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 Seventy: The Missing XVI.
"He's coming to kill me."
The enormity of her own affirmation sent a shudder of true fear down her spine, and the Commander slowly and purposely took off the Communicator, and tossed it away, unable to bear the pained response she knew was to come, and knowing she was far too weak, and Garrus too far away, to stop what was obviously coming-
She didn't want him to hear what she knew, without a doubt in her mind, was about to happen.
It would have destroyed him.
Destroyed him beyond the point of saving.
She wouldn't let that happen.
No matter what he did to her.
The pain from the wound in her chest and back was slowly ebbing away, despite the blood still seeping from it, as her eyes finally began to adjust to the brightness of the room she was in. She could already hear Hades' footsteps coming closer, black, high-heeled boots echoing, resonating unbearably, closer and closer to her, and could clearly hear his even, calm quiet laughter when he saw the state she was in-
Easy prey, she could almost hear him thinking.
An easy kill.
He knelt down on one knee and leaned over her so that their eyes met, his glistening in a way that promised torture, and, eventually, murder, and so close that their foreheads nearly touched.
His hand easily, without hesitation, wrapped around her neck.
"You're finished," he said, tauntingly.
"So are you," she answered, forcing her voice to come out strongly, instead of a helpless whisper.
His grip tightened the slightest bit, and he smiled a twisted, haunted smile.
"Maybe so… but," he added, quietly, "But the pleasure of killing you still belongs to me."
She gathered up all the blood and spit in her mouth and spat in his face.
He let go of her and kicked her.
She landed on her side, and her messy, clumped hair got into her eyes, and her wire-framed glasses snapping cleanly in half, lenses shattering and flying off her face as he kicked her again, throwing her onto her stomach and knocking the wind out of her lungs.
The blows were harsh, unrelenting, but she felt no pain as she knew she should have.
By the time Hades stopped beating her, his boots were covered in her blood.
He grabbed her and pushed her into the wall, grasp tightening to the point where she could no longer breathe. Weakly, she wrapped her shaking hands over his wrists.
He was so close now that she could hear his rapid heartbeat.
With his free hand, as if just to show how much power he had over her, ran the tips of her fingers over thigh, and she shuddered at it, making him grin and push harder against her.
She kneed him in the gut, fighting the tears that threatened to fall. While the blow did not force him to let go of her completely, it must have hurt, because Hades cursed, shouting something incomprehensible in her face that sounded like a combination of vulgar swearwords and threats.
She was shaking and the tears were already falling when he kneed her back.
Pain exploded in her abdominal area and she let out a cry as he effortlessly threw her into the middle of the room. She landed in a heap on her right side, gasping for breath- she couldn't breathe, and was, but this time, soaking wet with her own blood.
He kicked her onto her back and stomped on her.
"The- mighty- Commander- Shepard-" he taunted her, mercilessly, almost sadistically, stomping on her as hard as he could, despite the agonized cries it elicited, "Here I am, beating you like a common dog beneath my feet, and yet there's not a thing you, or anyone else can do to stop me. Looks like your talk of standing together were for nothing, huh? No one's here to stand by you, is there?"
Shepard mouthed something to him, an idea to buy a precious few seconds more springing thoughtlessly into her mind, and he bent down, just as she knew he couldn't resist to do, so that they were face-to-face.
She could smell Kolyat's blood on the bastard's clothes, he was so fucking close.
"Say that again, o' mighty Commander?" Hades said, his pale-as-death lips less than an inch from hers.
She spat at him again.
Both of his hands wrapped around her throat this time and instantly tightened, actually lifting her off her feet. Shepard gripped his wrists in a pathetic, vain attempt to loosen them.
"You've lost, Commander."
Behind him, making his way quickly up the huge flights of stairs, was a blurry, familiar figure. Shepard squinted a little, and she smiled a wavering, pained smile as she realized who it was-
Who had come for her.
Just as she had known he would.
"No, Hades…" she managed to murmur, just as his head turned to follow her gaze, "You've lost."
Bang.
She actually screamed when his blood hit her, head virtually exploding in front of her eyes, the sheer force of the instant kill grounding her on her back with Hades' now headless form sprawling lifelessly on top of her. She kicked and squirmed underneath it, pain suddenly coming back in full, panicked force, until Garrus appeared moments later, throwing the madman off of her and instantly folding her into his arms.
She screamed again, cool aura finally snapping, tears streaming down her face.
Garrus' arms tightened soothingly around as he called for backup.
"It's all right now," he said, over and over again, "It's over, Joleen, it's over."
She just buried her face into his chest and kept crying.
N._.S._.S
Last few Chapters!
Hope you enjoy the end!
I'm cooking something special up.
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Please?
I don't bite, I swear!
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