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 Twenty-Seven: The Wanderer VIII.

Sitting up high in the trees, carefully hidden by thick leaves and branches, Kolyat scoped out the enemy camp, contemplating all possibilities of infiltration.

Is it just me, or does that sound overly dramatic? Kolyat wondered, mildly, slowly lowering the scope to rest his eyes a bit before quickly resuming his spying.

The Cerberus camp was quite obvious now that Kolyat had a chance to really look at it. They'd set up a small camp just a few meters away from the Reaper- and it was obvious that they'd been parked there a long time (at least six months or so), because grass was already growing around it.

It sickened Kolyat to know that one of the Galaxy's worst enemies had taken root so close to home.

Small Cerberus groups patrolled around the Reaper in small groups, back in forth in a pretty predictable fashion after hours of watching. However, judging solely on the fact that he'd be damned if Cerberus was merely guarding the Reaper and doing nothing else, he was absolutely positive that there would be plenty more inside.

If he'd wanted to, Kolyat realized early on that he could take out their outside forces right now.

But then he'd be killing.

Kolyat was determined not to kill- he wasn't going to go back on this one promise.

Unless his life truly depended on it.

On the other hand- how the hell had the Illuminated Prophecy- or the many scans done on Kahje daily- missed this monster? Or the monsters digging around inside it?

Was Cerberus successfully jamming some of the Galaxy's strongest comm links and scanners somehow?

That made more sense than anything else, Kolyat realized. No wonder the Illuminated Prophecy couldn't act beyond sending the Secs- they probably couldn't even warn the Citadel- Kahje was completely defenseless against the Reaper and Cerberus at the moment. If they alerted Cerberus to the fact that they knew what they were doing, Kahje could be incinerated- and all hope for the Citadel would be lost.

It made sense. Horrible sense.

Too much sense for Kolyat to like.

His people were trapped in the worst way possible.

Okay, that's enough, Kolyat mentally berated himself. Stop scaring yourself. You're just assuming now.

But still- doing this alone and without killing anyone would be seriously difficult unless he created some kind of diversion- he needed the Cerberus patrolmen to leave their stations- but he had a feeling that only a direct, frontal attack could do that.

Who am I, Commander Shepard? Kolyat thought, bitterly, lowering his scope again.

A direct, frontal attack was completely out of the question.

He needed a... different plan.

Smiling a little, Kolyat settled patiently in the trees with his sniper across his lap.

Not much of a plan, He conceded, But it's all I've got.

N._.S._.S

"Amonkira, Lord of Hunters.

Grant that my hands be steady,

My aim be true,

And my feet swift.

And should the worst come to pass…

Grant me forgiveness."

Honestly, Kolyat never expected to make it this far without being detected.

But it looked like, at least for the moment, that he was safe.

It looked like luck- or maybe something of the spiritual sort- was on his side.

Getting into the Reaper was easier than he'd expected. After waiting rather patiently for several hours, under the cover of darkness, Kolyat ventured into the darkness of the Cerberus camp.

At first, Kolyat thought it was because he had the ingenious idea of jumping from tree to tree, and then onto the nearest trailer- which made no noise even when he landed on it with his full weight. Then, as he moved faster, jumping across from trailer to trailer, he realized that not one of the Cerberus soldiers were even glancing up-

It was like he wasn't even there.

In fact, Kolyat realized, jumping onto the final trailer that stood just a few meters from the Reaper's main entrance, it was like he was completely invisible.

N._.S._.S

If Kolyat didn't know what the Reaper was capable of (and what Cerberus was plotting), he would have been incredibly interested in the story that he felt the Reaper could have told him.

Here was a creature of unimaginable origins, a creature that had lived since the rise of life itself. And despite being the reason why countless millions upon millions of civilizations and their peoples (including the Enkindlers, the Protheans), had lost their lives, Kolyat still felt awed.

Careful, a small voice within him said, Now is not a time to dwell.

Kolyat had no idea if the creature's ability of Indoctrination was still in effect- but he sure as hell wasn't about to find out. Quickly, he continued on his way, darting out from man-made corners and slipping past guards who looked somehow slower than any other being Kolyat had encountered.

Maybe something holy was on his side, after all.

N._.S._.S

Author's note: You guys remember in ME2 how Thane just seemed to disappear out of thin air during his loyalty mission after his prayer? I used that here, if it wasn't obvious.

Also, a big thank-you goes out to Bluegal19 for the awesome review that finally convinced me to continue- these next few chapters are all dedicated to you!