I'm ba-a-ack! Thank you, to those who've stuck by while I was on a writing hiatus. My husband, who's a disabled vet, wasn't getting paid enough from the VA, I had to go to work so he wouldn't have to break himself to do so. But money situation is getting better, so I was able to leave work and stay home with our children.

As for the actual story, this is the after-chapters to the story The Search Is On. In the beginning, Master Chief is chasing down leads to possible locations Cortana could be. Each story will have to halves to it; the first half will be Master Chief as he's looking for her, and the second half will be...well, can't spoil too much, now can I? But I think you will love it. As always, I am not the owner of the Halo series or its characters, only their respected parties do. Plus, my husband nor I would have to work if we owned Halo, lol. Enjoy the series, PM if there are concerns. The characters will be OOC (a lot.) Constructed criticizers are welcome, flamers can dance in a flame (literally.)

Master Chief

It's been a long time, since this battle began. There was no chance in Hell, that Master Chief...John...was going to let Cortana slip through the cracks as another rampant AI disappearing into...wherever it is they go. John was going to have to get used to the fact, he's no longer a soldier with the UNSC...

UNSC was, at first, supportive of my endeavor to find the real Cortana, back when we had a solid lead. She saved my life, and countless lives when she sacrificed her. The least they could do was help me on my search, when we had doubtless proof of where Cortana's data stream ended up. But after years of never getting a single sniff of a lead, they called the case dead, and ceased all efforts and resources to find her.

But not me. I spent years of my life, with her in my head. Even with her data chip out of my helmet, I could still...sense her in my mind. See glimpses and feel her emotions. At first, I believed it to be nonsense, until Dr. Halsey told me, it is possible for AI's to seem completely human, even to the point of being able to form souls and relationships, but wouldn't elaborate. She had explained that Cortana being in my mind, and being able to feel her, was my human reaction of falling in love.

Of course, being a soldier, I denied myself any such feelings and wouldn't allow myself the distraction. But after we defeated the Didact...maybe long before, if I'm willing to admit, I knew I could drop my shield. I could break down the wall I've forced around myself, and, figuratively, go running to her arms. When Cortana told me that most of her was with the crumbling ship, and only enough of her stayed back to make sure I was safe, I did not want to accept that I was going to lose, possibly, the only living being in this reality that made me feel...more human than any human ever could. I was not about to roll over and accept her loss, and move on as I normally would...as the soldier in me, would.

But I no longer have that problem. I am no longer a soldier, since my discharge from UNSC due to my "mental instability, brought on by the loss of an AI." Under normal circumstances, I would fight to prove I belong in the UNSC, that it was where I want to be.

Truthfully? I no longer belong there, because I love, and feel, and care. And losing Cortana? That's their reality, not my own. And I'll be cold and dead before I even think of giving up. It's been a long battle, fighting to chase down leads, being told that AI's are gone and there is no way to get them back. Until I happened to hear a whisper of a planet. This planet, its sole purpose was to breed humans and train their minds. And when their time comes, they put their bodies to sleep, and upload their minds to chips to be used. If John ever had hope that he would find her, he knew she had to be there. Against all other instincts and reactions, John decided he would spend the remainder of his life there. If he had to look at every face, and mention Master Chief to get a reaction, then he would.

It was decided, John would move to this planet called Insediamento. With what little possessions he had, and the last of his savings from his career, he managed to find the one ship going there. A cargo transport ship called Serenity, led by a man even crazier than himself and a woman just as crazy. They didn't care who he was or why he was going there. He needed to go, and they knew it. Later that night, John lowered himself into a guest room, not much unlike the rooms he slept in aboard the Dawn, when he could afford a couple of hours outside of his armor. He laid himself onto the bunk bed, his hands forming a pillow behind his head as he smiled to himself, feeling the take-off as he headed for the planet.

I'm coming for you, Cortana. I will find you, and I won't ever let you go... Was the last thought, before closing his eyes.

