Halo – Katerina Duran - "Make It Last: Of Trust and Friendship"

Location: Installation 00
December 11th, 2552

The Ark. Installation 00. They were finally here. In order to stop Truth from firing the Halo Rings, the first order of business was to set Forward Onto Dawn safely down. Once that was settled, a Scarab made its unannounced arrival but it was quickly taken down. John reunited with Katerina briefly at the Ark's Cartographer before more Covenant Loyalists intervened, only to be defeated.

Man, don't they ever learn?

The Prophet of Truth was, according to 343 Guilty Spark, near one of the Ark's superluminal communication arrays. But now, a protective barrier surrounded it and it needed to be taken down. Three towers kept the barrier up so they needed to be destroyed. The Master Chief would take down one, the Elites another, and Sergeant Johnson the last.

"How're doing, Kate? Ready to get to Truth?"

"I have been waiting for this day for a very long time, John."

"Well, you're getting close now. I'll do my part, as promised."

The Chief and the Elites successfully took out the 2 towers respectively. It was all up to Johnson and his team.

"Speak to me, Katie,"

"All is well on our end. We are waiting for the Sergeant to do his part. He is… taking a little long, isn't he?"

As if Commander Miranda Keyes heard their private conversation on the COM channels, she said, "Johnson, come in. Over."

On the COM channel, Johnson responded, but with much panic and static. "Brute reinforcements, ma'am! We're pinned down!"

"I'm on my way!" She said instantly.

"Negative! Fire's too heavy! Everyone fall bac-!"

"Sergeant Major! Johnson! Can you hear me?!" Miranda continued to try in vain. "Chief, you need to link up with the Arbiter and proceed directly to the Third Tower! Make your way back to the beach!"

"John, you have some trouble in the air. Deal with them and head to the third one!" Katerina told him.

"What about you?"

"This tower is fine. The Elites and I are making our way to the third now. Join us as soon as you can."

"You got it. Watch yourself."

"As always,"

"Hit the switch, Chief, and the barrier will fall!"

After providing air support and reuniting with Katerina, they made their made their way to the third tower and shut it down once and for all. There was no sign of Johnson anywhere though. Where could he be?

The barrier finally fell. The Shadow of Intent makes it way to the Citadel, where Truth is located.

"Now, Prophet... your end has come!" Rtas 'Vadum declared over the COM.

From inside the tower, John and Katerina glanced up at the black skies, watching the carrier. Out of nowhere, just next to the Shadow of Intent, a Slipspace rupture materialized and from it… High Charity emerged.

"What in the-"

"High Charity..." Rtas said in awe, cutting Katerina off. "By the Gods, brace for impact!"

"Rtas!" She screamed for him over the COM.

As High Charity flew over the Citadel, debris from it went right through the Shadow of Intent's hull. More debris broke through the window that John and Katerina were looking out from and landed in right of the elevator they had just taken. The debris began to glow creepily, much to Katerina's dismay.

"No… no, no, no!"

"Get behind, Kate!" John told her, raising his Assault Rifle and pulling Katerina behind him. "Stay close to me. It's gonna be okay."

She did not think so.

Katerina pulled out one Magnum and placed her other hand on the Chief's shoulder – getting behind and staying close as promised. As if she wanted to engage the Flood in close combat.

Human Combat Forms then emerged from the rubble, gargling and moaning in the way that they did and the Chief opened fire. Flood Infection Forms followed instantly, attempting to head for the fallen the fallen Brutes that the two had eliminated. Katerina, without much thinking, aimed for the little creatures and fired as well.

All was quiet. It did not look like there was anything else coming from that rubble. Katerina hung her head low, hands on her thighs as she tried to calm herself down.

John placed one hand behind her back. "You okay?"

"Why can't I escape this nightmare...? Why can't it just end?" She questioned, her voice weary.

"You can get through this. Don't worry, I'm here for you," He told her serenely. "Katie, we talked about this," John then sat the rifle down and had her face him, his hands gripping her upper arms in a gentle manner. "You can't let what happened to Versera affect your performance. You did not kill him."

"I know! …I know…" She steadied herself with her hands on his armored chest. "The Flood are not invincible. We can defeat them. I can defeat them."

John gave a single nod at that. "That's right."

"Then let us continue. We cannot let the Flood stop us. There is no way Truth could have predicted the Flood's interference. It might only drive him to quickly finish his plans."

"Then we're gonna have to move it. Let's go."

A/N: A little chapter before Kate gets her hands on Truth!