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."

PLEASE RE-READ CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY.

THANKS XD.

N._.S._.S

Chapter Sixty: The Wanderer XVIII.

The tip of the blade was- literally- less than an inch from his chest, clamped between in his only slightly shaking hands, which were palmed together in a prayer-like position, keeping the sword from moving any further.

Behind him, he could hear Hackett's retreating step quietly falter.

In front of him, Hades' eyes widened in shock.

The entire room seemed to have completely frozen.

"The Drell from Kahje," Hades said, breaking the suddenly tomb-silent room. All eyes were on the two, no matter which side they were actually on and no matter what they'd all happened to be doing when Kolyat jumped in to block the assassin's sword- Kolyat could feel them boring into his back by mere instinct now.

They were all just simply stunned.

"So you're still alive, after all." The Cerberus assassin's words were slow, deliberately dramatic.

They resonated throughout the entire room, like the notes of eerie music would in a recital chamber.

Kolyat could feel the brazen smirk forming on his lips widen as Hades spoke.

Everything moved in slow motion as Hades slipped the sword away from Kolyat's grasp between both hands- slitting them open as he did so, splattering blood at their feet.

Hades swung the sword at Kolyat's side, and Kolyat easily sidestepped it, staying as close to Hackett as he could so the assassin couldn't manage to harm him without going through him first. Another swing, and this time Kolyat blocked it with a powerful blast of Biotics, sending both sword and man backward- crashing down the steps along the way.

Now you've done it.

"Councilor Hackett," Kolyat said, straightening and turning his head to look over at Hackett, and ignoring his father's rather ominous comment, "I suggest you get away from here quickly," he told him with a respectful nod, "This is a fight between me and him."

Hackett gave him a serious look before obliging, "Thank you," he said, sincerely, moving back with Tevos, Valern, and Sparatus. "Can you can take him alone?" he added, after a wary glance at Kolyat's arm.

"I wouldn't ask if I couldn't-"

Kolyat interrupted himself when he heard the distant, familiar whooshing of a blade through the air. Reacting instinctively, Kolyat turned and extended his right arm, and, with another burst of Biotics, the sword went blasting back, finally burying itself into the trunk of a blossom tree.

Pay attention, Kolyat! You are not facing an average enemy!

"Vega," Kolyat called to the dark-skinned marine as he darted toward him after the Biotics faded, with surprising speed considering his bulk, "Take the Councilors and everyone else here back to the Normandy," he ordered, ignoring the half-annoyed glare he got in response from about half of the others listening, "at least that way even if the Reaper gets here everyone gets out."

"And you, loco? You playing hero now?" Vega demanded, though he cast a look up at Adelais, who was still above their heads. Even from his position, Kolyat could see the old Turian cop watching them.

"Just until the Commander and Garrus get here," Kolyat answered, mildly, keeping an eye on the sword, which seemed to be wobbling slightly from what he could see in a rather odd way. "Adelais and I will hold back whoever tries to get to you. That assassin," he added, looking away from it for a second to face Vega, "is after me anyhow, and none of you can hope to match him, even as skilled as you all are."

Vega looked over at the Council, as if for help.

Hackett gave Kolyat a quick, searching look before nodding and agreeing with him, then turned back to face the other Council-members. "I agree," he said, when each of them, in turn, nodded. "It's time for us to leave here while we still have the chance."

"If we're gonna move, we need to do it now," Bailey spoke up after giving Kolyat an approving wink, "If that assassin's anything like Kai Leng, we need to move fast."

N._.S._.S

"Are you ready, Officer Vakarian?"

"I'm not an Officer. It's just 'Adelais' now," Adelais answered, mildly, "But yes, I am ready."

"You sure sound like an Officer to me, sir."

"It's called an inbred personality. And don't call me sir. What do I look like, a sergeant?"

"Yeah, actually, you do," Kolyat told him, good-naturedly, and Adelais chuckled lightly at his comment. Unlike Kolyat's first impression of the old Turian, Adelais was not only highly skilled, but also, much to Kolyat's relief, very patient and kind. "I'm going to check on the Commander. Watch my back," Kolyat added, waiting for Adelais' response before switching the headset's channel.

"Understood."

A soldier, through and through, Kolyat thought to himself as he switched the headset's channel. Beside him, Thane, who had been looking down at the bloodied ground, as if contemplating something, looked up at his son just then, deep, large black eyes glistening knowingly at that comment.

A soldier will always be a soldier, Thane told him, kindly.

Let's hope I'm not a soldier, then.

Let's hope, yes.

"This is Garrus Vakarian."

"Garrus, this is Kolyat Krios," Kolyat said, ignoring the Turian's startled, near silent intake of breath as he kept an eye on the stairs leading to where he stood.

He knew that Hades, backed by a few Phantoms, and maybe even an Atlas this time, would appear at the foot of those stairs at anytime now- he had to be ready for them this time-

Or, simply put, it was all over.

"I stopped the assassin from killing Councilor Hackett."

"You did what? When?"

"Just now, but there's no time to explain. I need to speak with Commander Shepard."

He could hear Adelais firing off his first shot as he spoke. He saw one of the Phantoms on the other side of the room, the one nearest Hades, collapse, spraying crimson onto the stairs at the assassin's feet. Undaunted, Hades deftly kicked the corpse out of his way and pulled out his sword from the blossom tree's trunk, swinging it around and then continuing toward Kolyat, brushing his shoulder-length, dark hair out of his eyes, as if the battle he was walking into meant absolutely nothing to him-

Which, all things considered, it probably didn't.

"All right, here… she's going to kill you if that assassin doesn't do it first."

Kolyat couldn't help but chuckle even as Hades' eyes met his.

"If I beat this guy, she's welcome to try."

The assassin's eyes were completely white, devoid of any iris, pupil, and color.

The eyes of a monster. Kolyat found himself thinking instinctively.

The eyes of a Demon, Thane corrected him, dryly. The most dangerous kind.

No kidding.

N._.S._.S

You don't get to figure out what happened to Kolyat and Adelais for a bit.

Have fun agonizing over it for a few hours.

In the meantime, tell me what you think so far.

XD

BIG THANKS TO

MissFairyGodmother

WHOSE AWESOME REVIEWS INSPIRED ME TO KEEP WORKING!

ANNOUNCEMENT:

There is another story I'm working on.

It's called "Noble & Most Beloved."

It's ADELAIS AND CARISSA VAKARIAN's story!

Please take a look and tell me if you want that one to be continued!

Thank you very much!

XD