickly, with a slightly muffled squeak. The doors opened.

 "Commander Shepard, there are survivors!"

 "What?" I blinked in surprise. I'd happily forgotten about that.

 Oh, yes, I was rushing through this place like crazy to the spaceport.

 Judging by the uniforms of the scientists, two men and a woman huddled fearfully in a dark room. People sincerely thanked us, glancing fearfully at the street, which was slowly being flooded by the coming darkness. It will be dark soon. And in the dark, huskies will become even more dangerous, it's good that they don't know how to open locked doors.

 "I know you! You're Dr. Warren!" Ashley roused herself. "You led the research!"

 The woman nodded. Tall, thin, with short dark red hair, she was perfectly in control of herself, unlike the hysterically terrified man huddled against the wall.

 "What happened to the lighthouse?" I asked.

 "He was transferred to the spaceport yesterday. We stayed behind to help break up the camp."

 The woman sobbed, but quickly pulled herself together.

 "Excuse me."

 "What can you tell us?"

 The scientists could tell us a little. A strange ship in the sky, an unexpected attack, the death of the soldiers protecting them, huskies. A small End of the World in a separate world.

 Dr. Manuel was whimpering softly, huddled against the wall, staring at me with a half-crazed look. The poor guy's world cracked and couldn't come together. Although, I looked closely at a couple of injections with antipsychotics on the table. Rin and they were stabbed while she was recovering from the death of her landing group on Torfan, in hospitals. She was almost written off altogether. Ashley looked at the man sympathetically, Alenko — disgustedly. But in vain. Yeah, the guy's crazy, so what? It all depends on when he had his last attack and whether he managed to recover or not.

 "Tell me, have you seen a Turian here?" I asked cautiously.

 "I saw him!" The man suddenly said with fanaticism in his voice. "He's a Prophet! Leading our enemies into battle! He was here before they attacked!"

 Kayden and I exchanged glances. Either I don't understand something, or this psycho saw Saren. How interesting!

 "It's impossible! Nihlus was with us aboard the Normandy!" Kayden was quite reasonably indignant. "He couldn't have attacked!"

 Dr. Warren looked confused.

 "Oh, I'm sorry! Manuel is a little bit... I'm not myself. He had another attack because of these creatures." The woman said guiltily. "We haven't seen the Turian."

 "Perhaps YOU haven't seen it." I caught Manuel's eye. "Doctor, tell me, did you really see a Turian?"

 I wonder if he really saw Saren, or if he was already imagining things.

 "Yes! A prophet in white armor! I saw him! Before the Geth attack, he was walking around the camp."

 "But..." Kayden blinked in surprise. "Nihlus has black armor."

 "Apparently, he's not the only Turian on this planet." I said grimly, turning on the comm. "Nihlus?"

 "Shepard?" the answer came immediately.

 "We found the survivors in the research camp. Dr. Manuel says he saw a Turian in white armor. BEFORE the Geth attack."

 The short pause dragged on. I didn't say anything. Nihlus is a smart guy. He'll understand.

 "I understood."

 The connection is gone.

 "Doctor, you'd better stay here. The area is cleared and practically safe. Close it again just in case."

 The Doctor nodded.

 "Ashley, take us to the spaceport."

 After saying goodbye to the scientists, we left the cabin. The lock turned purple, switching back to the "locked" position.

 "Shepard, do you really believe this madman?" Kayden asked quietly.

 I slowed down a bit.

 "I believe that Manuel really saw the Turian, it was before his attack. Ashley, where should I go?"

 "Here. It's very close here!"

 We passed only a couple of Geth and Hask along the way, and through the trees we saw the buildings of a small spaceport and the huge Reaper looming over a tiny shuttle. Alenko swore under his breath, staring at the huge ship. It was bigger than the dreadnought of the Alliance.

 "What the hell is this?"

 "The ship, vestimo." I said ironically, looking at the Reaper wrapped in scarlet lightning.

 An assault rifle burst rumbled in the distance. Did Naylus expose himself after all? Damn it! The launching Overlord hummed and howled, blotting out the sky with its massive bulk.

 "Faster!"

 The lord folded his paws and disappeared into the bloody sky, and we ran down to the spaceport.

 "Kayden, look around the houses. Ashley, cover him."

 "Commander!"

 "NOW!"

 "Yes, ma'am."

 Throwing a grenade at the rising husk, I shot the geth who emerged from behind the box, flying out onto the spaceport platform. Quick inspection. The pistol in his hands fired a short burst, cutting off two synthetics. A grenade exploded somewhere to the side. I turned around the massive container and gasped for air.

 On the light gray slab of the runway, Naylus lay in a pool of blue blood.