Critical Success failed?

[BannFamm]

Hi,

Im at the big deal spoiler electrochemistry check toward the end. Ive only got one level in electrochemisty and motorics is 2, but with clothes + alcohol I just scraped together an 8. (Then realised it doesnt matter because I need a critical success to succeed and they always succeed anyway. )

So I finally got the critical success. Its 6+6+8=20. Critical Success. Inevitably Failed.

Why did it fail? What's going on here? I dont have the mental cabinet thought thing that fails all red checks, I checked that. Lemme see if I can add a screenshot, and nope doesnt like that. You'll have to just believe me. I guess Ill save it for my next playthrough then but Im really disappointed and confused. are critical successes a lie, or just this one, for some reason?

Thanks!

[4Brute]

thats check is always fail if you dont have pheromones