MASS EFFECT ANDROMEDA SERIES II: CHAPTER 7
"I do not like this place. Too many dark secrets," Liara commented as she stepped off the Normandy onto the landing dock on Noveria. The wind howled viciously outside as a white blur of snow filled the windows. Garrus hoped that their venture would not take them outside the warm complex of Port Hanshan. He was surprised that Shepard asked him at first to accompany he and Liara on this mission. However, the reasoning made sense. Noveria was highly locked down with security and Shepard needed someone who dealt with this.
"It will be fine, Liara," Shepard glanced her way as he led the trio towards the entranceway of the bay.
They were soon stopped by three heavily armed women blocking their path. The dark hair woman stood firmer as they neared. "That's far enough."
"I'm on important business, "Shepard replied strongly.
"This is an unscheduled arrival. I'll need your credentials."
"This is a Spectre matter so that should be enough," Garrus answered for them. He knew before they arrived that they would have trouble just getting into Port Hanshan. A lot of corporate under the table dealings were done at this place and they really don't want outsiders messing around. Citadel authority had no say when it came to Noveria.
The blonde woman to the right huffed in aggravation, but remained silent. Garrus studied her while Shepard and the main woman in charge who identified herself as Maeko Matsuo exchanged words. Finally, they were given clearance overhead and both sides were laxed. Once inside they were stopped at a station by a woman named Gianna Parasini who was the assistant to Anoleis. The dark skinned female seemed less tense than their greeting party. "The Executive Board does everything in its power to protect the privacy of our client corporations." She spoke very diplomatically. Garrus stifled a chuckle. Money and power could control just about anything in the galaxy. Garrus was aware of a lot of the corporative studies behind genetic and artificial intelligence studies. However, the planet was outside the Citadel jurisdiction; too bad the Quarians didn't live on Noveria. Gianna went on to tell them that Matriarch Benezia, their person of interest linked to Saren, was recently at Port Hanshan and apparently took transportation to the research station on Peak 15. Garrus noticed Shepard's eyes shift over to his other squadmate, Liara T'Soni, as Gianna spoke about Benezia's presence on the planet. "You'll have to get clearance from Anoleis before leaving here."
"Sure," Shepard nonchalantly looked back over to Parasini. "Can we go now?"
"Absolutely. You can find Anoleis at the administrative office. I'll be there too if you need any further assistance," The tanned woman replied before she turned and walked away from them to the back of the counter.
"She is here," Liara spoke up with clenched excitement. "I can't believe it. I imagine you want to talk to me, Shepard, about my mother." She went on as the commander turned around to face her.
"Right now, you are will endanger this mission. Report back to the Normandy and tell Wrex to meet us here." The Shepard ordered sternly.
Garrus was intrigued of the outcome of their encounter with the Matriarch if Liara remained. "Commander, are you- "
"Don't question my judgment, Garrus," Shepard shot back, interrupting him. "I am going to have to kill Benezia if she is hostile and I don't want anyone trying to stop me."
If Liara was hurt or mad, you couldn't see it on her soft blue face. Her demeanor never changed. "I understand, Commander. It makes perfect sense and I would be hesitant if I was in your situation." She turned to head back out the way they came, but stopped in midstride to look at her fellow officer. "I'm not like my mother and I have no interest in following Saren if that is what she's truly doing."
Shepard remained quiet as he watched the Asari exit out of the lobby, then finally sighed. "Sorry, Garrus, but I don't need any trouble once we get to Peak 15."
"Understood, Shepard," Garrus nodded and looked towards the stairwell that would lead them into the main area of Port Hanshan. His mind wondered why they waited for their new squadmate to enter. Matriarch Benezia was at the station briefly before making her way to the research station on Peak 15. The only concern was what was her purpose there? There was no mention of the Spectre Saren being there. Although, he knew the two were working together. Where was Andromeda? Surely, Saren did take her away from Zhu's Hope before they came back after killing the Thorian, but why was he after her? The yellowish skin tone of the Krogan approaching made him snap back to real time.
No smile was on the Krogan's lips as he lumbered towards them. "I don't like cold, Shepard."
"Easy, Wrex," Shepard raised up his hand to stop the Krogan's protest. "Come on, we have to find this Anoleis and you can gripe to him about the weather."
