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 Eight: The Wanderer II.
Kolyat Krios' eyes flew open.
With a distressed, unintelligible shout, the panicked young Drell bolted up out of bed, becoming entangled in his blankets and sheets as he did so, eventually ending up on the ground, still half-mad from panic.
It took a few more minutes of panic for Kolyat to realize he was still alive and definitely not drowning- if the fact that he wouldn't be entangled and half-strangling himself in his own bed sheets on his bedroom floor wasn't any enough indication.
After finally disentangling himself from the sheets, Kolyat, still shaking from his nightmare, slowly emerged from his bedroom and made his way into the restroom, where he quickly ran cold water over his face.
What the hell kind of nightmare was that? Kolyat wondered, throwing the towel back onto its rack. I could have sworn I was actually...
The Drell shuddered and shook his head.
Kolyat went back into his room and dressed before deciding that some fresh air might do him some good.
I'll go into the Hanar city today, Kolyat thought, trying to think cheerfully as he picked up the brown leather-bound prayer-book that he always carried around with him. He gave the book a wry look before shaking his head and stowing it safely in the hidden pocket of his jacket.
Fresh air will definitely help, He decided firmly as he left the apartment.
Definitely.
N._.S._.S
Kolyat sighed as he started down the street from his apartment, heading toward the small docking areas. He was heading for the Hanar city, which was just outside of the Dome.
Hopefully the trip there would clear his head of the nightmare he'd had.
And what a nightmare, Kolyat thought with a shudder.
Or, of course, just make it worse.
Kolyat sat at the very back of the shuttle, behind two very agitated-looking Drell, neither of whom paid him any mind as he passed them. A few minutes later, Kolyat found himself listening in on their conversation.
"…just no way." The older of the two was saying, rather quietly.
"You want to go out there and prove me wrong?" The younger demanded. "I saw them!"
"You're full of it, Dari."
As Kolyat eavesdropped on them, he made sure to concentrate his gaze on the outside, into the grey, misty sky, hoping that what he was doing wasn't too obvious as he did so, as the bickering Drell continued their conversation, unaware of their uninvited guest.
"I swear, it was Cerberus!" The younger Drell, the one named Dari, snapped, folding his arms crossly. Out of the corner of his eye, Kolyat watched the older Drell shake his head in exasperation.
"Why would Cerberus come here? Last I checked, they were finished."
"They're here for that blasted Reaper, and they're up to no good."
Kolyat continued listening to them, grimacing a bit as he did so.
Nine or ten months ago, during the very beginning of the Reaper War, a single Reaper breached Kahje's incredibly strong, automated defense systems, but for some reason, never attacked either the Hanar city, or the Drell dome, instead it just froze, like something in the very air stopped it.
The massive abomination fell out of the air and landed somewhere on one of Kahje's many tiny islands, most likely the one closest to the massive underwater volcano, Vassla.
It never resurfaced- and it never sent drones or husks into the air to kill them all, or swarmed the island it landed on with its abominations as far as anyone knew.
It just died spontaneously, without cause.
Of course, the Hanar rejoiced and claimed the miracle to be the Enkindler's doing, while the few Drell who still embraced the old ways claimed it was Arashu; the Goddess of Motherhood and Protection, who conceived this miracle. Another group thought it was just a plain damn miracle in every sense of the world.
Others still, like Kolyat, took a less optimistic way of thinking- it was either a trap, or something else.
What else it could have been at the time, Kolyat didn't know.
After some deliberation, Kolyat had contacted his father, telling him about the Reaper's "mysterious" landing, and Thane had immediately cautioned him against prying too deeply into the matter, asking him to stay away from it- as long as it didn't resurface again, stay where he was.
The Reaper's landing is indeed suspicious, and I will see if I can find anything about it, Thane had written back, but do not approach it under any circumstance. I have no idea if it's still a danger, but even if it is not, I do not want you putting yourself into danger out of mere curiosity. Stay safe.
Of course, the possibility of a trap was quietly extinguished when the Navy reports came in six months ago, saying that Commander Joleen Shepard had successfully activated the Crucible, destroying the Reapers forever- except, apparently, that one, because a scanning of Kahje's islands reported that it was still there.
And as far as Kolyat knew, the Hanar officials had yet to tell the Council of it- it had probably just slipped their minds, with everything else going on in the Galaxy, with the repairs and all.
Besides, as long as the mechanical monster didn't start moving again… it couldn't be that important, right?
Somehow, Kolyat knew differently.
'Mere curiosity,' indeed. Kolyat thought, watching silently as the still-bickering Drell stood up as the shuttle came to a slow stop.
"We've got to warn the Illuminated Prophecy," Dari was saying, quietly.
That one was enough to jerk Kolyat out of his thoughts instantly- was the kid so serious about what he saw down on those islands that he'd take it straight to the Hanar? It was true that they'd probably listen, but it still seemed so unlikely...
"Of what, Cerberus? No one but you has seen them, and that Reaper's dead either way." The older scoffed.
"But Cerberus is down there!"
Give it a rest, Kolyat wanted to say to him, He doesn't believe you, and he's not going to change his mind until something happens to prove it.
But he just sat back and listened more as the conversation began to fade.
"Cerberus is finished, Dari, and anyone who tells you otherwise is a fool," the older Drell said, this time a little more gently. "Come on, you know that those forests down there play tricks. Let's go get something to eat, okay? You can tell me all about what you think you saw over drinks..."
The younger just nodded gloomily and followed suit, without another word.
As the shuttle started moving again, Kolyat sighed, and let his thoughts wander.
N._.S._.S