Mass Effect: The Tale of a Million Ends.

Summary: "The Reapers are gone. Cerberus is gone. It's been a quiet five years since the Reaper's defeat and Cerberus' attempted takeover, but that doesn't mean that the Galaxy is going back to normal- or back to whatever "normal" was supposed to be- anytime soon. Now, nothing is what it seems as old foes, and even older wounds, suddenly start to resurface, threatening the balance of the entire Galaxy on a whole new, terrifying level. So, once again, follow the Promise-Keeper, as he navigates through a cruel, "old-new" world, uncovering secret after secret, clinging desperately to a special promise he'll do anything to keep along the way. Then, follow the Missing as she heads back to where it all started for one last fight that will decide everything- and force her to choose between her past and future once and for all. And follow the Wanderer, as he discovers a grim, devastating reality of his own, and, as he comes to terms with it (with a little help), watch him follow a new, lonely path that just might make all the difference in the end to the people who never even knew it existed in the first place. Then, finally, follow the Old Soldier as he contemplates his life, his mysterious past, and the end he can feel is coming, all as he is suddenly thrust into the middle of one more battle- one that he knows can only be his last." (The Promise-Keeper: Garrus Vakarian. The Missing: Joleen Shepard. The Wanderer: Kolyat Krios. The Old Soldier: Adelais Vakarian)

Warning: This story is a sequel to the story, "Every Story Has A Million Tales," for all those out there who don't know that already. I highly suggest going back and reading that before continuing with this one, because it really will make a difference. In all seriousness, this story will be heavier and darker than the previous story, because of themes including: vulgar language, blood/gore, violence, a character death, references to child abuse/neglect, and other mature ideas. You have hereby been warned, so I don't want to see any more complaints in my email.

Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect. Do not make me say it again.

Author's Note: Just so we're clear, the name "Adelais" is still Latin for "noble" and the name "Carissa" still means "the most beloved one." The name "Caecilius" means "blind one." Please be on the lookout for more of these Latin names, because they all mean something and might have an impact on the story.

N._.s._.S

Chapter Three: The Wanderer I.

Kolyat Krios stood patient and still as he watched the Citadel finally come into view, keeping a firm grasp on the old, brown-leather prayer-book he always kept with him all the while.

The five years since Cerberus' attempted takeover had been almost maddeningly quiet, but Kolyat was (but perhaps not the only one) grateful for it. He'd ended up losing his left arm to one of Cerberus' assassins during the last part of the battle, and had come closer to death more times than he ever thought possible on Kahje's own grounds, when he ventured down into the Vassla Islands to retrieve the Control Chip (the fried remains of which were still in his possession), the device Cerberus was going to use to bring back a dormant Reaper to destroy the Citadel, thereby effectively taking control of the Galaxy.

But, with a little luck (and help from "the other side"), Kolyat succeeded in stopping them.

It wasn't just luck and me, a quiet voice pointed out, You were the one who did what needed to be done.

Keeping his eyes carefully trained on the landing decks, while in reality keeping his eyes on the reflection of the Drell standing behind him, Kolyat replied smoothly, like this conversation had been had many times before.

You and I both know that I would have either been killed or killed myself down there without you there.

That's not true, Thane Krios told him, gravely.

Is too.

His late father had appeared to him in the form of a spirit invisible and inaudible to anyone else but him, and guided him through challenging Cerberus on the Vassla Islands to getting to the Citadel and facing off with Hades in the end, and Kolyat credited him with the entire victory (well, him and Joleen Shepard, whom the Control Chip enabled with the power to destroy Cerberus once and for all), despite the fact that he may or may not be a figment of his imagination and/or just the product of his own insanity.

But, whichever it was, he accepted it.

Thane, on the other hand, credited Kolyat with the entire victory, stubbornly saying that he only enabled Kolyat to act, and that Shepard, or "Siha," as the former assassin frequently called her, taking control and destroying the Reaper and Cerberus, was only a product of his actions.

While he was certainly justified, Kolyat did not want to take responsibility for the victory, mostly because he hated the stares he got every single day after it happened. Even now, five years later, people were constantly staring at him, and while they probably didn't mean it to be creepy, that's exactly what Kolyat thought it was.

