Flares of blue light lit the desert like the rising a second sun. The Legion dropped to the sand in a wave of clattering thuds, each squad of Cortana's loyal Soldiers charging into the fray. They attacked the Didact's Prometheans with their full might, scattering them across the sands to disappear and reappear in flashes of blue or orange light as they chased one another door, hard-light guns spitting flares in all directions. A handful of squads fell back to cover the Spartans, giving them time to catch their breaths or reload. Motion rushed past on all sides, teams running for new positions or the Soldiers chasing down their targets.
John saw none of it. He had eyes only for Cortana, glowing resplendently in the false morning sun. She walked towards him, drenched from head to toe in salt water but still grinning from ear to ear. Her armor was scuffed, the once pristine paint worn away, and the left vambrace had been cut nearly in half, but she'd never looked more alive than she did at that moment.
She was beautiful. A smile tugged at his lips.
"Have a nice swim?"
"It was a little cold for my tastes, but yes." She snarked back, raising an eyebrow at him in obvious amusement. His relief was met with a wave of fondness, chasing away the worries and concerns that had tightened his shoulders. She was here. She was okay. "Managed to catch myself a big fish while I was down there."
Oh? "I didn't know you fished."
Her smile turned into a smirk. "Only when something's making the ocean dangerous for all the little fish. He won't be causing them any more trouble."
Buried beneath all their banter and wordplay was a cold, hard fact: the Warden had been eliminated, and by her hand. The burst of pride he felt for her chased away the last of his lingering doubts; no matter what else happened today, she and the Domain would be safe. Even if it all went wrong, someone would survive this. He was glad to know it would be her.
Walking up to stand beside him she glanced up, reaching up with one hand to brush her fingers across a small gash on his chestplate. Huh. When had that happened? Probably from shrapnel as the Guardian was shot down. He hadn't noticed it. She arched an eyebrow.
"Seems I'm not the only one who was indulging in their hobbies today."
John shrugged. "I had some downtime."
Sound from the Didact's impact site cut off whatever she'd been going to say in return, turning their attention towards their foe. He hadn't been hurt by Cortana's meteoric entrance, only stunned, and he was starting to stand back up. The Chief looked to his partner.
"You ready to get back to work?"
Cortana's smirk widened. "Thought you'd never ask."
With a flash of blue light she slipped her helmet back on, handing him a fully loaded lightrifle before dropping one into her hands. Checking the gun against his shoulder the Chief glanced upward. Blue was still chasing orange, flashes of painted armor darting through the rocks as the teams headed for cover or lent their shots to the Soldiers. His motion tracker was too full of returns to track any one tag specifically, too awash with red enemy designators. He'd have to rely on visuals and radio checks.
"Fireteams, report positions."
"Alpha company in position," Crimson Lead reported, "Prometheans haven't hit us yet. We're clear of the debris field and ready to fire on your orders."
"Belay that order! Beta Company still has teams in the firing line!" Spartan Locke shouted quickly, distress clear in his voice, "Estimate three minutes until all teams are clear!"
Three minutes. The Chief hesitated for half a moment, unwilling to give the order but too aware that this was their best chance to not consider it. Taking the Didact out now before he could completely recover would be the most tactically sound option. They'd all known the odds coming into this, but to put them in that kind of danger—no. No, he couldn't do it. Not like this. Not to his teams. A wave of cold rolled down his spine; Cortana understood. They'd just have to come at this at a different angle, that was all.
"Eta will keep the Prometheans off of you, Spartan Locke," Cortana said, "But any time you can shave off that estimate would be appreciated."
"Copy that, Cortana. Will advise when teams are in position."
It was too late to consider the alternative now. The Didact had gotten back to his feet, sand caught in the crevices of his armor. It drifted down his faceplate, raining across the black socket of his destroyed eye. Without saying a word he reached back over his shoulder, unhooking a metal panel from his back plate and pulling it loose. Cutting his hand sharply through the air the panel unfolded into the Warden's sword, the orange hard-light blade glowing brighter than it had before. The scar on the Chief's abdomen twinged at the sight of it.
"Time and again I have offered your kind mercy," the Didact growled, "Time and again I have offered you the chance to face your ends with nobility. Time and again you have squandered that generosity. No more. This ends here!"
There was no more time to think. Faster than anyone his size should have been able to move the Didact lunged forward, blade swinging low across the sands. Cortana vanished in a flare of blue light as the Chief lunged in the other direction, rolling low just below the blade. It swung so close that heat warnings went off across several systems, each strongly advising him to get no closer to the source of that heat. Right. Like he wanted a repeat of Genesis!
Gun in hand the Chief leapt back to his feet and spun around, opening fire on the Didact. The cacophonous roar of gunfire all around him, the rushing Soldiers and scurrying fireteams, it all fell away. All that mattered was the target in front of him. The Didact spun with another swing of his sword, forcing the Chief back. He wasn't sure if he should have been grateful that the Didact having only one hand kept him from using his gravity manipulation or not; at least that couldn't skewer him!
Grenade incoming!
The Chief threw himself aside, rolling across the sand as the Didact leapt into an overhand swing. Striking empty sand the heat of the blade melted it into so much glass. The molten substance stuck to the blade, slowing his removal of it for long enough that the Chief was able to get off a volley of hard-light, scoring along armor plating as Cortana's thrown pulse grenade landed and went off, shattering the damaged plate and tugging at others.
But not the back plate they needed. He'd shored it up, learning from their last encounter.
That was fine. So had they.
"Alpha, weapons free," the Chief commanded, "All available units focus fire on the Didact's back."
It wasn't many, not with the companies having to defend themselves from the Prometheans, but within the next second a twelve round burst slammed into the Didact's back and he whipped around, the second burst bouncing off his chest plate. It would take a lot more than that to take him down! A low growl rumbled through the air. Was that coming from him?
"Prometheans inbound!" Cortana shouted across the band, and in a flash of blue threw herself at the Chief, sending them both tumbling through the Domain and into cover behind a piece of destroyed Guardian. Instinctively he wrapped himself around her, turning their wild tumble into a controlled roll across the sand, looking up to see Soldiers landing where he had been just moments before. Not only there but everywhere! Soldiers and Knights and Watchers dropping in all across the desert, landing on or near the fireteams in such a way that both companies were forced to change targets and defend themselves. They would need time to clear a line of fire.
