Ch 4
Entering the structure, Chief and Palmer headed first, rifles raised.
"So, when did you and Cortana realize you loved each other?" Palmer asked.
"That is private and sensitive information, Palmer. What about you and Lasky? Me and Chief have seen the flirting glances and talks between you two." Cortana retorted.
Palmer said nothing in response.
"Cortana, lets leave it for later." John advised.
"Just saying." Cortana said.
Arriving at a terminal, Cortana and Halsey went to work on understanding the guardian device. Palmer and Chief stood guard against enemy threats.
"I thought me and Lasky were being discreet." Palmer whispered.
"Discreet to anyone except a Spartan and an AI." Chief said.
"Well…crap. Don't tell anyone, alright?" Palmer asked.
"Your secret is safe with me and Cortana." John said.
Halsey came back, with a worried look.
"Chief, this Guardian was used by the Forerunners to police worlds and galaxies. It is capable of immense power and destruction. If the covenant were to get a hold of this…" Halsey said.
"I understand." Chief said.
"I managed to shut it down, but only temporarily. The tech is quite advanced." Cortana said.
"You have any ideas, Cortana?" Palmer asked.
"It would be safer for all of us, if we destroy this thing." Cortana said.
"Can't we capture it? Send it to earth?" Palmer asked.
"We don't know what could happen if we try and activate this. For all we know, it could turn its weapons on us. UNSC took the composer from Halo 03, and we all know how that turned out." Cortana said.
"How much will it take to destroy this guardian?" Chief asked.
"A MAC round, at least. Might have the arbiter glass this place." Cortana said.
"I doubt he'll want to glass a forerunner artifact." Palmer said.
"Not unless it's a threat to his people. We need to tell him about this." Cortana said.
A phantom appeared thru the snow, and hovered just above the group.
"Hurry, Spartans. The Arbiter wants to talk to you." the pilot said.
"About what?" Halsey asked, as they boarded the dropship.
"About what you found. He's curious." The pilot said.
"What a coincidence. We also need to tell him about what we found." Palmer said.
"What did you find?" the pilot asked.
"A threat to your people. The sooner we destroy it, the better." Chief said.
The flight would take several hours, so the group got some rest. John was seen resting against a bulkhead. Cortana appeared in her hard-light form and knelt next to him. She corrected the Spartan's position, so she was holding him in her lap.
She removed his helmet and proceeded to stroke his hair in a loving manner. Palmer, Tucker, and Halsey looked with worry. Would the lethal Spartan snap and attack Cortana out of defense?
"Well, look at that." Palmer said.
"I know." Halsey said, with a tinge of jealousy. Cortana and Chief, who were more machine than human, were close as two humans could be. Halsey never had that closeness for most of her life. Not with Captain Keyes, nor with her deceased daughter. Sure, the covenant was to blame, but humanity was still in a bad situation, and Cortana and Chief were involved without a care in the world.
Chief chuckled and opened his eyes.
"Something funny, big guy?" Cortana asked.
"Just remembering something. It was after we stopped the didact. I was serving on Infinity with blue team, when Palmer and my team have been ordered for a black ops mission. So, Lasky has this girlfriend. Long distance relationship." Chief lied.
Cortana subtly raised an eyebrow, knowing he was referring to Palmer. But she didn't say anything, letting Chief continue.
Flashback
Months ago
"Chief, I have something for you to do." Lasky said.
"Yes, sir." Chief said.
Lasky pulled out a piece of paper and showed it to the chief.
"My girlfriend. It's long distance, and I don't think it'll work. I want to destroy this, but I don't have the willpower to do it." Lasky said.
Chief snatched the paper out of the captain's hand, and tore it in front of him.
"You're doing yourself a favor." Chief said, with a hint of bitterness in his voice. He was still hurting after Cortana.
"Couple months pass, and Lasky asks me about the paper." Chief continued.
"Where's the paper, Chief?" Lasky asked, as Chief was getting a large bowl of cereal ready.
"You ordered me not to give it to you." Chief said, getting a jug of milk.
"I'm ordering you to give it to me now." Lasky said.
Chief tossed the pieces of paper in the air, and watched as Lasky frantically scrambled to collect the pieces that were now on the floor.
"Look what you've stooped to, captain. Look in the mirror. Because you need help. I'm a machine, and it's turning me up inside!" Chief exclaimed.
John walked out of the room, then came back and grabbed his large bowl of cereal.
"That was an interesting story. What about the girlfriend?" Cortana asked.
"Don't know. Not interested in that." John said.
Beneath her helmet, Palmer fidgeted. Sure, Lasky and Palmer weren't physical, and regulations would prohibit any such actions. But the threat and worry was still there. But if Chief and Cortana could have a relationship, so could they.