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"Matriarch Benezia arrived on Noveria not so long ago. Lady Liara wishes to speak with her mother. Where can we find Lady Benezia?"
"A couple of days ago, Lady Benezia left for the Vershina 15 research complex. As far as I know, she's still there."
"How do we get there?" The question asked in a raspy voice sounded like an order.
"You need the Anoleis administrator's permission to leave the port."
"Where can I find him?"
"His office is on the main level. As you go up, turn left."
"Can we go now?" Nihlus asked sarcastically.
"Sure." The girl replied hurriedly.
And we left in silence, followed by hostile glances.
The elevator quickly took us to the administrative wing of the complex and dropped us off, not forgetting to remind us on the way that the security service is working to ensure the protection of customers. Nihlus went out into the hall, lazily surveyed the huge room and led us up a wide staircase, followed by the gazes of the ERKS fighters. I, on the other hand, placed my palm on my kindly elbow and scanned the people around me. Liara just followed where she was being led. Garrus and Rex walked behind on either side of the silent Tali. Our band is very entertaining, and we attracted a lot of attention.
The Hanshan Hall is a huge three-tiered room with a solid glazed facade. The durable transparent material provided a wonderful view of the blizzard raging outside the walls of the complex. The water gurgled softly between the stones under the stairs, falling in man-made waterfalls and small fountains, but this time there was a murmur of water... It's threatening. Hanshan was alarming.
At the bottom of the stairs, Nihlus turned left. The office of the port administrator was located in the left end wall of the lobby, sharing it with two rooms closed to public access. Two human soldiers in full medium armor, armed with assault rifles, stood guard in front of the airlock doors.
The doors automatically swung open as we approached them, letting us into an unreasonably huge and empty hall, with a secretary's desk at the far wall, and a couple of square tables with chairs and benches for those waiting for an appointment along the bare stone walls. The pretty Salarian secretary looked fearfully at the armed Turian, looked at me, at Liara, smiled politely and uttered the phrase on duty:
"How can I help you?"
Nihlus gave her a hard, skeptical look, which made the secretary turn pale.
"I want to talk to Anoleis." There was a rasp of steel in the icy voice.
"One moment, please." The girl touched a button on the console. "Mr. Anoleis?"
"Yes! What. What?" a high croaking intermittent voice responded almost instantly.
Spectr Nihlus Kraik and Lady Liara would like to meet with you.
"Yes. Yes, it's good! Let them pass!" The irritation in the Salarian's voice was palpable.
Nihlus nodded his thanks to the girl and went to the door of the office of the administrator of the port of Hanshan.
Anoleis met us standing, gushing with apprehension and discontent. Bowing his head in greeting, he said:
"What brings the Spectr of Nihlus Kraic and the daughter of Matriarch Benezia to me?"
Nihlus stopped in front of the nervous Salarian, looked at him lazily and said in an impassive voice, completely devoid of even a trace of emotion:
"I am accompanying Liara T"Sony. The lady wishes to meet her mother. As far as I know, Lady Benezia is on Noveria."
Apprehension deepened, discontent was replaced by mild confusion: the administrator was frankly nervous.
"Lady Benezia arrived a few days ago, accompanied by a personal escort with cargo. She is currently at the Top of 15." Popeye reported, rolling his eyes.
I shifted from one foot to the other, swayed closer to the Turian, attracting the attention of Anoleis with my movement. Our eyes met for just a moment, but it was enough for me to establish mental contact and slip into the nervous Salarian's mind. I listened to the rest of the conversation distantly, passing through the prism of the victim's perception.
The mind of Anoleis in terms of protection differed little from the mind of the same Nihlus or Ashley: shields are also in complete degradation on the verge of disintegration, personality protection is rather shaky, but it protects personal imperatives very strongly.
Nihlus arrival caused him serious misgivings. Why? The associative chain unfolded quite quickly: Spectr-investigation-apprehension-personal interest-fear of exposure-memories-thirst to protect oneself and one's own. The usual and fairly standard fear of a dishonest official. The game information that Anoleis is a bribe taker has been fully confirmed.
I didn't dig any deeper, just hooked the edge of the last victim, Lorik Ki"In. So he will help us, especially since I theoretically know how to get his location.
Hacking into consciousness took barely a second, and meanwhile the conversation went on as usual:
"A personal escort?" Nihlus asked lazily, ostentatiously stroking my hand.
Anoleis blinked. A memory flashed through his mind: ten Asari in full armor, well armed, standing in the garage by the shuttle.
"Bodyguards to ensure her personal safety. Mostly the Asari marines."
""Bad."" came a worried thought from Nihlus. ""The paratroopers are serious opponents.""
""Ten. At least he's seen so much."" I replied, throwing a mental weight on him.
""Are you reading it?""
""Yes. Ask this popeye around. Maybe he'll tell you something else or remember.""
"You said the Lady brought a load. Something specific?"
"Big, heavy, sealed." The Salarian spread his hands. "The weapon detectors did not react. Everything else does not concern us."
"Unsatisfied curiosity and caustic fear. Our precious administrator, Lady Benezia, is afraid. VERY afraid..."
