This is my first go at actually writing anything more than a mandatory essay in school. Please be gentle with the criticism and if it is crap, I really want to know...but be nice about it ok?
I have to give Palaven Blues credit for inspiration, not only with the characters but with out her encouragement, I would never have put this story to paper. It would have disappeared into the recesses of my mind, where most stuff so should stay.
DISCLAIMER: All Characters and the Mass Effect story are property of Bioware. I do not own them, however this is my own idea of the story of Kolyat through Mass Effect 2 and 3, perhaps beyond.
Chapter 1- A Mile in Your Shoes...
Kolyat stares out the window of the shuttle, his mind wandering to his Aunt Ashlar. She reminded him so much of his mother, her kindness and love had guided him through some of the darkest hours of his life. She even looked so much like his mother. They had been sisters and siblings growing up together does tend to give one, some of the same mannerisms, core values and even some of the same views. This is where Kolyat always had clashed with his mother and of course his aunts and uncles as well. The last words he had had with his Aunt Ashlar weighed heavily on his mind.
He had been furious, his anger directed at the woman who had raised him since he was 10. Did she really think she could actually stop him? His Omni-tool pinged and he looks at it briefly, then continues with his packing.
" Oh come on, Aunt! I am old enough and you cannot really stop me." Kolyat stated hotly, pausing from packing the small bag, he glares at her thinking, I am twenty-one years, not three! Stuffing the last of his items into the bag he closes it and turns to face her, expecting a verbal battle.
Placing her small hands on her hips, she tilts her head at his tone ans says sternly, " Do not speak to me in that tone ,Kolyat! You are of age, yes. My concern is not your age, my young nephew. It is of your intent. You are so young and so so brash. To just decide one day to run off to the Citadel. You don't even know anyone there! How will you survive?"
Kolyat closes his eyes and shakes his head. Taking a deep breath, he opens his dark eyes and looks at her beautiful face, stepping closer to her he sits down on the edge of the bed, " Aunt Ashlar, I am sorry I should not have spoken to you in that way." He bows his head and continues, "I just really need to do this and I will do this with our with out your blessing. I do have a friend of my Dad's there. His name is Mouse." Recalling the time he had seen the holo of the child and wishing it was him, a sadness fills his eyes as he looks up at his Aunt again, " I have to know and I will start here. I am smart enough to know how to take care of myself. I will be fine."
Sighing, her brow furrows a little and she knows that his mind is made up. Nothing that she says will change it and she finally gives in, handing him a data pad, "Here are a few creds, this should help you a little if you are frugal with them."
Kolyat looks at his Aunt. His brow furrows and he begins to shake his head, " I can't..." He places his hand in the air to refuse the data pad.
Ashlar looks at him sternly again and her voice hardens. She looks exactly like his mother when she does that, " You can and you will! You cannot even get a shuttle with out creds, unless you plan on being a criminal?"
Shocked at the insinuation, he takes the data pad, " I am not a criminal Aunt and I..." pausing he tries to think of something to say and cannot find the words, defeated he continues "... thank you." He closes his eyes and bows his head, embarrassed he did not even think about the funding he would need for the journey! Perhaps she was right, but there was nothing that would stop him from doing what he must to find out the truth.
A voice startles him out of his memory and Kolyat looks up at the Hanar, floating over him, "This one believes that the journey is to end soon, soul of an Island Dweller."
Confused, he stares at the Hanar, " What do you mean?"
"The Citadel is near" The Hanar's colour changes slightly expressing concern, "Is the Island Dweller ok?"
Smiling Kolyat nods his head and pulls his pack from beneath his seat, "I am quite well, thank you. I was distracted and did not understand your meaning. I do now, thank you."