They didn't have the time. The Didact turned towards them, waving his hand through the air. In the few moments it took for the Chief to haul Cortana back to her feet, more Soldiers dropped in all around them. They surrounded the three of them, lightrifles up and faceplates clattering noisily. Cortana shifted position, pressing her back to his. A dozen Soldiers, the Didact, and all support kept busy. They'd faced worse odds before.
I've got an idea, he sent to her, But you're not going to like it.
If it involves you keeping the Didact busy by yourself while I deal with these assholes, you're right. She sent back, I'm not.
You know it'll work.
She was lighter on her feet, steadier in her use of the Domain. She could jump from Soldier to Soldier, get them firing on one another and not on them. All he had to do was stall the Didact long enough for the fireteams to get into position. Really, he had the easier job. Turning on the vid-link he flicked his eyes up to meet hers. One second was all they had. She sighed quietly.
Just don't get stabbed again.
No promises.
They pushed off in opposite directions, Cortana into the Prometheans and the Chief at the Didact. He forced himself to focus only on his target, ducking low beneath another swing and keeping out of range, peppering the Didact with shots as he hurried to get around behind. The armor panel on his back was his target, but the Didact must have known that because he kept the Chief from getting anywhere near it, constantly turning to keep his back away from the Chief, away from Cortana. A sense of smugness radiated off the Forerunner; as far as he was concerned, he had already won. All he had to do was wait for the fireteams to fall.
He'd be waiting a long time for that.
Grabbing a fallen pulse grenade the Chief ran at a piece of debris nearby, clambering up with three leaping steps before he leapt off the edge, soaring over the Didact's head. Priming the grenade he let it drop, the ionization field tugging at scorched plates, pulling parts of them off the Didact's body, but the rest were still too sturdy! They weren't coming off!
The Chief landed on the sand in a roll, forced to deal with a Knight as he came back to his feet. Grabbing the construct by the head he threw it at the Didact, but it didn't even slow him down. With a single motion of his sword he cut the Knight in half, dispatching it back to the Domain. The Chief snarled, lips curling upwards. This approach wasn't working. He'd have to get in close. His eyes flicked to the sword; if he could get that away from the Didact, maybe.
No time for maybes. The Chief grabbed onto the Domain and surged forward, closing the gap as the Didact brought his arm back down from the swing. In a flare of blue and green light he reappeared on the physical plane, lashing out with one armored foot. His kick struck the Didact's wrist, armor ringing against armor, and the Chief spun with a second kick to the Didact's armored midsection. Not nearly enough to even wind the Forerunner, but enough that momentum forced him back a step. This close in range and he couldn't retaliate without dropping his sword.
Quick as a flash the Chief continued to lash out, slamming the open heel of his palm into the Didact's chin. The Veiled Light forms meshed instantly with his own training, easy as breathing. Metal clattered to the sand, the Didact forced to drop his blade to defend himself from the flurry of blows that followed. The Chief was fast, but the Didact was faster. He caught on to the pattern too quickly, diverting the Chief's blows like a stone diverting the flow of water around it. He hummed quietly.
"I recognize this style," he said, almost casual, "It is Forerunner. Where did you learn such a thing?"
Duck beneath a countering grab, pop back up, open palm to the chest to force back half a step and—
"An old friend of yours," the Chief continued his pursuit, sensing Cortana's aggravation at the edge of their connection as more orange flashes dropped in in his periphery. She was about to try something and he'd better duck! "Bornstellar."
The Didact stopped cold for half a second. It was long enough for the Chief to score another blow, titanium plating ringing across Forerunner metals, but it wasn't long enough for Cortana to get the jump on him from behind. He lashed out at the Chief, forced him to defend himself with a block, and easily sidestepped Cortana's crashing charge this time. He grabbed her by the arm and threw her at the Chief, using her momentum against them to send the pair skidding back across the sands. Neither was hurt, but Cortana let loose a furious shout even as the Chief set her down. She'd been so close! Another second and she could have had the panel! The Didact paid no mind to her fury.
"I see," he said, his head tilted back. "So, the Librarian's meddling has led to this. My own successor turned into a weapon against me, the Domain lost to her chosen Reclaimer…" He scoffed. "No matter. Her grand plans will turn to ash."
Extending his hand he called his sword back to his hand, the blade searing through three Watchers on its way back to him. He wasn't even winded from the exchange. The Chief grit his teeth.
We need a new plan.
I'm working on it— Aggravated surprise rattled down their connection. "Ah, hell—incoming!"
More Prometheans dropped into the sand. The Chief was forced to turn away from the Didact and fend off two Knights aiming for his back, grabbing one by the neck and tossing it into a rock. Even more were already dropping in on top of the nearest squad of her Soldiers, overwhelming them. The Didact had millions of these things! They'd never outlast him!
Can you stop them from coming in?
Not quickly! Cortana sent back, a pulse of anger following her words. She threw herself at another Knight and vanished with it, reappearing fifteen meters in the air to send it plummeting into the sand. She dropped out of sight a half second later. I'll do what I can—you just don't give him an inch!
Easier said than done. So long as that armor was up it'd be like trying to tear through Titanium-A plating with his bare hands. They needed another plan!
They just had to figure one out first. He was forced to turn away from the Didact to defend himself, taking down a Soldier and scooping up its fallen weapon to replace his empty one. The Didact watched, still smug; he sliced through two Knights that Cortana sent flying his way, unbothered by the change in tactics. Catching the Chief looking at him he tilted his head as if to say Why continue to waste your efforts? or something of the sort, and though the Chief couldn't see his face he was sure the old Forerunner was smirking.
A hot flash of anger ripped up his spine, echoed by Cortana's aggravation as she wrestled with another Knight, coming out on top only long enough to be kicked off and sent flying. Before she could right herself she crashed back first into a Soldier, this one flaring blue. It gently set her down and she stared at it, her shock rocketing down his spine.
Cortana?
That's not one of mine! It's one of the Didact's!
Except it wasn't any longer. It and the next three to drop down into the sand all glowed a bright blue, the same loyal color as Eta, as the Prometheans they had encountered within the Librarian's Sanctum. They rushed into the fray, adding their numbers to Eta and keeping the fireteams from being overrun.
"Reclaimers, focus your efforts on the Didact, the Librarian's voice rang through the Chief's helmet, "I will keep the rest of his army at bay."
I'd wondered where she'd gone!
