HALO EVERYONE!
Welcome to Chapter twelve of Halo 4: A Rip in Time!
I'm sorry if it's been a while, but I've been so busy with a ton of other stuff. I've finally started doing video game walkthroughs on youtube, so that's taking some time out of my writing.
But don't worry! I promised that I would upload at least one chapter a month, so here is the chapter for March! Today the mysterious AI will be revealed! Enjoy!
"Alright Charlie Company, move up." Sergeant Eric Foner whispers over his coms.
Sergeant Foner peeks over the rock he's hiding behind to get a closer look at Del Rio's villa. The moonlight illuminates the area. It's well protected, which is to be expected. Twelve foot high concrete fences surround the perimeter of the villa. Foner also counts about five different cameras on the north wall alone.
Del Rio is one paranoid bastard. Foner thinks.
But this is not without good reason. Just two days ago, Del Rio sent a kill squad after the Master Chief which was made up of several loyal ODST soldiers.
And this did not sit well with Foner. Back when he was rookie, the covenant attacked New Mombasa. Had Master Chief not been there to save him, Foner could… no, would be dead.
Lieutenant Walter comes out of the shadows and ducks down next to Foner. "The charges are set on the East wall, Sarg. Demi and Levi are still setting their charges on the West wall."
"Good work. Let's get into position." Foner replies.
Foner and Walter make their way over to the East wall. When they get to the wall, Foner's radio beeps.
Levi's voice emits from the radio, mixed with static. "This is Levi. Our charges are set."
Foner picks up his radio and speaks into it. "Good. Is there any activity in the compound?"
"No sir. None that we can see."
"Alright. Set the charges to detonate in three minutes." Foner commands.
"Yes sir." Levi responds.
Foner points to Walter, and then points to the wall. Walter nods and pulls a gravity lift out of his backpack. He pushes a button, and throws it down next to the wall. He steps into the gravity lift and is shot up and over the wall silently.
Foner waits for ten seconds before stepping into the gravity lift. He feels the awkward sensation of gravity shifting and pushing him upwards. It feels as if he is suddenly upside down and is falling towards the sky, but he doesn't move a finger and lets the gravity lift do its job.
Foner lands on the other side of the wall on his left knee, and his sense of direction is clear again. Foner takes a few seconds to survey the area. Del Rio's Villa is an impressive fortress with a North, West, and East Wings. He puts the silencer on his magnum and signals Walter to follow him.
Foner puts his watch up to his face and pushes a small black button on the side. "Be advised Command, we are moving in."
Back on the Infinity, Hood is looking at the Chief as he puts the holo-chip into the back of his helmet. Hood can't see what the Chief's face looks like at this moment, but he knows it can't be one of happiness.
"Hello Chief." Comes a female voice on his helmet's inner speakers. Chief breathes a sigh of relief at the unfamiliar voice.
"I am the UNSC AI Serena. It's been a while since we last met. About four months I'm guessing?" The Chief turns off his suit's outer speakers.
"What are you talking about?" The Chief asks, knowing for a fact that he's never met this AI.
"Four months ago? I helped you defeat the Didact, remember?" Serena asks, as if it is common knowledge.
The Chief turns his outer speakers back on at looks at Palmer. "Just where did this AI come from?" Chief asks.
"Well, Cortana was the only known AI in the galaxy with the entire knowledge of the Forerunners and the Covenant in her processors." Palmer starts. "On this mission we knew that you would need as much knowledge on both sides as possible, so we scavenged every system we had for data left behind by Cortana."
"And so you created an AI from what was left of Cortana?" The Chief asks, wanting to cut to the point.
"Essentially, yes." Palmer pulls out a data pad and looks over Serena's details. "Serena has the most advanced software installed we have available. She has more processing power and more storage then Cortana ever did. Her system cracking abilities have also been improved from Cortana's original code. In a sense, she is an upgrade from-"
"Palmer!" Lasky interrupts. Palmer looks at Lasky, confused. Everyone on the bridge falls silent.
The Chief pulls the holo-chip out of his head and gently puts it into a nearby holo-pad. A hologram of the AI appears, and the Chief freezes.
The hair might be longer, but there's no mistaking it. Her face, her body, even the way she talks. She is almost an exact copy of Cortana.
To everyone else, the Chief appears unmoved. But by the subtlest movement in his hands, Kelly can tell that he's pissed.
The Chief looks at Lasky. "Sir. Permission to use the War Games while en route to Requiem?"
Lasky sighs. "Permission granted."
"Thank you." The Chief turns around and exits the bridge. Lasky is surprised that his footsteps don't make dents in the metal.
"Anyone mind telling what his problem is?" Jack asks. Kelly shoots Jack a glare, and he immediately shuts his mouth.
Lord Hood walks over to the front of the bridge and looks out at Earth. "Lasky, let's get this ship moving. The Covenant isn't going to wait for us."
"Yes sir." Lasky replies. He looks over at Palmer and nods. Palmer nods back.
She switches on a com link to the rest of the ship. "Attention crew of the UNSC Infinity. We will be entering slip space in five minutes. Get to your stations."
He steps over to the hologram of Serena. She appears to be a little depressed. "What's wrong Serena?"
A hologram of the Infinity's AI, Roland, appears on the holo-pad next to Serena. "Isn't it obvious? She's just been dumped by the Chief!"
Serena touches Roland, and he splits into several different holograms of himself. "Ow! Hey! AAAHH!" Serena touches him again and Roland returns to normal. Roland looks at Serena. "That was a little uncalled for."
"Did I do something wrong, Captain?" Serena asks. "Perhaps I wasn't formal enough, or maybe it's that I did not appeal to his needs?"
"It's not your fault Serena." Lasky tells her. "He's just been a little on edge since… well… since Cortana died."
"But he has seen people die countless times. Records say he even witnessed the fall of reach, the slaughter of thousands of innocent people." Serena argues. "Even his closest friend Sergeant Avery Johnson died in his arms. How could the death of one AI affect him so much?"
"There's this little human emotion called 'love'. Don't know if you've heard of it." Roland starts. "Don't think I've ever felt it, but I've heard that it's awesome. Makes you do crazy things apparently."
Lasky looks at Roland. "Wait… are you saying that-" Lasky looks around and gets in closer to Roland. "Are you saying that the Chief loved Cortana?"
"I wouldn't disregard it." Roland comments.
Lasky stands up straight and ponders this thought. He knew that the Chief was close to Cortana, but he didn't think they were that close.
If this was true and if someone else found out about it, then that would mean that the Chief would be listed as unfit for duty. Lasky can't risk that chance. The Chief is to damned important to lose on this mission.
Then again, is it really humane to keep the Chief fighting like this?
And there you have it! Just what does Foner's team plan on doing to Del Rio?
What does the Chief plan on doing in the War Games?
What does Lasky plan on doing to Palmer in his private quarters?!
You know they have a small thing, don't deny it!
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter of Halo 4: A Rip in Time! More chapters will be coming soon!
GOOD NIGHT CHILDREN!