Creepy.

N._.s._.S

As he'd expected, the moment he disembarked the ship, he ran into a few Hanar and Salarian representatives as well as a few SECs, who immediately swarmed him as he headed up to the Embassies.

As an Ambassador of the Illuminated Prophecy (and one of the first Drell ever appointed directly by them), Kolyat went back and forth, however infrequently as it was, between Kahje and the Citadel, meeting with the Councilors, giving reports, and then, more often than not, meeting privately with the Salarian Councilor, Valern.

His main focus, mostly because he'd refused to be (directly) involved with Galactic politics from the very beginning, therefore removing himself from the unnecessary stresses and annoyances he felt he'd face right off the bat, was working directly with the Salarian Task Group (STG) to find a cure for Kepral's Syndrome- a goal he personally had dedicated himself to immediately after accepting the position, and something Valern and the Prophecy applauded and backed almost the moment he proposed it days after being asked to office.

Unfortunately, even with all the vast resources the combined efforts of the STG and the Illuminated Prophecy had and worked with tirelessly for the past five years, it just wasn't enough.

There were still no viable results.

Yet.

"If we continue our efforts, we should be able to find a cure within a few years, perhaps within the next thirty," one of the Salarian reps said, jerking Kolyat out of his thoughts.

"This one believes that also," a Hanar spoke up, "It has been well worth the effort so far."

"Even if we did find a cure," another Salarian interjected, "Dispersal would not begin right away."

"Why not?" Kolyat asked, looking down on him curiously.

"Too many variables," the Salarian explained, quickly, "We'd have to test it for a couple years at least, just in case something goes wrong. We could end up causing mutations or something equally unpleasant."

"Equally unpleasant?"

"I'm not a scientist," the rep said with a shrug, "I'm just guessing from the reports, but yes. Genetic mutations, failures of major organs because of chemical makeup in cure, repercussions on reproductions, possibilities are endless, and almost anything can trigger them."

"I didn't expect it to be that complex," Kolyat admitted, "So that's why it's taken so long so far."

You didn't think of that possibility?

No, I didn't. At least, not on this level.

Science is a tricky thing, Thane warned him sagely as he and the others stepped out of the elevator (which Kolyat hadn't realized they'd entered), into the Embassy level, If done properly, what is made can have the potential to save thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of lives; but if there's even one mistake, even if it is even on the molecular level, it can destroy all of them.

That's terrifying to think of, Kolyat declared.

Yes, but necessary.

N._.s._.S

"The reports are pretty clear cut, if you ask me. Just tell Councilor Valern that we need more STG support-and remember to give him these," the Drell rep, whose name Kolyat was pretty sure was Camden, as he handed over a fairly large stack of papers, "They're the newest reports from the main lab."

"The Salarian Councilor has already given the cause a largely generous amount of support," a Hanar interjected politely, "This one is not sure asking for more is for the best."

"Especially if we don't have enough to show for it," Kolyat added with a nod, "I think keeping course with what we have now is more than enough until we at least find something new."

"Agreed, but the STG is still lacking the people and equipment necessary to run efficiently," Camden pointed out, "And we could always use more scientists and physicians, at least."

Kolyat seconded that one.

While the support from the STG had been pretty much overwhelming at first, Kolyat had noticed that it was beginning to fizzle out, finding that some members were unwilling to put in the time and effort into Kepral's Syndrome that was originally assigned to them-

Something that, of course, offended him personally.

He believed it was saying what they were working on was unimportant, or worse, hopeless.

As Camden went on and on, out of the corner of his eye, Kolyat spotted two very familiar faces heading up the stairs towards them, and he couldn't help but smile at the sight.

It was none other than Joleen Shepard, backed by her constant companion (and mate) Garrus Vakarian.

Since the incident five years ago, Kolyat had kept in touch with the two, along with Garrus' father, the Chief Advisor and former C-SEC Detective Adelais Vakarian (who kept him updated on the goings-on in the Galaxy), and James Vega (who called him every other month from his station on Earth to have friendly conversation and "catch up" on each other's lives), finding their experience and insight on everything from talking to the Council to politics especially helpful.