The Hanar seemed content with his answer and floated off to speak to other passengers and Hanar. It was not unusual for Hanar to travel to the Citadel and pick up passengers along the way. Kolyat was the only Drell on the shuttle and perhaps the Hanar felt he needed to be protective of him. He was very grateful for the Hanar, without them, he would never have had a chance to exist! Every Drell child was educated in the history of their Home planet, so it never happened again. Each Drell couple were only allowed two children in the domed cities, because of over population fears and all were educated in at least the basic skills, technology, mathematics, basic sciences and basic medical care. Kolyat had not been a genius in school, but he was above average in Science and Mathematics. His skills had afforded him entrance into a short term university and some how his aunt and uncle were able to pay the difference. He was fortunate to have them and that made him feel even worse for the way he treated his Aunt before he left. Thinking again of his Father, he wonders where the Hanar got, Island Dweller. His father was known as the Island Dweller, not him, He had only ever been in the domed cities of Kahje, well except for the occasional excursion with the family to the beaches. Did this Hanar know his father? Of course he probably did... it seemed that everyone but him, knew his father.
The resentment rose in his throat and he swallows, checking to be sure his data pad was still in his pocket, with the small cashe of medi-gel, he had managed to get from his Uncle as well as a pistol, his uncle insisted he take and keep hidden under his form fitting coat. He slumps back into his seat resting his bag on his lap.
He had checked his appearance before he left his Aunt and Uncle's home and the form fitting green and yellow coat was just like the one his father used to wear. He had chosen it for that very reason. He wanted to look like his father. Though he was slimmer and of course younger, he did look much like his father, but most said he resembled his mother, but he could remember his father and he thought he looked far more like him. His Aunt Ash was very much the image of his mother and at times it was so much of a resemblance, that it hurt. His mother had been a beautiful and kind woman, not too unlike all of his Aunts. Irikah's tawny eyes had laughed so much and cried so many tears over his father. Kolyat hated to see her crying. He closes his eyes to keep the tears back and to suppress the memory of her death. Taking a deep breath, he slowly exhales, Not now... almost there!
Watching the Citadel come into view was breath taking. He had never been to the Citadel before and seeing it for the first time, to anyone, would be magnificent. The creatures that had built the station, were long gone, but this stood as a testament to their advanced technology and engineering ability. As they passed through the arms of the Citadel he could see the many levels and the lights with in twinkled. The closer they came to the docking areas the more he could see actual people their faces and bodies moving and animated. He smiled slightly and was anxious to see what the Citadel had to offer a Drell.
After docking he steps onto the platform, taking a moment to just see his first sight of the Citadel. He was finally here! Looking around he is thankful it was crowded with all species. The bright colours of clothing, the different species all walking in many different directions as though they knew exactly where they should be. He decided he should be on his way, keeping his distance from various groups of Krogan and melds onto a mixed Asari, Turian and human group, navigating his way through the Citadel in search of a bank, to deposit the remaining creds in and then to see if he could actually afford a hotel room or even better an apartment.
The volus in the bank, took the datapad and taps a few times on the computer. Kolyat is surprised when he calls him 'Mr. Krios' and takes Kolyat into a secluded, ante-room stating that they would need to talk privately. There he reveals many things to the young Drell. Kolyat's face when he emerged from the bank was a mixture of emotions, from anger to satisfaction and the young man was certainly feeling all of them at the same time. He was quite satisfied with his credit balance and surprised as well. He sent the creds his Aunt had given him for the journey back to her. With a thank you note and telling her that his Dad had set up some funds for him on the Citadel. Not entirely untrue, he had...he just wasn't supposed to get it until Thane had passed, and since technically, Kolyat had not seen or heard from him in more than ten years. He could technically, claim these funds. However to get others he would have to present a certified death certificate. What he had at this point would be plenty to get him started and certainly an apartment, of which the Volus volunteered to take care of for no fee.
Kolyat paces the living room of his one bedroom room apartment. The extranet monitor playing in the background as he gathered his thoughts. It had been five days and he had yet to even meet anyone who would resemble the picture he had in his head of Mouse. Until yesterday, he had spent the early part of the day on the Presidium and noticed a young kid, rather scruffy, but clean. He gets a feeling and follows the kid from a distance. The kid runs into the bank and hands the Volus behind the counter a data pad and runs off with a couple of creds in hand. He followed the kid to one of the lower levels of the Citadel. Probably where the average tourist never saw. There were people just sitting in the street, one man urinating against the wall in an alley way.
