John would like to believe that his old father figure's face held shock, joy, and relief. Unfortunately, Mendez was Mendez...Instead of a tearful reunion, an enthusiastic hand shake, or even a hug, he got a brief grunt of recognition and an offer so sit down.
"Might I inquire about the meaning behind your unexpected visit?"
"Quite frankly, I'm back...I'm bored...Thel's driving you insane...we need something to do."
"Sure, you keep Thel away from me, and your construct can keep 343 busy."
John was slightly crestfallen at the new line of work that he was being directed towards, Mendez must've caught on to his disappointment for he added,
"However, if anything comes up you two'll be the first to know."
"Thank you sir, you were saying about 343..."
"Yes, well in short he's back. We, along with the shangheli were able to salvage enough to rebuild him."
"To what purpose?"
"It was the unanimous decision that the remaining halo rings were too dangerous to be left intact. The fact that they may very well destroy the galaxy put aside, they also contained enough flood spores to end sentient life as it is. 343 is helped us not only locate them, but build the means to destroy them."
"So they're destroyed."
"Yes John, you cannot go on an epic quest to destroy the rings."
John sighed
it was worth a shot
"So, you're sure that he won't go rampant and go on a killing spree again, right?"
"We're sure that now the rings are gone, his overprotective sense of duty is gone with them, though he has developed a rather unhealthy fixation with rings."
"Just clearing things up, I guess that I'll be on my way?"
"Yes, goodbye John, make your planet proud."
"It was nice seeing you again, I guess now you have Thel off your back."
Mendez grumbles incoherently, though John did pick out a resentful
"were it so easy"