When they arrived at the Senate, Shepard could not help but observe each part of the spacious entrance hall. Large marble columns were ranged in several rows, giving an impression of infinity in this single room. Javik was walking with a firm step, leaving behind the Human as a mere subordinate. When they came in front of large doors, they were soon arrested by two guards. They began to talk and Luna had some difficulty interpreting their words, as it was in Prothean. Her ears soon accustomed gradually to this forgotten language and soon were able to understand the meaning of it. They were forbidding access to the duo, giving the reason that they had no appointment scheduled with the Senators and their counsel. Javik kept insisting that it was a major emergency, but still, nothing were changing their minds.
``The Empire is threatened,`` dared to add Luna, speaking in a clumsy Prothean accent.
She was surprised by her words, same for Javik who now looked at her with astonishment. One of the guards asked what race she was, which annoyed Javik:
``Who cares! She's from a race who knows more about the upcoming war that is preparing without our knowledge of it. I must speak to the Senators!``
Before the soldiers were able to answer, the big doors opened quietly, gradually revealing another room, circular, where several people were sitting in height. A loud voice exclaimed:
``That the Prothean claiming that we meet appear and reveal himself. Our time is precious and we can't allow ourselves to be interrupted by the cries of a single soldier on the other side of a door.``
Javik did not hesitate to enter the new room, Luna following him. She patiently observed the surroundings, seeing several Protheans, and members of other races she did not know, sit around the room. Large windows illuminated the assembly with gold beams, giving a quasi-royal look to the Senators. A Prothean, a female, stood up. She seemed important since she had been sitting in a prominent place. She looked old but strong, a perfect example of strength and wisdom. She stopped Javik with her strong voice and her authority:
``Present yourself, Prothean. You say you possess critical information. Speak and choose your words wisely.``
He gave a short bow, preparing to speak:
``I am Commander Javik, I served on several ships, but none of the names I could tell you would remind you anything. I come as a messenger from a future time and yet very close to you: the Empire will soon be threatened by a formidable opponent. Machinery, much larger than our imperial cruisers, which have the power to destroy an entire battalion in a single blow. I am talking about the Reapers that will fight us and try to exterminate us to the last.``
Exclamations suddenly exploded in the room, protesting the news. The Senator raised her hands, demanding silence.
``These are very serious news you bring us, Prothean. Maybe you say the truth, or are you a fool. Where did you get such information?``
Javik was already beginning to lose patience:
``From the future! One where everyone will soon be dead. Your children will die, so will their descendants. You have to trust me! I fought in the army of the Empire all my life, I am an Avatar of Vengeance. The truth is the only thing that comes out of my mouth, you can probably feel it.``
A Prothean at the female's right gave her a tablet, pointing something. She took it, looking at the information.
``Commander Javik you aren't registered anywhere in the information of the Empire. If you lie, the consequences will be very serious.``
``It is normal that my name is not registered! I wasn't born in this period. I found a beacon that allowed me to go back in time and warn you of the threat.``
``If I can bring support, his words are true,`` Shepard began, removing her hood.
Whispers began, all alerted by the creatures standing before their eyes.
``By the Empire almighty, what is this creature?`` exclaimed the female. ``How can she understand and speak our language?``
``I am Luna Shepard, Commander of a Human ship in a cycle that happens fifty thousand years after yours.``
``It can't be a Human!`` exclaimed a Prothean at one side of the room. ``That race is still very primitive at this very time. It is very unlikely that they have already begun to make interstellar travels.``
``And how can a Human become Commander?`` another commented with a chuckle. ``Their evolution tends certainly not to such a path of command. This alien can not, in any case, be a Human.``
``Are you deaf or what?`` Luna said bitterly. ``What don't you understand in these five words: we are from the future?``
``Watch your words, alien, or you will have to answer for your intolerable attitude to the Senate.``
Javik stepped forward, backing Shepard carefully behind him. He kept his gaze fixed at the Senator.
``What she says is true though.``
The female showed a fake smile.