"We would like to meet Lady Benezia." Nihlus murmured. "Immediately."
Fear concentrated, and the instinct of self-preservation kicked in.
"I'm afraid it's impossible!" Anoleis folded his paws on his chest. "Peak 15 is a private property in the Skadi Mountains. Besides, there's a snowstorm right now and the shuttles aren't flying."
It's clear. He won't move without an order. He's too scared.
"What business brought the mother to Noveria?" Liara spoke up.
"Even if I knew, Lady Liara, I wouldn't be able to tell. Your mother has arrived as Saren's agent's attorney."
Flashback: a Turian in white armor, terrifying Analeis beyond measure. Saren impressed the Salarian to the depths of his cowardly soul: tall, very strong, looking frankly creepy because of his prosthetic arm, disfigured face with undisguised implants and pins, icy light blue eyes looking with outright disgust and absolute ruthlessness...
Yes... Anoleis would NEVER go against Saren. He's too scared. To the point of trembling, animal, literally primal horror. He understands that the Spectr will strangle him as easily and indifferently as a worm on the road.
Arterius knows how to impress without really doing anything... It's simple, without hiding its essence...
"Do you do business with Saren?" Asari squeaked.
"With Spectr Saren?" the Salarian asked with a certain amount of patronage in his voice, even though he was literally petrified with fear. "He is a major investor in the Bayneri Helix Corporation, one of the leading organizations on Noveria."
"I believe Bayneri Helix is developing weapons for my mentor." Nihlus remarked lazily, slightly squeezing his thin blue fingers.
The panic that broke out at the word "mentor" hit my brain like a hammer. The image of Nihlus in Anoleis' mind was quickly being reinterpreted, being associated with the Turian who was so frightening to him. Associative chains appeared in the blink of an eye: Saren-teacher-mentor-Nihlus-student-danger-influence-Saren-dissatisfaction with rejection-personal intervention-horror... An amazing cocktail of emotions and imaginative chains. The Salarian turned out to have a very vivid imagination, and he could quite clearly imagine the results of the discontent of the only student of the frightening Spectrum.
"Considering his interests, it is quite possible." Anoleis responded a little more kindly. Distrust and caution. "Are you familiar with Spectr Saren?"
"Undoubtedly." Nihlus bared his teeth condescendingly, making the nervous Salarian flinch. "Saren Spectr is my teacher and mentor. Of course, I know him. Still, how can I meet Matriarch Benezia?"
Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at my partner's face full of love and understanding. Nihlus looked a lot like Saren in the Council Chamber at that moment. The same ruthless green eyes, the same snarl showing sharp wedge-shaped teeth, the same light plasticity of movements, the same arrogant contempt of a higher being evident in every gesture. And the same brutality. Anoleis saw exactly what Nihlus wanted him to see: a Turian standing in front of a terrified Salarian is a true disciple of his ruthless teacher. The associative circuits in the brains of the Hanshan administrator were completely closed and the image was comprehended and fixed in the subconscious.
Anoleis won't go up against Arterius' apprentice.
"You will have to wait for the storm to end. When it's over, I'll give you a pass to the garage. Yes. There are shuttles in the garage." Nihlus nodded contentedly, and Anoleis almost fell to the floor in a limp puddle of relief.
"Where we can... To rest?" Nihlus purred, brazenly stroking my forearm.
I blinked in embarrassment and snuggled up to the powerful Turian. For a moment, a strong arm wrapped around my shoulders. Anoleis half-blinked, and then gave out:
"Go to the hotel. Straight through the hall and to the right. I'll let you know. Yes." The relief increased. The old bastard interpreted Nihlus pleased face in her own way. That's wonderful. And here are the pictures generated by his vivid imagination... yeah.. The old lecher... I've even lost my fear, damn it. But he's got a lot of imagination, I won't say anything. If she could have been embarrassed, she would have been embarrassed and blushed. As it is, nothing... I'll keep it as a keepsake. I was even curious how the old toad knew the anatomy of our races so well...
"Thank you." Nihlus purred happily. "Have a nice day."
"Yes. Yes."Anoleis quickly rolled his eyes: Liara smiled charmingly at him, hugging Nihlus by the waist.
I broke off the mental contact, leaving the old bastard with a mental bookmark as a keepsake: at any contact with Saren, Benezia or their people, he will completely forget about Nihlus and our conversation. Short-term memory lapse... What a sad thing... Well, who doesn't?
And we slowly left the office, leaving the deeply shocked Salarian to move away from the attentions of the beautiful Asari and communication with the student of his personal nightmare named Saren Arterius. Well, as in the canon, visiting An Anoleis did not give quick results, although we did not receive a refusal. But go find out when this snowstorm will subside? In an hour, in a day, or in a week. And we need to get to the Top of 15 right now.
The secretary stared at us with completely round eyes, and didn't say a word about Lorik Ki"in. Well, we'll meet with him anyway. In the meantime... It's time to take a look at the local hotel and the accompanying bar. As far as I remember, you can meet a lot of extremely curious creatures there. And at the same time solve the problem with access to the hangar.
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