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 Nine: The Promise-Keeper IV.
When Garrus was growing up, he and his father naturally got along better. Like all young children, especially Turian children, Garrus saw his father as a hero.
He cherished the few times his father took the time to play "catch the criminal" with him, reveled in the awesomeness when Adelais taught him how to shoot for the first time, and drank in the praise his father gave to him when he joined the military at a young age.
However, as Garrus grew older, and especially after his mother fell ill for the first time, his vision of the super-cool C-Sec detective and seasoned military veteran father he loved slowly faded away.
Now, in Garrus' opinion, his father was a bitter, stubborn old man who hated anyone who didn't see things his way, and refused to see the Galaxy for what it had become- a place where racism against Humans was not to be tolerated anymore.
The arguments started quickly as Garrus grew into adulthood, and sooner or later, his mother and sister were constantly dragging them apart. They were always at each other's throats, for big and little things alike, and these arguments only grew in intensity and bitterness when Adelais forced Garrus to drop out of the Spectre program to join C-Sec instead.
And Garrus had had the nerve to think that being right- proving that his father had been wrong (which he'd done before, but nothing to this extreme) about everything- from the Spectres and the Council, all the way down to the Reapers- Adelais would have at least said so himself- and maybe even have accepted it.
The father he'd admired and wanted to become just like as a kid had morphed into the embodiment of someone that Garrus hoped to the Spirits above that he would never become.
And he later thanked them because it later came true.
He was nothing like Adelais Vakarian.
And never would be.
N._.S._.S
That could have gone better.
Or maybe a lot better.
But of all the things he could have said about Shepard, Garrus thought, angrily, as he entered Shepard's room, It had to be about her being Human.
As far as Garrus was concerned, his father's comment about Shepard being Human was the last straw. Sure, he was glad his father got off of Palaven alive (other than the fact that it was Sidonis to save him), as glad as he could ever have been, but he'd thought after everything- after all the insults, all those pointless jabs at the Spectres, after all the unwarranted hatred his father put into Humanity as a whole… after being proved wrong about everything...
He could have at least accepted Shepard.
"Who was it?" Was the first thing Tali asked as he entered the room.
"My dad," Garrus answered, shortly, taking back his place next to Shepard's bed.
Tali's excited "Oh, he made it? I'm so happy for you!" was drowned out by Vega's more accurate, "And I take it the reunion wasn't good?"
"My dad is an asshole." Garrus responded, bitterly, ignoring Tali's comment. "Always was."
"But you expected different this time?" Vega continued, nodding his head in understanding.
"Yeah. A lot different." Garrus said, quietly. "Especially when he talked about Shepard."
"He didn't approve, did he? Of the two of you?" Tali asked, meekly.
"He hates Humans. Shepard's no exception. Especially because she's... well, Shepard."
"So he hates Spectres?" Vega asked, cautiously.
"No, he hates anyone better than he is." Garrus snapped. "There's no pleasing that bull-headed-" Garrus, realizing what he was about to say, stopped himself, taking a slow, deep breath, and then exhaling slowly. "There was never pleasing him, not even when I was a kid. I don't know why I thought this time would be any different." He said in a more subdued tone.
"You had every right to hope, Scars, after all that shit you did," Vega said, voice surprisingly understanding.
"And Shepard?" Tali asked again.
Garrus paused before looking down at the white, tiled ground. "There's not a chance in hell of him accepting her."
"That bad?" Vega demanded, incredulously. "Seriously?"
"Seriously," Garrus confirmed, grimly. "I'll be surprised if he's not considering disowning me for this. But if he ever finds out about Sidonis and Archangel, there's going to be a lot more than yelling."
Both Tali and Vega both only shuddered in response.
N._.S._.S