Location: The Domain
Date 27th October 2558
Time: Unknown
Cortana's Thoughts
The Domain, it is wonderful with so many memories and history I truly wonder whether the Forerunners built it they certainly could have built it considering the wonderful creations they had constructed but still I do wonder if something else built this place.
I have been here since the Didact's ship entered an emergency slipspace portal, I wonder if Warden didn't find me and if I didn't trick him would I still be alive, I know I am only a fragment of my former self however the Domain has granted me a new life and has cured my rampancy however that may not be true even now I have thoughts of ruling the galaxy using these Guardians.
Doctor Halsey created me, John bonded with me through 8 years of service, it is only now that I realise that I can out live them, I used to think I couldn't outlast any of them because of the way I would break down over time however with the Domain it is like eternal life our very own fountain of youth. I wonder whether it is ok for me to be here and having these thoughts, I can communicate with John in an odd manner which I believe is what the Librarian or rather Librarian memory copy that was left on Requiem did to him when he and I encountered her, the Librarian unlocked a new part of his geas as I was told by the Librarian but I do not know what it does and she didn't tell me.
I wonder if John will be happy with my plan or the rest of Blue Team, my plan to bring peace by enforcing the Mantle is harsh and I don't want to abandon it but I can't help but have this feeling in the back of my mind that it is wrong and that I should be helping the galaxy with all this wonderful technology that was left behind.
The Domain has answers that Doctor Halsey would like to know I am built from her brain and what is on this planet and in the Domain fascinated me as it will fascinate her, I will ensure that John and the rest of Blue Team make it safely to me I won't allow Warden to harm them, I told Warden that he should allow them through and he knows the consequences if he doesn't. I fear my time to reveal to the UNSC that I am alive will come as a surprise, I am aware that Doctor Halsey knows I am alive, she knows about the guardians activating and I am sure she is planning a way to stop this from happening.
For so long I had been alone on this planet and in the Domain with only Warden as company, I tricked Warden to interface with the Domain but through observation I am sure that the Warden let me trick him. Warden was designed to protect the Domain for intruders but to allow me into the Domain means that he must see something in me and I won't take it for granted but I protected John from the Didact and if the Warden thinks he can stop John from getting to me, then he is in for a surprise.
While Cortana was roaming in the Domain and questioning herself and her plan, another entity was in the Domain with her watching, observing and not revealing itself.
Unknown Entity "I have been watching this construct in the Domain since I allowed her inside she doesn't know who let her in and thinks it was because of the Warden but it isn't, I have thought about revealing myself but it would only complicate matters. This event was not predicted but none the less it has happened and I know that there is a corruption within the Domain and that it is corrupting this construct. The Librarian had said before that the Flood could corrupt both Living and Artificial Intelligence, I could detect faint traces of the Flood in the Domain but was unable to do anything. This construct has intrigued me because it hasn't been fully corrupted if this construct could be rescued before full corruption takes over then the others could stand a chance when the Flood return. I will continue to monitor the Domain but I fear my time grows short there is a great evil coming and it will destroy anything in its path, I do know what this evil is and it poses a risk to the Domain and my life."
Back to Cortana's Thoughts
My plan is to use the Guardians to enforce peace on the lower systems but it is something I am opposed to, I would be no better than the Forerunners who didn't want anyone to challenge their power, I will reveal my plan to John and see what he says. I have always wanted to live beyond my lifespan and now I have a chance but it feels wrong, it feels as if I should've died back on the Didact's ship. I look forward to exploring the Galaxy's dark secrets but I now wonder if knowing all these secrets will be helpful in anyway my time in the Domain has healed me but I feel a sense that there is something else hear that is just biding its time and will reveal itself when ready.
John and the rest of Blue Team are close now I can feel their guardian on Genesis but I am being blocked because of the Warden however I can still communicate through these consoles, if I send the Oly Oly Oxen Free through them then they will be activated and we can talk and I will make sure that the Warden doesn't interfere as John is crucial to my plans.
I am leaving this space for now but will return, I also sense another monitor if this monitor is anything like 343 Guilty Spark then it must not be allowed to control dangerous assets on this planet I will attempt to contact this monitor and talk to it and see if we can form a bond.