Kolyat had never seen anything like this before. Even the worst housing in Kahje had at least been clean of excrement! He stopped and talked to several of the young street kids offering them a few creds if they could get him some information...one of the little brats took his money and had sent him to another kid who did the same thing. Stopping for a moment he looks at the kids and decides to change tactics. Shaking his head he headed into a restaurant, ordering some food he carefully chooses a seat by the window, he spots one of the kids through the glass window, he begins to eat in front of her, smiling. She presses her face against the glass and he waves the kid in and offers her a seat. The kid was pretty skinny and definitely hungry. He continues to eat as she slides into a seat across from him. Her eyes were sunken an she looked as though she had not eaten in days. He pauses his eating and asks her where he could find Mouse. The kid's eyes dart around, and she looks at the food. Smiling he knows he has her.
"How about a cheeseburger, fries and a soda?" Kolyat offers, " Maybe even a cake if you are still hungry after that?"
The girl nods and waits for him to order the food, then leans in closer whispering to him about a very dark and dirty bar down on the fourth level in the Shaktar Ward, she tells him it is called the Blade, because they only use blades to kill people in there. Kolyat smiles.
"Thank you, that is all I needed...So, kiddo. What is your name and what are you doing on the street?" Kolyat asks as the food arrives.
"They call me Fancy, shuddup about it! It's 'cuz I dint have naught but a pair of fancy shoes and a diaper when I arrived at the orphanage." She takes a huge bite of her hamburger. Kolyat was sure that the kid would choke. " I ain't got a mom or daddy, 'cuz they was kilt. Me sis and me went to the orphanage cuz slavers wanted to steal us and it was safer there than with the slavers." It doesn't take her more than five bites to have the burger nearly gone, along with the little golden sticks of potato and half the soda.
"I didn't have my parents either Fancy, so we have a little in common there. It is time for me to go and it was nice doing business with you. If I need to find someone else, can I count on you?" He smiles at the child.
She grins through the food in her mouth and talks between chomps, " Yep, If ya feeds me ya has me info. I don't care if they do try to beat me. I am bigger and faster than they are and I know the vents better than anyone on the Citadel even your Mouse! " she brags to him. Kolyat smiles at her, she was a fierce warrior and he could see she would be a force to be reckoned with if she ever made it to adulthood.
Having finished his food he waits for the child to finish hers as well and pushing two credit chits across the table to her he stands up to pay for their food, as soon as he does, the kid darts out the door. He finishes paying and the kid is no where to be found. He wonders if he will ever see her again.
Walking back to his Apartment he smiled, he would find this elusive Mouse and he would do it soon. He had a place to start now.
Kolyat looked at his Omni-tool, thinking he really needed to let his Aunt know he was ok and not to worry, but decided he would do that when he got back from his mission. Determined he picks up his pistol and places it at the small of his back and pulls on his coat.
"Today is the day" He says aloud to himself. Checking his appearance again. He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly then heads out the door.
As he walks through a few of the rougher neighborhoods of the Shaktar Ward, he is on high alert as anything can happen and there are lots of dark alleyways. He slows his pace and leans against the wall looking around himself as he opens his Omni-tool. It looks like this crap hole is the place. Looking at the front it looks like an Apartment block, so he looks down the alley way and sees a vorcha enter through a metal door. Reaching the door he enters and allows his eyes to adjust to the darkness, approaching the bar he and orders a drink.
The human behind the bar glares at him and shoves a drink his way telling him, " Not much call for your kind of drinks here. Don't eat any of the food it will make you sick, kid. Mostly Krogan and Vorcha in here, so keep clear of 'em."
Kolyat nods and takes his drink to a small table near the wall and sits down, quietly watching the various other patrons.
After about thirty minutes he begins to think that there was nothing happening here and considers leaving. A human male walks into the bar, heading to the back and looking straight ahead. Kolyat studies the man, perhaps this was the one he needed.
As the man passes his table Kolyat says quietly, "Mouse"
The man pauses and looks at Kolyat, continuing on his way to the back of the bar, and through a door. Kolyat takes another drink, watching the door peripherally. A Vorcha walks out and stands by the door surveying the patrons and is soon joined by a Krogan. The biggest Krogan he had seen since coming to the Citadel, and they are all big!
