Mass Effect: Every 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
Epilogue: The Promise-Keeper.
Everything was going to change now.
Actually, strike that- everything was already changing.
"Officer Vakarian!"
Garrus turned his head sharply, but relaxed a little when he realized that it was only his father, Adelais, hurrying toward him, already wearing his old, military-issued black armor, and face-paint immaculately done- as always- carrying on his back a worn, beaten weapons case that housed his sniper rifle.
"Chief Advisor Vakarian," Garrus answered, as formally and as seriously as he could manage without chuckling or even giving the old soldier an amused click of his mandibles-
For some reason, while it was apparently all well and good for Adelais to call Garrus by his formal title, (all the while knowing that his son hated it, of course) his father absolutely hated being called by his own-
So, as retaliation, for the last few hours Garrus had taken to screwing with him about it.
As he'd expected, Adelais scowled at him as he approached.
"Where is the Commander?" Adelais asked, turning his head to scan the docks.
"Joleen," Garrus corrected, automatically, "And she'll be here, don't worry."
"What is she working on, anyway?" Adelais asked, curiously, while absent-mindedly running his taloned hand over the side of his weapons case, "I thought she was taking time off before rejoining the Spectres?"
"We decided that she won't be returning- not officially, anyway," Garrus answered with a nod, "She and I will be staying on the Citadel, with Shepard acting as an Ambassador and negotiator on behalf of the Alliance and the Citadel. She wants to create an interspecies military," he added with a chuckle.
"Ambitious," Adelais said, "Think it'll happen?"
"With Joleen heading it? There's no doubt."
Adelais gave an amused chuckle and waved as Solana appeared, nudging her way through the growing crowd, carrying with her a new, sleek, black armor-case on her back.
"How's Kolyat?" Adelais asked as Solana finally made it to them, still hooking the case on correctly.
"Resting in the Normandy. We're taking him back tonight."
"Ah, good, good. Your sister," Adelais added, nodding at the young Turian in question, "Has decided to return to the Turian Military as a Medic, and will begin training this Summer."
"Like mom?" Garrus questioned, looking at his older sister in surprise, "Since when?"
"Hey," Solana protested, giving her brother a playful swat, "Why not?"
"I'm not saying that, I'm just surprised, that's all," Garrus told her, "But why a Medic?"
"Why not?" Solana repeated, smugly, folding her arms.
Before Garrus could retort, Joleen's voice suddenly rang out through the loading dock.
"Garrus!"
Garrus turned, and saw her striding confidently through the crowd, wearing a long-sleeved, black N7 turtleneck and a long, black skirt and her old, high-heeled combat boots. She had on her new, wide-rimmed glasses with the N7 logo on the right side, and her rich, dark brown eyes were glistening cheerfully as she made her way to them, nodding in polite greeting to Adelais and Solana.
"You got your work done already?" She asked him cheerily, folding her hands formally behind her back and looking up at him expectantly.
Garrus saw a flash of the glistening ring on her right hand before she'd folded her arms behind her back.
"Might have skipped a few stacks of paperwork," Garrus replied, aware of his father's snort of amusement and Solana's laugh as he said this.
Shepard's smile never dipped as she swatted his shoulder. "Already skipping out, Officer Vakarian?" She teased with a shrug, "I could send you back…"
"No, you love me too much to do that, and you know it," Garrus answered, without thinking.
Adelais and Solana were both laughing silently at them when he glanced back at them, Adelais hiding the fact with his taloned hand, and Solana not even bothering to stop or cover it.
Shepard blushed and looked away when Adelais suddenly cleared his throat.
"Ah-hem," he grunted reprovingly in Garrus' direction, "Commander," he added, looking at Shepard, "I expect to see you soon on Palaven?"
Shepard nodded. "Of course," she said, "But it's just 'Shepard' or 'Joleen' to you, sir."
"And Adelais to you," Adelais told her, "Now that you are a part of the family."
Shepard blushed again and smiled.
Garrus fought the urge to laugh as he stepped forward, placing a taloned hand on his mate's shoulder as he did so. "We'll have to set the date when everything settles a little."