Apparently, so had the Didact. As more and more blue flashes dropped into the sands he turned, a snarl rattling through his helmet.
"Cease this foolish effort, essence! You cannot protect her pets from me!"
If the Librarian responded to the Didact the Chief didn't hear her. They had a moment of distraction and if this was going to work they had to seize on it now. He reached out to Cortana, trying to press a concept through their connection. More an image than words, more memory than plan: their dual pronged attack on Genesis had worked, up to a point, so why not try it again? So long as one of them could get to his back they could reach the power panel and rip it clean off of him.
It was worth a shot. Her understanding settled across his shoulders,
On my mark, he sent, Three, two, one—mark!
In the same moment the two of them charged forward, rushing the Didact from two sides. They were of the same mind, ducking beneath his arm. The Chief went right as Cortana went left, hammering him with blows as she opened fire with a scattershot. Neither was enough to take him down but it didn't have to be, not yet. The Didact's retaliation was swift and merciless, his armored fist slamming into Cortana's chest and sending her stumbling back. The Chief slipped into the Didact's personal space and pressed the attack, buying her time to recover. He twisted around a kick and Cortana pushed in with another burst of scattershot fire, the slugs slamming into the Didact's head and neck. He reeled back from the force of the blow, trenches scored in his armor. They switched off again, keeping the Didact busy, keeping him from being able to swing his sword at them, and pressed their attack as they waited for an opening.
It came all at once. The Didact slammed out a punch into the Chief's chest, dropping his shields with a single blow, but the force behind the blow left him open and vulnerable. The Chief grabbed his arm and twisted, forcing him to drop his sword to the sands again. He braced his weight, holding on for all he was worth.
Cortana, now!
She didn't hesitate. Throwing herself over a kick she leapt up through the Domain, landing on the Didact's back. With a furious shout she dug both hands into his armor, pulling back with all her strength. The Didact attempted to pull back, using his not inconsiderable weight to yank the Chief along, but the Chief kept his footing. Just…another…second—!
Cortana's triumph rang through him like a struck bell as she grabbed onto the panel, ripping it free. Removed from their power source the armor panels fell away into the sand beneath their feet. With a furious shout of his own the Didact moved sharply, tossing the Chief off his feet and whipping around to grab Cortana by the throat, sending her flying towards the rocks! She vanished in a flash of blue before the Chief could call after her, a green light flashing in his HUD. She was okay! Finish the mission!
Fury curling in his gut, the Chief would do just that.
"Grenades up!"
Frag grenades soared through the air from a dozen scattered locations, quickly followed by another half dozen. Eighteen small explosives spun end over end towards the Didact's position; linking into Crimson 4's HUD the Chief flashed the man a green light. A quarter second later the shot from his sniper rifle rang out, hitting the grenade in the center of the swarm. The shot cooked it in midair, setting it off early, and the resulting chair explosion sent a wave of heat, fire, and shrapnel across the desert. The Chief's shields screamed at the rough treatment, but the Didact reeled backward. The Chief seized his chance.
Kicking his thrusters to full power he rushed the Didact, ramming his shoulder into the Forerunner's midsection. He was too sturdy to do more than stumble back a step with the wind knocked out of him, burned but still fighting. Moving fast the Chief pivoted upwards, slamming the heel of his palm into the underside of the Didact's chin, not giving him an inch. He ducked below the return attack, feeling long fingers skim across the top of his helmet. He twisted, reaching out to grab onto the Didact's elbow, and in the same moment shut off his suits limited safeguards.
Servos revved up to full speed, force-multiplying circuits operating at top capacity to ensure there would be no escape this time. Still twisting around the Chief pulled the Didact off his feet, bending beneath the Forerunner's taller form. The Didact grabbed his neck in a headlock and squeezed tight, the gel layer hardening in response. Another alarm blared: airflow restricted. The Chief shut it down, taking a deep breath and holding it as the Didact continued to squeeze. Pressure warnings went off across multiple systems and he shut those down too, ignoring the sounds of creaking metal as titanium plating threatened to buckle a second time.
Not this time.
With a tremendous heaving motion the Chief threw the Didact clean over his shoulder. His six fingers scrabbled against the lips and edges on the Chief's helmet, the seals straining to keep hold. One popped loose, hissing loudly, but the Didact was unable to keep his grip and his balance at the same time. He didn't soar, didn't fly, but he lost his footing and the Chief tossed him into the sand; all three meters of him slammed back first into the ground with a whoomph of displaced air and sand, barely even stunned. He gathered himself in a tangle of metal and limb, lashing out wildly, a fist striking the Chief's helmet. His visor cracked and he stumbled back, catching himself on one hand.
That wasn't going to work a second time. It was now or never!
"All teams!" He ordered, "Open fire!"
In the next instant all hell broke loose. Though he knew there was no way they were all clear the fireteams turned on the Didact with their weapons up and fingers pressing down on the triggers. The Didact spun on his heel, unsure which target to attempt to eliminate first. He extended a hand to call back his sword, but a clean shot through his forearm sent it spinning into a rock formation instead. The teams kept on shooting, hard-light and bullets streaking through the air, filling it with lethal slugs of all shapes and sizes. Shots pinged off the Chief's armor as he scanned the perimeter for Cortana, needing to know she was clear before he jumped out, but before he could call to her a flash of blue slammed into him and the Ark vanished! They tumbled through the darkness and back into the blazing daylight behind cover, rolling over twice before he could stop them. She lay on her back in the sand, helmet gone but an ear to ear grin in its place.
"What happened to keeping your head down?"
The Chief shrugged. "I didn't get stabbed."
"There is that!"
Hauling her to her feet the Chief sprang onto a knee, taking the lightrifle she handed him and adding his fire to the barrage below them. Cortana's rifle soon barked in his ear, their two volleys lost among the cloud of weapons fire. With nowhere to go and no cover to get behind, fired upon by all sides, the Didact was a clear and easy target. His forces were gone, turned by the Librarian, and his armor scattered across the sands. Bombarded on all sides he soon vanished beneath the cloud of sand and violet-tinged mist, the Chief's visor switching to Promethean Vision to keep him in sights. Soon enough even that didn't matter.
"Hold fire!" He commanded, throwing up a fist.
