Mass Effect: Each Story Has A Million Tales.
Summary: "There is always more than just one side to a story- and more than one lesson to learn. Follow Garrus Vakarian as he stands by a promise that he means to keep, contemplates the true meaning of life, death, and the ultimate sacrifice, and as he confronts someone who should have been behind him all along. Follow Adelais Vakarian as he mends a broken bond, and as he comes to terms with a terrible loss of his own. Follow Kolyat Krios as he navigates through a very dangerous place, only to find another- under the guidance of someone who may or may not be there at all. And follow Commander Joleen Shepard as she goes through her past and present, only to find herself in the middle of a battle for her future." (Garrus' Story: 'The Promise-Keeper.' Adelais' Story: 'The Old Soldier.' Kolyat's Story: 'The Wanderer.' Shepard's Story: 'The Missing.')
Warning: "This is a heavy one- some swearing, angst, implied adult situations, adult situations, a few character deaths, violence, and blood. All the big ones this time. Remember, this is my Shepard, my feelings on the game and what should have happened and will happen, with my own opinions and storyline, so no nasty comments. Got it? Good." (Commander Joleen Shepard: War Hero, Earthborn. Soldier. Paragon. Romanced Kaidan Alenko in the 1st game, Garrus Vakarian in the 2nd and 3rd. Shot and killed Udina during the Citadel Coup.)
Disclaimer: "I do not own Mass Effect. At all. So don't make me say it again."
Author's Note: "Just so you all know, the name 'Adelais,' is Latin for 'Noble,' and the name 'Carissa' means 'the most beloved one.' Personally, I just thought the two names fit the story and what the characters were meant for."
N._.S._.S
Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Wanderer XI.
He doesn't remember much of what happened after he hit the water.
Only that it was one of the most terrifying experiences of his life.
He was dragged under the violent currents instantaneously, and tossed around, slamming into rocks again and again, opening old and new wounds alike, until he finally fell unconscious.
The last thing he remembered seeing was a bright, sun-like object, like an eye, far beneath him.
N._.S._.S
Waking up wrapped in heavy bandages, blankets, with his prayer-book (which still sheathed the somehow undamaged Control Chip), sitting safely beside him on a table, accompanied by a glass and pitcher of water, without feeling any pain at all, in a brightly-lit, cheerful-looking hospital room was not expected.
Actually, it was the last thing he expected.
His left arm, shoulder, and torso was covered completely in heavy bandages, leading Kolyat to believe that Medi-gel, even had he had thought to bring it with him, wouldn't have made anything easier- which didn't really help, of course, with all things considered.
But...
I'm alive. He thought, stunned. I actually made it.
He slowly sat up, wincing a bit at the sharp protest from his wounds, and attempted to reach for the prayer-book, but found that only his right arm would obey. He focused on moving his left arm, but not only was it completely numb; he'd lost control of it completely.
He had been hurt.
Worse than he could have imagined.
He'd probably lose his arm completely for this.
But I am alive.
Commander Shepard is awake, he thought, as coherent thoughts finally began to override the shock and horror building up inside him, And Cerberus and the Reaper are probably on their way to the Citadel already. Depending on how long I've been unconscious...
It could already be too late.
Kolyat felt the fear continuing to creep up deep inside him, overwhelming the shock, as he pulled off the warm, soft blankets covering him.
He was instantly confronted with more bandages.
"Is the Island-Dweller awake already?"
Kolyat looked up, startled.
A Hanar drifted toward him, stopping at the foot of the bed, and Kolyat instantly recognized it as the same one that he'd spoken with before leaving to Vassla.
"The Island-Dweller is badly injured."
"How did you find me?" Kolyat responded.
"This one did not. Secs found the Island Dweller unconscious on the shores of the Vassla Island. It has been unconscious for two days."
"Two days?"
Kolyat didn't mean to raise his voice, but he couldn't help it.
The Reaper and Cerberus had a two-day head start on him!
The Hanar didn't seem to mind the shout. In fact, it seemed to pity him.
"The Island-Dweller cannot travel," it said, probably guessing what Kolyat was thinking, "It is too badly injured, and it's arm must be amputated."
Amputated?
"No," Kolyat said, firmly, "No. That's not happening."
"It must," the Hanar answered, "it must if the Island-Dweller wishes to live."
"I need to get to the Citadel." Kolyat countered, impatiently.
The Hanar considered him for a moment. "The Island-Dweller must be treated first."
"There's no time for that. I need to get there as fast as possible. Or..." Kolyat paused, remembering the terrible things his father told him would come to pass, "Or something horrible is going to happen."
"The Island-Dweller's life is in danger. If it's wounds are not taken care of, it will die."
"The Citadel is in danger. I need to get there before Cerberus does," Kolyat was surprised how calm his voice sounded, even to him- there wasn't the slightest tremor, the slightest doubt. "Please."