The pair come to Kolyat's table and grab him, tipping the table and his drink onto the floor. The other patrons turn to see what the commotion is and then turn right back around and continue their drinking and discussions or stare off at the wall.
The Krogan drags him six inches off the floor, close to his face and glares at Kolyat, as the Vorcha grabs the pistol from the small of his back.
"Me likesssss de meat of Drell!" the Vorcha laughs maniacally.
The Krogan's deep booming voice filled the bar as he stated,"You are coming with us!"
Kolyat nodded grateful the Krogan had not hit him. With arms that big he could punch a hole right through him. The Krogan then drops Kolyat and the Vorcha shoves him towards the door he had been watching. It took everything Kolyat had not to visibly shake as he makes his way toward the door.
"You slow, dumb Drell!" the Vorcha hisses at him. The Krogan chuckles and nods to the door.
Kolyat did as he was told and opens the door. The Vorcha shoved him again, with his own pistol. Kolyat was presented with a hall and paused not sure where to go.
The Krogan grunts " Move! You are not worth the effort to kill you coward!"
He nudges Kolyat forward, causing him to stumble, grabbing the wall beside him to keep himself from falling. He rights himself and continues down the hall, reaching the end he notices a hall on the left, he turns and heads down, checking behind him to make sure he was going in the right direction.
"I'ssss shoot him. Then eatssss him!" The Vorcha hisses to the Krogan and the Krogan laughs.
As Kolyat reaches the door at the end, it opens and the human he saw earlier standing in front of him.
" What do you want Drell?" The man pulls out a Carnifex and motions Kolyat in. Closing the door behind him and leaving the Krogan and Vorcha outside.
Kolyat stammers a little " I... I...am looking for Mouse. I want to ask him about my father."
" Who is your father?" the man snarls at Kolyat
"...Krios, Thane Krios!" Kolyat snarls back at the man. Hoping like hell he sounded menacing and not sure if he really did.
The man lowers his weapon and stares at Kolyat for a moment. Kolyat silently sighs his relief, that seems to work. He smiles to himself his confidence building with every moment.
"Mouse! Git yer ass in here!" the man shouts.
A side door opens and a young man, not much older than himself comes in visibly shaking.
"Yeah?" He cringes as he is saying it.
Kolyat watches the scene with interest, having just found out, that his father was an assassin and a very good one at that. He also knew that his name could make the biggest criminals cringe. Thanks to some advise given to him by the volus banker.
" Tell me about Krios" the man grinds out glaring at Mouse.
"I just know him from being a kid, that's all. He used to bring us candy and stuff man..."
" Don't fucking lie to me BOY!" the man roars and raises the pistol.
Kolyat turns and is instantly behind the man with his blade in his back. " I don't think that would be a good idea."
The man laughs and says, " I don't think you want to do this son, my men are right out side that door and they seem not to...like...you."
Kolyat presses the blade slightly, "Wouldn't you rather have me on your side than someone else's?"
The man laughs and elbows Kolyat hard in the ribs, "You have balls, kiddo, that is all I can say and Krios, should have taught you not to expose yourself!"
Knocking the wind out of him, Kolyat falls to the floor glaring at the man and gasping trying to recover his breath.
" I have heard of your dad and you seem to have some talent, baby assassin. Tell you what, instead of me killing you, how about you do a little work for me. " Picking up a cigarette pack, from a nearby table, he takes one out and lights it, waiting for the Drell to respond.
Kolyat sarcastically smiles, picking himself up off the floor, he stares at the man trying to keep his stomach. The smoke is acrid to his finely tuned sense of smell and his voice quivers a little as he says, " Listen, I will do the job, but the deal is half now and last payment when I have the target down."
The man glares at Kolyat, " I said your life, not creds, fool."
Kolyat smiles cooly," Well, then I suppose my dad would know where to look if I went missing."
The man blanches a little and glares at the Drell, his eyes narrowing. Knowing what happened to the last bunch who messed with Krios.
" Fine, 5000 creds now and 5000 when the job is done" he reaches into a pocket and pulls out a data pad making a couple of adjustments and tosses it to Kolyat.
Kolyat smiles tucking the data pad in his jacket pocket, " Fine, Who and where?"