A green light comes to life on both our HUD's not far from our location so we both drop into a jog. "Better get her before what's his irritated, gets her." I worry as we move through the corridors, popping off anything that gets in our way with practiced teamwork. Just as we're getting close, four red tags appear on our HUD's heading right for her. "I've got Promethean's incoming! Their orders are to scrap me." she warns us fearfully. I look at John he glances at me, obviously knowing what kind of maneuver I'm planning to pull to make sure we acquire this valuable AI as we come to another energy bridge. "I'm going for it. We can't lose the AI." I toss my second Boltshot gun into the air, towards the group of Promethean's while I charge an energy shot in my main. I let loose a highly charged bolt which blows the second gun cleanly apart with enough energy to destroy the shields on two of the creatures closest the explosion before throwing them back a few feet as John and I both jump off the bridge and carry on with little hesitation.

We both land and set to work on our own tasks; he deals with the Promethean's to give me time to kill the flood form and get the AI. Which I do in record time, ripping the AI's data crystal chip free of the damaged armor's port before jumping over to John and hands it to him. I help him with the Promethean's while he stows the card in his helmet, by using the last few shots from the Boltshot in my hands. The AI sets right to work getting us a transport out of the area by bringing the nearby lift up for us which we jump on after "scaring off" the last Promethean who teleport out of sight leaving us to begin policing their fallen comrade's weapons. "The Didact is behind all this." The AI explains seriously over our internal COM systems. I look at John who stiffens visibly at the mention of this being. "Who's the Didact?" I ask confused, looking at him. "A forerunner that used a device known as the Composer to digitize the inhabitants of New Phoenix while Sierra 1-1-7 fought to prevent its use. His previous partner an AI in full rampancy. Cortana - " the AI begins to explain but John increasingly tenses, closing his fists, giving me all the info I need that this is a very sore topic for him. "Alright. I get it. Get us a line topside and use the information from my video feed to fill the Captain in on what's been going on down here if you can." I order simply, gently placing my hand on his arm gently, looking for the right words while the AI works as I look up at him. "I'm sorry. Let's just find out what he's up to and put a few grenades into those plans of his." I finally say sympathetically, while we look at one another and he nods once, but the tension and silence say far more than any words he could possibly muster; whatever happened on that mission hit him hard.

"There's a block on any outside communications from or to us." She explains frustrated after a moment of silence and I look at the platform thoughtfully. "What about a forerunner communications array? Could you use that to get a message out?" I look up at the two of them calmly. "It's possible. But he controls the systems..." She reminds and I smile opening a panel on my forearm, beginning to type something in. "Show us to the nearest relay. I'll do what I can to keep him busy while you work. You'll have to make it fast, these are systems he's far more familiar with than either of us. Which leaves you, Partner, to do what your best at; keep trouble off my back." I smirk before setting to work on an irritating playlist of music and I begin re-coding an old HTML virus I designed for Covenant systems so it will work for these advanced ones.

"There's a panel here." she says, painting it on a map she brings up on our HUD's as the lift comes to a stop many long and quiet moments later. "Looks like a good run." I exhale tiredly and check my handguns again after finishing the last of the coding on the virus. I look back at John and smiles mischievously "Let's go be reckless." I joke as he puts a new ammunition canister into the Suppressor. "Yes. Lets." he agrees with his typical dry humor and we begin the long fight to the panel through flood infested rooms, Promethean crawling levels and the ever constant trouble the Didact throws us; by blocking halls and shutting off bridges as we're crossing. But despite it all. we make it to the panel and John hands me the AI's data chip so I can upload her as we enter the room and he sets to work keeping anything from entering the room.

I run over to the panel and inputs the card then sets to work uploading my own viral music package for the Didact once I've also plugged in. "You d-d-don't... L-Learn... Human.." I hear his broken voice taunt over my helmet's speakers as I type quickly, doing what I can to keep him at bay while she contact's the Infinity and begins transferring the information package to them. "Where the hell have you two been?" The Captain demands through heavy static. "My apologies Sir. One of the items the Promethean dropped transported us to some Forerunner installation on the other side of the planet. We – Ah... Fuck." I curse as I get a good jolt to my neural implants, making me twitch sorely. "- have a confirmed issue here sir. The Didact's consciousness has been giving us problems along with Promethean's and flood forms. The report is being transmitted... Nnn - Ow." I grunt as the line to my helmet buzzes furiously while I continue to type in desperation to keep him at bay.

"What's going on down there?" The Captain demands as I cringe painfully. "Shira, you done yet?!" I manage to grunt as I feel my nerves buzz and my legs begin to shake from the strain of holding myself together. "Yes." She says suddenly and I yank the chip along with my link just as the panel blows, throwing me back five feet as my shields flare angrily. I land on my back hard, sliding an additional three feet "We've gotta move. Bogies inbound." John warns as I lay there immobile and very disoriented. "Yeah..." I cough, finally able to reach up and rip my helmet off. "They're not gonna like my toasting this new system..." I cough before rolling over onto all fours as I spit out some blood having bit my tongue. "Status." he asks over the speakers in his helmet concerned, having turned around and seen the blood. I shake my head to banish the disorientation before trying to stand a bit wobbly. "I've felt better after a three-story wipe-out." I grunt, managing to stand up without falling over or stumbling despite my nerves being abuzz, knowing if I don't somehow sort myself out in one heck of a hurry more this means all of us are in very hot water.


Hello again! I would like to thank those who have favorited and begun following this story. It is a brilliant light of encouragement for me to try and stay on top of getting chapters posted for you to read in some kind of timely fashion. And also a wonderful reminder that this story exists (I forget sometimes) which also helps me find some moments to edit a chapter for everyone to enjoy.

So sadly with a loss, new babies in the family (both human and pet), and spring housework/gardening. I do apologize if there is going to be a delay in between chapters longer than a month.

But as always, Reviews help immensely too because it lets writers like me know what our readers think and may also inspire sequels, more chapters, or entirely new stories!

Post more soon,

Rose