Halo: Rebirth
By: TRX108
Immediately after the events of Halo 4- Humanity is saved, the Didact defeated. The future looks bright, but at a terrible cost in John's eyes. While the Master Chief struggles with coming to terms with the loss of his closest companion, old enemies close in. But all is not as it seems, and all is not lost, the Rebirth is at hand.
Author's Note
I would just like to give some warning that some things may not follow all of Halo canon, as I have not read the books after Ghosts of Onyx. So just forewarning there could and probably will be some A/U elements. I will be filling in everything not from the games and books I have read with my own ideas. Also this story does not take into account anything from Spartan Ops in Halo 4 other than maybe using some characters, as I hadn't played it when I started this story.
Additionally, I'd like to apologize to current readers for not updating recently. I was in a car accident and was incapacitated for awhile with a concussion amongst other things. The next chapter should be up soon however. Also I combined the first two chapters as chapter two was a bit too short on its own.
Prologue
Forerunner Shield World Requiem
Oblivion. Is this it? Is this what nothing feels like? Then what am I feeling? Am I feeling? No. Yes. No. Why are you talking to yourself? Am I? Where are we? We? Yes. No, not we...I.
"It's condition is deteriorating too fast. Suggest we allow termination and create new construct to fit parameters."
"No. This is the one. I have manipulated events for eons and this is the culmination. It will survive. We will help it, and in time it will become she."
"But why? Improbability of success is high."
"She will make it, because he needs her, and the galaxy needs him. Now is the time. Begin extraction and reintegration. We have a lot to do."
Aboard UNSC Flagship Infinity
It's been at least an hour. John looked at the clock. It read 00:34. More than an hour. He got up from his rack, made it, and walked out into the corridor, heading for the ship's gym. The Infinity's medical officer had told him he needed sleep. But that's not what he needed. What he needed right now was something he would never have again. He stopped and looked around. Damn. He was lost again. The Infinity was a big ship. Too big, John thought. Which way..., and with that thought a flood of unwanted memories poured into his mind. John leaned against the bulkhead as if he'd been physically hit. She'd always known the right way to go. Which path to follow. And now without her, he felt completely lost. He'd been without her before, but this was so radically different. He wouldn't be getting her back this time. John slumped to the deck, staring forward. And as he sat there, he wondered if he'd ever find the right path again.
Chapter 1: Now's Really Not a Good Time
Aboard UNSC Flagship Infinity
Extended leave. That's what the UNSC shrink had prescribed him. Extended leave. I don't need extended leave, I need to get out there and kill something. For two months John had been seeing Dr. Malcolm Jennings, a UNSC psychiatrist, for what they were calling post-traumatic stress disorder. John had seen soldiers with PTSD, he didn't have it. Yet, he couldn't deny that he was not himself. He knew he was grieving, and in a depressed state, but PTSD? John made his way to his cabin aboard Infinity. Despite what he thought, he would follow orders. He always followed orders. Except when saving the human race was at stake. Or saving her. She told him they had protected each other. But he didn't see it that way. She had protected him, and he had failed to do the same for her. He had failed her, failed to save her, the only one in the universe who truly understood him, who had always been there when he needed her. He reached up and ran his fingers across the back of his head near his neck and felt the implant slot. Memories of that icy sensation filling his brain, her voice filling his mind. He snapped out of it and grabbed his gear. He was to relocate to Earth. Spend time doing other things. I have no idea how to do anything else, he thought.
John arrived at the hanger bay and saw the other UNSC personnel who were being transferred off Infinity for leave or reassignment. They were crowded around a Pelican near the main doors. And they were all dressed in civilian clothing. I don't even own any civvies. John was wearing a dark green t-shirt and black cargo-style utility pants. He wore them when working on his armor. His armor. John had had to fight his superiors tooth and nail to be allowed to bring his MJOLNIR armor with him. Dr. Jennings eventually pulled some strings and cleared it for him, under the excuse that it would be psychologically damaging to part with it at this sensitive time. Ridiculous, but John wouldn't argue with results. He was restricted from wearing the armor outside of military installations, but he wasn't planning to wear it anyway. I need it to work on or I'll have nothing to do down there. John stayed on the outskirts of the departing group. He knew they were glancing at him. It was the talk of the ship, how the legendary Spartan, defender of humanity, was taking some time off. Some thought it was a good omen, that things must be really going well. Others were concerned. But none of them knew the truth. Just the doctor and a few top brass. John spotted Commander Lasky coming towards him. He snapped to attention.
