Rebirth The Mass Effect is old

"I am Lorik Ki'In. Glad to meet you, Spektr."

Nihlus blinked in surprise.

"Do you know me?"

"Everyone here knows you." Lorik's grin was veeery much like a snarl. "Immediately after your arrival, EVERYONE received your description and... a ban on communication."

"That's how." Nihlus frowned. "I see that you are not embarrassed by this ban."

"Ah" Lorik waved his hand listlessly, flushed with despondency. "Talking to you is unlikely to worsen my situation."

"Something happened?" Garrus asked, having sniffed out problems on our asses with an investigator's keen sense.

"I am the manager of the local Synthetic Insights office. For now..." The mandibles twitched in annoyance, and the Lorik drooped slightly. "Anoleis closed my office."

"We've heard a lot." Nihlus studied his kinsman with interest. "What is the essence of the conflict?"

"Allegedly — an accusation of corruption against me." The Turian grumbled.

Garrus's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"And what do you say?" The insinuating rumbling voice made the frustrated Turian look at the young kinsman with interest.

"The administrator is interesting and reasonable. He's gotten very rich since he took over the rent."

"What an interesting one... connection." Our sniper grinned.

"Exactly." Lorik bowed his head.

"What did you do to annoy Anoleis so much that he had to close your office?" I asked.

Lorik stared at me with such an expression in his dark gray eyes, as if he had just seen me. Or rather, unexpectedly discovering that a pretty doll, it turns out, also knows how to talk. A slight effort, and I slipped completely unnoticed into someone else's mind.

A brief analysis: the state of protection is much better than that of Nilus, the natural shield... ooo!! The shield is practically in good condition! Great, great. However, I'm not going to get into the personal core. I just need to peek and eavesdrop.

The reaction to our trio is quite expected: the Asari Maiden's guard, the Turian Spectr with... hmm... Why can't he figure out my status? My first impression of me is that I am either Nihlus lover, or the Asari who came with him, or both at once, which, as it turned out, is quite common in a multi-species Galaxy and no one is surprised. I wonder why that is? I hooked an associative chain and reached for my memories. OH, WOW! Yeah... Well, you're a good guy... removing my mental probe from the layer of memories that had been disturbed by my curiosity, I switched to my jumping image, which did not want to acquire integrity and completeness in any way. And what's stopping you from believing in your first impression?

The associative connection arose suddenly: a blurred visual image surfaced from long-term memory, awareness passed, caught on the imprint of strong surprise and memory, and ... and here it is: the news about the appointment of the first human spectrum, my physiognomy in an article on the extranet, read by the case about fifteen days ago.

Nihlus and Garrus watched their kinsman's face with sadistic interest, while Lorik stared intently at my face, and gradually a clear and uncluttered dumbfoundness appeared on his face, and recognition appeared in his eyes. The memory that surfaced passed awareness and got into the layer of short-term operational memory. Lorik Ki"in recognized me as a Spectr.

"I have collected materials about... not entirely legitimate activities of the administrator." Lorik finally said, waking up from his stupor. "To find them, Anoleis hired thugs and turned my office upside down."

"Am I right, he didn't find anything?" I chuckled, shaking my head slightly at the suspicious gleam in the Turian's eyes.

Lorik lifted his upper lip, grinning contentedly for a moment, nodded, confirming that he understood me. I like that ALL Turians have gone through army training and understand sign language with a bang.

"You got me right, lady." The Turian called me a rather curious Turian term, which my omny-tool translated as "lady," and my mind flashed with a complex chain of associations.

The drinks Nihlus ordered were brought to us. In front of Lorik's surprised eyes, Garrus peeled off the lid with his claw, turning the bottle into a glass, and silently handed it to me.

"Is the data still in the office?" I asked, calmly sipping a Turian drink under Ki'In's surprised gaze.

"Yes".

I removed the mental feelers from Lorik's mind. I've already found out what I need to know. He will help us voluntarily and will be glad to have a mutually beneficial deal. It won't deceive. That's enough for me, but I didn't really want to find out the secrets of this individual: the Turian's life was stormy, and in his youth he absolutely did not deny himself... an insatiable curiosity and a desire to try everything that his wild imagination and sick imagination pushed him to.

"Do you need them? — Nihlus looke the conversation.

