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 Ten: The Old Soldier IV.

Adelais sighed warily as he entered the apartment he and Solana would be staying for the duration of their stay in the Citadel- however long or short it was to be, in light of recent events.

Solana was asleep on the couch in the front room, already half-covered in blankets and comfortable- sleeping soundly, unaware of his arrival.

Adelais bent down beside her to recover her with blankets, chuckling softly when his young daughter stirred a little, muttering something inaudible in her sleep. As he drew the blanket over her, he allowed himself a rare moment of absolute truth.

He screwed up with Garrus- big time.

Honest to whatever God or Goddess was up there, he hadn't meant for Garrus to take his comment on Shepard being Human so personally.

However- hell; he should have seen it coming. Garrus had never agreed with Adelais' views on Humanity. He'd always been all for equality between the Council-races and the Non-Council ones- Just like, he suddenly realized, His mother.

"Two friendly guns are better than one," Adelais remembered his son saying once when he was younger, on a trip to the Citadel, after they'd seen a group of Human protesters.

Back then, that kind of thinking was dangerous- especially for Turians in general.

Adelais was born in the generation of the First Contact War- or in what was now commonly known as the Relay 314 Incident- of thirty years ago. He'd fought in it, even. He'd made his career- and later his career in C-Sec, with that War, just like many others.

He himself had nothing against Humanity- the Relay 314 Incident wasn't even a War in his opinion, as it was stopped so quickly by the Asari and Salarians. But that didn't mean he loved Humans, either. He kept them at a safe distance, knowing what they were capable of, just like (mostly) everyone else.

Adelais wasn't racist, dammit. He didn't even mean what he'd said to Garrus as an insult. He seriously meant it as a clarification, even a congratulations- as a testament to his son's individuality to the entire Turian race.

He was proud of his son.

Of everything he'd accomplished.

But now it looked like Garrus would never know that.

What a fool I was, Adelais thought in silent despair, staring down at his sleeping daughter as he stood up. I almost loose him, and then instead of thanking the Spirits I didn't, I accidentally insult his mate? What kind of father am I, to make that kind of stupid mistake?

Adelais went into the main bedroom and roughly pulled off the straps of his sniper rifle (a heavily modded M-97 Viper). Adelais carefully placed it on the dresser beside the bed before sitting down, taking off an old leather packet attached to the weapon's barrel.

He opened it, and slipped out the small, slightly creased photograph inside.

Carissa, he wondered silently, How did I screw this up so badly?

Carissa would have known just what to say to Garrus back there in the Hospital, Adelais was completely sure of that. She always knew what to say. She wouldn't have unintentionally upset their son.

Or insulted his mate.

Garrus and Solana had both taken after their mother, Garrus especially.

Carissa Vakarian had been tolerant, forgiving, and beautiful. She had accepted the past for what it was. And unlike Adelais, she had embraced Humanity and what she believed it had to offer- though she was respectful enough of Adelais and their family's position enough not to say so outwardly.

And she'd brought up Garrus and Solana spectacularly, before falling ill. But even then she did the best she could, even when Solana left for her military service and Garrus came back from his, slowly turning into the rebellious son he was always meant to be.

It had always been Carissa who stepped in when the fighting began, when it became too intense, too heated, for her to stand anymore. And when either one of them said anything that might set them off again, she interrupted just on time, every time.

She'd stopped Adelais from ever saying anything he'd really regret- stopped Garrus, too.

Then she died, peacefully, almost gracefully, in her sleep, a month before the Reapers finally came, after almost fifteen years of illness.

That was two months after Garrus had come home for the first time, haunted and panicked, since he walked out of the house- not to be seen, or even heard from, for the next two-and-a-half-years.

Now she was gone, and the War was over.

That reality was crushing.

He had no one, save for Garrus and Solana, left now. The two of them were the only bit of her he'd ever see again- until his time came, as well.

I'll fix this, he promised her silently.

For you, Carissa, I'll fix this.

N._.S._.S

A.N.: So, here are the first ten chapters! Tell me how you like it!

Should I continue or leave it to rot? XD

1/26/13