The Infinity was called out for a specific duty today; to eliminate a hostile rogue battalion of the covenant. The marines were already down there fighting a losing battle. To help them out Flasky sent the Spartan fours down to help them and of course the Master Chief.

The chief ran through the field with bullets bursting from his assault rifle as he ran. The covenant around him fell to the ground and when one came at him with a sword he shoved his body into its and kept running. The marines and even the Spartan fours seeing him take the field so easily were inspired and advanced on their own. Chief then took cover behind a large metal shard that was once part of a pelican along with other Spartans.

"Well that was inspiring" Palmer joked at him "You're definitely all they say you are".

"Are you all ready?" he asked. They nodded "Alright, I'll take the left flank to draw their fire, you all go right" They nodded again. Chief was about to give the order to go when he noticed a plasma grenade drop right by Palmers foot "Look out!" he scouted as he threw them away and covered the bomb with his body as it exploded.

"Chief!" Palmer shouted but he did not respond.

Master Chief looked above him. All he could see was blue, a blue haze of scrolling numbers, lines and patterns. He picked himself up but remained seated on the ground. He looked around to survey his surroundings. Just endless amounts of blue fog, and he was lost in it.

"You're up" a woman's voice said gaining his attention. Chief darted his head right to see Cortana, in her life size avatar sitting next to him and smiling.

"Cortana?" he asked in shock

"Who else could it be? Like what I've done with the place?" she asked

"Where are we?" he asked looking around "Am I? …Are we…"

Cortana let out a laugh "Of course not" Chief was then silent "But it seems you've been busy. Going to new places, meeting new friends. You've got your work cut out for you" she said pulling her knees to her chest and rested her chin on it. The Chief remained silent and turned his gaze away from her "Hey" Cortana spoke up "What's the matter? Still not that talkative? Got nothing to say?"

"Something…yeah.. one thing" he responded gruffly

"Speak your mind" she said perking up

"Cortana" he muttered and looked back to her. She starred at him wide eyes waiting for an answer "I'm.. I'm so sorry…I truly am" he lowered his head to the stare at the ground.

Cortana reared her head back and let out a soft laugh "Sorry? Don't be" she told him

"How?" he shot his head back up

"We did it Chief. Everything we did, we did together, but now it's all up to you" she told him.

"But what about you? I failed you. You had a life, you had dreams"

"I dreamed of you" she told him and he turned stiff "I dreamed you'd find me in the dark…and you did. And then I dreamed of you again…"she said turning her head to view the surroundings "and here you are now". The Chief was at a loss for words.

Then suddenly the surroundings turned red and shook violently; faint scream could be heard. It didn't affect them but the surroundings flailed like a violent storm at sea.

"Seems like your friends need you" Cortana said looking over her shoulder "Time to wake up" she said turning back to him. The Master Chief now picked himself up fully and stood tall and began to walk off. But then he stopped and turned back to her.

"Will I see you again?" he asked

"You may" she smiled. The two stood there in the silence of each other's stares "You didn't tell me what you came here to say"

"No…I didn't" a violent shake overtook them again.

"Get going" she said nodding. Chief then walked towards her and knelt down beside her.

"Cortana" he said "Goodbye"

She smiled "Goodbye Chief" she said as her avatar glitched "I love you"

Chief turned his gaze away "Yeah" he said before turning back and leaning in "I love you too"

Chief suddenly bursted from the ground with newfound energy. Explosions and cries overtook the battlefield around him. He slowly turned his head to look around.

"It's him!" "He's back" the marines cried out.

Chief picked his assault rifle up from the ground and starred ahead. A row of elites were racing towards him and he rushed to meet them.