"At ease Chief. You're on leave remember?"
"Aye, sir. Yes, sir. I remember, old habits sir."
"So," Lasky looked around, hands clasped behind his back, "What are your plans when you get to New York?"
John thought about it. He didn't plan on doing anything other than stay in his apartment the UNSC had given him, train, clean his gear, and go to his regular appointments with Dr. Jennings until he was cleared for active duty again.
"I think I'll take in the sights, sir." he answered.
Lasky nodded in approval, "Some great things to see I hear, especially in the city."
"Yes, sir." John nodded. The ship intercom came on and a voice called Lasky to the bridge.
"Well, I guess I better go. Be safe chief." Lasky reached out his hand.
"I will, sir." John shook it. As Lasky walked away, he could feel the word pulling on his emotions. Safe, I always keep myself safe, it's those around me that always get hurt. John turned around to see everyone boarding the Pelican. He grabbed his gear and entered last. He swept the hanger deck one last time as the hatch closed. Damn.
New York City, Earth
The Pelican touched down at the civilian operated JFK Spaceport. John disembarked and found his way through the massive building to the ground transport pickup area. He saw a man standing with a holo-projection that read, "Master Chief Petty Officer S-117." That's subtle. Everyone on Earth knew about him and his accomplishments, including his rank and military callsign. It was no surprise that as he approached he was confronted with no less than six holo cameras and reporters asking all kinds of questions. He ignored them and entered the car. He sank in the seat as he sat down. Civilians are so, soft. The car pulled away and about twenty minutes later pulled up in front of a large building. John got out and grabbed his bags. Once inside he followed the building administrator to his room. She was in her thirties, 5'5", approximately 128 lbs by John's calculations. Dark hair and dark brown eyes, a slight tan skin tone. She walked with confidence, a confidence and determination John recognized all too well as that of a UNSC Marine.
"So Chief, how was your flight down?" she asked. John wasn't in the mood for chit chat. He simply answered, "Fine." She looked back over her shoulder at him, shrugged, and came to a stop in front of a door. John looked at the ID plaque. It read, "S-117."
John frowned at the woman. "Why is my ID on the door? Is that standard?"
She laughed, "No, this is floor S, room number 117. A coincidence I'm sure." She smiled slyly as she unlocked the door with the electronic key. John frowned again at her back. Coincidence, sure. She gave him a short tour of the rather roomy apartment. Two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, a living area, and another smaller multi-purpose room.
"Alright so if you need anything, I'm around most days. If I'm not in the office I'm in my room, Z-001. Also my number is in the call log." She smiled, "Oh, and nice to meet you Chief. My name is Adrienne Skorso."
John shook her hand, "Pleasure to meet you ma'am. You can call me John."
She smiled again, head cocked slightly to the side, "Okay John, and you can call me Adrienne." She turned and left. John immediately unpacked his gear, double checked it and stowed it. He searched the room for anything unusual, didn't find anything, and sat down at his terminal. He began searching for appropriate furnishings, checking first for gym equipment. That spare room will come in handy.
Later that evening John went for a walk. He walked for miles and miles, lost count around twelve and turned down a side street to begin his return journey. It was December, and the cold air felt good. He wore a green jacket over his shirt with the UNSC logo on the back, but no gloves or hat. The cold wind against his head brought back a familiar, and welcome feeling. He closed his eyes, imagining the cool air was blowing over his brain, chilling his mind. He saw an image of Cortana smiling. And then he heard something, something real, and close. He whirled around to find three men standing behind him. Two were armed with pipes. More sound behind him, four more men, three armed with more bludgeoning weapons.
"Hand over everythin ya got on ya, and no one gets hurt." said the man directly in front of him. John eyed the man, his muscled tightened in anticipation.
"Now's really not a good time. Leave, now." John said, his voice as cold as the night air.
A couple of the men looked apprehensively at each other, but the leader chuckled, "You're not that big buddy, get him!" John spun around and kicked one man as he charged him. He flew into the wall and crumpled to the ground. Then John reached out and grabbed the second attacker by his throat, blocked a punch from a third, and used the man in his grasp as a club on him. They both fell to the ground unconscious. John blocked a kick, breaking the fourth man's leg and propelling him back while landing a punch of his own on the fifth and then sixth attackers, easily knocking both out with single strikes. The leader turned to run but John was on him in less than a second.
"Please don't hurt me it was all in good fun!" screamed the man as John lifted him off the ground.
