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 Forty-Two: The Old Soldier XII.

How the hell did Adelais always end up in these kinds of situations?

He wasn't even a cop anymore, for Spirit's sake!

Adelais could see Solana clearly thinking the same.

"Dad," she suddenly gasped, "What if he jumps?"

"He's not going to jump," Adelais answered, "I'll make sure of it. You go find Councilor Hackett and the C-SEC Executor. Now," he added, more sharply than he meant to when Solana looked at him nervously.

"But dad-"

"Solana," Adelais said in a gentler tone, placing his sharply taloned hand on his daughter's shoulder, "I swear to you, the Drell is not going to jump," he promised, kindly, "Now go."

Solana gave him another scared look, and then took off through the gathering crowd.

"Get back!" He barked loudly at the crowd as his daughter disappeared, "Now!"

Unsurprisingly, every single member of the crowd actually listened.

Turning back to the situation at hand, Adelais' "highly trained cop" persona quickly took over and analyzed the facts that he had managed to gather in the last fifteen minutes.

First, all the facts, an all-too familiar voice insisted.

About fifteen minutes ago, a Drell landed on one of the buildings near the docking bays. He's carrying an M98-Widow. He's been sitting there ever since. From the look of him, he's scared, hurt, and tired. When the crowd started to notice him and began screaming and pointing at him, he jumped and tried to use Biotics to propel himself to the next level. He landed badly and from the looks of it, can't move much anymore.

Good. Carissa's voice told him, Now, give me just the facts you need, Adelais.

First of all the Drell is probably hurt and exhausted on top of that.

Probably? Are you asking or telling?

All right, he's hurt and exhausted.

Good. And?

Second, he's probably scared to death- the crowd's probably making it worse.

Third, this isn't a suicide attempt- the building's much too small for that.

Fourth, he's not panicking, but he's close to it. With that Widow in his arms, he probably thinks he's about to be attacked- most likely by Cerberus if he's the Drell C-SEC's after.

If the crowd keeps panicking him like this, he's likely to snap and shoot someone.

Adelais knew what to do.

Get rid of the crowd first.

"Get back," he called to the bustling crowd, "I said get back!"

It's not working...

Pulling out the small pistol hidden in his armor, Adelais fired two warning shots into the air. "Move! Now!" He shouted at a couple of Asari and several fellow Turian civilians.

"Yes, sir!" The Turians called as the Asari bolted nervously away.

Carefully placing the weapon on the ground and kicking it away, then leaning his old sniper rifle carefully against the railing, Adelais stepped away from it.

Be nice, Adelais.

"Why don't you come down here so we can talk properly?" Adelais called up to the Drell.

The Drell's head peeked out from behind the wall of the building.

"Come on out. No one's going to hurt you."

"They-" the Drell looked frustrated and he swallowed hard before trying to speak again. "They are coming," he said, hesitantly. "Cerberus and the Reaper!"

Yes, he's definitely more than scared, Adelais. He's terrified.

"All right," Adelais said, keeping his hands up as he took another step forward, "I understand. You're the Drell that came from Kahje, right? The one everyone's looking for?"

"Looking?"The Drell flinches again.

Not a good thing to have said. He's paranoid, remember?

"We're not looking to hurt you," Adelais responded, quickly. "We know what you're doing here- C-SEC and the Council and I. We're here to help you. We want to stop Cerberus and the Reaper."

The Drell just stared at him.

Small talk, Adelais. Nice and easy.

"My name is Adelais Vakarian, I'm a retired C-SEC detective," Adelais told him, keeping his voice kind and nonchalant. "Who are you?"

"Kolyat Krios," the Drell responded, hesitatingly. "My name is Kolyat Krios."

"Who's after you, Kolyat?"

Kolyat Krios flinched once more. "Cerberus. I have something that belongs to them. I jumped the Vassla Cliffs to get away, but they're still coming after me," He adds, "They're here on the Citadel now."

So that's it.

"Okay, Kolyat. Is there someone you need to talk to? Someone specific?"

"Commander Shepard!" The Drell answered, almost instantly, "I need to talk to Commander Shepard! I need to warn her before they get here."

"The Commander? Oh, well, that's easy enough to do," Adelais answered, as coolly as possible, "I was just about to head up there myself-"

"Dad!"

Adelais turned sharply and Kolyat darted back into the shadows.

"Adelais Vakarian," Hackett said, quite formally, "Fancy seeing you here."

Adelais pointed up at where he knew Kolyat was now hidden. "He's up there, Councilor. Scared out of his mind. Hurt. Paranoid. He wants to speak with Commander Shepard."

"Don't we all," Hackett responded, rather knowingly.

"Of course," Valern, the Salarian Councilor, sighed, distastefully, "This matter would involve the Commander. She always seems to be involved when Cerberus and the Reapers come up. And considering she's only just woken up..."

"Don't start, Councilor," Hackett said, firmly, as Tevos shook her head at him in clear warning, "We can't afford to have the Drell running off again. There are reports of Cerberus all over the station."

"What?" Sparatus demanded, just as Victus swore. "So quickly?"

"My guess is that they've been here for a while, waiting for the Drell to appear," Hackett answered, calmly. "From the sound of it, the Drell has been running for his life for days."

"Executor Bailey just confirmed that Kolyat Krios is the son of the Drell that saved your life during the Cerberus coup, Valern," Sparatus added to Valern, quite spitefully, who unfolded his arms in astonishment, "So I'd suggest you show him your utmost cordiality."

"Is that so?" the Salarian said with some newfound interest.

"Yes."

Adelais turned on his heel, startled, as everyone else either gasped in shock or took a step back.

The only one who didn't was Hackett.

The old man wore a satisfied, half-hidden smile.

N._.S._.S