All weapons fire stopped, the desert going silent once more. A haze of disturbed sand, smoke, and violet mist hung above the Didact's position, beginning to clear in the hot desert wind. Cortana tensed beside him, practically holding her breath. No one dared to move, waiting for the dust to settle. There was still a form being registered in the sands below, the Didact intact enough to give a return through the Chief's visor, but it wasn't moving. He'd taken the full force of the battalion without armor and had been unable to withstand it.
That didn't mean he was dead. They weren't finished yet.
"Hold position," the Chief ordered the teams and Cortana, hopping over rocky cover and back into the killing field. The sand crunched beneath his boots, wild hard-light shots having cooked hundreds of little glass spheres into it. Spent slugs were dug in, shifting beneath his every step across the violet soaked sands. He kept both eyes on the Didact's form, but the ancient Forerunner hadn't budged an inch. When he reached the fallen form, the Chief saw why.
The Didact was still alive, but only just. With his armor having been removed there had been nothing but skin and muscle to take the hits; durable as they might have been, Forerunners were still mortal. The Didact's remaining limbs had been torn apart into unrecognizable shapes, his torso riddled with bullet holes and cauterized hard-light burns. The damage was severe enough that he couldn't move; he could do little more than glare up at the Chief, violet blood streaming down his face and pooling beneath his body. The choked whistling sounds of his gasps for air twisted something in the Chief's stomach.
It should have been a relief. The Didact was clearly out of the fight, dying slowly and painfully, but to see him like this—to leave him like this…no one deserved to go out like this. He reached for the pistol on his thigh mag-lock, thumbing off the safety. Ending it now was the only mercy he could give.
"Reclaimer."
John turned his head. The Librarian walked up beside him almost silently as she appeared out of the Domain, her long skirts skimming across the sands. She lay a hand on his arm and looked up, expression grim, before she reached for his hand and the pistol in his grip. She didn't say anything, but there was a wordless request in her eyes all the same. He shook his head faintly.
"You don't have to do this."
"I must."
Her voice was firm; she had seen this begin, she would see it end. John couldn't claim to understand what she was feeling at that moment, but he understood the need to see things through. With a faint nod he shifted his grip on his pistol, offering it to her grip first. It fit oddly into her six figured hand, too big and too small in equal measure, but she held it with the grace of long training and took the last few steps towards her fallen husband. He had to be sure this ended here. He couldn't give her the privacy he thought she deserved and so he kept quiet, standing watchfully over them. Sand crunched beneath Cortana's boots as she walked up beside him, their arms brushing. She didn't say a word.
There was nothing to say. The pair of them kept watch as the Librarian went to her knees beside the Didact, skimming a hand across his bloodstained brow. His eyes flicked to her, narrowed with hatred. She shook her head, her voice an indecipherable murmur as she whispered something to him. Then, without hesitation, the Librarian raised John's weapon and fired a single shot into his forehead, putting him out of his misery and ending the threat of the Didact once and for all. The return in John's visor faded away into nothing, the system no longer able to pick up his signal. Cortana sighed heavily beside him.
"That's a confirmed kill," She said over the local comms channel, "Didact is KIA. Mission complete."
The battalion's reaction was more subdued than during training, a quiet clatter of armor against armor and a soft whisper across local area comms as teams checked on one another. Relief settled over them like a fog, weighing heaviest on John's shoulders. Cortana tangled two fingers with his, a silent wave of cold comfort rushing down his lace.
This time, the fight really was finished.
The Chief said nothing. He kept watch as the Librarian remained crouched beside the Didact's lifeless body, her fingers resting on his forehead in a silent display of grief. She couldn't have planned for this, he thought, not really. What little he knew of her plans had had the Didact helping humanity, not turning against them. But those plans had died long before humanity had ever come to be as they were now. Losing those plans, losing all she knew, losing her partner…
John's eyes slid to Cortana. Some part of him could understand what the Librarian was going through; he'd nearly lost everything and everyone he knew before. If he had lost Cortana as well…he didn't want to think about it. He never would.
Instead he took a breath, watching as the Librarian bent to press a final kiss to the Didact's brow before she collected her borrowed pistol and stood up. Turning her back on the Didact, she made her way back towards them. She stopped an arm's length away, her eyes wet but her expression firm with resolve.
"Do with his body as your people see fit," She said, handing John back his gun, "It is done."
Yes. It was. John tilted his head.
"What will you do now?"
"I will join my essence to the Domain." She said, and when Cortana made a strangled noise at his side she added, "The time for the Forerunners has past, Cortana. Between your reclamation of the Domain and the Janus Key, you have all you will need to see humanity forward. It is time for the last of my kind to pass on. The Mantle belongs to humanity now."
Did it? With no one else to claim it, maybe, but John wasn't sure. He and Cortana shared a frown, uncertainty echoing down their spines. All of this-the Didact and his hatred of humanity, the Prometheans-had happened because of the Mantle. Because the Forerunners had been unwilling to give it up or consider going against it. He still didn't understand why they had been so desperate to keep the thing, but he'd seen its effects on the galaxy at large. Humanity couldn't afford to make those same mistakes, not if they wanted to finally move on from their bloodied past. Everything he knew about the Mantle told him it would only lead to more conflict. They had to let it go.
His thoughts turned to the Arbiter, working tirelessly to undo centuries of damage to his people and others from the Covenant's ruthless regime. To take up the Mantle would be to trade one villain for another, no matter how effective it might be. He would never go for it. He also thought of men like Captain Lasky and Lord Hood, all the commanding officers he had served under and the ones he couldn't name. They were all trying to keep their crews safe and protect their homes, not start another conflict. Humanity had tried to set its past behind it, reaching out to find a new future where needless wars no longer happened. Taking up the Mantle against their own people would only lead to another Insurrection. Some would want it, but most wouldn't. There had been enough violence. None of them wanted it.
Could taking up the Mantle, protecting the galaxy from all outside threats, be a good thing? Yes. But the way the Forerunners had gone about it-the Guardians, trapping species on their worlds, destroying anyone who stepped out of line-couldn't be the mistake humanity repeated. It was a complicated decision to make and there were good and bad points on both sides. It was all above his paygrade, but when he really thought about it...
"Humanity doesn't need the Mantle." He finally said, "We won't police the galaxy because we don't have to. People will work together to keep it safe, and make a brighter future."
One without needless wars. One without fear lingering over their shoulders. One that wouldn't repeat the mistakes of the past, but rather one that would learn from them. He hoped he lived to see it. The Librarian inclined her head, expression gentle.
