(Courtney Jsarez)

Present Timeline...

[DATE]-[September 13, 2555]

[TIME]-[10:37 -Standard Military Time]

[LOCATION]-[Aft Quarter Section, Room-B07, Aboard Unknown ONI Orbital Facility, Orbiting Earth]

Pacing was all I could do, and it was all I would do.

Dean was leaning against the wall to the left of the door, sighing, wondering what he could say in response to the words that just exited my mouth.

What I really needed him to do was hug me. Albeit, physical contact with a male was difficult. Not with Dean, however. We had something akin to a contract. We were in a relationship that could be called that of a boyfriend/girlfriend scenario, but it was so much more complicated. We didn't kiss -I believed kissing to be the product of love. I didn't love Dean like that. Kissing was also something Eric enforced during that night of infamy. I didn't think I could ever had my mouth submitted to anything other than eating again.

We did hug, however. Hold hands and show other such displays of affection -only in private. As silly as it sounded when I ran it through my head, our relationship was likened to a guardian/teddy bear. I felt an unusual warmth when hugging him. This contradicted so much I used to believe. I felt uncomfortable around males of the crew of the Kryptonite -even Dean, at one stage. That all changed when I grew confident in him, and placed trust in him. I couldn't ever sleep with him or kiss him. Not because I didn't trust him, but because it was something that bought about the worst of my memories.

"I won't abandon you," Dean finally said, "I promised I would look out for you, remember?"

I did remember. I remembered how we both got drunk off out asses and slept with each other, waking up with both a headache from the hangover, and a headache from what had just happened. I still couldn't recall what happened during our lust, but it was something that we both didn't want to remember. The morning after, we talked about what happened, and one thing led to another until we agreed to a supportive pact. He would be there for me, and would never leave me.

So, why would I ask him to not fight for me if ONI punished me but agreed to his and the rest of the crew's freedom? It was one of the stupidest things I asked of someone.

"Sorry I asked such a thing," I apologized, stopping my pacing as Dean pushed off from the wall and walked over to me. "Kinda stupid of me."

He gestured, "Can I?"

I nodded, giving him permission to hug me me. I buried my head into his chest as he wrapped his arms around me. I could hear his heartbeat, the rhythmic booming only making my massive sigh of relief more relieving.

Despite only knowing him on a personal level for a few weeks, I felt like I knew him for years. It was something I couldn't explain to even to Lynda. Red, maybe. But after the look he gave Dean the other day, I wasn't so sure I should actually confirm it for him. Twins had tendencies of becoming jealous.

"You going to be alright?" Dean asked, rubbing my back. Despite not being good with women -his words- he knew how to make me feel comfortable around that of the opposite sex. He may have had a bad time finding G-spots, but he was so supportive.

"Hm, hm," I mumbled, gently pulling away from him.

He nodded as the station's AI, Black-Box, came over the room's intercoms. "Sorry to be a cockblock, but your escort has arrived."

I ignored the AI's remark. It didn't know my and Dean's relationship. But, then again, that was even more a reason for him to keep to himself.

Dean kept to himself as well, but lightly grunted at the AI's remarked, standing behind me as I turned to face the door, straightening myself up. I wore a serious face mixed with authority. Such was required at the time; I needed to show everyone that I wasn't afraid to be going to meet Parangosky, I wasn't afraid of her wraith. I was sure Dean was wearing the same face.

When we had first arrived at the ONI facility that I and the rest of the Kyrptonite's crew was currently being detained at, we were all escorted to the brig and detained -save Red who was quickly shuffled away to an interview room. Oddly enough, the facility's commanding officer got orders from the Commander-in-Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence (Parangosky) to release us and assign us all quarters.

This was odd as I swore Parangosky would be out for my guts. Maybe this was some type of attempt to lure me into a false sense of security. If it was, then Parangosky lost her touch -it was too obvious.

The door hissed open, a red and green SPARTAN IV standing on the otherside, clad in the shiniest armor I had ever seen.

I had no idea what type of armor the SPARTAN was wearing, but it looked too fancy. It seemed to me that ONI wanted their new SPARTANs to reassure the public more than to fight battles. So, Red's legacy was nothing more than to give Sci-Fi nerds boners and reassured troubled wives whose husbands were in service that Humanity had all it needed to prevent a massacre similar to every battle previously fought with the Covenant.

