The Asari had settled well on their home planet, as if they had struck a golden pond and immediately emerged from it with several silver spoons in their mouths. Thessia became a highly developed center of the galaxy thanks to its deposits of element zero. There is so much of it here that the local government, a network of independent republics, is able to dictate its terms to the entire Milky Way. It is not the one who possesses a large amount of gold who rules, but the one who controls the gold mines – ancient earthly wisdom, applicable in any place and time.
To get onto the planet, I had to sweat considerably, going through dozens of bureaucratic hurdles. And I was lucky: Aria's connections worked. Without them, my ship would have been checked for contraband for several weeks, the entire crew inspected, and the results sent to a dusty drawer, where – if lucky – civil servants would eventually get to them to finally grant landing permission.
— We must check your equipment. Without it, alas, it's impossible.
As soon as I landed and exited the shuttle, several security officers tried to shake me down for a bribe. I had already received clearance, so they were acting on their own. Yes, maybe it's a "utopia" here, but the level of corruption is off the charts.
— You do not want to check anything, - I used hypnosis on the asari.
— Correct... - she replied, her gaze clouded. — We do not want to. Let's move on.
Her subordinates exchanged surprised glances but didn't dare contradict their superior officer. Convenient. Now I need to find the contact who will help with the further mission to eliminate "I don't know what," located "I don't know where."
What I dislike about hired work: my employers are usually stingy with information and prefer to speak in hints. Criminal organizations – what can you expect from them? Although, this is better than working where there is no opportunity to refuse in case of contradictions with my code of honor, if it can be called that. Once, I killed those my master pointed his finger at, but those times are long past. Now I decide for myself who is worthy of life, and who is a pest, a bug, whose fate is to be crushed for the good of society.
After wandering around the landing area for a bit and examining the merchandise stalls with holographic lists of goods of varying utility, I finally met my contact. Seriously? I was expecting a krogan, perhaps, but certainly not a volus. Short, stout, always walking in pressurized suits with breathing masks.
The Volus are not adapted to life on other planets besides their native Irune, where the atmospheric pressure is sixty times higher than Earth's. If they were to remove their suit, for example, on Thessia, they would literally burst due to the pressure difference, scattering their insides everywhere.
— Greetings, - the contact spoke with heavy breathing. — Starkiller, I presume... I have been instructed... Hfff... To take you to the meeting place. Hfff... The faster, the... Better.
A surprising race, reminding me of a seven-foot asthmatic:
They breathe just as heavily during conversations, but at the same time, they have a relatively neutral disposition. By nature, they are traders and even initiated the introduction of a single currency – credits – to simplify transactions between different races. Although the volus made a significant contribution to the development of the Citadel, their weakness in combat and dependence on their suits nullified their usefulness. The Council, being the structure it is, gets rid of everything insignificant.
— What is your name?
— Niftu Cal. I am a harbinger of disaster!
— Starkiller. I usually kill harbingers of disaster on Wednesdays.
— Every day... you forget a thousand things... Let this be one of them...
— Agreed, it's Thursday on Earth today anyway.
— Hfff... Huuu... Hfff... This is no place for talk. Hfff... Eyes and ears everywhere. Hfff... We are being watched, - he replied, turned, and led me away. He led me to the civilian transport zone, paid the fare across the city, and brought me to the destination, where an interesting company had gathered.
Two asari, radically different from each other. One of them was a Justicar in a red suit. Such individuals are extremely rare, so the identities of most are known to me. This is most likely Samara – one of the best, in terms of following the Code.
Justicars dispense justice primarily within their race's territory, eliminating criminal groups almost single-handedly, only occasionally teaming up with someone.
"The end justifies the means" – that's about them. Sometimes, their actions harm more sentients than they manage to save. But even if they make a mess, the privileged asari remain untouchable by the law. They can be detained for a short period. But if the security services try to prolong a Justicar's detention, their sisters in the order will quickly come to their aid and start tearing the precinct apart, looking for any violation to punish severely.
In terms of abilities, they are probably even stronger than some Spectres. Asari live for a thousand years; Matriarchs – the eldest among them – accumulate a huge amount of experience during this time. I am quite young, even considering my rebirth: in their eyes, I don't even reach the level of a child. What's more to say, if for them, hundred-year-old beings are children.
— Samara? I'm surprised Justicars have been brought into this, - I spoke.
— I'll explain everything! - the second asari intervened, waving her hand, shooing away the poor volus.
Niftu Cal – must remember that. All volus involved in dark dealings with Aria could be useful for obtaining contraband goods. Regulation has tightened severely now: some ship cannons cannot be bought for any amount of money. So one has to turn to the volus to buy not only contraband, but also licenses to pass customs services.
— Samara helped us negotiate with the authorities. The area will be cordoned off, all civilians evacuated in minutes. Also, without her, it's impossible to escape the consequences: the drug dealers' protection is solid and dictates its terms to small fry, like us.
— I will deal with the growth myself. There is no need to involve outsiders in Thessia's affairs, - the Justicar began.
— No. If you fail... Without you, we cannot attack their base again. In the worst case, they will just gather more forces under their control and move the equipment to a place where even Justicars won't dare to go. We have no room for error. The mission must be completed.