"yea"

"We can get them." I said, swinging a narrow glass with a lilac drink. Lorik squinted, with some excitement and ... hope, looking from the imperturbable Nihlus to me and back again.

"Perhaps... I believe that the Spectrum will be able to get this data. Especially so much... famous." The dark gray eyes lingered on me for a moment and shifted to Nihlus.

"Do you have... an assumption about how we can satisfy our desire... get this information?"

"Undoubtedly, lady". that strange word again, flashed through my mind like a flash of images. "However, there is one... What does that sweet earthly expression sound like? "A fly in the ointment in a barrel of beer?""

"Honey." I corrected him gently. A fly in the ointment. "So what is this vile substance that threatens to spoil the sweetness of having such valuable information?"

Lorik was enjoying our conversation, savoring the phrases and the wordplay. I'm a fan of damn catchphrases, wordplay, and turns of speech.

"The administrator hired thugs from the Hanshan security service."

"He pays them from under the floor. Miss Matsuo doesn't know about their work on the side. There is a high probability that force will have to be used against them."

Garrus flashed with contempt and disgust, on which a wave of rage slowly rose.

"Are the ERKS fighters working as a banal racket?"

"Some." I think we'll solve this problem somehow.

Lorik met Garrus' gaze full of kindness and understanding, shuddered, turned his gaze to Nihlus' face, equally full of love for his neighbors, positively radiant with forgiveness, and shook his head.

I suspect that you didn't come here just to admire the administration building?

Nihlus nodded.

"So your target is outside the port." Ki'in twitched his mandibles in silent annoyance. "Analeis will not allow you to travel freely around the planet. If you can get me the data, I'll give you my pass."

"Why didn't Anoleis cancel your pass?" Garrus asked.

"And why would he do that?" Lorik was genuinely surprised. "There is nothing outside but snow and hungry nathaks."

"I've always dreamed of looking at hungry Nathaks." I purred. A omny-tool unfolded above the hand. "Liara, my sweet, stop chatting with your clanmate." A soft, melodious chuckle sounded in the headphones. Rex, baby, did you fall asleep out of longing? The Krogan's angry growl was like balm on my nerves, Nihlus gurgled with laughter, and Garrus openly laughed. "Don't forget to bring my favorite dress." Tali, don't leave our baby unattended. He's so... mmm... nervous...

I cut the connection. Nihlus covered his face with his palm and silently trembled in a fit of hysterical laughter. Garrus, on the other hand, was just laughing out loud under Lorik's uncomprehending gaze. Literally a minute later, elegant blue hands were placed on my shoulders.

"I see you haven't missed me." Liara purred, glancing suspiciously at Lorik.

"I always miss you, sweetheart." I smiled, remembering the "exploits" of Azari, who had drunk light alcohol.

Liara immediately took the hint and blushed.

A gun case thudded onto the table, and the Krogan's voice, growling with anger, muttered:

"Your "dress"..." The expression on Lorik's face will long and joyfully warm my heart throughout many rebirths!

"Thanks, Rex."

The Krogan looked at my pleased face, appreciated the fucked-up face of an unknown Turian, chuckled, the lingering anger faded.

"We have to leave you. But you will wait for us, won't you? We'll just be a few minutes... I will try on a dress, we will please your "guests" with our personalities... And we'll be right back!"

A card was placed on the table.

"This is a pass to my office. It will allow you to activate the elevator. As soon as you leave the bar, turn right. The elevator is not far from the entrance to the garage. The materials are on my computer in my office. The encryption key is on this one." A small device landed on the table next to the card. "Insert it into the socket, and everything will start by itself. Lorik grinned and added: "And try not to get blood on the carpets."

"We will be very careful."

With a soft, relieved laugh, we left the company of this representative of the militant people and went to look for an office. Lorik had described exactly where the elevator he was looking for was located: a flashing red panel glowed in the gloom just before the turnoff to the garage. One touch of the card to the touchpad, the soft rustle of the doors opening, and the elevator carried us down.

Lorik's office is almost an exact replica of the bar's premises. The same anteroom with the reception desk, now empty, two doors leading to the office and office premises, the same murmur of water flowing over decorative plates. Everything is exactly the same. There was no one on the left. There are five on the right.

