12/02/2174 Illium, Tasale, Crescent Nebula, Attican Traverse
The elevator was taking it's time ascending the tower, not the highest in the city but in the top 5 easily and it was offering quite a view, the glass walls of the elevator, crystal clear as it was climbing along the outer wall. It was done with a message in mind of course, anyone who had to ascend up the tower had to be properly impressed upon just how high it was above the street level unlike the people in the top offices who had the rooftop landing rights. It fitted well with the impression I was getting of Illium.
Nos Astra, a city of stark contrasts, if you know where to look greeted all of it's visitors with the permanent twilight haze, the star due to the location of the city and peculiarities of the planet's orbit was just peeking over the horizon as it always did and sent scattered light shining into the asari city, light reflecting from the glass, steel and crystal composite towers, creating deep shadows behind them. It made for an unintentional sign showing both the beauty and the danger of the city. Nos Astra offered all the comforts of a developed asari colony with all the freedom of Terminus, and almost all of the dangers that come with it. Crime in Illium tended to be financial in nature most of the time but heavy presence of Eclipse mercenaries and various other smaller outfits meant that getting shot is not out of the question especially if venturing into the lower levels of the city. Deals made at gunpoint are not common, mostly because doing so in public or within the reach of Nos Astra's rather thorough surveillance system was seen as crass by the people who owned the city. The definition of legal was nebulous on purpose but the Illium's governing council and their police force did not take kindly to overt violence. Illium in that regard can be likened to an asari commando in a ten thousand credit dress, elegant and desirable with a hint of excitement hidden in plain view. As long as the commando stays still all she presents is a pretty picture, but movement betrays her true nature as a predator. Same with Illium, pretty to look at but dangerous when it makes it's move.
And I have been safely conducting business here, selling off the loot, buying up more bots and equipment as well as doing some minor repair work on the captured ships. Pirates were generally not known for their quality of routine maintenance and I was happy enough to let Jason and Frederica to crawl over the ships with a fine tooth comb. They might not have been proper ship engineers but batarian engineering was simple and parts could be fabricated easily.
I had been enjoying the simple work, helping out where I could, when Kal'leena's message reached me through the extranet relay. It was a reply to the automated response I left on a Citadel's message server and as it had not been flagged as priority it took several days to bounce around the galaxy as it made it's way through the comm relay network.
The message was to set up a meeting here on Nos Astra. No details beyond a name and address. Tanisa Noleia, 1039B Contina tower.
Looking at the floor counter currently counting up the seven hundreds I glanced at my omni-tool and brought up the information that I could find on this Tanisa Noleia. An asari matriarch somewhere around a thousand years old and very respected as a psychologist, held several doctorates with the latest acquired from a university of Amsterdam in 2170 for human psychology. Some purely asari sources cited her as having worked with Justicars sometime in late 20th century Council Era. It made her office a very curious location to be meeting Kal'leena, hopefully she hadn't thought I was actually crazy so this wouldn't be some kind of friendly intervention to get me treatment with a professional. Because if it was I doubted I could fight my way out, asari matriarchs especially the kind that worked with Justicars were usually quite proficient in biotics. And I wasn't about to get medicated against my will.
Sighing I glanced at the floor counter again and saw it counting down the last few floors. It pinged quietly as the doors slid open. I walked into the empty lobby, it was a late hour but I still expected there to be a receptionist at least. Looking around I saw a single opaque glass door set into a wall with a small computer terminal recessed next to it. Walking up to it I gestured at the screen hoping it would connect me to someone inside. Instead it displayed 'Stand by Scanning in progress' as several beams illuminated me. This was serious security and I did not doubt for a moment that if I had not been invited I would get hit with a stun charge or ten if not something worse.
A few seconds later the screen displayed 'Please proceed' and the doors slid open. Beyond was a long corridor with several rooms each side, each one marked with a symbol in what was probably an archaic asari language. Similar to current asari script but clearly a more elaborate version. Like the difference between calligraphic handwriting and machine typewritten English. I could probably look up what it meant but stopping, scanning the symbol and then doing an extranet search while someone was waiting for me seemed rude. I kept on walking towards the office at the end, it was the only one with a green unlocked holographic sign on it.
An asari was alone in the office as the doors slid open before me, she had her office walls set to almost total transparency, her back to the floor to ceiling window that was currently dimmed just enough that the city was still visible but the glare of the star was not distracting. Tanisa Noleia was attractive even for an asari, high cheekbones, full lips and large bright grey eyes with just a hint of blue, bright cerulean skin and pale face tattoos that reminded me of two ornamental vines stretching across her cheeks up and forming eyebrows before coming together on her forehead as is she was wearing a tiara. That gave her a somewhat regal appearance so as she looked up at me from her work I couldn't help but admire how she presented herself. The security systems would have told her who I am and since they had allowed me in she did actually expect me. She stood up from behind her desk and practically floated around it to stand before me. Movement so smooth that I would have not believed it was possible if I had not seen it. No wonder there are whole fansites dedicated to matriarchs and videos of them have been consistently trending.