— Understand, child, I have participated in thousands of battles. And I have never lost, - she stated with little emotion, as if repeating it for the thousandth time, just this time to a different interlocutor. — Evil will get what it deserves. It cannot escape justice.
— We are wasting time, - I drew the attention back to myself. — The more we argue, the more trucks will be loaded with goods. Every minute, the galaxy gets one more large shipment of red sand. And just a pinch is enough to ruin an innocent soul: a human, an asari, a turian. Someone who, after a hard day, succumbs to temptation and won't be able to stop until they die. I suggest you indicate the location, and then Samara and I will solve the problem, each in our own style. After all, I didn't take this job to listen to a Justicar's pride.
— Sensible, - she nodded. — But I have already figured everything out. We will go together, if you do not fear death.
Her manner of speech is somewhat unique, which favorably distinguishes her from other asari. In the galaxy, only humans are famous for the fact that, if ten of them gather in one room, they will represent twenty different personalities. Asari, however... A unique behavioral pattern is found one in a hundred, if not a thousand. They are very similar to each other – not only in appearance, but also in views, characters, and habits.
On the way to the target, Samara clearly explained the layout of the area, possible difficulties, and friendly shared advice on what cover to use, what to expect, and what situations were likely. Her experience commanded respect. If I had such a woman on my team, I might spend less time meditating. As it is, every day is either a mission or a retreat into my thoughts in an attempt to become stronger to achieve my goal.
— We are in place, - Samara pointed to the cordoned-off territory. — The enemies know about our presence, but they think they can handle a small squad. However, as soon as they doubt their success, their leaders will flee through a bunker to a safe place. I suggest you watch the emergency exit a kilometer to the north.
— Counter-offer. I can destroy the factory in five minutes, go down, and kill everyone in the tunnel on the way to the emergency exit, - I suggested calmly.
— We are not acquainted, and I do not know how your power compares to your words. If you have as much biotic power as needed, then I can offer a compromise. I will get on the roof, - she nodded towards the stairs. — From where I will support you with fire. As soon as the equipment is destroyed, I'll move to intercept. You, as you wished, can use the hatch and head into the tunnel.
— You are pleasant to deal with, - I smiled, though no one appreciated it.
Closing my eyes, I fully enter a combat trance, where the sole purpose of life is to kill.
Dashing like lightning towards the nearest enemies positioned around the perimeter, I found turians and batarians encased in armor with energy shields. They held their weapons at the ready, radiating confidence and a complete lack of fear of the impending threat. Against such enemies, I didn't want to use lightsabers – I wanted to break not only their bodies, but also their morale before death.
Approaching instantly, faster than they could react, I raised both hands. Their tightly gripped weapons flew into the air with such sharpness that their owners felt as if they'd been shocked. But something else killed them. With Telekinesis, I forced their weapons to turn against their former owners, directing bursts from pistols and rifles. The ringing shots echoed through the area, warning others of the coming end.
The first group died quickly, but the second was better prepared. They spotted me and opened fire to kill. However, incredible agility came to my aid. I dodged bullets using Force pushes, used elements of the environment, such as buildings, for agile transitions between enemies. It was enough to make a jump, push off a wall – and I was in the center of the concentration of soldiers.
They were standing so well that I didn't miss the opportunity to use Force lightning, striking in a circle around the area: first disabling their shields, and then burning through their armor and scorching their flesh.
Some naive troopers tried to hide behind a massive container. Others rushed to the barriers standing near the walls. The mercenaries had prepared so much cover... It's just a pity that this cover became their own tombs. With Telekinesis, I lifted the objects under the astonished gazes of the enemies, throwing them at those they were supposed to protect. I could control dozens of objects at once, and when I stopped doing that, I actively used the Force Shield – it didn't even let the bullets touch my armor.
However, not all of them turned out to be cannon fodder. Among them was an asari who resorted to the voice of reason. More cunning than the rest, she tried to flank me under cloak and fire a sniper rifle. I sensed it with the Force and, without looking in her direction, simply threw a thin pipe straight at her head. Her shield tried to protect its owner, but it couldn't withstand the endless Force pushes for long, treacherously letting the sharp object through. Thus, an extra hole appeared in her body.
Waving my hand again, I threw a couple of turians against the wall with a powerful telekinetic blast. They just smashed right through it, but didn't die. How tedious it is to fight those with good equipment. Clenching my hand into a fist, I crushed their bodies, mixing their blood with the dust from the debris.
While I was busy with that, reinforcements arrived. Fear had already consumed some of the soldiers – their movements became chaotic, commands shouted just as incoherently. Easy prey to continue the onslaught, where elements of the environment and raw power served as the tools of murder.
— Two minutes. I'm late, - I sighed in frustration.
For me, the agreed-upon time is not an empty sound. I am used to clearly following the promises I make. So far, I had only managed to reach the factory and kill the external security, and I still needed to deal with the tunnel. I'll have to get a little more serious.
What was it Aria said? Raze it... wipe it off the face of the earth.
Meaning, nothing of the factory should remain on this planet.
— Hmm... How many kilometers to space, you say?