Marrying 117 (Part Two)

Note: I've been getting a LOT of questions about how Cortana becomes human. I'll explain in this part of the story. The diamond Grunt? You'll see the symbolism a little later.

Note #2: In this part I will be using a bunch of made-up names. Put it this way—Ghetto Fabulous!

Thanks for your comments and questions! I greatly appreciate them! Oh yeah…I AM SO LATE WITH THIS CHAPTER! I have been WAY 2 busy lately to even finish this story! I assure you, Chapters three and four will be up as soon as possible! Brutes Honor!

John wondered if he made the right choicechanging Cortana into a human. For three years he's had feelings for her, even when she was AI. He fought those feelings for too long. One night, John snuck into a restricted part of the Cairo Station; a part known as 'Human Animation'. This particular part was off limits for a reason: If every AI wanted to be human, then there would be too many of them and not enough A.I.'s to go around.

John takes the tiny chip from his helmet and positions it into a small groove on the side of the chamber. This process took a little time, maybe a few hours at the maximum. He dozes off; knowing he will see the woman of his dreams, perhaps even marry her. A few minutes felt like hours to John. Impatience grips the Spartan's heart. He whispers: I just want to hold you and never let you go…

Just when he fully falls asleep, the chamber opens with a hiss, and out steps the perfect human Goddess, Cortana.

The Arbiter tapping him on the shoulder cuts his flashback short.

"John," he says, waving his huge, slender hand in front of his eyes. "Yo, John!"

He sighs in irritation and flicks John's ear.

"Hey, what the hell was that for!" the Master Chief yelled.

The Arbiter shakes his head, and then makes a 'tsk-tsk-tsk' sound.

"John, time's a wastin'. You'd better ask her before I do. Oh yeah, did you notice she is gaining a little bit of weight lately?"

The Master Chief looks at the Arbiter with a hint of 'I'd oughta slap you in the back of your Sangheili head'. He just smirks and says:

"Whaddya mean she's gaining weight? Cortana's a size six, not a—"

The Arbiter fills his sentence in.

"Size twelve? I know that sudden weight gain. She's—"

Putting his hand up in front of Arbiter's face, John makes a 'shush' noise.

"Not now, Arbie. I've got a question to ask."

While John and the Arbiter are acting like they're six years old, the newly human Cortana and her ghetto fabulous friends are chillin' at the Flood-Burgers Restaurant (Slogan: Good Flood Good Feelings. Flood Burgers!) Anyways, Cortana and her girls are having a good time! Eatin' some broiled Flood-Burgers, drinkin' chocolate Grunt shakes, and smashin' on some oh-so-tasty French-fried…uh…fries! One of her friends, Shanisha, asks Cortana about John.

"So, Tana, wassup with you and John? When is he going to ask you to…you know…marry you?"

Cortana looks up from her shake, giving Shanisha a quizzical eye.

"I dunno. Maybe today?"

Another one of her friends, Ayesha, spots John from out of the corner of her eye. Nearly choking on her food, she decides not to say anything. Denisha notices her expression. She, too, decides not to say anything.

"Hey," says Shanisha. "Is…that the Arbiter and," she licks her lips. "That tall, dark-haired, hunka-hunka man meat called Sexy? I mean Hottie? I mean"

Cortana flicks her straw at Shanisha.

"His name's John, you retard! And stop calling him 'man-meat'!" She smiles naughtily. "Only I may call him hunka-hunka-man-meat."

Smiling from ear to ear, Ayesha says:

"Just how big is his mewassup Arbie? Wassup John? How ya'll doin'?"

Denisha shakes her head. Muttering under her breath, she whispers 'What a pervert.'

"Hey," John and the Arbiter replied in unison. Again, like a couple of first graders, they yell in harmony:

"Jinx! Dammit! Jinx! Dammit! JINX! DAMMIT! Stop copying me! Stop copying me! Stop copying me! Cortana, tell him to stop!"

Cortana stands up and slaps the both of them in the back of the head.

"You both stop it! Now, John, what did you want to see me about?"

Stone silent, John rubs the back of his neck. He can feel butterflies fluttering in the pit of his stomach. He looks at Arbiter, then Shanisha, then Ayesha, then Denisha (Who is eating everybody else's food and weighs a healthy 270 pounds) then at the half eaten Flood-Burger, then at Cortana again. Trying to grow some courage, the words finally come out.

"Cortana, I've been wanting to ask you this for a very long time."

Everyone in the restaurant stopped what he or she was doing. Hell, even the High Charity went silent to hear this; even the entire Cairo Station went dead quiet! EVERYONE in the whole galaxy has waited for this day!

John kneeled on one knee, making every soul sit on the edge of their seat come closer. He takes out a small velvet box, making Cortana breathe short breaths.

He broke the powerful silence.

"Cortana, will you marry me?"

With that, he opened the small box, revealing a very expensive-looking engagement ring. Tears of joy start to run down Cortana's face.

Her voice breaking, she says:

"Yes, I will!"

An unremarkable noise fills every inch of the restaurant as well as the entire galaxy. High Charity sounded like the galaxy's biggest Slipknot concert, Cairo Station threw a literal celebration party (complete with the champagne) for the husband and wife to be, the Heretics' Hangout Spot in the middle of space had actual confetti and balloons floating around it, heck, even Earth was partying!

Cortana threw her arms around her beloved John-117, happy he finally asked for her hand in marriage. The happy couple continues to hold each other, not letting go…at least for a little while.

"Well, Johnny-Boy, you what this means," said the Arbiter. "The ol' ball-and-chain!"

John gives his Sangheili friend a sarcastic look, and then smiles. He mouths the words 'bachelor party.'

Somehow, Cortana knew what he said.

"And no bachelor parties, John. Don't even think about it."

He just smiles fondly…and playfully…with a plan up his…uh…MJOLNIR sleeve.

Keep a look out for part three: 'How To Plan a Wedding…SPARTAN STYLE!