The SPARTAN in red and green armour that stood out as something intimidating stood to attention and saluted me. "Ma'am," He cocked his head to Dean, "Sir. SPARTAN Derek Johns, Fireteam Cyclone, reporting for duty."

I narrowed my eyes. He didn't say his rank which was out-of-place for a soldier that had already shown a decent amount of respect to me. Ignoring it, I returned the salute before I shook his hand as he held it out.

"Nice to meet you." I replied in a friendly tone, trying to maintain a sense of confidence.

He nodded as he bought his hand back. "Likewise, uh..."

I rolled my eyes, anger and annoyance rising in me. "Well, ONI really want me to keep to the regs after everything? Don't play dumb, soldier; you know who I am, my rank, and why this turn in the conversation has been taken, so please tell your bosses that I can't give a second shit about the regs, and hurry up and deliver me."

To my surprise, the SPARTAN smiled. "Well, what they say about you is true. Well... almost all of it."

I cocked my head in confusion. "'Almost'? What's the shit that they've been saying about me?"

"Well, that you're mentally unfit and shit like-"

"'Mentally unfit'!?" I scoffed, hearing Dean let out a sigh of disbelief. "Who's been saying this?" I asked.

"Other members of my team. And just the crew in general."

I let out a sigh. "Propaganda. That's to be expected, I guess," I turned my attention back to the SPARTAN. "What made you change your mind about me being a psycho?"

"I never thought you had psychological problems, ma'am, just that you were pissed at ONI to the extent as the others were saying. I mean, I know personally how bad a hatred for ONI can get."

I turned around to Dean and gave him a parting nod before walking past SPARTAN Derek and out into the corridor with the SPARTAN following me. Dean understood that he wouldn't be able to accompany me. So he'd stay in the quarters, ready to support me once I came back. If, I came back. I was pretty sure Parangosky wouldn't allow me to say goodbye if she decided my fate was death or incarceration.

"Have you got problems with ONI as well?" I asked SPARTAN Derek, addressing his earlier mention of his knowledge on ONI hatred.

"Can't say here, ma'am. BB doesn't like me talking about it. Just know that you're right; the hatred is personal."

I narrowed my eyes as we both turned a corner. "So, you and ONI had past grievances, yet they still employed you as a SPARTAN?"

"They wanted the best-of-the-best for the job." He explained.

I scoffed. "Of course. Who else could represent Humanity as a species?"

The SPARTAN let out a slight chuckle in his calm voice. "I hope ONI isn't using us to represent Humanity because the majority of us are fucking douche-bags."

"Yeah," I agreed with the SPARTAN named Derek, remembering Enterarj and his goons. "I've seen your point."

Not long after leaving my quarters we ran into Warren Fisher and Tobias O'Reilly -two ONI employed private contractors who went by the name of 'BlackBird'. They were decent, but I harbored a grudge towards their AI who indirectly sent us flying into a shit covered fan.

"Off to see the boss?" O'Reilly asked. Despite being ONI, I liked the two out of a mutual respect we had for each other's opinions on certain situations. We all hated ONI which basically sold it for me.

"Yeah." I nodded, walking past them for them to both just fall in with us.

"Nervous?" O'Reilly asked in his usual careless and friendly tone. Out of both the two, I liked O'Reilly the most. Fisher was alright as well, but his cliché 'strong and silent' personality was getting tired for me after dealing with so many Marines who had similar personas.

"As much as one would be when they're about to see Parangosky." I replied indifferently.

"You don't know." Fisher said. As per usual with him, it wasn't a question and stood as a statement. Unsurprisingly, both him and Wade Tulnai got on well enough.

"Don't know what?" I asked.

"Parangosky isn't Commander-in-Chief any-more, Captain." O'Reilly answered.

My eyes widened. The old bitch had to have been near death by now. Why I didn't figure this out sooner pissed me the hell off. But at the same time, I was relieved. Perhaps this new Commander-in-Chief wasn't as bad as Parangosky, and mightn't order my head removed.

A lot of questions I had about the recent circumstances was just answered, and I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. Despite having Timmy delete all the records of the shit I talked about Parangosky, I knew that Day or Campbell may had been a problem, and killing the two wasn't an option for me -morality issues sucked.

"Why the hell didn't anyone tell you?!" O'Reilly asked aloud. "You must had been shaking in your boots!"

