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 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-Eight: The Old Soldier IX.

As Adelais and Garrus entered Shepard's room together, they were met by Tali and Kaidan. The Spectre gave Garrus an approving look and Adelais a respectful nod as they entered, while Tali clapped a little, before shaking Adelais' hand.

"Tali Vas-Normandy," she politely introduced herself, "I'm one of Shepard's," she added, with a quick glance at Garrus as she spoke, "you and me never got the chance to properly introduce ourselves earlier."

"Adelais Vakarian," he responded.

"Tali's been with Joleen for as long as I have," Garrus said as Adelais returned the polite gesture to Kaidan and Tali's handshake, "She, Kaidan, and I were part of her original team."

"I see," Adelais confirmed. "It's not regulation for Alliance Commanders to have non-Human crewmates, is it?" He added to Kaidan, who quickly shook his head in response.

"No, not until recently. Shepard has been the first to appoint non-Human crewmates- and she got a lot of disapproval from higher up," Kaidan reported, tonelessly, "The Alliance has traditionally been all-human crew, as with most other race's militaries, including yours. This goes for other races too- except for the Hanar Navy and Security Secs, which incorporates Drell."

"I assume that is changing now?" Adelais responded, smartly.

"I think we'll all have more all-encompassing militaries now, yes." Kaidan said, in a rather appreciative tone- he seemed to appreciate Adelais' politeness and engaging conversation, and the slight tension in his eyes relaxed. The Spectre leaned against the wall and crossed his arms, giving Adelais another appreciative look.

They're friendly, Adelais decided. The Commander chose her comrades well.

Adelais nodded his own approval at the Spectre and the Quarian girl and turned his head toward Shepard for the first time.

She looked just as she did in all the vids that Adelais remembered seeing on Palaven before and during the Reaper War. Shoulder-length, dark brown hair that framed her gently rounded face. Her eyes, of course, were closed at the moment, as if deeply asleep.

"A coma of some sort?" He looked back at Garrus as he spoke.

"Yeah," Garrus tiredly responded, "She's been like that since the end of the Reaper War. Sometimes she'll open her eyes, even smile, and she can breathe on her own and blink, but that's about it."

"Will it last much longer?"

Garrus hesitated a little, glancing at Shepard as he spoke. "We don't know."

"I see," Adelais said again, with genuine concern in his voice this time.

No wonder...

Adelais finally understood.

N._.S._.S

After spending another hour or two with the three, Adelais finally bade them goodbye, telling Garrus that he'd be along tomorrow morning with Solana. Garrus had gone with him as far as the elevator leading back up to where the older Turian was staying, looking a bit less tense than he had before their… enlightening conversations.

He and the other two had spent the last hour animatedly telling Adelais bits and pieces of their adventures with the Commander.

There were tales of Thresher Maws, Krogan warlords, and in-crew fighting between powerful biotic criminals and Cerberus cheerleaders, and an apparently very eccentric Commander, whose pair of old spectacles couldn't go more than one mission without being accidentally lost or broken.

"You'll have to tell me more about your adventures," Adelais had suggested, as he left.

Garrus had promised to tell him other stories later on.

Now, back in the apartment, Adelais had taken out the worn, slightly creased photograph and had placed it on the table before going into the main bedroom and picking up his old sniper rifle, which lay on the bed where he'd placed it when he'd returned.

Adelais detached the old scope and thought he saw a miniscule crack in the lens protector. Upon further inspection, he discovered that the crack was probably a few months old, judging solely on the fact that he hadn't used the weapon since the War- there'd been no need to, and at the moment Adelais had fallen out of his habit of weekly practices and daily checks.

But how did he miss-?

"Dad?"

Startled, Adelais dropped the scope and turned quickly.

"Spirits, dad, relax! It's me!" Solana said, raising her arms in defense as Adelais swore and bent to pick up the scope. When he stood back up, he came face-to-face with his daughter, staring straight into her ice-blue eyes; but not seeing her, but someone else-

Carissa?

No.

Carissa was-

Adelais dropped the scope again.

"Dad?" Solana's worried voice pierced through the illusion.

Blinking away the painful image of his wife standing in front of him, which made it blur until Solana was once again clear, clear as daylight, Adelais swore again. "Don't do that," He snapped, more harshly than he meant for it to be, as Solana, looking hurt, backed off, arms still raised defensively, "Are you trying to kill me?"

"Sorry, sorry. I didn't know you were back until I saw-" Something flashed as she held something out to him- the photograph of his wife that he'd left on the table in the other room.

Adelais took it from her as Solana bent and picked up the scope. "Spirits, dad, you broke it," she said in amazement, picking at the now cracked lens.

Placing the photograph down, Adelais took the scope and turned the cracked lens carefully, touching the crack with the very tip of one of his talons.

"Damn," Adelais swore, furiously.

It wasn't Solana, or the broken scope lens, that he was angry with.

Solana certainly hadn't done anything wrong.

And the lens was replaceable.

"Dad, are you okay?"

Adelais sighed. "I'll live."

Giving him a worried look, Solana gazed down at the photograph on the nightstand.

"How was your talk with Garrus?" She asked, still looking down at it.

"We... made progress," Adelais said, as something deep within him unclenched.

She looked up at him in excitement- and relief. "That's great!" She exclaimed, her chipper, usual self coming back instantly at the news despite the still-worried look in her eyes.

Adelais picked up the photograph again, ignoring the shattered lens, deciding that now wasn't the time to deal with that- again; the lens was replaceable.

It could wait to be repaired.

"Yes," he said, speaking more to the photograph than he was his daughter, "It really is."

"See, Carissa?" He said, thinking aloud, as Solana bade him goodnight and left, having probably sensed Adelais' desire to be left alone. As the door closed, he spoke again.

"I promised you I would fix this, and what did I do?"

After a long pause, Adelais took a deep breath.

"I fixed it."

Of course, no one replied.

Adelais chuckled at the silence and set the photograph back down onto the bedside table, again ignoring the shattered lens and the scope. That would be a pain in the ass to replace, no doubt, considering their worth and the fact that the lens was an old make… but at the moment, Adelais didn't really care.

The lens was replaceable.

N._.S._.S