Purpose Of Existence Chapter 29: Two Souls For A Single Goal

Before we get to the actual chapter itself...I guess I should apologise xD. I might have gotten a little bit eh how do I put it "addicted" to assassin's creed franchise and I finished Black Flag and let's just say it has been a very emotional journey for me. It wasn't the first time that I have played the game but damn...I had forgotten how emotional the game was. If you are a fan of pirate games go play it.

Now onwards to the fic:

Blue team survived. How? Interesting question and Chief had thought about it for many times. Every single one of them had suffered injuries that should have killed them. Every one of them had suffered injuries that should have put them out of commission for life...Yet here they are walking trought the dark corridors of Halo's command center, heading towards the top of the central tower elevator. Kelly had suffered minor injuries and plasma burns, she was slightly limbing. A normal man would not have noticed it but he had served with her long enough to realize it.

Apart from minor grunt/elite patrols they had had from little to no resistance at all and this put the Chief on edge. Elites were almost mad to the point of suicidal because of their honor. They did not play hide and seek...Yet there was none in sight.

There were ancient monitors positioned on the walls around them, giving the room a dim blue hue. They could see ancient monitors floating passively trought their traveling tubes. They didn't care about them whatsoever.

"The lift is deactivated Chief". Linda announced as she crouched down before the elevator's control panel. "You should use this moment, this might take a while". She announces, never turning to address them. Mjolnir had a state of the art communication system and all four of them were connected 100% of the time.

It was moments like these John had learn to hate. Moments where his "skills" weren't needed or when there was nothing to talk about. Not that he talked much but it kept his mind of...thinks. He knew his effectiveness as a soldier had suffered after Cortana's death but he had to admit he was at a point that he didn't much care. At first he didn't even understand that he was even mourning and tried to bury the frustrating emotion away by taking more and more missions. He didn't care that most of them were way below his skill as long as he had something to occupy his mind. His eyes had been opened when Linda got her self critically wounded at Turul. This made him realize that he could never forget Cortana, much less let go...But he had to keep focus not for UNSC but his family. Those few he had left were everything to him and he would gladly die for any of them.

Chief was brought out of his thoughts as he heard a gunshot and someone yelling "Banished!" For a moment he was actually startled. Is that even possible, was the only thing he managed to think before he was forced to dodge a hunter cannon shot. They had no cover so they were forced to retreat towards the elevator and pray to god that those hunters couldn't aim.

Perhaps John's luck still held in some extend as just as they were about to run out of places to retreat Linda yelled "Operational" and "Get in. NOW!" With that the spartans took a sprint. The elevator started to rise and they jumped just in time to get onboard. Chief was the last and grabbed the edge of the elevator, hanging from its side. John looked down and saw only darkness. Not a place you should fall down to. He heard footsteps and looked back up. Fred walked to him and hauled him aboard.

"Those hunters would have been an easy target if we weren't forced to burn every heavy weapon we had earlier". Chief had to agree with that, they were bulky and had strong weapons yes...but they were also slow and sometimes inaccurate.

"Reclaimer". Bias spoke up, getting his attention. He still kept fairly quiet and he didn't like it. This was was usually very talkative just like Cortana was. Sharing every single damn thing he saw or babbling about his achievements in research.

"We are nearing my remaining half, I can feel it". He kept silent for a moment and kept speaking. He was distracted, that much was clear from his voice. "Im...drawn towards it, it's calling for me".

"Now is not the time to get distracted" Chief reminded him. The irony was not lost on John but he kept quiet about it. The elevator came to a stop and a long pathway was set in front of them. Blue team wasted no time starting to walk towards the end of the tunnel where Chief knew the control center was located. There mission had a benefit for everyone if it were to succeed. Bias would be whole again and would arguably be the most powerful AI in the entire galaxy and the UNSC would liberate the HCS from banished control. The stakes were not lost on them. If they were to fail, their universe would be slaved or burned to the ground and they would be stuck here probably forever.

The long walk was quiet, as were everything. The only sound was their footsteps. The cold "Glang" of a armored boot times four. They arrived at the energy bridge connecting the command centre and the rest of the facility. John was having hard time keeping his head together. As he surveyed their surroundings he could see the events of the past flickering like images in front of him. The death of Truth, beaten up Johnson being held by a brute chieftain…

and Miranda Keyes. Her body lying in Johnson's arms, cold and lifeless. It hurt more than it should and Bias sensed this. "Your fellow soldiers died for a cause greater than any of us. You should remember their deaths not as one of waste but as a act of heroecy and ultimate sacrifice". He was silent for a moment carefully choosing his words. "You should never forget them, but don't let their deaths pull you to the oblivion. Remember as the persons they were and relish on those memories".

"Even the hardest of soldiers will mourn and feel loss someday. They will feel broken and hopeless, but only the strongest survive and thrive by their memory. Never forget that Master Chief". It was the first time Bias had used his name and somehow...Even tho he didn't say it out loud his words helped him more than the AI could ever understand.

The bridge flickered on and the spartans crossed it. "Put me inside that console reclaimer". Bias instructed, setting a waypoint.

It was at the exact moment that Chief inserted his chip, Atriox's voice could be heard from the other side of the bridge.

"Always so predictable". He laughed a deep menacing laugh and continued "The first time I fought a "demon"...Yes that's what they call you. I believed I would be facing the most difficult opponent of my life. However it turned out you are nothing more than larger, bulkier humans with armor. Breakable and killable all the same".

He brought his giant hammer up and pointed it at them "Now give me that AI!".

And with that, all hell broke lose.

Over 30000 words, now that's a milestone I like :D.