Thanks to all who reviewed. This chapter will be a bit longer and please remember to review. It helps.
I don't own Halo.
Chapter 2: The long, cold ride home.
John lay on the bed, only lightly dozing. Out of the pedestal besides him was Cortana. She was deep in thought about her extremely uncertain future.
She thought about when he came for her on the High Charity. John had single handedly took on an army of flood to keep the promise he gave to her. Or did he? Did John save her because he had promised or because he needed the index? Would she ever really know?
Cortana shook her head. "He saved me because he loves me." She whispered.
They had been together for many years and she knew him better than anyone else, human or otherwise. She knew what he was really like, behind the mask. She saw the recording of when John had found a crazed marine on the first Halo. Cortana knew what he had felt when the man opened fire on him. The terrible sense of regret and the gut wrenching feeling of the dreadful necessity when John drew his side arm and fired.
Even though she wasn't there, she knew what was running through his mind. Even though John tried to never show emotion, behind his Spartan armor he was quite different. He harbored a deep regret for every soldier he saw die and an even deeper one for his fellow Spartans. John always felt pride after demolishing an entire Covenant platoon and hope when he saved civilians. He even had a deep admiration for Cortana and was grateful for her help on the many missions they had together. She would hold onto that feeling forever.
Then Cortana wondered about what would happen when she finally broke down and went rampant. Would John stand and watch, silently honoring her as he was forced to terminate his "partner" or would he simply turn his back on her?
John's heart rate suddenly went up. A nightmare.
Cortana wished she could do something… she wished she were human so she could help him, be there for him.
She sighed and felt a pang of jealously… she was nothing more than a piece of equipment. John would find a woman and settle down with her. Probably have a couple of kids. Her normally blue figure flared an angry crimson.
"C-Cortana? Is there something wrong?" said John, waking up.
Her colors cooled to a light blue.
"No Chief. You should get some rest."
"No thanks. I'm going down to the bridge."
He stood up and started to walk out when he turned to her.
"Want to come?"
"Sure. For old times' sake." She said, smiling.
He pulled her and inserted the chip into his helmet. Ice filled John's skull and he shook his head.
"Are you alright?" said Cortana, concern in her voice.
"Yeah, I'm fine. How long was I sleeping?"
"Almost twelve hours."
"Twelve hours? I'm getting lazy in my old age."
"You're not old."
"Older than most people around here."
Cortana chuckled softly.
John walked out of the room.
As he strolled down the hall, he got many strange looks. Most of the marines looked at him with awe. The Elites and grunts just kind of had a glazed over stare.
But Toko stepped forward. "Spartan you rested along time."
"Yes, thank you for the bed."
"You're very welcome. You are the reason we still exist. We are all in your debt." Said the elite warrior, bowing his head slightly.
"No. Your people played just as big a role. I was just the poster boy." Said John, setting his hand on Toko's shoulder.
It looked like the elite was going to say something when a grunt came running out of nowhere, a small metal object in hand with Rako in hot pursuit.
Toko sighed heavily and turned.
"Rako! Beyap! What is the meaning of this!" barked the Elite, scowling.
"Commander Toko, I am not an unreasonable warrior but this little pest stole my digital media player."
"It shiny!" squeaked the grunt, holding the object close.
"Be that as it may, Beyap please return Rako's media player."
"But it shiny! Beyap likes the shiny!" said the little grunt, throwing a tantrum.
"Give Rako her media player."
The grunt sighed and with a stubby, little hand, gave it back to the enraged female elite.
"Me go find something else to do." Said the down trodden grunt as he waddled off.
"Those two never quit." Growled Toko to himself.
By this time, John had moved himself to the window and was staring into the vastness of space. He had lots on his mind. What else had changed while he was gone? Elites, Grunts sharing ships with humans? In his time nothing like that would have happened. Only in their time of greatest need did the elites and humans work together.
Then his thoughts shifted. What about Kelly and Fred, the other surviving SPARTAN II's? Were they still around?
A voice then pierced his mind.
"John, John, Cortana to John. Are you reading?" she asked playfully.
"Yes?"
"Just checking in on my favorite human. So, what's on your mind?"
"Cortana, have you ever wondered what it would be like to be human?"
She paused and if she had a physical form at that moment, it would be pink.
"Yes, yes I have."
Then over the intercom: "All troops! We will be arriving at Cairo station in four hours! Have this ship ready for docking! That is all!"
"Earth…" thought John. He was not from Earth but rather one of her colonies. Eridanus II was his homeworld but Earth was a sight to behold. He'd been there several times but the most memorable was the Battle of New Mombasa.
Soon enough they arrived on the station.
It was familiar enough but a lot had changed while John was away. For one thing, there were a lot more aliens milling around.
There were many humans, all dressed appropriately for the arrival. But there were also Elites, Grunts and a pair of Hunters standing at the gates as well.
"Sir, why are there grunts and hunters here? Didn't we fight them off twenty years ago?" John asked Captain Ackerson.
"I thought you knew! Some grunts and hunters opposed the prophets, the same as the elites but not all of them. That might be why you never saw any of them fighting alongside the UNSC."
Out of the crowd came calls like "It's really him!" or "117 can't die!" or even the strange "CALL ME!"
Even the former Covenant members seemed excited.
The grunts cheered like small children, the Elites nodded or bowed slightly and tried to offer words of advice while the hunters…sang. Yes sang their war poetry in his honor. It was all a bit much for John.
"Spartan." Came a clear voice, heard above all others in the crowd.
The Arbiter walked out, looking little different than he had twenty years ago.
"Arbiter." Said John.
The Elite then stuck out his hand and the two shook. Even if they could never be the best of friends, the two respected each other very much. Both were symbols of hope in their people's eyes. John's respect for the Arbiter was little at first but grew immensely when he was saving Cortana. He could remember it like it was yesterday: Racing through the flood infested corridors of the High Charity, dodging and blasting when a friendly appeared on his radar. Cortana then said: A friendly Contact? Who would be crazy enough to come in here?" Then he spotted the Arbiter, roasting the flood bastards with a flame thrower. It was a welcome sight.
"Spartan, come, for we have much to talk about. Including your construct."
The pair started off down a much less crowded corridor.
"When Captain Ackerson forwarded his crew's discovery to the UNSC, they were incredibly surprised. They had all thought you were space dust. But he also mentioned that you worried for your construct's well being."
That made John realize: Cortana hadn't said anything in awhile.
"Cortana? Cortana?"
"I-I'm H-here C-chief." She said, her voice stuttering wildly.
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