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 Fifty-Four: The Missing XI.

"What is this doing here?"

Shepard looked up from her terminal to find Garrus standing by the dresser. The dresser was laden down with photographs.

There were five of them.

The first was of Ashley.

The Gunnery Chief grins as Shepard shows her the camera and Garrus watches in fascination as both ladies laugh together, playing around with it, taking random pictures. Finally Shepard asks Ashley to pose so she can have a good photograph of her. Ash sits on top of her weapons desk and gives Shepard two thumbs up, grinning all the while.

The second was of the first crew.

Shepard was fooling with her camera again, three days after they'd taken down Saren. She'd gotten everyone together for a photo before Garrus left for C-Sec and Wrex left for Tuchanka. Her arm is around Kaidan, and Joker's in front, giving them a grin next to Chakwas, Pressley and Anderson, who'd just become Councilor. Garrus, Liara, and Tali are around them, laughing and cheerful, as Wrex sulks in the corner, not at all happy about being included…

The third was of Thane and Garrus, lining up shots.

Shepard had gotten tired of Thane never leaving the Life Support room. To make sure he didn't "waste away" in there, she ordered Garrus to take him down to the Cargo Bay, where she had already set up targets with a somewhat enthusiastic Jack and an over-enthusiastic Grunt. She was watching, hidden with her camera. Thane and Garrus had gotten into it after a while, seeing who indeed the best shot was. Thane was down by one, Garrus was leading by one.

The looks of pure concentration on both of their faces were incredibly funny.

Of course, the clicking of Shepard's camera made Thane miss the shot by two full centimeters.

Or so he said later.

The forth was of the entire second crew.

The human part of the crew- Miranda, Jacob, Chakwas, Kelly, Kenneth, Gabriella, Joker, and the others were standing in a small cluster- each one smiling into the camera, even Miranda. Shepard and Garrus were in the middle, Shepard's arm around Garrus, the other around Tali. Shepard was grinning. Thane and Samara were standing stoically on Garrus' side, while Grunt, with a highly enthusiastic Mordin on his shoulder, stood behind Shepard and Garrus. Legion and Jack stood in the back, carefully making it so they were half-way hidden.

The final was of only Garrus and Shepard.

This was just before C-Sec and the Alliance stormed the Normandy after they landed there after the Collector Base. Shepard's dark brown eyes are glistening, not yet haunted as the next year would make them. Garrus' head is turned toward her, hiding the scars on the other side of his face, and they're both grinning broadly at the camera. Shepard would present him with a copy just before communications with her were cut off.

"What?" Shepard asked as Garrus picked something up. He came over to her, holding something small in both taloned hands. When he handed it to her, Shepard realized it was the ring-

She'd forgotten about it.

Until now, that is.

"Oh…" She took it from him and put it back on, smiling as he watched her with half-curious, ice-blue eyes. "Thanks," she told him, "Can't go out there without this, can I?"

Garrus gives her an approving nod. "Well, that and your gun."

She chuckles. "I think I'd rather have this," she flashes the ring as she stands up and takes out a fresh datapad. "Come on," she laughed, "We've got a little more work to do, big boy."

Garrus follows, but his mind is thinking about something else.

Why was she not wearing that ring before now?

N._.S._.S

"Looks like everything's in place," Sparatus said, just as Shepard and Garrus entered the War Room. Adelais, after glancing at Shepard and Garrus and nodding in a polite greeting, quickly turned back to face the Councilor, folding his arms in an unusually irate way.

"And the civilians?" He asked, sharply.

"Most are accounted for," Sparatus answered with a careless wave of his hand.

"Most?" Now Victus spoke up. "Most? That's not good enough, Sparatus."

"You want to go digging around the ducts? Be my guest. C-SEC has more important matters to-"

"With all due respect, Councilor," Shepard cut in, dark brown eyes narrowing at the Councilor as she handed Victus one of her datapads, "Speaking ill of the duct-rats while one is in the room is not a good idea."

Councilor Sparatus rounded on her. "Commander Shepard," he said, tightly, "I understand your sympathies with them, but we have little time to waste-"

"On saving lives?" Shepard cut in again. She placed one hand on her hip and turned her head to Adelais. "You worked C-Sec years back, didn't you?" She asked him, in a slightly kinder voice.

"Yes," Adelais answered promptly, "A long time back."

"And C-Sec's purpose back then was still protecting civilians, was it not?"

Adelais nodded.

"No matter who or what they were?"

"Of course."

Shepard nodded once. "Glad to see there's still a heart out there."

Ignoring Adelais' stunned look and Garrus' chuckle, Shepard rounded back to the Councilor, under the Primarch's silent, amused gaze. "Let me tell you something," she said, folding her arms tightly across her chest, dark brown eyes narrowing again, "Back in New York, even the Red Jack Gang defended their own. You going to tell me that you, a Councilor, figurehead of an entire Galaxy, isn't any better than a lowly group of orphans?"

Turning her head back to Adelais, she added, "Tell Bailey from me that saving all the civilians, duct-rats or not, is still their top priority," she ordered, without even considering the fact that not only did she pose no authority over the old Turian, but he also actually outranked her.

Adelais actually gave her a quick salute before turning on his heel and disappearing.

"With pleasure, Commander."

Shepard turned to give the Councilor a glare before looking over at Garrus. "Come on," she said, in a kinder voice, "We've got one last thing to do."

Garrus followed her, and could still hear the Primarch laughing his ass off even when the door closed.

N._.S._.S

"That was the most despicable moves I've seen since the Reaper War," Shepard declared as they returned to her cabin. "Did he actually expect me to go for that?"

"You just ordered my dad around," Garrus answered, still incredulous.

"What?" Shepard sat down on her bed and gave Garrus a strange look.

"Joleen," Garrus said, slowly, "You just ordered my dad around."

Shepard rose a brow. "Did I?"

"No one gets away with ordering my dad around," Garrus answered with a chuckle, sitting down next to her, "Not even Primarch Fedorian got away with it."

Shepard just blinked at him in confusion.

N._.S._.S