She looks different than when we last saw her a couple months ago, Thane declared, suddenly, and Kolyat sensed a bit of deep satisfaction in his voice, As does Garrus. They look…

Happier?

Yes.

As the two made it upstairs and headed to the Executor's Office (it took Kolyat a second to remember that the Turian had been appointed to that position), Shepard seemed to recognize him, and discreetly pointed him out to her mate, causing Garrus to look over at him for a split second before the two (surprisingly) just went into the office without saying anything.

Huh.

Before Kolyat could say anything or even wave to them, the door to the Salarian Councilor's office open, and Valern's familiar voice called out to them from inside.

"Enter!"

And with that, he was pushed inside.

N._.s._.S

"I'm all for getting you the equipment and STG support that this report outlines, Ambassador Krios," Valern announced after a quick view of the reports, "But I am sorry that you feel they are giving up."

"It's not that they're giving up," Kolyat answered, kindly, taking the report back and skimming through it, "It's just that they don't have the motivation they did four years ago."

"That's four years ago," the Salarian countered, smartly, "You can't expect them to behave the same."

"I understand, but that's no reason to stop trying just because we didn't find anything this time."

"Agreed… and the facilities?" Valern added, sharply, "They're to your people's tastes?"

"Of course. There were never any problems with that," Kolyat answered, quickly, "Our main HQ, as we discussed in the beginning, is on Kahje for easier access for my people, and there's a lab that we collaborate with the STG on Sur'Kesh that sends over people of their own and new data every other week."

"So, its equipment and fresh people you need?"

"Yes."

"So be it," Valern said, "Was there anything else?"

"No, that's about it."

"Good," the Salarian said, standing as Kolyat did the same, "That takes care of that."

Kolyat picked up the other datapad and locked the one he already had, saving the crucial documents inside, already planning to hand copies over to the reps waiting downstairs, "Thank you very much, Councilor," he said with a nod, "We couldn't do this without your help."

The Councilor just waved him off.

N._.s._.S

That was easy enough.

It was just Garrus- he's friendly and easy enough to talk to, unlike most of the other people I run into, Kolyat responded cheerfully as he entered the apartment he'd rented for the next few days, But yes; talking with people is getting easier, I suppose. Better than five years ago.

He'd run into Garrus Vakarian after handing over the datapads (and reiterating everything Valern had said) to the reps. The Turian had somehow managed to sneak up on him- and Thane, surprisingly, who'd usually stopped that sort of thing. They'd talked, after getting past the pleasantries, about all sorts of things, from Kolyat's job, what the two of them had been up to, and even about Kolyat's healing injury from five years ago.

And yet you still run when those reporters come after you.

I don't run.

Then you walk very quickly.

It's not my job to speak with those people, Kolyat retorted, defensively, If they want to talk to someone, they can talk to the reps. That's part of their job, isn't it?

Shepard never got people to follow her by letting 'representatives' take care of the talking.

Did I ask what Shepard did?

Kolyat…

Fine, fine. Sorry.

Out of nervous compulsion, Kolyat slowly touched the smooth leather concealing his missing limb, remembering with a shiver how terrible it was for him that first year, even after he was elected as Ambassador to the Illuminated Prophecy and his inspiration to use that newfound influence to help cure one of the most deadly diseases the Galaxy had ever known, just how difficult it was to learn to live with his missing limb.

There were the days he could swear on his life that the missing limb was still there (a thing that one of his physicians referred to as 'the ghost-limb complex'), only to stare blankly at empty space as he tried lifting it. Then there were the days when he practiced his Biotics that he ended up either doing something completely by accident or putting in too much power that whatever he was using imploded with the force.

And, on top of all that, there were the nervous breakdowns that rendered him incapacitated and rambling like a madman, sending him, more often than not, into a darkness that only Thane could help him escape.

Your soul, not your arm, was what was damaged, Thane had told him, gently, slowly, as he had resurfaced from one of these latest episodes not even a week ago, There are other, deeper scars that reside elsewhere inside you that you will one day have to face alone, without me to guide you.

Kolyat wasn't ever sure that he would ever be strong enough the day that came.

N._.s._.S

So sorry for the late post!

It was one hell of a week!

Anyway, tell me what you think.

Is this better than the other tries?

XD