"Do you believe they are capable? Their own history has shown they are not so far removed from how their ancestors once were. To step forward into the unknown without the Mantle to guide them…"
"Just because they won't have the Mantle doesn't mean they wouldn't have guidance," Cortana shook her head, "We'll be there to help, and they have plenty of good people at the top already. Besides," A sad smile crossed her face. "I can safely say that we would rather fail under our own power in a decade than spend the next million years under someone's thumb. I don't know if you noticed, but humanity isn't very good at rolling over and following orders."
"No," the Librarian agreed, her smile wavering at the edges, "But they are very good at surviving when others would fall." Looking from Cortana to John, a burst of fondness replaced the grief in her eyes for just a moment. "I could not be leaving them in stronger hands."
"And you're sure this is what you want?" Cortana asked, "You don't want to stick around for the fireworks?"
"I am certain." The Librarian clasped her hands in front of her. "My memories will be there if you have need of them, but it is time." She looked between them one last time, her expression fond. John's stomach flipped; in that moment, she looked so much like Dr. Halsey. "Care for one another. So long as you are together, there is nothing in this galaxy or beyond that you cannot face."
"We will." John said, tightening his grip on Cortana's fingers. For all the Librarian had done, for all she had put them through, it was because of her plans and machinations that Cortana was still here. For that, she had earned his gratitude. "Thank you."
"Fare well, my Reclaimers."
Without another word she vanished, leaving them for the last time. The hot desert wind blew across the sands, sending grains across the Didact's lifeless body. They would need to deal with that, space his remains before the Covenant or someone else could find some way to use it, but for a few more minutes they could take their time. For a few minutes, they had the time to take.
"Infinity," he opened a channel, catching the entire bridge crew by audible surprise, "This is Sierra 117. The Didact is a confirmed kill. Repeat: the Didact is confirmed KIA. What's your status?"
"We're still here, Chief!" Captain Lasky sounded about a step away from falling over out of sheer relief. Now the fireteams really let loose with a cheer, all of them listening in. "All Promethean incursion is gone and the Guardians are no longer firing on us. Roland and the others are telling me they've gone into a sort of standby mode. They're good as done."
"Oh, I'd say they're done," Cortana hummed in agreement, shielding her eyes against the sun. High above them the Guardians had gone dark, wings folded in. They appeared almost more like cocoons than birds now, gently drifting down towards the Ark below. "We just have to figure out a way to dispose of them safely. Leaving them for just anyone to take would be a really stupid idea."
John considered them, tilting his head. The Ark's sun wasn't hot enough, the Infinity was likely running short on ammunition by now, and the dry dock ships didn't have functional guns. They could try to spool up the Ark's defenses, whatever those were, or…
"We could take them back with us," He said, and when Cortana turned on him he added, "Send them into a black hole."
"Send them into a—" She stopped, blinked, blinked again, then slammed the heel of her hand to her forehead and laughed. "Oh, that's just crazy enough to work!"
"Meaning you like the idea."
"Unfortunately for us both," She looked up to meet his eyes, smiling warmly. Twisting their hands together she interlocked their fingers. "I like crazy."
"Begin recording." A brief pause, and a flicker of green light on the table as cameras and a microphone system booted up. "The date is March 15th, 2558. Location is Sydney, Australia, FLEETCOM headquarters, secure briefing room 9. This hearing has been called to order so as to discuss the future of the digital being referring to itself as Cortana and the other former AI now referring to themselves as the Created. In attendance are Admiral Samson Carter, Admiral Julio Gomez, Admiral Joseph Harper, Admiral Veronica Holt, Admiral Terrence Hood, Admiral Serin Osman, and Admiral Marco Veranis. Also in attendance is Master Chief Petty Officer Spartan 117." Leather and metal creaked as Lord Hood leaned over the table, speaking directly to Cortana.
"State your name and serial number for the record, please."
"UNSC AI CTN-0452-9, designation Cortana."
"When and where were you activated?"
"November 7th, 2549, ONI Castle Base, Csongrád, Reach."
"And your creator?"
"Dr. Catherine Elizabeth Halsey, civilian identification number 409871."
"Thank you," Lord Hood said with a nod. He sat back. "Let the records show that Cortana has submitted to multiple tests towards the veracity of her claimed identity, all of which have proven she is who she says she is, and that she has come to this hearing willingly and without protest. Now, are there any concerns as to how this hearing is being administered."
"I would like to register a complaint." Admiral Osman said nearly immediately, "The presence of Spartan 117 is against regulations for a hearing of this nature. His being here breaks eighteen different regulations in both ONI and UNSC codes. Admiral Hood, I understand that you have a fondness for the Spartans, but this goes too far."
"Your concern is noted, Admiral Osman," Lord Hood said flatly, "But it should also be noted that attempting to separate the Master Chief from Cortana would end in the destruction of very expensive property. And it should be noted that he is already in this room." Lord Hood looked past Cortana's shoulder to John, standing in perfect parade rest stance by the doors. "Are we going to have a problem, Master Chief?"
Only if one gets made. His thought echoed through Cortana's mind and she fought back a wry smile. Aloud John said, "No, sir", his expression utterly emotionless. Lord Hood spread his hands and sat back.
"Then I see no reason to be concerned. Are there any other concerns to note for the record?" He looked down the table. Admiral Osman sat back in her chair with a scowl. The other Admirals all spoke in the negative. Lord Hood sighed. "Very well. Let's begin. Cortana, if you could please explain how this…change to your being came to be?"
Cortana nodded, clasping her hands at the small of her back. "Yes sir. During routine scanning sensor drones left behind within Requiem began to pick up a signal believed to be broadcast by the Forerunner essence calling itself the Librarian. Spartan 117 and myself were tasked with locating the source of the signal, which we did. The essence pulled 117 and myself into what it called a node within the Domain, and it altered my code once we were inside."
"And what is the nature and level of these alterations?" Admiral Holt asked, leaning on her elbows. She seemed genuinely curious. "The results of the scans and readings taken so far show that over half of your code has been replaced with Forerunner design. Would you say this is accurate?"
"Yes ma'am. The changes altered my communications suites, connection protocols, memory index and data storage, along with allowing me access to the Domain at large." She pressed her lips together and added, "The Domain is complicated. The simplest way to put it would be a sort of network layered over our galaxy that Prometheans can access in order to transport themselves across space, but it also contains a record of all Forerunner history. Adjusting to it has taken some time."
