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-Nine: The Promise-Keeper XVIII.
"Did we just win?"
Garrus turned toward his father when he spoke and Joker's chair whirled quickly around, the young pilot's hands thrown in the air, waiting expectantly for the Turian's verdict.
Adelais' midnight dark blue eyes were trained on his son's, narrowed and cautious. Garrus noticed that his taloned hand, the same one that had gripped the ghostly one of his mother, was still tightly clenched. Solana was staring back at the two of them, bright electric-blue eyes shifting rapidly between them, shocked into silence.
Garrus turned back toward the window. "Yeah, dad," he said slowly, not looking at him. "We won."
"Hell yeah!" Joker crowed, high-fiving Vega, "Yes!"
There was something seriously, seriously wrong here.
And not just with what he'd just seen.
That Human next to Shepard during the battle, the first one that appeared.
The kid.
It had to have been him.
Ranger.
"I need to get to her," he said aloud, looking down at Joker. "Now."
"Yeah," Joker answered, smile fading a bit when he saw the look in Garrus' eyes. His chair turned back around, and, as Garrus took control of the Comm. system, said in a serious voice, "You got it."
"Garrus, what's wrong?" Adelais said, cautiously, as the cockpit emptied and the remains of Shepard's dazed-looking crewmates (Vega, Liara, Kaidan, followed by a rather shaken-looking Victus) tumbled in the general direction of their usual stations, "I'm sure the Commander is-"
"I have a bad feeling," Garrus interrupted, darkly, "That's all."
"Garrus…?" Shepard's voice finally came through on the Comm. system just then, before he or anyone else could say anything, weak but remarkably composed, though all the strength from her speech just a few minutes ago seemed to have vanished.
It was shaking the slightest bit.
Something was wrong.
"Shepard," Garrus answered, turning to it instantly. "Joleen, I'm here."
A soft half-chuckle, half-sigh was his response.
Don't take her away from me now, Garrus found himself pleading silently as the Dock came into view. He could see Keepers beginning to swarm underneath them as the Normandy prepared to land, repairing and scrubbing frantically, as though the growing horde were half-mad with frenzy.
"How bad is it?" Garrus found himself asking, quietly, gently.
A weak chuckle. "It went all the way through."
Adelais' eyes widened a fraction of an inch and Solana gasped audibly.
"What did?"Garrus demanded, forcing his voice to stay calm and level.
She didn't answer.
"Joleen, stay with me. I'm almost there."
"Garrus," her voice was somehow distant now, almost as though she were fading, "I can't see."
Something in him clenched. "Joleen…"
Through her side of the Comm., Garrus can hear her moving a little. "I can't…"
"I'm coming," Garrus said, moving past his stunned father and sister, "Don't panic."
She answered with a breathy laugh.
"He's coming, Garrus."
Garrus stopped, just as the Normandy touched ground. "Who?"
"He's coming to kill me."
Whatever clenching inside him snapped.
"No." He said, so quietly he was sure no one had heard him, "Joleen-"
Just then, the Comm. system cut.
"Garrus!"
Garrus turned sharply just as the door hissed open.
Adelais was releasing his sniper rifle from the old, worn holster on his back. Before Garrus could ask what he thought he was doing, Adelais tossed the old weapon at him. Garrus caught it, deftly but carefully, and Garrus looked up at him as those around them just gawked incredulously.
"Dad-"
"Go, Garrus," Adelais responded, sharply, with a stiff nod, "Bring her back."
The two shared a mutual, truly understanding look before Garrus turned again.
And took off running.
N._.S._.S
How Shepard had managed to get up here so fast, he didn't know.
Making a mental note to ask her later, he kept climbing the stairs, taking care to not make a noise, shouldering his father's rifle as he did so, as not to alert the assassin that he knew had beat him here.
He stopped for a fraction of a second when something bright and azure flashed by his eyes. He kept moving, but turned his head-
And promptly stopped again.
Ranger sat on the step below him, legs crossed.
He really was young.
As Garrus looked him over, Ranger's form began to solidify. His hair was short and gelled into spikes, and he wore a long-sleeved black, N7-emblazoned turtleneck, ratty blue jeans, and a tattered crimson sweater around his waist. He was lean, fairly muscular, and badly sun-burned, as though he'd worked for far too many days.
His eyes were a bright blue, just a tad darker than Garrus' own.
His grinned at him, and winked. So you're the one Shep lived for.
"What do you want?"Garrus asked him, more harshly than he meant.
The long-since dead kid kept grinning and shrugged. Nothing. Just wanted to take a look.
Shep will be fine.
"Not if I don't keep moving."
Ranger's eyes flashed as Garrus left him behind. Then he grinned again and called after him.
You'd better take good care of her, A-Class!
N._.N._.S
A-Class.
There was actually a story to that one.
Not a good one of course, but a story nonetheless.
Garrus only heard Shepard say that word a couple of times; and most of those times she'd said it like it was some kind of nasty curse, either in a deadly hiss or a low, taunting whisper, during a long fight- and most of those times it was when she was talking about a Batarian.
It turned out that the Red Jacket Gang used that term, "A-Class," to describe all Non-Humans.
It was a disgusting, racist curse.
And Shepard even admitted it.
N._.S._.S
He had her by the throat.
Shepard's hands were wrapped loosely around the assassin's wrists, still trying to fight despite the fact that even she had to know she was outmatched.
Her armor and all her weapons were missing. She was wearing only her armor's under suit- a black, tight thing, merely layer between the soft skin and the armor itself, emblazoned with the N7 logo on her chest.
A pool of blood was slowly forming with every drop of blood that fell from her motionless body, and her rich, dark brown eyes were open, and tears- either from pain or fear, he couldn't tell yet- were slipping silently down paler-than-death cheeks, clearly seen even from where he stood, twenty or so meters away.
As Garrus crept closer, he smirked.
Hades' back was to him.
The son of a bitch was giving him a shot.
Garrus shouldered the rifle- for some reason, the old weapon was already loaded and perfectly scoped out (and he would definitely make it a point to ask his father why later), and took careful aim.
Hades said something to her, and Shepard responded.
Just as Hades head began to turn toward him, Garrus took his shot.
Bang.
N._.S._.S
Hey, come on, people!
Where have my awesome loyal fans gone?
XD
Thanks to
Barbex & SineNominae.
Your Reviews gave me the confidence needed to finish this one.
Now…
Let's finish this!