"Of course," Adelais said with an approving nod.
Solana giggled, "I can't wait! Let me be in charge of the Ceremony's decorations!"
"Oh, Spirits, no." Garrus groaned, teasingly, with a wink at Shepard.
Adelais just shook his head a little at him. "See you two soon," he promised, "I'll stay in touch, and sent reports on the progress Victus and I make directly to you… Joleen." He said her name quietly, carefully, as someone would when saying a new word that they'd just learned.
"That would be great. Thank you, Adelais." Shepard answered, promptly.
At that moment, the alarm for boarding sounded, and Adelais and Solana boarded the shuttle that would be taking them back to Palaven. Before entering, though, Adelais stopped, and turned his head back toward them.
Garrus and Shepard both waved.
Adelais waved back before turning around again.
The two of them waited there until the ship was gone.
N._.S._.S
It was late.
Joleen was already sleeping next to him, arms wrapped around his middle, head resting half on the pillow and his arm, the other nudged comfortably into his side, half-hidden under the heavy blankets, eyes shifting calmly under closed lids and breathing slow, deep, and relaxed.
No nightmares this time, he thought with a satisfied, relived chuckle, gently shifting to lie back with her onto the bed without accidently knocking into her or waking her up.
They had taken an oddly calm (despite the changes he was facing and all that he had gone through) Kolyat, who had already messaged them and told them that he would support Shepard's goals and act though the Illuminated Prophecy and the Drell, as an ambassador and advisor, therefore taking another active role in reshaping the Galaxy that he had risked everything to save.
The kid seriously wanted to make a difference.
Garrus figured Thane would have been pleased.
Shepard shifted quietly beside him at that moment, murmuring something inaudible and then sighing. When he moved a little to make sure that she wasn't having nightmares, he was startled to find a single, solitary tear, glistening and sad, silently sliding down her cheek.
Knowing it wouldn't be a good idea to wake her; Garrus just wiped it away, slowly and carefully, but wrapped an arm protectively around her, just in case the nightmares were to return.
Her body suddenly looked infinitely smaller, lying there under the blankets, next to him.
This was the Commander Shepard.
The woman the entire Galaxy stood aside for.
The woman they watched go storming into hell, confident she'd be coming back to tell the tale.
This was the one, the mere Human whose will alone could talk down Councilors, Primarchs, soldiers, warlords, Justicars, assassins, criminals, slavers, mercenaries, even Reapers and boy-Gods.
And pretty much everything else that stood in her way.
This was Shepard, the one who led the entire, united Galaxy to victory in the unwinnable War.
But, aside from all of that...
This was Joleen, the woman he'd promised everything to.
Everyone saw her as a hero.
And damn it, she was, no matter what she told everyone.
No one else could have done what she did.
She wasn't just a soldier.
But, of course, they just saw her as an untouchable, incredible super-soldier who couldn't- and wouldn't- be shaken by anything.
They saw her as nothing else.
They all probably thought she laughed in the face of the Reapers.
Very few knew the truth.
And only one knew the whole truth.
Him.
The Galaxy didn't see her cry at the fall of Earth, Palaven, or Thessia.
Over the deaths of friends.
They didn't see her twisting and turning in her sleep, trapped in some horrible nightmare only to wake to a real one.
They didn't know the pressure she'd been under nearly killed her faster than the Reapers almost did.
He had.
He'd been there when she'd cried.
Held her as she cursed Cerberus and the Reapers, promising vengeance for the friends slain at their hands.
Comforted her when she woke, breathless and sobbing, as the nightmares slowly tore her apart.
He'd been there as she stared, open-mouthed in shock, as the Reapers and Cerberus ravaged the entire Galaxy.
Saw the defeat and fear in her eyes turn into determination and raw strength.
He'd been with her from the very beginning.
He would always be with her, no matter what.
And he intended to keep that promise.
Always.
N._.S._.S
All right.
That's it.
Story's over!
XD
Actually, not quite.
ANNOUNCING:
"The Tale Of A Million Ends."
SEQUEL.
Admit it.
I just made your heart stop with excitement.
Seriously. XD
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Thanks so much.
- J