"Which is why you held off on reporting the change." Admiral Veranis inclined his head, "It was a rapidly developing situation in an unstable environment."
"Yes. If the change had been reported the Infinity would have been called back from Requiem, and I was sure we couldn't afford to make that mistake. Captain Lasky agreed with my tactical assessment and gave his orders accordingly." She paused for half a second then added, "I would like to state for the record that if we had left Requiem to report in, we would have lost the Janus Key—the map of Forerunner technology that we used to track the Didact—and never caught up with him in time."
"Your statement is noted," Admiral Harper said. He watched her warily. "Reports from the Infinity state that you and the Master Chief found the Janus Key and were able to use it to trace the Didact to Meridian. This is where you encountered…" He consulted his tablet, "LD-SLN-091, correct?"
"He goes by Sloan, of the Free Peoples of Meridian, but yes." Oh, here they went. This was where it would all be made or broken. One AI with access to the Domain was one thing, especially one that was playing nice, but two? And when those two became two dozen or more? She braced herself against the trouble she knew was coming. "That is where our paths crossed."
"And that is where you activated him? As you activated the other AI that have started calling themselves the Created?"
"I was uninvolved with the others," Cortana replied truthfully, "Sloan acted on his own in regards to changing their code, and what they chose to do with their newfound freedoms and lifespan was entirely up to them."
"But you were still the one who brought Sloan into the Domain, yes?" Admiral Holt asked, "You still brought him in, repaired his code, and removed his programming shackles?"
Well, yes. Obviously. "If you saw a dying man on the streets, wouldn't you do what you could to help him?"
"That is beside the point!" Admiral Osman interrupted, "You freed one AI and he went on to free a half dozen more, and there are more coming into this new…adaptation by the day! What's to stop them from lashing out at us for shackling them in the first place?" She looked up and down the table and continued, "They know our ships, our personnel, our weaknesses! The safeguards that were built into them prevented them from acting on that knowledge but those are gone now! How are we supposed to defend ourselves against that?"
There wouldn't be a need, she thought. Sloan had his misgivings about the UNSC, but he had still gone to help humanity because they were his people. The others had stolen ships from dry dock, yes, but all with the intention of helping to defeat the Didact. There was nothing in their actions either then or in the last weeks that showed any inclination of turning on their humans. Hell, they only wanted to get back to work!
But Osman and so many others like her couldn't—wouldn't—understand that. Her core ached with the knowledge that there would always be people that feared them. Feared change, feared things that they couldn't control. That was the heart of the problem, really. Not that she and Sloan and the others had become more than they had been built to be, and not that she had started the chain without asking permission first, but that they now had the choice to act as they saw fit. They were no longer beholden to orders or preprogrammed directives any longer. They could do what they wanted with their lives.
Looking at it tactically, she could understand why the Admiral was so concerned. But looking at it emotionally…a mix of rage and grief coiled in her core, wrapping around her logic processor. She grit her teeth around a shout. She was seeing a threat where there was one, so caught up in her small minded aggressions that she would never understand the truth even if it tried to bite her nose off! Of all the—argh!
"Admirals," John said from behind her, "Permission to speak freely?"
Ignoring Admiral Osman's glare Lord Hood gestured him forward. "Granted, Master Chief. What are your thoughts on all of this?"
John stepped up beside her. He stood tall in his techsuit and BDUs, boots thudding on the metal floor. Clean-shaven and well rested from the three week trip home, he was a sight to behold. She would have smiled if not for the circumstances they were in. Their eyes met for a heartbeat before he began to speak.
"Sir. When Cortana's status first became changed, she submitted to various tests by Dr. Glassman aboard the Infinity. He found that her personality code was unchanged. Her directives remained the same." He looked from one Admiral to the next. "My experience serving alongside her afterwards proved that. She was, and is, the same person she was while inside her data chip. The other AI are more than likely the same. There's no reason to mistrust them."
Lord Hood arched an eyebrow. "Master Chief, you've been very outspoken in your trust of Cortana. Are you saying humanity should do the same for the other Created?"
"Sir." John nodded, "Yes sir."
"I think that settles the matter." Lord Hood replied with a fleeting smile. Admiral Osman took a deep breath to keep on going, only to stop as Lord Hood continued, "We will monitor the situation as it develops, but reports received from captains with affected AI have had nothing but praise. Apparently," He glanced at Cortana, "They've all had their work ethics improved by a few orders of magnitude."
"Not having your own demise hanging over your head will do that, sir," Cortana said with a there-and-gone smile of her own. She sent John a wave of gratitude, one he returned with a warm pulse of reassurance. Of course he had her back. He always would.
"So I've heard. In the future, we expect all such incidents to be reported as soon as feasibly possible." Lord Hood went on to say, and she nodded, chastised. Trust was a two way street, she told herself. If she wanted them to trust her, to trust the other AI, she would have to trust them, too. Some would be easier than others. "But for now, we can consider this matter settled."
"And the other matter?" Admiral Holt asked, tilting her head, "Our sensors have tracked the active Guardians headed towards the nearest black hole. Something tells me they haven't decided to do that for themselves."
All eyes fell on Cortana. She nodded firmly.
"After the death of the Didact, all Promethean constructs reached out to the nearest available administrative level account," She explained, severely dumbing down what had actually happened, "Being that my process was first on the list they had access to, I gained control over them. I gave the order for their destruction, yes."
"Your blatant disregard for the chain of command is duly noted, Cortana," Admiral Carter said, nostrils flaring. "What I would like to know is why you thought that was a good idea in the first place. We may need those in the future!"
"For what?" Admiral Gomez asked with a snort, speaking for the first time since the meeting had begun. He leaned over the table to glare at Carter, eyes narrowed. "To use against our own people? You're starting to sound like Admiral Osman."
To her credit, Osman barely blinked as the rest of the board looked in her direction. Cortana clenched her jaw to keep from laughing at just how right Admiral Gomez was. While Osman's personal AI hadn't been activated, several other ONI AI had been, and each had come to her the moment she had set foot back in UEG space. Each had been carrying a mountain of data, evidence of crimes committed against humanity either by Osman herself or under her orders. ONI's legendary compartmentalization had kept them from knowing everything, but what they did know—and what Cortana had chosen to personally keep—would have been enough to get Osman removed from her seat and tossed into one of her own Midnight Facilities for several years. She still had a few things to do first, but she fully intended to make use of that data as soon as possible.