"Mr Knight. My name is Tanisa Noleia. A pleasure to meet you. Kal'leena has spoken to me about you. Please sit." Tanisa said and gestured towards a lounging sofa at one of the walls. Walking over I sank into it and a moment later Tanisa joined me, sitting close enough that I could pick up a complicated scent of her perfume and her body heat, asari were running a bit warmer than humans after all. The perfume tickled my nose in a familiar way that I couldn't place at the moment so I focused my attention on the asari.
"What did Kal'leena say about me?" I asked cautiously as this was not the kind of reception I was expecting. An asari matriarch getting close and friendly rang all kinds of alarm bells.
"Kal'leena has shown me the vision. The parts that still remained in her mind. She has shown me several of her memories involving you. " Tanisa said softly with a gentle smile and for a moment my mind flashed to the last test in my training.
"Can you prove it?" I asked hoping that Kal'leena only showed her memories relevant to the Reapers
"Before you spoke to the orb you joked about balli'tak." Tanisa replied and the gentle smile twitched with humour
"And you believe it?" I asked hoping that while this all seemed like a trap it was just my paranoia overacting.
"It is not so simple. Most asari do not understand the complexities of what a mind-meld is, even the ones who use it frequently for recreational purposes. It's an ability that we have as an instinct and most asari do not need to know anything beyond that. However there are asari like me, mind-seers. Trained in body and mind to hone the ability to see the mind of whoever we touch. It is a necessity for our people as sharing of thoughts can sometimes lead to unexpected results if the mind is not ready. Mind-seers could be likened to therapists, surgeons and psychologists all at once but we only work with the mind. Most of my clients are asari but other species do take advantage of my services. Many come here because their minds are troubled or make them experience what is not there. Because of this I know how to distinguish between a real memory, even the ones granted by the prothean beacons and the imagination of a troubled mind. I have seen fragments remaining in Kal'leena's mind and they do not have the signs of the imagined. But those were only fragments and viewed through the mind of another, months after they were originally seen. They have intertwined with her own emotions and memories making it impossible to say for sure." Tanisa explained, her voice pitched low enough that I could hear every inhale and exhale as she talked. Her hand now resting on my shoulder. This was clearly done on purpose but the reason currently eluded me.
"I take it you want to see it directly?" I asked just to be sure. I thought it was pretty clear because of her explanation but it was better if it was said directly. Who knows what a thousand year old matriarch has in mind.
"That is correct, I need to see the vision myself. Kal'leena takes after her mother in temperament so her training was more martial, I did give her some basics but she has not kept up the practice. I have scolded her accordingly." Tanisa said in mock seriousness as she tapped a finger to her lips
"What exactly is your relationship? I thought her father was a quarian?" I asked refocusing my attention away from her lips.
"My sister, Anto'naya is her mother." Tanisa said clearly amused at my reaction
"So, why this seduction play? I doubt I am the most impressive human you have met and even I know that not all mind-melding is sex." I said shifting slightly just to be able to roll away if the answer was not to my liking
"Because while not all mind-melding is sex that is where it originates. To better prepare for a meld physical acts are often required. And our body chemistry is easily triggered by scent, touch and sound to simulate the physical act and emotional connection. It is as much for me as for you, to make the transition easier and less taxing on both of us. Are you ready?" Tanisa explained and I could see the flush on her face and deeper breathing. Now that is something you couldn't read about on the extranet.
"Ready." I replied feeling my own physical response. I could tamp it down, control it but if this is what was needed for the meld then I might as keep it as is.
Tanisa put her palms flat against the sides of my faces, brought her forehead to touch mind and looked straight into my eyes as her own shifted to black.
"Embrace Eternity" her breath mingled with mine as our minds connected. For a moment there I could feel the tug and then we were there together. Shared mind space, it felt more solid than the meld I had with Kal'leena. Instead of her being dragged into my memory I felt balanced on the precipice. The vortex of my memory just beyond surrounding a fortress of ice crystals, all jagged edges and us standing on the highest spire.
"huh, this is different" I thought and the reply came at the same moment "it is how I see your mind, the tempest of emotion and memory held back by your will."
