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"I'm glad to hear that. Shepherd, I need to talk to you in private."
The doctor smiled understandingly and left the infirmary, leaving me alone with my superiors. She controlled Nihlus condition with a small datapad in her hands. Anderson, hands clasped behind his back, nervously paced back and forth, occasionally squinting at the barely alive Turian.
"Commander, I hope you're feeling well?"
"Yeah... The incident threw the man off balance a lot, since he decided to approach the conversation in this way. How to say it. Physically, it's great. My head is a mess of bloody nightmares, Armageddon, and incomprehensible blueprints."
"Blueprints?" Anderson froze.
"Yes. But I can't say what it is. It will take time for the information to be fixed in memory."
"I hope you won't forget her."
"I have an excellent memory, Captain." I was genuinely indignant. "I don't forget anything. No matter how much you sometimes want to. It's just that something fades in memory, but something remains the same as it was yesterday."
The man sighed.
"I won't lie to you. The situation is not the best. Naylus is in critical condition, the Lighthouse has been destroyed, and the Geth have begun an invasion. The Council wants to hear the answers."
"I'm not going to let the Council pin the destruction of the lighthouse on me!" I said calmly, understanding the background perfectly.
"I'm not accusing you, Commander!" Anderson shook his head. "It's about Saren. The second Turian."
"I know. The legendary SPECTR." I chuckled. "Naylus warned me. He was choking on blood, but he was trying to speak. Don't explain the obvious to me. I know what Saren is."
"I'm glad to hear that."
We were silent for a while, looking at the Turian lying in a cocoon of medical equipment. The captain's gaze is gloomy. He was well aware of the problems we would have if Nilus didn't survive.
"Captain."
Anderson looked up from the ugly wound.
"Tell me, have you already sent a report to the Citadel?"
"No." the steely eyes looked hard.
"Do not inform us that the SPECTR is in our infirmary and is undergoing treatment. Just write that he got a fatal shot. Not a lie."
Surprise stabbed at his nerves.
"What's the point?"
I grunted, got up, and walked over to the motionless body, gazing intently at the relaxed face.
"Do you believe in intuition, Captain?" Anderson's gaze was physically boring into my back. "Saren must not find out that his former student managed to survive this shot. If Nihlus is taken to the Citadel Hospital, I won't give a dead battery for his life. Let him stay with us."
The captain was silent, considering my words. Roughly speaking, I suggested that he conceal the information. Important information.
"There's some truth in what you're saying, Shepard. But do you understand what will happen if he dies?"
"Nothing will happen." I turned, meeting a hard stare. "A day earlier, a day later..."
"I get you, Shepard." Anderson turned around and walked towards the exit.
Already at the door, the captain turned and said:
"I'll do as you suggested."
I nodded gratefully.
"When you are ready, go up to the bridge and order the pilot to dock with the Citadel."
"Thank you."
"Don't take too long, Shepard."
I nodded gratefully. For a moment, the shadow of a smile flashed across Anderson's stern face: the corners of his narrow lips lifted slightly. There was a soft hiss, and the door closed behind the captain.
I have a couple of minutes until Dr. Chakwas gets back.
My aura hasn't completed its unfolding yet: it's still a decade away, at least. But there is something that I can do in almost any state and in any world. Or outside of it. It doesn't require any special abilities or rituals, my desire is enough. Basic energy recharge. Of course, now is not the best time, and my condition is far from ideal, but... Shaking my head, I dismissed my doubts. With a wound like that, Naylus is unlikely to survive... then it will be restored... long. If it succeeds at all.
My finger carefully slipped past the tubes and touched the bloodstain. Blood is the moisture of life. The quintessence of it. Blood carries the life force and energy of an intelligent being. It doesn't matter what its composition is, what its biochemistry is. It will work anyway.
A heavy drop formed on the tip of my finger. I touched my skin, drawing a simple sign. My desire is clearly formed, and the blue blood is instantly absorbed into the skin, leaving behind a barely noticeable blue trail. And one last thing. I know it's going to make me sick until my body adjusts... I know that our biochemistry is incompatible, but... IT'S NECESSARY. A sticky blue drop falls on the tongue. The mark on my hand turns purple, and I stagger from the sudden outflow of energy, barely keeping my balance.
The door hissed open, admitting Karin to the infirmary. I straightened up and smiled guiltily, watching out of the corner of my eye as the Turian's heartbeat steadied on the screen. That's wonderful.
Vital energy is almost universal. No wonder it is so appreciated by those who know what it is. It doesn't matter who is the donor and who is the recipient. It doesn't matter what race, gender, or age. With such a recharge, any energy produced by a living organism is suitable. My body is plastic and adapts quickly. The inner layers of the aura have already unfolded, the middle ones partially too. I can already use some of the tricks I learned during my travels. And energy recharge is one of them.
And I'll gradually adapt to other biochemistry. It's not for nothing that true metamorphs are so... Be tough.
After taking one last look at my debtor, I turned around and left the infirmary. I have about five hours until I'm exhausted and have a terrible allergy.
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