"There are no shortcuts to any place worth going." ~Beverly Sills

Chapter 10: Gradus

"You must understand that the struggle in near horizon is going to be the hardest of your life. No Covenant nor human can ever challenge you the way SHE will". Came the voice of Medicant Bias from Infinitys bridges main holopad. It had been quite interesting to explain to the captain and commander Palmer that they found a completely unknown promethean AI that possibly had caused the extincion of their entire race.

"Tell us something we don't already know" Spat Commander Palmer at the AI.

"For being a leader amongst your people, you sure lack patience young one". Answered the AI calmly.

"Enought both of you" Said lasky stepping into the conversation. "We cannot afford to fight each other, if we wan't to stay alive and go home to live a happy life...We have to work together, like it or not".

Palmer was surprised by this and backed respecting Tom's newfound authority.

"Ok now...What can we do to stop this?" He asked finally as the situation seemed to calm down.

"Reclaimer thell me...If you would have the freedom to choose any enemy in the universe that you know, what would be the toughest?" Bias asked referring to Master Chief as the Reclaimer.

Chief pondered this for a moment "Elite? No, too simple. Scaraf? No, too many weakneses". For once in his live Chief had no idea what to do or think and Medicant seemed to notice this.

"Allow me to assist you. What is the only enemy you were never meant to harm?" Chief was now even more puzzled. "What was the enemy you swore you would never heart?" Chief seemed to slowly put the peaces of the puzzle together. "Who was the enemy you were never ment to face?" and with this he knew Medicant was referring to Cortana.

"How does this help us capture or destroy her?" Came the frustrated question.

"YOU FAIL TO SEE RECLAIMER! It has been written in front of you since the beginning of your war. The elites, as you call them saw it the prometheans saw it but you yourself fail to see it".

"What are you talking about?" Chief was no getting extremely frustrated by the rant of the AI.

"YOU ARE TOO RESILIANT TO CONTROL...She has to start again from the beginning. She will fire the rings! For personal vengeance and exterior motives."

With this the entire bridge fell silent. Everyone were looking at the promethean warrior standing on the holotable.

"Yet" He finally continued. "A single spark of hope remains. The bond you and your Ancilla shere is powerful...Maybe even powerful enought to save her from the upcoming doom".

"And how would that work?" Asked Lasky seeing that Chief was speecles to say at least.

"The Ancilla you are facing is nothing more than a shadow of her former self". Answered Medicant as he continued "But what ones was broken still remains. It just has to be diggen from its grave".

"There is a change that the old Cortana is still there?" John finally asked after hearing what the AI has to say.

"Yes, however this task is not easy and will require sacrifice along the way".

"Then where do I have to go and what do I have to do". Was all he asked.

"And don't forget about us we are with you all the way to the end Chief".

"Then let us set our journey towards Maethrillian the ancient capital of the forerunners".

Lasky was silent before realising "Bias no one knows here it is. The Covenant searched it for centuries to no avail".

"That Captain Lasky is because they weren't looking in the right place".

"With this Doctor Halsey barged into the control bridge and said "Jesus Christ is what you are saying true? You know about the location of the ancient capital?"

"Doctor we are in the middle of something, please if you don't mind".

"Oh but i do mind, do you understand what Maethrillian truly is Captain Lasky? Its the holy grail of science and research...The long lost but never forgotten pinnacle of forerunner technology. It has even been told to be bigger than the Halos Themselves". Halsey ranted.

"All the reason to be even more careful. Medicant give us the coordinates".

"It will be done".

Sorry folks little bit talkative and short chapter but I think we will manage :D.