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-Eight: The Old Soldier XIII.

"You sure you should have shouted at him like that? I could hear you all the way down in the CIC."

Adelais looked up at Victus, raising a brow-plate. "What are you talking about, Victus?"

Primarch Victus shook his head and jerked a talon at the closed door to the office. "Garrus," he told him, tonelessly. "You kind of yelled at him in front of everyone out there, remember?"

Oh.

Right.

Garrus.

They were talking about this again?

"He disobeyed a direct order," Adelais said, sharply. "What else did you expect me to do?"

"Maybe he expected you to listen to his side of the story, perhaps?" Sparatus easily cut in, stopping what he was doing as he spoke to give Adelais an approving look. "You did only go in there after Garrus' friends asked you, after all. I heard you snapped at the Commander's crew, too."

Victus turned to Adelais. "You did what now?" he asked, sharply, "Commander Shepard's crew is out of your jurisdiction, Adelais!"

"My son happens to be a part of that crew, Victus." Adelais retorted, folding his arms, "And last time I checked, my son answers to me before anyone else, including that CO of his."

"She struck him, didn't she? Valern heard it from one of the marines. Apparently the man wouldn't shut up about it. And then Valern said that the entire crew still on the Normandy was ignoring her." Sparatus added, concernedly.

"Yes, she struck him," Adelais responded, curtly. "And I told her that if she ever did it again, I'd stop her."

"Ouch," Victus winced, "What did he do?"

"I have absolutely no idea," Adelais answered, just as coldly as he had before, "He wouldn't tell Solana or me anything, and he refused to go back to the Normandy last night, too. Stayed in the apartment. Didn't talk the entire night."

"No kidding," Victus muttered. "Is smacking subordinates even legal anymore?"

"I seriously doubt it," Sparatus said before Adelais could say anything, "But something tells me Garrus isn't really questioning the legality of his girlfriend smacking him upside the head."

Victus snorted in clear amusement.

Adelais glared at them, shaking his head in half-annoyance. "It's not funny, you two."

"Yeah, actually, it is. How many Turians do you know have gotten smacked by a Human?" Victus chuckled. "I mean, getting smacked by an Asari striper is one thing- but getting smacked by a Human like Commander Joleen Shepard? That's totally different."

"Victus, if you don't shut up about it right now, Garrus isn't the only one getting smacked."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Try me, Victus. I happen to remember I've kicked your ass several times before."

"Okay," Victus said, quickly, putting up his taloned hands in surrender. "Okay, fine..."

"I thought so."

"It is funny though."

"Victus!"

N._.S._.S

"Get off your sorry ass and go talk to her already!"

Adelais was considering turning on his heel and walking right back into the office.

But, knowing how Solana and Garrus' arguments usually ended, he thought best of it.

"Mind your own business, Solana."

"How about you grow a pair?"

Adelais leaned against the door to the office and folded his arms with a barely inaudible, tired sigh.

Just as he expected would happen, Solana was confronting Garrus.

She's so much like you, Carissa. You would have done the exact same thing. Adelais thought in satisfaction.

Are you going to stop them?

Not this time. They're adults now.

What if it turns to violence?

It won't.

"Mind your own business." Garrus repeated, giving his sister an irritated look.

"Is that all you've got to say?"

"I don't have to answer to you," Garrus snapped back, startling several passerbies.

Garrus turned his back on her and walked away.

Spirits, a public argument in the middle of an impending war?

"Oh yeah?" Solana called after him, sounding close to shouting herself, "Then you can answer to dad!"

Are you kidding me?

"Dad! Talk to him!" Solana cried, pointing a talon at Garrus and giving him a pleading look.

Adelais.

I'm sick of these nonstop fucking arguments, Carissa!

Adelais, please.

The old soldier just sighed in defeat and pushed himself off the door.

Fine, I'll talk to him.

Great.

Thank you, Adelais.

You won't be thanking me when we never see him again.

N._.S._.S

"Garrus, listen to me. You don't want to go into a warzone with this kind of anger." Adelais said, matter-of-factly, as he approached his son. Solana hung in the background, listening in on the conversation, her bright, electric-blue eyes wide and anxious.

"I'm not angry, dad."

"You sure as hell sound like it."

"Well, I'm not."

Adelais folded his arms stubbornly. "Then what are you, Garrus?"

"I don't know."

Adelais froze for a moment-

Garrus, being completely, utterly honest?

Is he imagining it?

Garrus, probably guessing what his father was thinking, just shook his head at him. "Dad," he explained, quietly, "I did that thing Humans do when they want to be together for a long time. Vega explained it, and I thought it would be a good idea, so I did it."

"Did... what?" Adelais answered, cautiously, but curiously folding his arms.

He proposed, Adelais! He's talking about marriage.

Oh, boy. Adelais took a deep, silent breath. You're kidding.

I can tell from his eyes. Ask him.

"You... proposed?"

Garrus nodded without looking at him.

He just finds the biggest hole he can and then jumps into it without a care in the Galaxy, doesn't he?

As I recall, you did the same with me.

Adelais shook his head. "All right. If you saw her right now, what would you say?"

"I don't know."

Adelais raised a brow-plate and folded his arms. "Garrus..."

"I don't know, dad."

Adelais, please, do something.

The pain in her voice hurt him.

I know, Carissa, I-

"Dad! Dad, Garrus! Behind you!"

Adelais!

Solana's scream of absolute fear, combined with Carissa's, was enough to throw Adelais completely off balance by the sheer force of it- and he slammed into someone on his way down. Disoriented and suddenly unable to even breathe because of the sudden, scorching, vaguely familiar pain in his abdomen, followed quickly by another noise that the old soldier suddenly recognized as a sniper rifle's echoing shot-

But not just any old sniper rifle.

A powerful one.

Beyond powerful.

Bang.

And it was close.

Very, very close.

The last thing Adelais saw before the blackness enveloped him completely, he heard several more echoing, deafening shots from far, far away, one right after the other- in an almost... methodic way... and saw something impossibly bright and blue all over the ground around and underneath him...

This was... warm... blood...?

Bang!

Wait... no...

Where the hell...

"Dad!"

Adelais!

Where the hell are Garrus and Solana?

Bang.

... ...

N._.S._.S

Have fun agonizing, Yoru!

Don't worry too much about it, though.

The next chapter is on its way.

XD