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 Five: The Wanderer I.
He knew this place.
Kolyat Krios slowly made his way along the edge of the cliffside, staring down into the sapphire-blue waters crashing up violently against the side of the cliff where he was edging along. The waves gave off icy mists, and the coldness, sharpness of the water was enough to keep the injured Drell awake- if only for the moment.
On his back was a powerful, military-grade M-98 Widow. Clenched to his chest by shaking arms was a brown-leather bound prayer book. Between its crisp, slightly damp, even bloodied pages, there was a tiny, barely noticeable bulge- as if the book was the sheathe that protected something precious.
His jacket's left arm had been torn off, revealing a dark, light shirt and a badly scratched arm- probably received from the cutting branches and leaves as he'd run through the forests. The sleeve had been tied around his right shoulder in a poor effort to stop the dark crimson blood flowing from the sword-wound. He'd been forced to tear his shoulder open in an effort to get away with the chip (and his life) when the Human with the sword attacked him.
He was bleeding out quickly.
The young Drell cursed himself for not thinking to bring medi-gel.
Kolyat gripped the book (and beyond that, the tiny object that could spell the end of everything if he didn't get away), tighter to his chest- as tightly as he could, and bit his tongue to keep from making a noise. On top of the seriousness of the wound on his right shoulder, the same arm had been (literally) almost torn apart by that biotic blast.
Random prayers flew through his mind as the pain and cold grew worse.
The one he remembered most was the prayer that he and Commander Shepard had recited together just as his father had passed away. The words and memory gave him some fleeting comfort, and the Drell continued on his way, putting his uninjured, left shoulder against the Cliffside where he traveled, and, using it as a kind of crutch, continued slowly on his way, ignoring the blood that continued to steadily flow from his open wounds.
He can hear the enemy approaching- and he knows that if there was another confrontation, he would not make it. His wounds were too great for him to have the strength left to produce any Biotic protection, and nor could he rely on the Widow- his vow made it impossible for him to take a life, and he would surely be forced to this time.
Besides, he couldn't even walk in a straight line.
How could he even make it to the Citadel in this condition, let alone fight all the way there?
His knees gave out from beneath him, and the young Drell fell against the wall of stone. His mind felt cloudy and his breathing was getting worse- the toxic atmosphere of this place was taking its deadly effect already.
Even if Cerberus didn't kill him here, there was no guarantee he would live to get to the Citadel.
But that didn't mean he wasn't going to try his damned hardest to get there first.
I knew what I signed up for, Kolyat tells himself, biting viciously on his tongue and getting back to his feet. I knew the risks of coming here, and I knew the danger.
But this truth only makes the pain worse.
Shots echo from somewhere above the Drell's head and he curses quietly aloud. Damn Cerberus, he thinks, desperately glancing at the book in his arms, How could they have caught up so quickly?
He collapses again and this time cannot get up- his body has gone numb, and he can no longer move. The Drell's eyes slowly close, and he chuckles a bit, dark, abyss-like eyes on the crashing waves and the mists the powerful waves produced. An idea came into the Drell's head, and as the footsteps and warning gunshots grew closer, Kolyat just chucked a bit, gripping the book in his arms as tightly as he could, murmuring under his breath as he slowly came to his final decision.
He had to act, he decided.
And if it meant handing himself over to the Goddess, then so be it.
"Kalahira, this one's heart is pure,
But beset by wickedness and contention.
Guide this one to where the traveler never tires,
The lover never leaves,
The hungry never starve.
Guide this one, Kalahira, and he will be a companion to you
As he was to me."
And then, willingly, just as the footsteps grew closer and he lost consciousness, Kolyat Krios ended the prayer, clutched the book to his chest, felt the furious beating of his heart one more time, closed his eyes...
And fell silently into the crashing waves beneath.
N._.S._.S