Garrus always thought that Salarians were kind of uptight about their business, but the blue toned one that sat before them really took the cake. His frog like eyes blinked at them as he sat in a straight posture. "This greeting is a courtesy. I will only cooperate as required by the Executive Board." Vakarian stood back beside Wrex as Shepard greeted him. This was going to be very interesting indeed.
"Do you do business with Saren?" Shepard questioned. Garrus perked up hearing the name.
"Agent Saren? One of your Spectre compatriots?" Anoleis was taken back by the first inquiry. "He is a major investor in Binary Helix corporation, which is one of Noveria's backers.
"Why is Synthetic Insights on Peak 15 closed?"
"I cannot comment at this time."
"We were told that Benezia went up there." Garrus cut in. "She did she have anyone with her?" He figured that the Commander would protest him chiming in, but Shepard remained quiet and looked back at the Salarian for a response.
"She was accompanied by a personal escort and some cargo. She was here as Saren's executor there were some matters on Peak 15 that needed his attention for Binary Helix."
"Yeah right." Garrus thought. "What kind of cargo?" He hoped perhaps Andromeda was stashed away in one of the crates and a cold mountain like Peak 15 was a perfect place to keep her if Saren wanted to keep her locked away for now.
"Large, heavy and sealed. It passed weapons screening so it was no concern. Her escort were Asari Commandoes to answer your next question." Anoleis spoke quickly with annoyance in the tone of his voice.
"Commandoes?" The Turian asked in disbelief. "You didn't think that was odd?"
"They followed all the regulations. I had no reason to prevent Benezia from taking them. Just to let you know after she left the facility, the path to the Skadi Mountains has been marked off limits due to the blizzard outside."
"Good because I don't want to go out there," Wrex grumped.
"I have no more questions," Shepard motioned for his squadmates to follow him out of the office. Garrus knew there was no further point in questioning the Salarian. Everything was locked down in this place. "Wrex."
"Hmm?" Wrex answered as they were walking across the lobby to the elevators.
"We are going out there."
The Krogan sighed, "I knew you were going to say that."
"You know, Shepard, Turians don't like cold either. Did I tell you that?" Garrus glanced over to his left to the windows that were covered with snow.
"Looks like trouble ahead. Good, I need to get my blood pumping," Wrex mumbled lowly, catching Garrus attention. He followed his gaze to see a light yellow toned Krogan standing beside the elevator that led up to Synthetic Insights offices. The Krogan appeared to be younger than Wrex with a slash scar mark on the left side of the face. It wore dark black body armor that appeared to be pretty heavy with markings for the logo for Synthetic Insights.
The Krogan was standing casually back against the wall with its arms crossed. Its dark reptilian eyes studied them as they approached the elevator. "You got a problem?"
An amused chuckle came from Wrex. "A female Krogan?"
"Female?" Shepard lifted an eye ridge as he looked from Wrex to the female in front of him and then back to Wrex again. "Uh, how can you tell?"
"It's not obvious?" Wrex blinked and continued his focus on the familiar sight in front of him. "I never seen one venture out this far. Mercenary?"
"Hired guard," The Female corrected. "Or was, but I'm done with Synthetic Insights. I'm not going back to that place again."
"What place?" Garrus asked.
"Peak 15. I'm going back to Omega to see about getting work. Peak 15 is not worth the creds and Port Hanshan is boring."
"Who are you? What happened on Peak 15?" Shepard questioned this time.
"The name is Horda. I was hired as a guard on Peak 15. I was just waiting on the Synthetic Insights rep to come back with my pay so I can leave. If I want to get paid, I can't say a word until I leave this station."
The commander sighed in aggravation. "Another dead lead. Let's go see if we can get a pass out of here." He motioned for his two squadmates to follow him.
Wrex paused as he walked past Horda. "Take care of yourself out there. There's not a lot of us left in the galaxy thanks to the Salarians and the Turians." He emphasized the last word loud enough to make sure Garrus could hear it.
Garrus fought back the urge to utter a comeback but he decided to let it go. He didn't want to be stuck back on the Normandy again. He just knew he was going to find a lead to Saren at Peak 15 and hopefully a way back to Andromeda.