Again, the Hanar considered him. "Cerberus, it claims. So the Illuminated Prophecy's fears were indeed correct. Cerberus has taken control of the Reaper on Vassla Island."
Kolyat nodded, but didn't say anything.
"This one will ensure that the Island-Dweller gets to the Citadel. It will also ensure that Cerberus does not make any attempts upon its life. In return," the Hanar gave him what Kolyat interpreted to be its best determined look, "It will promise this one it will receive treatment once the Citadel is warned of impending danger."
"Of course," Kolyat assured him, excitement overthrowing fear.
"It must promise," the Hanar persisted, gently.
"I promise," Kolyat answered, just as kindly.
I promise.
N._.S._.S
Despite not being able to use his right arm, Kolyat at least could move on his own, with the help of a few pain-killers, a meal, and another hour or two of sleep.
He was gently awoken by the Hanar, who was able to pull a few strings in order to give Kolyat a fighting chance of getting to the Citadel before Cerberus. It wanted to accompany Kolyat to ensure that he fulfilled his promise, but it could not- so it trusted him.
The Drell who would pilot the small, fast Navy vehicle the Hanar was allowing him to borrow had given him not only a new set of clothes, but also a weapon; an old-issue, Alliance-grade Widow.
These things would follow him for the rest of his life, Kolyat was sure.
Because of his wounds, the purposely loose, black shirt was asymmetrical, meaning that it covered his badly injured left arm, but not his uninjured right arm, mostly because it prevented him from using his right arm even if he could- and using the Biotics again, Kolyat was also told in an undertone, was not a good idea.
Unbeknownst to Kolyat at the time, it was the Biotics that had ripped his arm and hand apart, not the sword- which had done its own damage (severing the nerves connecting arm and shoulder, rendering both useless).
And because Kolyat had not shown Biotic potential ever before and there was no time for him to learn how to use it, the Drell physician warned him that using it again would probably damage his body more than any other wound- meaning it would kill him if he overexerted it.
So, the rule was he couldn't use it at all, just to be on the safe side.
He'd also been given a belted jacket that reminded Kolyat of the one his father had once used, one that was able to shield the prayer-book (and a few thermal clips for the Widow), and a pair of gloves- which, he'd been told in an undertone, inhibited his Biotics and prevented them from releasing; therefore stopping him from accidentally killing himself.
"It is very important," the pilot (who also happened to be a SEC), "that you use as little of your remaining strength as possible. If we are attacked at any point, by Cerberus or otherwise, you must allow me to fight. If you do not, I fear that your chances of reaching the Citadel alive will be lost."
"And what happens if I have no choice?" Kolyat answered, quietly, looking down at the Widow at his feet.
"You're the kid who promised not to kill anyone, aren't you? The one following the Old Ways?" The pilot had answered, giving him a strange look when Kolyat nodded.
"Yes, I am. Why?"
"Just leave it to me," the SEC told him, nodding. "Don't worry about a thing."
"I've had too many things go wrong recently to do that," Kolyat countered, bluntly.
"I can tell."
The SEC had given him a kind look as the small shuttle lifted off. He glanced out the passenger window and pointed. "Look," he said, abruptly, "You've made a friend."
That same Hanar floated there, watching silently as they lifted off.
Kolyat waved at it before settling back.
"You're too young to worry all the time," the SEC told him after a long moment of considering silence, "Much too young. Leave that to me."
Kolyat chuckled and shook his head.
"Tell that to my father and see what he says."
N._.S._.S
"You're bleeding again."
Kolyat had been in and out of exhausted unconsciousness for the past few hours, ever since they had officially entered Council Space- they were only two or three hours away from the Citadel now.
The shuttle that the SECs had generously lent them was actually, Kolyat had discovered, one of their best. It was fast and quiet. Not as advanced as the Normandy (not by a long shot), but it was too small to appear on radar, but too big to be mistaken for an intruder by the Citadel.
"You want to go to C-Sec HQ first, right?" The SEC (whose name kept eluding Kolyat for some reason, no matter how many times the good-natured Drell told him) asked him. Kolyat nodded.
"It's probably the safest place," Kolyat answered, as he gingerly touched the wound in his shoulder. Like the SEC had said, he was bleeding again. The wound refused to close, no matter how many times Kolyat applied Medi-gel, but thanks to the pain meds that Kolyat took every few hours, his wound was not painful. "Cerberus cannot attack me there or they'll be exposed."
The SEC gave him a nod. "I understand. We'll be there in a few more hours."
N._.S._.S
"The Commander is awake and well, for the most part."
Kolyat was standing at the edge of the Great Lake when he heard his father's voice, and he waited until Thane appeared next to him, before turning his head to look at him.
