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. Don't make me say it again."
Author's Note: "Just so you know, the name 'Adelais,' is Latin for 'Noble.' I thought it fit perfectly. The name 'Carissa' means 'the most beloved one.' Again, I just thought the name fit."
N._.S._.S
Chapter Twenty: The Promise-Keeper VI.
"You hurt his feelings."
"I don't care."
"You didn't even give him achance."
"Does he deserve one?"
"Yes, he deserves one, Garrus," Tali answers, sounding annoyed for the first time. "He looked like he wanted to apologize to you, not disown you."
"I don't want to listen to his excuses."
"You haven't talked to him in months! He says one thing wrong and suddenly he's the bad guy?"
Garrus sighed. "I already know what he's going to say."
"Which is?"
"First he'll say sorry. Then he'll make up some excuse. Then he'll blame me."
"Oh, for-"
At that moment, the door slid open with a metallic sound, and Tali whirled around.
"Vega, you've gotto-"
It wasn't Vega.
It was Kaidan.
Instantly, Garrus stood.
Kaidan put his hands up in a surrendering gesture. "Relax," he says, coolly.
"What are you doing here?" Garrus demanded as Tali stood up, as well.
"I'm here to check on you, for one." Kaidan said, lowering his hands.
Garrus folded his arms, not buying it for a second.
"And?"
Kaidan sighed, giving in a little. "I'm also here to tell you that-"
"If the Council-"
"Damn it, Garrus, it's not the Council. Just shut up the hell up and listen," Kaidan snapped.
Garrus actually shut up.
"Your dad showed up at the Normandy," Kaidan said, giving Garrus a steely look.
"I don't want to talk to him," Garrus quietly responded. "Now, what elsedid you-?"
"He's with Vega." Kaidan interrupted, folding his arms. "And Liara."
"And?"
"And," Kaidan said, testily, "Do you seriouslywant him talking to Vega and the Shadow Broker?"
"It doesn't matter what they tell him, if that's what you're here to tell me," Garrus told him, grimly.
"Because you don't care, right?"
"No, because my dad is an asshole."
"Do you seriously think Shepard would have let you get away with that?" Kaidan responded, leaning against the wall and giving him another look.
Garrus gave him his best glare.
Kaidan Alenko was severely unimpressed.
"And you call yourself one of hers?" He said, calmly.
Tali looked between them and folded her arms.
At least Kaidan had Garrus' attention.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
And Garrus was actually listening.
Kaidan raised a dark brow and smiled a little at him. "You call yourself hers," he repeated, unfazed."You're her best shot, her best man. Yet you're afraid of your own dad?"
Ouch.
"What do you know?" Garrus demanded, firing up instantly at that jab.
"I know there's a Turian out on the Normandy who just barely escaped getting killed in a War, and who desperately wants to talk to his bull-headed son who he probably thinks hates him," Kaidan snapped.
"I don'thate him," Garrus said in a suddenly subdued tone.
"Doeshe know that?" Kaidan challenged.
Garrus folded his arms, but said nothing.
"That's what I thought," Kaidan said, darkly. "He doesn't."
The two were silent for a long moment, with Tali looking between them with some deep satisfaction- even she seemed to be on Kaidan's side this time.
"You know," Kaidan said, quietly, "before this, I actually respected you."
Garrus gave him a glare that made Tali shudder under the force of it.
"No, seriously," Kaidan said, leaning more heavily against the wall. "I really did. I admired you for sticking with Shepard even when she was working for the Illusive Man, and respected the fact that she chose you- surprised, yeah, maybe at first; but hey, I respected that I fucked up."
"But now," he continued, "You're acting like a kid. All of us just survived a War that could have easily destroyed everything, and you're pissed off with your dad about something that happened years ago?"
"You don't know what you're talking about." Garrus responded, quietly.
"Don't I?" Kaidan challenged, "Prove me wrong then. I dare you."
Garrus didn't answer.
"Shepard's fighting for her life right there in front of you," Kaidan said, gesturing at the prone figure on the bed, "maybe even losing that battle for all we know. But instead of building a bridge that will make your life easier, you're tearing it down? You'reinsulting her!" He finally adds in frustration.
Now Garrus wasn't just surprised.
He was angry.
"Oh, and you haven't?"
"I apologized to her, admitted my mistakes," Kaidan pointed out, "and she forgave me. Eventually. But will she forgive you if she finds out you were arguing over her, and let your own dad suffer because you were too stubborn to listen to what he really wanted to tell you?"
She would never forgive him, Garrus realized.
If anything, Shepard would have been angry with him.
Monumentally angry.
"You can't-"
"Garrus," Kaidan threatened, "If you don't march out of here right now and talk to your father, I'll use my Spectre authority to order you and your father back to Palaven. Then I'll ground the team here on the Citadel split up, and have the Normandy decommissioned. Then..." his voice didn't even shake, "I'll have them ship Shepard to Earth."
N._.S._.S
Note: Yes, I actually hated Kaidan for what he did to Shepard on Horizon and accusing her of treason in the beginning of the 3rdgame for a long time. But, that doesn't mean that he can't give one hell of a threat- which he did here, or stay calm when Garrus gives him that glare during an argument. I personally think he was really sweet in the 1st game and even in the 3rd(one of the reasons I Romanced him in the 1st). I thought him giving Garrus this threat and starting another quick conflict was much better than Tali sweet-talking him into it.
Moving on!