As soon as Alex, Tali, Wrex, and Ashley make their way through the security check—its sensors briefly flashing up again—the security staff, visibly annoyed, let them pass without any ruckus or questioning.
Just outside, they spot an oddly suspicious box. Alex also notices a few humans still loitering in the distance, clearly up to no good.
Is this a joke? Hanar aren't just stupid—they're probably the most incompetent smugglers I've ever seen. Well fuck it.
Alex opens the box and finds a mod: [Polonium Rounds], Deep Green Quality. It adds Toxic damage to each shot and halts enemy regeneration.
You received Polonium Rounds (Mod)
I better call Liara.
"Liara? This is Alex. Are you still speaking with the boss, Anosomething?"
"Yes, we're still speaking with Administrator Anoleis. It's going nowhere," she replies.
"Tell Shepard I uncovered a smuggling operation. Might help you in the negotiations," Alex informs her.
"Shepard says to head straight to the Administrator's office," Liara answers immediately.
"Let's go!" Alex says. The group quickly passes through the security checkpoint again, Alex flashing a smug grin at the guards—knowing full well they can't do a damn thing.
Followed by the others, Alex makes his way back to the main level, striding confidently toward Administrator Anoleis's office.
"You are… quite good at finding your way, Alex. Everything inside this cold, empty station looks the same to me," Tali comments.
"I told you. I love places like this," Alex replies.
As they reach the office, Alex tells the others to wait outside. He steps inside and sees Anoleis still arguing with Shepard. Garrus, Liara, and Kaidan stand awkwardly at the entrance, unsure what to do.
Alex confidently steps up beside Shepard, eying Anolei, a rather arrogant-looking Salarian dressed in a fancy suit.
"There you are. Look, Administrator—you're starting to get on my nerves. I'm giving you one last chance to hand over that license for the garage, passage to Peak 15, and in return, I do you a favor," Shepard says, nodding at Alex, clearly referring to his recent discovery.
Alex activates his omni-tool, playing the smuggling request from Opold, then displays the Mod he recovered, along with a short video showing the suspicious crate.
"Pretty conclusive, huh?" Alex asks.
"That will suffice as much as evidence is concerned, you know what, Shepard? I am tired of you, so just to get rid of you, I'll help you out!" Anoleis mutters. "Shepard, I'm authorizing the Normandy to deploy the Mako into the garage. My people will contact your pilot immediately to get it through all our checks. However—forget taking more than one comrade with you. I want no violence up there, and I don't trust you; you look like a violent and impulsive person."
"One is not enough!" Shepard protests.
"I can't authorize more. Even as Administrator, I have to justify myself. Take it or leave it."
Alex quietly leans in, "There are others who can give us the clearance, or we can just sneak in. As long as the Mako gets through, we're good."
"I guess…" Shepard mumbles. "Deal, Anoleis. You'd better be grateful."
Anoleis quickly makes a call, then sends Shepard a code via his omni-tool.
"Now, please leave. I'm busy. And hand over that mod," he demands.
"The mod's stored safely," Alex replies. "And don't arrest Opold right away—it might cause his client to panic, which is the last thing we need. Give us 24 hours."
Reluctantly, Anoleis nods, accepting Alex's suggestion.
With a smile, Alex turns and leaves.
Just outside Anoleis's office, Joker's voice crackles through comms. "Ground team, the Mako is being prepped and moved into the garage toward Peak 15. It might take a few hours, if security gives us trouble, even half a day. I'm working hard to make it happen."
"Understood, Joker, keep us updated!"
The team reassembles and sits down on a low wall near the windows. Outside, the snowstorm still rages—an eerie contrast to the warm lighting and sterile interior of the main level.
"Heating bills must be insane. Glass is a terrible insulator," Tali notes.
"Who cares about that? I'm not sure what we should do next," Shepard says, glancing at Alex. "Kerber, you seemed to know something when we talked earlier. Any suggestions?"
… Let's play with open cards.
"You know, it's strange," Alex begins. "Why would a lowly Administrator refuse a simple request from a Spectre to visit a research facility? Why does he even care? If you ask me, he's in Saren's pocket. Saren and Benezia have a surprisingly large amount of influence here. He clearly sold them out—he gave us the minimum, just enough not to get in real trouble. But he won't push any further. We could find someone else to authorize more access, but worst case? Anoleis might betray us later on. I say we deal with him. But for now, our priority should be getting clearance for the rest of your team."
He pauses.
"I think we should head to the Mezzanine. That's where the corporate elite hang out—where all the important deals happen. Also, we—wait!"
Alex stops, noticing a woman approaching.
Gianna Parasini, Anoleis's secretary, approaches the group with a polite smile.
"Need your full team on the way to Peak 15? Talk to the Turian, Lorik Qui'in. He should be in the lounge at his usual bar in the Mezzanine," she says—offering no further words, turning around and walking off without waiting for a reply.
