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-Five: The Promise-Keeper XVII.

"Damn it!"

The headset broke as it smashed into the ground.

Garrus slammed taloned hands into the metal desk, swearing again.

Solana stepped forward, ice-blue eyes wide in alarm, but Adelais, dark midnight blue eyes of his own narrowing in clear concern, but also in shock, suddenly threw his arm out in front of her and stopped her from approaching her brother, despite the pleading look he received in response.

Garrus, do you remember what I said back in London?

No matter what happens, I'll always love you.

I love you, Garrus.

I love you.

"I should have gone with her!" Garrus growled, without even turning around, fully aware of his father and sister watching his every move- he could feel their eyes staring into him as he slammed his hands on the table again, " I knew this something like this would happen!"

"Garrus," this time Adelais spoke up, "You don't even know what happened to her."

"I could have helped her!" Garrus shouted back, firing up instantly, "I could have done something!"

"What could you have done?" Adelais answered, calmly, looking completely unimpressed, as usual, "You would have only died with her- if that's even what happened."

"Better than letting her be alone again," Garrus answered, darkly.

Adelais looked alarmed at that. "She wouldn't have wanted you to-"

"I know!" Garrus interrupted, harshly. "She wouldn't have wanted that."

Adelais let his arm down now, allowing Solana to move again, and slowly sat back onto the cot, noticeably exhausted from his fight in the Citadel and from the probably painful (but not seriously life-threatening, thankfully, mostly because of the quick-thinking actions of Chakwas when they'd arrived to the Normandy) wounds he had been dealt in his fall from the beams.

His eyes are still missing something, Garrus thought, looking at him.

They were still missing that spark, he realized.

The spark that had been absent in his father's eyes since his mother died.

"How did you do it?" Garrus asked, aloud, without thinking. "How the hell did you not go insane?"

Adelais looked startled again, and he shared a strange, confused look with his daughter before looking back up at Garrus, brow-plate still raised in clear puzzlement.

"How did I do what?" Adelais asked, slowly. "Garrus, I don't-"

"When mom died, dad," Garrus said, turning his head again, "How did you not go insane?"

Adelais ignored Solana's sharp intake of breath as he just sighed.

"I did," He said quietly, "I think I did, at least."

Garrus shook his head. "No, you didn't. You're still the same."

Adelais just shook his head and chuckled. "The same? Spirits, I hope not."

"Not?" Now Solana looked down at him, confused.

"Of course not," Adelais answered, gently. "I wanted to improve when your mother passed, though it took me a while to even realize that much. I…" Adelais paused, and adverted his eyes from the both of them as he continued, voice dying the slightest bit, "I wanted to be a better father."

I wanted to be a better father.

"That's what you promised her." Garrus responded, calmly.

It wasn't even a question.

Solana's ice-blue eyes widened, and she turned her head sharply to Adelais.

"Dad?" She asked, her voice trembling, "Is it?"

Adelais just nodded, looking down at the floor, dark eyes closing as he nodded.

Something deep inside Garrus clenched, and for the first time, he understood.

He had promised.

And, by the Spirits, Garrus knew, his old dad was going to try his damned hardest to keep it.

Suddenly, it all made sense.

A sick, twisted, absolutely horrific kind of sense.

"Dad, you-"

At that moment, however, the entire ship rocked, like something had hit it- like a wave of energy, similar to the one that had gone off when Shepard had activated the Crucible- and Solana fell into Adelais, who instantly wrapped his arms protectively around her.

Seconds later, with the ship still rocking, a harried looking Vega burst into the Med Bay.

"Scars!" He shouted, "You guys need to come up to the CIC- now!"

Adelais, after a swift glance at each of his children, forced himself up, back to his feet- just as he'd always done before- but this time, Garrus could actually see the pain that this sudden movement caused him.

"You'll move faster without us, Garrus- go," he ordered, though not unkindly.

Garrus saluted his appreciation and followed Vega- who had already run out again, without them in his rush, toward the elevator and nearly breaking his hand holding it for him.

"Vega, what happened?" Garrus demanded, sharply, as the elevator closed.

"It's Lola," Vega told him, seriously, "She's out there right now!"

"What?"

N._.S._.S

"You are not going to believe this," Joker announced as Garrus entered the cockpit, "Hell, I can't believe it, and I saw it come out," he added,sounding serious but dazed at the same time.

"Saw what come out?"

"Here," Joker said with a grin, swiveling in his sleek, black, lounge-like chair so Garrus could take a look. "Take a look!" he crowed, triumphantly.

He looked...

Then looked again.

Spirits.

Was that Joleen?

She stood in front of the Normandy, arms folded formally behind her back. Her shoulder-length hair waved behind her, strands brushing against her smooth-looking face. Her wire-rimmed glasses were sitting at the bridge of her nose, and she was smiling at them- though, from the look of it, she was, rather, staring right at him.

She looked like a holo.

Her body was bright azure, smooth, bright and beautiful.

Beside her was a Human boy, maybe around six or seven years old, who also looked like a holo, like Shepard. He was wearing what looked like a hooded jacket, and had his little hands crammed in its pockets, smiling slyly at them- as if he knew a secret that they didn't.

The Shepard-holo reached out and put her hand over the Normandy, small smile widening as her eyes met Garrus'. Something bright white flashed and she retracted her hand.

Protect.

Shepard's voice was loud, echoing, resonating eternally in the darkness of the space surrounding her- her voice was thousands of times more powerful than he'd ever remembered hearing it, even during her speeches to the crew during the Suicide Mission, or even London.

Far more powerful-

The voice of something all-powerful.

Then, slowly, deliberately, both Shepard and the little boy turned their backs. In front of them- and beyond them, the Normandy, the Destiny Ascension, and every single other freaking ship in the Main Fleet of the combined militaries of almost every species in the Galaxy, was the massive Reaper, backed by at least fifty Cerberus ships- all of which had apparently turned away from the Citadel just to follow them.

"Oh, my God." Joker said, slumping back into his chair. "Shit."

He swiveled his chair back to Garrus with the greatest "now what the hell do we do?" look ever.

But Garrus didn't even notice.

He was still staring, awestruck, at Shepard.

Blind to everything- and everyone- else.

N._.S._.S

Hey! What's up?

Yeah, I threw a curveball at you.

Shepard and the Catalyst-

What could that possibly mean?

As always, tell me what you all think!

Reviews, Favorites, and Follows all very much appreciated!

They give me the confidence to keep going,

And make me a very happy person on top of that!

XD