"Hell, O'Reilly, I was shaking so much that I couldn't wear boots." I replied.

O'Reilly let out a chuckle before Fisher spoke up. "O'Reilly, we have somewhere to be."

"Oh, right!" O'Reilly replied in a 'That's right!' tone.

I stopped and turned around just as Fisher had turned back around and was making his way back down the corridor. O'Reilly watched as Fisher left and turned back around to face me. "Sorry, he's an ass."

I smiled with O'Reilly smiling back before he turned around and hurried after Fisher. From what I picked up, Fisher didn't really tolerate O'Reilly and had a hard time working with him.

The rest of the trip to my destination contained nothing more eventful, and just consisted of me thinking up the correct words I would use when meeting this new Commander-In-Chief. Sure enough, I could had asked SPARTAN Derek for the name of the Commander-in-Chief to see if I knew who it was and have a better understanding of the words I should use, but I decided to just wait.

As I suspected, I would not be seeing the Commander-in-Chief in person. I would instead be sitting on chair in front of a table with a mug of coffee and a bowl of fruit on it. Beyond the table and covering the entire wall was a huge screen. And the room I would be in was small -too small.

SPARTAN Derek silently gestured to my seat that I calmly took before he left, the door hissing shut behind him and making the iconic ding sound as it locked.

I eyed the coffee mug for a few seconds and decided not to drink from it. True, if they wanted me dead they could easily put me in front of a firing squad, but this was more of a statement than caution.

A minute passed since I entered before the screen flickered to life to show a woman around my age with a cold face staring at me, seated with the wall behind her displaying two Office of Naval Intelligent symbols, in her hands was a datapad.

She was Parangosky 2.0.

"Good morning, Captain Jsarez, I am Admiral Serin Osman; Commander-in-Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence. I'll start by first apologising for detaining you. I specified to this facilities' commanding official to follow protocol textbook style, but excluded any exceptions -detaining you was one such exception. I hope you'll be able to put aside this misunderstanding, and continue to cooperate with us at the levels you currently are."

I straightened myself in my seat. "With all due respect, ma'am, but is this an act? Are you always so close to following the formal regulations, or is this an act of some type?"

A smile appeared on Parangosky 2.0's face. "Neither. My predecessor groomed me for years to take over her position, and she never told me to show mercy to my enemies. You're not my enemy, Captain, so I'll keep to the regulations."

I went back on something she said. "You sure I'm not your enemy? Not even after Campbell and Day's interviews; and they were interviewed, so please don't deny it."

Parangosky 2.0 put her datapad down on the table she was seated at and crossed her arms across her chest. "I know how much you hated my predecessor, and I know of the threats you made towards her, and I understand."

I could barely contained letting out a sigh of relief as Parangosky 2- Osman continued. "But, Captain, you need to understand that while Parangosky sanctioned the SPARTAN-II Program, she did not sanction everything Doctor Halsey committed in the Program. The flash-clones was one such action that Parangosky disapproved on-"

I broke in. "You think that makes it better? I still lost my brother whether a clone replaced him or not!"

"I won't protect my predecessor's decisions, but I won't condemn her, either. Think about, Captain, were it not for the SPARTANs, Humanity would be extinct, the Halos activated, and the universe wiped clean of life-"

"That wasn't the plan!" I reminded her, my voice showing more and more anger which wasn't good, but I couldn't stop it. "The SPARTANs were created to fight Humans, not fight the Covenant and 'save the universe'; so don't give me the bullshit that what Parangosky and Halsey did was to save Humanity!"

Osman let out a sigh. "Your points are valid, but I still won't think ill of my predecessor. Doctor Halsey I will, but they both saved me-" I frowned out of confusion. "-If it wasn't for the SPARTAN-II Program, I wouldn't be here."

"You're a SPARTAN." I concluded.

Osman nodded. "I failed the augmentations, and Parangosky picked me up," Osman ran her hand through her hair. "I'm not naive to think that my initial hatred for Doctor Halsey wasn't fed to me by my predecessor, but I do despise her after reading her journal. Most of what my predecessor told me about Doctor Halsey was true, and the extents that Halsey went to make us into machines was a lot to take into consideration. You need to put this aside, Captain, I'm not going to lock you or your brother up over your understandable anger, but you need to promise me that you won't act against the Office of Naval Intelligence."