"The five sentients are behind the left door." I put the box on the counter and opened it. One Turian. The rest are people. With what pleasure I pulled off the golden-green obscenity — words cannot convey! Bron'ka... My beloved Bronka, how I've missed you! Humming a tune that came to mind, I quickly donned my armor, connected the internal equipment, and put on my visor. The weapons slid easily into place: the familiar Harpoon, the Predator large-caliber pistol, and the assault rifle of the same name. She jumped up. Everything is in place, the armor fits like a native one. I tossed my dress and shoes into the trunk and laid out my assault rifle.

"Ready."

Garrus jerked his head toward the door.

"Dare to attack?"

"You know how power corrupts."

Garrus grimaced. I must have remembered one of my colleagues.

"Liara, try to keep your head down and put up your shields. If it comes to a shootout."

The Asari nodded. Nihlus touched the sensor and the doors began to move, allowing us to enter a spacious hall with a massive square column in the middle. On the left is a wide staircase leading to the second floor, where Lorik's office should be located. Two ERKS fighters stood in front of the column: a Turian and a human male, and they were frankly bored. The Turian reacted first: raising his rifle, he asked dryly:

"Stop! Hanshan Security Service. This office is closed! Who are you?"

"Spectr of Nihlus Krayk." Nihlus replied calmly. "I am in this office with the permission of its owner."

"Ki'Ina?" The man raised his rifle. "Do you work for him? He's under investigation!"

Nihlus choked on this suggestion. The Turian from ERKS looked at his colleague as if he were an idiot and wisely retreated.

"I am the Spectr of the Council! And I ONLY work for the Citadel Council." Nihlus' icy rasping voice carried far into the silence of the office. You are so much... Are you incompetent for not knowing widely known facts, or do you want to insult me?"

"Noveria does not enter the Citadel Space! Your credentials here are invalid!"

In response, a hard look from a Turian fighter.

"Valid! The Spectr of the Citadel Council has full rights and privileges in the territory of Noveria in accordance with the agreement concluded by the Board of Directors and the Citadel Council! I'm sorry, Spectr."

"Nihlus nodded benevolently."

"However, your companions are breaking the law. You have the right to carry weapons, as do your TWO escorts."

I silently took out my ID card and handed it to the fighter. The Turian glanced at my status, blinked in surprise, and lowered his weapon.

"I'm sorry, Spectr."

Yeah... The hierarchy trains its population with a bang. The man choked on air.

"The spectrum? Is she? Dalisar, you gullible idiot! You..." Then his eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed to the floor.

"I'm tired of it," I said calmly.

Dalisar looked at his uncooperative colleague and casually asked:

"Is he dead?"

"In a swoon." I replied. "I prefer not to kill unnecessarily, and he definitely led to conflict."

The Turian nodded cautiously. I smiled wryly and said softly:

"You do understand that we will enter this office anyway, take what we need and leave? Dalisard nodded slowly. There are four of you. You, the sniper on the stairs with the Punisher, who won't even have time to blow through our shields in the time it takes for OUR sniper to remove it, and two more behind the column. One with a Lancer, the other with a Banshee. We can kill you all here and we won't get anything for it. Unless we quarrel with the sergeant and kill her if she decides to avenge you. And she's a hot-headed and impulsive girl who doesn't listen to reason.

The Turian nodded dumbly.

"Even if one of you miraculously survives, I don't think Matriarch Benezia will forgive the death of her daughter, Liara, and Saren Arterius", Dalisar flinched at the sound of the rebel Spectre's name "he will ignore the death of his only student. Do I need to explain how long and happy your life will be with SUCH attention?"

Dalisard threw up his hands.

"I get you, Spectr! Come on in. I hope there won't be any unnecessary conflicts between us."

"I really hope so."

We moved on. The evil Rex, passing by, pushed Dalisar with his shoulder so that he could barely stand on his feet, and growled:

"Get" out of the way!"

I turned around and met the angry gaze of a disappointed Krogan.

"Rex, this is petty!"

"He talks too much!"

"He saved the lives of his colleagues, no matter how stupid they were, and this is a worthy act."

Rex waved him off, but at least he stopped being angry. At least the krogan cooled down as quickly as it boiled and didn't take any bullshit to heart.

We got the data without any problems at all. Dalisar followed us, but he didn't bother us. Already on the way out of the office, a full of rage flew at our backs:

"You shouldn't be here."