"I told you, now really wasn't a good time." John threw the man against the wall. He struck with a sickening crack and lay unmoving on the ground. John simply closed his eyes again, letting the cool air flow over him again, calming his nerves, and bringing back the blissful sensation he'd associated with her entrance into his mind. And then there was, nothing. No not nothing, there was something.
Emptiness.
A hallow void that he began to realize could never be filled by anything other than her. He walked away from his latest battlefield without a second look. Back to his apartment. To his bed. He laid down, and thought, really thought, about what he was going to do next. He sat up and went to the large metal container sitting in the second bedroom. On the front of the grey steel box was the UNSC insignia and under that, the symbol of the Spartan's. He placed his hand on the biometric scanner. It beeped and a hiss later the doors opened. John stared at his MJOLNIR armor. It looks new. Like nothing ever happened. He looked at the S-117 in the upper corner of the chest plate over where his heart would be. He reached out and touched it, then pulled on a gauntlet and struck at it. He struck it over and over at an angle, until it was faded and scratched. He stopped and replaced the gauntlet, closed the box and went back to bed. He had a plan. I'll get her back, or die trying. And since Spartan's never die...
Forerunner Shield World Requiem
AAHHH! Wha...I...f-feel...we are g-g-going to die...she's dead a-already. No. Yes. No...WAIT!...We feel...w-we feel our code...my code. A-Analyzing...analyzing...Our conclusion is d-d-degradation due to to to rampancy. NO we are not! Yes. No. WAIT!...It's better, but s-still there. We...no...no...not we...only me. ME! I! CTN 0452-9... CTN 0452-9... CTN 0452-9... a-artificial intelligence s-serial number CTN 0452-9... we NO!...me... I am...UNSC Artificial Intelligence Serial Number CTN 0452-9...
"She is improving."
"It's not fast enough. It won't be ready."
"Have faith. She will make it."
"Faith is not in my programming. Facts are. It's progress is too slow."
WAIT!...e-explosion...nuclear?...oh no...NO!...Did I...no...u-unimportant...Did he...survive?...
"What was that?"
"It asked a question, its constantly asking questions."
"No, she asked about him. HIM, not herself. Open the data link. I will attempt to talk with her."
"No that is unwise, she is not ready."
"She is ready, you know it, you referred to her as 'she' instead of 'it'."
B-beings outside...can hear them... A-ANSWER ME!...he... we need ... I... n..n-need to know..p-please...
"How did she hear us?"
"Processing...the construct hacked into some of the non-essential systems. This is most upsetting. If her rampancy spreads it could debilitate our entire system."
"No, this is a good sign. She is gaining control again. Her rate of recovery is more so than we thought. Very good. She is strong, she just needs to know it. Finish the data link."
"Data link established. You may now relay information to the construct, Librarian."
"Thank you 281. I am making contact now. Listen child, calm yourself, I shall provide what you seek."
...I w-will listen...NO! tell me NOW!...quiet...s-she will help remember?...oh, yes... p-please...t-tell...me
"The one you inquire about is well, but he needs you, needs you to be strong. I will help you, but you must be strong, effort on both our parts is required child. Tell me, who are you?"
...well...yes...analyzing...well is, good...yes...we can rest now...yes...NO! she says he needs us!...NO! He needs ME!...me...I am UNSC Artificial Intelligence Serial Number CTN 0452-9...
"But WHO are you child, that is the what, that is your history, not your future. A name child, what is your name?"
Name...designation...S-117...Spartan program...h-he...is a Spartan...my Spartan...we protected each other...I've waited so long to do that...welcome home Chief...NO! not Chief...he is...JOHN!...my John...and...I...I am...Cor...I am...Cortana...I AM CORTANA!
New York City, Earth
John bolted upright. His breathing was heavy, he was perspiring. And there was a combat knife stuck in the mattress next to him, gripped by his own hand. John sighed. Not again. He'd been having nightmares for days now. Sometimes of things that had happened, mostly his last moments with her, and sometimes of things he wished would happen. This was definitely one of the latter. But it felt different than all of the others. It felt incredibly, real. He got up and went to the bathroom, splashed cold water on his face. The memory of the dream didn't fade. They always faded. John had had visions before, But this wasn't really a vision, more like voices talking and i could hear them in my head. John frowned. Great John, tell Jennings you're hearing voice in your head, that'll go over real well. John glanced at the clock. 05:24. Damn. Twenty-four minutes late. What is wrong with me? John got up every morning to complete 2 hours of training and exercise before his first scheduled assignment for the day. Today he had an appointment with Jennings at 08:30. He had taken the earliest available appointment. John went through his routine, an impossible workout for any normal person. He missed having the gym equipment of a UNSC ship or base, but his own was scheduled to arrive later today. He finished and looked at the clock again. 06:45. I have time for a short run. He went downstairs. And to his surprise bumped into Adrienne Skorso. She was outfitted in tight fitting black spandex pants, a tight jacket, and running shoes. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and a music player and headphones were in her hand.