"This is suspicious, right?" Liara asks.
"Yes, indeed, it is, Liara… good job noticing," Shepard sighs.
"Looks like I'm making progress at last! I think we should speak with that Turian," Liara suggests.
"We're definitely getting played here," Alex comments. "But a lead's a lead."
Shepard looks at Kerber. "Your instincts are sharp as always. Yes, we're being played—but I already have an idea what's going on. Let's play this corporate game for a while."
"Shepard," Garrus adds, "aside from clearance, we could also use more intel. The arrival of someone like Benezia must've stirred attention."
"Fine," Shepard says, her voice dropping an octave. "You'd better produce results fast, or I'm shooting our way toward the Mako once it's in place."
Liara steps forward. "Commander, Benezia is stuck at Peak 15. While we should hurry, a few more hours won't make a huge difference. We should approach this calmly and rationally."
I thought we were supposed to make decisions hastily and irrationally. Liara gives the best advice as usual.
The group heads toward the Mezzanine, leaving the Plaza behind and stepping into a smaller, more decorated section of the port.
This area features a luxurious bar and an upscale lounge, complete with a small decorative pool flanked by a few massive boulders—clearly for show.
"Suspicious Turian at 11 o'clock," Alex mutters, immediately locking eyes on the lone figure.
"Shepard, Liara, Kerber—you're with me. The rest of you? Grab a drink, pick up some info… but don't go overboard!" she orders.
With that, Shepard, followed by Liara and Alex, approaches the Turian.
"Afternoon. Sit down, have a drink. What can I do for you?" The Turian says with a smile, welcoming Shepard.
"Lorik Qui'in?" Shepard asks in a serious tone.
"Yes, indeed, how can I help you? How about that drink?" he responds.
"Maybe later, did you see an asari Matriarch recently?" Shepard continues.
"Yes, she caused quite a stir. It is not every day a Matriarch arrives with a guard detail of commandos. In any case, they rarely venture beyond Asari space. To see such an esteemed figure is surprising. Lady Benezia was also dressed for her role. An Asari in a pinstriped suit set tongues wagging among the younger male employees. So to speak."
"Young males have an unhealthy obsession with my species, I've been told," Liara replies.
"Perverts…" Alex mumbles.
Shepard stares at Alex and shakes her head, "Enough about that. I already know about those kinds of men. How could these Asari Commandos just enter? How were they allowed inside?"
"I don't know if they were disarmed or had some kind of deal. Of course, one can't confiscate biotic powers. Saren and, by extension, Benezia are important people. By that, I mean an investor who might sell stock if denied. They probably have their means to coax the Corporations into obedience."
"Why is she here?" Shepard asks.
"She claimed to be Saren's assistant, here to get a certain project 'back on track.' I suspect she meant Peak 15, whatever is going on there." Lorik replies.
"Anyway… I need to get to Peak 15. Can you help me with that? Anoleis is blocking our way. I got our Mako into the garage, but I need access for my crew!" Shepard says.
"I've got full access to the Garage, and I can give you that access easily, which would allow you to get inside without bloodshed. In fact, all the managers here have access. Tell you what, I'm the manager of the local Synthetic Insights office. For the moment, at least. Mr. Anoleis closed my office. He claims to be investigating reports of my corruption. The administrator is an interesting man. He has become quite wealthy since he took direct control of rents."
"What a coincidence, I sense a slight connection," Alex comments from the side.
"Indeed, Butcher," Lorik replies. After a meaningful pause, he explains, "I acquired evidence of Anolei's actions. His hired goons are ransacking my office to find it. I can assure you, Anoleis does not want you to leave. He is connected with Benezia or Saren. However, if you recover the evidence from my office, I will give you my garage pass as well as a sum of credits. I'll also make sure security lets you through without any issue."
"I'm in, you have a plan?" Shepard replies.
"I do. However, there is one other—what is that charming human expression? 'Fly in the lotion?'
Never heard about that one, a drawback or what?
"Violence against Mr. Anolei's thugs may be necessary. He has members of Hanshan's security team searching my offices. He is paying them under the table. Ms. Matsuo is unaware of their outside employment."
Shepard smirks, "If he's paying them under the table, they're mercenaries. I can kill mercenaries."
Lorik then hands Shepard a small keycard, "Here is my pass into our offices. It will activate the elevator automatically. The evidence is on my office computer. This OSD contains an encryption key to access it. Slide it into the drive, and it will auto-execute."
He then smiles and stares at Alex, "And do try to keep blood stains off the carpets, would you?"
How about I color this stone floor red instead, you fucking bitch….
"Let's go, Kerber," Shepard says.
The group gathers in a corner of the bar, with Shepard announcing, "Let's clean up some rotten security officers!"
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