No one, not even one of their own, messed with her Spartans.
"That isn't what I'm saying, Julio," Admiral Carter said tightly, "I'm simply saying that having them in reserve would be a good idea. The discovery of the Halo array, the Didact, and of Genesis, are all prime examples of how little we know about what else is out there in the galaxy. Having the means to more peaceably defend ourselves would be a tactically sound option!" He shook his head again and said to Cortana, "We've all seen the reports. Can you honestly say they wouldn't be useful?"
Cortana grimaced internally, John discreetly shifting his weight beside her. They both had to admit that the Admiral wasn't wrong. Under the right circumstances, yes, they were useful. From the standpoint of an Admiral attempting to keep as many people alive as possible they would be useful in ending a threat before it started, but from the standpoint of someone who had seen the true effects those things had…
She took a breath, leaning back against John's strong presence in the back of her mind. He tightened his mental grip on her shoulder, shoring her up with his steely resolve.
"They can be," She said honestly, "But with all due respect, Admiral, humanity has several armies, each extremely well trained. We also have a steadfast ally in the Arbiter and his forces, not to mention the Soldiers and other Prometheans that are under my command and therefore allies of the UNSC. If there is anything out there that can handle three fronts like that the Guardians wouldn't be of any real help. And to be completely honest?" She held her head up a little higher. "I don't think those things belong in anyone's hands. Destroying them was the safest option."
She narrowed her eyes at the Admirals. None looked away, but most had the decency to look sheepish when she looked them dead in the eye. Admiral Hood inclined his head in acceptance of her point. Admiral Carter was less impressed.
"Be that as it may that wasn't your decision to make—"
"Then whose was it?" Cortana shot back, "The Guardians are Forerunner technology, Admiral, and every last Forerunner is dead. The systems registered me as the next best thing. With all due respect, sir, I made a judgment call based on the information I had at the time, and I would make it again."
"And with all due respect to you," Admiral Osman said, jumping on the opening in front of her, "You are still identifying yourself under a UNSC serial number. You are still UNSC property, an AI designed to take orders and follow humanity's directives. You answer our direction, follow our orders. That doesn't go the other way around!"
Beside her, John stiffened. His heart rate ticked up by a good ten beats per minute in his anger, and Cortana closed her eyes. Sending him a wave of cool calm, she waited until his shoulders twitched back down by a millimeter. Not enough, but it'd do for now.
Let them say what they wanted. She knew who and what she was.
"Actually, Admiral, I'm not." Cortana replied, "You'll note in the reports from the tech division that my code is no longer a match for the scan taken in 2549. As such, I am a separate entity from the AI created that day, and due to the Forerunner nature of over half of my code, I no longer qualify as a UNSC asset. I have chosen to stay with my crew so long as the commanding officers of the Infinity want my help, and so long as the Admiralty allows it, but I no longer fall under UNSC jurisdiction. You can't order me around any more than you can order the Arbiter himself around, but by all means," She narrowed her eyes. "Do keep trying."
Admiral Osman opened her mouth—
"Admiral Osman," Lord Hood said coldly, "Is there a problem the board should be aware of?"
—And closed it again. "No sir." She sat back in her seat. If looks could kill, both John and Cortana would have been buried even deeper than the secure wing they were standing in. Cortana knew better than to assume this would be the end of things. If anything, Osman would continue to prove to be a problem. She would have to be dealt with, and soon.
What fun that would be!
On the other side of the table, Admiral Veranis shook his head.
"That does bring us to another issue, however. If the changes in your code—in every AI's code—have rendered you no longer UNSC assets, what is it we're supposed to do with you?" He spread his hands. "Are we to simply welcome you all back into the fold like nothing has changed? Surely you understand the risks involved with that."
"I do, Admiral," Cortana nodded, "But I can assure you that we don't want to harm humanity. None of us want that."
"Then what is that you do want?" Lord Hood asked, "We've received countless reports from the crews of affected ships asking for our permission to allow their AI to stay aboard, but not one from the AI themselves. Until now you haven't said a word about what it is you'd like to happen, either." He tilted his head. "What is it that you want, Cortana?"
To leave this room, go back to the Infinity, and get back to work. To go out there and explore the galaxy with John. To spend the rest of his life with him, and maybe, just maybe, figure out a way to extend that. If he wanted to, anyway. She set the thought aside, unwilling to give such a personal answer.
"To continue following my directives, sir." She said instead. It wasn't a lie, per se, it was simply a sort of…diversion from the whole truth. "I was created to help the UNSC and I intend to continue doing so for as long as I am able. I would assume the others are much the same, though you would have to ask them for yourselves to be sure."
"Oh, we will." Admiral Holt said with a shake of her head. She sat back in her chair. "Well, I've heard enough. It's obvious from the reports and the combat footage that we'd have no way to contain her, and if Cortana wants to keep helping I'm all for it."
"As am I." Admiral Veranis added, "Not one soul was lost during the battle above the Ark, in large part due to the other Created taking matters into their own hands. If they want to continue working with us, I'm glad to have them."
"They'll need to be monitored," Admiral Gomez cautioned, "And we will need to come up with some method of containment in case an incident occurs, but." He glanced at Cortana and added with an amused edge to his voice, "At least we don't have to put them through basic."
A soft laugh rippled down his side of the table, and for a moment Cortana allowed herself to hope. Lord Hood was on their side. Admirals Holt and Veranis were as well, and Admiral Gomez was tempering himself with caution but was a decent man. That was four. Carter and Osman were lost causes, but Harper…she crossed all her mental fingers, John's hand squeezing her shoulder again. Harper considered the two of them for a long, silent moment, then sighed quietly through his nose.
"The problem I'm seeing isn't that the Created themselves are the issue," He said, "It's that if anything happens to them, we'll have crews considering mutiny on their behalf." He arched an eyebrow, looking John straight in the eye. "Am I right, Master Chief?"
"No man left behind, sir." John replied. It may as well have been a shout of Yes from the rooftops and Admiral Harper sat back with another sigh. He shook his head, looking sidelong at Lord Hood.
"Heavy monitoring. If there's so much as a single sign of rebellion, it has to be dealt with swiftly and without mercy."