Cortana

I'm coming for you, Cortana. I will find you, and I won't ever let you go. She could see a muscular man in her dream. His eyes, a gentle blue, but intense, as he gazed into her mournful violets. She felt his hands surround her's. They looked so rough, but gentle as if they were a newborn baby's. Everything about this man before her was a contradiction. He looked rugged, but so smooth and easy. The electrified contact made her heart race, and his voice seemed to boil her blood. She sensed the air crackling, heating as they leaned closer, their eyes closing and lips almost touching...

Gasping for air, I sat straight up in my bed. That was the most intense dream I've had about him, since her mind was yanked all those years ago. I haven't retained too many of my memories from when I was an AI. All I knew was that I helped some military government with their ships. And I think I was eventually paired with someone they called Chief...

I run my fingers through my short, black hair, trying to remember details. It was the same man, she could tell. What was odd was, it didn't feel like a memory. This isn't like the other dreams I've had, that felt like memories replaying. This dream, this was...live. I desperately try to regain my composure, my eyes falling to the sleeping figure next to me. Perhaps it's just pre-wedding jitters, that's making me so nervous. After all, how could Cortana, the woman who swore to never love a man, so short after waking, fell in love with the lab tech who cared for her all those years she was under.

I shake my head, I must be silly. I pull back the green and gold quilts, wondering why those colors were so important to me. I feel the plush carpet underneath my feet, hands grasp the soft bed as the cold band turn against my heated skin. I look down to what was suppose to be the symbol of mine and Tim's love, and remind myself that next month, I won't be so worried of the dreams. They're just that, dreams. I look around in the darkened room, until bright, scarlet letters read 04:30 AM.

Slowly, I peel myself from comfort as I head to the showers, and get ready for work. Since my release from the program, Tim has helped me find work at the docks. When ships come in, it was her job to welcome them to the new planet and show them around. After donning a long skirt, black with hints of blue and violet and a strapless black shirt. Something about today, she felt, would be the day to change her life. As she watched the new ship slowly coming to dock, and many people bustling to make sure they make room the cargo on board, something inside her clicked. The same, intense feeling she shared with the man in her dreams, had reappeared as the ship locked onto the docking bridge and it's bay door opened. She started into the traditional greeting, a man she would know to be Mal, informed her that they had brought a third party to the planet.

"Mal, you could've called ahead of time. We would've had a welcoming party for him." I said coolly. It was against most regulations to allow someone with no interest or business to be allowed on the soil.

"Well, to be honest, he paid good money to be here. Says he's looking for a long-lost friend. Wouldn't tell me her name, but she must mean a lot to him, for him to beg passage." He said, signing documents, answering a multitude of questions.

"Maybe we can keep him busy long enough to get him amnesty, and let him stay. At long as he doesn't cause grief..." I whispered, before we straightened up. I have yet to know anyone Mal hasn't brought before, that were grievers. "Just show me the way to him, let's see what I can do."

Mal shook my hand, frankly relieved that I didn't turn him down. He lead me, arm-in-arm, over to a large, blond man, bent over his open sack as he repacked.

"Chief, this lovely woman is gonna show you around the planet, get you settled in before you look for your friend."

My breath nearly stopped when John stood up, as his eyes realized what it was they were seeing. His mouth seemed to stammer before finding the words.

"My name's John, but a lot of people call me Chief...What's...what's your name, miss?" His rough-looking hands, smooth to the touch, easily swallowed mine as my heart stopped in my throat. These hands...those eyes...

"I think you know who I am...Chief..."

I know it seems rushed, and probably not very good. So Cortana's actually human, and John/Chief finally found her. But how are things gonna work out, with Cortana being engaged. Will John be allowed to stay on the planet, given who he is? We'll find out everything with the next update. Thanks for reading, and I promise the next chapter will be better. I didn't want it to be short, but I couldn't have it drawn out without actual story behind it. I do apologize, if it's not great, but you will be amazed with the next one, lol.