I lowered my head as I began musing. The mutiny that bought about so much death was unneeded... Would Parangosky had been similar to Osman if she was still the Commander-in-Chief? Was Osman telling the truth? Or would she betray me?

"You'll just let us all go?" I questioned her, raising my head to look at her through the screen again.

"Yes. All of you. I've seen family members reunited with SPARTAN-IIs before, and I know how much pain Doctor Halsey and my predecessor inflicted onto you. Whether he saved Humanity or not, your brother was still conscripted without his parents consent along with 74 other candidates, and while I can't give the years lost to you and him back, I can guarantee you any future you want."

"Just like that?" I asked her. "You would let us go and supply us with anything?"

Osman smiled. "I see not problem with it -currency these days is only digital. I'll get you a chip, and you tell me the numbers you want on it. I'll also be able to supply you with constant support in all matters; there's no limit to my arm's reach. Name what you want, and I'll give it to you."

I did my best to remain composed when all I wanted to do was scream in anger and relief "You won't kill us over what we know?"

Osman shook her head. "I doubt it will be long before the SPARTAN-II Program's origins becomes public anyway, but even so, I don't want you exposing it; you owe me that much at least."

Everything I ever feared was me being paranoid, and a lot of people died because of it. That blood was on my hands now, and I had to live with myself knowing that my stupidity got dozens of good soldiers killed. I couldn't believe I was not only escaping punishment, but also being given compensation. And while no amount of wealth could make things between me, Red, and ONI right, I couldn't even consider refusing it. Parangosky was probably dead, so I couldn't get revenge on her. But what about Halsey?

"You said you'll do anything?" I asked for a confirmation.

"Yes. Name it."

"I want Halsey's head."

Osman shook her head. "So do I. Unfortunately, Doctor Halsey still has some use for us. But with the help of the Engineers and other Forerunner creations, we're finding less and less use for her. I promise you this, Captain, when the day comes, I'll send you VIP invitations for Halsey's execution; I'll even let you be in the firing squad -I may even join you."

I nodded. "Fair enough. Okay, second request, I want to leave; me, my crew, Red-"

"A shuttle to Sydney will be leaving this evening which I expect you and all your crew to be on. Your brother will have to remain here until we can finish interviewing him, and remove the Gravemind's Spore. That same Spore told Red that we planned on using lethal force to disable his brain before using certain Forerunner technology to make his 098 personality become the lead personality again, but this is a lie. What isn't a lie is the chances Red has of surviving what we have planned; they're low, Captain."

I nodded, trying not to tear up. "I know. But, you'll do the best option for him, right?"

Osman nodded. "There's no safest option, so the best will be it. I'm really glad we were able to come to an understanding, Captain. Now, I'll let you get back to your quarters. I'll give you a shard of BB who will be able to contact me at any-time from anywhere."

I couldn't believe what happened. Yes, there were the chances that Osman could betray me, and that this was some type of sadistic trick to make me feel safe and secure before destroying it all, but I doubted that she would harm another SPARTAN, and I would be sure to ask around about her to make sure myself. But with everything I had just heard, there was one thing I really needed to do. "I have one last request."

Osman slightly cocked her head. "Name it."

"I need to find someone named Eric Maine."

(Red Jsarez)

Present Timeline.

[DATE]-[September 13, 2555]

[TIME]-[11:29 - Standard Military Time]

[LOCATION]-[Interviewing Room-02, Aboard Unknown ONI Orbital Facility, Orbiting Earth]

Lieutenant George Kirkland took a seat opposite me, picking up his datapad off of the table in between us. "ONI interview. Incident 071824260, session 10 -continue."

Nai had just left the room where she spoke to Serin, and the Gravemind had just finished telling me what had transpired, and I. Was. Pissed! After everything we had feared and went through, everything we had tried so hard to prevent, we found out that none of it would had happened. It would had been helpful if the Gravemind told me this. (What disparity would ensue had I conveyed these tidings?) None, I guessed, but it would had bought us comfort- I instantly picked up on the Gravemind's meaning.

While the Gravemind eventually ceased trying to bring about harm to others on the Kryptonite, it still enjoyed making me and Nai stress to extreme levels, going so far to purposely show the figures to distress us.