"That's good to hear, father," Kolyat answered, "Will she be able to fight?"
"It is doubtful. Her condition is still weak. Given that Cerberus will attack in less than two days, I suggest that you continue your plan- go to C-Sec as quickly as possible when you get to the Citadel, and alert the Council after explaining the situation to Shepard. Hopefully," Thane continued, "that will be enough."
"And if it's not?"
"Then all will be lost."
"Cheery," Kolyat responded, shaking his head. "Good to know."
His father folded his arms and gave him a small smile. "You were the one who asked."
"You could have said something else. Something more inspiring."
"What could I have said?"
"Oh, I don't know," Kolyat said, sarcastically, "Something less ominous, maybe?"
At that, Thane chuckled. "And what would lying do? This is indeed an ominous situation, is it not?"
"You had no problem last time." Kolyat pointed out, bitterly.
"I actually told you that this would not be easy, if I remember correctly."
"That wasn't what I was talking about."
"Oh?" Thane seemed rather puzzled now.
Kolyat folded his arms. "You know exactly what I'm talking about," he told him, quietly. "And it has nothing to do with Cerberus."
Thane didn't answer.
Kolyat knelt before the lake and dipped his uninjured hand into it. Even though he knew this was a dream, or a very elaborate vision, the water felt as cool as ever. "I saw it, you know," he informed him, quietly. "I know what happened the day you died."
"Do you?" Thane responded, not meeting his eyes.
"You protecting the Councilor when the assassin attacked. Bailey gave me the vid."
Again, no answer.
"Why did you do it?"
"Because the Commander would not have made it in time." Thane responded, quickly.
"... Of course."
Thane shot him a worried look. "You do not believe me?"
"I believe you," Kolyat assured him.
"Then why does it sound as though you do not?"
"It's too obvious."
"You think I had an ulterior motive?"
"No, I don't. Like I said, it's so obvious. I should have thought of it."
After a long moment of silence, Kolyat stood back up and turned toward his father. "Do you know why I went to the Citadel two years ago?" He asked him, suddenly, sharply.
Thane looked startled, but he answered calmly. "You were angry."
"That's it? I was angry?" Kolyat repeated, though not unkindly. "That's all you think it was?"
Thane folded his arms. "Go on."
"I wanted to know what it was about it that made you leave." Kolyat told him, simply, matter-of-factly. "I had no idea back then that what you did wasn't a good thing, and no one would tell me otherwise."
"I see."
"I'm glad you stopped me," Kolyat continued, quietly. "I just didn't know it until I was back home."
"It was the Commander," Thane responded at last. "She is the one who truly stopped you. Thank her when this is all over."
Kolyat felt a smile coming. "You'll be proud, then? No matter what happens?"
Thane looked startled at the question, but nonetheless he gave him a quick smile and a nod. "No matter what," he confirmed, "I'll always be proud of you."
Always.
N._.S._.S
He'd made it.
Actually, they'd made it.
"Here we are," the SEC announced, gaily, as Kolyat stepped out of the shuttle, "The Citadel."
The Citadel, quite surprisingly, looked as if the War had never even touched it. There were cheerful faces, no matter the race, everywhere, some of them looking as if they hadn't a care in the world, while others merely looked happier than they had just a year ago.
Even the Keepers looked too happy.
Kolyat couldn't help but smile at the scene before him.
"I can't believe it," he said, "We actually made it."
The SEC grinned back. "All right," he said, cheerfully. "You hurry to C-Sec now. Executor Bailey probably already has his eye on you- the Illuminated Prophecy got word through while you were asleep," he instructed, "So he knows you're on your way, and will come after you personally if you're not there in a few minutes."
So the Prophecy did know what was going on!
"Thank you," Kolyat responded, "for everything."
The SEC shrugged. "You can pay me back by making sure Cerberus doesn't kill us all," he said, "Oh, and when you get back to Kahje," he added, merrily, "you and I are getting drinks."
"Can't wait," Kolyat answered with a nod. "See you there."
With another wave, the SEC returned to his shuttle and disappeared into the skies again.
Just as Kolyat turned away, he realized that he still didn't know the SEC's name.
N._.S._.S
Okay, here's the deal, people. I didn't like how the last few chapters you guys remembered went, so I combined Kolyat's last to chapters, 37 and 39, if you hadn't noticed. I'm also redoing Adelais' last chapter, chapter 38.
This is to move things along a little better.
Don't worry, I promise there'll be some more action for Shep and Garrus later.
XD
And thanks for all the support- all the Reviews, Favorites, and Follows! I appreciate it!
Thanks especially to:
Pheerthanite X
Yoruki Hiiragizawa Yoruki Hiiragizawa
Barbex
And of course,
Kasena and Eros.
Thank you!
XD