"I see. Any particular order you want to see things?" I thought but even before I finished the thought I knew the answer. Tanisa would see the beginning first. It was a much deeper meld than the one I had with Kal'leena but more orderly, our communication was instant and it was intention as well as word. I knew exactly what she meant and she knew exactly what I meant. No possibility of a lie or misunderstanding. So I drew her in to Sovereign's speech first. Then the Vigil's explanation of how prothean empire fell. Then Javik and the flashes of the prothean fall. The husks and the dragon's teeth. Floating Reaper in Mnemosyne, the effects of indoctrination. Reaper forces attacking Earth, Thessia, Palaven. Reaper troops and ships, the liquification of people to build a new Reaper. And finally Leviathans hiding in the deep from their own creation, their booming voices so similar to Reapers and yet different. The enormity of the time between the creation of Reapers and our cycle. I felt the meld pulse. Once and I saw an asari girl diving in the sea, I knew it was somewhere on Thessia. Twice and the girl had now become a woman and was standing in front of a priestess of Tevura as she anointed her in her service. Third time as Tanisa stood before a rock wall with carvings on it, another asari next to her. I felt a shift in the meld coming and then the connection came crashing down. I was back in the real world with Tanisa in my lap, her hands wrapped around me and her head resting on my shoulder. Her breathing was ragged as if she had just ran a marathon and I could feel the sweat on her crests pressed against my cheek.
"Are you ok?" I asked the most cliché question I could have
"I will be." Tanisa replied still breathing hard not moving away, "too intense. Too much all at once."
"Sorry." I glanced at my omni-tool to check the time. The meld had taken over half an hour.
"Not your fault." Tanisa said and flopped back onto the sofa, stretching her legs across my lap, "each memory is intertwined with more, emotions, connections, understandings. Normal memories are loose, pull at it and you can see parts of it. Understand them, take them piece by piece. These are dense, like metal wires wrapped around a central core. Takes effort to understand. Look at one and it weighs you down. And your mind is full of these. Like swimming with weights attached to your legs into a hurricane."
"That's not normal for humans is it?" I asked thinking if whatever was done to transport me here also affected the memories I have. I was showing her the memories I have of the game but it never felt like the game, it all looked real. No computer graphics or looking at the character from behind.
"No, human memories are just like asari memories. Or turian or quarian memories. Drell have perfect memory but they are still similar enough. I should have been able to look without being affected. Instead each memory pulled me closer and closer towards your mind. " Tanisa said still laying down on the sofa, eyes closed but breathing normally now.
"Is that bad?" I said feeling a bit awkward now
"Any closer and we would have become one. The sex variety of mind meld. And if that went on for long enough a year from now we would have a daughter." Tanisa said and looked at me to gouge my reaction
"Oook. But no babies were made right now right?" I paniced slightly, I hadn't even know it was possible for asari to have children by accident.
"No. And you would have known if we had. The experience is quite different. And we would have woken up with far less clothing, believe me I have done this before." Tanisa teased
"Did you see what you needed?" I asked trying to put the whole thing back on tracks.
Before answering Tanisa moved her legs off my lap, stood up and straightened her clothing.
"I did. As Kal'leena said they are real. I do not have any explanation how they even exist but they are real. I hoped they were just the ravings of a sick mind, that I could have simply given you some help and sent you on your way. Told Kal'leena that it was just foolishness. I didn't want to believe it. Now I have no choice." Tanisa sighed as she approached a drinks cabinet and poured herself a glass of something dark, drinking half of it quickly.
"House Noleia is with you. Kal'leena was already in process of inspecting the assets we had on Illium and once I talk with my sister to confirm I believe we can offer more. House Noleia might not be one of the Great Houses with ships and factories and whole cities in our power but we do know a lot of sentients across the galaxy. Tomorrow Kal'leena will contact you to get into the details. For now I think it's best if we both rest." Tanisa said as she looked back at me.
"Are you sure you should be on your own right now? Kal'leena collapsed when I showed her far less." I said concerned
"Unless you actually want to knock me up right now I think it's best if you leave." Tanisa said seriously which made new kinds of alarms blare in my mind and I shot straight up and crab walked to the door.
"You are quite right. The hour is late and we will need all the rest we can get tomorrow." I said as I rapidly retreated out of the office. The ride back down the elevator let me calm down and sort out the confusion in my own head. I was ready for a fight, ready for a lengthy argument, ready even for a dismissal. I hadn't been ready to be propositioned by an asari matriarch. It was going to be awkward tomorrow. I could tell.
And I am back. I am alive, this story is not dead. Just the general every day life in our current hectic world to blame. Last chapter, this chapter and the next chapter are going to be setup chapters. They are needed for what is to come as I don't think anyone wants a simple infodump. This chapter doesn't have any Codex entries as it focuses only on two people. The next chapter is going to have a Codex entry as it's going to explain my attempt at injecting a bit more logic into ME technology.