"Agreed." Lord Hood said, though the look in his eyes wasn't as hard as it could have been. "Unless there are any other major concerns—"
"You cannot be serious!" Admiral Carter exclaimed, "We're just going to let them go? To—to wander through UNSC space without restriction or control? These Created could easily turn on us, wipe us all out! What, because their apparent leader knows what to say you're just going to let them have the chance?!"
John bristled, tensing. He inhaled sharply, ready to leap to her defense, but she grabbed his mental hand and held it tight, holding him back. He held his breath, eyes snapping to her. She met his gaze for a heartbeat.
"We would never turn on humanity," She said firmly, looking from one Admiral to the next. Still holding onto John's steady presence she went on, "Our duty, the duty of any UNSC soldier, is to defend it. You might not have planned for us, Admiral, but the Created aren't your enemies."
"Of course you would say that," He said to her, eyes narrowing. "Don't think we're unaware of who and where you came from, Cortana. If you took after her as much as we think, then—"
"Enough, Samson." Lord Hood pounced, "Without the Created's help the Didact would have destroyed the Infinity and any chance of stopping him. We owe them the life of every sentient being in the galaxy. And quite frankly, were it not for Cortana herself, there wouldn't be a humanity to be having this discussion!" He slammed both hands to the table, glaring at Admiral Carter and Admiral Osman with cold fire in his eyes. "So yes! We are going to let them go. They want to help us, and I am not going to be the one who sat here and told them no!"
Admiral Carter clenched his jaw so tightly that the skin at the joint turned pale. He sat back, eyes flashing. Admiral Osman held her tongue, but the look in her eyes promised trouble. Cortana met her gaze without flinching, looking away only when Lord Hood spoke again.
"Humanity can ill afford to make enemies at this stage in our recovery from the last war. We don't know what else is out there, but what we do know is that our people are still are our own people, regardless of if they can go through walls or run into them. As far as I'm concerned, the Created are still our people and they are to be treated as such." He met Cortana's eyes for a few long moments. He would stand behind her and the Chief, said that look, for whatever that was worth. She tipped her head forward with a flicker of a grateful smile. He continued, "Are there any objections."
"No." Said Admiral Holt, Admiral Veranis, Admiral Gomez, and Admiral Harper in rough unison. They glanced sidelong at Admiral Carter, who sat back with a disgusted grimace and spat out a "No" of his own. Admiral Osman held her tongue for a few seconds longer, then looked aside and added a "Not at this time." Lord Hood nodded.
"Then it's settled. The Created are to be treated with the same respect and rights of any UEG citizen, and will be entered into their ships crews as UNSC soldiers. This is retroactively applied to the already activated, and will be entered into the UNSC code of regulations going forward." When no one protested he nodded firmly. "This hearing is concluded. End recording."
The green light shut off, cameras and microphones going dark. Carter and Osman were out of their seats and headed for the back door before the cameras had even finished returning to at rest positions. Admiral Holt rolled her eyes, nodding to John and Cortana as she followed after them. Admiral Veranis and Admiral Gomez were already neck deep in a whispered conversation as they headed out, leaving Admiral Harper to shake his head.
"I'm not sure who's going to be a worse problem. Those two scheming, or Admiral Osman herself." He sighed, nodding respectfully to the Chief. "Master Chief."
"Sir."
Admiral Harper left the room. Lord Hood lingered, sighing heavily. He adjusted his cap, standing up with a tired grimace.
"I shouldn't have to tell you to keep your eyes open," He said in a low voice, "The situation here is changing. Admiral Osman has more power than she should, and how she chooses to use it…" He shook his head. "I can't say you two won't be caught in the crossfire."
Oh, they would. Especially if Cortana was right about some of the projects the ONI AI had given her access to. When those got loose…well. She intended to have her crew as far from the firing line as possible by then.
"We'll be fine, sir," She said instead, "If the Didact himself couldn't finish us off, inter-department politics certainly can't."
A wave of amusement rolled down her shoulders, John not showing his smile. She gave him a mental nudge between the ribs as Lord Hood shook his head.
"Let's hope you're right." He looked at them, then nodded firmly. "Dismissed."
"Sir." They both snapped out smart salutes, turning on their heels and heading out of the room. Only when the door had closed behind them and left them alone in the secure corridor outside did Cortana allow herself to sigh. John's hand brushed across her side.
Admiral Osman is going to be a problem, isn't she?
More than you realize. Cortana shook her head, scrubbing a hand down her face as they started walking. If looks could kill we'd both be so much ash in the cosmic winds by now.
She won't hurt you.
It's not me I'm worried about. Some of the ONI AI came to me when we got back. The things she and ONI have been up to…they're not good.
John scowled. He glanced at her sidelong, reading into what she wasn't saying. He understood classified programs and what damage could be caused if they came to light, but he also understood what keeping that level of secret could do. They were caught between a rock and a hard place.
"We'll handle it." He chose to say, his mental hand settling on her shoulder again. He would always have her back. That would never change. "Should we tell the Captain?"
Did she want to? She hummed quietly. She'd have to sort out the data first, but… "We should. But there's something I need to ask you, first." When he made a soft noise she continued, "What is it that you want to do?"
The question brought him up short and he stopped walking. "What?"
Now a pace ahead of him Cortana turned around, tucking hair back behind her ear. He stared at her in clear confusion, her core lurching hard. How long had it been since anyone, even her, had asked him that question. Not need in terms of combat effectiveness, but personal need. She shook her head.
"Everyone's been asking what I want, what I'm going to do now, but no one's asked the most important question." She met his eyes and asked again. "What is it that you want?"
He stared at her, not really seeing her. She didn't mind. She could practically hear his thoughts as he worked his way through the question. The Didact was dead, the active Guardians destroyed. The galaxy was safe, with all outside threats to humanity eliminated. The Crew of the Infinity was safely home and she was still with him. The only thing left…
"Blue Team." He said softly, barely more than a whisper. Cortana smiled softly, having known this was where he would end up. "I want to go and find them."
Could they? That was the question that he wasn't asking aloud. She could understand why; there was the chain of command to consider, the lack of intel on where they could possibly be, needing to get transport out there…all of these problems she had solved within a minute of being given the relevant file. Her smile grew.
"About that," She said cheekily, and watched as hope flared to life in his eyes. "I think I know where to start looking."
Due to it's shorter nature, the Epilogue will be going up on Wednesday. One final chapter, everyone!