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 Thirteen: The Wanderer IV.
Back in his apartment, Kolyat sat on his bed, staring down at the brown leather-bound prayer-book sitting in his lap.
Why am I doing this?
The question had bugged him all the way back to his apartment. He's been slowly pacing back in forth in the small space for the past several hours ever since, lost in thought while trying to answer his own damned question before it drove him insane, as his fingers dug into his arms.
Because some dream told him to?
No.
It's something more than just that.
To prove I can?
No.
And prove to whom?
There's no one left to prove anything to.
Because I'm curious?
No! Kolyat wanted to shout that word in frustration. He looks back down at the prayer-book on his lap and something inside him slowly begins to unclench. Gently, he places it onto the messy desk by the dusty window and continues his pacing, this time a little more calmly.
"Why am I going to do this?" Kolyat asked aloud, "Why?"
Why?
Of course, there was no answer.
There was never any reason.
There was never one when he needed it.
After what had happened on the Citadel almost a year ago now, he'd promised not only himself, but his father as well, that he'd never use another weapon again.
Was he going to go back on that promise just because some dream (that also told him that he was going to die anyway, by the way) told him to?
Could he go through with it even had he not made that promise?
Kolyat was no longer sure he could answer that question honestly anymore.
N._.S._.S
He hadn't learned to shoot from Thane.
And some part deep inside him was extremely happy about that.
And another part, even deeper inside, was extremely disappointed with it.
That didn't mean he was proud to say where he learned to shoot, of course. He'd actually learned to shoot from a group of thugs- for, of course, an extremely different reason.
Some assassin, Kolyat chuckled bitterly to himself, staring down at the floor at his feet.
When his laptop, which had been sitting open on his desk, suddenly lit up, Kolyat stood up and went over to look at it- he had the 24/7 Kahje News station on all the time, and tonight had been no exception.
"Ten Drell Security personnel have gone missing in a recent attempt to cover the rumored Reaper that invaded Kahje space," the female Drell reporter said, "They're said to have stopped reporting in to their Hanar superiors at noon today, after three hours on Vassla Island."
Vassla Island?
Kolyat knew that area. He used to go down there all the time as a kid to play.
"Furthermore, the Illuminated Prophecy is looking for volunteers from the community to help them track down the missing Security personnel, but there have been very few willing to do so..."
Kolyat's eyes narrowed as the report ended.
So something was up down there, Reaper or not.
Very, very few people could get one-up on the Secs.
Kolyat watched the laptop screen go dark before closing it, grabbing his jacket and the prayer-book from beside the keyboard, and left the apartment- this time knowing exactly where he was going.
He would need a weapon.
The M-98 Widow, to be exact.
N._.S._.S
Kolyat picked up the sniper rifle as gently as someone carrying an explosive would be. The M98-Widow was a powerful sniper rifle- and the same weapon Kolyat distinctly remembered seeing in his dream.
"That is a very powerful weapon," cautioned the storekeeper, who might have guessed what Kolyat was thinking. "Alliance-grade. Its scope can see over a quarter-mile, I've heard, and its bullet can go twice that. You'll be doing some serious hunting, then?" He added, almost suspiciously.
"Something like that, yes." Kolyat answered. "I'm going down to the Vassla Islands."
"You in that Squad that went down there a few days ago?"
"They sent the Secs down there?" Kolyat asked, feigning surprise and hoping for some new information.
The Secs (formally called the Kahje Security Officers) were powerful Drell trained by the Compact- the same Thane had been. They were all powerful biotics and could make even a Spectre like Commander Shepard sweat. They operated covertly and only on tasks of huge importance to the Illuminated Prophecy.
The Drell shopkeeper folded his arms and nodded. "Yeah. Not oneof them coming back."
"I'm not worried." Kolyat responded, quietly.
"You should be," the shopkeeper told him, sharply, "They think that Cerberus might be down there."
"Oh? Cerberus isn't too fond of us aliens interfering in their affairs, are they?" Kolyat responded as he set the Widow and a few thermal clips down on the counter, in front of the shopkeeper.
"Something tells me that you already knew that."
"My father once said something about it. He's fought them on a number of occasions."
"And who's your father? He with the Secs too, or something?"
Kolyat shook his head. "No. He was with Commander Shepard."
The shopkeeper gaped at him in a way that made Kolyat want to roll his eyes in annoyance- no wonder his father changed his name in Huerta. He probably didn't want people like this bothering him.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"He going with you?"
"No."
The shopkeeper sighed in disappointment as he took Kolyat's credit chit.
"You should ask him to."
"I doubt he can return from where he is currently residing so easily."
"Where is he, if you don't mind me asking?" The shopkeeper asks, a little impatiently, handing Kolyat back the chit with his newly purchased sniper rifle.
Kolyat pauses a moment before opening the shop's door and leaving.
"Somewhere far away."
N._.S._.S