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 Fifty-Seven: The Old Soldier XV.

Walking through an empty Citadel still felt like he were walking through a long, dark hallway while knowing that a very large, very ugly, and very mean monster lay in wait at the end of it.

Years and years ago, just a few months after Adelais formally became a C-Sec Officer after graduating from the Academy; he had been assigned the "graveyard shift"; which, naturally, usually found Officers like Adelais meandering around a dark, Keeper-infested Presidium from seven at night to eight in the morning.

The "graveyard" shift wasn't all that bad- really; it wasn't, no matter what the shuddering newbies always said. Adelais, for one, actually enjoyed the stillness and silence of the Presidium at night, rather than it's normally crowded, nerve-wrecking, noisy streets.

Only thing about it was that if you weren't careful, you could accidentally piss off the Keepers.

This was, of course, where the old rumor of the aphid-like buggers carrying people off in the middle of the night came from- which, Adelais later found out, thankfully wasn't true, no matter what Pallin swore.

Actually, it was thanks to Pallin that Adelais had the graveyard shift one particular night- the bastard had switched Adelais' name instead of his own as a (very bad) joke, without realizing at the time that he was actually damning Adelais to four consecutive late nights in a row in the process.

Of course, Adelais paid Pallin back by doing the same exact thing to him… for an entire month.

But still, Adelais did end up thanking Pallin for his ill-conceived joke later, because it was during his very first night on graveyard shift that he met Carissa.

She had been standing near one of the fountains, staring up at it in an ill-concealed, delighted wonder. What she could have been doing, standing there near three o' clock in the morning, he didn't know at the time, and so he approached her in half-suspicion and half-concern.

After a rather uncomfortable introduction, they talked for a good two hours.

He learned that she was the daughter of a visiting Advisor to the Primarch, that it was her first time to the Citadel; and, combined with her proneness to insomnia, her excitement made it hard to rest.

Adelais had been amused with her excitement.

He offered to show her around later that morning, when his shift ended.

As promised, he showed her around- to the Presidium, to C-Sec HQ, down to the Wards, the shops, even Chora's Den (which he'd always despised up until then), everything he thought she might find interesting. She had been impressed with everything, and had so many questions about the Citadel's history and the many different races that even Adelais couldn't answer them all.

When the "tour" was over, she offered to get drinks.

And that was how it all started.

Nostalgic, Adelais?

Adelais chuckled in affirmative, looking up at the very same fountain, just as pretty and still spewing out the same clean, cool water as it had all those years ago. I just remembered the first time we met.

The second best day of my life.

When compared to what, Carissa?

What came next.

Is that right? Adelais mused, Even when that Terra Firma terrorist took you hostage down in the Wards?

As I recall, you were there, too.

Yeah, taking the shot that killed him.

I knew you would save me.

Some damsel in distress you were.

Damsel in distress? She responded with a light, Turian-laugh that rung in the deepest parts of Adelais' mind and heart, Why I-

Bang!

Upon hearing the shot, Adelais' "connection" (or whatever it was; it had been happening for far too long now for Adelais to wonder about it) to his beloved, late wife faltered enough for him to regain full control of all his senses. Adelais turned on his heel quickly enough to see the C-Sec Officer patrolling the area on the other side of the fountains fall- but there was no assailant to be seen.

His first thought: Sniper!

His second: How the hell did they get in?

All right, calm down, Adelais demanded of himself, pushing back up his "old cop" persona as he quickly shoved aside the instantaneous, instinctive panic. He darted behind the nearest fountain, which was, incidentally, the stairwell leading down to the elevator up to the Council Tower. First rule of C-Sec, Adelais- give yourself all the facts, analyze whatever you can, and then react appropriately.

We know there's a sniper down in the Commons. We also know that Cerberus is after the Council- we know who they're after and what they want- we don't know who their leader is or what their plans are.

Course of action?

Go after the Council; head off the sniper and whatever goons he's got backing him. Open communications with Garrus, the Commander, and whoever else is around- warn them of probable ambush.

N._.S._.S

"Dad? Dad, where the hell are you?"

Fighting the urge to give his son a sarcastic answer as he moved across the precarious beams leading to the Council Chambers (because he'd decided that since Cerberus had a sniper on their side, he should make sure the others weren't blindsided by making sure the Council had a sniper of their own- but hadn't realized just how high up he was until he had the idiocy to look down, nearly killing himself in the process), Adelais answered instead, "Doesn't matter. I'm on my way to the Council- they've got a sniper on the way."

"A lot more than that, dad," Garrus said, after the Commander's disembodied voice said something that Adelais couldn't quite catch, "I don't know how they got in, but the Reaper's already made halfway here and Cerberus brought about a hundred ships with them."

"What about our fleets?"

They've got their hands full- we're getting there, but we need to get the Council and everyone else out of here, and we need to get the Control Chip up to the Panel before the Reaper gets any closer."

"Understood."

"Dad-" This time, Garrus sounded less like a superior Officer (which, in Adelais' mind, was exactly what he had become, even before all this), and more like the worried son he was, "Be careful. We've got an assassin heading in that direction, and, for Spirit's sake," Garrus said, almost pleadingly, "Stay the hell away from him, whatever you do. Let Kolyat handle him when he comes."

Adelais chuckled just as he took his place directly over the Council.

"What, you don't think I could take him?"

"Dad, I know you can't take him."

"Ouch," Adelais chuckled again, waving silently at Bailey when he looked up and saw him, giving him the greatest 'what the hell?' look ever before merely shaking his head and looking away, as he slowly took out his old Viper, ensuring the movement or shift of wait wouldn't topple him over. As he touched the little pouch containing the old photograph, Garrus added something else.

"I mean it, dad. Stay away-"

Whatever else his son had been about to say was interrupted when the doors to the chamber, about a good hundred meters away, separated by the blossom trees, the marble fountain, and stairs, suddenly burst open, as if some fool had gone and locked it and Cerberus had resorted to bombing the damn thing open.

Either that or, of course, they wanted to make an entrance.

Probably both.

"Stay away from the lunatic assassin, got it." Adelais said, gruffly, shouldering the rifle and taking aim at the first trooper that cleared the smoke. "See you here in a few minutes."

"Dad-"

Adelais shut the communicator off, and took the first shot.

Headshot.

Clean.

Only a thousand more to go, Adelais thought with some amusement, reloading quickly as he took aim again.

Below him, his comrades had already begun shooting, too.

N._.S._.S

Thank you very much to the reader BRITTANY,

Whose many Reviews gave me plenty of ideas.

You sure have a lot to say, girl!

Thanks so much!

Enjoy!

- J