``Commander Javik, or whatever your identity is, I strongly advise you to leave this room or you will have to be put in jail on behalf of the Empire. Your case would be madness and treason for bringing an alien race in Empire space. It must be studied and not served to predict wars that will not happen. The Empire is strong and it is certainly not a bunch of machines that will threaten us.``
Javik remained stoic for a few seconds, still processing the Senator's words. He finally decided to make a new reverence, only to rise with an expression of pure hatred:
``Thank you for giving us the chance to go, Senator, but I pity your ignorance and complete blindness caused by your power. I warned you of this imminent threat, and when the time comes, you'll be the first one to die.``
He turned, pressing Luna to follow. The assembly remained in silence until the doors closed, only to start a debate on what had been said.
Shepard put her hood back on her head, not omitting to see Javik's hands that glittered already with a low green biotic glow.
***
It was with great surprise that Javik discovered that he still had some Prothean money left. He believed he had cleared it completely, but his omni-tool would say the opposite, showing information that was foreign to it. The duo took advantage of this windfall to go find a room in a hotel. Javik needed to be locked away from the world. A foul rage invaded him and Luna felt it after every step. When they arrived at their room, his biotics had already covered his whole body. Luna closed the door and then he exploded. He sent several objects waltzing against the walls. He kept raging, shouting insults and cursing the ignorance of the Senate. Luna dared to approach him.
``Javik, stop immediately this childish reaction,`` she ordered in a strict and firm tone.
``Primitive! Bitch! It's your entire fault!`` he raged, sending an object flow near Shepard.
``Hey! I will not tolerate that kind of language, Javik. Nothing is anyone's fault; nobody could predict that we would find ourselves transported to your species' past.``
``Damn politics!`` he continued, not listening to the Human. ``They are fucking idiots that won't listen anything! They're all going to die like it has happened before. Those ignorants! I've warned them and if this war happens, they will ask me for forgiveness.``
``Javik!``
The Prothean paused, staring at the other with a look that could kill.
``Stop whining and circling in this room! You won't come to any results if you continue this way. You have to come to action now. Believe me; I experienced the same thing with the Council. You must gather allies and prepare yourself to fight for this cycle.``
Javik let out a bitter laugh.
``Me, getting alliances with weak races? Shepard, you do not know this cycle, the Protheans are the strongest, nobody surpasses our intellect and supremacy.``
At his words he slipped to the bathroom, closing the door behind him dryly. Luna tried above all to remain calm before such arrogance. She heard the water running, guessing that the Prothean needed to get rid of all the emotions that was clinging to his skin with some showering.
``Maybe I know nothing of this cycle, it's true,`` she began. ``But creating a union is possible. The other races surely have strengths and hidden forces that the Empire quickly hid to your race. You've seen many different people join me in my cycle, we all have our differences and it accentuate our forces. It's not that difficult to understand, Javik. … If you do nothing, your people will suffer again all the atrocities of the war and all will die. Is this really what you want?``
A long silence hovered, leaving the sound of water filling the void between the Human and the other.
Javik stood motionless in the shower, watching the emptiness before him, constantly hearing Shepard's words in his head. He let out a sigh, annoyed:
``And if I can't succeed ?``
Luna could not help displaying a small smile, feeling the victory of her words.
``I'll be there to give you advice, it's already an asset!``
***
Liara was in tears as she entered the Normandy. She had fought so hard to stay on the planet, but seeing the reality, she knew she could not find Shepard and Javik unaided. Cortez, who had been alerted by her behavior, called the members of the crew who were close to Liara to give her any support.
And it was with misery she told that the two had simply disappeared without any trace. She didn't know how to retrieve them, or even where they were now!
The reactions were mixed, many shouted against the Asari, saying she had not done her best, others were simply stunned. Garrus, designated as second in command, was equally as upset as Liara. He couldn't cry, but he was badly taking the fact that he had lost Shepard again.
He had no choice but to order Joker to get to the Citadel, they had to notify the Council. Maybe even they could find a solution.