Ilos: Post-Vigil
The team walked away from the Prothean VI in silence. At first, neither Garrus nor Kaidan had any response to the staggering truth they'd just heard, but when they got to the elevator, the turian gave voice to what they were all thinking. "The Protheans failed. For all their advanced technology, they fell into the Reaper trap. Just like we did," he added regretfully.
Kaidan, though, offered a little optimism, "Not completely. They gave us a chance, if we can get there in time." Melanie Shepard was quiet. She'd always admired the Protheans, even studied them a little; their technology, their role in shaping the galaxy had seemed so impressive. She could see what fascinated Liara, even if she was no archeologist like the asari.
But it was all a lie, one the Reapers had encouraged to hide their existence. That didn't mean though, that there was nothing to admire about the Protheans. With their race destroyed, the last of them had chosen to go to their Citadel, knowing that nothing but a lingering death awaited them even if they succeeded. They had given their lives in the hope that the next cycle would have a chance to defeat the Reapers. As the team boarded the Mako, Shepard silently vowed that their sacrifice would not go to waste.