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 Sixty-Four: The Wanderer XIX.

When Adelais fell, everything seemed to freeze for a split second.

When the Turian ex-Officer hit the ground, however, everything just seemed to happen all at once.

Just as Hades' blade soared back to its master, Kolyat, in a burst of fury at seeing his ally hurt, ripped the blossom trees from their roots, scattering the little pink blossoms into the air and all over the place, and using as much of his Biotic power he could in a single, insanely powerful burst, he'd thrown them at the doors across the room, at the quickly-scattering Phantoms and troopers, leaving the Atlas and one trooper to be crushed and enveloped in a swirling inferno.

Just as he turned back to Hades, however, he found that the assassin gone.

Time seemed to freeze again as Kolyat turned on his heel, unconsciously, instinctively, extending his right arm in preparation for another Biotic attack…

His mind blanked out the pain.

His eyes blanked out the sight of his arm being sawn off.

But his ears didn't block out the sound of his scream.

Undaunted by the Drell's reeling and his scream, Hades sent him crashing back into the wall nearest the Council stand with a powerful blast of Biotics of his own. His sword scratched at the ground as he dragged it along dramatically behind him, making a haunting, ghastly screeching noise as he walked toward him.

Kolyat doesn't even try to get away.

He knows it's over.

He's shaking so hard and gripping the bloody stump that was the remnant of his right arm (the sword had sliced clean through, bone and all) as hard has he can, despite the fact that he's already soaked in his own blood. He can hear Thane saying something, but his mind is racing so fast, and the fear is so far gone, that when Hades has the blade raised, preparing to stab him, Kolyat just closes his eyes and hopes it's over quickly.

N._.S._S

"Kalahira, this one's heart is pure,

But beset by wickedness and contention."

"Am I dead?"

He's at the Great Lakes again- where he always seemed to be ending up these days, it seemed. He's sitting cross-legged as close to the misty, icy, translucent waters as possible, back hunched over as he reaches into it with his remaining, left hand. His voice is surprisingly calm as he asks that question-

There is no fear.

Not this time.

"Guide this one to where the traveler never tires…"

"Do you think you are?"

Thane's reply was slow, deliberately so. He's standing next to his son, hands formally clasped behind his back, looking out into the vastness of the Great Lakes, as if staring at something far away.

Kolyat chuckled softly. "Doesn't feel like it."

At that, his father looked down at him. "Oh? And how did you imagine dying would be like?"

"So I am dead?"

"I did not say that," Thane answered, kindly, "I merely asked a question."

"So did I."

"I shall answer yours if you do the same with mine."

Kolyat looked back down at his remaining hand, clenching and unclenching it, considering his father's suggestion. When he came to the most satisfactory answer he could think of at the moment, he said, "I guess I thought it would be slower. Darker, maybe. I didn't think I'd end up here again."

"Everyone ends up here," Thane answered him, quietly. "At least, those who follow the old ways do."

"And those who don't?"

"I do not know."

"The lover never leaves…"

Kolyat looked up at him now, dark eyes flashing expectantly. "Am I dead?"

Thane looked away, back into the foggy distance. "No. Not quite."

"How did I get back here?"

"I brought you here."

"You did?" Kolyat questioned. He clenched his fist again. "How?"

"It's complicated, Kolyat."

"Just explain it as best you can, then."

Thane looks worried, but nonetheless, he obliged. "Your soul was so badly damaged."

"More like my arm," Kolyat answered, clenching his hand over his right shoulder. Curiously, though, the wound wasn't bleeding or hurting or anything-

His arm was just gone- he couldn't even feel it now.

And it was kind of starting to freak him out.

"The hungry never starve."

"Your body will survive such a blow," Thane replied, looking back down at him again, "But it isn't so easy when the damage is more than skin deep."

"Skin deep? I just got my fucking arm cut off!" Kolyat snapped, bolting to his feet.

Thane held up both hands in a kind, surrendering motion. "I am not saying that your arm is of no concern- just the opposite. But," he added, firmly, "just remember that your body is repairable. Your soul is not."

"How do I repair it, then?" Kolyat demanded, harsher than he actually meant to be.

"It takes time, Kolyat. Time and, most of all, acceptance."

"But… I'm not dead." Kolyat said, looking away, "And the Commander is coming."

"Guide this one, Kalahira, and he will be a companion to you…"

Thane watches him as Kolyat knelt by the water again, but doesn't say anything.

"The Commander is coming," Kolyat repeated, staring down at the translucent, rippling water, lapping up in peaceful, slow waves. "And I think everyone's all right."

"Oh?" Thane responded, kindly. "What do you think you should do now?"

"I think," Kolyat said, standing back up, "I need to go back."

"Even with that injury?" Thane asked, calmly, touching the limbless shoulder, making Kolyat flinch ever so slightly. "Can you deal with the pain and the changes that this will force?"

"Yeah," Kolyat responded, just as calmly, slowly, touching the hand on his shoulder and looking his father in the eyes as he spoke, "I can."

"Then so be it."

"As he was to me."

N._.S._.S

The pain still wasn't there when he opened his eyes- and that comforted him, rather than panicked him, this time. This way, without the pain to distract him, he could think straight and without hesitation, ignoring, if only for the moment, his life-changing, dramatic wound.

He woke with a violent cough, though, and he could taste the blood in his mouth as the blurry forms of Commander Shepard and her friend, the Turian, Garrus Vakarian, came into view.

When the Commander reached out for him though, to, he knew, touch the wound that had somehow been bandaged while he had been unconscious, he stopped her by grabbing her wrist.

Don't touch, he wanted to say.

Don't touch.

His lips moved, but when the Commander's brow furrowed, he knew now that somehow, he didn't even have the strength to speak at the moment."

"Kolyat, don't," the Commander said, kindly, as Kolyat moved to grip the wounded stump. Now, he could feel the blood. It was everywhere, pooling down underneath him and running down his body and soaking into his shirt.

Kolyat ignored her, looking away.

"Easy now." Adelais' voice said, as Shepard's worried face suddenly disappeared. The old cop's eyes flashed into Kolyat's own, and the Drell let something in him unclench.

He'd made it, too. He wanted to shout to his father, He made it, too!

Nodding at him, Kolyat took a deep breath, but all he could manage were a few words.

"Reaper," he managed to say, "The Reaper."

Adelais actually glanced back at the gargantuan window. Kolyat couldn't see what he was looking at, but the way the Turian's eyes widened a fraction of an inch, and his voice when he said, "It's coming closer."

"We need to get back to the Normandy before-"

We? Wait a second!

What about the Control Chip?

Did they forget about-

"Take that damn thing and go!" Kolyat said, trying to force himself back to his feet despite Adelais' almost instantaneous attempts to force him back down, taloned hand sinking into his uninjured arm in clear warning, "You need to go before the Reaper makes it here or it's all over!"

Just then, from somewhere close-

Too close-

A Reaper shrieked.

Adelais' supported Kolyat as he tried to get back to his feet this time, shock clear in the ex-Officer's eyes. "Kolyat's right, Commander," he said, "Everything that's happened up until now will be in vain if that Control Chip doesn't make it to the Panel."

He's actually listening, Kolyat realized.

Someone listened.

It's all right now. Thane's voice said, suddenly, kindly. You can rest now.

You've done your part.

Rest now.

Though Kolyat didn't have the strength to disobey, even as his eyes slipped closed, and as the warm, comforting feeling of sleep quickly enveloped him, Kolyat could still feel the triumphant smile on his lips.

After that, though, he knew nothing for a long time.

N._.S._.S