While I waited for Kirkland to begin, I began examining the guards in the room. The Gravemind had previously told me that each were hired professional marksman who all were equipped with a holstered experimental weapon. The Gravemind also told me that a number of the facts relating to how they would deal with it was wrong. They didn't intend on taking control of me again by somehow making 098 the main personality, nor did they intend to detain Nai and the others. It was all just annoying lies that the Gravemind told me at the time to increase my stress levels. It didn't help that Kirkland decided to go along with it for some damned reason.

What they were planning that was true was to use lethal weaponry to basically destroy my brain. EMP weapons wouldn't work as the electromagnetic pulse wouldn't instantly reach my brain, so as soon as the bullet hit me, the Gravemind could quickly kill me before the pulse hit my brain. A bullet round from the weapons these guards had, however, was different. The rounds were small, and moved faster than any round in the UNSC arsenal; practically Forerunner tech -which it was. If they fired that round at my head, it would take me out before the Gravemind could even react. These guards were also equipped with some type of 'mind shield' which prevented the Gravemind from reading their minds, so he couldn't predict when one was going to fire of a combat situation broke out.

With both weapons and neural implants being developed to combat the Flood, this must had meant that ONI had done its research, and put more than enough funding to develop technology to battle the Flood should a battle occur.

For once, the Gravemind was outmanoeuvred. But I feared that it would kill me as soon as the story ended. Its plan would fail, yes, but it'd take me with it. 'Me'? I meant us. All of us.

Kirkland straightened up in his seat and turned his attention to me after he found what he was looking for. "Tough couple of days, I see. What Lieutenant Dorhan did was right by his standards, and I doubt many would curse him over it, but he misconceived a lot of things. But, I'm curious, you seemed rather upset when I first revealed this, so, it didn't end just like that?"

I nodded. "Dorhan's actions had a-a chain affect, yeah. We all thought it was over and done with, but we were so wrong."

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry; really, I am."

I nodded as my eyes lowered from remembering what happened. "Thanks, sir."

"No problem. So, shall we get back to this so you can go home?"

I raised my gaze to him. "I'm not sure if I will be going home... the Gravemind... I think he's gonna kill me."

Kirkland gave me a reassuring smile. "I won't give you any false reassurance, but I promise that your sister will be looked after if you do die."

I returned the smile. "Thanks, sir."

Kirkland nodded, but his face morphed into that of Johns. John was old, but I didn't get to study his face long for an unknown variant of MJOLNIR formed around him as everything around me turned a blinding white colour.

The armoured John floated back as the chair and table he and I were seated at disappeared. John then shifted into a half T posture where a blue light began surrounding him. This was obviously the Gravemind's doing, but it was different from all the other visions it gave me.

Directly to John's right, a larger figure appeared, this one clad in Forerunner armour but also in a half T posture and surrounded by a blue light. Next to appear in the middle of the two with the white light passing her body was what looked like an alien female hovering slightly off the ground.

The female alien held out her right hand towards the Forerunner and her left to John. She then slowly moved her hands together which in turn moved John and the Forerunner closer together. Eventually her hands connected, and when they did, both John and the Forerunner dissolved into each other.

"Sierra?" I shook my head as the present returned to me, and I saw Kirkland looking at me, the worry on his face residing.

"You okay?" Kirkland asked me, his tone returning to its normal one full of nothing but emotionless -as was custom for ONI agents.

I nodded. "Green, sir. Just another vision."

"What of?"

"I'll tell you once I figure it out, sir."

Kirkland straightened himself in his chair. "The Office of Naval Intelligence has made a lot of baffling discoveries over the years you were away. If you would tell me, it may connect with something we already know."

"Yes, sir," I complied with a following nod of respect. "It's- um... this is new, okay?" Kirkland nodded before gesturing for me to continue. "I saw John, you know? Sierra-117. I saw him in a motionless like shape, surrounded by blue light. To his right is what I think is a Forerunner who was in a similar state -if not the same. Between them a female alien appeared; I think she was also Forerunner. She held out the appropriate hand towards John and the Forerunner before bringing her hands together. As she brought her hands together, both John and the Forerunner follow suite until they both got so close that they dissolved into each other. That's when it ended."

Kirkland nodded. "You're right. There's nothing we know that we can connect to that."

I nodded in acknowledgement. But deep down, I knew that this was much more important than I originally thought.