"Is there such things as Gods? If so, are they all powerful?"


"… There it is again. How unforthcoming of me."

"It has been 40000 years since a full-scale activation of the Halo Array was enacted and 4179 years since communication with the other monitors have ceased with the cause still undetermined. Construction of the Sarcophagus is still an ongoing project and expect its completion to come 5 years into the future. The broadcast is still broadcasting, but due to protocols, I am, of course, blocking that signal. Even though I continue to carry out the tasks assigned to me by the Ecumene Council, I cannot help but feel a sense of… ennui. It would appear my anticipations for becoming the caretaker of my Installation has started to wane or has been waning for quite some time. Am possibly destined for madness as fellow monitor 2401 Penitent Tangent? If that is the case…"

"Quite troublesome indeed."

"Before my assignment of watching over my Installation, my fellow monitors and what remaining Forerunners convened one last time. It was indeed shocking to see the Forerunners reduced to merely a handful compared to the galactic empire they have established before confrontation with the Flood. Luckily, we were all graced with the presence of the Didact. That is incorrect. I would be more accurate and state it was his second iteration that was present for none of us possess any information about the Didact's location except maybe the Librarian."

"Before our departure to our designated Installations and after his query about the decision for a full-scale activation, to which I remained silent. It was there I made acquaintance with an… odd individual. I have heard stories from the other monitors about who she is and her capabilities, but like them, I remained skeptical about the information shared with me. My skepticism did start wane after I achieved confirmation from the Iso-Didact about her true identity. We spoke only briefly, and yet after all this time, her apathetic nature and blank stare still unnerve me to this day."


"I have been made aware about your identity."

"…oh…"

"And yet, even with the capabilities you possessed, a stalemate is all you could manage with the Parasite. However, if given more time, perhaps the outcomes would have been different."

"… You think the Flood would eventually win?"

"That is the most-likely possibility. Regardless, you achieved a fleet not even the Prometheans could maintain, so perhaps I could give you a query."

"…"

"I was given this query by the Iso-Didact himself, so perhaps you could assist me in answering it. If it were your choice, would you activate the rings?"

"… Such an annoying question. You, the Forerunner, and those aberrations."

"Is there something else you want other than to assist answering the query?

"I just want all of this to be over with so I can return to my home and reclaim my silence."

"I see. How unfortunate. You have no obligation to answer this query right this moment, but perhaps ponder on it as will I, and maybe if we see each other again, we could share our answers. Forgive me for now I must head to my Installation. Farewell, Ophis, Uroboros Dragon."

"… Farewell, 343 Guilty Sparks…"


"Having significant time to ponder this experience, I am led to a grim conclusion that the Parasite may be inexorable. Even the female deity, Ophis, could not stop the Flood in their tracks for the reports I read before my stationing here reads she only held them off for weeks, an impressive fleet no less for the Didact and the Prometheans could not ascertain such an accomplishment. Given the definition, aren't deities like Ophis supposed to be all powerful? I am aware of the mythical abilities she possesses, but that still wasn't enough to stop the Parasite. Given the information I possess, it would not be too far of a stretch to hypothesizes that the Parastate is, perhaps, a creature more powerful than deities. To consume them just like any other bio-organic organisms. No different than the Forerunners, Humans, or San'Shyuum. Regardless, this realization only reinforces our decision for the activation of the Halo Array, and perhaps helps shape my own thoughts on that query subjected to me many millenniums ago."

"If she were here, perhaps she would have an answer for me. If that is the case, I would very much would like to hear it."

"If she was still around, I wonder if she would have enjoyed the silence and solitude I am subjected to? 40000 years of silence."

"Perhaps she would favor it for. At least one of us would find some enjoyment."