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-Three: The Old Soldier VII.
"You and Garrus close?"
The question startled Adelais and he looked up at the two men sitting across from him. The "best part of the Normandy" in Vega's mind ended up being the Crew Lounge, but for some reason that Adelais had yet to discover, both Vega and Joker seemed to be more interested in Adelais and his relationship with Garrus than anything else- and pouring each other drinks (he'd refused his, much to their amusements).
"Not exactly." Adelais answered, cautiously.
Vega chuckled and grinned at Joker. "'Not exactly,' eh? What's that mean?"
"It's hard to explain."
Joker, the young pilot in the cap, threw back his drink. "You and him have problems?"
"Every family has problems," Adelais countered, defensively, "but yes."
"You talk often?"
"Not as much as I wish we have. We never... got along."
Joker folded his arms and abandoned his drink. "Seriously? The way he panicked over you after Thessia, I'd have sworn differently."
"It took a Galaxy-wide war for that to happen. By the time he joined the Commander the third time, our relationship was better than it ever had been in the past."
"Did he ever tell you about his adventures with Shepard?"
"Yes, he did."
"You believe him?"
"I... no. Not at first."
"Why not?"
Adelais folded his arms defensively. "Garrus came back after the Battle of the Citadel, telling me that the Council was full of bullshit and there was a race of machines called Reapers coming to kill us all. I didn't believe him until..." Adelais paused in defeat, "until it was far too late."
"And?"
"We got into an argument," Adelais sighed in defeat. "Our worst by far."
"Then Garrus disappears for two years, right?" Vega adds, knowingly.
"Yes," Adelais responded, tightly, "He did. How did you know that?"
"And you didn't hear anything from him during that time?" Joker asked incredulously, ignoring the question. "Didn't you go out looking for him? You were worried, right?"
"Of course I was worried," Adelais answered, quickly, "But I couldn't go out looking. I just assumed he'd come back. Like he always did."
"Why didn't you?" Vega asked.
"Garrus' mother, my late wife, Carissa, was ill at the time. I couldn't just... leave her. Instead, I sent Garrus' younger sister, my daughter Solana, to find him. She followed Garrus as far as the Terminus System... then came back with absolutely nothing. It was like he just... vanished off the face of the Galaxy. No one had seen him, heard from him- no one knew where he was."
"Woah, seriously? Damn," Vega said. "You had no idea where he went?"
"None. All I knew was that he wasn't coming back."
Joker just sank deeper into his seat, folding his arms. "Shepard would love this," he said. "You're telling us that Garrus left while his mom was sick? Did he even call once?"
"After I realized how bad it was, I kept the comm lines at the house open at all times. Just in case. If he ever did call anyone, he never called us."
"Damn," Vega said again, pouring out another drink, which he handed to Adelais.
This time he accepted it.
"Do you have a few guesses to where he went?" Vega asked, in a suddenly subdued tone.
"No. I personally believe that he got the Shadow Broker to hide him somewhere I couldn't look- or send someone to look."
"You think he went that far?" Vega said in half-amusement.
Adelais shrugged. "It's the only explanation that makes sense. The Shadow Broker is known for making people disappear."
"Ever try Omega, Adelais?" Joker chimed in, suddenly.
That caught Adelais attention, and he looked up from the dark-colored liquid that Vega had handed to him. "Omega?" Even to him, his voice sounded strained and worried.
Omega?
"Is that where he went?" Adelais asked, quietly.
"Hell, he bragged about it once," Vega chuckled. "Joker, tell him."
The pilot gave a grin and sat up.
"He seriously never told you?"
"Told me what, exactly?" Adelais responded, warily.
"Oh, man, Shepard's going to kill him for this," Joker said, rubbing together his hands in what Adelais interpreted as a crafty, excited gesture.
"What the hell was Garrus doing on Omega?" Adelais asked, old soldier's temper flaring up for the first time in years- what could Garrus have been doing on Omega?
Besides causing trouble? Adelais mentally berated himself for not figuring it out before.
"Hey, you ever hear about a guy called 'Archangel,' Adelais?" Vega interrupted, slyly.
Archangel?
That brilliant, if not insanely so, vigilante that popped up in Omega, killing criminals by the handful? The supposedly Turian Archangel that challenged all three mercenary gangs- and ultimately won?
That Archangel?
"My son was running around with a vigilante?" Adelais asked, stunned.
"He was doing a lot more than that," Joker chuckled. "Considering that Garrus is Archangel!"
N._.S._.S
Shocked was an understatement.
No words could describe what Adelais Vakarian was feeling at the moment.
How could he have been so blind?
How could he not have seen it?
From all the rumors on Archangel that Adelais had been hearing, Archangel was a Turian sniper and a truly brilliant tactical genius. His team was supposedly unbeatable. Eventually, the rumors even proclaimed that Archangel and his team were eventually going to take over Omega completely- overthrowing its mad Queen, Aria T'Loak.
Turian.
Sniper.
Tactical genius.
Appeared a week after Garrus disappeared into the Terminus.
Stayed on Omega for two years before suddenly vanishing.
Rumored to have been recruited by Commander Joleen Shepard.
Spirits, maybe Adelais Vakarian really was stupid.
N._.S._.S