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 Thirty: The Promise-Keeper VIII.
"Are you serious?"
Executor Bailey gave him what Garrus interpreted to be the man's best sarcastic glare before settling into his chair more heavily. "No, I just called you all the way over here on a Sunday morning to play a trick on you."
Garrus folded his arms. "I mean, why would you offer this to me?"
Another run with C-Sec sounded more promising than sitting around the Normandy with nothing to keep his mind occupied- he loved Shepard, of course... but recently he hadn't been able to sit still.
"Why? Well, you're of Shepard's. And seeing as I happen to know she's not leaving the Citadel anytime soon," Bailey shrugged and turned his attention to his computer, "I wanted to make sure you had something to keep yourself busy- and maybe help me make sure that others did, too."
Maybe it was her finally telling him to get off his sorry butt and do something.
"Is the Citadel's crime-rate back up already?" Garrus asked, sharply.
This was certainly promising... but Garrus wasn't about to step into the fire, so to speak.
Shepard would never forgive him if she woke up and he wasn't there.
"No, nothing like that- not yet, at least," Bailey answered him, quickly. "You'd just be hanging around the Council and patrolling the Wards every now and then."
When Garrus didn't answer, Bailey sighed despairingly.
"Look, Garrus. C-Sec lost a lot of people when the Reapers took this place," the Executor said, looking back up from his computer. "And I haven't even got a quarter of the people I used to back yet. I know that you hated it here- and I can't blame you," He added, empathetically, "but Councilor Hackett specifically wanted me to ask you."
"Councilor Hackett?" That one got Garrus' attention. Last he heard, the seasoned Admiral-turned-Councilor had been running the Council ragged since taking office eight months ago- he'd overheard his father, Primarch Victus, and Councilor Sparatus talking about it earlier that morning as he left, actually.
It seemed that the Council was actually getting things done.
"Yeah. This was all Hackett. Seemed to think if we had one of Shepard's in C-Sec, criminals would reconsider breaking the rules. So if you want it, the job is yours," Bailey chuckled as he added, "Plenty of perks come with it this time, I can promise you that much."
Garrus was trying hard not to give his answer away by now. "Oh?"
Seeing that he'd won the stubborn Turian over, Bailey just grinned.
N._.S._.S
"You have that look on your face again, loco."
Several sharp raps on the back of his head later, Garrus was forced to look up from the datapad that Bailey had given him to read over- it was the usual C-Sec Academy paperwork, the same paperwork that Garrus clearly remembered filling out with his father all those years ago when he first joined.
"And what look would that be, Vega?" Garrus asked, calmly, swatting the dark-skinned man's shoulder with the datapad as Vega sat down heavily in the seat next to him, grinning triumphantly.
"The look of impending doom," Adelais answered from the table across the room. He, Adrien, and Sparatus all sat together, muttering quietly amongst themselves, with Adelais occasionally glancing over his shoulder at Garrus in unspoken curiosity, who had been diligently working on the datapad for the last hour-and-a-half.
"You'd be doing the same if you were bending over the same datapad for as long as your son has, Adelais," Adrien countered with a chuckle. "What are you working on over there, Vakarian?"
"He's working on his marriage license!" Vega crowed, swiping the datapad from Garrus before he could answer and pretending to gasp, "You know, for him and Shepard!"
Adelais choked on the water he'd just swallowed, and actually fell over.
"Re-entry forms," Garrus answered, as Victus jumped up to help Adelais.
"You took Bailey's offer for Citadel Security, then? Interesting. I told Hackett he didn't have a chance in hell," Sparatus chuckled, kindly, completely ignoring the grinning Vega, and the suddenly annoyed-looking Victus. Replaced on his seat beside the Councilor, Adelais took a deep, gasping breath, as Victus tried to stop laughing at him long enough to chastise him for making a fool out of himself.
"Really, you two," a voice interjected from the Elevator, "It's only a matter of time now, isn't it?" Liara said cheerfully as she stepped out of the Elevator with Tali.
"For what?" Garrus asked in confusion as Vega burst out laughing.
Adelais coughed again.
At that moment, Sparatus excused himself, along with Adelais and Victus. As the Elevator closed up again, Garrus snatched the datapad away from Vega.
"You'll give my dad a heart attack if you keep doing that," Garrus told him, gruffly, sitting back down and pulling back up his forms and starting to finish filling them all out.
Vega grinned and gave him the thumbs-up sign.
Garrus threw the datapad at him.
N._.S._.S
"You're really going to rejoin C-Sec? I thought you hated it." Tali said, coming into the Lounge and sitting down next to him. In front of them, Liara was busy making them a few drinks- a small glass of Asari liquor for herself, something mild for Garrus, and a tall, nicely filtered one for Tali.
"I did," Garrus answered, bluntly. "And I might hate it again. But it's better than nothing."
"But what if Shepard never wakes up?" Tali countered, stubbornly.
"She will wake," Garrus retorted, quickly. "You heard what the doctors said this afternoon. Increased brain activity and awareness. She knows where she is," he added, voice raising slightly in excitement, "and soon she'll be her regular self again."
Liara chuckled a bit as she handed out the drinks. "You two have plans?" She asked.
"Something like that."
"Do they involve... kids?" Tali asked, slyly.
Garrus just took a sip of his drink and nodded without speaking.
Liara smiled. "When was this decided?"
"I... may have mentioned it to her in London." Garrus admitted.
"And?" The young Asari's eyes were wide and excited while Tali clapped her hands in joy.
"She said if we both got out alive... there was no point in not trying." Garrus responded, quietly.
"Oh, Keelah... you and Shepard having a kid together... I can't even imagine how cute that will be!" Tali squealed, clapping her hands again in absolute delight.
"You do know that a Human/Turian child would be highly improbable? Just one chance out of many?" Liara questioned, somewhat forlornly.
Garrus nodded. "Yes, but she did point out that there would be a lot of Krogan babies to choose from..."
All three of them laughed at that, and Liara raised her glass.
"A toast," she said, winking at Garrus, "to all our futures. May the Goddess bless them."
Garrus and Tali rose their glasses in silent, cheerful agreement.
N._.S._.S
Author's Note: Yeah, I felt sappy here. I hope you guys all really liked these last few chapters- I promise updates will be more frequent now!
Hey, anyone here have a better name for this story? I mean, the name's fine, but if any of you've got a better name that'll really give the story justice, just hand it over to me for consideration!
And, as always, thank you to all of those reviews, favorites, and follows! If there's anything you guys want to see in the next few chapters, or something you want to change, go ahead and give me a shout!