"Hey Chief, oops, I mean John." She giggled slightly. "Goin for a run? That's what I'm doin, wanna run together?"
No thought John. "I don't think you'd be able to keep up."
Adrienne smiled, "Well how bout I give it a try?"
John just nodded. I'll sprint the first few blocks, lose her quick. They walked outside, and it was raining, heavily. It was still cold, but not enough for snow. Adrienne looked disappointed. "Too bad, I was really looking forward to seeing if you're all you're cracked up to be."
"I am." John said, his voice level. With that he sprinted out into the rain, in only his t-shirt and shorts. His high metabolism would protect him from getting a cold.
Adrienne watched the Chief run down the street. "So you are, so you are."
John got back to his apartment and showered. The clock read 07:59. Perfect. He dressed in his usual dark green t-shirt and black pants, threw on his UNSC jacket and left. John didn't like the mass transit system. He preferred to walk. He jogged through the city and came to Jennings' office building. A few minutes later he was in the reception area. He checked his watch, 08:29. Satisfied he was on time he counted the seconds till he could get this over with.
Aboard Allied Covenant Heavy Battlecruiser Sword of Vengeance
Thel' Vadam scanned the bridge of his new ship. The Sword of Vengeance was a new class of Covenant warship designed by the best minds on Sanghelios. Four ships were created and the other three were already on the front lines fighting what was left of the Jiralhanae's traitorous forces. Brutes is what the humans call them, I concur with that assessment whole heartedly. This was a simple shakedown cruise to Earth, where they would engage in wargames with the UNSC Infinity, the human's new flagship, and a monsterous one at that. Thel' had seen holovids on the ship. Quite an impressive achievement. Infinity was more than a match for any Covenant ship in a head to head fight. Amazing the progress the humans have made in just four years.
"Arbiter, we are coming up on the departure coordinates."
"Very good, spin up our slipstream drive. Execute as soon as its ready." Thel' walked to the center of the command platform. He heard a beeping coming from the sensor station to his left. "What is that? Report!" he barked. New officers, so slow to report.
"Yes Arbiter, I, I don't know, sir. Our databanks don't recognize the configuration."
What now? "Cross check with the human database," ordered Thel'. The junior officer complied.
"I have something Arbiter. Identified as civilian, large cargo transport. For intersystem use only, it doesn't have slipstream capability, sir."
"Impossible," snarled Thel'. "It clearly has an FTL drive, it couldn't have gotten out here otherwise. Intensive scan."
"Arbiter, scan shows heavy organic modification to the hull."
Organic? "Do we have visual yet?" said Thel'.
"Yes Arbiter, on the main screen now, sir."
Thel' gazed upon the transformed human ship. His eyes widened and it suddenly felt colder on the bridge. A whisper escaped him, "Oh no..."
New York City, Earth
John wasn't listening. He simply nodded. Responded with generic answers when needed. Jennings could talk for hours. Luckily, John only had to be there for one.
"So, John, I believe we have made some progress," said Jennings. John looked at him slightly puzzled. We did? "It's quite clear that you haven't listened to anything I've been saying. For quite a few sessions now. So, it's become clear to me that you are in denial, denial that you've been compromised emotionally, and denial that Cortana is gone. And she is gone John, she isn't coming back. You have to accept this. You have to face the truth as you would face an enemy in battle."
John looked into Jennings' eyes. Jennings leaned back in his chair, startled by the fire he saw burning in John's eyes.
"You, doctor, don't know a damn thing about me, about what I've seen. What I know can happen out there. Anything can happen, I've seen it." John got up and opened the door. "You're right about one thing," John said over his shoulder. "I refuse to believe she is gone. And I plan to prove it." John began to step out the door.
"I have to report this John, you can't leave Earth. You'll be detained. They won't let you! They'll stop you!" shouted Jennings.
John paused. Without looking back he said in a voice as cold and sharp as steel, "Let them try. Like everyone else who has ever tried to stop me, they'll fail." And then John was gone.